I Came As a Shadow: An Autobiography
The long-awaited autobiography from Georgetown University’s legendary coach, whose life on and off the basketball court threw America’s unresolved struggle with racial justice into sharp relief.
John Thompson was never just a basketball coach and I Came As A Shadow is categorically not just a basketball autobiography.
After five decades at the center of race and sports in America, Thompson—the iconic NCAA champion, Black activist, and educator—was ready to make the private public at last, and he completed this autobiography shortly before his death in the historically tumultuous summer of 2020. Chockful of stories and moving beyond mere stats (three Final Fours, four-time national coach of the year, seven Big East championships, 97 percent graduation rate), Thompson’s book drives us through his childhood under Jim Crow segregation to our current moment of racial reckoning. We experience riding shotgun with Celtics icon Red Auerbach and coaching NBA Hall of Famers like Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson. What were the origins of the the phrase “Hoya Paranoia”? You’ll see. And parting his veil of secrecy, Thompson brings us into his negotiation with a D.C. drug kingpin in his players’ orbit in the 1980s, as well as behind the scenes of his years on the Nike board.
Thompson’s mother was a teacher who had to clean houses because of racism in the nation's capital. His father could not read or write. Their son grew up to be a man with his own larger-than-life statue in a building that bears his family’s name on a campus once kept afloat by the selling of 272 enslaved Black people. This is a great American story, and John Thompson’s experience sheds light on many of the issues roiling our nation. In these pages, he proves himself to be the elder statesman whose final words college basketball and the country need to hear.
I Came As A Shadow is not a swan song, but a bullhorn blast from one of America’s most prominent sons.
Reviews (80)
Amazing!
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 Thompson’s 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.
Excellent book
In this day and age, everyone should read this book I’m 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
Phenomenal autobiography
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.
He came as a shadow, but left his mark in DC history.
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!
Great Book
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 didn’t know. Highly recommend reading this book. R.I.P. Coach John Thompson one of the best to ever Coach & lead.
Coach Thompson nails it with this Book!
I grew up a huge Georgetown Hoya fan. Coach Thompson takes you inside the personal details of his life. From growing up, to HS and College. His brief but impactful Pro Basketball Career with the Boston Celtics of the 60s to starting his coaching career at St. Anthony. How he got the job at Georgetown, being Men's Head Basketball Coach, that created his Coaching Legacy! Coach Thompson tells it like it is, not mincing his words. He gives excellent perspective on the time period throughout his book. Race, that is something Coach Thompson had to deal with his whole life being a 6foot 10 in black man. As he would say, they started the problem, I am just reacting. RIP Coach.
Deep, emotional read. Well worth the money.
The word “deep” comes to mind while reading this. I’m about halfway through and have loved every bit of it. I’m a Duke fan, but always have had respect for John Thompson. I’m happy I am currently reading this.
Class of '75
I was a freshman newly arrived at Georgetown the year John Thompson started coaching there. Later, his offices took over the handball courts I used to use in McDonough Gym. There's nothing he wrote about his time at the school that doesn't make my eyes moist with nostalgia, but this book transcends even that time and place. He's deeply beloved.
This is not your typical sports book
I Came AS A Shadow is not your typical sports book. John Thompson, through the writing of Jesse Washington gives us insight into the racial inequities in the U.S.A. through out his life in a interesting, raw and honest fashion. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of racism in our country and/or for the avid sports fan.
Passion for winning and compassion for his players
John Thompson was one of the legendary coaches of college basketball's Big East. it was Dave Gavitt who put together a number of Catholic-affiliated colleges in the major urban centers of the East Coast to produce multiple NCAA powerhouses - Villanova, Providence, St. Johns, Boston College, Seton Hall and Georgetown - along with state university UConn that fell within the region. However, none was more feared than Georgetown with its collection of future NBA Hall of Famers -- Patrick Ewing, Alan Iverson, Dikembe Mtumbo, and Alonzo Mourning, -- coached by a man who had won two NBA championships as backup to the legendary Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics. This marvelous book captures Thompson's sensitivity to the tough urban upbringings of his players as well as his intensity to win. Well done.
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