Review
Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball by Mike DeLucia is based on a true story about the little-known fact of how one man changed the history of basketball. The year is 1926 and ten-year-old Angelo "Hank" Luisetti is among a crowd of spectators at the Galileo High School Gymnasium in San Francisco. A less popular sport compared to baseball and football, basketball players at this time strictly follow the stop-set-shoot philosophy and generally pass and shoot the ball using two hands, which made the game less of a thrill. Of Italian origin and groomed to inherit his father's business, Hank develops a love for basketball that will take him to Stanford University to become their star player. His innovations will later be considered as the start of a new era for this now highly popular game.
Mike DeLucia's Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball is obviously a tribute to Angelo "Hank" Luisetti and it is richly well deserved. It is fascinating to learn about this young man who pioneered the running one-handed shot and helped make basketball the exciting and popular game that it is today. Mike DeLucia traces Hank's story with surprisingly meticulous detail and the result is a vivid picture of an unassuming young man that made an important mark in basketball history. What makes Madness an engaging read is that when readers turn the pages of this book, they somehow get to personally know the man whose significant contributions to basketball history are largely ignored; his hopes, dreams, and struggles. So the next time we enjoy watching a thrilling basketball game, we can thank Hank Luisetti for it.
5 Star Review: Review by Theodocia McLean (Book Marketing Global Network).
Amazingly this book is as much about the coming of age of the author as it is his character's journey. It took Author Mike DeLucia twenty-five years to write the story you are about to read. This is an incredible story about Hank Luisetti. You don't have know one thing about professional basketball to follow the journey of a boy who grew up believing in something bigger than himself. Chapter One opens in San Francisco, 1926. It is here that we meet ten-year-old Angelo Luisetti or "Hank" a nickname he earns as a teenager. Like most parents who want their children to succeed and have a better life than they did, Hank's father is no exception. Even at this tender age, Hank's father buys him a restaurant. One that the whole family can work in and if successful, Hank will carry on the family business. Hank struggles with the idea of working in the restaurant after school and as he puts it "forever." He knows his legs are not as strong as other boys his age and probably never will be. Despite this, he dreams of playing basketball. Fate changes everything when coach Ricardo "Ricky" Durán takes notice of him and tells him something that changes his life forever.
As a mother and grandmother, I can say with no hesitation that this book should be required reading for young teens. It is story of courage, determination, individual and team spirit along with the sweat and tears that it takes to be your best. Author Mike DeLucia has three published books. Award Winning Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball, Settling A Score and Boycott The Yankees: A Call to Action by a Lifelong Yankees Fan.
Miles Ryan Fisher, Italian American Magazine: Before there was Bob Cousy, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan, before there was the three-point shot, slam dunk, and alley-oop, the game of basketball was simple and on the cusp of many changes. Author Mike DeLucia takes us into how this evolution began, honing in on one player by the name of Angelo "Hank" Luisetti.
While Luisetti is far from a household name, DeLucia's story shows just why he should be. Born to Italian immigrant parents, Luisetti grew up in San Francisco, where he was introduced to basketball by a local high school coach who later teaches him the one-handed shot, the precursor to the jump shot. This revolutionary shooting style and Luisetti's pure ability take him to Stanford University, where he becomes College Player of the Year in 1936 and is eventually inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
A tale reminiscent of Clair Bee and Matt Christopher classics, Madness strikes the right balance between a book that's ripe for young readers yet engrossing for readers of all ages. Family tension is at the height of the novel as Luisetti's father, Stefano, has difficulty understanding the value of basketball and education over manual labor. Depicting the struggles of young romance and the importance of a mentor, the story is grounded in a typical Italian-American upbringing--though with Luisetti's prowess on the court, it is anything but typical.
In the story's finale, Stanford University takes on Long Island University, pitting the weaker West Coast against the dominant East Coast at Madison Square Garden. The epic ending is, as is DeLucia's writing, never short on drama and tension--and might even convince readers that Hank Luisetti was the Joe DiMaggio of basketball.
LITERARY TITAN: FIVE STARS! 1/4/20
There is a certain quality about people who make valuable contributions to history. They seem to have an uncanny ability to remain focused on their goals and to overcome their hurdles with stoic determination. Such is the story of one Angelo-Giuseppi 'Hank' Luisetti. Some people may not know who this is, including some basketball fanatics. However, the fact remains that Hank revolutionized basketball. Madness is his story of courage, focus, determination and immeasurable passion for the game.
The legacy of Hank Luisetti should never go unrecognized. He lived an inspiring life of hard work and motivating those around him to be better. Mike DeLucia tells his story in a compelling manner. He pulls in the reader right from the introduction with a peek into Hank's life before basketball; being taught not to question God and a whole delve into his life during basketball. You will get to see the struggles as a 'different' kid. Nothing has been held back. This book is marked with candid banter and a knack to inspire the reader.
The book does not discriminate between demographics. It is enjoyable by anyone of any age. It is written in simple language. It weaves the plot of Hank's life in a way that keeps you interested in how one person can be such a pillar of strength, not only for his self but for others too. You will find all the spirit, joy and heart of the game and the man himself captured between the lines of this book. The story is told in such vivid detail that you can almost see the sweat trickle down Hank's face. You can feel his heart beat in his chest every time he was on the court.
Mike DeLucia uses true events but has created fictional characters to support the plot. These characters are properly built with enough backdrop and dimensions but it is done so carefully so that they do not overshadow the purpose of the story. They are great characters that will appeal to the reader. These characters will affirm that truly no great man becomes so without a few trusted people to him along the way.
There is a lot to learn from this book. You do not even have to be a fan of basketball. You could know absolutely nothing about the sport but you would still enjoy it. Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball is a trip into the heart of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.
Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball by Mike DeLucia is a story that will have many people who listen to it as stunned as I was; it is the story of basketball legend and innovator, Hank Luisetti. This audiobook narrates the story of a man who brought about the revolution in basketball in the 1930s. Before then, the one-handed shot was non-existent in basketball until this legend made it popular. He is said to have been an incredible player with an incredible jump. This nonfiction book explores the life of this exceptional sportsman and the reason why he never became a celebrated name on the lips of sports fans. Paid $10,000 in 1938 to star in a movie about himself, he was suspended from joining the leagues at this time. But the real impediment that kept him in the shadows came when he joined his country to fight in WWII, where he contracted Spiral Meningitis and nearly died. When the NBA was formed, he refused to play professionally.
This book introduces readers to one of the basketball legends they will love. Readers will learn about his style of play, and the influence and changes that happened to the game because of his influence. I have known of many basketball legends, including Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Larry Bird, and others, but not Hank Luisetti. This is a well-researched book and I enjoyed how the author allows the culture and the political atmosphere of the time to come out in the narrative. Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball offers great material for the big screen. This is a story for every fan of basketball and a great tribute to a great sportsman.
The audio is clear and professionally recorded. Readers will enjoy hearing about the life of the protagonist. The excellent narration by the author begins with the research, his dreams, and how he tackled the idea of writing about this pioneer player and the role he played in basketball history and evolution. It is an engaging story and filled with entertainment and information that readers will enjoy.
