It’s time the world learned the story of basketball’s great pioneer Angelo “Hank” Luisetti, the man who fought the establishment and changed basketball’s genetic footprint. Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891; Hank Luisetti reinvented it in 1936.

Hank Luisetti grew up in the same San Francisco neighborhood as his contemporary Joe DiMaggio—the two actually knew each other and went to the same elementary school. DiMaggio had the luxury of legends like Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb cementing the foundation of the MLB, but Luisetti played in an era where there was no NBA. It was he who provided a taste of what basketball could become.

After Luisetti’s heroics were displayed in a game at Madison Square Garden between Stanford and LIU, basketball, as we know it, was born. Hank shocked the basketball world and the New York media machine knew they were witnessing history. Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball propels Luisetti back into the spotlight. The first national basketball celebrity’s story is retold to a generation who know nothing of its thrilling inception.

Mike DeLucia can be reached at 914-419-6969, [email protected], https://twitter.com/mdeluciabooks, or http://www.facebook.com/greentbooks. Visit www.booksbymikedelucia.com for further information.

Literary Titan’s Book Review of Madness:

There is a certain quality about people who make valuable contributions to history. They seem to have an uncanny ability to remain focused on their goals and to overcome their hurdles with stoic determination. Such is the story of one Angelo-Giuseppi ‘Hank’ Luisetti. Some people may not know who this is, including some basketball fanatics. However, the fact remains that Hank revolutionized basketball. Madness is his story of courage, focus, determination and immeasurable passion for the game.

The legacy of Hank Luisetti should never go unrecognized. He lived an inspiring life of hard work and motivating those around him to be better. Mike De Lucia tells his story in a compelling manner. He pulls in the reader right from the introduction with a peek into Hank’s life before basketball; being taught not to question God and a whole delve into his life during basketball. You will get to see the struggles as a ‘different’ kid. Nothing has been held back. This book is marked with candid banter and a knack to inspire the reader.

The book does not discriminate between demographics. It is enjoyable by anyone of any age. It is written in simple language. It weaves the plot of Hank’s life in a way that keeps you interested in how one person can be such a pillar of strength, not only for his self but for others too. You will find all the spirit, joy and heart of the game and the man himself captured between the lines of this book. The story is told in such vivid detail that you can almost see the sweat trickle down Hank’s face. You can feel his heart beat in his chest every time he was on the court.

Mike De Lucia uses true events but has created fictional characters to support the plot. These characters are properly built with enough backdrop and dimensions but it is done so carefully so that they do not overshadow the purpose of the story. They are great characters that will appeal to the reader. These characters will affirm that truly no great man becomes so without a few trusted people to him along the way.

There is a lot to learn from this book. You do not even have to be a fan of basketball. You could know absolutely nothing about the sport but you would still enjoy it. Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball is a trip into the heart of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.