On the day that Stony Brook university and Kent State University punched their cards to the College World Series, Tony Meale released his book “The Chosen Ones: The Team that Beat LeBron.” The 372 page book chronicles the improbable run by Roger Bacon Spartans that ended in a defeat of LeBron James and St. Vincent St. Mary in the 2002 state title game.
One thing is clear about “The Chosen Ones” and that is that a lot of time and hard work was put into writing the book. Much of the book is done in an oral history style and is centered around first-hand encounters of the players and coaching staff of the Spartans. There is a good balance of first-person narratives, description of gameplay, background info and explaining what makes all of the characters in the book function the way that they do. In this sense, it reminded me of Terry Pluto’s great book “Forty-Eight Minutes,” which chronicles a regular-season game between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in 1987. In addition to statistics, Meale gives thorough descriptions of the feel of the games played and what is going through the mind of each player. Reading the segments that outline gameplay is not like reading a box score.
Much of the story centers around the late Roger Bacon coach Bill Brewer. A tough-nosed and no-nonsense coach, Brewer took the fledging Spartans program and turned it around using his brand of Xs and Os coaching and personal accountability. Brewer was a family man and that extended to the way he approached his coaching career. He was very tough on his players, but it was only done so out of love. Bill Brewer pushed his players to the edge only because he believed in them and wanted them to succeed as much as they possibly could.
Every good story has a highs and lows. An example of that paradox is that Bill Brewer passed away about five years after the Spartans won the state championship. Tony Meale sets the table by starting the book off with the story of Bill Brewer’s life leading up to his death. As the reader, you get a feel for what he meant to the community, team and most importantly, his family.
As we try to keep our mind on our own goals, we know there are plans for the future, but certainly not the immediate future. Positively consumed by the events of the present day, fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers and even casual observers around Northeast Ohio cannot look past these NBA Finals. For some, it's a crusade to never let go of the bitter, but for many it's a time to move forward. Then again, it might just be about watching some quality basketball before the Association takes its summer hiatus.
