On December 1, 1891, in Springfield, Massachusetts, James Naismith hung two half-bushel peach baskets at opposite ends of a gymnasium and out-lined 13 rules to his students at the International Training School of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), which later became Springfield College. James Naismith became famous for creating the game of basketball, a stroke of genius that never brought him fame or fortune during his lifetime, but enormous recognition following his passing in 1939. Naismith's name adorns the world's only Basketball Hall of Fame, a tribute that forever makes James Naismith synonymous with basketball. Basketball, today, is the second most popular sport in the world.
Phenom - Let’s Play Basketball
Copyright 2010 by James M. Plautz
August 26, 2010
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ISBN 978-1-4523-7685-1
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Novels by Jim Plautz
*PHENOM – Let’s Play Basketball - Too good to be true, a mid-year transfer student leads his high school basketball team to the State Championship and along the way helps others become better students and young adults. Matthew Wilson’s past finally catches up with him when the Russian Mafia seeks retribution for past transgressions.
This is a feel-good love story and suspense novel structured around a basketball theme. At graduation, students, faculty and the President of the U.S. make a vow; “If you ever need me, I’ll be there for you.”
Marquette Basketball is featured in three chapters in the Appendix. Alumni groups, Athletic Departments from any University or College are welcome to customize these chapters for their own Teams. It’s free publicity and a great fundraiser.
* PHENOM – Search for the Ark of the Covenant – Matthew Wilson cements his reputation as the greatest basketball player of all time as he leads Marquette University to four successive NCAA championships and then forms a globe-trotter team to travel the world and play all star teams from China, Africa, South America and Europe.
But basketball is only a backdrop as Matthew teams up with Father McGinnis and Jim Simpson to bring water to Ethiopia and later, to rebuild the biblical city of Babylon to its former splendor; all part of a master plan to find the Ark of the Covenant, an event heralded by Muslims and Christians as a precursor to the second coming of the Lord.
Matthew is severely injured in a basketball showdown with the Muslim basketball star known as the Mahdi, or Chosen One. Matthew’s former classmates are asked to renew a vow made ten years ago; “If you ever need me, I’ll be there for you.”
*Match Play Championship – Winner Take All - Drug smuggling and corporate finance structured around a 36-hole club championship golf tournament. A Miami-based drug cartel is pitted against Swiss financiers for control of a new resort and casino in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The tournament stakes are ‘winner-takes-all’.
*DOUBLE FAULT at ROLAND GARROS - Four junior tennis players destined to meet at the French Open Tennis Championship get caught up in Basque terrorist plans to destroy the newly rebuilt Roland Garros Tennis Stadium; a story of love, jealousy and revenge.
Characters
* Matthew Wilson: ‘Phenom’
* Jim Simpson: Coach; filling in for Ray Meyer
* Father Sean McGinnis: Roman Catholic Priest
* Amar Rashad: ‘The Mahdi’
* Ken Reed: Simpson’s right-hand man and best friend
* Chris Lewis Reed: Former DEA; married to Ken
* Jerry Hayes: Challenged by Matthew to be a leader
* Jennifer: Head Cheerleader and dancer, Matthew’s girlfriend
* Shorewood High School Basketball Team: Matthew, Rodney, Andy, Kevin, Erin, Tom, Sam,
* Waukesha High School Basketball Players: Roy Burke, Tim Rappis, Rick Roby,
* Moses: Built ‘Ark of the Covenant’; Mt. Sinai, 1480 BC