Biography: sport Books

Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Globe-trotting golfer Tom Coyne has finally come home. And he’s ready to play all of it. After playing hundreds of courses overseas in the birthplace of golf,​ Coyne, the bestselling author of A Course Called Ireland and A Course Called Scotland, returns to his own birthplace and delivers a “heartfelt, rollicking ode to golf…[as he] describes playing golf in every state of the union, including Alaska: 295 courses, 5,182 holes, 1.7 million total yards” (The Wall Street Journal).In the span of one unforgettable year, Coyne crisscrosses the country in search of its greatest golf experience, playing every course to ever host a US Open, along with more than two hundred hidden gems and heavyweights, visiting all fifty states to find a better understanding of his home country and countrymen. Coyne’s journey begins where the US Open and US Amateur got their start, historic Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. As he travels from the oldest and most elite of links to the newest and most democratic, Coyne finagles his way onto coveted first tees (Shinnecock, Oakmont, Chicago GC) between rounds at off-the-map revelations, like ranch golf in Eastern Oregon and homemade golf in the Navajo Nation. He marvels at the golf miracle hidden in the sand hills of Nebraska and plays an unforgettable midnight game under bright sunshine on the summer solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska. More than just a tour of the best golf the United States has to offer, Coyne’s quest connects him with hundreds of American golfers, each from a different background but all with one thing in common: pride in welcoming Coyne to their course. Trading stories and swing tips with caddies, pros, and golf buddies for the day, Coyne adopts the wisdom of one of his hosts in Minnesota: the best courses are the ones you play with the best people. But, in the end, only one stop on Coyne’s journey can be ranked the Great American Golf Course. Throughout his travels, he invites golfers to debate and help shape his criteria for judging the quintessential American course. Should it be charmingly traditional or daringly experimental? An architectural showpiece or a natural wonder? Countless conversations and gut instinct lead him to seek out a course that feels bold and idealistic, welcoming yet imperfect, with a little revolutionary spirit and a damn good hot dog at the turn. He discovers his long-awaited answer in the most unlikely of places. Packed with fascinating tales from American golf history, comic road misadventures, illuminating insights into course design, and many a memorable round with local golfers and celebrity guests alike, A Course Called America is “a delightful, entertaining book even nongolfers can enjoy” (Kirkus Reviews).Trade Review“A heartfelt, rollicking ode to golf . . . Coyne describes playing golf in every state of the union, including Alaska: 295 courses, 5,182 holes, 1.7 million total yards. Along the way, he dives deep into the essence of the game—its joys, its agonies and addictions, its hold on golfers’ souls. But most of what you’ll remember after putting the book down are the people he encounters, in all their great American diversity and passion.” —John Paul Newport, The Wall Street Journal “A Course Called America is an unequivocal pleasure. Tom Coyne gives a fresh perspective on many places I've been, and I had to pause a number of times to relish the way he reflects on what he encounters—the people, the history, and the humor. Here is a soulful and thoroughly entertaining journey that will give people a sense of what golf means to so many of our friends who love the game.” —Ben Crenshaw, two-time Masters Champion “A Course Called America is a discovery of our country, our culture, our people and the diverse ways we come to the game of golf. As a golf course architect, I thought I would love the descriptions of the courses he discovered, and looked forward to finding out which would be crowned the Great American Golf Course. I quickly realized that the stars of this book are not the courses, but the people playing them. I became enthralled with the varied experiences of golf, the camaraderie, the matches. Tom Coyne is a wonderful storyteller, and the stories that unfold across this vast landscape called America—some laugh out loud funny, and some stirringly poignant—get to the soul of our game and the heart of our nation.” —Gil Hanse, renowned golf course architect “As Tom uses his gift for storytelling to chronicle his journey through some of America’s best golf courses, you’ll find yourself remembering why you first fell in love with the game. A Course Called America is a beautifully woven together story that is somehow hilarious and moving all at once, and paints a vivid picture of all that golf in America has to offer.” —Stacy Lewis, two-time major champion “In A Course Called America, Tom Coyne sets out to discover what makes a great American golf course. Well, I'll tell you what makes a great American golf book—Coyne, an ambitious itinerary, and his eye for what's special on and off the course. This result is exceptional—a big, sweeping adventure, as endearing as it is sprawling, and a fitting tribute to American golf.” —Phil Landes, aka "Big Randy" from No Laying Up “This book is one for the ages . . . May be the best of [Coyne’s books] . . . While Coyne searches for the perfect American golf course, what he actually discovers is how golf can build a bridge of harmony between people of different races, religions, and cultures.” —Les Schupak, The Met Golfer "Besides oozing with rich golf history and lore, Coyne’s heartfelt anecdotes about people he meets and the joys of companionship are appealing. . . . This is a delightful, entertaining book even nongolfers can enjoy." —Kirkus Reviews “An entertaining blend of travelogue, memoir, and sports writing . . . Golf nuts will be tantalized by the glimpses of America’s premier courses, while those looking to book an epic post-pandemic golf trip will find plenty of inspiration.” —Publishers WeeklyPRAISE FOR A COURSE CALLED SCOTLAND: “One of the best golf books this century.” —Golf Digest “Tom Coyne has a knack for setting impossible tasks for himself. . . . Mr. Coyne is back at it again with A Course Called Scotland. This time he avails himself of cars, planes, and ferries, but the task he sets is no less preposterous: to play 107 courses in 56 days. . . . Readers who enjoyed Mr. Coyne’s rollicking Irish book will be interested to learn how their fearless travel guide has fared in the intervening years. . . . There’s no less wit in the writing—British weather forecasts, he concludes, are ‘as useful as ashtrays on motorbikes’—and almost as many well-rendered characters, both locals he meets and friends and readers who join him along the way. . . . All the famous courses are here: St. Andrews, Dornoch, Turnberry, Carnoustie. But even seasoned golf travelers will be unfamiliar with many of the courses Mr. Coyne finds. He tees it up where nature carved holes that no architect would dream of, where 12 holes instead of 18 suit the members just fine, and where munching sheep, not mowers, keep the fairway grass short. Does he discover the secret to the game? He finds several, including, most practically, ‘never, ever give up.’ ” —John Paul Newport, The Wall Street Journal “They said it couldn’t be done—that he’d never be able to top Ireland. But with Scotland, he did it. Damn you, Tom Coyne!” —Michael Bamberger, author of Men in Green “A fast-moving, insightful, often funny travelogue encompassing the width of much of the British Isles . . . One of the reasons A Course Called Scotland works so well is because Coyne extended an offhanded invitation to listeners of a radio show to join him in Scotland. . . . The eclectic cast of characters who pop up throughout the story underscore the deep connections forged through travel.” —Golfweek “Coyne has a wonderful way of making the reader feel a part of the quest. You experience his trials and tribulations as well as the sense of wonder and awe that comes with playing golf in Scotland.” —Chicago Tribune “There is a purity in the Scots’ game that isn’t about manicured greens or a ball’s ‘spin rate.’ Coyne admires their ‘homemade’ swings that merely focus on getting the golf ball around the course and in the hole. He becomes convinced that perfection is an illusion, though a powerful one. He slowly accepts his limitations, one day at a time, swing after swing.” —Bloomberg “Tom Coyne’s much-anticipated follow-up to his fun book A Course Called Ireland lived up to my high expectations. Who wouldn’t be jealous of Coyne’s adventures getting to play every links in Scotland? He mixes well his commentary on the courses with the historical significance of each place he visits. This is a must-read.” —Golf Advisor “The author entertains us with accounts of foul weather, fair friends (one of whom got hit in the face with a drive), and astonishing courses, some dating back centuries. . . . Golfers and golf-o-philes will gobble this down.” —Kirkus Reviews “In this witty and charming follow-up to A Course Called Ireland, Coyne continues living a golfer’s dream by playing every links course in Scotland, golf’s birthplace. . . . Enthusiasts will revel in Coyne’s eloquent narration of his course-by-course adventures, while casual fans might be tempted to pick up their clubs a little more often.” —Publishers Weekly “Fighting through physical exhaustion, self-doubt, homesickness and spates of nasty weather, Coyne knocks out 111 full or partial rounds on 107 courses, sometimes three rounds a day, in his search for the ‘secret’ of great golf. It’s no secret that his passion for the game (and life) shows through on every page, and we get to follow his every step through modern golf’s birthplace.” —Golf Tips Magazine “News of a new tale by Tom Coyne is always reason to celebrate—assuming you love golf, irresistible storytelling, a cast of colorful characters and a poignant journey through the birthplace of the game. Lots of us share Tom’s Mitty-dream of running away to the great links lands and the lesser known coastal gems of Scotland. But he’s masterfully accomplished the feat with his charming pilgrimage around the game’s Holy Land that unfolds as smoothly as a fine single malt. Coyne's trademark wit, humor, unerring ear for the locals, and deep knowledge of the game are on full display, rendering this a poetic journey you won’t soon forget.” —James Dodson, author of Final Rounds

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Book SynopsisFrom legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross, this candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of the WWE and the personal crises he weathered at the height of his career is “a must-read for wrestling fans” (Charleston Post Courier).If you’ve caught a televised wrestling match anytime in the past thirty years, you’ve probably heard Jim Ross’s throaty Oklahoma twang. The beloved longtime announcer of the WWE “has been a driving force behind a generation of wrestling fans” (Mark Cuban), and he’s not slowing down, having signed on as the announcer of the starry new wrestling venture All Elite Wrestling. In this follow-up to his bestselling memoir Slobberknocker, he dishes out about not only his long career, which includes nurturing global stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and John Cena, but also about his challenges of aging and disability, his split from collaborator Vince McMahon, and the sudden death of his beloved wife, Jan. The result is a gruff, endearing, and remarkably human-scale portrait, set against the larger than life backdrop of professional wrestling. Ross’s ascent in WWE mirrors the rise of professional wrestling itself from a DIY sideshow to a billion-dollar business. Under the Black Hat traces all the highs and lows of that wild ride, in which Jim served not only as on-air commentator, but talent manager, payroll master, and even occasional in-ring foil to threats like Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Undertaker. While his role brought him riches and exposure he had never dreamed of, he chafed against the strictures of a fickle corporate culture and what he saw as a narrow vision of what makes great wrestlers—and great story lines. When suddenly stricken with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis that makes it impossible to smile, he started down his greatest fear—being cast out of the announcing booth for good. Picking up where Slobberknocker left off and ending on the cusp of a new career in a reimagined industry, Under the Black Hat is the triumphant tale of a country boy who made it to the top, took a few knocks, and stuck around—just where his fans like him. Not only being one of the greatest wrestlers of the WWE, Ross is also “a master storyteller, and this book is the perfect forum for his forty years’ worth of tales” (Chris Jericho, former WWE champion).Trade Review“I realized very quickly at the beginning of my WWE career that if I was going to be successful, I needed a conduit between me and the global audience watching from home. That conduit was Jim Ross. Proud to say we reached that global audience in a very big way." —Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson“Jim Ross is not only the greatest wrestling play-by-play man ever, he's the architect behing the greatest roster in WWE history. He's also a master storyteller, and this book is the perfect forum for his forty years' worth of tales. So put on your black hat and get ready for an amazing read that's anything but 'bowling-shoe ugly'!" —Chris Jericho, former WWE champion, Inaugural AEW champion, and New York Times bestselling author“JR is a legend on and off the screen. He has been a driving force behind a big generation of wrestling fans, and has helped to grow one of the greatest media marketing forces in history—and that's just the tip of the iceberg. His ability to connect with some of the most powerful entertainers of our time is unparalled. Any book from JR will be a must-read." —Mark Cuban"[A] must-read for wrestling fans....Ross is most compelling when he reveals his vulnerability and explores the caverns of his psyche and his heart, detailing how both were tested in his turbulent years working for McMahon and in the wake of his late wife Jan’s death....A master storyteller at the broadcast table, Ross takes the reader on an entertaining ride in this fun memoir." —Josh Needelman, Charleston Post and Courier“[Under the Black Hat] is a candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of WWE and that personal crises he weathered.” Jim Varsallone, MiamiHerald.com“Jim Ross’ latest autobiography is available now in print and digital formats and it is a fantastic read about the latter half of his career and some of the personal adversities he overcame. A follow-up to his bestselling memoir Slobberknocker, he talks about his career in the wrestling business, getting older, leaving WWE and the sudden death of his wife, Jan.” —Wrestle Zone, Mandatory.com"I literally read Jim Ross’ Under the Black Hat over the course of one day, and just two sittings. I even kept putting off much-needed restroom breaks so I could keep turning the pages. I found myself thinking “just one more chapter,” chapter after chapter… It’s an excellent book, and well worth your time. I definitely put it up there among the best memoirs in the business. —Mick Foley, NYT Bestselling Author and Legendary Pro Wrestler"Paul O'Brien is one of the best wrestling minds out there, and a truly gifted writer. I knew he and the legendary JR would deliver a book full of humour, pain and triumph. I was not wrong. Loved it.” —Former WWE World Champion “The Man” Becky Lynch“A cursory glance at the television broadcasting industry shows that Ross is an anomaly. On-air roles are for the young and glamorous, and the elder statesmen are typically ushered out and replaced with their younger counterparts. Ross has persisted and endured, a touch of the past that fits seamlessly into the present” —Justin Barrasso, Sports Illustrated

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Book SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A SELECTION ON BARACK OBAMA'S SUMMER READING LIST The definitive history of the 1990s New York Knicks, illustrating how Pat Riley, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason resurrected the iconic franchise through oppressive physicality and unmatched grit.For nearly an entire generation, the New York Knicks have been a laughingstock franchise. Since 2001, they've spent more money, lost more games, and won fewer playoff series than any other NBA team. But during the preceding era, the Big Apple had a club it was madly in love withone that earned respect not only by winning, but through brute force. The Knicks were always looking for fights, often at the encouragement of Pat Riley. They fought opposing players. They fought each other. Hell, they even occasionally fought their own coaches. The NBA didn't take kindly to their fighting spirit. Within two years, league officials moved to alter several rules to stop New York from turning its basketball games into bloody mudwrestling matches. Nevertheless, as the 1990s progressed, the Knicks endeared themselves to millions of fans; not for how much they won, but for their colorful cast of characters and their hardworking mentality. Now, through his original reporting and interviews with more than two hundred people, author Chris Herring delves into the origin, evolution, and eventual demise of the iconic club. He takes us inside the locker room, executive boardrooms, and onto the court for the key moments that lifted the club to new heights, and the ones that threatened to send everything crashing down in spectacular fashion. Blood in the Garden is a portrait filled with eye-opening details that have never been shared before, revealing the full story of the franchise in the midst of the NBA's golden era. And rest assured, no punches will be pulled. Which is just how those rough-and-tumble Knicks would like it.

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Book Synopsis“A compelling rumination by a baseball icon and a tragic hero.” —Sports Illustrated The lost memoir from baseball icon Lou Gehrig—a sensational discovery, published for the first time as a book.At the tender age of twenty-four, Lou Gehrig decided to tell the remarkable story of his life and career. He was one of the most famous athletes in the country, in the midst of a record-breaking season with the legendary 1927 World Series-winning Yankees. In an effort to grow Lou’s star, pioneering sports agent Christy Walsh arranged for Lou’s tale of baseball greatness to syndicate in newspapers across the country. Until now, those columns were largely forgotten and lost to history. Lou comes alive in this inspiring memoir. It is a heartfelt rags-to-riches tale about a dirt poor kid from New York who became one of the most revered baseball players of all time. Fourteen years after his account, Lou would tragically die from ALS, a neuromuscular disorder now known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. His poignant autobiography is followed by an insightful biographical essay by historian Alan D. Gaff. Here is Lou—Hall of Famer, All Star, and MVP—back at bat.Trade Review"Alan Gaff’s slim but distinctive contribution to the Gehrig syllabus shifts our attention to the Hall of Famer’s improbable rise—in its way, every bit as inspiring as the courage he demonstrated later." —The Wall Street Journal "Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir is a genuine find. It provides insight into the baseball of that era, the tone of the times, and Gehrig himself. An interesting and at times endearing addition to the historical record.” —Bob Costas “A fitting tribute to an inspiring baseball legend.” —Publishers Weekly "A simple gem for baseball fans.” —Kirkus Reviews "A compelling rumination by a baseball icon and a tragic hero." —Sports Illustrated "These long-lost columns serve both as a time capsule into a past era of baseball and a window into the life of an athlete who epitomized the American dream." —Christian Science Monitor “It is a special treat to add Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir, to the canon of such a profound American life. What a treasure to hear from Gehrig at the height of his powers, blissfully unaware of the hardship he would face. Gehrig offers fascinating first-hand insight into his life and the world of baseball in the 1920s, and Alan D. Gaff follows with a captivating essay giving readers the full scope of the man. This book is a must read for anyone interested in a fresh perspective from a true legend in his prime.” —Tyler Kepner, national baseball writer for The New York Times, bestselling author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches “Lost no more, Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir is a remarkable find—and brings the Iron Horse to life in a new, compelling way. Gehrig is one of the essential figures in American sport and this is an essential addition to his story.” —Jeremy Schaap, host of ESPN’s E:60 and Outside the Lines "Gehrig reveals a great deal about himself and his insecurities, both in his youth and in his years in professional baseball...The Yankee first baseman has very interesting observations and comments on his teammates and opponents...A delight to read." —New York Journal of Books "Gaff astutely crafts a biography to accompany Gehrig’s columns and focuses on details that parallel Gehrig’s generosity of spirit. Perhaps most movingly, Gaff revisits the Yankee great’s post-baseball career. Despite the ravages of ALS, Gehrig worked for the parole board, counseling young men who had taken a wrong turn in life. 'Even when he could barely sit in his office chair, he came to work everyday,' Gaff writes of Gehrig.” —Associated Press “Revealing insights into Gehrig's view of his role on the Yankees and his feelings about fame...Baseball fans with an interest in the game’s history will find much to enjoy here.” —Booklist “A new book that is an essential addition to [Lou Gehrig’s] story.” —ESPN Radio's The Sporting Life with Jeremy Schaap

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative, “must-read” (Keith Hernandez) biography of Hall of Fame pitching legend Tom Seaver, still the greatest player ever to wear a Mets jersey, by a journalist who knew him well.He was called Tom Terrific for a reason. Tom Seaver is “among the greatest pitchers of all time” (Bob Costas). He is one of only two pitchers with 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and an ERA under 3.00. He was a three-time Cy Young award winner, twelve-time All Star, and was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame with the highest percentage ever at the time. Popular among players and fans, Seaver was fiercely competitive but always put team success ahead of personal glory. Born in Fresno, California, Seaver signed with the New York Mets in 1967, leading them to their stunning 1969 World Series victory. After a legendarily lopsided trade, he joined the Cincinnati Reds, then later played for the White Sox and the Red Sox before ending his career following the 1986 season. After his playing days, Seaver retired back to California to establish a successful vineyard. The in 2013, a recurrence of Lyme disease severely affected his memory, which Madden was the first to report. In 2019, Seaver’s family announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and was withdrawing from public life. Tom Seaver died on August 31, 2021. Madden began following Seaver’s career in the 1980s. Seaver came to trust Madden so completely that, eager to return to New York from Chicago, he asked Madden to explore a possible trade to the Yankees which never materialized. Drawing in part on their long relationship, Madden “has crafted a biography as terrific as the subject” (Jane Leavy, New York Times bestselling author of Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy).Trade Review"A biography that bolsters Seaver’s reputation as a thinker on the mound, who won by outleveling hitters in their mental preparation." -- Oskar Garcia * New York Times Book Review *"Tom Seaver is among the greatest pitchers of all time. He is also one of the most thoughtful and perceptive athletes I have ever known. Sadly, this deeply interesting man is now unable to provide us with a memoir of his own. The closest we will ever come is found here, from the Hall of Fame baseball writer who was exceptionally close to Tom and chronicled his entire career. Bill Madden renders Tom Seaver’s story with the detail, insight and care it deserves." -- Bob Costas"A vivid portrait of one of modern baseball’s legendary players. . . . A fitting tribute to a great, memorable pitcher." * Kirkus Reviews *"New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden witnessed and chronicled it all—the misbegotten trade of The Franchise, the failure of the front office to ensure his place on the team after his return, and the cruel descent into dementia that forced him to withdraw from public life. Drawing on their longtime friendship and thirty hours of exclusive interviews with Seaver and his wife Nancy, Madden has crafted a biography as terrific as its subject." -- Jane Leavy, author of New York Times bestseller Sandy Koufax: a Lefty’s Legacy"I've known Bill Madden since my playing days in New York. Never was there a more straightforward writer on the New York beat. He brings all his knowledge and experience to the fore in this terrific book. Add in his special relationship with Tom Seaver and you have a must-read about one of the game's most intelligent and greatest players to ever put on a uniform. Bravo Bill!" -- Keith Hernandez"Bill Madden was the only person who could write this book of our dear friend Tom Terrific. Tom Seaver was Terrific. A Man's Man. Brilliant, funny. the best competitor I ever knew and my friend." -- Johnny Bench“This is the biography an icon like Seaver deserves.” -- Tom Verducci

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable story of the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals told by the Washington Post writer who followed the team most closely.By May 2019, the Washington Nationals—owners of baseball’s oldest roster—had one of the worst records in the majors and just a 1.5 percent chance of winning the World Series. Yet by blending an old-school brand of baseball with modern analytics, they managed to sneak into the playoffs and put together the most unlikely postseason run in baseball history. Not only did they beat the Houston Astros, the team with the best regular-season record, to claim the franchise’s first championship—they won all four games in Houston, making them the first club to ever win four road games in a World Series. “You have a great year, and you can run into a buzz saw,” Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg told Washington Post beat writer Jesse Dougherty after the team advanced to the World Series. “Maybe this year we’re the buzz saw.” Dougherty followed the Nationals more closely than any other writer in America, and in Buzz Saw he recounts the dramatic year in vivid detail, taking readers inside the dugout, the clubhouse, the front office, and ultimately the championship parade. Yet he does something more than provide a riveting retelling of the season: he makes the case that while there is indisputable value to Moneyball-style metrics, baseball isn’t just a numbers game. Intangibles like team chemistry, veteran experience, and childlike joy are equally essential to winning. Certainly, no team seemed to have more fun than the Nationals, who adopted the kids’ song “Baby Shark” as their anthem and regularly broke into dugout dance parties. Buzz Saw is just as lively and rollicking—a fitting tribute to one of the most exciting, inspiring teams to ever take the field.

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Book SynopsisFrom the breakout star of Netflix’s Cheer, this motivational guide “will inspire you to aim high and succeed no matter what ‘getting on mat’ means in your life” (Gabi Butler, two-time national cheerleading champion and star of Cheer).In Full Out, “the Bill Belichick of cheerleading” (The Cut) Coach Monica Aldama shares how she built one of the most successful and beloved cheerleading programs in the country. Her uncompromising brand of discipline and consistency goes far beyond the mat—showing how the principles of building a winning team apply to personal goals, the corporate world, parenting, and all aspects of life. There’s a lot of talk these days about shortcuts and life hacks, but what really counts is commitment and integrity, helping your friends, and improving with your teammates. Coach Monica shares deeply personal stories of triumph and tragedy—from divorce and remarriage to her husband, her challenges as a young mother working more than full time, and her strenuous weeks on Dancing with the Stars. She shares surprising behind-the-scenes moments from the Cheer docuseries, and insights gleaned from more than two decades of pushing students to succeed. A true force and inspiration who has captured hearts around the world, Coach Monica “delivers the kind of down-to-earth advice we need to be fearless, make excellence a habit, and to bet on ourselves” (Whitney Cummings, comedian and author of I’m Fine… And Other Lies).

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Book SynopsisFrom award-winning Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, an ';entertaining' (The Wall Street Journal) and nostalgia-filled retelling of the 1980s Boston Celtics' glory years, which featured the sublime play of NBA legend Larry Bird.Today the NBA is a vast global franchisea billion-dollar industry seen by millions of fans in the United States and abroad. But it wasn't always this successful. Before primetime ESPN coverage, lucrative branding deals like Air Jordans, and $40 million annual player salaries, there was the NBA of the 1970s and 1980swhen basketball was still an up-and-coming sport featuring old school beat reporters and players who wore Converse All-Stars. Enter Dan Shaughnessy, then the beat reporter for The Boston Globe who covered the Boston Celtics every day from 1982 to 1986. It was a time when reporters travelled with professional teamsflying the same commercial airlines, riding the same buses, and staying in the same hotels. Shaughnessy knew the athletes as real people, losing free throw bets to Larry Bird, being gifted cheap cigars by the iconic coach Red Auerbach, and having his one-year-old daughter Sarah passed from player to player on a flight from Logan to Detroit Metro. Drawing on unprecedented access and personal experiences that would not be possible for any reporter today, Shaughnessy takes us inside the legendary Larry Bird-led Celtics teams, capturing the camaraderie as they dominated the NBA. Fans can witness the cockiness of Larry Bird (who once walked into an All-Star Weekend locker room, announced that he was going to win the three-point contest, and did); the ageless athleticism of Robert Parish; the shooting skills of Kevin McHale; the fierce, self-sacrificing play of Bill Walton; and the playful humor of players like Danny Ainge, Cedric ';Cornbread' Maxwell, and M.L. Carr. For any fan who longs to returnfor just a few hoursto those magical years when the Boston Garden rocked and the winner's circle was mostly colored Boston Green, Wish It Lasted Forever is a masterful tribute to ';the Celtics from 19821986 [that] is so good even fervent Celtics haters will have trouble putting it down' (New York Post).

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Book SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In “one of the most important athlete memoirs of its generation” (Kate Fagan, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Olympian Kara Goucher reveals her experience of living through and speaking out about one of the biggest scandals in running.Kara Goucher grew up with Olympic dreams. She excelled at running from a young age and was offered a Nike sponsorship deal when she graduated from college. Then in 2004, she was invited to join a secretive, lavishly funded new team, dubbed the Nike Oregon Project. Coached by distance running legend Alberto Salazar, it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. Kara was soon winning a World Championship medal, going to the Olympics, and standing on the podium at the New York and Boston marathons, just like her coach had done. But behind the scenes, Salazar was hiding dark secrets. He pushed the limits of anti-doping rules and created what Kara experienced as a culture of abuse, the extent of which she reveals in her book for the first time. Meanwhile, Nike stood by Alberto for years and proved itself capable of shockingly misogynistic corporate practices. The Longest Race is an unforgettable story that is “as interesting as it is important” (Molly Huddle, two-time Olympian) and also a crucial call to action. Kara became a crusader for female athletes and a key witness helping to get Salazar banned from coaching at the Olympic level. The Longest Race will leave you “motivated, empowered, and ready to take on the world” (Allyson Felix, Olympic gold medalist) as it reveals how Kara broke through the fear of losing everything, bucked powerful forces to take control of her life and career, and reclaimed her love of running.

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Book SynopsisThe moving story of a bond between sportswriter and fan that grew over several decades into an extraordinary friendship.

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Book SynopsisLouis Pete Rogers Browning, the original Louisville Slugger for whom the famous baseball bat was named, was one of the greatest baseball players of the nineteenth century. Yet his prowess and talent were often overshadowed by his drunken exploits and endless eccentricitieson and off the field. Over his thirteen-year career he won three batting titles, finished in the top three nine times, and was one of the greatest hitters of the premodern era. To this day, his.341 lifetime batting average remains in the MLB's top five for right-handed hitters. He acquired other nicknames such as the Gladiator and Prince of Bourbon, and when Browning was stolen from Louisville by Pittsburgh recruiters, the team became known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. He attributed his great abilities to many quirky and colorful habits. He drank tabasco sauce and washed his eyes with buttermilk, claiming that both improved his ability to hit. He named his bats after biblical characters and meticulously took care of the

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Book SynopsisLouis Pete Rogers Browning, the original Louisville Slugger for whom the famous baseball bat was named, was one of the greatest baseball players of the nineteenth century. Yet his prowess and talent were often overshadowed by his drunken exploits and endless eccentricitieson and off the field. Over his thirteen-year career he won three batting titles, finished in the top three nine times, and was one of the greatest hitters of the premodern era. To this day, his.341 lifetime batting average remains in the MLB''s top five for right-handed hitters. He acquired other nicknames such as the Gladiator and Prince of Bourbon, and when Browning was stolen from Louisville by Pittsburgh recruiters, the team became known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. He attributed his great abilities to many quirky and colorful habits. He drank tabasco sauce and washed his eyes with buttermilk, claiming that both improved his ability to hit. He named his bats after biblical characters and meticulously took care of th

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Book SynopsisThe Big O by Patrick Skene is the story of Olsen Filipaina, a New Zealand Hall of Fame rugby league legend who was a pathfinder for the Maori and Pasifika players who today dominate the Australian National Rugby League.

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Book SynopsisThis could be a great work of fiction. The damndest thing is it's all fact. - Michael Farber, Sports IllustratedIt was a time of Prohibition, jazz, and gangland murder, and it was baseball's age of magic, when even Hall of Fame players believed that rubbing the hump of a hunchback guaranteed a hit.Broken and deformed by a childhood fall from a seesaw, Hughie McLoon never grew taller than forty-nine inches but he made himself one of the lucky ones. He was chosen as the batboy and mascot of the Philadelphia Athletics. Although the team finished last in each of the three seasons that the A's rubbed his hump and Hughie tended their bats, he became a local celebrity. He loved the crowds and they loved him back.Graduating from batboy to boxing manager, and running his own speakeasy while serving as a secret agent for the Chief of Police, Hughie was the toast of Philly until one summer night in 1928 he was caught in a murderous crossfire outside his tavern. Twenty-six years old, he bled to death on Cuthbert Street. The next day, 15,000 admirers lined up to see his four-foot corpse. The age of magic was now over.The Short Life of Hughie McLoon is Allen Abel's haunting and stylish biography of the most remarkable and beloved of the baseball mascots, and a new chapter in the complicated mythology of the American dream.

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Book SynopsisPublished by Lapwing Publishing ServicesOne wintry afternoon in 1943, a solitary airman lies injured and exhausted in an inflatable life raft. The debris of his Liberator bomber has disappeared beneath the waves of the Atlantic leaving behind a slick of black oil. He is the only survivor of a crew of eight. His name is Wing Commander Hugh ''Jumbo'' Edwards, one of the greatest oarsmen of all time.Eleven years earlier, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Hugh Edwards thrilled thousands with an astonishing two gold medals won in a single hour. On this winter afternoon, in the loneliness of the Atlantic and with darkness descending, he is now rowing to save his life.Water''s Gleaming Goldis the incredible true story of the most extraordinary oarsman, Olympian, pilot, war hero and legendary British rowing coach. This is the tale of a man of courage and conviction - on a pursuit to redemption from public humiliation.One hell of a story (Daniel James Brown, author of Boys in the Boat')A true Olympic and rowing hero, and a story that is both fascinating and truly dramatic (Dan Snow, Oxford Blue, Historian, Broadcaster)We modern oarsmen and women are sometimes asked to row as if our lives depended on it lt is only Jumbo Edwards from the British Olympic rowing family who had to do that literally (Sir Matthew Pinsent Olympian, Oxford Blue)

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Book SynopsisIvan Bukavshin, born in Rostov-on-Don in 1995, was a Russian chess prodigy. He was European U12, U14 and U16 champion and placed third in the world U16 championships among many other successes, gaining the Grandmaster title at just 16 years of age. Ivan finished third in the Aeroflot Open in 2015, behind Daniil Dubov and Ian Nepomniachtchi, where he put in a performance rating of 2803. Ivan achieved a series of 2700+ performances over 2013-2015. He tragically died in early 2016 at the age of 20.This book, by his friend and coach Grandmaster Jakov Geller, takes a detailed look at Ivan's life and career in 50 deeply annotated games and 14 fragments. Apart from Jakov, 20 other guest grandmasters annotate games in this book, including super GMs Dubov, Alexander Morozevich, Vladislav Artemiev, Vladimir Fedoseev, Maxim Matlakov, and Evgeny Alekseev. The list of Ivan's opponents in these games includes Peter Svidler, Alexander Morozevich, Vladimir Fedoseev, Ernesto Inkariev, Richard Rapport, and Dmitry Andreikin. This book will be of interest to active chess players seeking to improve their game, where they can learn from interesting opening novelties, spectacular attacking combinations and subtle endgame victories.

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