This book is a work of fiction. A few of the characters in Part One, ‘Let’s Play Basketball’, have names similar to former teammates and opponents, but that’s where the similarity ends. All of the events and basketball games are fictional.
The Marquette players and names of their NCAA opponents are very real. I grew up listening to Marquette basketball on the radio and Terry Rand was the first name I remember. I played basketball and baseball with Tom Kojis, Don’s brother. I pray Tom achieved everlasting peace. I was on the University of Wisconsin freshman team when we upset a great Ohio State team in 1962.
The International players are also real, although the basketball games are mostly fiction. I enjoyed most the research I did on Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo and learned to appreciate the impact these two men have upon their countries. The same goes for the Lithuanian basketball players and the suffering their country endured to regain independence.
The Ark of the Covenant is mentioned frequently in both the Bible and the Koran. Matthew Wilson and Amar Rashad are fictional, but the belief in the ‘Second Coming’ and ‘The Mahdi’ are very real for their respective religions. I find it intriguing to think of what would happen if the Ark of the Covenant was found. These subjects are part of the follow-up novel; Phenom – The Search For The Ark of the Covenant.
Dedications:
For my teammates at West Allis Central High School - ‘The Bulldogs’
1959 Starters: Jack Szczesny, Dick Starcevic, Jim Eisenman, Joel Thompson, Jim Plautz
1960 Starters: Jim Eisenman, Dave Krahn, Joel Thompson, Jerry Lawetski, Jim Plautz
1961 Starters: Jerry Lawetski, Doug Sinclair, Chuck Pitcel, Mike Sachen/ Tom Osteen, Jim Plautz