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Open Look: Canadian Basketball and Me
A thoughtful, entertaining memoir about one of Canada’s most decorated basketball stars, his love of the sport, and the rise of basketball in Canada.
As a child growing up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Jay Triano did what everyone else in the city did on Friday he went to watch basketball. Along with dozens of other fans, Jay and his family would crowd into the gymnasium of the local high school. Of all the places in the world, Jay only ever wanted to be courtside, surrounded by the game he loved with the roar of the crowd behind him.
Jay never lost that passion for the game. A talented basketball player, Jay competed at the highest levels of the sport. He broke school records, traveled the world with the national team, and twice played against some of basketball’s biggest stars at the Olympics, all in the hopes of one day becoming a professional athlete. But the road wasn’t always smooth. Basketball was in its infancy in Canada, and Jay’s options were limited. Jack Donohue, the imposing forefather of the national game in Canada, held the fortunes of many players in his hands, and he tested the mettle of those around him. Throughout it all, Jay’s love of the sport drove him onward.
As Jay matured, so too did the game of basketball in Canada, from humble origins in quiet communities to international competitions and the peak of the professional game. Along the way, Jay drew inspiration from the remarkable people in his life. When he was playing at university, Jay’s trainer was a young man named Terry Fox, who showed Jay the true meanings of discipline, gratitude, and giving back. Years later, when Jay was coaching Olympic and NBA teams, it was those same lessons that helped him realize that he wasn’t just shaping athletes; he was shaping a new generation.
Told with honesty, warmth, and passion, Jay Triano’s story is an uplifting reminder of what it means to love a sport and a country.
As a child growing up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Jay Triano did what everyone else in the city did on Friday he went to watch basketball. Along with dozens of other fans, Jay and his family would crowd into the gymnasium of the local high school. Of all the places in the world, Jay only ever wanted to be courtside, surrounded by the game he loved with the roar of the crowd behind him.
Jay never lost that passion for the game. A talented basketball player, Jay competed at the highest levels of the sport. He broke school records, traveled the world with the national team, and twice played against some of basketball’s biggest stars at the Olympics, all in the hopes of one day becoming a professional athlete. But the road wasn’t always smooth. Basketball was in its infancy in Canada, and Jay’s options were limited. Jack Donohue, the imposing forefather of the national game in Canada, held the fortunes of many players in his hands, and he tested the mettle of those around him. Throughout it all, Jay’s love of the sport drove him onward.
As Jay matured, so too did the game of basketball in Canada, from humble origins in quiet communities to international competitions and the peak of the professional game. Along the way, Jay drew inspiration from the remarkable people in his life. When he was playing at university, Jay’s trainer was a young man named Terry Fox, who showed Jay the true meanings of discipline, gratitude, and giving back. Years later, when Jay was coaching Olympic and NBA teams, it was those same lessons that helped him realize that he wasn’t just shaping athletes; he was shaping a new generation.
Told with honesty, warmth, and passion, Jay Triano’s story is an uplifting reminder of what it means to love a sport and a country.
- GenresSports
224 pages, Hardcover
Published October 23, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 26, 2018
As a Canadian basketball fan I was excited to receive this book from Simon&Schuster Canada for an honest review. I was very interested to learn about the state of Canadian basketball throughout the author’s playing days and later through his coaching jobs. It was wonderful to hear a bit about Terry Fox, a Canadian hero, and Jay’s connection to him. I also enjoyed learning more about Jack Donohue who had such an impact on Canadian basketball. There has been such an evolution in Canadian basketball over the years. It was great to read Jay’s perspective on the game and to see where we are now in Canada in terms of now having our own superstars in the NBA. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 10, 2019
If you were a basketball player in Canada during the 70’s and 80’s you will love this book. If you weren’t , you might find it a little slow, not knowing who most of the characters are. It’s well written and one of the few books on this era of Canadian basketball. Jay Triano is definitely one of the pioneers of Canadian basketball and deserves much recognition for that.
June 27, 2019
I met Jay first hand back in 2017 in the first FIBA Americup working for Canada Basketball and I felt incredibly honored to have him along side. This was the perfect book to get to know a corner stone of Canadian basketball who’s been at the core of international basketball ever since he started in the 80’. If you are a basketball fan (and even better a coach) you will love this book. A must read. Thank you for the open look, Coach Triano 🙏🏽
November 11, 2020
Since he grew up in nearby Niagara Falls, I have heard about Jay Triano for many, many years but never knew why he was famous other than being a basketball player. This book gave me all the details in a well-written, first-person narrative. Being at the pinnacle of the sport, the National Basketball Association has its perks, but the possibility of being let go at any time makes if difficult to conduct your life. It takes a special person to be able to live with this year after year.
June 25, 2023
A great addition to the too few volumes on Canadian basketball. Triano's significance as a player and coach with the national team and a basketball descendant of Jack Donahue. Given the significance of his work with Canada Basketball as player and coach, a more detailed book would have been appreciated and just as easily feasted upon.
August 3, 2020
An incredible read for all fans of Canadian/Olympic basketball!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews