Book Review:
The Miracle of Saint Anthony
Author Adrian Wojnarowski
The Miracle of St. Anthony is about a small parochial catholic school in Jersey City, New Jersey—just across the Hudson from New York—and their coach of 35 years Bob Hurley. This is true story about a typical inner city school filed with the blithe that is part of the rich, but conflicting culture that makes up the ingredients of inner city basketball in America.
St. Anthony High School is an oasis in the middle of the baron desert called Jersey City. Jersey City is filled with great, hard working people that have to live every day with the sound of police sirens, gunshots, drug deals, and bails bonds. While the behavioral norms are no different than those of South Central in Los Angeles, the one major difference is Bob Hurley, Sister Allen, Sister Felicia, and the host of Dad’s and Mom’s who want something very different than what the streets of jersey City has to offer their kids. Every one in Jersey City knows that one way out is through St. Anthony and Bob Hurley.
Bob Hurley is a [hard-nosed coach] and I say that affectionately. Being a [tough coach] in this day of coddled and pampered athletes, misguided parents and ESPN 5 seconds of fame, is a very good quality to have. Adrian Wojnarowski, the author, is an excellent storyteller. He takes the reader into the world of Bob Hurley and St. Anthony and refuses to allow you any escape until you’ll fully been Hurlyized.
I am sure that Bob Hurley has his distracters and ex-players who might not have thought he was the best coach or person, but on the whole his legend is set. The exert below completely describes why Bob Hurley’s [tough] approach works…
“What I have here is a formula to get kids out of Jersey City”, Hurley says, and it begins with his foot on their throats, commanding them completely until they get out of high school, until they’ve gone to college like each of his players but one has since he started coaching at St. Anthony in 1972
The book is filled with detailed accounts of games, practices, late night meeting and Bob Hurley’s philosophical verve that has kept him going, and turning down college jobs for 35 years. There is a very in-depth chapter on his famous son—Bobby Hurley, the former Duke and NBA player that is full of mixed emotion of exhilaration, sadness and respect for both the son and the father.
The Miracle of ST. Anthony is not just another jock book. It is an Anthropological study of one man’s passion for excellence and his willingness to continue to excavate the greatness out of every kid that comes through the doors of St. Anthony. This is a must read.