Open Looks: My Life In Basketball
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
Open Looks: My Life In Basketball
By (Author) John Saker
Awa Press
Awa Press
25th February 2015
New Zealand
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
Autobiography: sport
Basketball
796.323092
Physical Properties
Paperback
156
Width 136mm, Height 179mm, Spine 11mm
206g
Description
In this candid and beautifully written memoir, John Saker tells of his lifetime love affair with one of the world's most popular sports, how it changed his life, and the head-spinning moments when this 'minor' sport became the talk of New Zealand. From his early teens, when throwing hoops was a way of dealing with family tragedy, through his scholarship to a US university, career in France as New Zealand's first professional basketball player, and selection to the Tall Blacks, Saker canvasses both highs and lows of a sport where players such as Steven Adams today command multimillion dollar salaries.
Reviews
Saker obviously recognises the value of quality over quantity. This is fine writing, enjoyable as both an introduction to the game (a-la Awas How to Watch essay series), and for those already entranced by its striking lexicon and eye-opening athleticism." Gary Forster, booksellersnz.wordpress.com
If youre a basketball fan this is a must-reada good account of how the sport of basketball has evolved in New Zealand over the last 40 years Kenny McFadden, former professional basketball player
"John Saker is a New Zealand basketball pioneer . . . He is also, almost certainly, our loveliest writer on the sport." Hayden Meikle, Otago Daily Times
"Saker writes of his metamorphosis from backyard wannabe to chasing the dream on college courts to the cauldron of the professional game in Europe . . . [Sakers] passion for basketball clearly remains and this short but sweet read . . . is testament to that." Gisborne Herald
Author Bio
John Saker was NZ's first professional basketball player. In the 1970s he spent two years on a scholarship in the US, and then played in France for three exciting seasons. He represented New Zealand as a Tall Black from 1975 to 1987 and captained the '84 team. Wine writer for Cuisine and The Sunday Star-Times, John Saker is the author of How to Drink a Glass of Wine (Awa Press), Vinacular - A Wine Lover's A-Z (Awa Press) and Pinot Noir: The New Zealand Story (Random House).
