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Editorial Review Book Description
"Runnin' Rebel" is Tarkanian unplugged, dishing his wildest, most ridiculous, and most hilarious recruiting stories, capers, and tales from a colorful career as college basketball's ultimate lovable rogue. ... Read more Customer Reviews (16) 
Great Recruiting and Charm Leads to Great Coaching
Jerry Tarkanian seems to be a decent, likeable guy, evidenced by both his autobiography's narrative voice, and the "shark tales" inside.Tark is laid-back, self-deprecating, funny, and respectful in his tone and delivery, and his life's story shows he could get along with of all kinds of people, and was a valuable friend to have: everyone is a "good guy", with some rare exceptions, and Tark wanted to coach all of the kids and take all the adults out for a meal and a round of drinks.
Tark's larger than life, yet down-home, blue-collar personality developed by rising from a difficult home life (tough Armenian background, father died at 10, little money) to earn a series of coaching successes virtually right out of the gate- the guy never had a losing season at any level, and boasts an overall career record of 988-228 (.813).And coaching basketball was not originally a noble calling for Tark- it instead represented sort of a path of least resistance for an athletic guy whose grades were mediocre and who didn't want a desk job.
Coach's genius lies in recruiting, and most of the book recounts his amusing and clever escapades trying to bring talent to his schools.Tark recognized early on to utilize junior colleges to his advantage, to target niche players, and to embrace black athletes that other schools sadly (and suicidally) avoided during the 1960s.He visited kids and their families at their homes, regardless of how tough the neighborhoods were.He wasn't easily dissuaded by a kid's poor grades or legal troubles, without first assessing his character and potential.He was the consummate Las Vegas host, and had the whole city at his disposal (including, to a degree, Sinatra, who actually made a couple of recruiting visits for Tark), and could convincingly show visitors the kind of time they could expect to have by playing for UNLV.His list of contacts throughout the US was outstanding - he had high school coaches and scouts everywhere feeding him guys, and all the right jucos to park them in if they needed to cool their heels first.
Of course, Tark had his scrapes with the NCAA, and seemed unfairly targeted, particularly once recruiting rules got tougher.He was open and honest about his troubles- and his disdain for the NCAA investigators- and didn't seem to be whitewashing events.For one, he won a $2.5 million settlement against the NCAA, as retribution for their misguided hyper-vigilance of his program.And he also is forthcoming about where he technically bent the rules.He gives the impression that overstepping NCAA boundaries while recruiting (including, for instance, buying a kid a sandwich or magazine from your own pocket) is like speeding or web-surfing at work: everyone does it to at least a minor extent, and you only get caught by flagrantly abusing the system, or because someone with ulterior motives is paying too close attention to the little stuff.It seemed to be the latter for Tark, but a fighting spirit and the loyalty he inspired in those around him meant the system never had him beat.
A fan of basketball loves it!
I am a long time basketball fan, especially college BB.I remeber all the names the Tark mentions in the book and it was very enjoyable to read, I couldn't put it down.I loved the "inside" information the book gives as the average fan doesn't always know about what really goes on.I am huge Al McGuire fan so that was fun also.I would urge any basketball fan to buy this book.
Tark
Great book.I was in LV, NV during Tark's tenure at UNLV.Tark originally got crosswise with the NCAA when he criticized them in his basketball column at Long Beach State.The NCAA never let go after that.UNLV administration unfortunately bought into the argument that a school can either be academically or athletically based and never understood the vision of a powerful synergistic relationship (i.e. USC, Notre Dame, TX, etc., etc.).The administration and anti-Tark boosters basically invited the NCAA in for an audit that took years.The end result was a severely truncated basketball dynasty and a huge hit in academic and adminstrative credibilty from UNLV's President Maxson on down.UNLV has not achieved significant academic standing and and has never recovered athletically.However, Tark is $2,000,000.00 richer secondary to prevailing over the NCAA in a court of law, in addition to his 1990 NCAA basketball court championship.
Wetzel's facts not trustworthy - beware!
I have not and will not bother to read this book, as I would not trust any of the facts.As an example, Wetzel recently (Yahoo!, 4/2/06) published an article bashing the UCLA basketball program.The entire basis for this was a "quote" that Wetzel attributes to Bill Walton.Nothing could be further from thr truth!
In his article, he states the quote was written by Walton ("Those quotes come from none other than Bill Walton, maybe the greatest Bruin of them all, in his 1978 book `On the Road with the Portland Trailblazers'"). This is false. The book was written by Jack Scott. In the Author's Note, Scott wrote: "Bill never asked to read even one page of the manuscript - never mind the entire manuscript - before it went to the printer. Consequently, I am solely responsible for the book's content. You should not automatically assume that Bill agrees with all of the opinions I express throughout the book..."
There are numerous other examples.When called on his error, Wetzel indicated that HE DID NOT EVEN HAVE A COPY OF THE BOOK he quotes, so could not confirm or deny the error!!Horrifying!Despite being called out, he has never made a correction to the story nor printed any retractions.
He is an untrustworthy writer, and clearly makes up and misrepresents the facts to sell his product.
BEWARE!
I suggest you buy it and read it, for it will make you laugh...
Boy, I was a huge UNLV fan while Tark was there, and I loved that team that beat Duke by 30 in the finals.Thus, I bought the book, and I enjoyed it.In virtually every chapter, there is a funny story or a simply outrageous story that I'm sure is true.Tark tells his story, and he seems to hold nothing back.Tark is truly unique.
My problem with the book is the Tark portrays himself as a "victim" of some sort of witch-hunt by the NCAA.I've no doubt that the NCAA was unfair-grossly unfair-to Tark. Yet I grow weary of self-proclaimed "victims."
Yet I suggest you buy it and read it.You'll laugh because it is funny.
And if you were a huge UNLV fan like I was, it will bring back some good memories.
Remember the incredible defense that Stacey Augmon played?If not, this book will bring back memories such as Stacey, et al.
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