Biography: sport Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of The Greatest, Michael Jordan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Book SynopsisThe winning philosophy for creating and inspiring success that will help you triumph at work and in life from renowned football coach Nick Saban—with a foreword by Bill BelichickExcellence doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from hard work, consistency, the drive to be the best, and a passion for what you do. Few understand this better than Nick Saban. With more than three decades of experience as a player and coach, Saban has worked alongside some of the game’s legends and has seen firsthand how great leaders encourage greatness in others. In this candid and thoughtful guide, he shares his unique wisdom:• Organization, Organization, Organization: Create an environment where everybody knows his or her responsibilities—and each is responsible to the entire group.• Motivate to Dominate: Understand the psychology of teams and individuals, and use that knowledge to breed success.• No Other Way than Right:

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Book SynopsisThe son of a coal miner from a small Illinois town, Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman lived the American dream until his untimely death at age twenty-nine. In his brief life, he reached the pinnacle of baseball success as the best shortstop in the American League. While many professional ballplayers struggled with meager salaries, the handsome Chapman had married heiress Kathleen Daly, one of Cleveland’s wealthiest women. With a child on the way and an executive job in the offseason, Chapman was moving toward a privileged place in society until an errant fastball fractured his skull and ended his life the next day.Late in the 1920 pennant race, the Indians were in New York for a key series against the Yankees. New York pitcher Carl Mays threw a high hard one that Chapman could not evade. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors tried in vain to save his life. The tragedy did not end there. His widow took her own life eight years later, and their daughter, R

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Book SynopsisA pocket biography of George Best

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Book SynopsisAn L.A. hot-rodder with a high school education, a family to support, and almost no money, Craig Breedlove set out in the late 1950s to do something big: harness the thrust of a jet in a car. With a growing obsession that would cost him his marriage, he started building in his dad’s garage. The car's name was Spirit of America. Through perseverance and endless hard work, Craig completed Spirit and broke the land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a new mark of 407 mph in 1963. He went on to be the first person to drive 500 and 600 mph, breaking the land speed record five times. In the early 1970s he turned to rockets and set an acceleration record at Bonneville that stands to this day. He built a jet car in the 1990s, Spirit of America–Sonic Arrow, to go head to head against Britain’s ThrustSSC to be the first to Mach 1. Craig’s subsequent crash at 675 mph remains the fastest in history. Even today, at the age of eighty, he is going strong with plans for yet another Spirit of America racer. The ultimate goal: 1,000 mph.Ultimate Speed is the authorized biography of Craig Breedlove, with a foreword by Craig himself. A candid revelation of one of motorsports' most interesting figures, the book is based primarily on countless hours of interviews with Craig and dozens of people connected to his life.Trade Review"Ultimate Speed tells the amazing story of how Craig Breedlove became a household name, setting land speed records in jet- and rocket-powered cars. While he and the records became famous, few have known what was required to hit 400 mph and more to gain entry into the record books. Breedlove was really an explorer, heading off into uncharted and dangerous territory, and this book reveals the exquisite and intimate details of his story." Steve Lehto, author of Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow and Chrysler's Turbine Car"Breaking the outright world land speed record is a huge task. It's not just about having the fastest-ever car, it's also about the people and the money to pay for it all, something that Sam Hawley has captured very well. This is a thrilling tale that illustrates the immense challenges faced by Craig Breedlove and his tremendous achievements in overcoming them." Andy Green, land speed record holder, 1997-present (763 mph)"Craig 'For my next trick, I'll set myself afire' Breedlove officially remains my coolest man on earth. Craig has always built beautiful cars and driven them at fantastic velocity, as the record books attest. To be chasing speed still at eighty is not just a measure of an extraordinary man, but confirmation of the courage and commitment that won him five land speed records." David Tremayne, author of The Science of Formula 1 Design and The Land Speed Record"Above all, though, the great appeal here comes from looking closely at an individual with the singular drive to do something no one else has ever done." Booklist

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Book SynopsisA Financial Times Sports book of the Year 2018 pickWho's better: Ronaldo or Messi? Ask any football fan and they'll have an opinion. For the best part of the last decade football has seen a personal rivalry unlike any seen before. Cristiano and Leo. This is their definitive story, from children kicking a ball halfway around the world from each other to their era-defining battle to be number one. One the preening adonis, a precision physical machine who blows teams away with his pace and power. The other a shuffling genius, able to do things with a football that seem other-worldly. Their differences seem to tap into something fundamental about football and indeed life.Between them they have scored over a thousand goals, won the Ballon d'Or nine times and redefined modern football. For the past eight seasons they have shared the accolade of best footballer in the world and arguments rage over which one deserves the title of greatest player of all time. Cristiano and Leo by Spanish and South American football expert and journalist Jimmy Burns is the essential book to understand the defining players of a generation.'Burns is incapable of writing a boring sentence.' - Irish TimesTrade ReviewA thoroughly researched dual biography by the great Jimmy Burns -- Simon Kuper, author of The Football MenI am eating up this book. The verve with which Burns writes about the power politics and rich supporting characters like Florentino and Ferguson makes it a captivating read. -- Richard Fitzpatrick, author of El Clásico: Barcelona v Real Madrid, Football’s Greatest RivalryPraise for La Roja: There is so much people don’t know about Spain and Spanish football, and that is not a bad thing for as long as a complete writer like Jimmy Burns brings his unique vision to it. La Roja fills a hole in the knowledge of both Spain and Spanish football, as it goes beyond the football to explain a country, a society and its transformation through, thanks to and despite the beautiful game. -- Guillem Balague, author of Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs Praise for Maradona: The Hand of God: Those who have an interest in the sociology of football, in modern Argentina and in the “story behind the headlines” will admire Burns’ disturbing book which easily transcends the normal confines of sports journalism. * The Economist *Praise for Barcelona: A People's Passion: Burns’ strength lies not just in his compulsive, well-told story of the club’s evolution, but his notable grasp of Catalan history. * Sunday Times *Table of ContentsSection - i: Prologue Chapter - 1: Madeira Chapter - 2: Rosario Chapter - 3: Rites of Passage: Ronaldo Chapter - 4: Little Big Man: Messi Chapter - 5: Lisbon Star: Ronaldo Chapter - 6: Growing Pains: Messi Chapter - 7: Into the Market: Ronaldo Chapter - 8: The Dwarf: Messi Chapter - 9: The Red Legacy: Ronaldo Chapter - 10: International Break – Euro Blues: Ronaldo Chapter - 11: First Team Calling: Messi Chapter - 12: Manchester Days: Ronaldo Chapter - 13: The Rise of the Hobbit: Messi Chapter - 14: International Break – Diego’s Shadow: Messi Chapter - 15: World Cup Trauma: Ronaldo the Winker Chapter - 16: Kicking On: Ronaldo Chapter - 17: The New Maradona: Messi Chapter - 18: Close Encounters: Messi vs Ronaldo Chapter - 19: Ronaldinho’s Farewell: Messi Chapter - 20: Euro 2008: Ronaldo Under Pressure Chapter - 21: International Break – The Beijing Olympics and Maradona Chapter - 22: Centre Stage: Ronaldo Chapter - 23: The Guardiola Revolution: Messi Chapter - 24: Goodbye Old Trafford, Hello Bernabéu: Ronaldo Chapter - 25: Untouchable: Messi Chapter - 26: International Break – World Cup 2010: Messi Chapter - 27: World Cup 2010: Ronaldo Chapter - 28: Enter Mourinho Chapter - 29: Clásicos: Ronaldo and Messi Chapter - 30: Mourinho Strikes Back Chapter - 31: International Break – Euro 2012: Ronaldo Chapter - 32: Life after Pep and with Mourinho: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 33: King Cristiano; Black Dog Messi Chapter - 34: International Break – World Cup Disappointment, National Embarrassment: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 35: Enrique vs Ancelotti Chapter - 36: International Break – The 2016 Copa América: Messi Chapter - 37: Rebuilding: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 38: International Break – Euro 2016: Ronaldo the Manager Chapter - 39: On Trial: Messi Chapter - 40: Legends: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 41: Conclusion Acknowledgements - ii: Acknowledgements Section - iii: Bibliography Section - iv: Notes Index - v: Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[Twight] is brutally honest, and nobody, including his friends or himself, is safe from his high standards and criticism. Many of these [collected pieces] are gems and shed new light on his earlier work... This is literature about the soul of alpinism, not a blow-by-blow account of climbing drudgery from some tourist peak bagger.--Rock & Ice A glimpse into the psychological reasons one person faces extreme danger.--Reference & Research Book News Deeply personal, arrogant, grandiose, thrilling and unapologetic, this record of [Twight's] career will gratify and repel extreme athletes, their admirers and detractors.--Publisher's Weekly Read [Kiss or Kill] if you have alpine ambitions -- or have a disturbed mind. It's a good read, and you might gleen some perspective from it.--Scree With chapter titles such as 'House of Pain' and 'I Hurt, Therefore I Am, ' no one would mistake Twight for a member of the Von Trapp family. A bracing tonic for us desk-bound wussies.--Pittsburgh Tribune-Review If you've delved into the growing body of mountaineering literature by reading books like Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air ... be forewarned: They're like Billy Joel; Kiss or Kill is like the Dead Kennedys ... Prodding the deepest recesses of fear the way he'd stab a wafer-thin ice runnel with the pick of his axe, Twight's Kiss or Kill is an engaging read.--The Vancouver Sun

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Book SynopsisNamed the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1972, this richly illustrated biography explores the star’s personal life as well as his playing career.

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Book SynopsisWhy We Climb is a celebration, in word and image, of those aspects of the climbing life that are most universal, meaningful, and long lasting the strong connection to partners and nature; the physical and mental mastery required (and how to achieve it); the rewards of exploring oneself and the world through climbing. Through interviews with some of North America's most notable climbers the book undertakes a quest to find the soul of climbing asking what compels men and women to dedicate their lives to the challenges and deprivations of living in a vertical world? What are the sacrifices and what are the rewards? And most importantly, can the lessons learned on cliff faces, frozen waterfalls, and alpine peaks lessons of respect, discipline, commitment, humility and simplicitybe brought home and used to benefit society as a whole?Trade Review"Why We Climb shows in clear and simple terms why risk and adventure—embracing the big unknown—is the spark that lights our lives on fire. Without adventure, we’d never build pyramids or shoot for the stars. Without risk, we're all just biding time...” —John Long, climbing legend and bestselling author of How to Rock Climb!"Chris Noble’s essays on why people climb are as fascinating as they are varied. From 'living intentionally high above the ground' to following a chosen path that leads to 'a life of coherence, integrity and purpose,' there is much to inspire, not only for climbers, but for anyone interested in creating a life of boldness and grace." —Bernadette McDonald, author of Freedom Climbers and Alpine Warriors'Truly a phenomenal book that has allowed me to reflect on the activity/sport/religion that is my life. Thanks for showing your poetic words and the real stories that touch us on a deeper level.' —Jonathan Vickers, Digital Content Manager, Momentum Climbing Gyms'I’d grown tired of reading about climbing, but I believe every climber regardless of level or experience should read Chris Noble’s new book.' —Louis Arevalo, Photojournalist and Climber'It's rare that I pick up a book and have a hard time putting it down, but Why We Climb is one of those. I've only had it a few hours and have been sucked in. Though I've only read a few pages, and looked at all the photos and read all the captions, I am thoroughly impressed. The only reason I put it down today was because I wanted to go climbing.' —Alpinist Jay Smith'Great job! I knew you could shoot but I didn't know you could write like this. We haven't really had a coffee table book for ages but this one has been sitting front and center - for thrills, for inspiration or for the memories of people and places - and all in such life-rich color. ' —Peter Croft'This is Alex Honnold's mom. I just wanted to congratulate you on a beautiful book! It really gets you into the head of a climber – but it’s also filled with great life lessons for all of us, climber or not. A philosophical learning tool.Visually beautiful, riveting text—just a captivating piece of work to be proud of. Nicely done!' —Dierdre Wolownick

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Book SynopsisTom Brady''s father is an estate planner. Aaron Rodgers'' father is a chiropractor. Cam Newton''s father tried to sell his son to Mississippi State when he was leaving junior college. Archie Manning played 14 years in the NFL and never made the playoffs, but his sons Peyton and Eli combined to win four Super Bowls. Joe Montana is considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all time, but his two sons bounced around college football with limited success.Fathers and Sons, will go behind the scenes to explore the unique relationship between quarterbacks and their fathers. The book will appeal to two generations: Fathers and mothers and their sons and daughters. It will explore the various approaches to parenting through the stories of some of the best quarterbacks and their fathers and include the back stories of fathers who were successful quarterbacks with sons attempting to follow in their footsteps.It will provide life lessons and a guide to what to do and w

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Book SynopsisMuhammad Ali was a champion, a poet, a prophet. Sports Illustrated called him “the greatest athlete of the twentieth century.” And yet he was even more than all of that, “a whole greater than the sum of its parts . . . bigger, brighter, more original and influential than just about anyone of his era” (Barack Obama). He got there with his fists, with his actions, and above all, with his words. Compiled and written by his daughter Hana Ali, with sportswriter Danny Peary, Ali on Ali brings together a remarkable mix of Ali’s 70 most humorous, poignant, inspirational, political, and philosophical quotes, all with their origins. Here’s Ali’s enduring boast, “I am the greatest!”—and how it was inspired by professional wrestler Gorgeous George. The story behind one of the most memorably poetic lines of the century—“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” The heard-round-the-world defiance of “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” and its moving context. And the stories behind quotes ranging from outrage—“We been in jail for 400 years,” to inspiration—“I hated every minute of training, but I said ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion,’” to that infectious combination of humor and bravado—“If you even dream of beating me you better wake up and apologize.” Included are powerful photographs throughout, from iconic fight scenes to never-before-seen Ali family snapshots; quotes about Ali, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Billy Crystal; a career timeline; and a personal introduction by Hana Ali.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWarren Gatland''s In the Line of Fire is the ultimate chronicle of this summer''s remarkable Lions tour to New Zealand - home of the fearsome All Blacks, the double world champions - which culminated in an historic and nerve-shredding series draw.The book is the Head Coach''s wonderfully candid and vibrant record of the withering ferocity, the turbulent peaks and troughs, the triumphs and despairs, of one of sport''s toughest challenges. It gives rugby fans an unparalleled front-row seat with the squad and coaching team during every facet of preparing for and executing a successful tour on the opposite side of the planet, recounting intriguing details on everything from pre-tour planning and strategy, to on-tour experiences, analysis and decision-making.It all adds up to a thrillingly definitive exposition and post-mortem of a mind-blowing six weeks in the cauldron which forged the mighty All Blacks.Trade ReviewWow. This is rugby. - All Blacks captain Kieran Read to Lions captain Sam Warburton, during the second TestGatland is one of the great coaches of history. - Stephen Jones, The Sunday Times'Draw' is an inadequate way to describe what the Lions did here. They stopped one point short of a miracle. - Paul Hayward, Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisComparing Robin Knox-Johnston’s and Ellen MacArthur’s famed round-the-world voyages

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