{"product_id":"a-rocket-at-heart-my-life-rudy-tomjanovich-9780684834283","title":"A Rocket at Heart: My Life and My Team | Rudy Tomjanovich \u0026 Robert Falkoff","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe coach of the NBA's Houston Rockets recounts his life story, speaking out not only on the challenges of coaching a great player like Hakeem Olajuwon but also on the strategies that have led his team to two NBA titles.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eA Rocket at Heart\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eRudy Tomjanovich \u003c\/strong\u003etells the story of how the son of hardworking Croatian parents from Hamtramck, Michigan, helped the city of Houston change its image from Choke City to Clutch City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith unusual insight and unsparing honesty, Rudy talks about the doubts, the fears, and the obstacles he's overcome in becoming such a successful and well-respected coach. He tells how he learned to be a coach while standing in the spotlight; how he developed his theories of offense and defense that helped the Rockets reach the pinnacle; how he learned when to teach with praise and when to be forceful; and how he learned valuable lessons from Bill Fitch about preparation, from Don Chaney about dignity, and from Del Harris about handling adversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe also talks, for the first time, about the adversity he himself had to learn from: the devastating punch thrown by Kermit Washington that cost Rudy a season in his prime, and could have cost him his life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003eAlong the way, Rudy shares great stories about all the people he's known and the fun he's had in a life in basketball.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe talks about his old roommate Calvin Murphy, and how this seemingly mismatched pair became the closest of friends; about watching Hakeem Olajuwon develop into one of the most extraordinary players ever to play the game; about the enormous challenge of changing a championship team in midseason by making the Clyde Drexler trade, and the satisfaction of beating the odds by winning four straight playoff series without homecourt advantage (and then, a year and a half later, trying that transition game again by adding the always entertaining Charles Barkley to the mix).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith remarkable candor and self-deprecating wit, Rudy T. shows us the roads he's traveled and the good times and high points along the way.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51512050942267,"sku":"0684834286","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780684834283.jpg?v=1787455898","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/a-rocket-at-heart-my-life-rudy-tomjanovich-9780684834283","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}