Gentle Arrogance

<p><strong>2024 Maxy Award for General Fiction</strong></p><p>Walking through doors open to a popular athlete Jamie Williams wins hearts and basketball championships. Jamie's life however is far from trouble-free. Bullies like Rick Cullin quickly learn that picking on Jamie Williams a young man with a powder keg temper is not a wise decision. Growing up during a time of social change Jamie wrestles with morality religion and being in love with two women.</p><p>The Most Valuable Player in the 1968 Arkansas Overall Basketball Tournament Jamie a highly sought-after college prospect plans to impress colleges and universities during his senior year in high school. Sadly he injures his left knee while water-skiing on Lake Greeson with his high school teammate David Thompson and his girlfriend Marian Wood.</p><p>After surgery and rehab Howard Martin the Head Coach at the University of Arkansas shatters Jamie's dream when he does not offer him a scholarship. To add insult to injury coaches recruiting Jamie consider him insolent and possibly damaged goods. Coach Phil Westerman Jamie's brother-in-law and personal trainer thinks Jamie's rotten attitude had destroyed his chances of playing college basketball.</p><p>A year after Jamie's fall from grace Graham Wallace a prominent sportswriter and a Jamie Williams admirer references the old black and white movie Boys Town and poses the question How many chances should a bad boy receive before he is written off as a lost cause? Jamie reluctantly swallows his pride walks on at the University of Arkansas and impresses the coaches.</p><p>But does he fulfill his dream and win a national championship?</p>