Biography: sport Books

Book SynopsisNamed a Best Baseball Book of 2020 by Sports Collectors Digest Bouton examines the remarkable life of a player and an author who forever changed the way we view not only sports books but professional sports as a whole.Trade Review“Once you start reading, you will not be able to stop. A compelling look at one of the most influential and controversial figures in baseball history. A new generation needs to know the story of Jim Bouton: a man who never wearied of gleefully and hilariously skewering the establishment but who also had the old-school drive to will his dreams into reality. Above all, a lifetime love of baseball shines through in every chapter—a true reflection of Bouton himself.”—Brian Kenny, host for MLB Network and author of Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution"Baseball fans will laugh alongside and, ultimately, feel touched by this look at an iconoclastic, often quixotic man who, despite the charges that his landmark book had hurt the game, loved baseball to the very end."—Library Journal, starred review"An astute writer on the game, [Nathanson] is as at his best on the Bouton-Shecter collaboration—late nights at the Lion’s Head Bar in Greenwich Village; Shecter making sense of Bouton’s scrawls on stationery, envelopes and toilet paper; the pair noodling over the manuscript stripped down to their underwear in Shecter’s airless Chelsea apartment. . . . Nathanson is good, too, with Bouton wisecracks."—Maxwell Carter, Wall Street Journal"When Mitchell Nathanson, a professor of sports law at Villanova, approached Bouton about writing his biography, the pitcher gave his blessing, on one condition: that Nathanson write about him with the honesty he’d tried to bring to the game of baseball. . . . Nathanson moves crisply through the deep back story, though he knows a good detail when he sees one."—John Swansburg, New York Times Book Review"Nathanson goes beyond tracing Bouton’s life, focusing instead on explicating the roots of Ball Four. In so doing, the book becomes an inside-publishing exposé, showing how the publication and selling of Ball Four changed our expectations of what a sports book could be. . . . In addition, the book provides fascinating details about Bouton's post–Ball Four life, including his fling at acting and his turn as an entrepreneur, developing the successful bubble-gum product Big League Chew. A welcome look at one of baseball's signature mavericks."—Mark Levine, Booklist"Nathanson's chronicle of baseball's renowned counter-culture renegade as author of Ball Four in 1970 is a masterful exploration of Jim Bouton's impact not only to major-league baseball but also within the larger societal spheres of the overall sports industry and American culture in general."—Charlie Bevis, Bevis Baseball Research"Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original is one of the best baseball biographies in recent memory. Nathanson is a fantastic storyteller, capable of juxtaposing Bouton's recollections with those of his contemporaries and situating these stories within their historical context. While researching the book, he spent a significant amount of time with Bouton in the final years of his life (Bouton died in 2019), which contributes to the depth with which he renders his subject."—Clayton Trutor, Reason"Bouton is a book that deserves space next to Ball Four on the bookshelf. Nathanson has done a thorough job of presenting the life of a complex man who changed the game of baseball, not by what he did on the field, but what he observed on the field, in the clubhouse and on the road."—Bob D'Angelo, Sports Bookie"A well-researched and fascinating read that tells how the free thinking Bouton always marched to the beat of his own drummer."—John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald"Nathanson's source list is deep and insightful and his writing is crisp. And his access to Bouton's Ball Four notes provides answers to some lingering questions."—Dennis Star, Peoria Journal StarTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue: Publication Day Part One: The Bulldog 1. Warm-up Bouton 2. Take a Hike, Son 3. Joliet 4. You Should Write a Book 5. A Long Way from Amarillo 6. Fucking Shecter 7. All ’Bout Bouton 8. A Threat, Not a Fine 9. The Bulldog and the Chipmunks 10. Rebel without a Fastball 11. The Youth of America Is for Kids 12. The End of the Line Part Two: The Author 13. Beginnings 14. From Tell-Some to Tell-All 15. Take Your Pants Off, Bouton 16. Fuck You, Shakespeare 17. Protectors of the Holy Flame 18. Against the Unwritten Rules of Baseball 19. Not Enough Sex 20. The Leni Riefenstahl of the National Football League 21. Taking It Personally 22. Bad Stuff ’bout the Mets Part Three: The Iconoclast 23. Not Selling Refrigerators 24. The Most Famous Vasectomy in New York 25. Are We Rolling? 26. One Smart-Ass and Four Lawyers 27. You’re a Long Time Dead 28. The Battered Bastard of Baseball 29. Gilligan’s Island in Baseball Suits 30. Too Old, Too Everything 31. Magic 32. Dreaming in Baseball 33. Mask of the Bulldog 34. Hey, New York—Bouton’s Back! 35. Lightning in a Pouch 36. The Solo Artist 37. Laurie 38. Existential Bad Faith 39. A Mile in Bowie’s Shoes 40. Cashing Out 41. The Butter-Yellow Box Epilogue: The Cool of the Evening Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDale Scott’s career as a professional baseball umpire spanned nearly forty years, including thirty-three in the Major Leagues, from 1985 to 2017. He worked exactly a thousand games behind the plate, calling balls and strikes at the pinnacle of his profession, working in every Major League Baseball stadium, and interacting with dozens of other top-flight umpires, colorful managers, and hundreds of players, from future Hall of Famers to one-game wonders. Scott has enough stories about his career on the field to fill a dozen books, and there are plenty of those stories here. He’s not interested in settling scores, but throughout the book he’s honest about managers and players, some of whom weren’t always perfect gentlemen. But what makes Scott’s book truly different is his unique perspective as the only umpire in the history of professional baseball to come out as gay during his career. Granted, that was after decades of remaining in the closet, aTrade Review"A rollicking new memoir. . . . Scott is cheery yet candid about the indignities of umpiring."—John Swansburg, New York Times"The Umpire Is Out offers so many inside stories on great names in baseball history. Scott is honest in how he explains each encounter. He's a man you can't help but to root for in his coming years as a private (baseball) citizen. Scott truly is one of the better ambassadors of the game."—Don Laible, Bradenton Times"[The Umpire Is Out] is highly recommended as a biographical memoir of umpiring and the game itself over the past forty years, and also as a non-salacious, candid portrait of gay life in American sports over the same era. It is generous, humorous, enjoyable, and is a great source for learning about both subjects—"The Wedge," as it were, of Scott's professional and personal life."—Tim Wiles, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture“Dale Scott was both consistent and approachable, perhaps the two most important qualities for an umpire. Dale’s personal story is inspirational, but his book also features vivid game stories from a truly great run at the top of his profession.”—David Cone“Dale’s personal story differs dramatically from those of his umpiring colleagues. And yet, what also shines through is what he and so many of us have in common: an abiding love of baseball and an appreciation for what the game has meant to our lives. This is a textured story, both entertaining and meaningful. And told with uncommon grace.”—Bob Costas“As the late, great Ernie Harwell once said to me about Dale, ‘A great umpire is like a great driver in traffic: you never notice they’re there.’ That was Dale Scott. He had a great, consistent strike zone, and I don’t recall him ever missing a call on the bases. But as good an umpire as Dale was, he’s also one of my all-time favorite people.”—Harold Reynolds“Dale Scott umpired for more than thirty years in the big leagues. He’s seen it all, and most of the best parts seem to have wound up in these pages. But heck, I’d buy the book just for the chapter on the José Bautista Bat Flip Game!”—Dan Shulman“For more than ten years, Dale Scott made me laugh every day. As a mentor, he taught me how to not only survive but excel in the Major Leagues, and I am forever grateful for his friendship and leadership. This memoir delivers the humor, excitement, and knowledge that only a true insider can provide. Make the right call and read this book!”—Dan IassognaTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Billy Bean 1. Nutcutters, Polebenders, and Shithouses 2. Eugene 3. Playing the Game 4. “You Were Terrible!” 5. “He’s That Blind SOB” 6. Only in the Dominican 7. Getting the Call 8. When Sparky Quit Chewing 9. “Mike, Your Mom Is Blasting Me” 10. Sophomore Slump 11. For the Last Time 12. “I Can Put Two and Two Together” 13. TK 14. Hardly the First 15. “What Do You Mean, Colorful?” 16. Nolan and George 17. Hello Again, Boss 18. Jeffrey Who? 19. A Long Way from Bradenton 20. “What Flavor Was the Kool-Aid?” 21. W. 22. Like a Human Blood Clot 23. “Hell Has Frozen Over” 24. “Hey, Lou, You Missed a Spot” 25. “I Am the Walrus” 26. Postseason from Hell 27. Get the Hell Out of the Way 28. From Frank’s Friendly to Jimmy Fallon 29. Flip 30. “I Can’t Believe This Is Happening Again” 31. No Complaints, No Regrets Acknowledgments Appendix Index

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Book SynopsisLittle Poison is the story of Paul Runyan, a short-hitting farm boy from Arkansas who rose to prominence during the 1930s and defeated Sam Snead by a resounding margin at the 1938 PGA Championship.Trade Review"Little Poison is a wonderful tribute to a golfer whose life and accomplishments deserve such recognition."—Stuart Shiffman, bookreporter.com“In these fast-moving pages and masterfully researched chapters, John Dechant has given a true gift to devotees of both golf and storytelling. Golf history loves its overlooked underdogs, but few are as overlooked or as interesting as Paul Runyan. Little Poison is a book that will have you cheering from the jump.”—Tom Coyne, New York Times best-selling author of A Course Called Scotland and A Course Called America“Little Poison is a well-written account of a very interesting man and time in golf history. John Dechant weaves through time and space effortlessly as he details what made Paul Runyan special. The intangible character traits of high performers have always fascinated me. If you love golf, history, and appreciate greatness, this book is for you.”—James Sieckmann, 2018 National PGA Teacher of the YearTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Prologue Part 1. Hot Springs Boys 1. Something in the Water 2. Six Hundred Balls a Day 3. Samuel Jackson Part 2. Little Poison 4. White Plains 5. “I Don’t Know How He Does It” 6. A Code of His Own Part 3. On the Delaware 7. A Talent Nonpareil 8. “Lawdy, the Man Ain’t Human” 9. No Days Off Part 4. Go West 10. “Whatever Became of Paul Runyan?” 11. La Jolla 12. Last Hurrah 13. High Heavenly Ground Part 5. On the Tee until the Last 14. Author and Influencer 15. “The Legend Never Really Died” Acknowledgments Bibliographic Essay

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Book SynopsisAs a coach at Loyola Marymount in California, Paul Westhead designed his highly unusual signature run-and-gun offense that came to be known as “The System.” The Speed Game offers a vibrant account of how he helped develop a style of basketball that not only won at the highest levels but went on to influence basketball as it’s played today. Known for implementing an up-tempo, quick-possession, high-octane offense, Westhead is the only coach to have won championships in both the NBA and WNBA. But his long career can be defined by one simple question he’s heard from journalists, fellow coaches, his wife, and, well, himself: Why? Why did he insist on playing such a controversial style of basketball that could vary from brilliant to busted? Westhead speaks candidly here about the feathers he ruffled and about his own shortcomings as he takes readers from Philadelphia’s West Catholic High, where he couldn’t make varsity, to the birth of Trade Review“When the madness of Coach Westhead’s speed game combines with willing talent, magic happens on the basketball court. It’s not the speed game people couldn’t keep up with; it was his beautiful mind that most couldn’t follow. An intriguing insight into the life of the guru of go.”—Diana Taurasi, winner of an NCAA championship with the University of Connecticut, a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury, and of an Olympic gold medal“Coach Westhead became head coach of the LA Lakers under unusual and difficult circumstances, yet was always well-prepared, well-composed, and honest about where he was coming from. His journey from ‘stretching,’ to small college coach, to NBA head coach, to WNBA head coach, to international head coach is riveting and fascinating. Like him or not, crazy or genius, one thing can’t be denied: he is a world champion, and more than once.”—Jamaal Wilkes"Don't get the idea that The Speed Game is infatuated repetitiously with a scheme for winning basketball games. Mr. Westhead gives us a lot more. It may be a surprise to readers to learn how graceful and interesting a writer he is. . . . In his memoir, he writes especially well about coaching the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA championship in 1980 and the Phoenix Mercury, led by the great Diana Taurasi, to the 2007 women's title. He also describes how, in the late 1980s, he transformed Loyola Marymount into a powerhouse, and he does so without diminishing the role of Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble in the team's success."—Fred Barnes, Wall Street Journal“Having a former English teacher as my coach in the NBA was an unbelievable dream come true. We never got to exchanging sonnets, but the friendship and world championship we gained were absolutely worth the effort. I’m sure his accounts of his time with the NBA will be rewarding for hoop fans and all of us book worms.”—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar“Paul Westhead is a fastbreak savant. That has been conclusively proven in numerous coaching situations. More important, he is a highly principled and extremely talented basketball coach, and unfailingly loyal to his players, fellow coaches, and his beloved system. His journey from the City of Brotherly Love to NBA and WNBA championships and NCAA women’s and men’s scoring records is a wonderful, insightful, and entertaining read.”—P. J. Carlesimo, ESPN basketball analyst and former NBA coach of the Portland Trailblazers, the Golden State Warriors, and the Seattle Supersonics"The Speed Game is Paul Westhead’s personal account of how he tried to revolutionize basketball through fast breaks on offense and full-court pressure on defense, with the goal of wearing out the opposition while scoring more points. The book is quite engaging, and the reader becomes engrossed in Westhead’s adventures."—Karen Guenther, H-Pennsylvania“‘The great ones all have a screw loose.’ That’s what Stanford’s legendary basketball coach Tara VanDerveer once told me. Paul Westhead has a screw loose. His unique vision for basketball, and his dedication to his beliefs, against all odds, makes him a great one. This book is the diary of a mad scientist. It is a love story with amazing tales and anecdotes. Paul is the kind of whack job that makes basketball the deepest and most theatrical sport of all. His book enriches basketball lore.”—Scott Ostler, columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle "His memoir is both proud and self-effacing, candid and evasive, an artful nod to Shakespearean comedy and tragedy."—Steve Marantz, New York Journal of Books"The reader will gain great insight into Westhead's coaching philosophy and why he believes the fast break system is the best basketball system despite the skepticism of many and also his occasional lack of success with it, as evidenced by his poor record with the Nuggets. If one was or is a fan of his style, then this book is one to read."—Guy Who Reviews Sports Books"A fun—and fast—read."—J. Kemper Campbell, Lincoln Journal StarTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. West Philly 2. Stretching 3. Jersey Girl 4. Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity! 5. Enjoy the Ride 6. Go West, Young Man 7. Substitute Teacher 8. He Knows That We Know 9. No Thanks 10. Looney Tunes 11. The Glitter Is Gone 12. The Wrong Star 13. Twenty-Five Million Reasons 14. Lakers Doth Protest Too Much 15. No One’s Getting Fired 16. The Long Run 17. I Told You So 18. No Plan B 19. No Sound 20. I Know 21. The Tipping Point 22. A Crazy Genius

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Book SynopsisA three-time World Series winner and an early inductee into the Hall of Fame, lauded by Babe Ruth as the finest defensive outfielder he ever saw and described as perfection on the field by the great Grantland Rice, Tris Speaker enjoys the peculiar distinction of being one of the least-known legends of baseball history. Tris Speaker: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Baseball Legend is the first book to tell the full story of Speaker's turbulent life and to document in sharp detail the grit and glory of his pivotal role in baseball's dead-ball era.Playing for the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians in the early part of the twentieth century, Tris Spoke Speaker put up numbers that amaze us even today: his record for career doubles792may never be approached, let alone broken. Tris Speaker explores the colorful life behind the statistics, introducing readers to a complex and contradictory Texan whose cowboy mentality never left him as he brawled his way through two decades in the big leaTrade Review“Gay, who spent four years researching Speaker’s life, has crafted a rugged, no-holds-barred look at a player who encompassed all the complex magic of early twentieth century baseball. Speaker’s story exemplifies why baseball holds such an important place in the American imagination. It is our story—a story of sin and expiation, of loyalty and love, of courage and dignity. This should be required reading for any serious baseball fan.”—Sport Literature Association“There are many passages where Gay captures the spirit of the Gray Eagle as he describes a moment of Speaker in action. These are effective because they are done selectively; this book is anything but prone to monotonous game by game summaries.”—The Inside Game“[A] richly detailed biography, the first on Speaker to succeed in situating him within an epoch of great promise and of great shame. . . . The ultimate value of this biography resides in its portrayal of personal redemption. . . . This warts-and-all account is true to a rugged individualist and offers insights to a general public often dismayed by the lack of values found in the sports world.”—Library Journal“Carefully researched and documented, engagingly written, and very illuminating. . . . Gay has filled a serious gap in baseball history and his effort compares favorably with Charles Alexander’s acclaimed biographies of John McGraw and Ty Cobb.”—Booklist“Tristam ‘Spoke’ Speaker sits, statistically, alongside baseball’s greatest sluggers and fielders, but his story and name have largely been forgotten. . . . Gay has insured the righting of history with this biography. A worthwhile read for any sports fan.”—Publishers Weekly“An eye-opening look at baseball’s now seemingly prehistoric ‘dead ball’ era, which also was rife with gambling scandals, grudges, amoral team owners and spring training in Hot Springs, Ark., where training regimens included mandatory hikes through the woods.”—Ed Bark, Dallas Morning News“Fans of the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians will likely enjoy this book. . . . Timothy Gay’s thoughtful biography lays bare the ugly fact that many players were often involved in sketchy gambling arrangements. . . . Speaker is now largely forgotten, and this well-told story bridges the gap between baseball before World War I and its more modern form.”—Mark E. Hayes, The Miami Herald“Timothy Gay has accomplished something special with this book, recovering a great player and a hallowed time from the deep well of nostalgia and bringing them back to life, not as we wished them to be, but as they really were.”—David Maraniss, author of When Pride Still Mattered: The Life of Vince Lombardi“Tris Speaker was the prototype for Willie Mays as the best center fielder and most complete ballplayer of the dead ball era. He was also a complex and cerebral figure who straddled two centuries while growing up on horseback in Texas and helping establish the cult of the American sports superstar. Timothy Gay has crafted an enjoyable and important book about one of the most dominant yet underrated players in baseball history.”—Richard A. Johnson, coauthor, Red Sox Century and The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodger Baseball“Tim Gay has written a terrific book about a fascinating ball player—a .344+ lifetime hitter who still holds the major league record for unassisted double plays by a centerfielder. Every sports fan ought to read it.”—David Owen, author of My Usual GameTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction 1. October 1912 2. Texas Frontier Child 3. Texas Leaguer 4. Boston, 1908 5. Early Years in Boston 6. Championship Season 7. Last Years in Boston 8. Early Years in Cleveland 9.World Champion Manager 10. Scandal 11. Banished Hero 12. Twilight Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of Lefty O'Doul, one of baseball's greatest hitters, most colorful characters, and the unofficial father of professional baseball in Japan.Trade Review"Dennis Snelling's compelling biography, Lefty O'Doul . . . tells of the pitcher who, after a sore arm, became one of baseball's greatest hitters and hitting coaches before helping to establish the game in Japan."—Daniel M. Gold, New York Times"Engrossing, scrupulously-researched."—Paul Hagen, MLB.com"One of the best baseball books of the year."—Allen Barra, San Francisco Chronicle"An excellent portrait of a thoughtful and generous man with a scientific approach to hitting and an unbridled passion for the game; an athlete, a pioneer, a diplomat, a teacher—and one of baseball’s forgotten greats."—Andrew Elias, Ft. Myers Magazine"Dennis Snelling makes the reader fall in love with the larger than life character that was Lefty O’Doul."—Melissa Minners, g-pop.net"An admirable attempt to elevate O'Doul's place among baseball's pantheon of greats."—Benjamin Hill, MiLB.com“Perhaps the most important twentieth-century figure not enshrined in Cooperstown, Lefty O’Doul influenced the game on both sides of the Pacific. . . . Dennis Snelling brings Lefty to life in this well-written and fascinating biography. Lefty O’Doul should be on the must-read list of all serious baseball fans. A true Sayonara home run!”—Robert K. Fitts, author of Banzai Babe Ruth, winner of the Seymour Medal “The life of Lefty O’Doul was filled with joy, enthusiasm, and accomplishment, and no one has told his story better than Dennis Snelling. This wonderful book fully describes the many facets of Lefty’s personality.”—Dick Beverage, secretary-treasurer for the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America and president of the Pacific Coast League Historical SocietyTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments 1. Butchertown 2. He Can Be Just as Great a Ballplayer as He Cares 3. This Fellow Frank O’Doul Is a Sure Frank Merriwell 4. He Always Could Play Ball, Now He Gets It Earnestly 5. I Feel as Though I Am Going to Have a Great Year 6. The Fellow Has Plenty on the Personality Ball 7. Banzai O’Doul 8. Baseball’s Greatest Hitting Instructor 9. Manager for Life 10. It Is Epidemic 11. In Fact, We Are Major League! 12. There Are No Trick Plays, No Short Cuts 13. I’d Rather Be a Bad Winner 14. The San Francisco Giants 15. A Big, Big, Big, Big Thing 16. He Was Here at a Good Time Epilogue: Lefty's Story Continues Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRobert Dean Emslie (1859–1943) spent fifty-six of his eighty-four years in professional baseball—eight as a player and forty-nine as an umpire. When arm problems ended his career as a Major League pitcher, he turned to umpiring, serving in that capacity for thirty-five seasons, then as an umpire supervisor for thirteen years. His longevity is all the more remarkable considering he toiled during the three most contentious and difficult decades umpires ever faced: the years from 1890 to 1920, when baseball transitioned from amateur to professional sport and from regional business to commercial entertainment industry. Emslie endured the rough-and-tumble umpire-baiting 1890s, the Deadball era, injuries from thrown and batted balls, physical and verbal assaults from players and fans, and criticism in the press. Among his most notable games, he called four no-hitters and worked as the base umpire in the famous Merkle’s Boner game between the New York Giants and

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 SABR Baseball Research Award Before there was Joe DiMaggio, there was Tony Lazzeri. A decade before the “Yankee Clipper” began his legendary career in 1936, Lazzeri paved the way for the man who would become the patron saint of Italian American fans and players. He did so by forging his own Hall of Fame career as a key member of the Yankees’ legendary Murderers’ Row lineup between 1926 and 1937, in the process becoming the first major baseball star of Italian descent. An unwitting pioneer who played his entire career while afflicted with epilepsy, Lazzeri was the first player to hit sixty home runs in organized baseball, one of the first middle infielders in the big leagues to hit with power, and the first Italian player with enough star power to attract a whole new generation of fans to the ballpark. As a twenty-two-year-old rookie for the New York Yankees, Lazzeri played alongside such legends as Babe Ruth and

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Book SynopsisWhether in football or in the law, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert Thomas has always had the best view from the bench.Bob Thomas got his start in football at the University of Notre Dame, kicking for the famed Fighting Irish in the early 1970s. Claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears in 1975, Thomas helped to take the franchise from their darkest days to their brightest. Yet, on the cusp of the team''s greatest moment, he was struck with a shocking blow that challenged his fortitude.In this dramatic retelling of Bob Thomas''s fascinating life, renowned sports writer Doug Feldmann shows how neither football nor the law was part of Thomas''s dreams while growing up the son of Italian immigrants in Rochester, New York, in the 1960s. Chasing excellence on both the gridiron and in the courtroom, however, would require resilience in ways he could not have imagined.As A View from Two Benches shows us, Bob Thomas reached the top of two separate and distincTable of Contents1. A Ride to Freedom 2. South Bend 3. Claimed on Waivers 4. The Medowlands 5. Maggie 6. Cut 7. Resilience 8. Comeback 9. Hitting New Heights 10. Faith Rewarded 11. Boot Camp—and Moving On 12. Justice Tempered with Civility 13. Integrity 14. Looking Ahead

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Book SynopsisIf not for the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, Minnesota might never have known one of its most popular baseball players, Twins three-time batting champion and eight-time All-Star Tony Oliva. In April 1961, the twenty-two-year-old Cuban prospect failed to impress the Twins in a tryout, but the sudden rupture in U.S.–Cuba relations made a return visa all but impossible. The story of how Oliva’s unexpected stay led to a second chance and success with the Twins—as well as decades of personal and cultural isolation—is told for the first time in this full-scale biography of the man the fans affectionately call “Tony O.”With unprecedented access to the very private Oliva, baseball writer Thom Henninger captures what life was like for the Cuban newcomer as he adjusted to major league play and American culture—and at the same time managed to earn Rookie of the Year honors and win the American League batting title in his first two seasons, all while playing with a knuckle injury. Packed with never-before-published photographs, the book follows Oliva through the 1965 season, all the way to the World Series, and then, with repaired knuckle and knee, into one of the most dramatic pennant races in baseball history in 1967. Through the voices of Oliva, his family, and his teammates—including the Cuban players who shared his cultural challenges and the future Hall of Famers he mentored, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett—the personal and professional highs and lows of the years come alive: the Gold Glove Award in 1966, a third batting title in 1971, the devastating injury that curtailed his career, and, through it all, the struggle to build a family and recover the large and close-knit one he had left behind in Cuba. Nearly forty years after Oliva’s retirement, the debate continues over whether his injury-shortened career was Hall of Fame caliber—a question that gets a measured and resounding answer here. Trade Review"Thom Henninger did a marvelous job telling Tony’s story. It will remind readers what a special person he is and how he had to deal with so much adversity to find his way to the major leagues. I am so proud to have been his teammate and be his friend. All of us who played with Tony know he is a Hall of Famer and was the best hitter of his era."—Jim Kaat"The value of this book resides in the portrait Henninger paints of the man himself: a ceaselessly positive and selfless person who adapted admirably to his adopted country while never forgetting the needs of family members left behind in Castro-ravaged Cuba."—Spitball Magazine"An entertaining read."—Sports Book Guy"This is a story that was worth telling and one that is in many ways well told."—Sport Literature Association"Henninger nicely summarizes the crucial moments without getting bogged down in baseball-book minutiae."—SB Nation"Tony Oliva: The Life and Times of a Minnesota Twins Legend is an enjoyable book, one that Twins fans and baseball history fans will relish."—The Writer’s JourneyTable of ContentsContentsForeword Patrick ReussePreface1. Young Pedro 2. Life after Cuba Closes3. The Minor Leagues4. A Fast Start to a Big League Career5. Injured Rookie Wins Unprecedented Batting Crown6. Oliva Leads Pennant Push7. Life’s Highs and Lows8. The Great Pennant Race of 19679. Marriage and Family in the Year of the Pitcher10. Baseball’s Summer of Change11. Twins Repeat with a New Bill in Charge12. Family Reunions and the Career-Changing Knee Injury13. The Extremes of 197214. The Final Years as a Player15. Tony O: The ManEpilogue: The Hall of Fame QuestionAcknowledgmentsIndex

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Book SynopsisIn the winter of 1892, the new instructor of physical training at Smith College, a diminutive young woman with a heavy accent, introduced her students to an adaptation of James Naismith's new game of Basket Ball. An immediate if unexpected success, the game spread to other women's schools across the country, and soon its founder, Senda Berenson (1868-1954), was called upon to codify its distinctive set of gender-specific rules. Emphasizing team passing and position over individual play, the version she instituted defined women's basketball for seventy years and eventually earned her the honor of being the first female elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Yet, as Ralph Melnick points out, Berenson's pioneering role in the history of women's athletics was more a matter of accident than destiny. A Jewish immigrant from Lithuania, prone to ill health throughout her childhood, she enrolled in the Boston Normal School for Gymnastics in the fall of 1890 with the hope of strengthening herself so that she could pursue a career as a pianist, dancer, or painter. Instead, she soon became both a practitioner and a proponent of a new approach to women's physical education, one aimed at providing a ""natural outlet of the play instinct,"" developing ""endurance and physical courage"" as well as ""quickness of thought and action,"" and promoting through team work the ""power of organization"" women needed to achieve full social equality. Extending her work into the factories and blighted urban tenements of America, Berenson later won the recognition of Jane Addams, Margaret Sanger, and other progressive reformers. Believing that ""Americans have forgotten how to play,"" she wanted to teach others to live ""joyfully - beautifully."" For Berenson, the physical culture of exercise and games, played not for competition but for personal and social development as well as sheer enjoyment, was but another form of art. This convergence of athletics and aesthetics was hardly surprising, Melnick explains, because the single most important influence on Senda Berenson's life was her brother, the renowned art critic and connoisseur, Bernard Berenson. The two siblings wrote frequently to each other over the course of their lives, and the author draws heavily on their correspondence throughout the book to create an intimate and insightful portrait of a remarkable American woman.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the most famous protest in sports history, written by one of the men who staged itTrade Review"An important entry in the history of track and field and African American studies." Library Journal "The book offers insights into Smith's athletic prowess...When he describes the physical sensations of running -- the paradoxical relaxation of muscles required to explode out of the blocks, the adrenaline that floods the body as a sprinter takes the get-set position and the stride-by-stride account of the 1968 gold medal race -- Smith's narrative surges to life. A major aim of the book is to explain the motivation behind the silent gesture, but Smith isn't interested in trenchant political analysis...Readers of Silent Gesture will be left with a stark impression of the toll Smith paid for speaking out against racism. He views his autobiography as his last, desperate chance to pull himself out of the 'muck and mire he's been stuck in since the Mexico City Olympics.' Smith never expresses regret for having taken his controversial stand." The Washington Post "Smith's account is told in simple but eloquent fashion, tempered by a healthy dose of irony and humor. He never romanticizes his actions, but rightfully acknowledges their powerful social impact." Smooth "Read Silent Gesture for the story of an athlete who grabbed a chance to make a difference." The Seattle Medium "The reader is given a good sense of his family's small-town home in Texas...Smith's book doesn't lack for honesty." Bookforum "Smith's candid reflections on life after Mexico City is compelling...Most striking, though, are revelations about the stresses he endured before the 1968 race...For Smith, at 24, to have not only won the gold, but to have issued his anything-but-silent gesture from the world's biggest stage, makes his story all the more extraordinary." Black Issues Book Review "With the help of Steele, Smith offers a well-documented and clearly written story behind the memorable 1968 Olympic moment...Extensive background information about Smith's life before, during and after the 'silent gesture' provides understanding and insight about an Olympic image that will endure forever. Clearly presenting the fears, the disappointments, the triumphs, and the hopes, then and now, that the raised black fists represented in 1968, this book offers a wealth of information that will help the reader understand the deep-rooted meaning of the gesture and the impact it continues to have almost 40 years later. CHOICE August 2007 "What is the worth of this book? I believe it to be one that accurately portrays Tommie Smith's life and Olympic ordeal...We have waited a long time for this book. The result is worth the delay...Silent Gesture provides, by far, the most powerful punctuation mark in explaining one of the most historic of all Olympic moments." Olympika: The International Journal of Olympic Studies "Smith's stories of his ostracized life post-1968 Olympics offer historians another opportunity to consider the multiple ways memory shapes the popular narrative... Smith uses his book as an opportunity to tell his truth...[which is] engaging." The Journal of Sport HistoryTable of ContentsForeword1: Welcome Home - 1 2: October 16, 1968 - 26 3: Out of the Fields - 55 4: The Biggest City I've Ever Seen - 95 5: Run Before You Walk - 123 6: The Coach and the Professor - 147 7: Linked Forever - 147 8: No Gold, No Glove - 190 9: Paying the Price - 220 10: Going Underground - 247 11: Families Lost, and Found - 268 12: It Will Outlive Me - 296 Epilogue: Silent and Eternal - 324 Acknowledgements About the Authors

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Book SynopsisMuhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay) has always engendered an emotional reaction from the public. From his appearance as an Olympic champion to his iconic status as a national hero, his carefully constructed image and controversial persona have always been intensely scrutinized. In Muhammad Ali, Michael Ezra considers the boxer who calls himself "The Greatest" from a new perspective. He writes about Ali's pre-championship bouts, the management of his career and his current legacy, exploring the promotional aspects of Ali and how they were wrapped up in political, economic, and cultural "ownership." Ezra's incisive study examines the relationships between Ali's cultural appeal and its commercial manifestations. Citing examples of the boxer's relationship to the Vietnam War and the Nation of Islam-which serve as barometers of his "public moral authority"-Muhammad Ali analyzes the difficulties of creating and maintaining these cultural images, as well as the impact these themes have on Ali's meaning to the public.Trade Review“Muhammad Ali is a terrific book. Disciplined, convincing, equipped to deliver on his bold and original thesis, Michael Ezra makes fresh sense not only of Ali as cultural icon and historical figure but of the vast Ali literature and mythos that surrounds him.”—Carlo Rotella, Boston College, author of Cut Time: An Education at the FightsTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction: Why Another Book about Muhammad Ali?Part I: Louisville Sponsoring Group Louisville's Favorite Son: The Professional Debut Choosing Management: The Courtship of Cassius Clay The Early Bouts, 1961-1962 Clay vs. Moore: The Seminal Text The Most Hated Man in Boxing? The Early Bouts, 1963 Damage Control through Moral Authority: The Louisville Sponsoring Group's Specialty The Relationship between Cassius Clay and the Louisville Sponsoring Group: A Summary The Commercial Elements of Clay-Liston IPartII: Nation of Islam Main Bout Inc.: How Commerce Affects Culture Carving Out Moral Authority: Ali's Race Man PhasePart III: Good People Forty Years of Ali: The Making of an Icon The Legacy of Ali's Exile and the Nation of Islam The Prodigal Son Returns King of the World: The Consequences of Monarchy Death of a Salesman Lonnie Ali: The Savior Thomas Hauser: The Literary Rehabilitation of Ali's Legend Olympic Torch: From Literature to Television Beyond Moral Authority: The Apotheosis of Muhammad Ali Culture Meets Commerce: The Muhammad Ali Center, Naming Rights, and the Price of Moral Authority The Backlash: Exploring Contradictory Meaning of AliNotes Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1988, then struggling writer Davis Miller drove to Muhammad Ali’s mother’s modest Louisville house, knocked on the door and introduced himself to his childhood idol. Nearly thirty years later, the two friends have an uncommon bond, the sort that can be fashioned only in serendipitous ways and fortified through shared experiences. Miller now draws from those remarkable moments to give us a beautifully written portrait of a great man physically devastated but spiritually young—playing tricks on unsuspecting guests, performing sleight of hand for any willing audience and walking ten miles each way to get an ice cream. Following in the tradition of writers such as Gay Talese and Nick Hornby, Miller gives us a series of extraordinary stories that coalesce to become a moving introduction to the human side of a boxing legend.Trade Review"[Miller's] new book gives you an intimate glimpse of Tragic Ali: a man of once-uncontainable animation now locked behind facial features that do not move 'one-tenth of an inch'." -- Financial Times"Ali’s friendship with Davis is brilliantly detailed in the author’s latest book Approaching Ali: A Reclamation In Three Acts." -- Mirror Online

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Book SynopsisIn 1988, then struggling writer Davis Miller drove to Muhammad Ali’s mother’s modest Louisville house, knocked on the door and introduced himself to his childhood idol. Nearly thirty years later, the two friends have an uncommon bond, the sort that can be fashioned only in serendipitous ways and fortified through shared experiences. Miller now draws from those remarkable moments to give us a beautifully written portrait of a great man physically devastated but spiritually young—playing tricks on unsuspecting guests, performing sleight of hand for any willing audience and walking ten miles each way to get an ice cream. Following in the tradition of writers such as Gay Talese and Nick Hornby, Miller gives us a series of extraordinary stories that coalesce to become a moving introduction to the human side of a boxing legend.Trade Review"[Miller's] new book gives you an intimate glimpse of Tragic Ali: a man of once-uncontainable animation now locked behind facial features that do not move 'one-tenth of an inch'." -- Financial Times"Ali’s friendship with Davis is brilliantly detailed in the author’s latest book Approaching Ali: A Reclamation In Three Acts." -- Mirror Online

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Book SynopsisFor generations, American athletes have enjoyed the ever-escalating celebrity lavished upon them when they combine on-the-field talent with off-the field charisma, but never before have we seen as transformative a sports dynasty as the Mannings: a bloodline of strong arms, Southern values, and savvy business instincts—each man compelling in his own right, made whole by family. But how, in just fifty years, did this private trio achieve football immortality? A gripping and definitive account, In the Name of the Father traces Archie, Peyton, and Eli’s roots from red-clay Mississippi to the bright lights of the Super Bowl to reveal the truth of their grit and dedication, their inherent ability, and the drama they endured behind closed doors. As New York Times Notable biographer Mark Ribowsky meticulously chronicles, the road to football stardom was not paved smoothly for patriarch Archie. The most celebrated and beloved athlete to emerge from tiny Drew, Mississippi, Archie lost his father to suicide during his heyday at Ole Miss. Then, despite his playing through the pain, a string of surgeries prematurely ended a storied NFL career, most memorably spent with the New Orleans Saints. Similar savior-like expectations were passed to Archie’s eldest, Cooper, the most gifted of his brood, but the shocking discovery of a spinal condition prevented Cooper from ever playing a single snap of college ball. Luckily, Archie had been raising all three of his sons to love the gridiron, throwing deep balls to them off the front porch, and there were two more heir apparents in the wings. Raised watching dusty old game films in the family den, Peyton was swiftly hailed as a generational talent, his record-breaking tenure at Tennessee paving a clear path to the NFL. Winning Super Bowls with both the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos, he was able to overcome a debilitating neck injury—after barely being able to hold a football—to eclipse Archie in football success. It was Peyton who would first pair his football cachet with capitalism, selecting commercials and appearances to show off his humor and expand the now-ubiquitous Manning brand into mainstream popular culture. And finally there was quiet Eli, with an arm and a career to match his big brother’s but a reserved and enigmatic affect all his own. The good-boy who followed his father to Ole Miss, Eli entered the NFL even more carefully managed then his brother was, forcing a trade when the lackluster San Diego Chargers selected him with the first pick in the draft. Even with two dramatic Super Bowl wins with the New York Giants, Eli’s lows have been catastrophic, and he has never been quite the media darling his brother is. But even as their football careers wind down, the power of the Manning name only grows. Drawing on new interviews and research, Ribowsky reveals a family of transcendent talent and intense loyalty dedicated to maintaining an all-American façade that has, on occasion, shown cracks. From the family’s past steeped in problematic parts of Southern identity, to locker-room scandal turned lawsuit, to flashes of fraternal jealousy, Ribowsky leaves no stone unturned. Rich in gridiron dramatics and familial intrigue, In the Name of the Father is a quintessentially American saga of a multifaceted lineage that has forever changed the game.

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Book SynopsisWhen a sudden accident resulted in a broken leg that could take him out of the game permanently, Seattle Sounders soccer star Steve Zakuani faced his biggest challenge yet. Steve's road to soccer success hadn't merely involved athletic challenges; in the years leading up to joining the Sounders, Steve had overcome an upbringing in one of London's roughest neighborhoods, battled personal apathy, and overcome a serious injury. He found renewed purpose through the influence of a mentor and, through that mentor, found his purpose in God's call on his life. Yet his early challenges began to look small when Steve suffered an even more severe injury that shattered his leg--and, it seemed, his career. That injury--and his 500 long days of recovery--forced him to grapple with who he was when his identity in soccer and his personal goals were taken out of his hands. This book, drawn from journals written during his recovery, will give you a raw, honest look into Steve's story. Let him coach you on how to face tragedy with a positive mindset, how to set goals that are bigger than your adversity, how to remain hopeful in your darkest moments, and how to help others in your life overcome their own greatest challenges. Rise Above: My 500 Days of Faith, Forgiveness, and Fighting Back includes a study guide for personal reflection or group discussion.

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Book SynopsisOn May 30, 1958, thousands of racing fans poured into the infield at dawn to claim the best seats of the Indianapolis 500, unaware that they were going to witness one of the most notorious wrecks in racing history. Seconds after the green flag, a game of chicken spiraled out of control into a fiery 16-car pile-up that claimed the life of 29-year-old Indiana native and rising star Pat O'Connor. The other drivers escaped death, but the tragic 1958 Indy 500 seemed to leave its mark on them: the surviving drivers were hounded by accidents and terrible crashes, and most would die at tracks around the country. But the tragedy also prompted new regulations and safety precautions like roll bars that would ultimately save hundreds of lives. In The Curse of Indy 500: 1958's Tragic Legacy, veteran sportswriter Stan Sutton profiles the ill-fated race and the careers of the drivers involved, highlighting their lives in the dangerous world of auto racing.Trade Review"In all, the book offers an exciting story of the 1958 Indy 500 and a thought-provoking discussion of its aftermath." * Daily Journal *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1. A Convoluted Account of the Crash2. A Race-Day Shootout3. May was Busting Out All Over4. O'Connor's Eternal Home5. The City of Railroads6. Deadly Summer of '587. Safety Wasn't First8. Daytona Enters the Picture9. No Average Day at the Teach10. Champion of the Dirt11. How Fast is Too Fast12. O'Connor Victim of Jinx13. Jerry Unser Unlucky Trend Setter14. The Good and Bad of Ed Elisian15. Journeymen Drivers Also Victimized16. Death Common at Langhorne17. The Short Career of Bobby Ball18. Speedway Claims Bettenhausen19. Tony's Legacy Continues20. Check Out Those Helmets21. Keller in Vukovich Crash22. Thomson Known for Bravery23. Among All Else, Foyt is Survivor24. Sachs Almost Won in '6125. The Little Car that Could26. Everyone Loved the Novi27. Innocent Victims28. Sport Loses Two Good Men29. He Was a Wonderful Gentleman30. Fire and Fear are Synonymous31. Just Get Over It32. Danger Highest on Short Tracks33. '58 Drivers Can't Escape Fate34. Dodge Loses in Photo Finish35. Phrase Almost Prophetic36. Later that Night he was Gone37. Jud Larson, A Breed Apart38. A New Rival for Indy39. Ward's Time Finally Arrives40. Dick is Jim and Jim is Dick41. Ward Walks Away42. Major Celebrities Missed Race43. Dick, the Other Rathmann44. Hollywood Comes to Indy45. Fans Fall to Their Death46. Goldsmith was Multi-dimensional47. The Lady Lost her Life48. Indy Among Top 10 Dangerous Tracks49. The Former Winner's Last Race50. Death Wasn't Only Bad Result51. Most Great Indy Drivers Survived52. Mario Survives Spectacular Flip53. The Most Deadly Sport?54. The Trials of Cal Niday55. Weyant the Oldest Survivor56. Stewart Pushes for Safety57. He was Still Alive58. Lower Leg Injuries were Prevalent59. Flying Starts Can Be Frightening60. Getting Out While Getting's Good61. Major Survivable Crashes62. No Chance of Survival63. Bill Cheesbourg, One of a Kind64. Sutton Retired After Seeing Kenyon Wreck65. Turner Did a Turnover66. Boyd Saw A Lot of Action67. Speed and Safety May Not Mix

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Book SynopsisAs the first African American player to be drafted by the NFL and the first African American to play quarterback, George Taliaferro was a trailblazer whose athletic prowess earned him accolades throughout his football career. Instrumental in leading Indiana University to an undefeated season and undisputed Big Ten championship in 1945, Taliaferro was a star when many major universities had no black players on their rosters and others were stacking black players behind white starters. George Taliaferro would later rack up impressive statistics while playing professionally for the New York Yanks, Dallas Texans, Baltimore Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles. His athletic prowess did little to prevent him from facing segregation and discrimination on a daily basis, but his popularity as an athlete also gave him a platform. Playing professionally gave Taliaferro more opportunity to use football to fight oppression and to interact with other important trailblazers, like Joe Louis, Nat King Cole, Muhammad Ali, and Congressman John Lewis.Race and Football in America tells Taliaferro's story and profiles the experiences of other athletes of color who were recognized for their athleticism yet oppressed for their skin color, as they fought (and continue to fight) for equal rights and opportunities. Together these stories provide an insightful portrait of race in America.Trade ReviewA good, readable, and generally engaging descriptive history of an athlete who worked for social justice. * Choice (reviewing a previous edition) *The book's many anecdotes from Taliaferro's life are entertaining, revealing his feelings and courage while making the focus on football more approachable and personal. * Foreword Reviews *Table of ContentsForeword by Delise S. O'MeallyForeword by Bob KravitzForeword by Tony DungyPrefaceAcknowledgements1. October 2005: Trick or Treat2. 1944-1945: Taliaferro's Football Roots3. 1945-1946: Adjusting to Life at Indiana University4. 1945-1946: Indiana University Football5. 1946-1947: Army Days6. 1947: A Volatile Time for Professional Football7. 1947-1949: Back at Indiana University8. 1949-1955: Integrating Professional Football9. 1955-Present: Life After Football10. 1949-Present: Integration of the NFL11. 2016-Present: The New TrailblazersEpilogueBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisAs the first African American player to be drafted by the NFL and the first African American to play quarterback, George Taliaferro was a trailblazer whose athletic prowess earned him accolades throughout his football career. Instrumental in leading Indiana University to an undefeated season and undisputed Big Ten championship in 1945, Taliaferro was a star when many major universities had no black players on their rosters and others were stacking black players behind white starters. George Taliaferro would later rack up impressive statistics while playing professionally for the New York Yanks, Dallas Texans, Baltimore Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles. His athletic prowess did little to prevent him from facing segregation and discrimination on a daily basis, but his popularity as an athlete also gave him a platform. Playing professionally gave Taliaferro more opportunity to use football to fight oppression and to interact with other important trailblazers, like Joe Louis, Nat King Cole, Muhammad Ali, and Congressman John Lewis.Race and Football in America tells Taliaferro's story and profiles the experiences of other athletes of color who were recognized for their athleticism yet oppressed for their skin color, as they fought (and continue to fight) for equal rights and opportunities. Together these stories provide an insightful portrait of race in America.Trade ReviewA good, readable, and generally engaging descriptive history of an athlete who worked for social justice. * Choice (reviewing a previous edition) *The book's many anecdotes from Taliaferro's life are entertaining, revealing his feelings and courage while making the focus on football more approachable and personal. * Foreword Reviews *Table of ContentsForeword by Delise S. O'MeallyForeword by Bob KravitzForeword by Tony DungyPrefaceAcknowledgements1. October 2005: Trick or Treat2. 1944-1945: Taliaferro's Football Roots3. 1945-1946: Adjusting to Life at Indiana University4. 1945-1946: Indiana University Football5. 1946-1947: Army Days6. 1947: A Volatile Time for Professional Football7. 1947-1949: Back at Indiana University8. 1949-1955: Integrating Professional Football9. 1955-Present: Life After Football10. 1949-Present: Integration of the NFL11. 2016-Present: The New TrailblazersEpilogueBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis"They don't know me. They don't know what I'm capable of." Diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, a form of autism, as a toddler, Anthony Ianni wasn't expected to succeed in school or participate in sports, but he had other ideas. As a child, Ianni told anybody who would listen, including head coach Tom Izzo, that he would one day play for the Michigan State Spartans. Centered: Autism, Basketball, and One Athlete's Dreams is the firsthand account of a young man's social, academic, and athletic struggles and his determination to reach his goals. In this remarkable memoir, Ianni reflects on his experiences with both basketball and the autism spectrum. Centered, an inspirational sports story in the vein of Rudy, reveals Ianni to be unflinching in his honesty, generous in his gratitude, and gracious in his compassion.Sports fans will root for the underdog. Parents, teachers, and coaches will gain insight into the experience of an autistic child. And everyone will triumph in the achievements of Centered.Trade ReviewBoth authors did an amazing job in writing a book that is a definite resource for parents, students, schools, hospital workers and everyone to understand Autism Spectrum. -- Fran Lewis * Book Pleasures *If the general reader is deeply moved by Ianni's story, parents of autistic children, and the children themselves, will find Ianni's story a source of boundless, manifold inspiration. -- Alan Moores * Booklist (starred) *An exceptionally well written, inherently fascinating, impressively candid, memorable and inspiring memoir. Centered: Autism, Basketball, and One Athlete's Dreams is especially and unreservedly recommended, especially for community, college, and university library Contemporary American Biography collections. -- Able Greenspan * Midwest Book Review *Centered is both a captivating triumph of the human spirit and a testament to people behind the scenes who guided Ianni in his journey without a roadmap or manual for how to help him. -- Brenda Ortega * MEA Voice *Table of ContentsForeword, by Tom IzzoAcknowledgmentsPrologue: The Bres1. "We Are Okemos"2. The Diagnosis3. That Anthony Kid4. Talking to Nobody5. Pushing My Buttons6. Sports7. Grandpa Nick8. Hating to Lose9. On the Banks of the Red Cedar10. "Do Those Impressions"11. "We Want to Tell You a Story"12. AAU13. #4414. Family15. Instant Classic16. Committed17. On Campus18. The Streak19. Sophomore Slump20. Release21. Getting Back Up22. Sitting Out23. The Jersey24. "I'm Screwed Up"25. The Carl Vinson and the Garden26. The Big Ten27. Tournaments and Awards28. Commencing

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Book SynopsisLooking back at the lives and sailing careers of some of our lifetime’s finest yachtsmen, this collection of eleven original, moving accounts is just as much a celebration of the good – tales of hope, achievement and courageous spirit – as it is an account of their tragic final voyages. Included are world-renowned racers, like Eric Tabarly and Rob James, highly experienced cruisers and adventurers, like Peter Tangvald and Bill Tilman, and the notoriously ill-prepared Donald Crowhurst, as well as other famous and some less well-known sailors. Starting with the sad loss of Frank Davison and Reliance in 1949, the book concludes with the amazing last voyage of Philip Walwyn in 2015 – crossing the Atlantic single-handed in his 12 Metre yacht Kate. All of the men and women described were friends with or known to the author, Nicholas Gray, who himself competed in several short-handed long distance races, where he met and raced against many of these fascinating characters. Peppered with photographs showcasing the sailors and their yachts, this is a refreshing look at those who have helped to shape this sport’s history, honouring their lives and accomplishments before detailing their tragic last voyages.Trade Review"This is an unusual and absorbing book. The subject matter is not as depressing as it sounds. Nicholas Gray has succeeded in making it more of a celebration of the lives and achievements of these remarkable people. They all lived life to the full, and Last Voyages is a very fitting tribute." (Royal Cruising Club) “breath-taking accounts of events that led to the tragic seafaring deaths of seventeen people….in a captivating easy-to-read style, each page crammed with information and insights… a ‘must-read’ for anyone contemplating a serious sea voyage or offshore race.” (Cruising Association) “These memoirs are just as much a celebration of the good – tales of hope, achievement and courageous spirit – as they are an account of the tragic final voyages.” (All At Sea)Table of ContentsForeword: Sir Chay Blyth; Introduction; 1: The last voyage of Ann and Frank Davison and the loss of the Reliance (1949); 2: The strange last voyage of Donald Crowhurst and the trimaran Teignmouth Electron (1969); 3: The life and last voyage of Mike McMullen and the loss of the trimaran Three Cheers (1976); 4: The last voyage of Simon Richardson and Bill Tilman and the loss of En Avant in the South Atlantic (1977); 5: The life and loss of Alain Colas and his trimaran Manureva (1978); 6: The last voyage and loss of the trimaran Bucks Fizz and her entire crew in the Fastnet Race of 1979; 7: The life, last voyage and loss of Angus Primrose and Demon of Hamble (1980); 8: The life and last voyage of Rob James on board his trimaran Colt Cars GB (1983); 9: The life, loves and last voyages of Peter Tangvald on board L'Artemis and his son Thomas on board Oasis (1991 and 2014); 10: The life and last voyage of Eric Tabarly on board his yacht Pen Duick (1998); 11: The extraordinary life and last voyage of Philip Walwyn on board his 12 Metre yacht Kate (2015); Afterword

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Book SynopsisThe Life of O'Reilly is a chronicle of the career of one of the European PGA Tour's most famous caddies-John O'Reilly-and it's full of funny stories as only this Irishman can tell them. Like the one about the time he and some fellow caddies were arrested and jailed in East Germany on their way to the German Open in Berlin. Or the one about the Tour pro who, in a fit of temper after a bad shot, put his foot through the bottom of his golf bag and could not get it out again! The Life of O'Reilly is a rollicking ride around the world-and the world of professional golf-by one of the game's most interesting characters. No golf library would be complete without it. "I hope that you'll find this book as entertaining as I found Johnny to be throughout our three successful years on tour. There was never a dull moment!" --Padraig HarringtonTable of ContentsIntroduction. Chapter One: Reilly the Globetrotter. Chapter Two: Tantrums, Pranks, and High Jinks. Chapter Three: King of the Castle. Chapter Four: The Players. Chapter Five: Hobnobbing with Royalty. Chapter Six: Behind the Iron Curtain. Chapter Seven: Thailand. Chapter Eight: Dubai. Chapter Nine: South Africa. Chapter Ten: “The Boss.” Chapter Eleven: Nanny and Gopher. Chapter Twelve: More Caddie Yarns. Chapter Thirteen: The Holmpatrick Cup. Chapter Fourteen: Kiawah Island.

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Book SynopsisSiendo un bebé, le pusieron una raqueta de juguete en la mano. Desde entonces, Agassi no ha hecho otra cosa que golpear pelotas de tenis. Su padre, obsesionado en convertirlo en un astro del deporte, cosntruyó una máquina (el dragón) que disparaba 2.500 pelotas al día contra el pequeño Andre. Escrita por el premio Pulitzer J. R. Moehringer, Open es la semblanza a corazón abierto de André Agassi, que en estas memorias se muestra tal como es: un hombre que debió enfrentarse a las presiones de su familia, de la fama, pero que siempre conservó el valor de la amistad y un sentido altruista de la vida. En esta cautivadora autobiografía, Agassi revela, con sentido del humor y ternura, una vida definida por la contradicción entre un destino impuesto y el anhelo por complacer a quienes lo han sacrificado todo por él.Odio el tenis, lo detesto con una oscura y secreta pasión, y sin embargo sigo jugando porque no tengo alternativa. Y ese abismo, esa contradicción entre lo que quiero hacer y lo

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Book SynopsisPain Don’t Hurt is the no-holds-barred memoir from the only professional fighter in history to return to the ring after open-heart surgery, kickboxer Mark “Fightshark” Miller—an inspiring story of family, determination, and redemption.In 2007, Mark Miller was a rising star in professional kickboxing, until a routine physical uncovered a serious condition that required open-heart surgery. The crisis helped to temporarily reunite his fractured family and made Miller more determined than ever to return to the kickboxing ring. But within a year, his parents and brother were all dead, and Miller’s fragile optimism imploded, sending him into a tailspin of drugs and alcohol.Pain Don’t Hurt is a story of incredible tenacity, dedication, and hard work—how one fierce competitor overcame repeated obstacles to realize his dreams. Miller recounts stories ranging from his childhood spent in the Steelers locker room to the s

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of Lance Armstrong's spectacular rise and fall.In June 2013, when Lance Armstrong fled his palatial home in Texas, downsizing in the face of multimillion-dollar lawsuits, Juliet Macur was there—talking to his girlfriend and children and listening to Armstrong's version of the truth. She was one of the few media members aside from Oprah Winfrey to be granted extended one-on-one access to the most famous pariah in sports.At the center of Cycle of Lies is Armstrong himself, revealed through face-to-face interviews.But this unfolding narrative is given depth and breadth by the firsthand accounts of more than one hundred witnesses, including family members whom Armstrong had long since turned his back on—the adoptive father who gave him the Armstrong name, a grandmother, an aunt. Perhaps most damning of all is the taped testimony of the late J.T. Neal, the most influential of Armstrong's many father figures, rec

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Book SynopsisInspired by Arthur Ashe’s bestselling memoir Days of Grace, a collection of positive, uplifting stories of seemingly small acts of grace from across the sports world that have helped to bridge cultural and racial divides.Like many people of color, James Blake has experienced the effects of racism firsthand—publicly—first at the U.S. Open, and then in front of his hotel on a busy Manhattan street, where he was tackled and handcuffed by a police officer in a case of mistaken identity. Though rage would have been justified, Blake faced both incidents with dignity and aplomb. In Ways of Grace he reflects on his experiences and explores those of other sports stars and public figures who have not only overcome adversity, but have used them to unite rather than divide, including: Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, a Pakistani Muslim and Amir Hadad, an Israeli Jew, who despite the conflicts of their countries, paired together in the 2002 Wimbledon men’s doubles draw. Muhammad Ali, who transcended racism with a magnetic personality and a breathtaking mastery of boxing that was unparalleled. Nelson Mandela, who spent twenty-seven years in prison for his commitment to social reform, peace, and equality yet never gave up his battle to end apartheid—a struggle that led to his eventual freedom and his nation''s transition to black majority rule.Groundbreaking tennis legend Arthur Ashe, who was a model of courage, elegance, and poise on the court and off; a gifted player who triumphed in the all-white world of professional tennis, and became one of his generation''s greatest players. Weaving together these and other poignant and unforgettable stories, Blake reveals how, through seemingly small acts of grace, we can confront hatred, bigotry, and injustice with virtue—and use it to propel ourselves to greater heights.

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Book SynopsisIn this definitive biography, veteran sportswriter Tom Callahan shines a spotlight on one of the greatest golfers ever to play the game, Arnold Palmer.The winner of more than ninety championships, including four Masters Tournaments, Arnold Palmer was a legend in twentieth century sports: a supremely gifted competitor beloved for his powerful hitting, his nerve on the greens, and his great rapport with fans. Perhaps above all others, Palmer was the reason golf’s popularity exploded, as the King of the links helped define golf’s golden age along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. In addition to his talent on the golf course, Palmer was a brilliant entrepreneur off it, and one of the first sportsmen to create his own successful marketing brand. Forging an alliance with sports agent Mark McCormick, Palmer parlayed his popularity into lucrative deals, and helped pave the way for the multi-million-dollar contracts that have become standard for s

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Buzz Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights is an American classic. With The Mosquito Bowl, he is back with a true story even more colorful and profound. This book too is destined to become a classic. I devoured it.” — John Grisham “Take your pick: This is either the story of the most improbable game of football ever played, an anthem to immigrant America, or a brilliant tribute to an exemplary brotherhood that would be decimated at Okinawa. In every case it’s an indelible account of promising young men themselves hurled into history. Buzz Bissinger has stitched their story together as no one else could, powerfully and seamlessly, offering up a tender-tough tale in his signature high-octane prose.” — Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Witches: Salem, 1692 “Here may be the most uniquely fascinating story ever written about World War II. Like the best of Buzz Bissinger, it is about far more than a football game, or even the war. He’s a gifted narrator and prodigious researcher, and in this book his skills are all on display: indelible characters, a bizarre and remarkably distinct setting, action, drama. . . . A great story told with insight and humor and deep feeling. Do not pass this book by. It is magnificent.” — Mark Bowden, New York Times bestselling author of Black Hawk Down and Hue 1968 "Harrowing, profound, and illuminating, The Mosquito Bowl humanizes war and elevates athletic competition in one fell swoop. Bissinger is the master of showing us life in a single grain of sand, and he has done so brilliantly here. As familiar as the subject of World War II may seem, this book makes you see it in a fresh and exquisite way, with all its pain and triumph rendered in close detail." — Susan Orlean, New York Times bestselling author of On Animals and The Library Book “Stephen Crane famously discovered ‘the rage of conflict’ while watching a college football game. For Buzz Bissinger, football is no metaphor; it is the way into one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Deeply researched, told with extraordinary empathy and verve, The Mosquito Bowl will break your heart.” — Nathaniel Philbrick, National Book Award winning author of In the Heart of the Sea and Travels with George “The Mosquito Bowl is savage, piercing and haunting. Buzz Bissinger has written an utterly heartbreaking saga that fuses the macho glory of college football with the brutality and futility of combat. It is a measure of Bissinger’s singular talent that his searing account is tragic, yet also inspiring and unforgettable.” — David Zucchino, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Wilmington’s Lie "[Bissinger] succeeds brilliantly, interweaving rich back stories of a few superior college football players whose sports careers and lives were upended and often ended by war . . . . it changed the way I thought about World War II." — New York Times Book Review “[This] remarkable work profoundly communicates the experience and importance of the United States Marine Corps while preserving a rich history that our Corps and Nation should never forget.” — From the Citation for the General Wallace M. Greene Award from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation “A gripping real-life story.” — Washington Post “There simply aren’t enough ways to tell you just how good The Mosquito Bowl, Buzz Bissinger’s new book remembering a remarkable football game in the depths of the Pacific theater of World War II, is. Here’s one: it’s every bit as good—and maybe even better—than Friday Night Lights." — Mike Vaccaro, New York Post "The Mosquito Bowl adroitly resurrects a long-forgotten episode to explore American values across the generations." — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Bissinger effortlessly combines sports and military history in this gritty account of a football game played by U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal in December 1944 . . . . The book excels in its sweeping yet fine-grained portraits of how these Marines got to Guadalcanal and in the harrowing descriptions of Pacific Theater combat, including the bloody fight for Sugar Loaf Hill on Okinawa. This is a penetrating tale of courage and sacrifice." — Publishers Weekly "College football and World War II: not an obvious combination, but Bissinger handles it brilliantly." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “From the virtuoso of narrative nonfiction and author of Friday Night Lights comes an astounding story, plucked straight from the annals of the Greatest Generation. Bissinger creates, in intricate detail, a composite portrait of young men caught up in the Not-So-Good War. An inspiring tale of heroism and sacrifice.” — Oprah Daily "Fans of Bissinger’s previous books will find a rich character-driven narrative about two of the dirtiest and deadliest battlefields of World War II . . . . Bissinger has found a way to merge sports with World War II to give readers a heartbreaking narrative of what many young men went through in the last days of World War II. Highly recommended." — Library Journal (starred review) "This well-researched and impassioned book not only chronicles a little-known moment in sports history but also offers a poignant snapshot of the tragedy of war." — Booklist "The Mosquito Bowl is not just a book about war. It is, instead, about the men who fought that war. The author brings us rich details about their lives, their hopes, their dreams, and their aspirations, many of which were either delayed, derailed, or destroyed on Okinawa." — New York Journal of Books "In exploring the hearts and souls of those who risked everything for their country, Bissinger’s book defines some of the qualities that make America great—then, now and forever. And such greatness characterizes exceptional men and women around the world. He also showcases the horrors of war and the blunders that cost lives on the battlefield." — Associated Press "While The Mosquito Bowl is seemingly about an ersatz football game, there is far more here than what occurred on a dirt and coral field on an island in the Pacific in 1944." — Bookreporter “The Mosquito Bowl is about so much more than a football game. Buzz Bissinger captures the heart of America in this brilliant story of young men in a brutal war that at once feels long ago but also a part of who we are today.” — Admiral James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation “Bissinger brings the Pacific Theater home in this masterpiece of a book, written by an indomitable author who has never been afraid to confront truth in the written word.” — Coast Weekend “Bissinger unearths a profound story during World War II that is much more than a book about a football game.” — Jacksonville First Coast News “This book shows a new side of WWII—and football for that matter—like we have never seen it before. Sports fans, history buffs, and fiction lovers can all find common ground in this captivating read.” — We Are The Mighty

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Book SynopsisThe electric and daring independent wrestling tag team share their inspiring story of how two undersized, ambitious athletes from Southern California became the idols of millions of popular sports fans, coveted among the ranks of AEW’s elite wrestling lineup. Featuring over 60 photographs and alternating between each brother’s perspective, this entertaining memoir is a complete portrait of what it means to grow into—and give back to—wrestling, the sport and profession they embody and love.Famous for their highflying moves, Superkicks, and viral videos, Matt and Nick Jackson are two of the hottest and most talented competitors in professional wrestling today. Known as the Young Bucks, this pair of ambitious brothers are an inspiration to both fans and aspiring wrestlers worldwide due to their message of resilience and determination. That they are also faithful family men devoted to their loved ones gives them additional appeal.Young Bucks begins in Southern California, where two young boys grew up dreaming of success and fame. Matt and Nick look back on the sacrifices they made to achieve their ambitions, from taking odd jobs to pay for their own wrestling ring to hosting backyard events with friends. They share their joy at being recruited into the independent California wrestling circuit and the work it took to finally make it professionally, and speak frankly about what it means to have the support of millions of fans cheering their talents in arenas nationwide. The Young Bucks talk endearingly about their sport, their faith, and their families, sharing personal reflections and behind-the-scenes anecdotes while paying tribute to the wrestling acts and inspirations that came before them. They also elaborate on this historical time in the evolution of wrestling, as the sport and its culture dramatically change day by day.Told with the brothers’ signature wit and charm, Young Bucks is warm, heartfelt story of hope, perseverance, and undying ambition.Trade Review“These guys are the pioneers of making it BIG in the pro wrestling business outside of the corporate structure by doing things their own way: Booking their own tours worldwide, creating their own mainstream bestselling merch, producing their game-changing weekly YouTube series and basically making every critic eat their own words by constantly having excellent matches, with amazing athleticism and a dose of satirical humour. On top of that, they’ve remained the same guys and retained their strong family values the whole time. Matt and Nick are the true definition of success in the wrestling world... and beyond.” — Chris Jericho, multiple-time world champion and author of three New York Times bestsellers "The Young Bucks are two guys who not only beat the odds to become one of the greatest, most popular tag teams ever, but also two industry changing visionaries. Matt and Nick are two of the smartest, hard-working, passionate individuals I’ve met during my 28 year career. With the creation of AEW, The Bucks will definitely leave the pro wrestling industry in a much better place then they discovered it in." — Matt Hardy, multiple-time world tag team champion “Through selfless sacrifice and consistent show-stealing performances, the Young Bucks make an argument for greatest tag team of all time. And through their innovations in merchandising, self-branding, and ability to inspire, they also make an argument for the most influential wrestlers of the last decade. If you enjoy anything about pro-wrestling in the year 2020, chances are you owe at least a bit a gratitude to these good Christian boys. They’re the architects." — Kenny Omega, the greatest wrestler alive (probably) and Executive Vice President of All Elite Wrestling “Through innovation both inside the ring and in marketing themselves outside the ring, The Young Bucks opened the door and led the way to a seismic change in the pro wrestling industry, which changed the very structure of the game.” — Dave Meltzer, journalist, sports historian, and publisher and editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter "This intriguing, personal, family-centered telling of the Jacksons’ story will draw in and inspire many readers." — Library Journal “Young Bucks makes you feel motivated to pursue your own dreams and shows us the real meaning behind the phrase, ‘Never give up’…Whether you’re looking for a book on pro wrestling, a motivational journey or an example of how to take a risk and start a business to do things on your own terms: this is a book for you.” — SLAM! Wrestling

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Book SynopsisFriday Night Lights meets Unbroken. —Tony Reali One of the most profound stories you will ever read. —Ian O''Connor Plaschke delivers a masterpiece. —Jeff PearlmanFrom L.A. Times columnist and ESPN Around the Horn panelist Bill Plaschke, a story of tragedy, triumph, and the remarkable power of high school football in one small California townOn November 8, 2018, the Camp Fire ravaged the town of Paradise, California. The fire, which burned up to 80 acres per minute, killed 86 people, and nearly every building and home in the town was reduced to ashes. In a single day, Paradise, a proud working-class town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, saw its population fall from 25,000 to 2,000.The Paradise High football team had long been the town’s source of joy and inspiration. But in the wake of the fire, their season was abruptly cancelled on the eve

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Deep and intelligent…a portrait of football greatness.” — Arsène Wenger "A comprehensive primer into the entwined histories of the two titans and the commercial forces that have molded their careers and, by extension, the sport." — New York Times “While these two soaring greats are known for their transcendent wonder on the field, this rollicking narrative plunges into the complex backstories and entire ecosystems that propelled their colliding trajectories. With a pair of epic hero stories like The Last Dance or Homer’s Odyssey in cleats, this book traces the journey from aspirational prodigies to global commercial billboards, explaining how these two juggernauts and their rivalry shaped the most popular, and lucrative, era of the world’s most beloved sport.” — Roger Bennett, founder, Men in Blazers Media Network "This rigorously researched book avoids becoming hagiography. The result is an ambitious and valuable study for all those who want to understand the modern world of football that Mr. Messi and Mr. Ronaldo have helped forge." — The Economist “This book explains the brilliant backstory behind how each player became a start and how that stardom changed the footballing landscape not just in Spain but in the wider world as well…I read it in a day.” — Rebecca Lowe, NBC Sports "Excellent... A brilliant follow-up to The Club." — The Independent (UK) "Impressive." — Boston Globe An absorbing cautionary tale for soccer fans and students of sports finance alike. — Kirkus Reviews

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