Biography: sport Books

Book Synopsis“Taking risks and pushing oneself to the limit are strong themes, as well, and the loving bond between a father and son is evident throughout . . . . A tale that will appeal to sports fans and those who appreciate the determination and physical and mental toughness required to thrive at the top level of sports.” —Kirkus The inspiring story of Nate Ebner's bond with his unconventional father and its remarkable consequencesNate Ebner and his father were inseparable. From an early age, they worked side-by-side in the family junkyard, where part of the job was dispensing citizen's justice to aspiring robbers, and they worked out side-by-side in their grungy homemade gym. Even though Nate was a great peewee football player in football-mad Ohio, he followed his father's passion for rugby and started playing for the same club as his father when he was only thirteen years old. But Nate had to face the fact that the

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Book SynopsisFootball is the world game. It unites. At a grassroots level it creates communities and, in 2019, those communities helped save the life of one of its own.In 2012, Hakeem al-Araibi was a promising young player on Bahrain''s national football team when he was arrested for attacking a police station during the Arab Spring, despite television footage showing him playing soccer at the time of the alleged attack. After three months of torture and wrongful imprisonment, Hakeem was released. He fled the country and made his way to Australia, where he was granted refugee status. Hakeem made a life here and was playing for the suburban Pascoe Vale Football Club, in Melbourne. He thought he was safe.But, in November 2018, on a holiday to Thailand with his wife, Hakeem was again arrested. The Bahraini government wanted to extradite him to face a ten-year jail sentence, or worse. What happened next shows the best of what soccer can do, and the worst the governing body of FIFA br

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Book SynopsisThis is the book that speedway fans the world over have been waiting for: the inside story of the Californian hell-raiser, Kelly Moran.

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Book SynopsisThe wicketkeeper, known as his sport’s most prolific ‘sledger’, has amassed more than 20 years of stories from his career at the heart of the game and now reveals them in typically outspoken style.

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Book SynopsisThis book covers a century of the best, most charismatic and most controversial men ever to don the white coat and stand for first-class cricket. From the great Victorian personalities to the stalwarts of the modern era, such as Dicky Bird, David Shepperd and Peter Willey, this book profile the best of those imposing characters, who can make or break a batsman with the simple raising of a finger.

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Book SynopsisThis is the life story of Ernie Hunt, footballer for Swindown Town, told through his own recollections and through tributes from those who knew him best.

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Book SynopsisRed Rum''s classic win in the 1977 Grand National is the stuff of sporting legend. Red himself became a national treasure, and his charismatic trainer - the redoubtable Ginger McCain - became a sporting hero. While the public adored Ginger, there were those who sniped that he was a one-horse trainer. All that changed 27 years later when, in a thrilling race, Ginger won his fourth National with Amberleigh House, equalling the record of Fred Rimmer. Once again Ginger had taken the sporting world by storm. In the 70s, the popularity of Red Rum and Ginger almost single-handedly saved the great race when there were plans afoot to turn the track into a housing estate. Ginger himself is a remarkable individual - charming, forthright, not afraid to speak his mind and a hugely entertaining raconteur. This is his story, at times funny, sad, exciting and always captivating, told in his own inimitable style.

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Book SynopsisMuhammad Ali was born as Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky. Early in his life, his skills developed from those he needed to stand up to a playground bully into the championship form that earned him a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics. As a professional fighter, Ali became known not just for the speed and agility with which he won three world heavyweight championships, but also for his charm, wit, and showmanship. Outside the ring, the courage of his stand against the military draft made him both a revered cultural hero and a lightning rod for the issues that divided Americans during the Vietnam War. In the decades following his boxing career, Ali was regarded as one of the most recognized people on the planet. He lent his name, influence, and generosity to a host of humanitarian causes. Having earned the affection of billions of people worldwide, the people''s champ will forever be The Greatest.

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Book SynopsisNOW THE NETFLIX FILM NYAD, STARRING ANNETTE BENING AND JODIE FOSTERHillary Clinton said that Find a Way would stay with her through the general election:  “When you’re facing big challenges in your life, you can think about Diana Nyad getting attacked by the lethal sting of box jellyfishes. And nearly anything else seems doable in comparison.”When Diana Nyad arrived on the shore of Key West after fifty-three hours of grueling swimming across an epic ocean, she not only set a world record—becoming the first person to swim the shark-infested waters between Cuba and Florida with no cage for protection—she also succeeded in fulfilling a dream she first chased at age twenty-eight and at long last achieved when she was sixty-four.   Now, in a riveting memoir, Diana shares a spirited account of what it takes to face one’s fears, engage one’s passions, and never ever give up. For no matter what life may throw at you, or how many times you may have experienced defeat, it is always possible—as long as you commit to living life to the nth degree, no regrets—to “find a way.

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Book SynopsisThrough fifty years of epic stories, art, and personal ephemera, The Fletcher Family spans surfing's golden era to the present day, when bathing-suit model Dibi and competitive surfer Herbie met, to raising talented Christian and Nathan on boards and waves, to passing the torch to their skating-phenom grandson, Greyson.Herbie Fletcher is a surfing legend. Fletcher and his sons, Christian and Nathan, made a habit of doing things exceptionally well and in their own way before they became the norm. But the Fletchers are not merely trailblazing surf and skate legends; they also are counterculture and subculture icons. T Magazine referred to them as having punk family values. Their sincere love for art and surfing and their collective DGAF attitude has earned them legions of devoted fans and friends from so many different worlds: music, fashion, streetwear, and art.The epitome of both surfer cool and punk counterculture, the Fletcher family for the firstTrade Review"The show is a companion to the upcoming publication of Dibi Fletcher’s book for Rizzoli out later this year, “Fletcher: A Lifetime in Surf,” which compiles the history of surfing through her husband, Herbie, children Nathan and Christian, her grandchildren, and father, the late iconic surfer, Walter Hoffman." —WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY"Through fifty years of epic stories, personal ephemera, and celebrity contributions, THE FLETCHER FAMILY: A LIFETIME IN SURF is a visual memoir of the immensely colorful “first family” of surfing." —SURF-EAT-SHOP

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TIMES BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDSIn the 1930s, as the world hurtled towards terrible global conflict, speed was all the rage. It was described by Aldous Huxley as ''the one genuinely modern pleasure'', and one of the fastest and most thrilling ways to attain it was through the new sport of bobsledding. Exotic, exciting and above all dangerous, it was by far the most popular event at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. It required an abundance of skill and bravery. And the four men who triumphed at those Games lived the most extraordinary lives.Billy Fiske was an infamous daredevil, blessed with a natural talent for driving. He would later become the first American airman to die in the war - flying for the RAF. Clifford Gray was a notorious playboy and a player on both Broadway and Hollywood. Or was he? His identity was a mystery for decades. Jay O''Brien was a gambler and a rogue who, according to one ex-wife, forced womeTrade ReviewWritten with great pace and lightness, Speed Kings will enthral anyone who loved Seabiscuit and The Boys in the Boat. * The Times, Books of the Year *A tale of exceptional sporting bravery... genuinely thrilling. A gripping yarn. * Observer *A wonderful story, told in marvellous style. * Literary Review *A rich slice of history about courage and nobility... irresistible personalities. Unlike so many of his peers Fiske saw Nazism early for what it was. He became the first American to join the RAF, flying in the Battle of Britain. This is what makes him worthy of Bull's affectionate attention. It's also what gives the book its cohesion and its last act, which is far more moving than you have a right to expect given all the fun that precedes it. Fiske stays with you. He's the superhero you wish you'd been. * The Times *If there's any justice, the winner of the 2015 William Hill Sports Book of the Year will be Andy Bull's Speed Kings which tells the story of the four larger-than-life characters who won bobsleigh Olympic gold at Lake Placid in 1932. The enormous research needed to bring to life the quartet has been a remarkable feat. -- Charles Sale * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Drawing from almost a decade of interviews with Caminiti’s teammates and coaches, Good’s narrative is decidedly unsparing, but it offers crucial context to the ‘steroids era’ … This is a must-read for baseball fans.” * Publishers Weekly, starred review *“This is an incredibly interesting book about a flawed star and his impact on the game. I couldn’t put it down.” * Peter Golenbock, author of The Bronx Zoo, Bums, Wrigleyville, and Valentine’s Way *“Like Ken Caminiti so many times with the San Diego Padres, Dan Good has gone deep with this exhaustive biography of the 1990s slugger. Playing Through the Pain builds anticipation well in detailing Caminiti’s rise and tragic fall, threading in four hundred interviews with everyone from childhood friends to steroid dealers. Caminiti’s story is one of the secrets—childhood sexual abuse, drug abuse—that undid a generous spirit and preternaturally talented ballplayer. Good ends up with an effective portrayal of a man whose courageous willingness to blow the whistle on steroids helped clean up the game.” * Brad Balukjian, author of The Wax Pack *“As compelling as it is heartbreaking, Dan Good’s Playing Through the Pain provides an in-depth look into Ken Caminiti’s life, both on and off the field. As his teammate during his 1996 MVP season, I witnessed Cammy’s toughness and talent firsthand. It wasn’t until I read this book that I really got to know Ken and his battles.” * Bob Tewksbury, All-Star pitcher, mental skills coach, and author of Ninety Percent Mental *

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Book SynopsisTeko 'the General' Modise is one of the best footballers South Africa has ever produced. But life wasn't always kind. This book tells it all, from poverty to fame, from love to divorce. It is the story of a fatherless father trying to make sense of parenthood and a man who never had money trying to make sense of an abundance of wealth.

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Book SynopsisIt is not easy. Having a dream, having talent and being faced with a world that wants you to have neither - it is not easy. This is not an easy story. This is a book about difficult odds, about cruelty, about broken families and addiction. This is also a story about hope.

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Book SynopsisFounded in 1920, the National Football League chose famed athlete Jim Thorpe as its first president, a position he held briefly until a successor was elected. From 1921 to 1939, Joe F. Carr guided the sport of professional football with intelligence, hard work, and a passion that built the foundation of what the NFL has become: the number one sports organization in the world. During his eighteen-year tenure as NFL President, Carr created the organization''s first Constitution & By-Laws; implemented the standard player''s contract; wrote the NFL''s first-ever Record and Fact Book; helped split the NFL into two divisions and establish the NFL''s World Championship Game; started keeping league statistics; and developed the NFL Draft. But Carr''s greatest achievement was creating a vision for the NFL as a big-city sport. By skillfully recruiting financially capable owners to operate NFL franchises in big market cities, he created the solid foundation for the league''s successful future.WhiTrade ReviewThis biography profiles the man who shepherded the NFL at its outset and established the solid foundation upon which Bert Bell and Pete Rozelle could build. In many ways, Carr's was the harder and most crucial job, named league president in 1921 when 'post graduate football' was not a serious competitor to college football or major league baseball. Willis (head of research lib., NFL Films) reminds us that Carr drew up and enforced the bylaws of the league and continually pushed it forward by recruiting a stable ownership group in large U.S. cities. Carr's years in sports management also embraced basketball and baseball. Willis relates Carr's life in comprehensive detail from a wealth of interviews and use of Carr's archives. This thorough biography of a forgotten but influential figure in sports management is recommended to all football fans. * Library Journal *Willis, the veteran head of NFL Films’ Research Library, turns the clock back to the genesis of the National Football League and Joe F. Carr, the remarkable man who laid the solid foundation of modern professional football from 1922 to 1937. Described by Willis as “the Henry Ford of the NFL,” Carr, a tireless visionary, rose from his modest Irish upbringing to create one of the first traveling football teams, the Columbus Panhandles, in the early part of the last century and guided the new professional football league, the American Professional Football Association, in 1921. With complete access to Carr’s family and associates, the author performs a workmanlike recounting of Carr as the diligent, straight-shooting president of the NFL, overseeing many of the achievements we take for granted today: standard player’s contracts, rules for college recruitment, professional football regulations, players’ statistics, creation of two NFL divisions, the NFL draft, and the championship game. Informed, somewhat academic, yet engaging, this gridiron biography of Carr explains completely why football fever takes hold of America each and every fall. * Publishers Weekly *Willis has dived into obscure and early behind the scenes NFL history in his book….I highly recommend this book for any football library. Once I started reading it, I was unable to put it down…. Willis has captured the essence of this time frame of early football history and gives the reader great insight into this overlooked football legend. -- Bob Swick, 2010 * Gridiron Greats *[The Man Who Built The National Football League] is excellent reading for a football fan and a history buff. -- Jim Riggs * Jamestown Post-Journal *Table of ContentsForeword James A. Carr, grandson of Joe F. Carr Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: One Man’s Vision Part I: Humble Beginnings (1879–1919) 1. The Irish Way (1841–1878) 2. Growing Up in Columbus, Ohio (1879–1893) 3. The Love of a Family Is Replaced by a Love of Sports (1894–1906) 4. The Columbus Panhandles and the Great Nesser Brothers (1907–1909) 5. Starting a Family (1910–1913) 6. Pro Football’s Most Famous Traveling Team (1914–1916) 7. Making a Name for Himself (1917–1919) Part II: The Presidency (1920–1939) 8. The American Professional Football Association (1920) 9. President Elect (1921) 10. The National Football League (1922) 11. Defending Professional Football (1923) 12. Baby Steps for President Carr (1924) 13. The NFL Comes to New York City (1925) 14. The Galloping Ghost and Pottsville Controversy (1925) 15. The Grange League (1926) 16. Traveling for a Cause (1927–1928) 17. How Do We Get to the Big Cities and Stay? (1929–1930) 18. Small-Town Green Bay Is Titletown (1931) 19. Indoor Circus (1932) 20. The Pro Game Separates Itself from the College Game (1933) 21. Sneakers in New York (1934) 22. The Postgraduate Game Is Finally a Big-City Sport (1935) 23. Packers, Redskins, and the NFL Draft (1936) 24. Heart of Gold Continues to Work (1937) 25. “Greatest Show in Football” (1938) 26. Death of a President (1939) 27. Aftermath 28. Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963) 29. The Legacy of Joe F. Carr Appendix: Dates and Locations of NFL Meetings Presided by NFL President Joe F. Carr (1921–1939) Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisJack Kyle was the rugby giant of his time, but he was also so much more than a sporting legend.Whilst he was winning a Grand Slam and touring with the Lions, Jack Kyle was also studying to be a doctor. When he retired from playing rugby - as the world''s most-capped player - his sense of adventure and medical ambition led him to settle in Chingola, Zambia, where he spent the next thirty-four years of his life. For many years, he was the only medically trained surgeon in the town and so faced many challenges, not least the appearance of and devastation caused by AIDS.Written as a series of conversations with his daughter, Justine, Conversations with My Father reveals Jack Kyle as a supremely gifted rugby player, a dedicated surgeon and a gentle family man.Trade ReviewLovingly crafted and well-written ... this is so much more than a rugby book but then Jack Kyle was so much more than a rugby player * Irish Times *Much more than a sports book, this is a nostalgic look at a full life wisely lived * Irish Examiner *A man of unrivalled class, on and off the pitch * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisA moving memoir that reminds us of the power of play to inspire, unite, and healand that sometimes what brings us the most pain can be the source of our greatest inspiration. In April 2018, Nikki and Doug Mark's perfectly healthy twelve-year-old-son, Tommy, went to sleep one night and never woke up. They're still not exactly sure why. Devastated, Nikki embarked on an unconventional journey to create a legacy for Tommy and to heal her heart. She created a plan to transform neglected land in a Los Angeles public park into a state-of-the-art athletic field, honoring Tommy's love of soccer and sharing his spirit of play with others. After family, friends, and LA's soccer community banded together to raise over a million dollars for the project, park neighbors resistant to change threatened to derail it. Throughout Nikki's journey, a remarkable string of incidents convinced her that her recently departed son was guiding her through the process. Ultimately, Tommy's enduring spirit and the

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Book Synopsis**Winner of the Rugby Book of the Year at the Sports Book Awards 2022**Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky made his name on a cold January day at Twickenham in 1936, his achievements captured for posterity by the newsreels of the time. On his England debut, having already scored one exhilarating try, the striking blond winger collected a pass on the right and, path blocked, veered left at such a pace that a line of opponents were left grasping at thin air. It was a historic try, unrivalled in skill and speed - and it inspired England's first ever victory over the All Blacks.Born to a noble family in St Petersburg in 1916, he had been due a life of wealth and privilege, until revolution forced the Obolenskys to flee Russia. Arriving in Britain with just a handful of possessions, they were reduced to relying on handouts, little Alex's very education resting on the charity of others. But as the young boy began his new life in a strange country, it was his natural sporting ability that would bring him lasting fame. The controversial selection for England of a Russian-born prince was a huge story in the press, stirring up xenophobia as well as excitement at the 19-year-old Oxford student's sheer pace. His later exploits on and off the field would keep his name in the papers, yet Alex was destined to win only four international caps, despite touring with the Lions and appearing for the Barbarians. After joining the RAF to serve his adopted king and country, he died at the controls of a Hurricane in March 1940.Bringing a fascinating era to life, The Flying Prince explores the mystery and mythology surrounding Alexander Obolensky, and for the first time tells the full story of the sporting hero who died too young.*****'Well-researched . . . a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters' - THE TIMES'The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time' JOHN AIZLEWOOD, I NEWS'A first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too' - BEST RUGBY BOOKS 2021'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' - THE RUGBY PAPERTrade ReviewA first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too * Best Rugby Books 2021 *It is well-researched vignettes such as this, deftly side-stepping the main story, that make Hugh Godwin's tale of Obolensky a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters, such as Geoffrey Bell, Obolensky's headmaster, who was fond of making the boys take a naked cold dip in the outdoor pool every morning; or WTS Stallybrass, a sozzled Brasenose don who died falling off a train on his way back from dinner, after mistaking the carriage door for the lavatory * The Times *'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' * The Rugby Paper *The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time * John Aizlewood, i news *Compelling * Gavin Mairs, Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisGolfing legend Ben Hogan went to his grave believing he had won a record five US Open titles. The USGA says otherwise, and the controversy has endured for over 75 years. In 1942, the United States Golf Association (USGA) cancelled its four golf tournaments for the duration of World War II. But then it did something different in only that year—it sponsored the Hale-America National Open on the same weekend as the cancelled US Open. The great Ben Hogan won that tournament and went to his grave believing he had therefore won a record five US Open titles. In The Open Question, Peter May turns his attention to this controversial, colorful Hale-America National Open of 1942. While providing an in-depth look at the tournament itself, May champions Hogan’s claim to five US Open titles and debunks some questionable assertions that the tournament was not worthy of a US Open. Set against the backdrop of World War II, May also tells the stories of other professional golfers in the tournament and the impact of the war on all their lives. The USGA has never recognized the Hale-America Tournament as an official US Open and remains firm in its stance. It was a decision that bothered Ben Hogan for the rest of his life. The Open Question shows how dominant Ben Hogan was against some of the biggest names in golf, and reveals why he deserves to be recognized as a five-time US Open winner.Table of ContentsProloguePrefacePart One – Eleven Months Chapter 1: May 1941-January 1942: The USGA Giveth and the USGA Taketh AwayChapter 2: April-June 1942: Augusta, Seaview and East Lake Part Two – Four DaysChapter 3: The Hale-America Round One, June 18: Ridgemoor and Mr. IcicleChapter 4: The Hale-America Round Two, June 19: Mr. 62Chapter 5: The Hale-America Round Three, June 20: Good Times JimmyChapter 6: The Hale-America Round Four, June 21: Ben and Bobby One Last TimePart Three – Controversy and AftermathChapter 7: Controversy: When Is a US Open Not a US Open?Chapter 8: October 1945 to August 1946: The End of Hostilities and the Return of the US OpenChapter 9: The Back Nine: The Foursome on the Back Nine of LifeEpilogue: Preserving the Legacy: The Hoganistas

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Book SynopsisIn celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, this book honors the life of Effa Manley, the trailblazing female co-owner of baseball’s Newark Eagles. The first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, there was no one like Effa Manley in the sports world of the 1930s and 1940s. She was a sophisticated woman who owned a baseball team. She never shrank from going head to head with men, who dominated the ranks of sports executives. That her life story remained unchronicled for so long can only be attributed to one thing: her team, the Newark Eagles, belonged to the Negro Leagues.In Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles, Negro Leagues Centennial Edition, James Overmyer brings to light new details regarding Effa Manley’s fascinating story, including previously-unknown information about her childhood and family. Overmyer wonderfully portrays Effa Manley’s trailblazing life, her championship baseball team, and a thriving black community in Newark that took the Eagles into their hearts. In addition, this book contains updates regarding the Negro Leagues, its talented rank of players, and Manley’s induction into the Hall of Fame.This important work shines the spotlight on a previously unsung segment of baseball history. Drawing extensively from Eagle team records and Manley’s scrapbook, Queen of the Negro Leagues is the definitive biography of a groundbreaking female sports executive.

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Book SynopsisIn Whispers of the Gods, bestselling author Peter Golenbock brings to life baseball greats from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s through timeless stories told straight from the players themselves. Like the enduring classic The Glory of Their Times, this book features the reminiscences of baseball legends, pulled from hundreds of hours of taped interviews with the author. Roy Campanella talks about life in the Negro Leagues before coming up to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ted Williams recounts why he believes Shoeless Joe Jackson belongs in the Hall of Fame. Tom Sturdivant provides vivid memories of Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, and other Yankee icons. Other voices include Phil Rizzuto, Jim Bouton, Monte Irvin, Stan Musial, Ron Santo, Rex Barney, Ellis Clary, Roger Maris, Ed Froelich, Marty Marion, Jim Brosnan, Gene Conley, and Kirby Higbe.The players interviewed were All-Stars, Hall of Famers, and heroes to many, and their impact on the national pastime is still seen to this day. Baseball history comes alive through the stories shared in Whispers of the Gods, offering a fascinating account of the golden age of baseball. Table of ContentsForeword, by John ThornPrefaceChapter 1: Jim BoutonChapter 2: Ed FroelichChapter 3: Marty MarionChapter 4: Rex BarneyChapter 5: Stan MusialChapter 6: Tom SturdivantChapter 7: Jim BrosnanChapter 8: Ted WilliamsChapter 9: Gene ConleyChapter 10: Kirby HigbeChapter 11: Phil RizzutoChapter 12: Ron SantoChapter 13: Ellis ClaryChapter 14: Roy CampanellaChapter 15: Roger MarisChapter 16: Monte IrvinChapter 17: Jim BoutonAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisA lively chronicle of how the 2020 Crimson Tide became Nick Saban's "ultimate team."Was Alabama's Crimson Tide in 2020 the greatest team of all time? The squad went 13-0 in a pandemic year, scored a combined 107 points against SEC powerhouses LSU and Florida, crushed Ohio State in a National Championship Game 52-24 in a contest that wasn't even that close, and followed it up with another top-rated signing class.Nick Saban called his boys the "ultimate team," but it wasn't just because they kicked the ever-living hell out of everyone on the football field. It was because the team leveraged a power and influence born of Southern pride to push back against a hateful legacy of racism that a populist president was exploiting to divide the nation. At a time when Americans needed real leaders in the face of so much hate, the sports world answered the call and fought back for the soul of the country.In the summer of 2020, the Tide players left their training facility and, led by their celebrated coach, marched to a campus doorway made infamous sixty years earlier by another political demagogue and showed what people can accomplish when they fight together for a just cause in the name of unity. The most powerful force in a state crazy for college football had chosen to make a stand and replace George Wallace's "Segregation forever!" with a different message, written by one of the players: "All lives can't matter until Black lives matter."?There have been some great football teams through the years, and they all deserve respect. But here's what we know for sure: They all would have been appreciative of what this Alabama team represented, and proud of what it accomplished. The Crimson Tide in 2020 captured something special that moved it beyond the conversation of best ever, and into the place reserved for most important of all time.

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Book SynopsisThe inside story of the Super Bowl champion 1986 Giants, the extraordinary friendships that resulted--and stunning revelations about the hardships they faced, based on new interviews with Bill Parcells, Phil Simms, Mark Bavaro, and Bill Belichick.The 1986 New York Giants are legendary. A championship team coached by Bill Parcells and his wunderkind assistant Bill Belichick, featuring future Hall of Famers and All-Pros like Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Mark Bavaro, and Harry Carson. They were dominant on the field and formed a unique and lasting bond off of it. More than thirty years later, it's the friendships that have proved more important--a matter of life and death.In Once a Giant, bestselling football writer Gary Myers tells the story of that team and what became of it. Gridiron glory eventually faded; chronic pain, addiction, and in some cases crimes have followed. Many football players face these harsh realities, but the Giants have confronted and survived them together.With unprecedented access, Myers dives into such issues as Mark Bavaro's battle with injuries, the breakup and reconciliation of Parcells and Belichick, and Lawrence Taylor's struggles with sobriety. He creates a never-before-seen portrait of the team's run to the title, and their even more challenging fight to live after it ended.

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Book Synopsis“The man revealed in these pages seems to embody so much of what Americans claim to admire - self-reliance, honesty, humor, modesty, intelligence - the stuff of heroes.” - The New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review“The man revealed in these pages seems to embody so much of what Americans claim to admire—self-reliance, honesty, humor, modesty, intelligence—the stuff of heroes.” —The New York Times Book Review

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Book Synopsis"Mike Keiser followed his instincts to build courses that speak to golf as a rugged adventure. Steve Goodwin's spirited book will speak to the golfing soul in you." —Lorne Rubenstein, columnist for The Globe and Mail (Canada) and author of A Season in Dornoch On a wild, windblown bluff high above the Pacific sits one of America’s premier golfing destinations, Bandon Dunes. Golf enthusiast Mike Keiser had the dream of building this British-style "links" course on a stretch of Oregon's rugged coast, and Dream Golf is the first all-inclusive account of how he turned his passion into a reality. Now, in this updated and expanded edition, golf writer Stephen Goodwin revisits Bandon Dunes and introduces readers to Keiser's latest effort there, a new course named Old Macdonald that will present golfers with a more rugged, untamed version of the game. This "new" approach to the sport is, in fact, a return to the game's origins, with a very deep bow to Charles Blair Macdonald (1856 –1939), the father of American golf course architecture and one of the founders of the U.S. Golf Association. This highly anticipated fourth course, designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Doak along with Jim Urbina — as detailed in Dream Golf — will further enhance Bandon Dunes' reputation as a place where golf really does seem to capture the ancient magic of the game.

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Book SynopsisIn between his romances with baseball, in early 1969 Bill Veeck took up the challenge of managing Boston's semi–moribund Suffolk Downs racetrack. "Being of sound mind and in reasonable possession of my faculties," Veeck wrote, "I marshaled my forces, at the tender age of fifty–four, and marched upon the city of Boston, Massachusetts, like a latter–day Ben Franklin, to seek my fame and fortune as the operator of a racetrack. Two years later, fortune having taken one look at my weathered features and shaken its hoary locks, I retreated, smiling gamely." When he took over the track, Veeck had yet to learn that the normal daily output of some sixteen hundred horses (including straw) would amount to so much, or be so hard to dispose of. But that was the least of his problems. In the tough–minded and Tabasco–tongued prose that is his trademark, Veeck recalls the battles he won and lost, the fun he had, and what he discovered about horse racing at "Sufferin' Downs." It's a zesty, complicated story but a relentlessly fascinating one about the inside workings of one of the most popular sports in America.

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Book SynopsisIn an autobiography marked by staggering vulnerability, former NBA star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf–whose given name was Chris Jackson before converting to Islam and changing it in 1991–recounts the twists, turns, trials, and triumphs of his life. He is perhaps most well-known for being exiled from the league for praying—instead of standing and saluting the flag – during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before games throughout the 1995–96 season. Abdul-Rauf’s protest sent shockwaves through the NBA that can still be felt today. With wit and candor, Abdul-Rauf tells the story of how he rose to the top of his game—only to have his career taken away in the blink of an eye when he stood up for his principles. He also recounts his experiences living with Tourette Syndrome, committing his life to the Islamic faith, and growing up estranged from his father.In the Blink of an Eye challenges readers to examine our own lives by asking what we value, how we want to be remembered, and how we can contribute to making the world a better place. Through evocative passages that place the reader in the heat of the moment as well as poignant portraits of the important people in his life, In the Blink of an Eyemust-read for anyone who has faced down adversity by standing up for the integrity of their own life, path, and identity. From his confrontations with racism—including the burning down of his house—to his difficult relationship with some of his closest family members, Adbul-Rauf reveals in intimate detail the important and inspirational, if painful, episodes that shaped his life.

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Book SynopsisA well-crafted and moving second memoir from a fine literary activist.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisCelebrate Patrice Bergeron's legend and legacy with this vibrant retrospective After 19 years, 1,294 games, 427 goals and over 1,000 points in a Bruins uniform, Patrice Bergeron announced in 2023 that he was ready to hang up his skates. The team captain and 2011 Stanley Cup champion had long since cemented his status as an icon in Boston hockey history. Bergeron’s unforgettable career is chronicled in this commemorative keepsake from The Boston Globe including dozens of full-color photos. Icon features 128 pages of award-winning reporting, vivid storytelling, and extensive coverage of Bergeron's achievements with the Boston Bruins.

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Book Synopsisn this newly updated biography, Jasper Rees uncovers the true story behind this deeply private man, having been granted unprecedented access to Wenger's friends and family, players and rivals.Trade ReviewFascinating * The Times *An enthralling and insightful account of this intensely private manThe best yet * The Mirror *One of the best insights into Wenger * Independent *Gripping * The Guardian *A good insight into how and why he became what he is today - as good as it is because it has been researched by obtaining unprecedented access to Wenger's circle of friends and colleagues * Arsenal World.co.uk *Enjoyable and informative. * ArsenalAmerica.com *

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Book SynopsisDavid 'The Hayemaker' Haye is the former WBA world heavyweight champion and the former undisputed (WBA, WBC and WBO) world cruiserweight champion. Haye is one of British boxing's most celebrated and successful ring champions of the modern era and has won twenty-three of twenty-five professional fights. He has twice been shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality of the Year and is now recognised as the face of British and world boxing. Haye was involved in the biggest heavyweight title clash for nearly a decade when he fought Wladimir Klitschko in July 2011, with the fight televised live in over 140 countries. Although Haye ultimately lost his belt, following a twelve-round points decision, his charismatic approach has reminded fight fans of a time when the heavyweight championship was the greatest prize in sport. This is the authorised story of how Haye reached this point, and details the ten-year rise of the boxer from a precocious World Amateur Champion. Crafted by close confidant Elliot Worsell, Making Haye offers behind-the-scenes, never-before-told insights into some of the most pivotal ring wars of David Haye's turbulent, and at times controversial, professional boxing career.Trade Review'A rare insider's view ... a fascinating story of a modern day fighter' Boxing News. * Boxing News *'A great read, beautifully written' Daily Telegraph. * Daily Telegraph *'Boxing's book of the year' Donald McRae. * Donald McRae *'Brilliant book ... the more I read the more I came to admire Haye' Evening Standard. * Evening Standard *'A perceptive, honest and engrossing books, from which both men emerge with credit' Independent. * Independent *'Excellent ... great tales told with insight and freshness' Observer. * Observer *'In Worsell, the fighter has been fortunate to find a sensitive and intelligent witness to his giddy rise' Donald McRae. * Donald McRae *'Worsell takes his readers on an illuminating ride with Haye from precocious beginnings to world championships' Daily Mail. * Daily Mail *Table of ContentsPrologue by David Haye. PART 1: Knockout Kings; Growing Pains; Jelly Babies; Nine Lives. PART 2: Big Balls; Blue Balls; Brain Damage. PART 3: Happy People; Eyes and Ears; Cat and Mouse; Kingpin. PART 4: Warm Up, Warm Down; Tres Bien, Monsieur; Two Pounds, Two Rounds; The Exorcist. PART 5: The Art of War (Lying); Bitten; Musical Massage. PART 6: Lambs and Wolves; The Handshake; Big Hands; Seasoned Veterans. PART 7: Toe Story I; Toe Story II. Epilogue. Acknowledgements. Index.

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