I Came As a Shadow: An Autobiography

I decided to read I Came As A Shadow as I am an alumni Georgetown and avid fan who was fortunate to attend college and law school as well as live in DC from 1980-1990 during its golden era. Yet I was overwhelmed by Coach Thompsons autobiography. Thoughtful and poignant. His accomplishments as a coach are well known, yet his impact on so many lives is incredible. A life well lived and then some. It is not only a must read for Georgetown alums but for anyone who seeks to understand and improve how they live and can lift up those around them. Calling it a sports biography would be short sighted. It is a treatise on life.

In this day and age, everyone should read this book
Im a middle aged white male.
Always liked the Hoyas since I was a kid, but totally recall John Thompson being labeled negatively
Listen to his side please
I will pass this book along responsibly

Yes, I’m a lifelong Georgetown fan, but I never expected a book written with such honesty, insight, authenticity, and reality. This is sooooo much more than a book about basketball. Given recent events in the world, Big John was a man before his time. My respect for Georgetown as an institution of higher learning has deepened, despite being a law alum. This book can and should be used in so many classrooms. If is life, laid bare and unvarnished. Thanks to all who made this book a reality.

Great book! I loved it!

John Thompson came as a shadow. He arrived quietly on the scene and gradually became visible to all. In this book, John talks about more than basketball but about life itself. He is transparent about his personal feelings about his decision-making whether they were good or bad. He spoke not only about racism in sports but in this country. Sadly, racism is still an issue today. Yet, John teaches us how we can beat the odds when the cards are stacked against us.

John makes no apologies. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He tells it like it is whether you believe him or accept what he has to say. A lot of what we thought we knew about John was what the media told us. It was refreshing to read what actually happened and what John thought of the situation. For instance, when he met with Notorious Drug Kingpin Rayful Edmond and when he met with Nike owner, Phil Knight, and how he helped Mr. Knight before Air Jordan elevated the business. Also, he discussed his meeting with Ann Iverson, Allen Iverson’s mother. I also appreciated the back stories of Patrick Ewing and how he dealt with racism. I appreciated the stories about local basketball legends who became great after basketball at Georgetown, like Michael Jackson (not the singer) but ball player, and how he was responsible for the TNT NBA commentaries like Shaq and Kenny Smith. For a man who lived a quiet and private life, it felt good to be invited into John Thompson’s psyche and understanding what made him tick.

Yes, John was stoic, controlling, arrogant, selfish at times, and his body was as big as his ego, and filled with black pride, but he was also smart, brilliant, practical, and he really cared about his players. His heart was as tender as the towel he carried across his shoulder during games. It represented his mother and her hard work to get him to be the man he became. He wanted to win games and not save every black kid out there, but often times it happened that way. Mentoring fell into his lap and he accepted it whether he wanted to or not.

Although Thompson lost more big games than he won, in the end, he proved to be one of the biggest champions in college sports because he changed lives and institutions. He helped build brands and peoples’ characters. Although he came as a shadow, he left his mark in the history of Washington, DC forever!

I came to love & play basketball because of two coaches who inspired me when I was a kid. Coach John Thompson & Coach Dean Smith. During the 1982 NCAA Championship I cried when the Georgetown Hoyas lost but I knew they would be back. I could see the care that Coach Thompson & Smith had for their players beyond basketball but in life. Two Legends. This book was well written & taught me a lot about Coach Thompson I didnt know. Highly recommend reading this book. R.I.P. Coach John Thompson one of the best to ever Coach & lead.

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