Biography: sport Books
University Press of Kentucky Sky Watch
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£30.00
Vida Publishers Linspirado
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£10.22
Vida Publishers Pujols
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£12.34
Michigan State University Press Still Pitching A Memoir
Book SynopsisA coming-of-age story about growing up in New York in the 1950s. The book details how a passion for baseball - a passion fuelled by New York's "golden age of baseball" - transformed the author from an introverted outsider into a popular high school pitcher.
£10.95
Wisconsin Historical Society Press Job Man My Life in Professional Wrestling
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£17.00
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Fighting for Fairness
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£23.79
WW Norton & Co Yankee Miracles Life with the Boss and the Bronx
Book Synopsis“You don’t have to be a Yankees fan to love Yankee Miracles.”—Yogi BerraTrade Review"A compelling tale of redemption, of second chances, of unheralded gestures and of touching personal connections." -- New York Daily News"Much of sports can leave us skeptical if not cynical. But I defy anyone to read Ray Negron's remarkable story and not come away believing that there still can be genuine heart, soul, and even redemption in the games we watch and play." -- Bob Costas"Full of fondness and good memories, Negron’s affectionate memoir reveals that his love for the Yankees and his affection for Steinbrenner haven’t diminished over these many years." -- Publishers Weekly"Hard as it is to recommend yet another book about the Yankees—especially this bouquet by a longtime employee—it’s just as hard not to be touched by Negron’s story …Even avowed Yankee haters will be warmed by stories of Alex Rodriguez’s outreach to a local youth baseball team, Derek Jeter’s private chat with a young cancer patient in a corner of the Yankees clubhouse, and the gruff but heartfelt kindness Munson would extend to teammates, opposing players, and the young Negron." -- Booklist"With the assistance of Cook (co-author: Another Season: A Coach's Story of Raising an Exceptional Son, 1997, etc.), longtime New York Yankees employee Negron (One Last Time: Good-bye to Yankee Stadium, 2009, etc.) relates a series of heartwarming tales from his time with the storied franchise. The author, whose previous Yankee-related books have been aimed at children, here offers a biography that seems straight out of a 1930s movie. As a young troublemaker, he was caught spray-painting graffiti on Yankee Stadium by the team’s new owner, George Steinbrenner. Hours later, he found himself in uniform, shagging flies from his heroes as a batboy, a job that would lead to a lifetime working in baseball. Negron’s effort to show the kindhearted side of the notoriously prickly ‘Boss’ permeates this touching book. He joined the Yankee organization shortly after Steinbrenner’s purchase of the team, and he was there through the glory years of the 1970s, when the team included such icons as Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin. The author formed life-altering friendships with each of them, and he also features the triumphs and tragedies of other stars, including Mickey Mantle, Catfish Hunter, Dwight Gooden, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. Each chapter recounts a “miracle” from the author’s time with the team, and Negron provides ample insight into the real men behind the uniforms. Though he doesn’t hold back from showing their flaws, the lenses through which he views them are heavily rose-colored. A treasure-trove for sentimental Yankees fans and a feel-good read for all baseball fans." -- Kirkus Reviews"[Ray Negron’s] affectionate ode to the team and its former owner is a welcome salve to the Yankees’ often self-inflicted bruises." -- Sam Roberts - New York Times"Longtime Yankees advisor Negron's inside story of life with the team begins with what reads like an episode of Seinfeld." -- New York Post"An exciting new book by a New York Yankees insider... offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at America’s most storied baseball franchise and the man they called “The Boss”—Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.... [A]uthor Ray Negron recounts an unlikely career in baseball that had a most unexpected beginning and reads like a modern day version of Angels with Dirty Faces.... Yankee Miracles features a series of heartwarming tales illustrating the power of baseball to transform lives." -- Jim Meyers - Newsmax"The most storied team in baseball history has a few tales that even the most die-hard Yankees fans might not know… [An] inspiring story." -- ReadKiddoRead.com
£12.34
WW Norton & Co The Last Cowboy A Life of Tom Landry
Book Synopsis“An eloquent, honest tribute to a sports genius.” —Publishers Weekly, Best 100 Books of 2013Trade Review"[Ribowsky] recounts Landry’s life honestly, avoiding both distortion and hagiography while portraying a stoic, flawed man of honor…. A triumph of extensive research and interviews. It will be welcomed by all football fans." -- Library Journal, starred review"A meaty biography of one of the NFL’s legendary coaches…. [Ribowsky] provides as complete a picture of ‘God’s Coach’ as we’re likely to get. A must-read for fans of America’s Team and, given Landry’s impact on the game, for Cowboy haters too." -- Kirkus Reviews"In Ribowsky’s authoritative biography, Landry appears more stoic king than coach, his ever-present fedora serving as a crown…. Ribowsky’s thorough examination of a surprisingly complicated man offers original reporting, which serves here as merely a complement to this impressively researched work…. An eloquent, honest tribute to a football genius." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"Fascinating…. Readers looking for a recap of one of football’s greatest innovators and coaches will be enthralled." -- Booklist"[A] huge and hugely entertaining biography…. Extraordinary…. That Ribowsky, an outstanding biographer with books on Al Davis, Satchel Paige and Howard Cosell to his credit, doesn’t idolize Landry across the book’s 640 pages makes his judgment all the keener." -- Allen Barra - Dallas Morning News
£14.99
North Star Press of Saint Cloud Inc Just Call Me John
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£13.25
Deceptive Speed
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£22.50
Harlan Davidson Inc Rickey and Robinson The Preacher the Player and
Book SynopsisThough baseball lies at the heart of this dual biography, the stories of Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey touch many important issues and changes in American life between 1895 and 1970 - the transition from rural to urban American, two world wars, Vietnam, and the rise of mass media.
£22.00
Bartleby Press Ernie Davis the Elmira Express
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£19.54
Bluewood Books,U.S. 100 Athletes Who Shaped Sports History 100 Series
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£7.99
Great Day Press Coach for a Nation The Life and Times of Knute Rockne
£21.38
Vukovich
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£22.91
Pan Macmillan The Worlds Biggest Cash Machine
Book SynopsisIn The World’s Biggest Cash Machine, award-winning journalist Chris Blackhurst weaves together iconic personalities, sporting drama and boardroom deals to deliver a must-read narrative on the world’s most influential football club.Trade ReviewJaw-dropping revelations . . . The incredible story of [Man United] laid bare in new book * Daily Mail *A gripping tale, full of insight. Blackhurst is an enormously talented writer * City A.M. *Packed with insights and details that will both amaze and appal you. This is the inside story of how the City of London really operates and if it doesn't make you angry, you need to check your pulse -- Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland and Butler to the World, on Too Big to JailBlackhurst’s tale would make an exciting novel. But alarmingly, this is a true story, carefully researched and told with gusto -- Baroness Patience Wheatcroft, former editor of The Sunday Telegraph, on Too Big to JailHighly entertaining . . . told with pace, gusto, and a strong sense of moral outrage -- The Critic Magazine, on Too Big to JailIf you want to understand how Manchester United got into its current total mess, you should read Chris Blackhurst's timely new book on the Glazers -- Michael CrickBrilliant . . . [a] very insightful account -- Simon Jordan, author of Be Careful What You Wish For
£20.90
BookBaby From Hearts To Hoops
£10.79
Random House USA Inc Fire on the Track Betty Robinson and the Triumph
Book SynopsisThe inspiring and irresistible true story of the women who broke barriers and finish-line ribbons in pursuit of Olympic GoldWhen Betty Robinson assumed the starting position at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, she was participating in what was only her fourth-ever organized track meet. She crossed the finish line as a gold medalist and the fastest woman in the world. This improbable athletic phenom was an ordinary high school student, discovered running for a train in rural Illinois mere months before her Olympic debut. Amsterdam made her a star.But at the top of her game, her career (and life) almost came to a tragic end when a plane she and her cousin were piloting crashed. So dire was Betty's condition that she was taken to the local morgue; only upon the undertaker's inspection was it determined she was still breathing. Betty, once a natural runner who always coasted to victory, soon found herself fighting to walk. While Betty was recovering,
£20.70
Penguin Putnam Inc Above the Line
Book SynopsisThe instant New York Times bestsellerRemarkable lessons in leadership and team building from one of the greatest football coaches of our time.Urban Meyer has established himself as one of the elite in the annals of his sport, having lead his players to three national championships. In Above the Line, he offers readers his unparalleled insights into leadership, team building, and the keys to empowering people to achieve things they might never have thought possible. Meyer shares his groundbreaking game plan—the game plan followed every day in the Ohio State Buckeyes’ championship season—for creating a culture of success built on trust and a commitment to a common purpose. Packed with real life examples from Meyer’s storied career, Above the Line delivers wisdom and inspiration for taking control and turning setbacks into victories for a team, a family, or a Fortune 500 company.
£15.30
Penguin Putnam Inc Lucky Bastard My Life My Dad and the Things Im
Book SynopsisIn this New York Times bestselling memoir, the announcer of the biggest sporting events in the country—including the 2017 Super Bowl and this century's most-watched, historic, Chicago Cubs–winning World Series—reveals why he is one lucky bastard.Sports fans see Joe Buck everywhere: broadcasting one of the biggest games in the NFL every week, calling the World Series every year, announcing the Super Bowl every three years. They know his father, Jack Buck, is a broadcasting legend and that he was beloved in his adopted hometown of St. Louis. Yet they have no idea who Joe really is. Or how he got here. They don’t know how he almost blew his career. They haven’t read his funniest and most embarrassing stories or heard about his interactions with the biggest sports stars of this era. They don’t know how hard he can laugh at himself—or that he thinks some of his critics have a point. And the
£13.29
St Martin's Press Magic The Life of Earvin Magic Johnson
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£18.56
St Martin's Press Michael Jordan Life Lessons from His Airness
Book SynopsisFrom author David H. Lewis and illustrator Gilang Bogy, Michael Jordan: Life Lessons from His Airness contains the secrets to success from the greatest basketball player of all time.Sometimes a winner is just a dreamer who never gave up.Michael Jordan defied gravity, transcended the world's expectations, and exceeded the limits of age, soaring to fame as the world's greatest basketball player of all time. While his talent was breathtaking to beholdthose flying dunks and record-breaking 60-point games have inspired generationsthe unseen forces behind his success are the kind we can all harness for our own. M. J. and his accomplishments were founded on discipline, hard work, and knowing how to channel the deep, competitive drive within. Michael Jordan: Life Lessons from His Airness offers a courtside seat to the wild ride that made Michael Jordan a star and reveals valuable insights for anyone trying to make their own lofty dreams come true. <
£15.19
Castle Point Books Steph Curry Life Lessons from a Legend
Book Synopsis?Every time I rise up, I have confidence that I?m going to make it.?From the smallest kid on every team to the game-changing, record-breaking NBA All-Star he is today, Steph Curry?s journey to stardom is a master class in excellence. Bolstered by what he calls his irrational confidence, the ?baby-faced assassin? shattered expectations and accrued millions of fans as he led the Golden State Warriors to championship after championship, garnered multiple MVP awards, and emerged as the greatest 3-point shooter of all time. Steph Curry: Life Lessons from a Legend gives you courtside seats to the incredible highs and lows of his phenomenal career.- Inspiring quotes from Curry himself - A biographical look at Curry?s early years, his rise to fame, and his most spectacular achievements - Original full-color art that captures the spirit of a champion - Guiding truths and hard-earned lessons to help you crush your own goals
£15.29
MacMillan Audio Killing the Legends
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£29.99
Houghton Mifflin Ali
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£19.54
Houghton Mifflin Gunslinger
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£19.99
Houghton Mifflin Qb My Life Behind the Spiral
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£17.59
Temple University Press,U.S. Bill Giles and Baseball
Book SynopsisBill Giles oversaw one of the greatest eras of winning that the Philadelphia Phillies ever enjoyed. This book chronicles Giles' remarkable career - which includes 44 years with the Phillies - to provide an insider's view of the business of the sport, which takes place off the field.Trade Review"An insider's look at the life and 44-year career of the Phillies chairman and part-owner that focuses on the business of sports, by a St. Joseph's University marketing professor, who also is the school's director of sports marketing." - Spring Arts
£27.99
HarperCollins Certified Beauties
£25.08
Amberley Publishing W.G. Grace
Book SynopsisA modern account of the greatest cricketer of all time.Trade Review‘Early biographers were mesmerized by Grace’s celebrity... Meredith mischievously shreds the legend’ -- The Times Literary Supplement‘This is entirely different from any other biography that I have read ... a really good read’ -- The Cricket Statistician
£12.19
Pelican Publishing Company Red Cagle West Points ThreeTime AllAmerican
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£23.76
Arcadia Publishing Baseball in Alabama Tales of Hardball in the
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£21.24
Arcadia Publishing Urethane Revolution
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£20.39
Arcadia Publishing Pittsburghs Greatest Athletes
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£21.24
History Press Pittsburgh Sports Firsts
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£19.99
History Press Connecticut Boxing The Fights the Fighters and
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£18.69
History Press Oregon Running Legend Steve Prefontaine
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£20.39
History Press Baseball in the Mahoning Valley
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£20.39
History Press Hidden History of Twin Cities Sports
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£20.39
History Press Iowa State Hockey and Al Murdoch
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£20.39
History Press St. Louis Trailblazer Erma Bergmann
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£21.24
Tyndale House Publishers Under Our Skin
Book SynopsisCan it ever get better? This is the question Benjamin Watson is asking. In a country aflame with the fallout from the racial dividein which Ferguson, Charleston, and the Confederate flag dominate the national news, daily seeming to rip the wounds open ever wideris there hope for honest and healing conversation? For finally coming to understand each other on issues that are ultimately about so much more than black and white?An NFL tight end for the New Orleans Saints and a widely read and followed commentator on social media, Watson has taken the Internet by storm with his remarkable insights about some of the most sensitive and charged topics of our day. Now, in Under Our Skin, Watson draws from his own life, his family legacy, and his role as a husband and father to sensitively and honestly examine both sides of the race debate and appeal to the power and possibility of faith as a step toward healing.
£13.29
Amazon Publishing We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and
Book SynopsisThe inspiring true story of the tragic loss and triumphant resurrection of a basketball team and its coach at the heart of a small Indiana town. By 1977 the University of Evansville’s Purple Aces basketball team had won five small-college national championships. With a charismatic young coach and a freshman phenom, this small Indiana city hoped to see its team shine in the national spotlight. Then, on a foggy night, after just four games, the plane carrying the team and its coach crashed after takeoff, killing everyone on board. The tragedy seemed insurmountable, a devastating blow to the identity of a fading factory town. But, with the support of a city in mourning, ambitious new coach Dick Walters promised to rebuild the cherished institution. Assembling a team of castoffs, walk-ons, and overachievers, Walters restored the legacy of the team and its fans. Against all odds, his young men made history. A tribute to those who were lost, and to those who carried on, We Will Rise is the rich and powerful story of an underdog team and its fans and the spirit of a resilient community.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month: Biographies & Memoirs “This story of [the] Evansville men’s basketball team’s rebirth after the 1977 plane crash is tragic and inspiring.” —Sports Illustrated “The best stories about sports are about life, too…Beaven, who grew up in Evansville, crafts a beautiful story.” —Washington Post “This is a story of community resilience and a tribute not only to those who were lost but those who carried on.” —Courier & Press “We Will Rise is a heartwarming story of the spirit of this team, its fans, and a resilient community.” —Brooklyn Digest “Such was the rallying cry that propelled one of the most stirring comeback stories in recent history, a story being remembered and retold this season thanks to a new book. In We Will Rise: A True Story of Tragedy and Resurrection in the American Heartland, journalist and Evansville, Indiana, native Steve Beaven recounts the disaster that befell the University of Evansville men’s basketball team in 1977: a plane crash that killed players and their coach and devastated a basketball-crazy community that took great pride in their Purple Aces.” —USA Today “This story exemplifies the resilience of the American heartland, where God-fearing people bear unspeakable pain and tragedy with grace and depth most of us cannot comprehend. The heart of Evansville beats like a basketball on hardwood with every word. You can almost hear the squeaking of high-top sneakers on the floor, the ear-splitting chirp of whistles and the quiet, gut-wrenching sobs of those who grieve. We Will Rise joins the pantheon of great sports books for one simple reason: it has very little to do with sports.” —Steve Eubanks, New York Times bestselling author of All American: Two Young Men, the 2001 Army-Navy Game and the War They Fought in Iraq “Riveting and very personal…Steven Beaven has written the last word on the tragic crash of the University of Evansville basketball team. More, though, he celebrates the rebirth rise of the program after the devastating events of that winter day in 1977. A must-read.” —Bob Kravitz, senior staff writer for The Athletic and former columnist for The Indianapolis Star “We Will Rise is an ode to spirit, to hope, to somehow carrying on after the greatest of heartbreaks. Steve Beaven’s masterful work is a true must-read.” —Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author and former senior writer for Sports Illustrated “Growing up in Indiana, I heard the stories about the crash that destroyed the young team at the heart of We Will Rise. But I learned so much more reading this book. Steve Beaven honors the players and coaches who lost their lives and tells the stories of their families trying to move forward in the face of unthinkable grief. Here is the best of what sports can mean to a community.” —Brad Stevens, head coach of the Boston Celtics
£12.52
University of Minnesota Press Brave Enough
Book SynopsisTravel with Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins on her compelling journey from America’s heartland to international sports history, navigating challenges and triumphs with rugged grit and a splash of glitter Pyeongchang, February 21, 2018. In the nerve-racking final seconds of the women’s team sprint freestyle race, Jessie Diggins dug deep. Blowing past two of the best sprinters in the world, she stretched her ski boot across the finish line and lunged straight into Olympic immortality: the first ever cross-country skiing gold medal for the United States at the Winter Games. The 26-year-old Diggins, a four-time World Championship medalist, was literally a world away from the small town of Afton, Minnesota, where she first strapped on skis. Yet, for all her history-making achievements, she had never strayed far from the scrappy 12-year-old who had insisted on portaging her own canoe through the wilderness, yelling happily under the unwieldy weight on her shoulders: “Look! I’m doing it!” In Brave Enough, Jessie Diggins reveals the true story of her journey from the American Midwest into sports history. With candid charm and characteristic grit, she connects the dots from her free-spirited upbringing in the woods of Minnesota to racing in the bright spotlights of the Olympics. Going far beyond stories of races and ribbons, she describes the challenges and frustrations of becoming a serious athlete; learning how to push through and beyond physical and psychological limits; and the intense pressure of competing at the highest levels. She openly shares her harrowing struggle with bulimia, recounting both the adversity and how she healed from it in order to bring hope and understanding to others experiencing eating disorders. Between thrilling accounts of moments of triumph, Diggins shows the determination it takes to get there—the struggles and disappointments, the fun and the hard work, and the importance of listening to that small, fierce voice: I can do it. I am brave enough.Trade Review "Jessie Diggins was an elite athlete long before she became an Olympic gold medalist. In Brave Enough, she shows world-class courage by sharing the truth about her eating disorder, her therapy, and the multitude of challenges, doubts, fears, and assorted bogeymen that are so often an untold part of the journey to greatness. She deserves another gold medal for her honesty and her inspiration."—Wayne Coffey, New York Times best-selling author of The Boys of Winter* "I’m honored to have played a role in inspiring Jessie on her journey to Olympic Gold. Brave Enough is a befitting title for this brutally honest and powerful story. As an athlete, Jessie was brave enough to win on the world’s biggest sporting stage. As a writer, she is brave enough to share a raw, heart-wrenching, nothing-held-back look at the struggles she went through to succeed. It’s an inspiring story, worthy of gold."—Jackie Joyner-Kersee "Already an inspiration to us all, Jessie once again shows her courage to leave it all on the track by sharing her deeply personal story. Readers will be encouraged by how one woman created a path forward for herself—and helped and uplifted so many in the process."—Ann Bancroft "Brave Enough is a powerful story that shows that striving for excellence can be essential in sport, yet not even Olympic champions are immune from its unforeseen destructive consequences. With admirable vulnerability, Jessie demonstrates how to be a leader and ‘best teammate’ while also being open to help and support from others. Her story motivates all of us, and she gives us hope and real tools to tackle our biggest challenges. I have never been more proud of my teammate and friend . . . not only has Jessie defeated foes on the race trails but she has courageously conquered the demons in her mind to become a true champion. She is an inspiration for everyone!"—Kikkan Randall, Olympic Champion and World Champion "Jessie has one of the most infectiously positive and bubbly personalities of anyone I have ever met. That, combined with her fierce drive and unwavering grit, is what makes her an inspiration to so many people, including myself, but I never realized just how inspiring she truly is until I read this book. World, meet the force that is Jessie Diggins."—Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic Champion and World Champion Table of ContentsContentsPrologue: I Can Do It Myself 1. Snow Baby2. Wild Child3. Super Speed4. Thunder Bay5. The Stillwater Way6. Pain Cave7. The Great Balancing Act8. To Ski or Not to Ski9. Slow Spiral10. The Emily Program11. Never Alone12. Blood, Sweat, and Tears13. The National Team14. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles15. Because 96 Isn’t 10016. From Sochi, with Love17. Give It All You Got18. Know When to Fold ’Em19. PyeongChang20. Brave Hearts21. Let’s Go Get It22. One Team23. Here Be Dragons24. Coming Home; or, The Week I Masqueraded As a Rock StarEpilogueAcknowledgments
£19.79
Rowman & Littlefield Red Grange: The Life and Legacy of the NFL's
Book SynopsisIn celebration of the National Football League’s 100th season in the fall of 2019, noted NFL historian Chris Willis brings to life the story of Red Grange, the nation’s first professional football star, in this definitive biography. Harold “Red” Grange became a national sensation as a junior halfback at the University of Illinois in the 1920s. He quickly joined other great athletes of the Roaring Twenties such as Bobby Jones, Jack Dempsey, and Babe Ruth in enthralling audiences on the radio and in newspapers on a daily basis. A year later Grange stunned the country by dropping out of school after his last collegiate game and going pro with the six year old NFL, signing with the Chicago Bears. In Red Grange: The Life and Legacy of the NFL’s First Superstar, Chris Willis tells the remarkable story of a humble football player who rose to fame in the 1920s and became an icon. With unlimited access and complete cooperation of the Grange family, Willis offers new insight into Grange’s rags-to-riches story, including details about his tomboy mother who died when Grange was six years old and never-before-published information on Grange’s barnstorming tour with the Chicago Bears that instantly gave credibility to the fledgling NFL. With over fifty original interviews, personal letters to and from Grange, and more than forty photos, this definitive biography reveals in intimate detail the life of a sports pioneer. Whether as a player, coach, broadcaster, pitchman, Hall of Famer, ambassador, or icon, Red Grange was, and still is, the face of the early NFL and one of the greatest athletes of all-time.Trade ReviewThere is no better way to understand the 100th season of the NFL than to begin with the remarkable story of Red Grange, whose singular talent changed the way football was marketed and consumed at a time in this country when people of all walks of life were starving for big stars on the big stage. Chris Willis of NFL Films, the brilliant biographer of our national obsession, has told this story as only he can—with unparalleled scholarship and in entertaining detail. -- Sal Paolantonio, National Correspondent, ESPN, and author of How Football Explains AmericaChris Willis didn’t know Red Grange. He didn’t see him play. But, if there is anyone who might make you believe he did, it’s Chris Willis. Truly one of pro football’s leading historians, Willis combines well-researched facts with a human touch and an unequaled understanding of the game and the era of which he writes. Few others have his appreciation for the unquestionable impact Grange had on professional football during its formative years. During a time when college coaches like Amos Alonzo Stagg were calling the pro game “a menace to college football,” Willis chronicles how Grange—a model of good behavior and sportsmanship—converted pro football naysayers to enthusiastic supporters. There is no one better suited to tell the tale than Chris Willis. -- Joe Horrigan, Executive Director, Pro Football Hall of FameThere are few figures in football history more mythic or more seminal than Harold "Red" Grange. In his carefully-researched new biography, Chris Willis expertly puts Grange in the context of his times, showing his outsized influence on the collegiate game and the immense importance of his arrival in the fledgling universe of the National Football League. The heart of the book is Willis's portrayal of Grange's punishing 1925-26 coast-to-coast barnstorming tour with the Bears—aptly described by one writer as a "national hysteria"—when the biggest star in college football helped legitimize the NFL. -- Michael MacCambridge, author of America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation
£47.63
Rowman & Littlefield Relentless: Seven Marathons, Seven Continents,
Book SynopsisThe World Marathon Challenge—seven marathons on seven continents in seven days—is the ultimate race for adventurous runners. It tests the athletes to their limits, going from biting cold Antarctic conditions one day to dry desert heat another. To survive the onslaught of sensations—fear, fatigue, depression, elation—takes a special sort of determination and strength of will. Few would take on such a challenge, and fewer still would finish it. Relentless: Seven Marathons, Seven Continents, Seven Days is David Gething’s amazing story of his journey from a middle-aged couch potato to a World Marathon champion. Gething gives a deeply personal and candid view of what it is like to compete in one of the most demanding amateur sporting events on the planet, including the sacrifices made just to get to the start of the race and what it takes to win. He describes in detail each individual contest—originating in Antarctica and ending in Australia—and the physical, emotional, and psychological sides of this grueling stage race. Far from just depicting the event itself, Gething also delves into the interpersonal relationships, rivalries, and bonds that form on this adventure that is like no other. Featuring photographs taken during the event from Gething’s personal collection, and including private emails to and from the author and his family and friends, Relentless gives a truly unique and intimate view into the inner workings of this punishing ultra-endurance battle. Marathon runners, sporting enthusiasts, and anyone with a dream and a determination to succeed despite the odds will find Gething’s journey a fascinating and inspiring story.Trade ReviewIn 2007, the author’s pregnant wife pointed out that he was getting a little soft: too much bad food, not enough exercise, perhaps not quite the right role model for their soon-to-be-born child. Gething took her observation to heart and vowed to get into shape. He started running, eventually graduating to marathons, and, in 2015, he entered and won the very first World Marathon Challenge, which is just as hard as it sounds: seven full marathons in the space of a week in Antarctica, South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It sounds like an incredible ordeal, the kind of thing you wonder why anyone would subject himself to, and indeed that’s a big part of this memoir: the author explaining how and why he went, in the space of less than a decade, from an ordinary, out-of-shape guy to a world-class marathon runner. Full of interesting and surprising stories—it really was quite a journey, and it’s populated by an engaging cast of real-life characters—the book should appeal to runners of all kinds, from newbies to veterans. * Booklist *This is the autobiographical story of a man who transforms himself from a ‘middle-aged couch potato’ into an athlete who attempts to complete ‘seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.’ The book is organized into separate chapters for each marathon. . . .It is difficult to imagine undertaking such a grueling challenge, but the author's recollection of details and his thoughts throughout the seven events provide readers with an insight into the experience. There is no bravado one might expect from a recounting of an adventure of this scale. Instead, readers are provided with a narrative that is self-deprecating and honest. The author writes of when his wife confronts him about his drinking, smoking, and weight issues, which propel him to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Eventually this leads to his competing in increasingly grueling races that culminate in the events detailed in this book. Though it obviously recounts the story of the marathons, it is also an interesting story of how a man transformed himself from a sedentary and unhealthy person into a world-class marathoner. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. * CHOICE *The ambition and dedication that David Gething demonstrates in his remarkable achievement shows that he has the true spirit of an IRONMAN: Anything is Possible with the right amount of dedication and commitment. -- Andrew Messick, CEO of IronmanA wonderfully told adventure about pushing your limits—for runners and non-runners alike. I couldn't put it down. -- John Ellis, Ultra RunnerDavid Gething has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of the event—the characters, courses, logistics, the internal dialogues and doubts, the issues and ethics and, in the end, the sheer magnitude of it all. Yet, like Ultraman, despite its length and relatively small number of competitors, Gething draws the reader into the art and heart of what it means to be a champion. Gething translates the nuances of such a multi-day challenge into an exciting finale both on and off the pages of the book. I was totally impressed and engrossed. An excellent read—I would totally recommend the book. -- Steve King, Ironman, Ultraman, and Ultramarathon legendWhen David first approached me about racing the 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents challenge, I first wondered how it was even possible. But then I also realized that David is one of those special athletes with the physical strength to handle the punishment that would need to be endured—and even more importantly, the mental strength to stay focused and keep pushing right to the end no matter how much suffering he would have to endure. -- Nigel Gray, elite professional triathlete and coach, NRG Performance TrainingTable of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION: The Story of the Beginning Chapter 1: THE STARTING LINE Chapter 2: MARATHON 1: ANTARCTICA: Union Glacier: A Trial byFire in the Coldest Place on Earth Chapter 3: MARATHON 2: SOUTH AMERICA: Punta Arenas, Chile: The Shakedown Chapter 4: MARATHON 3: NORTH AMERICA: Miami, United States of America: The Forging of the Alliance Chapter 5: MARATHON 4: EUROPE: Madrid, Spain: The Painful Test Chapter 6: MARATHON 5: AFRICA: Marrakech, Morocco: The Unraveling Chapter 7: MARATHON 6: ASIA: Dubai, United Arab Emirates: When to Win Alone Would Have Been a Loss Chapter 8: MARATHON 7: OCEANIA: Sydney, Australia: The Final Showdown EPILOGUE APPENDIX: The Final Standings INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR
£21.13
Rowman & Littlefield Mantle: The Best There Ever Was
Book SynopsisI really do believe I would be way up at the top of everything if I hadn’t been injured. When I was healthy, I really believe I was the best of anyone I ever saw play.—Mickey Mantle, reflecting on his career Mickey Mantle is one of baseball’s all-time greats. Playing for the New York Yankees for his entire professional career, Mantle was named to the All-Star team for 11 consecutive seasons, won three MVP awards, and was a seven-time World Series champion. He quickly became an icon who achieved hero status even while playing through injuries for most of his career. In Mantle: The Best There Ever Was, Tony Castro makes the impassioned argument that Mickey Mantle truly was the greatest ballplayer of all time. Acclaimed by the New York Times as the definitive biographer of baseball’s fabled number 7, Castro shares many of his personal conversations with Mantle, demystifying the legend and revealing intimate, never-before-published details from Mantle’s personal life. In addition, Castro offers illuminating new insights into Mantle’s extraordinary career, including the head-turning conclusion based on the evolution of analytics that the beloved Yankee switch-hitting slugger may ultimately win acclaim as having fulfilled the weighty expectation once placed on him: being even greater than Babe Ruth. Drawing from hundreds of interviews with ex-teammates, friends, and family—including Mantle’s widow and longtime mistress—Castro masterfully blends Mantle’s public and private selves to present a fully rounded portrait of this complex, misunderstood national hero.Trade ReviewThe secret love life of Mickey Mantle, the New York Yankee’s fabled baseball home-run hitter and 20th century American icon, was a scoop that veteran journalist Tony Castro swore to keep secret—until now. Whether you’re a baseball fan or not, Castro’s book will take you into a world of myth, magic, and reckless heroism of a bygone era that comes brilliantly alive in this wild, intimate, and astonishing book. -- Rex Weiner, author of Woodstock Census: Nationwide Survey of the Sixties Generation and The (Original) Adventures of Ford FairlaneIf you wish to fully understand the complicated life of Mickey Mantle, Tony Castro has written an extraordinary book. There has been a library of books written on Mantle, but none will explain him the way this book does. For you millions of Mantle lovers, this book is “The Best There Ever Was.” Don't you dare miss it. -- Peter Golenbock, author of Dynasty, The Bronx Zoo, and 7: The Mickey Mantle NovelIn this warm, intimate, and often startling book, Tony Castro relies on his own long relationship with Mickey Mantle, a great deal of research, and a remarkable series of interviews with the woman the Yankees star loved before and during his long marriage to give us an unforgettable portrait of a man whose talent and accomplishments were matched only by the demons he couldn’t escape. Mantle: The Best There Ever Was presents an American sports hero in all his glory, and all his torment. -- Ron Rapoport, author of Let’s Play Two: The Legend of Mr. Cub, the Life of Ernie BanksHow could such a young man from Commerce, Oklahoma, become such a hero to so many? Tony accurately brings to light in great detail the accolades as well as demons that Mickey endured both on and off the field. -- Andrew Vilacky, Safe at Home, Cooperstown, NYBeing a longtime friend of Mickey’s I personally witnessed many of the challenges he encountered in both his personal and professional life. Statistically, Mickey did not have the best numbers of all time, but Mantle: The Best There Ever Was solidifies what a great teammate and friend Mickey was. -- Tom Catal, Mickey Mantle Museum, Cooperstown, NYTony Castro scores a perfect 10 for #7 with his new bio of my childhood hero Mickey Mantle, for whom I took subways with my brothers from Brooklyn to the Bronx in those years when the Yankees were the only team in town. I’ve read many other books on The Mick in the years since but Castro has smacked a grand slam here, the best I ever read about The Best There Ever Was. -- Denis Hamill, former columnist, New York Daily NewsAuthor Tony Castro returns to the life of Mickey Mantle in the third volume of his trilogy about the New York Yankees baseball star, Mantle: The Best There Ever Was—and the reader is swept along on a journey through Mantle’s life, both the personal and the professional. And what a complicated life Castro portrays, including unbelievable success on the baseball field, a difficult marriage, a longtime affair, injuries, and a decades-long struggle with alcoholism. Castro, who as a child idolized Mantle, incorporates his own recollections of meeting and interviewing the then-retired Mantle, introducing a deeper layer to the story. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this book. -- Deborah Kalb, writer, editor, and book bloggerIn Mantle: The Best There Ever Was, Tony Castro adds another compelling account to his Mickey Mantle Trilogy. Written with the authority of an insider, Castro adds new detail and dimension to Mantle’s life and career in this well-sourced page-turner. -- Dale Tafoya, autho, Bash Brothers: A Legacy SubpoenaedA handful of baseball immortals—like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Joe DiMaggio—have achieved levels of greatness such that their names are known to even casual fans. Was Mantle the greatest of them all? Author Tony Castro explores this question and makes a compelling case for "The Mick" in Mantle: The Best There Ever Was. Castro describes some of the monstrous seasons Mantle had, charts Mantle’s athletic career, and takes the reader into The Mick's often turbulent personal life. Reading the book, one can only wonder what Mantle may have achieved if he'd taken care of himself the way modern-day athletes do. -- Ruben Castaneda, staff writer, US News and World Report, and author, S Street RisingAn American literary stylistic masterpiece. Tony Castro paints Mickey Mantle through a prism of genius with the pinstripe magic of Gabriel Garcia Marquez phantasmagoria and realism. -- Tom Wolfe, author and journalist
£18.04
Rowman & Littlefield My Brother, Muhammad Ali: The Definitive
Book Synopsis“Rahaman has, at last, written the definitive biography on his late brother, which tells the real Ali story.” —Mike TysonMore words have been written about Muhammad Ali than almost anyone else. He was, without doubt, the world’s most-loved sportsman. At the height of his celebrity he was the most famous person in the world. And yet, until now, the one voice missing belonged to the man who knew him best—his only sibling, and best friend, Rahaman Ali.No one was closer to Ali than Rahaman. Born Cassius and Rudolph Arnett Clay, the two brothers grew up together, lived together, trained together, travelled together, and fought together in the street and in the ring. A near-constant fixture in his sibling’s company, Rahaman saw Ali at both his best and his worst: the relentless prankster and the jealous older brother, the outspoken advocate, the husband and father. In My Brother, Muhammad Ali, Rahaman offers an insider's perspective on the well-known stories as well as never-before-told tales, painting a rich and intimate portrait of a proud, relentlessly polarizing, yet often vulnerable man.In this extraordinary, poignant memoir, Rahaman tells a much bigger and more personal story than in any other book on Muhammad Ali—that of two brothers, almost inseparable from birth to death. It is the final and most important perspective on an iconic figure.
£18.99
