A Rocket at Heart: My Life and My Team

Tomjanovich is one of those increasingly rare birds in sport: he has been tied since 1970 to a single team, basketball's Houston Rockets--as player, scout, assistant coach and, since 1992, head coach. Raised in Detroit's blue-collar enclave of Hamtramck, he joined the Houston team in 1970 and played with them until he retired in 1981. Known as an excellent hoopster, he received his greatest publicity in the 1977-1978 season, when a sucker punch by Kermit Washington of the L.A. Lakers separated his face from his skull and threatened his life. But that is only a minor incident, told in passing, as Tomjanovich details his success as head coach, leading his team to the NBC championships in the 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 seasons, in part, he notes, because he had the great Hakeem Olajuwon as his star, in part because he treated his players as mature adults. He also discusses some of his problems besides motivating athletes, including coping with the NBA salary cap, which meant he had to trade respected players simply because of finances. This informative sports autobiography should please many b-ball fans. Photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)