Biography: sport Books

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Book SynopsisWidely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket, Shane Warne was a giant of his time. A sporting hero and national icon, young cricketers today are inspired by his leg spin legacy.Perhaps the most charismatic personality of any sport, Shane Warne's triumphs restored craft and subtlety to the foreground of the game. Taking the highest number of Test wickets when he retired – 708 at 25.14 apiece, he was chosen by Wisden as one of the five outstanding players of the 20th century. The rebel who used his injury in his early years to build strength in his wrists and upper body, his unwavering optimism and unassailable competitive spirit became a defining feature of the leading man of cricket.Packed with quotes and insights The Little Book of Shane Warne explores the man who, by unanimous consent, pitched the ball of the century, and earned his place in the pantheon of exceptional players.'He was the best of them all and you can't say any more than that.' Michael Parkinson'People put down their beer every time Shane Warne came on to bowl.' Ian ChappellTable of ContentsShane Warne on the Way Up: Childhood accidents and teenage rejections to ten-pint nights and a lot of hard work. Shane Warne on the Ashes: From the Ball of the Century to the art of sledging and everything inbetween. Shane Warne on Cricket: The smartest captain Australia never had, Shane Warne on the game he loved. Shane Warne on Leg Spin: Big hands, strong wrists and an abundance of natural talent. Shane Warne on Life: Making friends and winning respect, the streetwise king who did it his own way. Life on Shane Warne: Thoughts and messages of love and respect from around the world.

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Book SynopsisGilly: The Turbulent Life of Roy Gilchrist is the tragic account of a cricket meteor who crashed to earth all too quickly because of his flawed temperament. Born into grinding poverty in rural Jamaica in 1934, Gilchrist's prowess as a phenomenal fast bowler quickly gained him international recognition, but the failure to curb his unstable temperament saw him sent home from the West Indies tour of India in 1959 for dangerous bowling. A victim of the class-ridden clique that ran West Indies cricket, Gilchrist hardly helped his cause by refusing to alter his aggressive demeanour. Excessive gamesmanship and constant fights on and off the field, culminating in a prison sentence for attacking his wife with a hot iron, not only put paid to any hopes of reviving his Test career; it also tainted his reputation irrevocably. Sadly, he lived his final years as a pauper afflicted by disease.Trade Review“In truth however the real surprise is just how long it has taken for a writer to decide to commit the Gilchrist story to paper, as even a moderate author would surely have been able to write a decent book on him. The fact that the man who eventually took on the task, Mark Peel, has a track record as an accomplished biographer is, effectively, a copper-bottomed guarantee that Gilly was going to be well worth reading… As far as the book itself is concerned it is one of those, relatively rare amongst cricketing biographies, that once picked up is difficult to put down. I suspect that come awards time Gilly will be on every long list, most short lists, and surely will come out on top somewhere. As cricket books go it is just about perfect… Gilly is a superb read, and highly recommended.” -- Martin Chandler * Cricket Web *"A compelling read... Peel’s biography reveals a typically exhaustive trawl through assorted books and local newspapers, while a phalanx of old league cricketers have been happy to share memories that enrich the many descriptions of crucial league matches." * Association of Cricket Statisticians *“I enjoyed the book immensely and it’s a cracking read. One of Mark Peel’s best... A player removed from Test and pretty much first-class cricket after some antics on the sub-continent. Written off as a sort of ignorant thug, it’s about time that someone looked afresh at a cricketer who was destructive on the field and self-destructive off it. Fortunately, Peel is just the kind of detached, intelligent writer to give us a more balanced and rounded view. It’s a tale that has more than a feel of Bruce Hamilton’s fictional account of a cricketer about it, with a story of a talented man from the wrong side of the tracks who finds success and then catastrophic failure with blame that can be apportioned to the player and many others, and happy endings in short supply.” * The Cricket Society Journal *"Gilly, the turbulent life of Roy Gilchrist, is a rollicking, astonishing read." -- Ken Piesse * Pavilion, the Australian Cricket Society Magazine *

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Book SynopsisHenry Armstrong: Boxing's Super Champ is the story of arguably the most incredible fighter in the history of boxing - told by one of the few surviving writers to have been around during Armstrong's unique world championship reign. When Henry had his arm raised on 17 August 1938, after winning a blood-spattered 15-round decision over Lou Ambers, he became the first boxer to simultaneously hold world titles at three different weights - and somehow he managed the feat in an era of just eight weight classes, with no 'junior' or 'super' divisions. He had entered Madison Square Garden as the reigning world feather and welterweight champion, and left with the world lightweight belt strapped around his waist. Now in his 90s, veteran boxing journalist and author John Jarrett looks back on the life and career of this ring hero of his youth: a 5ft 51/2in buzzsaw they nicknamed 'Homicide Hank'. In the 85 years that have passed since then, nobody has matched Armstrong's amazing triple-championship feat. It's likely no one ever will.Trade Review"A colourful and controversial career (and life) – including financial help from actress Mae West – is covered in full, with alcoholism awaiting 'Homicide Hank' in the blue corner, and Bible-bashing awaiting 'Hammerin' Hank' in the red… One ring, twenty-two chapters, 352 pages, in 1938, real name, Henry Jackson Jr, became the only boxer in history to hold the following [world titles] at the same time – featherweight, lightweight and welterweight. Quite an achievement – just like this very well-written book, which lives and relives some great boxing action." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"Jarrett's Armstrong study is one of the more well-researched and immersive boxing books I’ve been fortunate enough to read. The colourful characters of the black and white era have rarely been so well-rendered as they are here. Jarrett takes you into the gyms, small halls, arenas and stadiums of boxing’s golden age... The 92-year-old is by most measures the oldest scribe in all of fistiana. Jarrett is also one of the most uniquely qualified. He is a vital through-line from the wonderful fighters of the mid-20th century... Jarrett lovingly compiles fight reports from the day to allow the reader to experience Armstrong's journey in real-time. 'Super Champ' leaves the reader invigorated by a time when boxing's stars spent more of their time in the ring and took on all-comers. A must-read for curious modern fans and wistful vintage watchers alike." -- Joey Mills * The Sportsman *"Henry Armstrong: Boxing’s Super Champ is John Jarrett’s retelling of the career of genuine boxing legend Henry Armstrong, the only boxer to ever simultaneously hold world titles at three different weights... [it is] the product of an enormous amount of research and editing. It might also be truer to say (and I mean this as a compliment), that Jarrett is less the author of this book and more the compiler, with the text mainly being taken from archival sources of printed material contemporary with Armstrong’s career. There are numerous sections of opinion pieces, lifted from The Ring magazine and a number of LA and New York based newspapers, by writers who have gone down in legend and/or been inducted into the various national and international boxing halls of fame." -- David Turner * Writers on Boxing *

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Book SynopsisSweeper Keeper is the compelling story of legendary goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence, one of the heroes of Bill Shankly''s Liverpool, who has been called the first ''sweeper keeper''. A chance interview with the BBC in 2015 made Tommy Lawrence a viral sensation. The one-in-a-million-chance meeting led to a heart-warming recollection of his playing days for Liverpool.Lawrence''s story has a lot more to it than meets the eye. Known affectionately as ''the Flying Pig'', the fabled goalkeeper led a roller-coaster life. After moving to Warrington with his family as a child, Tommy became friendly with local brothers Peter and Roger Hunt. Lawrence and Roger Hunt went on to be mainstays of Shankly''s Liverpool revolution, winning league titles and the club''s first FA Cup.The romance at Anfield ended abruptly, though, and there was no testimonial. From riches on the pitch to rags on the streets, Tommy''s life story is told b

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Book SynopsisToo big for the Primary School reps, and in his day the tallest man to have played on Lancaster Park, Nugget Pringle won Wellington caps in his first season of senior rugby with the Oriental Club, and went on to win an All Black cap the following year, 1923. In the training camp before the first test against New South Wales he proved a great entertainer and his Salome was a scream, but a cauliflower ear (one of many) led to his withdrawal from the match. He scored a try in the second test, which the All Blacks won handsomely, but, despite every endeavour for the next 4 years, failed to gain a second cap. En route he played for and against the All Blacks and against New Zealand Maoris, winning all three and scoring a try in two. Fate’s fickle fingers nonetheless conspired, through injury, illness, selection policy and sheer misfortune, to cause him to miss further home internationals as well as tours to Australia and South Africa. Most importantly, although a hot favourite all season, he missed out by a whisker on a place with the 1924/25 Invincibles. With the benefit of contemporary press cuttings in the family scrapbook, and from the archives, we follow here his playing career at club, representative and national level, while we also learn of his achievements in the worlds of athletics and cricket, and how he gained the unusual distinction of playing both rugby and cricket, as well as winning the shot put, on Athletic Park. A genial giant who gave his all for the game he loved, but, in terms of his playing career and All Black appearances, was he the Unluckiest All Black? Judge for yourself.

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Book SynopsisFrom the tennis court to the boxing ring, the athletics track to the football pitch, the visibility of women in sport has been gathering pace. Women's competitions are increasingly popular. In Roar Sam takes a deep dive into the experiences of some of sport's most high-profile female athletes - some have overcome heartbreaking adversity to reach the top of their game; others have succeeded in the face of prejudice. Like Sam, all have been propelled by sheer grit and determination to succeed. Many now campaign for women's equality and acceptance in sport, knowing the confidence it can bring young girls and the message that they can achieve anything. Featuring a series of candid interviews from some of sport's most successful women, Sam lifts the lid on what it takes to reach those heights: from coping with puberty to foregoing teenage fun to pursue a dream; from the punishing physical training schedule to the mental power needed to win or bounce back from defeat; and coping with the pressure of the media spotlight. And, what it feels like in that magical moment when you step up to the podium knowing every sacrifice has been worth it.Roar is a celebration of the bold and fearless - the women empowering future generations to follow in their footsteps - but it is also an inspiring look at how sport can change lives and challenge society.Table of Contentsi: Foreword: Gabby Logan MBE ii: Introduction: Sam Quek MBE 1: Making History - Paula Radcliffe MBE 2: Into the Unknown - Amy Williams MBE 3: Unlocking Potential - Dame Katherine Grainger 4: Never Give Up - Dame Sarah Storey 5: Strength and Power - Fatima Whitbread MBE 6: In the Moment - Sky Brown 7: Breaking Down Barriers - Shaunagh Brown 8: For the Love of Sport - Sheila Parker MBE 9: Trust and Responsibility - Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE 10: Digging Deep - Rebecca Adlington OBE 11: Conquering Expectations - Christine Ohuruogu MBE 12: Building a Legacy - Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE iii: Afterword: Sam Quek MBE iv: Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisMike Tucker was born into a life of farming and horses. His passion and hard work enabled him to progress from international groom to successful international event rider, top level Eventing official and television commentator. The pinnacle of Mike's career as a commentator was covering Nick Skelton's Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 for the BBC. In `The Man Behind the Mike' we learn about Mike's family history and the connection with the Badminton Estate where his grandfather farmed; The Beaufort Pony Club, a huge influence in his life with many top level riders being members; a visit to Australia, staying with the Roycroft family, which proved to be a pivotal moment in his efforts to become a successful event rider; and about Mike's second place at Badminton, which laid the foundations of his credibility as a rider and commentator. The `voice behind the microphone' had the experience and knowledge to commentate with authority and to command respect from the listening public at venues of not just horse trials but also show jumping, dressage, and shows in general. The wealth of experience and lifetime involvement in the world of equestrian sport has enabled him to travel all over the world meeting many different people and sharing his expertise. We are told many funny, revealing, fascinating and sometimes sad anecdotes of his experiences of the successes and failures along the way and we are given a true insight into the real stories behind the headlines, and `The Man Behind the Mike'.Trade ReviewJane Wallace has done a heroic job in completing this book and has thoroughly done justice to a quite irreplaceable man of great passion, kindness and, above all, humour. -- Kate Green * Country Life *A fantastic book which gives a tremendous insight of the late Mike Tucker. The Man Behind the Mike should be on everyone's read list – a superb tribute to someone who gave so much to the sport. * British Showjumping *Table of Contents Revisiting the Pinnacle To Be a Farmer's Boy Schooldays and Pony Club Eventing Begins in Earnest Antipodean Invasion The Mexico Olympics Return from Mexico New Life Together Dalwhinnie and Bugle Commentating – Mike on the Mike Official Roles Field Master and Steward Farming and Family Life

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Book SynopsisWidely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, seven-time Ballon d’Or and six-time Golden Shoe winner, Lionel Messi, enjoyed a record-breaking 17-year career at FC Barcelona during which time he scored more goals, played more games, won more titles and provided more assists than any other player in the Catalan club’s history. Adored by Barça fans, Messi reigned supreme until August 2021, when he made a tearful farewell to a stunned global audience. Messi: The King of Camp Nou is the definitive story of Lionel Messi’s entire Barça career, written by Jason Pettigrove, a football journalist who worked for FC Barcelona during Messi’s final years in Catalonia. Charting Messi’s rise as a hopeful 13-year-old Argentinian boy from Rosario to becoming the best footballer in the world, Pettigrove’s comprehensively researched book features exclusive interviews with key individuals in Messi’s story - team-mates, opponents, managers, agents and fellow journalists - including: Joan Laporta, Lionel Scaloni, Victor Font, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Jamie Carragher, Mike Phelan, Josep Maria Minguella, Horacio Gaggioli, Tony Watt, Santi Padro and Jorge Barraza. From being signed by Barça on a napkin to Champions League glory and becoming FC Barcelona captain, Messi: The King of Camp Nou reveals the inside story of Leo’s remarkable reign at Barça including breaking Pelé's incredible record for most goals scored at one club, how the longed for Copa América title was won and how he, season-on-season, mesmerised the football world.Trade Review'I guarantee this will be the best book on Leo Messi you haven't yet read.' Graham Hunter; 'He was born to play football and it’s on the field where we see the happiest version of Lionel. It’s what he does best and what gives him the most joy.' Lionel Scaloni; 'I don't think any have been better than Lionel Messi.'Sir Kenny Dalglish; 'Messi's the best club footballer of all time.' Jamie Carragher; 'You can fit Pele's best moments into a one-hour video, or you can make a two-hour video for the best of Maradona. With Messi's best, it's a 24-hour long video.' Jorge Barraza; 'Messi makes more correct decisions than anyone on a football field. He doesn't pigeonhole himself into a specific role because his role was to be the difference, and that's what he did at FC Barcelona.' Mike PhelanTable of ContentsForeword by Graham Hunter 1. Rosario to Barcelona 2. Signed on a Napkin 3. Five Teams in One Season 4. First Barca Goal 5. The New Maradona 6. An El Clasico To Remember 7. Olympic Glory 8. 'Tiki-Taka' 9. Ballon D'Or 10. El Clasico Overkill 11. Masterclass v Man Utd 12. 91 Goals in a Calendar Year 13. The Double Treble 14. A World Champion ... Again 15. 500 Up For Barca 16. More Than a Club 17. One Goal From Invincibility 18. Nightmare at Anfield 19. A Sixth Golden Shoe 20. 'Barcagate' and the Burofax 21. Beating Pele's Record 22. Laporta's Promise Epilogue Index Statistics and Record of Achievement

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Book SynopsisIn this first biography of David Henry Lewis, Ben Lowings examines his lifetime of adventure forensically yet sympathetically, and unlocks the secrets of his determination. This British-born New Zealander was the first person to sail a catamaran around the world, the first — in Ice Bird — to reach Antarctica solo under sail, and the first to make known to Westerners how ancient navigators reached — and could reach again — the Pacific islands. His many voyages resulted in thirteen books published and translated worldwide; many were bestsellers — We, the Navigators has not been out of print since first publication in 1972. David Lewis’s achievements have been acknowledged with a series of awards, including that of Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. But the price of David Lewis’s adventures had ultimately to be paid by others in the succession of families he created, then broke apart; and many of his actions brought him into conflict with the feelings of friends and contemporaries. We may legitimately ask 'was it really all worth it?' For the first time his six marriages are revealed, through more than a year of original research in Britain, Australia and New Zealand — including interviews with all surviving family members, as well as friends and fellow voyagers. Events thinly-sketched or omitted in his own writings, such as his father’s own failings, are investigated. His kayaking, mountain-climbing and sailing were struggles all the more difficult because of a fractured backbone, shattered elbow and impaired vision. David Lewis’s early years get the comprehensive documentation they deserve — in his own memoir he jumps straight from child to fully-fledged explorer. Inaccuracies are corrected in his tale of kayaking four hundred miles home from school. As playboy medical student, British paratrooper fighting in Normandy, and political activist in Palestine, Jamaica and London, he grappled with academic and colonial prejudice, and fought anti-Semitism and inequality; all is examined. As a general practitioner in the East End’s impure 1950s air he worked where the new National Health Service was most needed. Professional frustrations and marital disappointments were not soothed by weekend sailing. He would join a pioneering single-handed yacht race to America in 1960, leaving his first daughter to find him on board in Plymouth to say farewell only at the last minute. In 1964 he would race again, but this time in a catamaran, and then, with Fiona, his new wife, and their daughters, girdle the earth in it. For the first time, their circumnavigation is described in part from Fiona’s perspective. Media accounts and passages from his many books build up a picture of a consistently experimental, and utterly untypical, middle aged man. Every word in the Antarctic logbook of Ice Bird — scrawled with freezing hands — is closely compared with literary sources, National Geographic articles and his commercially successful book-length account. A new critical appreciation shows the white heat at the core of his being. He has abandoned his children again, and been drugged by ocean solitude. But in the act of writing he is earning his place among humanity. To hell with the frozen hands.

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Book SynopsisWilliam Hutchison Murray (1913 - 1996) was one of Scotland's most distinguished climbers in the years before and after the Second World War. As a prisoner of war in Italy he wrote his first classic book, Mountaineering in Scotland, on rough toilet paper which was confiscated and destroyed by the Gestapo. The rewritten version was published in 1947 and followed by the, now, equally famous, Undiscovered Scotland. In 1951 he was depute leader to Eric Shipton on the Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. In later years he became a successful novelist and pioneer conservationist.

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Book SynopsisThis updated edition features a new introduction, and an exclusive interview with long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe. It is the world's most iconic road race. It is twenty-six-point-two miles of iconic landmarks, cheers, tears, sweat, pain, courage, determination and inspiration. It is triumph over adversity on a colossal scale. It is the London Marathon - and it's an event unlike any other. Running The Smoke tells the story of what it's like to take part in this race in the most enlightening and enriching way possible: from the perspectives of twenty-six different people who have participated in it since its inception in 1981. Candid and inspiring if you are preparing for your first marathon or your 100th, Running The Smoke will give you the encouragement, insight and belief you need to cross that line.Trade Review'Reveals inspirational stories of endurance and triumph . . . heart-breaking and heartwarming' * Athletics Weekly *'Remarkable stories of endurance and joy' * The Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisDive into the thrilling life of Raymond Chester, the Oakland Raiders legend.While America was convulsed following the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King, Chester was central to the move of black American football into the mainstream. From his college glory at Morgan State to his iconic moments on the NFL field, Chester's story is one of resilience and triumph which resonates far beyond the world of sport.Based on extensive conversations and interviews with Chester himself as told to Welsh author and rugby fan Jon Gower, Raider brings a unique perspective to his life and career.Perfect for sports fans around the world, Raider is a love-letter from Wales to an American football icon whose legacy transcends the game.

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Book SynopsisBefore Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, there were only nineteen men, throughout history, who played in the Major Leagues of baseball and in the National Football League, in the same season. Only one man from that group, Walter French, can lay claim to having played for a World Series winner and an NFL Championship team. In 1925, he starred for the Pottsville (PA) Maroons in their win over the Chicago Cardinals, in what was believed to be the NFL championship game, only to see the title stripped by a league office decision, a controversial move still being argued about today. Then in 1929, he was on the Philadelphia Athletics when they beat the Chicago Cubs in five games to win the World Series. Walter E. French was born in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1899 and he just might have been the best, but least known, all-around athlete to emerge from the decade of the 1920s, commonly referred to as the Golden Age of Sports. One analyst ranked him as the fastest man in football at the time, even pl

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Book SynopsisPublished by Lapwing Publishing ServicesOne wintry afternoon in 1943, a solitary airman lies injured and exhausted in an inflatable life raft. The debris of his Liberator bomber has disappeared beneath the waves of the Atlantic leaving behind a slick of black oil. He is the only survivor of a crew of eight. His name is Wing Commander Hugh ''Jumbo'' Edwards, one of the greatest oarsmen of all time.Eleven years earlier, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Hugh Edwards thrilled thousands with an astonishing two gold medals won in a single hour. On this winter afternoon, in the loneliness of the Atlantic and with darkness descending, he is now rowing to save his life.Water''s Gleaming Goldis the incredible true story of the most extraordinary oarsman, Olympian, pilot, war hero and legendary British rowing coach. This is the tale of a man of courage and conviction - on a pursuit to redemption from public humiliation.One hell of a story (Daniel James Brown, author of Boys in the Boat')A true Olympic and rowing hero, and a story that is both fascinating and truly dramatic (Dan Snow, Oxford Blue, Historian, Broadcaster)We modern oarsmen and women are sometimes asked to row as if our lives depended on it lt is only Jumbo Edwards from the British Olympic rowing family who had to do that literally (Sir Matthew Pinsent Olympian, Oxford Blue)

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Book SynopsisFrom his cricket debuts in 2007 and 2013 respectively, Rohit Gurunath Sharma has grown to be one of the vital pillars of the Indian cricket team. A modern-day entertainer who refused to compromise his approach to batting, his contribution to India''s domination in one-day cricket and victories in the Premier League is indisputable. This is the story of his journey, of the years of hard work and the confidence that has allowed him to keep his place in the team--and his amazing capacity to come up with big scores. His combination of aggression and caution, his lazy elegance and his deadly shots have brought a whiff of fresh air to the cricket field.

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Book SynopsisSix Decades of Shelby performance—from the first Shelby AC Cobra to today’s Mustang Shelby GT500! A bad heart forced Carroll Shelby, one of the top racing drivers of all time, to retire in 1960. But that didn’t stop the lanky Texan from continuing to make history. He launched Shelby American in 1962 with the creation of the brilliant Ford-powered AC Cobra, soon to dominate both U.S. and international sports car racing. Shelby’s winning ways soon led to Ford seeking Shelby’s team of “hot rodders” help to make the Ford GT program a success. It worked. Shelby and Ford soon stunned the motorsports world by winning Le Mans and dominating other venues from 1966 to 1969 with the GT40. Fifty-three years later the legendary first Le Mans win of 1966 would form the basis for the acclaimed filmFord Versus Ferrari. As if the Cobra, Daytona Coupe, and GT40 were not enough, this small team of hot rodders, fabricators, and racTable of ContentsForeword: James D. Farley Jr. 1 The Origin of Shelby American 2 It Started with a Snake: Enter the Cobra 3 Then Came a Horse: The Shelby Mustang Arrives 4 The People and Cars That Made Shelby a Championship-Winning Manufacturer 5 The Races and Racers That Put Shelby American on the Map 6 Racing Into the Future: 1967 to the Present and the Sixty-Year Legacy of Shelby American 7 Car Clubs and Why They Matter (Especially SAAC) 8 The Future and the Relevancy of Shelby American About the Authors Acknowledgments Photo Credits Index

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Book SynopsisMike Brearley was one of England's greatest cricket captains. He thrice won the Ashes, including the unforgettable series of 1981, when his leadership helped England to snatch victory from defeat. Yet there was nothing inevitable about his rise. A spell out of the game in his mid-20s stymied his progress and when he returned full-time to captain Middlesex, his innovative approach found little favour with the old guard. In this first-ever biography of Brearley, award-winning cricket writer Mark Peel reveals how Brearley overcame his critics to lead Middlesex to four county championships and two Gillette Cup wins. His rise to the England captaincy was fast, but his unrivalled leadership skills contrasted with his repeated failures with the bat. Away from cricket, Brearley possessed a range of cultural interests along with a sharp intellect, which saw him achieve eminence as a psychoanalyst. Drawing on interviews with friends and team-mates, Peel assesses the many facets of this complex man to explain his phenomenal success as a leader.

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Book SynopsisFollows the journey of Phil Jackson to the top of basketball's coaching hierarchy.Trade Review“A must for any serious student of basketball.”—Gary Dretzka, Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisOlympic gold medalist. Two-time world heavyweight champion. Hall of Famer. Infomercial and reality TV star. George Foreman’s fighting ability is matched only by his acumen for selling. Yet the complete story of Foreman’s rise from urban poverty to global celebrity has never been told until now.Raised in Houston’s “Bloody Fifth” Ward, battling against scarcity in housing and food, young Foreman fought sometimes for survival and other times just for fun. But when a government program rescued him from poverty and introduced him to the sport of boxing, his life changed forever.In No Way but to Fight, Andrew R. M. Smith traces Foreman’s life and career from the Great Migration to the Great Society, through the Cold War and culture wars, out of urban Houston and onto the world stage where he discovered that fame brought new challenges. Drawing on new interviews with George Foreman and declassified government documents, as well as moTrade ReviewAn insightful life study...Smith's captivating narrative suggests that Mr. Foreman is much more than the outsize roles he has played…[No Way but to Fight] makes it plain that the man who was once one of the rarest of power punchers is also one of those rare celebrities who seem to have learned from their vast experience. * Wall Street Journal *Unquestionably, [Smith] did his homework, including research into declassified government documents, and he takes readers to far-flung locales, including Zaire in 1974 or the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' with Muhammad Ali…students of the sport will find plenty to chew on. * Kirkus *Comprehensive…[Smith's] analysis reaps insights and dispels misconceptions, bringing forth little-known details about the great fighters of Foreman's era. * Foreword Reviews *A compelling glimpse into the career of a true American success story. * Booklist *[A] well-researched account…Foreman fans and those who remember his Rumble in the Jungle will enjoy this adept look at the champion's life inside the ring. * Library Journal *[No Way but to Fight] will fill a need for information about all of Foreman's life story. * All Sports Books *Excellent…a superbly well-researched account of George Foreman's eventful life…This is a cracking story and while Foreman's life has been dissected before, Smith's account, which includes fresh interviews with the man himself as well as extracts from recently declassified government documents, rates as perhaps the best. * Bristol Post *[A] fascinating, colorful new biography…From an era when boxing's influence reverberated across the United States and the globe, to when Foreman became better known for his infomercials than what he accomplished in the ring, No Way but to Fight uses the boxer as a lens to show a changing society. Smith emphasizes Foreman's ability to reshape and adapt his image while also nothing the athlete's complexities. He writes of a boxer who ultimately triumphed in the most unvirtuous of sports. * Texas Observer *In No Way but to Fight, Smith…shows that from his upbringing in Houston's Fifth Ward to his role as a spokesman for the Foreman Grill, Foreman always fought to redefine himself along with the times. Smith's telescoping view showcases a Foreman that played with different personalities—including American patriot, soul man, and evangelical preacher—in order to achieve success at distinct stages of his life...No Way but to Fight will appeal to readers interested in the links between money, race, and prize fighting in the United States. * New Books Network: Sports *Smith’s major achievement is situating Foreman’s life in boxing within the broader social, economic and political dimensions of America and other parts of the boxing globe...[Smith] has a superb understanding of what happens both inside and outside the ring, and of the larger-than-life characters who strut boxing’s parade. He is also a master wordsmith, enlivening his analysis with wonderful turns of phrase. [No Way but to Fight] provides a masterful warts and all account of the life and career of George Foreman, and the dark arts of the world of boxing. * Newtown Review of Books *Biographies of heavyweight boxing champions have the potential to attract both a general and an academic readership. Andrew R. M. Smith’s accessible prose and narrative pace achieve this difficult balance, and his study of George Foreman provides important perspective in a market saturated by studies of Muhammad Ali. * Southwestern Historical Quarterly *Smith captures all [Foreman's] twists and turns in [No Way but to Fight]...Smith’s examination of Foreman is less of a straight biography than it is a look at the changing business of boxing from the 1960s to the 1990s, using his career as a lens through which to look at those shifts. This is a successful approach at points, particularly when looking at how the Job Corps helped set the stage for his boxing career and why so many of his major fights took place overseas. It provides a depth to the topic at hand and any reader is sure to learn a ton about the details of his life and career here...a certainly worthwhile and thoughtful read. * FanSided *Smith skillfully details the intricacies of the business of boxing while chronicling Foreman’s boxing career. Both the sport management community and casual readers will find No Way but to Fight an engaging read...Like Foreman himself, No Way but to Fight has the potential for wide appeal...Sport management faculty members will find the book useful for the abundance of illustrative examples that can be gleaned from the book thanks to Smith’s meticulous research of Foreman’s career. * Journal of Sport Management *Smith has penned a fight saga that followers of the 'sweet science' of boxing will enjoy reading for its blow-by-blow detail of George Foreman's climb from amateur to two-time heavyweight boxing world champion. * Journal of American History *The chameleon-like nature of Foreman’s image makes him a slippery subject for a biographer, but Smith deftly charts the boxer’s evolution from his initial appearance in the limelight as the symbol of patriotic African American athletes at the contentious 1968 Olympics to the grandfatherly television figure of the early twenty-first century...An excellent account of both the public and private George Foreman...a strong monograph that deserves a wide audience in academia and beyond. * Journal of Sport History *No Way But to Fight makes a persuasive case for Foreman’s importance in the rise of the itinerant global boxing champion, providing a wider context for understanding this phenomenon beyond merely crediting [Muhammad] Ali...as the athlete who solely made this happen. The book is very strong at explaining the nature of the boxing business, how big fights are financed, and how venues are chosen...No Way but to Fight reveals that Foreman was a great actor, a great reinventor, who did indeed have a second act that Ali never did...What No Way but to Fight makes clear, much to its credit, is that Foreman learned that life, like boxing, is not about outshining your opponent but outlasting him. * Journal of African American History *Table of Contents Prologue: Crossroads 1. Fruits of the Fifth Ward 2. Corpsman’s Call 3. God Bless the Puncher 4. Eatin’ Money 5. Sculpting George Foreman 6. Better Must Come 7. I Ain’t No Dog 8. Superman’s Evil Twin 9. Man without a Country 10. To the Mountains of the Moon 11. I Don’t Run ’Cause I Don’t Have To 12. You Got to Have a Boss 13. A Gangster’s Game 14. Jesus Rode on a Jackass 15. Man of La Mancha Epilogue: Unscripted Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the Year 'For anyone interested in Lee's legacy, this is a roundhouse kick of a biography' – Sunday Times'At last, Bruce Lee has the powerful biography he deserves... It will thrill Lee's fans and fascinate the unfamiliar' – Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig'Meticulously researched' – Jimmy McDonough, author of Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography and Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al Green'You won't find a better match for a biographer with his subject than Matthew Polly and Bruce Lee... A definitive biography, told with passion and punch' – Brian Jay Jones, author George Lucas: A Life and Jim Henson: The Biography.  Trade Review'For anyone interested in Lee's legacy, this is a roundhouse kick of a biography.' * Sunday Times *'Proper biographical investigation … From his early street fights to his friendship with Steve McQueen, from his cha-cha to his one-inch punch, Bruce Lee was made to be Bruce Lee. And Matthew Polly was made to be his biographer.' * The Spectator *'The first in-depth account of Lee's journey from a street-brawling teenager to a global icon … Lee's charisma, ambition and relentless appetite for combat leap off the pages.' * CNN *'Matthew Polly’s new biography is long overdue but does Hong Kong’s most famous son proud ... engaging, enthusiastic and empathetic.' * South China Morning Post Magazine *'The first noteworthy treatment of its subject – and a definitive one at that ... Fascinating.' * New York Times Book Review *'Proof that dogged research and sharp insight lie at the foundation of any successful biography … a definitive work to satisfy Lee’s fans and spark curiosity in a new generation.' * Associated Press *'This thorough, well-sourced biography from Polly is an engrossing examination of the life of a martial arts movie star and his shocking, early death ... Polly wonderfully profiles the man who constructed a new, masculine Asian archetype and ushered kung fu into pop culture.' * Publisher's Weekly *'At last, Bruce Lee has the powerful biography he deserves. Matthew Polly’s book is packed with new information and sharp insights. It will thrill Lee’s fans and fascinate the unfamiliar. Bravo!' —Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig'You won’t find a better match for a biographer with his subject than Matthew Polly and Bruce Lee. From Lee's early days as the self-proclaimed Cha-cha Champion of Hong Kong to his final, fiery years as the iconic, fist flashing, kung-fu master, Polly tells Bruce Lee’s story with clarity and empathy, tearing away the myths to reveal Lee’s most interesting persona yet: the man himself. A definitive biography, told with passion and punch.' — Brian Jay Jones, author George Lucas: A Life and Jim Henson: The Biography. 'Believe it or not, Bruce Lee has never been the subject of a truly in-depth biography—until now. With this meticulously researched, beautifully realised work, Matthew Polly has written the definitive account. It moves with the authority, grace and economy of Lee himself. I was hooked from the first chapter.' —Jimmy McDonough, author Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography and Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al Green

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Book SynopsisArnold Palmer: American Hero is the seventh book in our large coffee table book series on the greats in the game. In addition to our definitive history of the Ryder Cup published in conjunction with the PGA of America, we have also published large lavishly produced coffee table books in this format on - Ben Hogan (2), Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus.The book features wonderfully crafted essays on different aspects of Arnie's life in the front third of the book with game-day coverage of each of his biggest tournaments in the back two-thirds.As with all our books, our book on Arnie sports a real cloth cover with gold foil stamping and a laminated and embossed dust jacket. To achieve the utmost in quality reproduction, the book has been printed in five colors in Italy on some of the finest printing papers available by one of the world's most renown printers. Even the black-and-white photos are color separated to ensure the utmost in fidelity.Once again, we've assembled an all-star cast of essayists, each writing on different aspects of Arnie's life, but for this book we assembled 21 featured essayists in all, instead of the usual five or six. There were just so many fascinating - and wholly unknown - facets to Arnie's life that just begged coverage. It seems that every time we would investigate one aspect of his life, we'd find two more to delve into. The further we looked, we'd add another essay or two as the book just kept getting bigger and bigger - and we do believe - better and better.Consider a sampling of the featured essayists - Marino Parascenzo (former president of the Golf Writers Association of America), Doc Giffen (Arnold's right-hand man since the mid 1960s), Jaime Diaz (Golf Channel), John Hopkins (The Times of London), Dan Hicks (who covered Arnie's tournament for NBC for over 25 years), Ron Green, Jr. (Global Golf Post), Charlie Mechem (former LPGA Commissioner), Ron Sirak (the Associated Press and Golf Digest), Jay Monahan (PGA TOUR Commissioner), Kelly Tilghman (Golf Channel), Adam Schupak (Golf World), Peter Jacobsen (PGA TOUR and NBC), Nancy Lopez (LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame) and numerous others. Even Arnie's close friend Gary Player crafted a very personal forward with much new and revelatory information about their relationship - you'll laugh, you'll smile and you may even get a bit teary.It's certainly an All Star cast of contributors.As with our earlier coffee table books on the greats of the game, the back two-thirds of the book features extensive take-outs with numerous large photos - along with the game day stories on every significant event in Arnie's life - all the big wins as well as the many heartbreaking close calls too.Significantly, also included are several multi-page instructional gatefold spreads throughout the book including an analysis of Arnie's full swing by noted golf instructor Jim McLean, an analysis of his putting by putting-guru Brad Faxon and a large gatefold - folding out to almost six feet - featuring Arnie's seven Ryder Cup wins. There's even a gatefold depicting each of Tiger's eight wins at Arnie's own PGA TOUR event at Bay Hill.Without doubt, it certainly is a book of the very highest caliber.

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Book SynopsisHow Manchester United conquered all, by the players who won everything______________________________________________________________With a foreword by Ruud van NistelrooyAn Irish Times BestsellerThe Champions League, the Club World Cup, 6 Premier League Titles, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cups, 4 Community Shields, 1 legendary manager. From Rio to Rome, 20002010.This is the story of one of the greatest eras in the history of England's most successful club, told through the eyes of the players who made it happen. Not just the big wins, the cup finals and the trophy parades, but the half-time rows, the mad pranks, the boozy nights out and the training-ground bust-ups.Andy Mitten has tracked down eleven of the stars from those Premier League and Champions League winning teams to open the door to both the dressing room and the boardroom at Old Trafford as the club cemented its status as the dominant force in English football.Bring on United is an astonishingly candid and revealing insight into the workings of a relentless winning machine. More than that, it's as lively and entertaining a sports book as you'll ever read.Featuring exclusive interviews with Nemanja Vidic, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Dimitar Berbatov, Jaap Stam, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Dwight Yorke, Diego Forlán and Ryan Giggs.

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Book SynopsisThe phenomenal international number one bestseller with exclusive interviews with Richie McCaw, Steve Hansen, Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter, The Jersey is the definitive story behind the greatest sports team on the planet.‘Extremely well written. Compelling, accurate, insightful and brilliant in the way it captures the New Zealand way’ – John Hart, former All Blacks coach.With a better winning record than any other sports team in history, they stand head and shoulders above their nearest rugby rivals. How did a country of just 4.8 million people conquer the world?Peter Bills, who has reported on international rugby for more than forty years, was given exclusive access to all the key figures in New Zealand rugby as he set out to understand the secrets behind the All Blacks success. Peter talked at length with ninety people, both in New Zealand and around the world, with intimate knowledge of what makes the All Blacks tick.The Jersey goes to the heart of the All Blacks success. It is also an epic story of not just a rugby team but a nation, whose identities are inextricably linked.

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Book Synopsis#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Far more than a superb memoir about the highest levels of professional tennis, Open is the engrossing story of a remarkable life. • Agassi’s memoir is just as entrancing as his tennis game.” —Time “Honest in a way that such books seldom are.” —The New York Times  Andre Agassi had his life mapped out for him before he left the crib. Groomed to be a tennis champion by his moody and demanding father, by the age of twenty-two Agassi had won the first of his eight grand slams and achieved wealth, celebrity, and the game’s highest honors. But as he reveals in this searching autobiography, off the court he was often unhappy and confused, unfulfilled by his great achievements in a sport he had come to resent. Agassi writes candidly about his early success and his uncomfortable relationship with fame, his marriage to Brooke Shields, his growing interest in philanthropy, and—described in haunting, point-by-point detail—the highs and lows of his celebrated career.

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Book SynopsisDrawing from more than 250 interviews to take the first full measure of the Lakers'' epic Showtime era, this spectacular account of one of America''s greatest sports sagas is jam-packed with colorful characters, vicious rivalries and 1980s-style excess.

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Book SynopsisDavid Tremayne's acclaimed biography of Jochen Rindt was first published in 2010 and now, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Austrian's death, Evro is reviving the book in paperback form. Rindt was widely acknowledged as the fastest man in Formula 1 by the time he reached his peak in 1970, when he tragically lost his life at Monza in Italy, four races before the end of the season. Such was his pre-eminence that year that no rival could overhaul his points total and he became the sport's only posthumous World Champion. As his close friend Jackie Stewart observed in this book's foreword, 'David Tremayne is a wonderful writer who has done Jochen great justice in the words that he has chosen to depict a remarkable man and a remarkable career.'

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Book SynopsisA memoir from one of the most admired players in MLB history.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of The Greatest, Michael Jordan.

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Book SynopsisQueens of Pain tells the remarkable and largely unknown tale of women's cycle racing from the 1890's to the early 1990's. From the fin-de-siècle velodromes of North America to the glamour and chaos of the first women's Tour de France, Queens of Pain offers a sweeping panorama of female racing history. Told through the lives of the great champions, its heroines include stuntwomen and speed skaters, young mothers and teenage tearaways, shop assistants and coal-delivery girls. When prejudice and officialdom denied them one stage they found another: from six-day track racing to epic place to place records, from 12-hour time trials to unofficial road races. The greatly expanded women's racing scene of today is the direct legacy of these pioneering riders whose stories form an unbroken thread since the invention of the bicycle.

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Book SynopsisIn 2013, Tom Denniss became the fastest person to circumnavigate the world on foot. His epic journey lasted nearly two years, and for each of the 622 days it took him to run around the planet, Tom completed the equivalent of a marathon or more. Based on distance alone his feat was an extraordinary act of endurance, but along the way Tom also survived a near-death experience on an ice cliff as he was running over the top of the Andes, was chased by dogs, snakes and suspicious border police, narrowly avoided lethal cars and buses, suffered in sixty-degree heat and sub-zero blizzards, tore through seventeen pairs of running shoes, and raised tens of thousands of dollars for Oxfam. He also experienced an amazing diversity of scenery, culture, food and people as he traversed New Zealand, North and South America, Europe from the Atlantic to the Bosphorus, and Australia from Fremantle to Sydney.The World at My Feet is his account of an incredible 26,232 kilometre run, and a vivid insight into an adventure of truly global proportions.Trade ReviewWith a chatty, engaging writing style, this high achiever relives his mega journey. * Weekly Times *

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Book SynopsisTravel with Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins on her compelling journey from America’s heartland to international sports history, navigating challenges and triumphs with rugged grit and a splash of glitter Pyeongchang, February 21, 2018. In the nerve-racking final seconds of the women’s team sprint freestyle race, Jessie Diggins dug deep. Blowing past two of the best sprinters in the world, she stretched her ski boot across the finish line and lunged straight into Olympic immortality: the first ever cross-country skiing gold medal for the United States at the Winter Games. The 26-year-old Diggins, a four-time World Championship medalist, was literally a world away from the small town of Afton, Minnesota, where she first strapped on skis. Yet, for all her history-making achievements, she had never strayed far from the scrappy 12-year-old who had insisted on portaging her own canoe through the wilderness, yelling happily under the unwieldy weight on her shoulders: “Look! I’m doing it!” In Brave Enough, Jessie Diggins reveals the true story of her journey from the American Midwest into sports history. With candid charm and characteristic grit, she connects the dots from her free-spirited upbringing in the woods of Minnesota to racing in the bright spotlights of the Olympics. Going far beyond stories of races and ribbons, she describes the challenges and frustrations of becoming a serious athlete; learning how to push through and beyond physical and psychological limits; and the intense pressure of competing at the highest levels. She openly shares her harrowing struggle with bulimia, recounting both the adversity and how she healed from it in order to bring hope and understanding to others experiencing eating disorders. Between thrilling accounts of moments of triumph, Diggins shows the determination it takes to get there—the struggles and disappointments, the fun and the hard work, and the importance of listening to that small, fierce voice: I can do it. I am brave enough.Trade Review "Jessie Diggins was an elite athlete long before she became an Olympic gold medalist. In Brave Enough, she shows world-class courage by sharing the truth about her eating disorder, her therapy, and the multitude of challenges, doubts, fears, and assorted bogeymen that are so often an untold part of the journey to greatness. She deserves another gold medal for her honesty and her inspiration."—Wayne Coffey, New York Times best-selling author of The Boys of Winter* "I’m honored to have played a role in inspiring Jessie on her journey to Olympic Gold. Brave Enough is a befitting title for this brutally honest and powerful story. As an athlete, Jessie was brave enough to win on the world’s biggest sporting stage. As a writer, she is brave enough to share a raw, heart-wrenching, nothing-held-back look at the struggles she went through to succeed. It’s an inspiring story, worthy of gold."—Jackie Joyner-Kersee "Already an inspiration to us all, Jessie once again shows her courage to leave it all on the track by sharing her deeply personal story. Readers will be encouraged by how one woman created a path forward for herself—and helped and uplifted so many in the process."—Ann Bancroft "Brave Enough is a powerful story that shows that striving for excellence can be essential in sport, yet not even Olympic champions are immune from its unforeseen destructive consequences. With admirable vulnerability, Jessie demonstrates how to be a leader and ‘best teammate’ while also being open to help and support from others. Her story motivates all of us, and she gives us hope and real tools to tackle our biggest challenges. I have never been more proud of my teammate and friend . . . not only has Jessie defeated foes on the race trails but she has courageously conquered the demons in her mind to become a true champion. She is an inspiration for everyone!"—Kikkan Randall, Olympic Champion and World Champion "Jessie has one of the most infectiously positive and bubbly personalities of anyone I have ever met. That, combined with her fierce drive and unwavering grit, is what makes her an inspiration to so many people, including myself, but I never realized just how inspiring she truly is until I read this book. World, meet the force that is Jessie Diggins."—Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic Champion and World Champion Table of ContentsContentsPrologue: I Can Do It Myself 1. Snow Baby2. Wild Child3. Super Speed4. Thunder Bay5. The Stillwater Way6. Pain Cave7. The Great Balancing Act8. To Ski or Not to Ski9. Slow Spiral10. The Emily Program11. Never Alone12. Blood, Sweat, and Tears13. The National Team14. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles15. Because 96 Isn’t 10016. From Sochi, with Love17. Give It All You Got18. Know When to Fold ’Em19. PyeongChang20. Brave Hearts21. Let’s Go Get It22. One Team23. Here Be Dragons24. Coming Home; or, The Week I Masqueraded As a Rock StarEpilogueAcknowledgments

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Book SynopsisFor better or for worse, the Giro d’Italia remains the sporting metaphor for Italians. To celebrate its centenary, Herbie Sykes produced a unique - and uniquely personal - evocation. In realising it he undertook a Giro of his own. Travelling the length of the peninsular, he met with 100 of its constituents, and simply listened to their stories. They were the champions and gregari, the superstars and nearly-men, their wives, families and tifosi. There were kingmakers and journalists, sponsors and officials, those who have loved it and a few who abhorred it. Collectively their testimonies represent a journey to the heart of the race, and to Italian cycling identity. This, however, is a cycling journey with a difference. In a departure from recent cycling convention, they were invited to open not only their hearts, but also their scrapbooks, photo albums and old cupboard drawers. There’s no anodyne photographic agency fodder here, no clichéd Dolomite vistas and no hackneyed portraits of Coppi, Merckx or Pantani. Rather the images conjure the spirit, pathos and beauty of the greatest race on earth and, more poignantly still, of 100 lives conditioned by it.

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Book SynopsisIs it not better to take risks than die within from rot? Is it not better to change one’s life completely than to wait for the brain to set firmly and irreversibly in a way of life and one environment? I think it is ... taking risks, not for the sake of danger alone, but for the sake of growth, is more important than any security one can buy or inherit. – Charles HoustonIt was the failed summit attempt and a failed rescue in the Himalaya that brought Charles Houston MD fame and adulation in the mountaineering world. His leadership of the American K2 expedition of 1953 is still celebrated as the embodiment of all that is right and good in the mountains.Houston, a doctor from New England, became a leading authority in high altitude ailments and artificial heart research, advising the US government, military and academia. He made an unparalleled contribution to mountain medicine, building some of the first artificial heart prototypes in his garage and playing a key part in Kennedy’s 1960s Peace Corps initiatives in India.In Brotherhood of the Rope, Boardman Tasker Prize winning author Bernadette McDonald traces the development of an American hero. This is the biography of a well-heeled New England medical man who excelled at expedition leadership and whose experience in the mountains helped his research into high altitude medical matters during his long and varied career as a doctor. Houstons’s mountain adventures, the ups and downs of his varied medical career and the associated challenges of family life are related in a candid biography that touches on many aspects of twentieth-century affairs.Trade ReviewCharlie Houston achieved fame as both a physician and a mountain climber. His contributions to the medical profession and his expeditions to K2 and Nanda Devi are the outstanding highlights of his career. I know him as a person who radiates curiosity, joie de vivre and compassion, that characteristic described by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as “the foundation of our unity”. Charlie Houston is an extraordinary human being, whose life story will inspire all who read it. – Reinhold MessnerThe author’s extensive use of Charles Houston’s own spoken words makes the book serve as an oral as well as a written history. By the end, we feel as though we’ve taken part in a long, deeply affectionate and honest conversation between friends, who, like all good storytellers create a world that somehow seems richer – both brighter and darker – than our everyday life. – Katie Ives, Alpinist Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe legendary rock climber who redefined the boundaries of her sport tells her story.Trade Review"Lynn Hill isn't just one of the best female climbers in the world—she is among the greatest rock climbers of all time." -- Jon Krakauer"Lynn Hill’s groundbreaking free ascent of the Nose on El Cap, detailed at length here alongside some of her other notable accomplishments, cemented her position in the vertical elite. She wasn’t the first woman to accomplish the feat—she was the first person to do so. It’s no wonder that contemporary boundary-pushers like Margo Hayes cite her as an influence for their own game-changing pursuits." -- Shawnté Salabert - Outside"A legend who has redefined the boundaries of adventure sports." -- Wired

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Book SynopsisIn this candid, revealing, and entertaining memoir, the beloved New York Yankee legend looks back over his nearly fifty-year career as a player and a manager, sharing insights and stories about some of his most memorable moments and some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball.For nearly five decades, Lou Piniella has been a fixture in Major League Baseball, as an outfielder with the legendary New York Yankees of the 1970s, and as a manager for five teams in both the American and National leagues. With respected veteran sportswriter Bill Madden, Piniella now reflects on his storied career, offering fans a glimpse of life on the field, in the dugout, and inside the clubhouse.Piniella speaks from the heart about his teams and his players, offering a detailed, up-close portrait of the Bronx Zoo’s raucous personalities such as Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter, as well as his close friendship with Thurman Munson and his unusual relationship with George Steinbre

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