Biography: sport Books

Book SynopsisThe Princess of Darkness. Former NFL team executive Amy Trask has held many titles during her career – including chief executive, analyst, and author – but this nickname is what she is first and foremost known by to Raiders fans. Trask joined the Raiders as an intern during law school after the team moved from Oakland to Los Angeles – the position the result of a cold call she made to the team. From there, she worked her way up through the ranks of the organization, to the post she would eventually hold as chief executive. Along the way, Trask worked extremely closely with the late Al Davis, a man who treated her and others on his team without regard to gender, race, and age. Trask may have been the highest-ranking female executive in the NFL during her tenure with the Raiders, but in You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League, she shares how she found success by operating without regard to gender. Replete with insider tales about being part of the Raiders' front office, behind the closed doors of NFL owners meetings, and Davis himself, Trask's book is a must-read not only for football fans, but anyone who wants to succeed in business.

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Book SynopsisThe Crimson Tide have won 16 national championships (more than any other school), produced more than 100 All-Americans, and sent more than 200 players to the NFL. Alabama is arguably the most successful and most prestigious college football program in history, shaped by proud players wearing the Crimson and White and molded by hugely successful coaches. In Crimson Nation, Voice of the Crimson Tide Eli Gold shares what he sees as the greatest moments that shaped the Alabama football program. Recalling everything from the beginning of radio broadcasting to the four recent national championships under Nick Saban, this book gives a private look into Bama football. It’s all here and told as only Eli Gold can tell it.

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest pitchers of his generation, Tom Glavine delivered the defining moment of the Atlanta Braves’ 1990s dynasty. Glavine took the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium mound for Game 6 of the 1995 World Series and allowed just one hit as the Braves won 1–0 to clinch Atlanta’s first, and only, World Series title. Glavine captured the World Series MVP trophy and the hearts of Braves fans forever. In Inside Pitch, the left-hander tells the story that led up to this moment of glory and countless others in a Hall of Fame career that spanned 22 seasons. Glavine provides an in-depth look at the Braves’ glory years, including his friends and fellow Cy Young Award winners Greg Maddux and John Smoltz and manager Bobby Cox. Glavine also shares memories of teammates from Deion Sanders to Chipper Jones and of playing for owner Ted Turner. He also tells his own story from growing up in a working-class family, pushing himself to succeed and his decision to turn down a chance to play pro hockey, opting for baseball instead. He describes his 300th win, his election to baseball’s Hall of Fame, and his later seasons with the New York Mets before returning to close out his career with the Braves. Fans of the Braves, and of baseball, will love Glavine's book. It is filled with all the drama and inspiration that make the game America’s passion.

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Book SynopsisAlready a superstar in the MMA and entertainment worlds, Ronda Rousey's devastating 34-second KO of Bethe Correia vaulted her into the mainstream like never before. From her undefeated exploits in The Octagon to appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated to starring in blockbuster film Furious 7, Rousey is the preeminent combination of athletic and pop culture stardom. Rowdy Rousey: Ronda Rousey's Fight to the Top is the ultimate tribute to this multi-talented powerhouse. Including nearly 100 full-color photographs, fans are provided a glimpse into this star's life - from her days as a young Judo champion at the Olympics to her ascent to the top of MMA as the UFC champion. This keepsake also explores Rousey's vast success outside of the ring through acting, modeling and interacting with her great fans, and looks ahead to her upcoming film roles and future UFC blockbuster fights.

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Book SynopsisAaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL, one of the faces of the league and already a Packers legend, but his journey to the top was far from easy. Rodgers has gone on to win a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP award, has twice been voted NFL MVP and has placed himself directly on the path to the Hall of Fame. Including dozens of full-color photographs, fans are provided a glimpse into Rodgers’ life. Written by heralded Packers scribe Rob Reischel, this keepsake is sure to inspire and entertain Packers and football fans alike.

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Book SynopsisJ.J. Watt is the best defensive player in the NFL, one of the faces of the league and has a larger-than-life personality to boot, but his journey to the top was far from easy. Watt burst on to the scene with multiple NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and placed himself directly on the path to NFL super-stardom. Including nearly 100 full-color photographs, fans are provided a glimpse into Watt’s life–from his days as an unheralded college recruit to his journey to the top of the sport with the Houston Texans. This keepsake also explores Watt’s vast popularity off the gridiron through acting, community service, and charity work, and celebrates the man who truly embodies his motto: Dream Big, Work Hard.

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Book SynopsisFor more than three decades, the New York Giants have been one of the most competitive teams in the National Football League, winning four Super Bowls and eight conference championships in that time. Now, Lawrence Taylor—Hall of Fame player and consummate Giant—teams up with William Wyatt to tell the stories of the Giants’ most memorable players and coaches, including Bill Parcells, Rays Perkins, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, and Gary Reasons to name but a few. In My Giant Life, Taylor looks back at the best games, best moments, and behind-the-scenes stories of the men who played and coached for the team.

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Book SynopsisAn elite pass rusher who was in the prime of his career, Charles Haley was traded from the San Francisco 49ers to an NFC rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Why would they make such a trade? The 49ers did so because Haley had become so difficult for teammates and coaches alike. It turns out that he acted this way because he had bipolar disorder. Haley, a Hall of Famer and the only NFL player who earned five Super Bowl rings, documents what it was like suffering from that condition and how he overcame it. He details what it was like to play for two championship organizations and the fights, transgression, and squabbles that marked his career.

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Book SynopsisWhen University of Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill stepped down due to health concerns in October 2015, he said, “I can’t do what I love doing anymore.” What Kill loved doing, and did remarkably well, was turn around college football programs. In this book Coach Kill shares for the first time his inspirational, thought-provoking, and heartwarming story, from his early years playing for and working under Dennis Franchione to guiding the Gophers to a New Year’s Day bowl game and being named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Kill describes his dedication to his players, how he drove them, and made them into disciplined and inspired football players. Readers will also learn about Kill’s work to bring awareness to cancer and epilepsy.

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Book SynopsisWith 14 All-Star appearances, 13 Gold Gloves, a Most Valuable Player Award, and, of course, a World Series ring, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez has more than earned his spot in Cooperstown as one of the best Major League catchers of all time. In They Call Me Pudge, Rodriguez tells the story of his unforgettable baseball journey, from signing his first professional contract as a 16 year-old in Puerto Rico, to his years in Texas, Detroit, and beyond, to the World Series stage in Miami, and behind the doors of the Texas Rangers front office. Rodriguez's accomplishments, his teammates, and his biggest challenges all receive time in the spotlight in this refreshing memoir of a life and Hall-of-Fame career.

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Book SynopsisFor more than a decade, Tim Raines patrolled left field for the nascent Montreal Expos, igniting the powder keg of what would become one of the most innovative, entertaining, and talented teams of the modern era. Raines, nicknamed “Rock,” hit and stole his way into the hearts of baseball fans across North America. The seven-time all-star tore through the Expos record books before moving on to the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Florida Marlins, ultimately earning three World Series rings. And now Raines sit on the cusp of entering Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. But it wasn’t always easy playing for the upstart Montreal Expos or being Tim Raines. Raines' performance dipped in 1982, and at the end of the season, Raines entered treatment for substance abuse for cocaine addiction. To avoid leaving the drug in his locker, Raines would carry it in his hip pocket, and would slide headfirst when stealing bases. He used cocaine before games, in his car, after games, and on some occasions between innings in the clubhouse. Raines would later testify at the infamous Pittsburgh drug trials, in September 1985, and would ultimately resume his career at a high level and once again become one of baseball’s brightest stars, on and off the field. This memoir entails the life and playing career of one of the sport’s all-time greatest leaders and personalities, an honest, raw, and compelling tale of triumph and redemption.

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Book SynopsisDuring his nearly 50 years of sportswriting, including 28 at Sports Illustrated, readers of Dr. Z came to expect a certain alchemical, trademark blend: words which were caustic and wry, at times self-deprecating or even puzzling, but always devilishly smart with arresting honesty. A complex package, that's the Doctor. The one-time sparring partner of Ernest Hemingway, Paul Zimmerman is one of the modern era's groundbreaking football minds, a man who methodically charted every play while generating copious notes, a human precursor to the data analytics websites of today. In 2008, Zimmerman had nearly completed work on his personal memoirs when a series of strokes left him largely unable to speak, read, or write. Compiled and edited by longtime SI colleague Peter King, these are the stories he still wants to see told. Dr. Z’s memoir is a rich package of personalities, stories never shared about such characters as Vince Lombardi, Walter Payton, Lawrence Taylor, and Johnny Unitas. Even Joe Namath, with whom Zimmerman had a legendary and well-documented 23-year feud, saw fit to eventually unburden himself to the remarkable scribe. Also included are Zimmerman's encounters with luminaries and larger-than-life figures outside of sports, notably Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch, and Hunter S. Thompson. But not to be missed are Zimmerman's quieter observations on his own life and writing, witticisms and anecdotes which sway between the poignant and hilarious. No matter the topic, Dr. Z: the Lost Memoirs of an Irreverent Football Writer proves essential, compelling reading for sports fans old and new.

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Book SynopsisSpotlighting a New England sports icon, this autobiography chronicles the extraordinary life and career of Troy Brown, the talented athlete who played 15 seasons with the New England Patriots. Brown demonstrates how his grit, hustle, and hard work endeared him to a generation of football fans. Brown's past is explored, relating how he made it through college and into the pros despite being given up on several times. His years with the Patriots are documented in detail, covering what it was like to play for Coach Belichick, why Tom Brady has been so successful, and the secrets behind his three Super Bowl wins. Traveling from his younger years in South Carolina through his college career in West Virginia and to the pinnacle of the NFL, this inspirational, rags-to-riches sports memoir will entertain, inform, and inspire football fans of all stripes, especially the hundreds of thousands of fans who support the Patriots—one of the most successful franchises in the league. This new paperback edition features an additional afterword on the Patriots' unforgettable 2016 championship season and Super Bowl LI victory.

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Book SynopsisThroughout his 13-year professional and collegiate career, Braylon Edwards has heard all the talk—that he's only out for himself, only about the money; he’s a bust, a bad guy, a troublemaker, a typical wide receiver who doesn’t get it. He's also heard the cheering fans singing "The Victors" after victories in the Big House and cherished the smiles he saw in the crowd. Now, for the first time, the misunderstood receiver, who so often got in trouble for speaking the truth, is telling his own personal history—through the ups of athletic honors, success, and fame and the downs of injury, addiction, and arrests—in his own words. The son of start Michigan player and NFL running back Stan Edwards, Braylon emerged from the shadows of his father, with who, he has a complicated relationship, to create his own All-American legacy at Michigan—but no without clashes with his eventual mentor, head coach Lloyd Carr. Braylon takes readers inside his decorated four-year career at Michigan, the intense rivalry games against Ohio State and Michigan State, and the back-to-back Rose Bowls. Drafted third overall by a struggling Browns franchise, he endured a turbulent time in Cleveland, which included a misreported fight at a club with a member of LeBron James inner circle. Braylon resuscitated his career in The Big Apple, belting out Frank Sinatra tunes while reaching to AFC Championships Games with the New York Jets before playing under Jim Harbaugh with the San Francisco 49ers, catching passes from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and delving into a broadcasting career. In this frank, unflinching autobiography, Braylon shares how football helped him find his place and gave him a voice. He lays bare all the bumps, bruises, and unexpected turns along the way.

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Book SynopsisPatience, persistence, and the most unlikely of circumstances vaulted Edgar Martinez from a poor neighborhood in Dorado, Puerto Rico to the spotlight in Seattle, where he spent the entirety of his 18-year major league career with the Mariners. At last, his path is destined for one last stop: the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.Long before he cemented his status as one of the finest players of his generation, Martinez honed his batting skills by hitting rocks in his backyard and swinging for hours at individual raindrops during storms. Loyal and strong-willed from a young age, he made the difficult decision at only 11 to remain behind with his grandparents while his family relocated to New York, attending school and then working multiple jobs until a chance Mariners try-out at age 20 changed everything.In this illuminating, highly personal autobiography, Martinez shares these stories and more with candor, characteristic humility, and surprising wit. Highlights include the memorable 1995 and 2001 seasons, experiences playing with stars like Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez, and life after retirement as a family man, social advocate, and Mariners hitting coach. Martinez even offers practical insight into the mental side of baseball and his training regimen, detailing how he taught himself to see the ball better than so many before and after him.Interwoven with Martinez’s own words throughout are those of his teammates, coaches, and contemporaries, contributing a distinctive oral history element to this saga of a remarkable career.

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Book Synopsis“If you are a basketball fan, you should be aware of Spencer Haywood’s immense historical importance. If you’re not aware, you should be.” —Bob Ryan, The Boston Globe Hall of Famer, Olympic gold medalist, MVP, and All-Star could all be used to describe the illustrious career of Spencer Haywood on the hardwood. From picking cotton in rural Mississippi to the historic 1968 Olympics to Winning ABA MVP to the battle with the NBA that would go all the way to the Supreme Court and change the league forever, Spencer Haywood’s life has been a microcosm of 20th-century sports and culture. One of the most dominant big men of his era, Haywood burst onto the international scene as a teenager with a revelatory performance at the Mexico City Olympics. Yet, while his basketball career was just beginning back in that summer of ’68, it was only one of many notable moments in the extraordinary and fateful life of the big man from Silver City, Mississippi. In The Spencer Haywood Rule, Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated and Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe worked with Spencer to tell the remarkable story of a man who was born into indentured servitude in rural Mississippi, and all of the unbelievable trials, tribulations, successes, failures, and redemptions that followed. Haywood would go on to be the ABA Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, but his triumphs on the court are only part of the legend. His winding journey off the court saw him challenge the NBA’s draft-entry rules and win at the Supreme Court level; run in New York City high-fashion circles in the mid-70s with his then-wife, supermodel Iman; and bottom out with alcohol and drug addiction during the infancy of the Showtime Lakers dynasty.  Spears and Washburn explore how Haywood’s impact was felt throughout the NBA and in society at large—and still is to this day—culminating in Haywood’s inspiring second act as an advocate for current and retired NBA players alike. Trade Review"Marc Spears and Gary Washburn tell this story beautifully." -- LA Times"An important book on an under-appreciated Black athlete." -- Kevin Merida, The Undefeated"If you are a basketball fan, you should be aware of Spencer Haywood's immense historical importance. If you're not aware, you should be. In either case you should read Gary and Marc's book." -- Bob Ryan, The Boston Globe"Haywood's frank personality takes center stage, and he movingly talks about racism on and off the court." -- Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisFor ESPN's Ryan McGee, football is a lifelong passion formed from growing up as the son of Dr Jerry McGee, a man who wore stripes for decades as one of the most highly-decorated officials in college football history. In this book Ryan McGee teams up with his father and brother to share lessons learned between the white lines, featuring a cast of characters that runs from no-name small college athletes and coaches to one-name legends such as Holtz, Paterno, Tebow, and Bo. The McGees provide a rare and often hilarious glimpse inside the lives of college officials, detailing how a love for the game convinces accomplished professionals from all walks of life to voluntarily endure ceaseless insults, public criticism, and the expressed goal of doing one's job on a very public stage in a way that will hopefully NOT draw any attention to how that job is done. From hilarious stories of brawling high school referees and making awkward small talk with George Lucas and Darth Vader at the Rose Bowl to the heart-tugging story of young sons in the stands on a Saturday as a stream profanity-laden insults directed at their father drowns out the marching band, Sidelines and Bloodlines delivers laughs, tears, and a deeper understanding of a life in stripes.Trade Review"I came for the hilarious stories about the strange place referees occupy in our sporting world and found myself pulled deep into a tale of family, fathers and sons, and how we never forget the way back home." -- Wright Thompson, ESPN senior writer"Able sportswriting that, due to its focus on a little-known aspect of the game, will be illuminating even for die-hard fans." -- Kirkus Reviews"It's uniquely structured with the voices of all three McGees coming through." -- The Daily Independent"A story well told as [Ryan McGee] shares the football officiating experiences of his dad and family." -- SEC Commissioner Greg Sankes"Ryan McGee is a master storyteller who imbues all his work with wit, warmth, and brains. No one knows college football better than McGee...Sidelines and Bloodlines is a love letter to the game and to the ties that bind fathers and sons." -- Jeremy Schaap, ESPN host, Outside the Lines"In my 40-plus years of coaching, I never shared a sideline with a more respected official than Jerry McGee." -- Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame coach

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Book SynopsisPatience, persistence, and the most unlikely of circumstances vaulted Edgar Martinez from a poor neighborhood in Dorado, Puerto Rico to the spotlight in Seattle, where he spent the entirety of his 18-year major league career with the Mariners. At last, his path is destined for one last stop: the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.Long before he cemented his status as one of the finest players of his generation, Martinez honed his batting skills by hitting rocks in his backyard and swinging for hours at individual raindrops during storms. Loyal and strong-willed from a young age, he made the difficult decision at only 11 to remain behind with his grandparents while his family relocated to New York, attending school and then working multiple jobs until a chance Mariners try-out at age 20 changed everything.In this illuminating, highly personal autobiography, Martinez shares these stories and more with candor, characteristic humility, and surprising wit. Highlights include the memorable 1995 and 2001 seasons, experiences playing with stars like Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez, and life after retirement as a family man, social advocate, and Mariners hitting coach. Martinez even offers practical insight into the mental side of baseball and his training regimen, detailing how he taught himself to see the ball better than so many before and after him.Interwoven with Martinez’s own words throughout are those of his teammates, coaches, and contemporaries, contributing a distinctive oral history element to this saga of a remarkable career.

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Book SynopsisAn unforgettable look at a lifetime of Twins baseball packed with Bremer's self-deprecating humor and passion for the game ​ Dick Bremer's distinctive baritone has served as the soundtrack of Minnesota Twins baseball for over three decades. Millions of fans have enjoyed his observations, insight, and magical storytelling on television broadcasts. Now, in this striking memoir, the Minnesota native and lifelong Twins fan takes fans behind the mic, into the clubhouse, and beyond as only he can. Told through 108 unique anecdotes—one for each stitch in a baseball—Bremer weaves the tale of a lifetime, from childhood memories of the ballfield in smalltown Dumont, Minnesota, to his early radio days as “The Duke in the Dark,” to champagne-soaked clubhouses in 1987 and 1991, and his encounters with Twins legends ranging from Calvin Griffith and Harmon Killebrew, to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek, to Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. This honest and engaging autobiography gives fans a rare seat alongside Bremer and his broadcast partners, including Killebrew, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, Jim Kaat, Tom Kelly, and other Twins legends.

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Book SynopsisMillions of fans have enjoyed his infectious enthusiasm, insight, and storytelling on regular television broadcasts, through moments of triumph and defeat. Now, in this striking autobiography, the longtime broadcaster takes fans behind the mic as only he can. Emrick's love for hockey is obvious to anyone who's heard him call a game, and it's multi-layered. Tradition. The Stanley Cup chase. Suspense. Passion. Teamwork. History. Handshakes. An endless list. Yet it’s the people he treasures most of all, and Doc has more than his fair share of stories from countless interactions—more than he's even been able to tell during four decades in the broadcast booth. Through both his early life and his unparalleled career, readers will meet the full cast of characters who have made their mark on the man who's voice has defined the hockey experience for so many. Equal parts riveting and hilarious, this memoir gives fans a rare seat alongside Emrick and serves as a profound ode to the sport of hockey.

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Book SynopsisFootball is a game of lines—on and off the gridiron. For ESPN’s Ryan McGee, football is a lifelong passion formed from growing up as the son of Dr. Jerry McGee, a man who wore stripes for decades as one of the most highly-decorated officials in college football history. Sidelines and Bloodlines features a cast of characters that runs from no-name small college athletes and coaches to one-name legends such as Holtz, Paterno, Tebow, and Bo. The McGees provide a rare and often hilarious glimpse inside the lives of college officials, detailing how a love for the game convinces accomplished professionals from all walks of life to voluntarily endure ceaseless insults, public criticism, and the expressed goal of doing one’s job on a very public stage in a way that will hopefully NOT draw any attention to how that job is done. From hilarious stories of brawling high school referees and making awkward small talk with George Lucas and Darth Vader at the Rose Bowl to the heart-tugging story of young sons in the stands on a Saturday as a stream profanity-laden insults directed at their father drowns out the marching band, Sidelines and Bloodlines delivers laughs, tears, and a deeper understanding of a life in stripes.

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Book SynopsisAn unforgettable look at a lifetime of baseball packed with humor and passion for the game With a career that has now touched eight decades, Jim Kaat has had a prime front row seat for baseball's continuing evolution. Not only was he a major-league pitcher for 25 seasons, but his time as a pitching coach and his many years as a broadcaster have given him a singular long view of the game. In Good as Gold, Kaat weaves the tale of a lifetime, taking fans on the field, into the clubhouse, and behind the mic as only he can.Full of priceless stories from New York, Minnesota, and across the major leagues, this honest and engaging autobiography gives fans a rare seat alongside Kaat on a tour of baseball history.

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Book SynopsisA celebration and remembrance of baseball's home run king "Hammerin'" Hank Aaron was unquestionably one of baseball's greatest icons, revered for his powerful bat, intense resolve, and steadfast generosity. The Braves legend's passing in 2021 was mourned across baseball, inspiring countless tributes to Aaron and his 23-year Hall of Fame career.Hank Aaron: A Tribute To The Hammer is a celebration of Aaron's incomparable presence in Atlanta, Milwaukee, and beyond, from his immediate impact as a 20-year-old with the Braves to breaking Babe Ruth's longstanding home run record in 1974 to the strength he embodied while facing insidious racism throughout his career and remaining an advocate for civil rights as long as he lived.Through memorable stories and historic photography from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, fans will join in commemorating Aaron's legacy, reliving an unparalleled career one striking moment at a time.

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Book SynopsisCelebrating a New York icon and one of baseball's most beloved superstars Derek Jeter made his major-league debut at age 20 in 1995. The following year, he earned Rookie of the Year honors as the starting shortstop as the Yankees won the team’s first championship since 1978. Over the next two decades, Jeter kept hitting and the Yankees kept winning. By the time he hung up his pinstripes at the end of the 2014 season, the Yankee captain had collected five World Series rings and 3,465 hits. He was named to 14 American League All-Star teams and boasts a .321 career batting average in the World Series. It was no surprise when Jeter was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2020, receiving more than 99% of the vote. In celebration of Jeter’s induction in Cooperstown in 2021, these moments and memories are collected in Derek Jeter: A Celebration of the Yankee Captain, a fully illustrated gift book commemorating the career of the most beloved Yankee of his generation. Featuring more than 100 photographs and unparalleled written coverage from the pages of Sports Illustrated, this new volume provides readers a complete portrait of the ultimate team player who became a role model and a baseball icon—from earning the Yankees starting shortstop job in spring training in 1996 to his record-setting postseason play and his walk-off single in his final game at Yankee Stadium.This lavish keepsake also features Sports Illustrated’s best written coverage of Jeter’s career, including pieces by Tom Verducci, Joe Posnanski, Michael Silver, and more.

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Book SynopsisThe oldest professional sports team in the Bay Area, the San Francisco 49ers have thrilled their loyal fans for seven and a half decades. Founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference, the 49ers joined the NFL when the leagues merged in 1949. Playing in old Kezar Stadium at in Golden Gate Park, the 49ers found fleeting success in their early years, reaching the playoffs just once in the 1950s and '60s. From those humble beginnings emerged one of the NFL's most successful franchises. Seven Super Bowl appearances, five Super Bowl victories. A head coach in Bill Walsh who forever changed the sport. And a roster of Hall of Famers: Y.A. Tittle, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and more. Sports Illustrated™ celebrates the franchise with The San Francisco 49ers at 75, an extraordinary collection of classic stories and photographs from the pages of SI. This commemorative book also solutes, in words and pictures, the 49ers' dedicated fans.

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Book SynopsisA compelling autobiography from one of Detroit's favorite sons At 15, Willie Horton received his first contract offer to become a professional baseball player. At 20, he smacked his first major-league home run. At 24, Horton stood in full uniform on the hood of his car, in the midst of burning homes and overturned vehicles, and pleaded for an end to the violence of the 1967 Detroit riots. In this new autobiography, Horton shares the fascinating story of his life and career, from growing up in Detroit's Jeffries Projects as the youngest of 21 children to winning a World Series with his hometown Tigers in 1968. Horton also candidly discusses the opposition he faced as a Black player, his fond memories of Al Kaline, the joy he felt in returning to the Tigers as a front office executive, and the many ways he still tries to give back to Detroit and his community. By turns heartrending and hilarious, this timely chronicle is an essential contribution to baseball's written history.

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Book SynopsisA heartfelt portrait of Hank Aaron, featuring nearly 40 years of stories plus never-before-told insights from the home run king When journalist Terence Moore was 12 years old, he treasured his poster of Henry Aaron. Years later, Aaron would sign it for him: "Best wishes to Terry." Later still, Moore would be named an honorary pall bearer at the home run king's funeral, staying up late into the night with Aaron's widow, Billye, to get the obituary just right for the program. Friends and family knew Aaron as quick-witted, hilarious, and fiercely opinionated beyond what was shown in public. With the encouragement of Aaron's family, Moore now shares this intimate perspective on the baseball legend, the culmination of decades of friendship and correspondence. The Real Hank Aaron captures the icon's contagious laugh and pointed views, from the depth of his admiration for Jackie Robinson to his true thoughts on Barry Bonds and the steroid era. Also featuring Aaron's views on race, politics, media, and sports fandom, this is a charming and illuminating glimpse at the man outside the spotlight.

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Book SynopsisCelebrating a New Orleans icon and one of football’s most beloved superstars Drew Brees describes his arrival in New Orleans as “a calling.” Following a catastrophic shoulder injury and a handful of years with the San Diego Chargers, Brees hit the ground running with the Saints, leading the team to the playoffs in his very first season and building toward the ultimate prize: the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl title. By the time he hung up his cleats in 2021, the Saints QB had won 172 games as a starting quarterback, led the NFL in passing yards seven times, and fashioned more than 50 game-winning drives. He won the 2004 Comeback Player of the Year award and was named to 13 Pro Bowls. These moments and memories are collected in Drew Brees: A Tribute to the Saint of New Orleans, a fully illustrated gift book commemorating the 20-year career of one of the most beloved Saints players in history. Featuring more than 100 photographs and unparalleled written coverage from the pages of Sports Illustrated™, this new volume provides readers a complete portrait of the ultimate team player whose impact on the Saints franchise cannot be overstated—from his earliest days in New Orleans to the euphoria of Super Bowl XLIV and beyond.This commemorative book also features SI’s best written coverage of Brees’s career, including pieces by Tim Layden, Greg Bishop, and more.

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Book SynopsisJosh Allen re-wrote the Bills’ record book in 2020 as the team finished 13­–3 and won its first AFC East title since Jim Kelly was behind center in 1995. Allen set single-season franchise records for passing yards, touchdown passes, and completions, and his sights are firmly set on bringing Super Bowl glory back to Buffalo. Featuring incisive writing plus dozens of full-color photographs from The Buffalo News, Josh Allen: Built for Buffalo provides a glimpse into Allen’s early days with the Bills after he was drafted out of Wyoming in 2018, Allen’s thrilling rise to stardom, his transformative connection with receiver Stefon Diggs, and the Bills’ magical 2020 run.This keepsake also looks ahead to where Allen could one day stack up among legendary Bills names like Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith.

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Book SynopsisInducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, Don Shula remains the winningest coach of all time with 347 career victories and the only undefeated season in NFL history. But before he became the architect of the Dolphins dynasty, Shula was a hardworking kid selling fish on the banks of Lake Erie, the eldest of six children born during the Depression to Hungarian immigrant parents. As acclaimed sports biographer Mark Ribowsky shows, Shula met serious resistance at home when he asked to play high school football, but when his parents finally relented, they discovered that their son, though perhaps short on the physical gifts of the truly blessed, had an unmatched mind for the game’s strategy and a stomach for its brutality. With rugged determination, the jut-jawed Shula started as a defensive back in the 1950s, later beginning his thirty-two-year coaching career as the then-youngest coach ever with the Baltimore Colts. The Colts had several successful years, but Shula never quite recovered from the historic loss to the upstart New York Jets in Super Bowl III, and when a lucrative job opened in Miami, he took his talents to South Beach, where he led the Dolphins to the first perfect season in NFL history. Tracing Shula’s singular rise from his blue-collar origins to his glory days in the Miami heat, Ribowsky reveals a man of grit and charisma who never lost sight of a simple creed: “All I’ve ever done is roll up my sleeves, figure out what to do, and start doing it.”Trade Review"Through Shula’s career, Ribowsky provides an excellent look into the early, gritty days of professional football.... Ribowsky’s excellent biography will thrill football fans of all allegiances." -- Publishers Weekly [starred review]"Must reading for budding coaches and a solid work of sports biography." -- Kirkus Reviews"Praise for the books of Mark Ribowsky: “Fascinating” —Washington Post “Brilliant.” —Wall Street Journal “Hugely entertaining.... Extraordinary.” —Dallas Morning News “Magisterial, meticulously researched.... As good as sports writing gets.” —New York Journal of Books"

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Book Synopsis“The opportunity for the greatest turnaround in college football exists here today, and it’s not one to be taken lightly.” —Bill Snyder When Kansas State hired Bill Snyder as its head football coach in 1988, the Wildcats had one of the worst programs in college football and hadn't won a conference title since 1934. Little could anybody predict that Snyder would soon engineer a total transformation in Manhattan, Kansas. From his humble beginnings in St. Joseph, Missouri, Snyder rose to greatness, bringing K-State up from the ashes to a No. 1 ranking, six 11-win seasons in a span of seven years, and one Big 12 Championship. He still wasn’t finished. After a three-year retirement, Snyder returned to lead the Wildcats to another Big 12 title. In 2015, he became just the fourth person in college football history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as an active coach. In this new memoir, Snyder reflects on a successful yet complicated life, detailing the grueling 80-hour work weeks, his visionary Wildcat Goals for Success, and the virtues he doubled down on during his final years as head coach, all the while battling throat cancer.Readers will discover a multi-faceted portrait of one of college football's greatest leaders, his triumphs and defeats, his greatness and his flaws, and his passion and drive to, not once, but twice, lead a championship team while developing young men.

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Book SynopsisAn incomparable memoir of business and football from the woman known as "The Princess of Darkness." Former NFL team executive Amy Trask has held many titles during her career—including chief executive, analyst, and author—but Raiders fans know her better as "The Princess of Darkness." Trask joined the Raiders as an intern during law school after the team moved from Oakland to Los Angeles—the position the result of a cold call she made to the team. From there, she worked her way up through the ranks of the organization, to the post she would eventually hold as chief executive. Along the way, Trask worked extremely closely with the late Al Davis, a man who treated her and others on his team without regard to gender, race, and age. Trask may have been the highest-ranking female executive in the NFL during her tenure with the Raiders, but in You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League, she shares how she found success by operating without regard to gender.Replete with insider tales about being part of the Raiders' front office, behind the closed doors of NFL owners meetings, and Davis himself, Trask's book is a must-read not only for football fans, but anyone who wants to succeed in business.

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Book SynopsisA heartfelt portrait of Hank Aaron, featuring nearly 40 years of stories plus never-before-told insights from the home run king When journalist Terence Moore was 12 years old, he treasured his poster of Henry Aaron. Years later, Aaron would sign it for him: "Best wishes to Terry." Later still, Moore would be named an honorary pall bearer at the home run king's funeral, staying up late into the night with Aaron's widow, Billye, to get the obituary just right for the program. Friends and family knew Aaron as quick-witted, hilarious, and fiercely opinionated beyond what was shown in public. With the encouragement of Aaron's family, Moore now shares this intimate perspective on the baseball legend, the culmination of decades of friendship and correspondence. The Real Hank Aaron captures the icon's contagious laugh and pointed views, from the depth of his admiration for Jackie Robinson to his true thoughts on Barry Bonds and the steroid era.Also featuring Aaron's views on race, politics, media, and sports fandom, this is a charming and illuminating glimpse at the man outside the spotlight.

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Book SynopsisThe powers-that-be in 1920s auto racing, namely the American Automobile Association’s Contest Board, barred everyone who wasn’t a white male from the sport. But Dewey Gatson, a black man who went by the name Rajo Jack, drove into the center of “outlaw” auto racing in California, refusing to let the pervasive racism of his day stop him from competing against entire fields of white drivers. In The Brown Bullet, journalist Bill Poehler uncovers the life of a long-forgotten trailblazer and the great lengths he took to even get on the track, showing ultimately how Rajo Jack proved to a generation that a black man could compete with some of the greatest white drivers of his era, winning some of the biggest races of the day.Trade Review"Poehler has done a fine job of researching the life of Rajo Jack, relating his determination and poise in the face of discrimination." - Library Journal"This excellent, very important book tells an inspirational tale." Hemmings

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Book SynopsisBest known to a generation of Australian cricket fans as the incisive, and sometimes controversial, cricketing voice of the Sydney Morning Herald and ABC radio, Peter Roebuck's own career spanned 25 of the most exhilarating years of world cricket.From the heyday of the Somerset cricket club to the controversy of the World Series and ten happy years with Devon, Roebuck played alongside some of the true greats of the world game. Viv Richards, Joel Garner, Ian Botham, Martin Crowe and a young Steve Waugh were all team-mates. Considered by some the best cricketer to have never played for England', he did in fact captain an English team which travelled to Holland. Their emphatic victory in the second Test was completely overshadowed by their shock defeat in the opening game!A dedicated coach and mentor to young enthusiasts, Roebuck first came across some of Australia's current crop of cricket superstars as brash young novices at the Academy - Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and a portly young man with the most dangerous spinning finger in the world, one Shane Warne. In Sometimes I Forgot to Laugh, Peter Roebuck gives his readers an insight into the hitherto very private life of a complex and sometimes troubled man, but one always sustained by his abiding passion for the game of cricket.Table of Contents1 Antecedents2 To Bath3 Millfield4 Professional Debut5 More Blues6 Greece7 Down Under8 Somerset Resurgent 1978-799 Mixed Results, 1980-8210 Decline and Fall11 Learning to Lead12 The Somerset Affair13 Into the Press Box14 To Regroup and Rebuild15 Towards Retirement16 The Australian Renaissance17 The Glory Years: Border, Taylor and Waugh18 Cricketing Controversies19 Devon Days20 Africa21 Trial and Tribulation22 The Australian Way23 The Power of the Pen24 Two Great Batsmen25 Epilogue

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