The Legends Club

Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Valvano, and an Epic College Basketball Rivalry

By: John Feinstein

Narrated by: John Feinstein

Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The riveting inside story of college basketball's fiercest rivalry among three coaching legends - University of North Carolina's Dean Smith, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, and North Carolina State's Jim Valvano - by the king of college basketball writers, number-one New York Times best seller John Feinstein.

On March 18, 1980, the immensely powerful Duke basketball program announced the hiring of its new coach - the man who would resurrect the team, restore glory to Duke, and defeat the legendary Dean Smith, who coached down the road at UNC Chapel Hill and had turned UNC into a powerhouse. Duke's new man was Mike Krzyzewski. The only problem was, no one knew who Krzyzewski was; he had a so-so record in his short time as head coach of Army; and, worst of all, no one could even pronounce his name. The announcement caused head scratches, if not immediate calls for his head...and on this note, his career at Duke began.

The table was set nine days later, on March 27, 1980, when Jim Valvano was hired by North Carolina State to be their new head coach. The hiring didn't raise as many eyebrows, but with the exuberant Valvano onboard, two new coaches were now in place to challenge Dean Smith - and the most sensational competitive decade in history was about to unfold.

In the skillful hands of John Feinstein, this extraordinary rivalry - and the men behind it - come to life in a unique, intimate way. The Legends Club is a sports book that captures an era in American sport and culture, documenting the inside view of a decade of absolutely incredible competition. Feinstein pulls back the curtain on the recruiting wars, the intensely personal competition that wasn't always friendly, the enormous pressure and national stakes, and the battle for the very soul of college basketball allegiance in a hotbed area. Getting to the roots of the NCAA goliath that is followed religiously by millions of fans today, Feinstein uses his unprecedented access to all three coaches to paint a portrait only he could conjure. The Legends Club is destined to be one of Feinstein's biggest best sellers.

©2016 John Feinstein (P)2016 Random House Audio

Fantastic

A pleasure to listen. A lesson in the history of basketball and coaching. Great job.

Really very good

This is a terrific story John Feinstein does a fantastic job sharing the journey of three great men.

Could not stop listening

Such a tremendous story from the greatest college basketball writer of our time. As a lifelong Tar Heel fan listening to how Coach K visited Coach Smith at the end got to me. I was listening in my truck and had to pull over to take a minute. Feinstein did it again, well done sir!

Marvelously epic and legendary!

A well-written story of the greats in basketball history. Great insights, dramatic detail, and tales that reveal a bit of passion and emotion of these Legends.

Another legendary performance by John Feinstein!

I laughed, I thought,I cried!! Fabulous read for all basketball fans! Looking forward to Feinstein's next book!

ACC Basketball

A little too detailed with scores and such but overall a genuinely good story. Narrator 's voice gets annoying.

Gripping biography of three great coaches…

and so much more. Having always wondered why Bill Foster left Duke and Norm Sloan left state, this book starts with that early era and transitions right through to the death of Dean Smith. Anybody who grew up loving or hating either Jim Valvano, dean smith, or Coach K… will appreciation this book. It showed the human side of all three coaches. Not to put you on the spot, but if you do not shed at least one tear while reading it, then maybe you’re not human

A good history of the greats from a duke perspective

The book enjoyably reviews through duke colored glasses the men and many seasons to which I was a first-hand witness. The author discloses that he is a Duke graduate but otherwise represents himself as impartial. HE IS NOT. Any compliment that Feinstein offered to Dean Smith regarding his positive actions and words, he then undercut more than 85% of the time by offering ulterior and ignoble motives. Coach K, in contrast, was treated with leniency and grace regarding all of his actions and words throughout. It seemed likely that K would be inducted into Hall of Fame alongside Mother Theresa rather than Bob Knight! The focus on games and records similarly is selective. All the same I really enjoyed the insight into Coach K with whom the author clearly spent the most time. The book is still fun but just be aware before purchasing that it is a Duke document. Enjoy!

College Basketball Greatness

Feinstein made you feel as if you were there every moment. It was great to hear how three came together and although they had differences they were one! Great book!

Great stories and amazing insight into legends of the game.

One of the best sports books I have read. I loved how descriptive the stories were. As a coach and as a man this book taught me so much.