Sacred Hoops

First Paperback edition.Sacred Hoops is an inside look at the higher wisdom of teamwork from Chicago Bulls' head coach Phil Jackson. At the heart of the book is Jackson's philosophy of mindful basketball - and his lifelong quest to bring enlightenment to the competitive world of professional sports. One of the most successful coaches in NBA history, Jackson has developed a new paradigm of leadership based on Eastern and Native American principles. His approach flies in the face of the egoistic, winner-take-all attitude that has changed the face of American sports. Rather than winning through intimidation, Jackson - who describes himself as a Zen Christian - stresses awareness, compassion, and, most of all, selfless team play. Born in Deer Lodge, Montana, Jackson is the son of Pentecostal ministers. He studied psychology, philosophy, and religion at the University of North Dakota and became part of the legendary New York Knicks of the early 1970s. Toward the end of his playing career he discovered Zen and began meditating. "Being aware," he says, "is more important than being smart." In this thought-provoking memoir, filled with stories about Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and other members of the Bulls, Jackson reveals how he directs his players to act with a clear mind - not thinking, just doing; to respect the enemy and be aggressive without anger or violence; to live in the moment and stay calmly focused in the midst of chaos, so that the "me" becomes the servant of the "we."ion.