More Than Rivals

Ken Abraham

Description

An Inspiring True Story Set in the Midst of the Civil Rights EraBy 1970, racial tension was at a breaking point in the southern town of Gallatin, Tennessee. Desegregation had emotions running high. The town was a powder keg ready to erupt. But it was also on the verge of something incredible.Eddie Sherlin and Bill Ligon were boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks who shared a passion for basketball. They knew the barriers that divided them--some physical landmarks and some hidden in the heart--but those barriers melted away when the boys were on the court. After years of playing wherever they could find a hoop, Eddie and Bill entered the rigors of their respective high school teams. And at the end of the 1970 season, all-white Gallatin High and all-black Union High faced each other in a once-in-a-lifetime championship game. What happened that night would challenge Eddie and Bill--and transform their town.This New York Times bestseller is a fast-paced true story of courage, determination, character, and forgiveness.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Baloncesto
• Basketball
• Basket-ball

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 07 juin 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493404247
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2016 by Ken Abraham
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-0424-7
Published in association with the literary agency of Mark Sweeney & Associates, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
This book is a retelling of a true story and is based on actual events. Certain items or incidents have been adapted for dramatic effect, and some artistic license has been taken to assist in the flow of the storyline. In some cases, for the sake of the narrative, conversations have been created, composite characters combined, or chronologies adjusted. Some names and details have been changed to protect identities.
Endorsements
“A riveting true story of friendship between two boys—one black, one white—during the racially polarizing years of the Deep South. This book will inspire and touch the hearts of young and old alike.”
— Roscoe Orman , actor; entertainer; and for forty years played Gordon on Sesame Street
“ More Than Rivals , a book based on a true story from the 1960s, allowed me to reflect on how far we have come in this country and how far we still have to go. This book will make you laugh, cry, and want to get to know people who don’t look like you or come from your same background. Unity is what will bring us together as a people, if we just take time to reach out and get to know others from a different race. I have learned over the years that real friendships are based not on the color of your skin but on the love and respect you have for one another. This book is a must-read for adults and teens.”
— Yolanda Conley Shields , CEO, Let’s Go Innovate; author, Letters to Our Sons
“One of the best heartwarming and inspiring books I have read. Wow, powerful. Amazing how one act can change everyone’s tone as it did that night in Gallatin.”
— Mark White , Tennessee state representative
“Simple, direct, and powerful—this is a story about how human kindness and understanding transformed a community. One act of kindness helped a community heal and transcend into a better, more inclusive town in the heart of America. A story of compassion that survives the decades of time . . . and the eternal truth that in the end, love wins. Add More Than Rivals to your library!”
— Jack E. Pattison , lieutenant colonel, infantry, US Army (retired); president and owner, Pattison Enterprises
“ More Than Rivals holds a candle with true light to a dark place we wish had never been. While it shares a painful journey, it also hints at a promise of the silver lining within the cloud, an engrossing history lesson in which spiritual redemption, sports, leadership, and brotherhood can bring young men and their town to an important crossroads. An informative and engrossing read that grabbed me in the first pages and never let me go.”
— Catkin Kilcher Burton , colonel, US Marine Corps (retired); president, Alaska Humanities Forum Board of Directors; CEO, Eagles Enterprises
“ More Than Rivals offers a rewarding reading experience. You are taken back in time to witness the nostalgia of small-town America and the struggles of the segregated South. I strongly recommend that you purchase a copy of More Than Rivals and read it immediately. It is truly an outstanding story and shows me that Eddie and Bill (now adult friends) continue to have an important role in the lives of children and youth in Gallatin and throughout the New South.”
— Charles Martin “C.M.” Newton , former basketball coach, Transylvania University, the University of Alabama, and Vanderbilt University; former athletic director, University of Kentucky; former chair, NCAA Rules Committee
“Ken Abraham is one of my favorite writers. More Than Rivals is a monster slam dunk that will impact your life in a powerful fashion.”
— Pat Williams , founder and senior vice president, Orlando Magic; author, It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are
“A championship basketball game was much more than what it appeared. The year was 1970, and this game was a reflection of a community on edge, at the crossroads of racial tension and hope. More Than Rivals is a true story about a friendship that transcended the past, reconciled the present, and imagined a new future.”
— Skip Prichard , CEO, OCLC; leadership insights blogger at Skipprichard.com
“I think the best stories in the world are the ones you’d never expect. Leave it to Ken Abraham to keep finding true stories that absolutely must be told.”
— Dave Ramsey , New York Times bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio show host
“Dick and I played high school basketball in Indiana in the ’60s, so More Than Rivals brought back many great memories for us. We loved the di versity of sports and loved playing, traveling, and living with teammates of a different color. If everyone would love like that, despite differences in skin color, it would be a better world. The players accepted and loved and appreciated one another. Most of all, we understood one another. The relativity of the blending of sports and race relations is more important today than ever before. More Than Rivals gives the reader a little of both sides.”
— Tom & Dick Van Arsdale , Indiana University All-Americans; twelve-year NBA players; three-time NBA All-Stars
Dedication in Memorium
The
MORE THAN RIVALS
team
wishes to honor
the following individuals:
Anna Bransford Ligon (mother of Bill Ligon)
Jimmy H. (Bo) Sherlin Jr. (brother of Eddie Sherlin)
Dan P. Herron (former principal of Gallatin High School)
Professor John V. Malone (former principal of Union High School)
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication in Memorium
Acknowledgments
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
About the Author
Photo Insert
Back Ad
Back Cover
Acknowledgments
T HE DREAM FOR M ORE T HAN R IVALS originated in the heart and mind of Eddie Sherlin, one of the key figures in the story, when he realized that people are still longing for the hope this story inspires. Eddie took his ideas to Nancy Bailey, president of ACT 2 Films, a film development company in Nashville, Tennessee. Nancy worked with indefatigable determination for more than seven years to bring this story to the world. She shared the idea of a book with Regina Moore, owner and CEO of Moore Casting, who connected Nancy with me. Thanks, Regina! I am deeply grateful to Eddie, Nancy, and Regina for entrusting this powerful story to me. Thank you, Nancy, for believing and for all your hard work!
Eddie Sherlin is a personal inspiration to me. His humility and kindness are traits I hope to emulate. Thank you for sharing with me not only your story but also your heart. Eddie says he can teach almost anyone how to shoot a basketball better. Maybe someday you can teach me how to shoot as well as you! Thank you, Eddie.
Bill Ligon was also tremendously helpful in telling this story. Bill graciously granted personal interviews with me and continued to answer my questions throughout the writing process. I deeply appreciated Bill’s honest perspectives. Thanks, Bill!
Special thanks and kudos to Jennifer Easton, an education reporter for the Tennessean and the Gallatin News Examiner , who served as the project’s primary research specialist. Jennifer has published numerous articles about these events, and she conducted many of the initial interviews with people who knew the inside details of the story. Your contributions were invaluable, Jennifer, and much of the credit for the success of this book goes to you!
Kevin Shaw, director of photography, did an outstanding job conducting interviews with the people in Gallatin and drawing out their true feelings surrounding the events in the story. Thank you, Kevin!
Johnnie Scoutton did a fantastic job creating a website that conveys the concepts of More Than Rivals . Thank you, Johnnie!
A special thank-you goes to Bonnie Bailey for her skillful blogging and tweeting!
We are also indebted to every person who graciously granted interviews for this project, many of which were conducted by Nancy or Jennifer. Your contributions make this story work. Special thanks to: John Alexander Mary Malone Benny Bills George Offitt Frank Brinkley Betty Carol Purcell Velma Brinkley Jordan Scott Buddy Bruce Betty Sherlin Shaw Julian Buford Jacob Sherlin William Buntin Jim Sherlin Susan Dalton Andrew Turner Sue Herron Jerry Vradenburg Joseph Malone
Heartfelt thanks to the marvelous editorial and marketing teams at Revell—Andrea Doering, Vicki Crumpton, Amy Ballor, Twila Bennett, Claudia Marsh, and Brittany Miller—bless you for taking this story to the world!
Most of all, thanks to the One whose peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation we all need: the Lord Jesus Christ.
1
T HE MOURNFUL WAIL of a distant train whistle pierced the afternoon calm as eleven-year-old Eddie Sherlin and his brother, Bo, two years his senior, struggled to pull a heavy 4´ × 4´ wooden pallet along the track.
“Hurry up, Eddie,” Bo urged, “or we’re gonna get caught.”
The two brothers had just stolen the large pallet from the storage area of the local shirt factory. They were hauling it to their backyard, more than two miles away, where they planned to hoist it onto a pole and use it for a basketball backboard. The pallet wasn’t worth much, and had they asked the manager if they could have it, he might have given it to them for nothing. But