A Sense of Where You Are
Encyclopedia
In A Sense of Where You Are, John McPhee
profiles Bill Bradley
during Bradley's senior year at Princeton University.
Bradley, who would later play in the National Basketball Association
and serve in the United States Senate
, was widely regarded as one of the best basketball players in the country, and his status as a Rhodes Scholar
playing in the Ivy League
only added to his allure. Published in 1965, this book describes Bradley's rise to stardom at Princeton, then follows Bradley through the final year of his college career, culminating in Princeton's third-place finish in that year's NCAA Tournament.
Late in Bradley's career at Princeton—in the summer before Bradley's senior year—McPhee profiled Bradley for The New Yorker
magazine. Although Bradley had been a prominent basketball player for his first three years at Princeton, his performance with the gold-medal-winning U.S. men's basketball team at the 1964 Olympic Games
in Tokyo
vaulted him to national celebrity. McPhee describes all aspects of Bradley's game, from his roots playing basketball in Crystal City, Missouri
and his Olympic experience to Bradley's particular passing and shooting techniques, various physical gifts (including an extraordinary range of vision), and intense discipline and commitment. He also discusses Bradley's studies and extracurricular activities at Princeton, where he concentrated in History and led Sunday-school classes through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Over the course of his senior year, Bradley added to his impressive academic and basketball records. He led Princeton to the Ivy League Championship, the Eastern Regional Championship of the NCAA tournament, and a third-place finish at the NCAA National Championships, where Princeton set records for most points scored and most field goals made. Individually, Bradley became the third-leading scorer in NCAA history, broke every significant Ivy League basketball record, set several new marks for scoring in the NCAA Championship, and was named most valuable player of the national championships as well as the national player of the year. He was also awarded a Rhodes scholarship and graduated with honors from Princeton that spring.
Van Breda Kolff, Bradley's coach at Princeton, as well as several of Bradley's teammates, also receive mention in this book. McPhee describes van Breda Kolff as an "Abstract Expressionist" of basketball—a coach who values the nuances of the game and "appears to feel that mere winning is far less important than winning with style." McPhee also highlights the play of Gary Walters
(currently the athletic director of Princeton University), Don Rodenbach, Bob Haarlow, Robbie Brown, Ed Hummer, and even Ken Shank, a role player and defensive specialist whose task was to guard Bradley in practice. Although the 1965 Princeton basketball team was first and foremost Bradley's team, McPhee writes, each of these men had an important role to play in that team's unprecedented success.
Even today, the feats McPhee describes in this book stand as some of the most impressive achievements in NCAA basketball history. Although the NCAA tournament expanded to 6 games in 1985, Bradley's 177 points in 5 games is still the second-most by any player in a NCAA championship (behind Glen Rice
's 184), and his average of 35.4 points per game is fifth all-time. Princeton's third-place finish in 1965 is the best-ever result by an Ivy League school in the NCAA tournament, and Bradley still holds Ivy League records in nearly ever major statistical category.
Until this book was published, neither John McPhee nor Bill Bradley were well-known on a national level. However, after publication each would go on to a prominent career in writing and basketball, respectively. McPhee went on to win the Pulitzer Prize
in non-fiction writing, and became a professor of nonfiction writing at Princeton. Bradley, meanwhile, played for 10 years in the NBA with the New York Knicks
, winning two league championships, then became a three-term United States Senator from New Jersey and Democratic presidential candidate in 2000. Each remains a fan of Princeton basketball.
John McPhee
John Angus McPhee is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, widely considered one of the pioneers of creative nonfiction....
profiles Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
during Bradley's senior year at Princeton University.
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
Bradley, who would later play in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and serve in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, was widely regarded as one of the best basketball players in the country, and his status as a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
playing in the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
only added to his allure. Published in 1965, this book describes Bradley's rise to stardom at Princeton, then follows Bradley through the final year of his college career, culminating in Princeton's third-place finish in that year's NCAA Tournament.
NCAA Tournament
NCAA tournament may refer to a number tournaments organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association:Men's sports*NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, the most common usage of this term*NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship...
Late in Bradley's career at Princeton—in the summer before Bradley's senior year—McPhee profiled Bradley for The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
magazine. Although Bradley had been a prominent basketball player for his first three years at Princeton, his performance with the gold-medal-winning U.S. men's basketball team at the 1964 Olympic Games
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
vaulted him to national celebrity. McPhee describes all aspects of Bradley's game, from his roots playing basketball in Crystal City, Missouri
Crystal City, Missouri
Crystal City is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,523 at the estimated 2009 census. It was 4,247 at the 2000 census....
and his Olympic experience to Bradley's particular passing and shooting techniques, various physical gifts (including an extraordinary range of vision), and intense discipline and commitment. He also discusses Bradley's studies and extracurricular activities at Princeton, where he concentrated in History and led Sunday-school classes through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
Over the course of his senior year, Bradley added to his impressive academic and basketball records. He led Princeton to the Ivy League Championship, the Eastern Regional Championship of the NCAA tournament, and a third-place finish at the NCAA National Championships, where Princeton set records for most points scored and most field goals made. Individually, Bradley became the third-leading scorer in NCAA history, broke every significant Ivy League basketball record, set several new marks for scoring in the NCAA Championship, and was named most valuable player of the national championships as well as the national player of the year. He was also awarded a Rhodes scholarship and graduated with honors from Princeton that spring.
Van Breda Kolff, Bradley's coach at Princeton, as well as several of Bradley's teammates, also receive mention in this book. McPhee describes van Breda Kolff as an "Abstract Expressionist" of basketball—a coach who values the nuances of the game and "appears to feel that mere winning is far less important than winning with style." McPhee also highlights the play of Gary Walters
Gary Walters
Gary D. Walters is an American athlete, coach, athletic administrator and business man, best known for being a former point guard for Princeton in NCAA basketball, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated, chairing the NCAA's Division I Men's Basketball Committee in 2007, and operating...
(currently the athletic director of Princeton University), Don Rodenbach, Bob Haarlow, Robbie Brown, Ed Hummer, and even Ken Shank, a role player and defensive specialist whose task was to guard Bradley in practice. Although the 1965 Princeton basketball team was first and foremost Bradley's team, McPhee writes, each of these men had an important role to play in that team's unprecedented success.
Even today, the feats McPhee describes in this book stand as some of the most impressive achievements in NCAA basketball history. Although the NCAA tournament expanded to 6 games in 1985, Bradley's 177 points in 5 games is still the second-most by any player in a NCAA championship (behind Glen Rice
Glen Rice
Glen Anthony Rice is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. The 6'8" tall Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star guard/forward, ranking 11th in NBA history with 1,559 three-point field goals made during his 15-year career. As a player, Rice won an NCAA Men's Division...
's 184), and his average of 35.4 points per game is fifth all-time. Princeton's third-place finish in 1965 is the best-ever result by an Ivy League school in the NCAA tournament, and Bradley still holds Ivy League records in nearly ever major statistical category.
Until this book was published, neither John McPhee nor Bill Bradley were well-known on a national level. However, after publication each would go on to a prominent career in writing and basketball, respectively. McPhee went on to win the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in non-fiction writing, and became a professor of nonfiction writing at Princeton. Bradley, meanwhile, played for 10 years in the NBA with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, winning two league championships, then became a three-term United States Senator from New Jersey and Democratic presidential candidate in 2000. Each remains a fan of Princeton basketball.