Pat Croce.

Self-made man? Yup.

Millionaire? Definitely.

Influential in sports? Of course.

But an author?

Well, he certainly is now. Pat Croce, the self-made millionaire and president of Philadelphia's 76ers, released his fifth novel, I Feel Great and You Will Too! — An Inspiring Journey of Success with Practical Tips on How to Score Big in Life, last month from Running Press Book Publishers.

So why all of the hype here, now?

Croce, proving his Penn State loyalty for the second time this semester, will be returning to State College this weekend to have a discussion and signing of his book on Oct. 29 at Barnes & Noble, 365 Benner Pike.

His 256-page book was written in conjunction with Bill Lyon. Lyon has been a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer for 27 years and is a five-time nominee for the Pulitzer Prize.

During his 44-year career Lyon has won more than 80 state and national awards in his field. He is a sports writer and a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He has authored three novels and has been the Pennsylvania Sports Writer of the Year eleven times. He was clearly the perfect choice for a co-author in this case — you don't get more sports-oriented than Lyon and Croce combined.

But what is the book about?

According to Barnes and Noble Booksellers, the book is "an engaging blend of autobiographical and business acumen. . .(with) tips to emphasize valuable lessons on goal-setting, communications, creative thinking and dedication."

Therefore, the book is essentially Croce's "how-to" guide — almost a "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" book — except that in this case, one must clearly work to attain success at these levels.

It contains easy to follow lists of pointers and advice, such as Croce's "Ten Commandments of Customer Service," which he developed during his years as a physical trainer, before he opened his own chain of clinics. It includes his more than 50 "Pat Croce Pointers," which are designed to emphasize values and lessons learned.

The book has been well received — it has an average five-star rating on both Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble Online — the highest possible rating that both offer. Customer reviews are also glowing, and with celebrities such as Michael Jordan, John McCain, Jimmy Buffet, Bruce Willis and Chris Rock offering their own endorsements, the book is sure to do well with fans and readers alike.

Individual Barnes and Noble stores do not release sales numbers, but according to Joan Lynn, the community relations manager at the State College store, "the book is on prominent display here, and there's been lot's of interest."

Lynn went on to say that while the discussion will revolve mostly around I Feel Great and You Will Too!, students will likely be given an opportunity to ask Croce about his other books and experiences.

Many students may wish to go to the signing simply to see and hear Croce, even if they have not read and are not planning to buy the book. Croce's tale is, after all, one of the more colorful stories that one might have the opportunity to hear.

Besides being the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, he is also the founder of Sports Physical Therapists Inc., a top motivational speaker to Fortune 500 companies and an international karate champion.

He achieved all of these things by starting from the ground level and simply working hard. His motivational story is sure to be an interesting one for all to enjoy.

The free event will start at 7 p. m. and is open to the public.