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What People are Saying
About
Once There Were Giants
[Once There Were Giants] reads
almost like a novel, pulling the reader along as diminutive,
driven Hebron coach Russ Ahearn pursues the title he believed
his players could win almost from the day most of them enrolled.
The book is also a period piece about America at mid-century and
a school district that had "far more cows than
people," no locked doors, and players who practiced hoops
in haylofts.
-- Barry Temkin, columnist, Chicago
Tribune (1/20/02)
The photos are
fascinating, the writing tremendous and the overall experience
exhilarating. It's a treasured keepsake that joins my
bookshelf forever.
-- John Radtke, sports editor, Daily Herald (1/25/02)
If I were a coach, a copy of this book would be in my office.
Before big games I would draw from some of Russ Ahearn's
numerous inspirational "chalk talks" for some words of
wisdom. I would also furnish each of my players year in and year
out with a copy of the book and insist that they read every
word. In short, the book is an underdog's bible. It says
that no matter how small a school is or what the odds say, with
dedication, a true spirit of teamwork and, above all, endless
hard work over many years, any team can achieve greatness. True
athletes are made, not born.
-- Mike Dorsam, sports editor, Streator Times-Press
(2/16/02) (read the entire review: part
1, part
2, part
3)
The book does an outstanding job of tracing
both the origin of Hebron's success and the development of the
Illinois tournament structure and its reputation as one of the
nation's best prep basketball states. Drawing from newspaper
articles, hours of interviews, audiotapes, scratchy film, and
scrapbooks filled with items attached with a paste of flour
and water, the authors recount how basketball became so
successful in Hebron at a time when the high school game was
the focal point of everyone's interest.
-- Steve Nemeth, sports editor, DeKalb Chronicle
(2/21/02)
[Once There Were Giants is] one of the best
sports books I've ever read. As someone who believes
sports history should be treated as seriously and with as much
accuracy and care as any other history, I was astounded that I
failed to spot even a minor error. [The authors] have not
only produced a terrific volume of history, they have also
turned out a book that will provide great reading for anyone who
enjoys high school sports.
-- John Duxbury, sports writer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(3/4/02) (Mr. Duxbury is the former book reviewer for the Sporting
News)
Through exhaustive research and interviews, [Once There
Were Giants] provides fascinating insight into the town,
the team, and the tournament, bringing Hebron's decades-old
tale to life. A must read for any basketball or history
buff.
-- Dave Wischnowsky, sports writer, Ottawa Daily Times
(3/4/02)
Once There Were Giants ... is an amazing and nostalgic
journey of a small-school team whose legend in the end reached
almost mythical proportion. While the book is a historical
piece, it reminds us all of something that has never changed:
the time, talent, and dedication that teenagers all over the
state give for a chance to win the most prestigious title in
state high school sports, and when they take the floor how often
they take the hopes and dreams of their communities with them.
-- Mike Knapp, sports writer, Aurora Beacon-News
(3/8/02)
[Once There Were Giants] is a charming tale
about basketball and small-town life in the 1950's.
Reading almost like a movie script, the book quickly pulls you
through the run to the title for the smallest school ever to
win a single-class basketball championship.
-- Ryan Ori, sports writer, Peoria Journal Star
(3/8/02)
What People Said About
the Hebron Saga in 1952
"When memories of other state
championships have long been forgotten, the fans will remember
Hebron, for Hebron and its David and Goliath story belong to
every basketball fan everywhere." -- Jack Prowell, Champaign
News-Gazette
"Hebron's fabulous Green Giants, dreaming a wonderful
dream for four long years, can't be blamed if they pinch
themselves in disbelief. The dream has come true." --
Jerome Holtzman, Chicago Sun-Times
"A never to be forgotten struggle." -- Fred
"Brick" Young, Bloomington Pantagraph
"They'll be writing about Hebron's Green
Giants and their 1952 Illinois high school basketball
championship as long as basketball is played." -- Rock
Island Argus |