Biography: sport Books
Independently Published Pepijn Lijnders: The Architect of Liverpool's
Book Synopsis
£9.79
Independently Published Jürgen Kloop: The Inspirational Story of Liverpool Coach as he leaves the club at the end of the Season 2024: His Legacy, Challenges, Trophies, Reason for Leaving and the way forward.
£12.58
Regalo Press Rory Land
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£23.75
Curious Press The Most Incredible Boxing Stories Ever Told: Inspirational and Legendary Tales from the Greatest Boxers of All Time
£14.09
Diversion Books Mickey Billy
£15.19
Headline Publishing Group The Looniness of the Long Distance Runner An
Book Synopsis
£16.14
Hachette Books Giannis The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion
Book SynopsisThe story of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion—from award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader. As the face of the NBA’s new world order, Giannis Antetokounmpo has overcome unfathomable obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world; the personification of the American Dream. But his backstory remains largely untold. Fader unearths new information about the childhood that shaped “The Greek Freak”—from sleeping side by side with his brothers to selling trinkets on the street with his family to the racism he experienced. Antetokounmpo grew up in an era when Golden Dawn, Greece’s far-right, anti-immigrant party, patrolled his neighborhood, and his status as an illegal immigrant largel
£22.50
Little, Brown & Company Yogi A Life Behind the Mask
Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of Yogi Berra, the New York Yankees icon, winner of 13 World Series championships, and the most-quoted player in baseball history
£22.50
Little, Brown & Company The Last Stand of Payne Stewart The Year Golf
Book SynopsisForever remembered as one of the most dramatic storylines in the history of golf, Payne Stewart''s phenomenal career was bookended by a brass and colorful start and an inspired comeback with a shocking, tragic end.Written off as a pompous showman past the prime of his career, Stewart emerged from a long slump in the unforgettable season of 1999 to capture the U.S. Open and play on the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team. He appeared to be a new man that summer: wiser, deeper, and on the verge of a new level of greatness. Then his journey to redemption ended in October, when his chartered Learjet flew aimlessly for more than a thousand miles, ran out of fuel, and fell to earth in a prairie in South Dakota.His death marked the end of an era, one made up of shotmakers who played the game with artistry, guile, finesse, and heart. Behind them were Tiger Woods, David Duval, Phil Mickelson, and other young players whose power and strength changed the PGA Tour forever. With exclu
£13.29
Little, Brown & Company My Dad Yogi
Book Synopsis In this nostalgic memoir, a son provides a unique perspective on his legendary father–the baseball star, Yogi Berra. Yogi Berra was the backbone of the New York Yankees through ten World Series Championships. In My Dad, Yogi is Dale Berra chronicles his unshakeable bond with his father, going back to his suburban New Jersey upbringing, his parents’ enduring relationship, and his Dad’s formidable career. Following in his Dad’s footsteps, Dale came up with the Pittsburgh Pirates, contributing to their 1979 championship season and emerging as one of baseball's most talented young players before eventually uniting with his Dad in the Yankee dugout. Yogi supported his son throughout his highs of his careers and lows of a drug addiction, eventually staging an intervention that would save Dale's life, and draw the entire family even closer. My Dad, Yogi is Dale's tribute to hi
£19.79
Little, Brown & Company Teammate
Book SynopsisOf the many storylines to the Chicago Cubs incredible 2016 season was the late career renaissance of David Ross, the 39-year-old journeyman player affectionately known to his Cubs teammates as Grandpa Rossy. Ross became the unlikely heart and soul of the championship team, who finally broke the near 100-year Cubs curse. At the end of the Cubs victorious game seven--in which Ross entered the game in the 5th inning and proceeded to hit a crucial home run (becoming the oldest player to homer in World Series History), he was carried off the field by his teammates. Ross''s late career blossoming and role as a Cubs mentor has been one of the defining sports stories of 2016, inspiring a write-in campaign for him for the All Star game, an endless series of feature stories and becoming the nightly talk of TV analysts and sports radio. This book would be memoir of Ross'' career -- written with veteran collaborator Don Yaeger -- with the championship run at Wrigley this year as the cap
£19.79
Hodder & Stoughton Crickets Great Entertainers
Book SynopsisHenry Blofeld singles out the most exciting and entertaining cricketers of all time in his irrepressibly enthusiastic book.Trade ReviewIt confirms his encyclopaedic knowledge of the game from Alfred Mynn to Michael Vaughan * Daily Mail *
£12.34
Hodder & Stoughton Peter AllissMy Life
Book Synopsis'The Voice of Golf' tells his compelling and colourful life story in this revealing autobiography.Trade ReviewThe overwhelming sense from the book is Alliss's passion for and devotion to a sport * Yorkshire Post *There can be no finer accompaniment to a round of golf than his master's voice. * Daily Telegraph *
£12.34
Little, Brown Book Group Amazing Grace
Book SynopsisOn a sunny afternoon in May 1868, nineteen-year-old Gilbert Grace stood in a Wiltshire field, wondering why he was playing cricket against the Great Western Railway Club. A batting genius, ''W. G.'' should have been starring at Lord''s in the grand opening match of the season. But MCC did not want to elect this humble son of a provincial doctor. W. G''s career was faltering before it had barely begun.Grace finally forced his way into MCC and over the next three decades, millions came to watch him - not just at Lord''s, but across the British Empire and beyond. Only W. G. could boast a fan base that stretched from an American Civil War general and the Prince of Wales''s mistress to the children who fingered his coat-tails as he walked down the street, just to say ''I touched him''.The public never knew the darker story behind W. G.''s triumphal progress. Accused of avarice, W. G. was married to the daughter of a bankrupt. Disparaged as a simpleton, his subversive minTrade ReviewRichard Tomlinson's magnificent biography of sport's first global superstar -- Jim White * Daily Telegraph *Amazing Grace is a fluently written study, imbued with humour and sympathy, that yields many insights as well as much pleasure -- David Kynaston * Daily Telegraph *What makes [Tomlinson's] book so refreshing is that he is entirely clear-sighted about his subject's foibles . . . [he] effectively conveys the sheer competitive drive that made him so successful . . . offers some intriguing glimpses of the anxieties that made him stay so long and probably made him such a great player . . . [Grace] emerges from this book as Ian Botham, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham rolled into one: a symbol not just of Victorian England, but of sport itself -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *A compelling book that uncovers a man as complex and contrary as any in Victorian society * Mail on Sunday *It's a pleasure to read a biography as thoughtful and assiduous as Richard Tomlinson's . . . Tomlinson clearly likes [Grace] as well as revering him, and so did I after finishing this lovingly crafted piece of work -- Markus Berkmann * Daily Mail *Industrious, witty, insightful, this biography ought to be the standard work on W.G. for years to come -- Sam Kitchener * Independent *Scrupulously researched and well written -- Simon Heffer * New Statesman *My biography of the year . . . a revelatory study of the giant who remains cricket's most iconic figure -- Tom Holland * Evening Standard *The cricketer W. G. Grace is instantly recognisable as an icon of the Victorian age, if only by virtue of his impossibly bushy beard, but as Richard Tomlinson emphasises in this terrifically readable biography, he was, in his time, at the cutting edge of modernity. Grace dominated the game to an extent matched later only by Australian Donald Bradman and was the word's first sporting superstar -- Simon Shaw * Mail on Sunday *
£13.27
Basic Books A History of American Sports in 100 Objects
Book SynopsisWhat artifact best captures the spirit of American sports? The bat Babe Ruth used to hit his allegedly called shot, or the ball on which Pete Rose wrote, I''m sorry I bet on baseball? Could it be Lance Armstrong''s red-white-and-blue bike, now tarnished by doping and hubris? Or perhaps its ancestor, the nineteenth-century safety bicycle that opened an avenue of previously unknown freedom to women? The jerseys of rivals Larry Bird and Magic Johnson? Or the handball that Abraham Lincoln threw against a wall as he waited for news of his presidential nomination?From nearly forgotten heroes like Tad Lucas (rodeo) and Tommy Kono (weightlifting) to celebrities like Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Phelps, Cait Murphy tells the stories of the people, events, and things that have forged the epic of American sports, in both its splendor and its squalor. Stories of heroism and triumph rub up against tales of discrimination and cheating. These objects tell much more than just stories aboTrade Review"Among the best vignettes in A History of American Sports in 100 Objects is one devoted to debunking some of the myths surrounding Jesse Owens' four-gold-medal performance in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, and another affirming Jackie Robinson's place in baseball and American history." -Washington Independent Review of Books "Cait Murphy's A History of American Sports in 100 Objects has the balls to map our love of the game, one photograph at a time." -Vanity Fair, Hot Type "Murphy is an insightful artist who has opened the doors to new understanding about the importance and the impact of sports on the playing field and in the community in general. To be more specific, she has brought to the reader of sports literature an understanding that is the soul of boarding schools and summer camps - places where everyone plays games - and the appreciation of the game itself becomes as important as winning. We call that good sportsmanship." -Roanoke Times "Immensely entertaining and beautifully written... [Murphy's] selections resonate socially, politically, and technologically across American sports history, with each item containing a perceptive explanation of its significance. This is a great concept for a sports book, and it's expertly executed." -Booklist, starred review "Entertaining... Murphy writes in a conversational, witty fashion, making wry observations without losing touch with the larger historical, social, and political significance of the events and athletes that give the objects their significance... An enjoyable romp through the things that helped make the sports we love." -Kirkus Reviews "It's almost unfair that someone could have as much fun putting together a book as Cait Murphy clearly did while working on this one. Her buoyant trip through the history of American sports is filled with surprise and delight." -Daniel Okrent, author of Nine Innings "I couldn't put this book down. Endlessly fascinating and expertly curated, A History of American Sports in 100 Objects not only brings to life what matters most about the games we play and the athletes who play them, it also tells a compelling story about the place of sports in American culture and society. By turns fresh and funny, poignant and insightful, Cait Murphy is the ideal guide for this absorbing journey." -William A. Gleason, Professor of English, Princeton University "How do we love sports? Cait Murphy counts the ways in this gem of a book. It ought to come with a warning label: these pages may be addictive." -Jonathan Eig, author of Luckiest Man and Opening Day "The items found within these pages are less objects than memorial markers, jumping-off points for a satisfying exploration of our nation's sporting history. Cait Murphy's descriptions are easy and informative, opening 100 windows though which to leap feet first-and, thanks to some adroit writing, the landing is always certain. Whether you're being reminded about things you already knew, or informed about vital history that may have eluded you, the ride is always a fun one." -Jason Turbow, author of The Baseball Codes "With the deft eye for telling detail that has become her hallmark, Cait Murphy offers a delightful journey into the history of American sports through 100 fascinating objects. Most of them are anything but obvious: Along with Curt Schilling's fabled bloody sock, Murphy digs into soil from the Elysian Fields of Hoboken, New Jersey; the yellow blazer worn on Monday Night Football; a stuffed animal left behind after the Boston Marathon bombing; Jesse Owens's baton from the 1936 Olympics. You'll relish these riveting, charming and engaging side trips into iconic objects of American sports, each of which tells us much about what it means to be an American." -Edward Achorn, author of The Summer of Beer and Whiskey and Fifty-Nine in '84 "There's nothing sports fans like more than best-of lists. Objects is a strange choice for a catalog-and, in the hands of Cait Murphy-a brilliant one. Whether it's Secretariat's shoe nail, Billy Jean King's sequined dress, or, my favorite, the brace that let Bobby Orr skate with deeply scarred knees-Murphy finds just the telling details to conjure up sweet sports memories and stoke our imaginations." -Larry Tye, author of Bobby Kennedy and Satchel
£27.00
Penguin Putnam Inc Finish Strong
Book Synopsis“Taking risks and pushing oneself to the limit are strong themes, as well, and the loving bond between a father and son is evident throughout . . . . A tale that will appeal to sports fans and those who appreciate the determination and physical and mental toughness required to thrive at the top level of sports.” —Kirkus The inspiring story of Nate Ebner's bond with his unconventional father and its remarkable consequencesNate Ebner and his father were inseparable. From an early age, they worked side-by-side in the family junkyard, where part of the job was dispensing citizen's justice to aspiring robbers, and they worked out side-by-side in their grungy homemade gym. Even though Nate was a great peewee football player in football-mad Ohio, he followed his father's passion for rugby and started playing for the same club as his father when he was only thirteen years old. But Nate had to face the fact that the
£14.45
Hachette Australia Fighting for Hakeem
Book SynopsisFootball is the world game. It unites. At a grassroots level it creates communities and, in 2019, those communities helped save the life of one of its own.In 2012, Hakeem al-Araibi was a promising young player on Bahrain''s national football team when he was arrested for attacking a police station during the Arab Spring, despite television footage showing him playing soccer at the time of the alleged attack. After three months of torture and wrongful imprisonment, Hakeem was released. He fled the country and made his way to Australia, where he was granted refugee status. Hakeem made a life here and was playing for the suburban Pascoe Vale Football Club, in Melbourne. He thought he was safe.But, in November 2018, on a holiday to Thailand with his wife, Hakeem was again arrested. The Bahraini government wanted to extradite him to face a ten-year jail sentence, or worse. What happened next shows the best of what soccer can do, and the worst the governing body of FIFA br
£18.00
The History Press Ltd Kelly Moran
Book SynopsisThis is the book that speedway fans the world over have been waiting for: the inside story of the Californian hell-raiser, Kelly Moran.
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Keeping Quiet Paul Nixon
Book SynopsisThe wicketkeeper, known as his sport’s most prolific ‘sledger’, has amassed more than 20 years of stories from his career at the heart of the game and now reveals them in typically outspoken style.
£9.49
The History Press Ltd 100 FirstClass Umpires
Book SynopsisThis book covers a century of the best, most charismatic and most controversial men ever to don the white coat and stand for first-class cricket. From the great Victorian personalities to the stalwarts of the modern era, such as Dicky Bird, David Shepperd and Peter Willey, this book profile the best of those imposing characters, who can make or break a batsman with the simple raising of a finger.
£12.34
The History Press Ltd The Ernie Hunt Story
Book SynopsisThis is the life story of Ernie Hunt, footballer for Swindown Town, told through his own recollections and through tributes from those who knew him best.
£15.00
The History Press Ltd Donald Campbell Bluebird and the Final Record Attempt
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£25.50
Headline Publishing Group My Colourful Life From Red to Amber
Book SynopsisRed Rum''s classic win in the 1977 Grand National is the stuff of sporting legend. Red himself became a national treasure, and his charismatic trainer - the redoubtable Ginger McCain - became a sporting hero. While the public adored Ginger, there were those who sniped that he was a one-horse trainer. All that changed 27 years later when, in a thrilling race, Ginger won his fourth National with Amberleigh House, equalling the record of Fred Rimmer. Once again Ginger had taken the sporting world by storm. In the 70s, the popularity of Red Rum and Ginger almost single-handedly saved the great race when there were plans afoot to turn the track into a housing estate. Ginger himself is a remarkable individual - charming, forthright, not afraid to speak his mind and a hugely entertaining raconteur. This is his story, at times funny, sad, exciting and always captivating, told in his own inimitable style.
£10.99
Lerner Publishing Group Marcos Cinco de Mayo
Book Synopsis
£9.12
McClelland & Stewart Inc. All Roads Home
Book Synopsis
£21.59
Crabtree Publishing Co,US Muhammad Ali The Greatest Crabtree Groundbreaker
Book SynopsisMuhammad Ali was born as Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky. Early in his life, his skills developed from those he needed to stand up to a playground bully into the championship form that earned him a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics. As a professional fighter, Ali became known not just for the speed and agility with which he won three world heavyweight championships, but also for his charm, wit, and showmanship. Outside the ring, the courage of his stand against the military draft made him both a revered cultural hero and a lightning rod for the issues that divided Americans during the Vietnam War. In the decades following his boxing career, Ali was regarded as one of the most recognized people on the planet. He lent his name, influence, and generosity to a host of humanitarian causes. Having earned the affection of billions of people worldwide, the people''s champ will forever be The Greatest.
£12.34
Crabtree Publishing Co,Canada Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebrations in My World
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Random House USA Inc Find a Way
Book SynopsisNOW THE NETFLIX FILM NYAD, STARRING ANNETTE BENING AND JODIE FOSTERHillary Clinton said that Find a Way would stay with her through the general election: “When you’re facing big challenges in your life, you can think about Diana Nyad getting attacked by the lethal sting of box jellyfishes. And nearly anything else seems doable in comparison.”When Diana Nyad arrived on the shore of Key West after fifty-three hours of grueling swimming across an epic ocean, she not only set a world record—becoming the first person to swim the shark-infested waters between Cuba and Florida with no cage for protection—she also succeeded in fulfilling a dream she first chased at age twenty-eight and at long last achieved when she was sixty-four. Now, in a riveting memoir, Diana shares a spirited account of what it takes to face one’s fears, engage one’s passions, and never ever give up. For no matter what life may throw at you, or how many times you may have experienced defeat, it is always possible—as long as you commit to living life to the nth degree, no regrets—to “find a way.
£15.60
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers The Life and Career of David Beckham Football Legend Cultural Icon
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£30.00
Rizzoli International Publications Fletcher A Lifetime in Surf
Book SynopsisThrough fifty years of epic stories, art, and personal ephemera, The Fletcher Family spans surfing's golden era to the present day, when bathing-suit model Dibi and competitive surfer Herbie met, to raising talented Christian and Nathan on boards and waves, to passing the torch to their skating-phenom grandson, Greyson.Herbie Fletcher is a surfing legend. Fletcher and his sons, Christian and Nathan, made a habit of doing things exceptionally well and in their own way before they became the norm. But the Fletchers are not merely trailblazing surf and skate legends; they also are counterculture and subculture icons. T Magazine referred to them as having punk family values. Their sincere love for art and surfing and their collective DGAF attitude has earned them legions of devoted fans and friends from so many different worlds: music, fashion, streetwear, and art.The epitome of both surfer cool and punk counterculture, the Fletcher family for the firstTrade Review"The show is a companion to the upcoming publication of Dibi Fletcher’s book for Rizzoli out later this year, “Fletcher: A Lifetime in Surf,” which compiles the history of surfing through her husband, Herbie, children Nathan and Christian, her grandchildren, and father, the late iconic surfer, Walter Hoffman." —WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY"Through fifty years of epic stories, personal ephemera, and celebrity contributions, THE FLETCHER FAMILY: A LIFETIME IN SURF is a visual memoir of the immensely colorful “first family” of surfing." —SURF-EAT-SHOP
£33.60
Transworld Publishers Ltd Speed Kings
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TIMES BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDSIn the 1930s, as the world hurtled towards terrible global conflict, speed was all the rage. It was described by Aldous Huxley as ''the one genuinely modern pleasure'', and one of the fastest and most thrilling ways to attain it was through the new sport of bobsledding. Exotic, exciting and above all dangerous, it was by far the most popular event at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. It required an abundance of skill and bravery. And the four men who triumphed at those Games lived the most extraordinary lives.Billy Fiske was an infamous daredevil, blessed with a natural talent for driving. He would later become the first American airman to die in the war - flying for the RAF. Clifford Gray was a notorious playboy and a player on both Broadway and Hollywood. Or was he? His identity was a mystery for decades. Jay O''Brien was a gambler and a rogue who, according to one ex-wife, forced womeTrade ReviewWritten with great pace and lightness, Speed Kings will enthral anyone who loved Seabiscuit and The Boys in the Boat. * The Times, Books of the Year *A tale of exceptional sporting bravery... genuinely thrilling. A gripping yarn. * Observer *A wonderful story, told in marvellous style. * Literary Review *A rich slice of history about courage and nobility... irresistible personalities. Unlike so many of his peers Fiske saw Nazism early for what it was. He became the first American to join the RAF, flying in the Battle of Britain. This is what makes him worthy of Bull's affectionate attention. It's also what gives the book its cohesion and its last act, which is far more moving than you have a right to expect given all the fun that precedes it. Fiske stays with you. He's the superhero you wish you'd been. * The Times *If there's any justice, the winner of the 2015 William Hill Sports Book of the Year will be Andy Bull's Speed Kings which tells the story of the four larger-than-life characters who won bobsleigh Olympic gold at Lake Placid in 1932. The enormous research needed to bring to life the quartet has been a remarkable feat. -- Charles Sale * Daily Mail *
£11.96
Abrams Playing Through the Pain
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Drawing from almost a decade of interviews with Caminiti’s teammates and coaches, Good’s narrative is decidedly unsparing, but it offers crucial context to the ‘steroids era’ … This is a must-read for baseball fans.” * Publishers Weekly, starred review *“This is an incredibly interesting book about a flawed star and his impact on the game. I couldn’t put it down.” * Peter Golenbock, author of The Bronx Zoo, Bums, Wrigleyville, and Valentine’s Way *“Like Ken Caminiti so many times with the San Diego Padres, Dan Good has gone deep with this exhaustive biography of the 1990s slugger. Playing Through the Pain builds anticipation well in detailing Caminiti’s rise and tragic fall, threading in four hundred interviews with everyone from childhood friends to steroid dealers. Caminiti’s story is one of the secrets—childhood sexual abuse, drug abuse—that undid a generous spirit and preternaturally talented ballplayer. Good ends up with an effective portrayal of a man whose courageous willingness to blow the whistle on steroids helped clean up the game.” * Brad Balukjian, author of The Wax Pack *“As compelling as it is heartbreaking, Dan Good’s Playing Through the Pain provides an in-depth look into Ken Caminiti’s life, both on and off the field. As his teammate during his 1996 MVP season, I witnessed Cammy’s toughness and talent firsthand. It wasn’t until I read this book that I really got to know Ken and his battles.” * Bob Tewksbury, All-Star pitcher, mental skills coach, and author of Ninety Percent Mental *
£11.39
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The curse of Teko Modise
Book SynopsisTeko 'the General' Modise is one of the best footballers South Africa has ever produced. But life wasn't always kind. This book tells it all, from poverty to fame, from love to divorce. It is the story of a fatherless father trying to make sense of parenthood and a man who never had money trying to make sense of an abundance of wealth.
£14.20
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Strike a Rock
Book SynopsisIt is not easy. Having a dream, having talent and being faced with a world that wants you to have neither - it is not easy. This is not an easy story. This is a book about difficult odds, about cruelty, about broken families and addiction. This is also a story about hope.
£11.35
Rowman & Littlefield The Man Who Built the National Football League
Book SynopsisFounded in 1920, the National Football League chose famed athlete Jim Thorpe as its first president, a position he held briefly until a successor was elected. From 1921 to 1939, Joe F. Carr guided the sport of professional football with intelligence, hard work, and a passion that built the foundation of what the NFL has become: the number one sports organization in the world. During his eighteen-year tenure as NFL President, Carr created the organization''s first Constitution & By-Laws; implemented the standard player''s contract; wrote the NFL''s first-ever Record and Fact Book; helped split the NFL into two divisions and establish the NFL''s World Championship Game; started keeping league statistics; and developed the NFL Draft. But Carr''s greatest achievement was creating a vision for the NFL as a big-city sport. By skillfully recruiting financially capable owners to operate NFL franchises in big market cities, he created the solid foundation for the league''s successful future.WhiTrade ReviewThis biography profiles the man who shepherded the NFL at its outset and established the solid foundation upon which Bert Bell and Pete Rozelle could build. In many ways, Carr's was the harder and most crucial job, named league president in 1921 when 'post graduate football' was not a serious competitor to college football or major league baseball. Willis (head of research lib., NFL Films) reminds us that Carr drew up and enforced the bylaws of the league and continually pushed it forward by recruiting a stable ownership group in large U.S. cities. Carr's years in sports management also embraced basketball and baseball. Willis relates Carr's life in comprehensive detail from a wealth of interviews and use of Carr's archives. This thorough biography of a forgotten but influential figure in sports management is recommended to all football fans. * Library Journal *Willis, the veteran head of NFL Films’ Research Library, turns the clock back to the genesis of the National Football League and Joe F. Carr, the remarkable man who laid the solid foundation of modern professional football from 1922 to 1937. Described by Willis as “the Henry Ford of the NFL,” Carr, a tireless visionary, rose from his modest Irish upbringing to create one of the first traveling football teams, the Columbus Panhandles, in the early part of the last century and guided the new professional football league, the American Professional Football Association, in 1921. With complete access to Carr’s family and associates, the author performs a workmanlike recounting of Carr as the diligent, straight-shooting president of the NFL, overseeing many of the achievements we take for granted today: standard player’s contracts, rules for college recruitment, professional football regulations, players’ statistics, creation of two NFL divisions, the NFL draft, and the championship game. Informed, somewhat academic, yet engaging, this gridiron biography of Carr explains completely why football fever takes hold of America each and every fall. * Publishers Weekly *Willis has dived into obscure and early behind the scenes NFL history in his book….I highly recommend this book for any football library. Once I started reading it, I was unable to put it down…. Willis has captured the essence of this time frame of early football history and gives the reader great insight into this overlooked football legend. -- Bob Swick, 2010 * Gridiron Greats *[The Man Who Built The National Football League] is excellent reading for a football fan and a history buff. -- Jim Riggs * Jamestown Post-Journal *Table of ContentsForeword James A. Carr, grandson of Joe F. Carr Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: One Man’s Vision Part I: Humble Beginnings (1879–1919) 1. The Irish Way (1841–1878) 2. Growing Up in Columbus, Ohio (1879–1893) 3. The Love of a Family Is Replaced by a Love of Sports (1894–1906) 4. The Columbus Panhandles and the Great Nesser Brothers (1907–1909) 5. Starting a Family (1910–1913) 6. Pro Football’s Most Famous Traveling Team (1914–1916) 7. Making a Name for Himself (1917–1919) Part II: The Presidency (1920–1939) 8. The American Professional Football Association (1920) 9. President Elect (1921) 10. The National Football League (1922) 11. Defending Professional Football (1923) 12. Baby Steps for President Carr (1924) 13. The NFL Comes to New York City (1925) 14. The Galloping Ghost and Pottsville Controversy (1925) 15. The Grange League (1926) 16. Traveling for a Cause (1927–1928) 17. How Do We Get to the Big Cities and Stay? (1929–1930) 18. Small-Town Green Bay Is Titletown (1931) 19. Indoor Circus (1932) 20. The Pro Game Separates Itself from the College Game (1933) 21. Sneakers in New York (1934) 22. The Postgraduate Game Is Finally a Big-City Sport (1935) 23. Packers, Redskins, and the NFL Draft (1936) 24. Heart of Gold Continues to Work (1937) 25. “Greatest Show in Football” (1938) 26. Death of a President (1939) 27. Aftermath 28. Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963) 29. The Legacy of Joe F. Carr Appendix: Dates and Locations of NFL Meetings Presided by NFL President Joe F. Carr (1921–1939) Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
£30.00
Hachette Books Ireland Conversations with My Father Jack Kyle
Book SynopsisJack Kyle was the rugby giant of his time, but he was also so much more than a sporting legend.Whilst he was winning a Grand Slam and touring with the Lions, Jack Kyle was also studying to be a doctor. When he retired from playing rugby - as the world''s most-capped player - his sense of adventure and medical ambition led him to settle in Chingola, Zambia, where he spent the next thirty-four years of his life. For many years, he was the only medically trained surgeon in the town and so faced many challenges, not least the appearance of and devastation caused by AIDS.Written as a series of conversations with his daughter, Justine, Conversations with My Father reveals Jack Kyle as a supremely gifted rugby player, a dedicated surgeon and a gentle family man.Trade ReviewLovingly crafted and well-written ... this is so much more than a rugby book but then Jack Kyle was so much more than a rugby player * Irish Times *Much more than a sports book, this is a nostalgic look at a full life wisely lived * Irish Examiner *A man of unrivalled class, on and off the pitch * Irish Independent *
£10.54
Union Square & Co. Tommys Field
Book SynopsisA moving memoir that reminds us of the power of play to inspire, unite, and healand that sometimes what brings us the most pain can be the source of our greatest inspiration. In April 2018, Nikki and Doug Mark's perfectly healthy twelve-year-old-son, Tommy, went to sleep one night and never woke up. They're still not exactly sure why. Devastated, Nikki embarked on an unconventional journey to create a legacy for Tommy and to heal her heart. She created a plan to transform neglected land in a Los Angeles public park into a state-of-the-art athletic field, honoring Tommy's love of soccer and sharing his spirit of play with others. After family, friends, and LA's soccer community banded together to raise over a million dollars for the project, park neighbors resistant to change threatened to derail it. Throughout Nikki's journey, a remarkable string of incidents convinced her that her recently departed son was guiding her through the process. Ultimately, Tommy's enduring spirit and the
£18.00
Hodder & Stoughton The Flying Prince: Alexander Obolensky: The Rugby
Book Synopsis**Winner of the Rugby Book of the Year at the Sports Book Awards 2022**Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky made his name on a cold January day at Twickenham in 1936, his achievements captured for posterity by the newsreels of the time. On his England debut, having already scored one exhilarating try, the striking blond winger collected a pass on the right and, path blocked, veered left at such a pace that a line of opponents were left grasping at thin air. It was a historic try, unrivalled in skill and speed - and it inspired England's first ever victory over the All Blacks.Born to a noble family in St Petersburg in 1916, he had been due a life of wealth and privilege, until revolution forced the Obolenskys to flee Russia. Arriving in Britain with just a handful of possessions, they were reduced to relying on handouts, little Alex's very education resting on the charity of others. But as the young boy began his new life in a strange country, it was his natural sporting ability that would bring him lasting fame. The controversial selection for England of a Russian-born prince was a huge story in the press, stirring up xenophobia as well as excitement at the 19-year-old Oxford student's sheer pace. His later exploits on and off the field would keep his name in the papers, yet Alex was destined to win only four international caps, despite touring with the Lions and appearing for the Barbarians. After joining the RAF to serve his adopted king and country, he died at the controls of a Hurricane in March 1940.Bringing a fascinating era to life, The Flying Prince explores the mystery and mythology surrounding Alexander Obolensky, and for the first time tells the full story of the sporting hero who died too young.*****'Well-researched . . . a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters' - THE TIMES'The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time' JOHN AIZLEWOOD, I NEWS'A first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too' - BEST RUGBY BOOKS 2021'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' - THE RUGBY PAPERTrade ReviewA first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too * Best Rugby Books 2021 *It is well-researched vignettes such as this, deftly side-stepping the main story, that make Hugh Godwin's tale of Obolensky a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters, such as Geoffrey Bell, Obolensky's headmaster, who was fond of making the boys take a naked cold dip in the outdoor pool every morning; or WTS Stallybrass, a sozzled Brasenose don who died falling off a train on his way back from dinner, after mistaking the carriage door for the lavatory * The Times *'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' * The Rugby Paper *The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time * John Aizlewood, i news *Compelling * Gavin Mairs, Telegraph *
£18.00
Rowman & Littlefield The Open Question: Ben Hogan and Golf's Most
Book SynopsisGolfing legend Ben Hogan went to his grave believing he had won a record five US Open titles. The USGA says otherwise, and the controversy has endured for over 75 years. In 1942, the United States Golf Association (USGA) cancelled its four golf tournaments for the duration of World War II. But then it did something different in only that year—it sponsored the Hale-America National Open on the same weekend as the cancelled US Open. The great Ben Hogan won that tournament and went to his grave believing he had therefore won a record five US Open titles. In The Open Question, Peter May turns his attention to this controversial, colorful Hale-America National Open of 1942. While providing an in-depth look at the tournament itself, May champions Hogan’s claim to five US Open titles and debunks some questionable assertions that the tournament was not worthy of a US Open. Set against the backdrop of World War II, May also tells the stories of other professional golfers in the tournament and the impact of the war on all their lives. The USGA has never recognized the Hale-America Tournament as an official US Open and remains firm in its stance. It was a decision that bothered Ben Hogan for the rest of his life. The Open Question shows how dominant Ben Hogan was against some of the biggest names in golf, and reveals why he deserves to be recognized as a five-time US Open winner.Table of ContentsProloguePrefacePart One – Eleven Months Chapter 1: May 1941-January 1942: The USGA Giveth and the USGA Taketh AwayChapter 2: April-June 1942: Augusta, Seaview and East Lake Part Two – Four DaysChapter 3: The Hale-America Round One, June 18: Ridgemoor and Mr. IcicleChapter 4: The Hale-America Round Two, June 19: Mr. 62Chapter 5: The Hale-America Round Three, June 20: Good Times JimmyChapter 6: The Hale-America Round Four, June 21: Ben and Bobby One Last TimePart Three – Controversy and AftermathChapter 7: Controversy: When Is a US Open Not a US Open?Chapter 8: October 1945 to August 1946: The End of Hostilities and the Return of the US OpenChapter 9: The Back Nine: The Foursome on the Back Nine of LifeEpilogue: Preserving the Legacy: The Hoganistas
£17.09
Rowman & Littlefield Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the
Book SynopsisIn celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, this book honors the life of Effa Manley, the trailblazing female co-owner of baseball’s Newark Eagles. The first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, there was no one like Effa Manley in the sports world of the 1930s and 1940s. She was a sophisticated woman who owned a baseball team. She never shrank from going head to head with men, who dominated the ranks of sports executives. That her life story remained unchronicled for so long can only be attributed to one thing: her team, the Newark Eagles, belonged to the Negro Leagues.In Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles, Negro Leagues Centennial Edition, James Overmyer brings to light new details regarding Effa Manley’s fascinating story, including previously-unknown information about her childhood and family. Overmyer wonderfully portrays Effa Manley’s trailblazing life, her championship baseball team, and a thriving black community in Newark that took the Eagles into their hearts. In addition, this book contains updates regarding the Negro Leagues, its talented rank of players, and Manley’s induction into the Hall of Fame.This important work shines the spotlight on a previously unsung segment of baseball history. Drawing extensively from Eagle team records and Manley’s scrapbook, Queen of the Negro Leagues is the definitive biography of a groundbreaking female sports executive.
£37.11
Rowman & Littlefield Whispers of the Gods: Tales from Baseball’s
Book SynopsisIn Whispers of the Gods, bestselling author Peter Golenbock brings to life baseball greats from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s through timeless stories told straight from the players themselves. Like the enduring classic The Glory of Their Times, this book features the reminiscences of baseball legends, pulled from hundreds of hours of taped interviews with the author. Roy Campanella talks about life in the Negro Leagues before coming up to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ted Williams recounts why he believes Shoeless Joe Jackson belongs in the Hall of Fame. Tom Sturdivant provides vivid memories of Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, and other Yankee icons. Other voices include Phil Rizzuto, Jim Bouton, Monte Irvin, Stan Musial, Ron Santo, Rex Barney, Ellis Clary, Roger Maris, Ed Froelich, Marty Marion, Jim Brosnan, Gene Conley, and Kirby Higbe.The players interviewed were All-Stars, Hall of Famers, and heroes to many, and their impact on the national pastime is still seen to this day. Baseball history comes alive through the stories shared in Whispers of the Gods, offering a fascinating account of the golden age of baseball. Table of ContentsForeword, by John ThornPrefaceChapter 1: Jim BoutonChapter 2: Ed FroelichChapter 3: Marty MarionChapter 4: Rex BarneyChapter 5: Stan MusialChapter 6: Tom SturdivantChapter 7: Jim BrosnanChapter 8: Ted WilliamsChapter 9: Gene ConleyChapter 10: Kirby HigbeChapter 11: Phil RizzutoChapter 12: Ron SantoChapter 13: Ellis ClaryChapter 14: Roy CampanellaChapter 15: Roger MarisChapter 16: Monte IrvinChapter 17: Jim BoutonAbout the Author
£17.09
Little, Brown & Company We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of
Book SynopsisA lively chronicle of how the 2020 Crimson Tide became Nick Saban's "ultimate team."Was Alabama's Crimson Tide in 2020 the greatest team of all time? The squad went 13-0 in a pandemic year, scored a combined 107 points against SEC powerhouses LSU and Florida, crushed Ohio State in a National Championship Game 52-24 in a contest that wasn't even that close, and followed it up with another top-rated signing class.Nick Saban called his boys the "ultimate team," but it wasn't just because they kicked the ever-living hell out of everyone on the football field. It was because the team leveraged a power and influence born of Southern pride to push back against a hateful legacy of racism that a populist president was exploiting to divide the nation. At a time when Americans needed real leaders in the face of so much hate, the sports world answered the call and fought back for the soul of the country.In the summer of 2020, the Tide players left their training facility and, led by their celebrated coach, marched to a campus doorway made infamous sixty years earlier by another political demagogue and showed what people can accomplish when they fight together for a just cause in the name of unity. The most powerful force in a state crazy for college football had chosen to make a stand and replace George Wallace's "Segregation forever!" with a different message, written by one of the players: "All lives can't matter until Black lives matter."?There have been some great football teams through the years, and they all deserve respect. But here's what we know for sure: They all would have been appreciative of what this Alabama team represented, and proud of what it accomplished. The Crimson Tide in 2020 captured something special that moved it beyond the conversation of best ever, and into the place reserved for most important of all time.
£14.24
PublicAffairs,U.S. Once a Giant: A Story of Victory, Tragedy, and
Book SynopsisThe inside story of the Super Bowl champion 1986 Giants, the extraordinary friendships that resulted--and stunning revelations about the hardships they faced, based on new interviews with Bill Parcells, Phil Simms, Mark Bavaro, and Bill Belichick.The 1986 New York Giants are legendary. A championship team coached by Bill Parcells and his wunderkind assistant Bill Belichick, featuring future Hall of Famers and All-Pros like Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Mark Bavaro, and Harry Carson. They were dominant on the field and formed a unique and lasting bond off of it. More than thirty years later, it's the friendships that have proved more important--a matter of life and death.In Once a Giant, bestselling football writer Gary Myers tells the story of that team and what became of it. Gridiron glory eventually faded; chronic pain, addiction, and in some cases crimes have followed. Many football players face these harsh realities, but the Giants have confronted and survived them together.With unprecedented access, Myers dives into such issues as Mark Bavaro's battle with injuries, the breakup and reconciliation of Parcells and Belichick, and Lawrence Taylor's struggles with sobriety. He creates a never-before-seen portrait of the team's run to the title, and their even more challenging fight to live after it ended.
£22.50
University of Arkansas Press An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections
Book Synopsis“The man revealed in these pages seems to embody so much of what Americans claim to admire - self-reliance, honesty, humor, modesty, intelligence - the stuff of heroes.” - The New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review“The man revealed in these pages seems to embody so much of what Americans claim to admire—self-reliance, honesty, humor, modesty, intelligence—the stuff of heroes.” —The New York Times Book Review
£26.96
Workman Publishing Dream Golf: The Making of Bandon Dunes, Revised
Book Synopsis"Mike Keiser followed his instincts to build courses that speak to golf as a rugged adventure. Steve Goodwin's spirited book will speak to the golfing soul in you." —Lorne Rubenstein, columnist for The Globe and Mail (Canada) and author of A Season in Dornoch On a wild, windblown bluff high above the Pacific sits one of America’s premier golfing destinations, Bandon Dunes. Golf enthusiast Mike Keiser had the dream of building this British-style "links" course on a stretch of Oregon's rugged coast, and Dream Golf is the first all-inclusive account of how he turned his passion into a reality. Now, in this updated and expanded edition, golf writer Stephen Goodwin revisits Bandon Dunes and introduces readers to Keiser's latest effort there, a new course named Old Macdonald that will present golfers with a more rugged, untamed version of the game. This "new" approach to the sport is, in fact, a return to the game's origins, with a very deep bow to Charles Blair Macdonald (1856 –1939), the father of American golf course architecture and one of the founders of the U.S. Golf Association. This highly anticipated fourth course, designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Doak along with Jim Urbina — as detailed in Dream Golf — will further enhance Bandon Dunes' reputation as a place where golf really does seem to capture the ancient magic of the game.
£22.50
Ivan R Dee, Inc Thirty Tons a Day
Book SynopsisIn between his romances with baseball, in early 1969 Bill Veeck took up the challenge of managing Boston's semi–moribund Suffolk Downs racetrack. "Being of sound mind and in reasonable possession of my faculties," Veeck wrote, "I marshaled my forces, at the tender age of fifty–four, and marched upon the city of Boston, Massachusetts, like a latter–day Ben Franklin, to seek my fame and fortune as the operator of a racetrack. Two years later, fortune having taken one look at my weathered features and shaken its hoary locks, I retreated, smiling gamely." When he took over the track, Veeck had yet to learn that the normal daily output of some sixteen hundred horses (including straw) would amount to so much, or be so hard to dispose of. But that was the least of his problems. In the tough–minded and Tabasco–tongued prose that is his trademark, Veeck recalls the battles he won and lost, the fun he had, and what he discovered about horse racing at "Sufferin' Downs." It's a zesty, complicated story but a relentlessly fascinating one about the inside workings of one of the most popular sports in America.
£11.39
Kodansha America, Inc A Life In Aikido: The Biography Of Founder
Book SynopsisThroughout his extraordinary life, Morihei Ueshiba mastered an array of martial arts and techniques, including jujutsu and kendo, and endlessly devoted himself to the philosophies of Japan's martial schools. This biography details the life of this remarkable man, from his early years as a youth in the turbulent Meiji era to his death in 1969. The history of Japan's martial traditions is replete with many outstanding individuals, but few ever attained the legendary status of Morihei Ueshiba. Throughout his extraordinary life, he mastered an array of martial arts and techniques, including
£28.00
Triumph Books Allen Iverson
£11.95
