Paddy on the Hardwood by Rus Bradburd

Paddy on the Hardwood by Rus Bradburd

Why would a successful college basketball coach walk away from a lucrative job in America's most glamorous sport? The burned out Rus Bradburd, enamored with Ireland and its music, took a job coaching in the lowly Irish Super League, but was unprepared for what he found. Perplexed by the small town Tralee's Frosties Tigers--a cast of misfits and underachievers more concerned with their day jobs, Gaelic Football, and Guinness--he turned to traditional Irish music for wisdom and solace.

Paddy on the Hardwood is partly Rus Bradburd's story of his struggle to transform Tralee's Tigers. But it is also the tale of a man making peace with his own life and career.

"No reader will come away from this irresistible, honest, and deeply human account without a profound appreciation for Ireland and the beguiling power of its people and culture. Paddy on the Hardwood is a basketball book, to be sure, but also one about questing and, ultimately, finding. And it's all the richer for how it engages things that seem distant from sports, but in the end aren't so unrelated at all."--Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated senior writer and author of Big Game, Small World: A Basketball Adventure

"Paddy on the Hardwood is hilarious, heartbreaking, and touching--I couldn't put it down. I'm an avid reader, and it's the best sports book I've read in a long while."--Jerry West

.. a compelling account [with] a cast of characters that leap with life from the pages.... [Paddy on the Hardwood], its stories and the lessons therein are a treasure. - The Sunday Times (London) ""If this hidden gem of a book is really about Bradburd finding solace in his music, its real joy is in the characters he meets along the way."" - Boston Globe ""... an incredibly fun read.... I totally recommend it."" - Henry Abbott, TrueHoop.com ""[Paddy on the Hardwood] is absolutely fantastic with colorful characters, warm humor, great scenes, real drama, and a rich, personal touch.... this book is a treat."" - Dan Wetzel, author of Glory Road ""Delightful. Paddy on the Hardwood was the best book I read in 2006."" - Chicago Tribune

Rus Bradburd coached at UTEP and New Mexico State University for fourteen seasons. He teaches writing classes in NMSU's MFA program.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780826340276
ISBN 10	082634027X
Title	Paddy on the Hardwood
Author	Rus Bradburd
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	University of New Mexico Press
Year published	2009-03-30
Number of pages	247
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.