Want a NOOK? Explore Now
With a new introduction, Phil Jackson's modern classic of motivation, teamwork, and Zen insight is updated for a whole new readership
"Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball." —Phil Jackson
Eleven years ago, when Phil Jackson first wrote these words in Sacred Hoops, he was the triumphant head coach of the Chicago Bulls, known for his Zen approach to the game. He hadnt yet moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he would bring his total to an astounding nine NBA titles. In his thought-provoking memoir, he revealed how he directs his players to act with a clear mind—not thinking, just doing; to respect the enemy and be aggressive without anger or violence; to live in the moment and stay calmly focused in the midst of chaos; to put the "me" in service of the "we"—all lessons applicable to any person's life, not just a professional basketball player's. This inspiring book went on to sell more than 400,000 copies.
In his new introduction, Jackson explains how the concepts in Sacred Hoops are relevant to the issues facing his current team—and today's reader.
In a unique and inspirational book, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls writes about how he motivates and creates unity on the team, using the principles of Zen Buddhism. At the heart of his work is Jackson's philosophy of mindful basketball--and his lifelong quest to bring enlightenment to the competitive world of professional sports.
Phil Jackson is an American original. A two-time All-American at the University of North Dakota, in 1967 he was drafted by the New York Knicks, where he played for 11 years and was a member of the 1970 and 1973 championship teams. Jackson guided the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in his nine years as head coach from 1989-1998, and guided the LA Lakers to three titles as their head coach from 1999-2004.
Hugh Delehanty is the editor-in-chief of AARP publications, who has written about sports and psychology for Sports Illustrated, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, and other publications. He lives with his wife, Barbara, in New York City.
| Foreword | ||
| Introduction | 3 | |
| Ch. 1 | The Second Coming | 9 |
| Ch. 2 | A Journey of a Thousand Miles Starts with One Breath | 23 |
| Ch. 3 | If You Meet the Buddha in the Lane, Feed Him the Ball | 41 |
| Ch. 4 | Experiments in the Cockroach Basketball League | 59 |
| Ch. 5 | Selflessness in Action | 77 |
| Ch. 6 | The Eye of Basketball | 95 |
| Ch. 7 | Being Aware Is More Important than Being Smart | 113 |
| Ch. 8 | Aggressiveness Without Anger | 129 |
| Ch. 9 | The Invisible Leader | 147 |
| Ch. 10 | Coaching Michelangelo | 169 |
| Ch. 11 | You Can't Step in the Same River Twice | 183 |
| Acknowledgments | 205 |
Anonymous
Posted Fri Jan 05 00:00:00 EST 2007
Sacred Hoops is a look into Phil Jackson¿s life with the Chicago Bulls and Las Angeles Lakers. Jackson¿s philosophy of basketball is very different than most coaches. He focuses on Buddha, which his brother taught him about and meditation along with his Christian beliefs. Jackson came from a very religious family, so he wants to be sure to teach his players something about religion and how important it should be in your life. Throughout the book, it tells various stories about Michael Jordan, Scotty Pippen and other NBA superstars. During the book, it is the time in Michael Jordan¿s life when he doesn¿t know what to do and he goes for being a Minor League baseball player, but eventually he misses the game so much, that he comes back to basketball. This was a hard time for the team when Michael came back, because the media was everywhere and the team was followed with news reporters and video cameras. The players stuck up for one another and helped Jordan out by not saying anything bad about him, and letting him leave practice early so he wasn¿t drowned in reporters. His stories are inspiring to young basketball players. He makes sure teamwork is incorporated in with his games and drills he makes the team do. The game of basketball is not based on one player, but the whole team. He shows players how to be aggressive without showing any emotion towards his opponent and teaches the team how to be selfless. Phil never set up a play for one of his players, everyone is involved in everything he does. He experiments with a smaller league he coached that he called `the cockroach league¿. At the end of his coaching career with the Bulls, he recalls the season as ¿----- the best season ever!¿ I very much enjoyed reading this book, because he incorporates childhood and religion in with basketball. Most books come from a players perspective, but this book came from a coaches perspective and that is what made the book stand out. Jackson also didn¿t coach basketball, but he also coached his player¿s life. He gave tips about life and what to do when you are having a hard time. I didn¿t have any regrets reading this book. This is not only Phil Jackson first book that I read, but he also has other books out. Another one that I am familiar with is The Last Season. If you like this book I am sure you will like The Last Season, because the book isn¿t about the Bulls anymore, but this time it is about the Lakers and his successful seasons there. Previously knowing about these books, I didn¿t really watch much basketball at home, but now knowing about Jackson¿s coaching I have really enjoyed watching him coach.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SteveKubiak
Posted Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2012
When I picked up the book "Sacred Hoops" I was anticipating a story full of life messages and inspirational themes throughout the book. That is exactly what I got. Throughout the story, Phil Jackson explores ideas such as teamwork, religion, clear thoughts, and rationality. Jackson does an excellent job diving into the deeper meanings of these themes and connects with the reader. A vast majority of the story in concentrated on Phil's life and experiences through basketball and that is how he brings all of his themes and messages together, through basketball. From his times of playing in college to becoming a three time NBA Finals champion coach of the Chicago Bulls, Jackson always finds more significance to the game than just a ball going through a hoop. This was very interesting to me, and drew me closer to the book. Nearly every example of how to act on a basketball court had direct correlation to real life and that is what made the book special. However, the book did become very repetitive. Often times Jackson repeated himself, maybe this was to reassure his points, but I found it rather annoying. I personally feel that the book could have been shortened by about 50 pages and still have been just as effective. What made the book very interesting, however, was all of the anecdotes presented throughout. Stories of his coaching life in Puerto Rico and Chicago, and his playing days in college and with the New York Knicks were all very interesting. What i found most appealing, was how all of these stories had significance in the real world, and how Jackson became a better person because of his experiences, and ultimately, made his players better people as well. Overall, I thought the book was very good and I really enjoyed reading it. I learned some valuable lessons to carry onto both the basketball court and life. By reading this book I learned that Phil Jackson is an excellent person with a great perspective on life and he learns something new every day based on the experiences he encounters. Phil Jackson is more than just a great basketball coach; he is a great philosopher as well. I strongly recommend this book to readers looking for some core life values, especially if you are an athlete as well.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2000
Phil Jackson gives a great perspective for coaches or players. His mindful basketball and team concepts are a great lesson to learn. I have incorporated some of his teachings into my own game and it helps. A selfless team attitude makes a world of difference.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2012
*****
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sean22
Posted Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2012
Phil Jackson brings his personal life and his hardwood life together in Sacred Hoops in order to transform a group of individuals into a powerful team. His story is truly inspirational, and I recommend it for readers of all ages. The book not only explains the ups and downs that the Chicago Bulls endured when he was head coach, but also teaches important life lessons along the way. The changes that the Bulls showed as individuals fueled the way they played and made the team remarkable.
Growing up in an area inhabited by Lakota Indians was beneficial and different for young Phil Jackson. He had no idea that what he picked up from watching them would help him lead the Bulls to three consecutive NBA titles. Similarly, Jackson practiced the Zen religion, which also gave him useful information that he passed on to the many teams he coached. All these lessons helped him flourish as a player and as a coach.
The way Jackson coached his players was uncanny, as he used many strange methods in order to achieve success. He made his teams meditate before each practice in order to clear their minds and get them focused on what awaited them. He also made them read books on road trips to relay the messages he was trying to get across to them.
When he finally received the head coaching job of the Chicago Bulls, he was astonished at the talent that the team possessed, but shocked at their lack of success. The Bulls were a team of individuals and needed to learn to play as one and not rely only on Michael Jordan.
Sacred Hoops inspires anyone who reads it because of the life lessons that are presented. Jackson brings out the best in anyone who listens to him as his sees potential in every individual. He truly changed the way the Bulls looked at the world, and he could do the same for you.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is an opinion rather than a review.
This is a very compelling book. I originally bought this book as I was a Scottie Pippen fan. As an Arkansas native we tend to root for anyone from Arkansas. And by osmosis I became a fan of the bulls and Jackson.
While you certainly may want to don your skeptic hat, I believe that Jackson truly has a strong belief in his array of spiritual artillery. While engrossed in the book, I found myself believing him too.
Now that some time has passed, I may not tightly cling to the original themes espoused in the book but I still hold this tome in high regard as one of the best books ever written on teamwork. Indeed, I would rank this book higher than most - if not all - management books that have been written on leadership and teamwork. It is that good. In fact, I have listed Sacred Hoops on many of my Amazon "business" lists and guides.
I can also recommend How to Argue & Win Every Time: At Home, At Work, In Court, Everywhere, Everyday, High Altitude Leadership and Power Ambition Glory
I hope you find this review helpful.
Michael L. Gooch, SPHR
Anonymous
Posted Fri Jan 18 00:00:00 EST 2002
being a basketball coach for my local parish i found the book was on the money comparing life sitiations with basketball i have my team (who are 10 year's old) read a paragraph after every practice it helps them to read and interpret MR.JACKSONS words thank you
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2001
A wonderful and easy read. Jackson not only lets us into the locker room, but into his heart and mind. This book is about experiencing life in the moment and then transferring it onto the court. For the spiritual enthusiast or the basketball nut it's a must read. A wonderful and easy read. Jackson not only lets us into the locker room, but into his heart and mind. This book is about experiencing life in the moment and then transferring it onto the court. For the spiritual enthusiast or the basketball nut it's a must read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Mar 26 00:00:00 EDT 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Thu Sep 09 00:00:00 EDT 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Wed Mar 11 00:00:00 EDT 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Fri Dec 05 00:00:00 EST 2008
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Tue Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Thu Sep 24 00:00:00 EDT 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Thu Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2008
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted Fri Feb 06 00:00:00 EST 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
With a new introduction, Phil Jackson's modern classic of motivation, teamwork, and Zen insight is updated for a whole new readership
"Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball." —Phil Jackson
Eleven years ago, when Phil Jackson first wrote these words in Sacred Hoops, he was the triumphant head coach of the Chicago Bulls, known for his Zen approach to the game. He hadnt yet moved to the ...