Sometimes it’s more interesting to discover the stories of those within a sport whose path has taken them on unexpected journeys to places they never could have imagined. Backspin is one such tale as Pete Strobl guides the reader through the twists and turns that saw him develop from promising but ultimately frustrated college basketball player at Niagara University into a stalwart of several European leagues, and even an international representative player.
But this isn’t a straightforward sporting story, looking solely at Strobl’s journey from the neighbourhood hoops of LA through the campus courts at Niagara and on to the European adventure. Indeed Strobl initially rails at talk of “the journey” as he uses the progress of his career to highlight his eagerness for constant self improvement. It is a story of personal development and the desire to improve oneself day after day. Of turning what were sometimes frustrating situations into a positive step and making the most of your talent. Of always seeking to emphasise the positive and learn from experiences. In the end it is the journey that made him who he is.
It is in these regards that Strobl manages to engage and inspire, and it is easy to see how he has since taken the step from player to coach as his ability to use his life experiences on and off the court to understand and improve comes through vividly in his writing. Some ‘backspin’ is added at regular intervals with glimpses into his past linking to the stages of his playing career. These reminiscences help explain who he is and how he got there; literally and figuratively.
Strobl’s time around the basketball leagues of Europe make for fascinating reading, both in terms of the differences in the game and the differences of life away from home in different cultures. For someone so dedicated to self improvement is comes as little surprise that Strobl doesn’t comply with many a European’s stereotypical view of the American abroad, as he embraces his new life and each new situation and surrounding.
His observations on living in Europe strike an amusing and intriguing note to my European eyes, particularly having frequently made the short hop across to some of the countries he ended up playing in. Life is different, and even the way basketball is played is different, but Strobl is a keen learner and adapts quickly.
Told in a light hearted and an endearingly self deprecating way, Backspin will be of great interest to those with a curiosity about basketball beyond the big leagues of the USA, as well as for those in Europe following their local teams. Many of those teams will contain several players whose stories mirror Strobl’s in many respects, giving an added level of understanding of these globetrotting players and their interesting stories. It’s a really interesting read, with a hearty dose of inspiration thrown in.
- Aidan Williams http://thesportsbookreview.com
Publisher - The Scoring Factory
Date of Publication - December 12, 2013