The Holy Grail of Hoops: One Fan's Quest to Buy the Original Rules of Basketball

(Hardback)

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Description

When Josh Swade found out that the original 13 rules of basketball, penned by Dr. James Naismiththe father of modern basketballwere up for auction, he knew that it was his duty as a lifelong Jayhawks fan to make sure that they ended up where they belonged.
Penned in 1891, Naismiths original rules were auctioned off by Sothebys in New York City on December 10, 2010. Upon hearing the news that Naismiths grandson, Ian Naismith, had offered the rules for auction, Swade could not accept the notion that this sacred document could reside with just some stranger or in a random home or hall. He resolved to ensure that Naismiths rules be returned to his spiritual home of forty years, The University of Kansas. Swade had his raison d'etre. He had all the determination one could need. There was only one issue.
He did not have 4.3 million dollars.
Spanning the course of thirty-nine frantic days, Josh Swade embarked on a fanatical journey that would take him across the country. His nearly religious obsession brought him face-to-face with NBA players Paul Peirce and Steve Nash, NBA greats Jerry West and Larry Brown, and many others who knew the importance of this relic. With multiple hurdles ahead of him, will Josh be able to find the money and support to purchase the rules before its too late

Reviews

The phrase tour de force is often tossed around in book reviews. But this story is a tour de force of American sports fandom. I ve never read, heard, or seen anything quite like it. --Cal Fussman
[Swade's] account is funny, self-deprecating, and imbued with the almost religious fervor one would associate with a spiritual quest. Fun reading and a fine prelude to the movie. --Booklist
Josh Swade has written a heartfelt account of one of the most fanciful quests any fan has ever undertaken. The joy in this book lies as much in the journey as the destination, and the wisdom-spouting Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball, would approve of it for that very reason. --Alexander Wolff
Josh Swade is completely insane, which is why you should avoid him in public and why you should absolutely read his book. --Wright Thompson
The phrase 'tour de force' is often tossed around in book reviews. But this story is a tour de force of American sports fandom. I've never read, heard, or seen anything quite like it. --Cal Fussman
The Holy Grail of Hoops shows the true passion of the sport of college basketball. Kansas has such a rich basketball tradition, and Josh Swade helped bring the coveted Naismith rules of basketball back to Lawrence. That made him a PTPer (Prime Time Performer) in my opinion. He is awesome, baby, with a capital A! --Dick Vitale