The Art of Winning in Sports
The Art of Winning in Sports" is a comprehensive guide for athletes wishing to take up a sport and excel at it. It covers different aspects of training, right from choosing a sport you are passionate about to various techniques being used in todays highly competitive environment. Topics such as visualization techniques, setting realistic goals, mental toughness, managing stress, benefits of positive thinking, and eating a balanced diet, have been extensively covered to give the reader in-depth knowledge on the subject. This book is a must-read for athletes wishing to improve their sporting skills and make an impact in the sport they have chosen.
Playoff Fever
Jackson Richard McCullen accepts the head coaching job at Scrub Oak High School, which has only won one football game in the last three seasons. Conrad Williamson, Jr., the superintendent, wants to run the football program instead of letting Jackson do his job and is determined to get rid of him after only one year. Conrad wanted to play college ball, but he would not play any position but running back, which is the same position he insists he wants his son, Trey, to continue to play at Scrub Oak. Trey wants to play defense, and Jackson gives him the chance against Conrad's wishes.With no money, no equipment, one assistant coach who is retiring, and one assistant coach who has never played a game, Jackson is determined to build a team his way. He gives every player a chance to play and recruits basketball players, soccer players, Hispanics, and African Americans to change the dynamics on the field. Jackson coaches football as he played in high school...with heart and soul and integrity. He doesn't see color, economic background, or history when he fields a team. He makes the players believe in themselves and find the extra "stuff" that makes the difference between a regular team and a winning team.Jackson reunites with his high school sweetheart, Tricia Burton, who happens to work for the law firm Conrad hires to try to get rid of Jackson.Jackson played both defense and offense in high school, and his coach always thought of him as Second String, so Jackson knows how fighting criticism and diversity every week can hurt a team. He is determined to never make his players feel that way as he guides them through the season one game at a time.Is it illogical to take a 1 and 9 team, tweak the players, find the best in each one, and coach them into the playoffs?Probably. But the Ocelots deserve more; the town craves more; and the people hope for more. Will Williamson defeat Jackson, or will Jackson turn the hopes of the Scrub Oak Ocelots into a craving for Playoff Fever?
Bladejob
How far would you go to reset the course of your life?After spending the last twenty-five years in prison, former professional wrestler "Bad Guy" Brian Hearns is willing to do anything for a second chance. Then he learns the truth about the dark circumstances that landed him behind bars, and an old acquaintance gives him the means to go back in time and set things right.But can she be trusted? And is resetting the last quarter century really as simple as cutting open his skin and contacting the same demonic agents who ruined his life to begin with?Bladejob is a novella of extreme horror and not intended for sensitive readers.
Fighting Jacob
Jacob Walters is everyone's favorite wingman. He's handsome, smart, has a to-die-for laugh, and supports his friends with an unimaginable amount of strength-strength he'll need by the truckload to break through Lola's protective shield.She's been burned in the past, so the last thing she wants is the attention of a man who's infamous for flash-in-the-pan relationships.Lola McIntosh won't win a popularity contest anytime soon. She's beautiful, brash, and has no qualms telling people how it is-especially the clingy neurotic men who can't take the hint that she isn't a "dating" type of girl.Thank God no amount of attitude will stop her from discovering how much in common two clashing personalities can have when they fight against the odds.Fighting Jacob is a heartfelt new adult read that proves the strongest relationships are forged from their differences not their similarities. It has steamy moments and a hidden message about the fighter in all of us. Scroll up to one-click this witty, strangers-to-lovers romance! This book has no cliffhangers and can be read as a standalone, but spoilers will occur for Saving Noah.
Sweeper
The cocky footballer next door has some serious game...luckily, Daphney Clarke knows how to play. Zander Williams is the hot new American determined to take European football by storm. His head is so big, it barely fits under his backwards hat. And when he's recruited to one of the biggest up and coming clubs in London, he's certain to make his name known. Managing the building where they live is only one of Daphney's many jobs. It's why she has zero patience for the obnoxious American on the other side of the wall who makes the most ungodly noises and likes to answer his door in nothing but a pink tea towel. Tensions build and after one steamy hallway kiss, neighbor wars quickly shifts into neighbors-with-benefits and that's a battle they both intend to win. But Daphney doesn't know the real reason Zander is in London and now she's stuck in the middle of a game she didn't even know she was playing. Sweeper is a 120,000 word full length sports romance that is set in the Harris Brothers world but can be read as a standalone.
Bright, Broken Things
Early praise for Bright, Broken Things: "Linda Shantz is an expert on the Canadian Thoroughbred racing scene and writes about Thoroughbreds and the people that work with them in a way that is genuine, and full of vivid detail."- BookBub review."Love, love, loved it! Couldn't put it down." - BookBub review."The writing is vivid and brings the settings and characters to life on the page."- early reader.Welcome to Triple Stripe Stables, a farm in the heart of Canadian Thoroughbred horse country...He's racing cross-country, looking for a safe place to land.She's dreading a future that was never her choice.They both want the same thing: to leave the past behind.September means school, but this year, Nate's not going back. He's heading east, and while everyone at home thinks he's pursuing a career as a jockey, he's really just running away.After always being a student, he lands a job as a teacher - of young Thoroughbreds, starting yearlings on a small but classy farm in Ontario. It's the perfect place to hide, until a jockey's agent comes along promising to give him everything he thought he ever wanted. He'll have to choose between honouring his commitment to the farm and a fast track to the career of his dreams.Liv likes the new guy she hired to start the babies, but she kind of hates him too. He's doing what she wants to do herself - dropping out to chase a future on the front lines of horse racing. She wishes she could be content, accepting the path vet school has firmly set her on. But a filly named Claire has captured her heart and ignited her real passion: riding racehorses. Does everyone get to follow their heart?Meanwhile, a cherished mare on the farm carries a foal that will change both their lives and remind them... good things come to those who wait.Read the whole series!Bright, Broken Things (A Good Things Come Prequel)Good Things Come (Good Things Come Book 1)All The Little Things (Good Things Come Book 2)All Good Things (Good Things Come Book 3)This Good Thing (Good Things Come Book 4)Merry Little Things (Good Things Come Book 5)All The Best Things (Good Things Come Book 6)Horse of the Year (Good Things Come Book 7)Shiny Little Things (Good Things Come Book 8)
Hotfoot!
GERRY LARKIN (12) aspires to be a football star. His only problem: he stinks. His co-ordination is zip; he can't dribble, can't shoot, can't play defense. In short, he can't play. He's the lad that's always chosen last when teams are picked after school. And the team that gets him always considers it a handicap when forced to use Gerry, because Gerry invariably loses the game for them. That said, he does have a couple of friends who have much the same problem: guys and girls who love the sport but simply can't play.There's FRAN CURTAIN, keeper and team captain and the brains behind the team (if, indeed, any brains can be found); BIG JIMMY, a sloshing ton of lard who can steamroll over anyone on the field; the BRIGHT BROTHERS-ALMOST and NOT QUITE-twins who are definitely not the brightest of people; HAROLD SMITH, the small cowardly back who hates any kind of confrontation; and TOMMY REYNOLDS, whose Coke-bottle thick glasses spell disaster on the field when he loses them. This inept group of individuals come together to form The HotShots.The kids will play against just about anyone who will take them on. The result, of course, is embarrassing. Scores of 27-nil are not uncommon. Hotshot team members sliding into goalposts, taking out referees in blindside tackles, wiping out opposing parental visitors in "co-ordinated" offensive strikes are all par for the course. The result: they becomes the butt of the country.Until LUCKY LUCY (Beelzebub disguised as a talent scout) visits them. Lucky insists that with just a little of his special coaching, the Hotshots will become the most successful team in history. The cost: a lot of sweat and work, of course. And one more item: the souls of each of the team players. After a little hesitation, and despite protests from Gerry, the team signs Lucky's Temporary Contract. Little do they know that the end result will be an eternity of low-paid coal carrying in a hot little place due south.
The Football Hero
In 1967, in the small, wind-swept town of Penny out in West Texas, Bobby Hargrove's high school football career ended before it ever got off the ground. One year later, determined to try again, only one obstacle stands in his way-Head Coach Jack Stoner. Inspired by his best friend, Dilly, and a most unexpected admirer named Meg, Bobby anxiously awaits the chance to prove himself and guide the Pirates to victory. "Grab yourself a big ol' glass of sweet tea and sit back for an afternoon of enjoyable readin'. This book has it all: Hard-nosed football, heartfelt romance and enough laughs to fill a No. 2 washtub. If I had my druthers though, it'd be called, The Football Hero and His Best Bud Dilly. But that's just me." -Dilly Binzwanger, Age 70
Dave and Vee Basketball Bobcats Forever - Book 1
The Salceda family is from the Rio Grande Valley. The Salinas family is from Southwest Texas. They are migrant workers. The low-income families travel up to the Texas Panhandle searching for work in the hot farm fields.Dave Salceda meets Vee Salinas while chopping weeds in a field just outside of Dimmitt, Texas. These two boys have a passion for basketball and after the summer are excited to get back to their teams in the South.Legendary Coach Kenneth Clyde has lost all of his talented seniors after a Bobcat-state-championship run. He will need to rebuild. His assistant coach has quit on him and he can't hire anyone to join him - he's lost for options.Alicia Collins is struggling with her dysfunctional family and is in danger. When she meets Dave Salceda it doesn't start out well, however, Dave decides he wants to help her.Life throws unexpected situations to the two families from the South. Not by choice, the two freshman boys end up remaining in Dimmitt - they enroll at Dimmitt High School.Will the kids from the South help the Dimmitt Bobcats? Entering a new school, there are all sorts of fears facing a different culture mixed with some kids that have a problem with the new transfers.
Other People’s Horses (Alex & Alexander
Six horses and Saratoga. It's a young trainer's dream come true, and it's happening for Alex at last: Alexander is entrusting the farm's racing string to her while he heads Down Under to help run his sick brother's farm.But Saratoga isn't interested in Alex without Alexander. Unproven and decidedly female in a man's world, Alex finds herself the target of old-school racetrackers certain she married her way into training good horses. At the same time, her na簿ve assistant, Kerri, is far too interested in the less-than-scrupulous trainer who shares their barn.But running a racing stable doesn't leave much time for petty fights and stable rivalries. Horses need to be worked, races need to be run. And Alex has her eye on something besides the winner's circle: a funny-faced filly, a chestnut nobody with a spotty blaze and a decided lack of brakes. Saratoga thinks the filly has a screw loose. But Alex knows better.From training track gossip to tack-room confidentials, OTHER PEOPLE'S HORSES is the perfect stand-alone novel for fans of horses, equestrian sport, and horse racing -- or enjoy it alongside the companion novels in the Alex & Alexander Series. ★ Semi-Finalist, 2013 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award
Runaway Alex (Alex & Alexander
If you could escape the life your parents chose for you, would you do it?Horse racing isn't for nice girls like Alex. She's been told again and again: stick to horse shows, stick to riding lessons, stick to the relative safety of the suburban equestrian center where she has been a working student since grade school.But Alex can't shake the conviction that the Thoroughbred life is her destiny.When her unstable trainer cuts her off from horses, Alex finally has to obey her instinct to run away from the safe version of life. She heads to Ocala, where horse racing is king, with no plan and no leads on jobs. When she meets handsome, successful racehorse trainer Alexander White, she feels an instant connection with him. Could this be her dream come true?Falling for Alexander and learning to stay on young racehorses all at once: that's risky business. But it's a risk Alex is willing to take - until a storm of emotion threatens to founder her new life. Nothing at Alexander's gorgeous Thoroughbred farm is as simple as it seems, and she's not the only one lining up for Alexander's affection - or his horses.How many times will Alex obey her urge to run away when things get too real? And what happens to her dreams if she can't stay the course?Gallop headlong into a world of beauty, love, and risk with this stunning women's fiction novel!
Turning for Home (Alex & Alexander
Every racehorse must one day retire from the track, and for Tiger, that day has arrived. Alex isn't ready for Tiger's racing days to end, but planning his next career is quickly becoming the least of her problems. An animal rights group is accusing her of involvement in a horse-abuse scandal, and with death threats arriving daily, Alexander fears for her safety. Suddenly Tiger's not the only one heading back to the farm -- Alex is stuck at home, too, with strict orders to stay away from the racetrack.Both horse and rider would rather be racing than hacking around the farm. A Thoroughbred makeover event seems like the perfect distraction, but as the activists ramp up their protests, Alex realizes she's competing for more than just a blue ribbon. She's fighting for her own reputation. This horse show could make -- or break -- her future in horse racing.Part of the Alex & Alexander Horse Racing Series, you can enjoy this book as a stand-alone novel or as part of the full series. ★ Top 3 Finalist, 2015 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award
Dennis Loves Tennis
Dennis loves tennis. This book is an inspiring story about the value of hard work, determination, and perseverance. Dennis loves tennis, can tennis love him too?
Stone
Freedom in the Cage-Stone Joshua Michael Stone, the owner, operator of Phoenix Risen Gym, has helped more than a few miscreants in his day. He has always lived his life keeping most people at arm's length. Except, for the hodgepodge family he brought together at Phoenix Risen. Growing up, he didn't have a superb role model for what a family should be like, so he built his own. But what happens when the past comes knocking? Will he find what he always wanted on the other side of the door or just more trouble?
Flint
This is a Revised....2nd editionInterior has been changed. Cover & size has been slighly modified. Freedom in the Cage-Flint After experiencing a tragic loss, tech billionaire Flint Marshall was hurtling head-long down a path to self-destruction. One night during an altercation he was saved by the owner of a nearby gym. Stone challenges him to put his grief to more positive uses and join their group of elite MMA fighters. Jade had treated Flint the night he was beaten down, the ex-solider, turned trainer was tough as nails, but even she could be affected by the pain she saw reflected in Flint's eyes. When Flint joins the team and starts training for an upcoming fight, she cannot avoid the feelings he stirs inside of her. When a client throws a curveball and disrupts the normal easy-going vibe of the gym and puts people at risk. Will Jade and Flint find their way on the path of romance, or shake hands and come out swinging?
Brick
Freedom in the Cage-Brick When you were once on top of the world, but one act knocked you down.Do you bother to pick yourself up to fight for what once was yours? In the boxing world, all it takes is a hit, and your life can change. It takes a bigger man to pick up the pieces of a life nearly shattered. Can Brick mend what seems to be a troubled marriage? Shae, his wife, has stayed by his side, but will she give in to the advances of another up-and-coming boxer?
The BORO’s 37mins
SCRIPT OF ACCLAIMED BORO PLAY IS PUBLISHED. Middlesbrough playwright Alan Spence is now publishing the script and handbook for his acclaimed play, 'The BORO's 37mins' which celebrates the Boro's survival after coming close to the brink of disaster in 1986. The play, which features video clips from the time, covers the club, the community and the personal lives of the Boro fans as the fortunes of the football club mirror those of the wider Teesside area at a time of widespread unemployment and social problems. Originally performed at the 2010 Middlesbrough Literary Festival and again at Teesside University in 2011, the play invoked an emotional response from audiences and fans. Former Boro player Colin Cooper said at the performance, "That era was a special time and it's been great revisiting it. I thoroughly enjoyed it." The new book, due to be released by Sixth Element Publishing, includes background to the area and the club, the full script of the play itself, production notes and educational resources for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. Rob Nichols, editor of the Boro fanzine Fly Me To The Moon, said, "Exciting news. The original play leading to its cliff hanger 37 mins deadline, with all the passion, history, tradition, could make a fabulous 'must have' book." Lesley Firman added, "A thoroughly enjoyable book, both educational and fun. It is a complete package for anyone to put on the play and the 'additional' material provides a 'feel' of the play. It's a brilliant piece of work." Aimed at fans and families as well as schools and community theatre groups, Alan is looking forward to working with a new generation of Boro fans and inspiring them to know more about the heritage of the club and our area."It's been an amazing project to work on," he said. "The Middlesbrough 86 Project Partnership brought the play to life some years ago, and now the release of the play as a published script can bring those all important events to a new audience."The BORO's 37mins: what you get.32 scenes / 27 characters / 15 Pop classics / 9 Football Chants / 6 goals / 2 Halves / Just one team: The BORO!! "In short, I loved it. It really took me back home and brought back so many memories, some happy and some sad. I think you've captured perfectly what was going on back then and how Thatcher brought the area and its people to its knees. Watching the industrial heart being ripped away from a hard working community was heart-breaking as was the knowledge that we could no longer rely on getting a job locally when we finished school. I think you've got the Teesside, sarcastic humour perfectly. Cutting, dry, amusing and quick! Local people will love your play as they'll know all the places you mention eg - Binns, The Madison, Marton Country Club etc (I was half expecting you to mention The Dragonara Hotel - now that's showing my age!)". Francesca.
Steel
In the fight game, it is win or lose, but when there're lives on the line.Which side of the law will you end up on? For ex-con Bishop Steel, it was easy to get caught up in gang life. But when offered a second chance to get his act together, will his past come back to burn all the bridges he's built?Or will he be a Phoenix rising from the ashes, completely reborn? For Bronx, protecting his family is what he lives for, what he will fight for. But will he get more than he bargained for?
Health Sports & Nutrition
The book Health, Sports, and Nutrition is a comprehensive guide that covers various aspects of maintaining physical and mental well-being through healthy habits and practices. The book provides information on the principles of healthy eating, including recommendations for daily nutrient intake, the benefits of a balanced diet, and advice on how to make healthy food choices and explains the importance of regular physical activity and exercise, including guidelines for different types of exercise, such as cardio, strength training, and stretching.For those interested in sports, the book offers tips on how to improve athletic performance, including information on training, recovery, and injury prevention. The book explores the relationship between physical health and mental health, including information on stress management, mindfulness, and self-care practices. The book also covers the use of supplements and ergogenic aids, including information on their effectiveness, safety, and any potential side effects. Finally, the book provides information on various health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, along with recommendations for preventing and managing these conditions through healthy habits and practices.In essence, a book on Health, Sports, and Nutrition is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their physical and mental well-being through healthy habits and practices.
Inspiring Stories for Young Athletes
Are you ready to check the time on your watch? Guess what time it is? It's boy power hour!Join a cast of global, strong, and gutsy boys on a journey to become more empowered, not only in sports such as basketball, soccer, archery, hockey, or surfing ... but also in life, including friendships, family, and school.Just because you're shy, short, quiet, or different doesn't mean that you can't achieve your own unique dreams, whether you want to become a basketball champion like Kobe Bryant, or a soccer star like Cristiano Ronaldo, or a baseball big athlete like Fernando Tatis Jr, these sensational stories will teach you that all dreams are truly within your reach when you learn and apply life's essential character traits of champions.You'll read about brave and bold boys, just like you, who discover key life and sports lessons, such as teamwork, courage, inner strength, discipline, self-love, and mental toughness. Here are some of them: Ever since they were young, their peers would swear that their friendship was a match made in heaven. Even though they had different personalities, they understood each other perfectly. How will Felix and Jonah uncover boxing and life happiness as they, too, discover determination and how to excel by accepting others, and themselves, and working as a team?Are you ready to catch some wild waves in stunning Hawaii today and join Zain? An outgoing, confident, and skilled surfing star, his success story is closely related to the vital character trait of maintaining focus to concentrate fully on one objective. Follow Zain's brave surfing mindset as he attempts to find and ride the biggest wave in the world!The practical post-reading activities will also allow you to interact closely with these stories and concepts in creative, multidisciplinary, and engaging ways. You'll also greatly hone your geography skills as we travel to all seasons and diverse places.This Book Includes: 10 inspiring storiesThe practical post-reading activitiesExciting writing style: organized story structure and strong plotBeautiful and cute illustrationsAfter engaging in these inspirational stories, you'll score loads of points and new character traits to give you a big boost of confidence, the necessary social skills, a positive pep talk, a bold blast of motivation, and the key steps to think, act, transform, and excel like a hero!Ready, set, go for the goal!Feel free to re-read them and do the exercises to keep your skills sharp. Glow and go from east to west!
The Yawning Giant
Dave Allenson, a gruff security guard, is no fan of football, but he takes his job seriously. When, in the 1997 play-off against Iran, Peter Hore tries to tear down the net of the Iranian goal, Dave tackles him and prevents the vandalism - setting off a series of events in an alternate timeline of Australian football.In this alternative universe 'sliding-doors' narration, we follow a pivoted history where the results of the infamous game between Australia and Iran had gone differently.One tiny moment can change everything. Through the eyes of various players, associates, and others over the course of twenty years, this book traces the course of "what if".What would Australian football and the National Soccer League have looked like if things were different? It's just one version of how, if that moment had gone differently, things would be today.
Ruthless Devil
Onyx Santo.Cold-hearted, harsh, and a brutal adversary.They call him a Devil. I call him my nemesis.His designer suits, expensive shoes, flashy car, and cruel intelligence can't hide what he is underneath.Empty.He fooled me once, and I swore he'd never get a second chance.There is nothing he can do to redeem himself in my eyes.As my most hated rival, the only time he makes me smile is when I've bested him in the boardroom.But someone far worse is out to get me. Perhaps...even hurt me.The police have no leads, and I have no idea who it could be.I do know one man who doesn't play by the rules. One man who could protect me.I'd rather live in fear than ask for his help.*Ruthless Devil is a full-length stand-alone, billionaire, office, enemies-to-lovers romance that is intended for mature readers, and ends with an HEA. If you are not a fan of morally grey alphaholes, or heroines who aren't afraid to tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine, then you should keep scrolling.
Filled Potential
She's my lawyer. I'm on thin ice. Nothing can happen between us. Except...it already did. I moved home looking to rebuild my hockey career and my brother's connections laced up my transfer to the Pittsburgh Fury. How do I decide to celebrate? I hit the club and pick up the first hot woman I can find. She wanted a night of wild passion--no names, just heat. So I roll into my agent meeting on Monday to sign papers with the new lawyers and there she is. Working at my brother's firm. She says she'll get disbarred if we don't keep things professional. But Juniper is my dream woman. Smart, athletic, fierce...I'd spend eternity in the sin bin for her.We just can't get caught. This fling-to-forever hockey romance sparks so hot it will melt the ice.
Warrior Winning Plan
Step-By-Step Athletic Success! Problem: Dedicated athletes and coaches lack an innovative, step-by-step system for success. Solution: The Warrior Winning Plan is easy-to-read philosophy, principles, strategy and skills for insightful improvement, consistent high-level performance, intense competitiveness and fun. Four comprehensive steps train, equip, and prepare you to do what winning requires. The plan offers a unique, winning mental approach for executing your giftedness under pressure. Special features include motivational-tips, leadership, and character that promote team-building. Innovative, attacking systems for basketball, volleyball, and tennis are explained in clear details. Warrior-max Swing is a baseball/softball hitting system that 'connects' approach to success. 27 Reasons to Believe in the Fastball builds a solid foundation for successful pitching strategy. Basketball BEEFF Sharpshooter simplifies/unifies body positions for free throws and BIG shots. The Warrior Winning Plan is faith-based athletic philosophy inspired with relevant Bible verses.
Ankle Breaker
Back in college, Marty Brown coached a ragtag basketball team of inner-city sixth graders, who went from barely able to dribble a ball to earning a spot in the Nor-Cal Championship Tournament. But the joyful memory of that winning season is overshadowed by the dark reality of a murder case gone cold-until a familiar face appears on TV and dredges up memories of a season Marty will never forget. "I was on this case from the day it happened." The caption on the screen identified the man speaking as Detective Pete Willover. "We had a good idea who did it, but we couldn't prove it. We wouldn't be able to prove it . . . not for twenty-six years." Ankle Breaker is based on the true story of two dedicated men. The coach teaches his players about hard work, determination, friendship, and God's love, while the detective doggedly investigates and solves a decades-old murder. Through the power of teamwork and the advancements in DNA technology, both stories careen toward a shared conclusion. Bolstered by God's grace in a world that is often cruel and unpredictable, a group of kids who could have given up on life before they even got started discover surprising victories, uncommon friendships, and help with navigating challenges in their young lives.
Ralphie and the Bills
Join young Ralphie as he shows you around the best fan base in the world! Bills mafia mount up!
Jack’s Mettle
I never met Jack. I had heard the stories a thousand times and even held his medal in my own little hands. In my family, Jack Cooper was a legend, a mythical figure of epic proportions, who quietly led Barnsley to the 1912 FA Cup Championship.Born John Holloway, he was also the same scrapper who took on Millwall supporters, single-handedly battling the crowd who threw rubbish at him from the stands.That was Jack - a conundrum - both tough and tenacious while being a thoughtful, caring man who knew the importance of friends and family.Jack Cooper was a guiding ghost who haunted my life from early in my childhood. A phantom who helped this kid from Nottingham muddle through the muck and mire of having to grow up English in Canada, before emigrating to the United States.There were tears, anger, and laughter at almost every stage of my upbringing, yet the spectre of Jack Cooper and his championship medals loomed large in the background.Football (aka soccer), hockey, and other sports became metaphors for the daily battles against aggressive bullies, unaware teachers, and my undiagnosed dyslexia. Those games and that competition lit a fire under my competitive spirit and Jack's ghost was always there, fanning the flames.However, this is less of a story about my life, but a story of how the legacy and legend of those that have gone before us can make a lasting, positive impact on our lives.Through Jack's great deeds, and the stories that surround him, I have been blessed with all the love and support I ever needed to carry on.This story is for everyone who has ever failed, fallen, or felt they didn't have the strength to get up again. This is the story of my family through the generations, illustrating how our lives are all interconnected and intertwined in layers upon layers over time. For, in the end, we all impact each other in so many different ways without ever really knowing.Ultimately, this is a tale about you, and me, and what we all can learn from Jack Cooper's indomitable spirit.This is the story of Jack's Mettle.
Lower Than Angels
In Austerity England, 1953, England have just won back 'The Ashes' from Australia after 19 years, but this is soon forgotten by the southern villages of Rotting Hill and West Rotting as they prepare for their annual cricket contest.The story follows the lives and loves of the villagers in the days preceding the contest, then the dramas and absurdities of the game itself as it descends into chaos, both during and after the match.In an England still ridden by class mores and dichotomies, the combatants meet on equal status on and off the field - snobs, vicars, barmaids, debs, trade union agitators, schoolmasters, dysfunctional artists and artisans, black-marketeers, minor aristocrats, bigots and traditionalists.There is a one-legged ex-naval commander, who still insists on captaining his team and opening the batting, whilst his alcoholic wife is having a steamy affair with the dashing ex-war hero vice-captain; an amorous vicar and warm-hearted barmaid. At the scorers' table, two women bitch at each other throughout the day, whilst an errant dog has a major influence on the outcome of the game.Just a jolly romp through the countryside of old England - the village cricket match.
Saved
As a combat veteran-turned-counselor, I wanted to save other veterans, not play a role in destroying innocent lives. In my defense, I didn't know the terrible secret hiding within the walls of my business. Battles, the gym I opened to combine physical and mental health, has been my sole focus for the last ten years. Opening a new location means I can't afford any distractions-certainly not from Leilani Moretti, my new employee who's as sharp as she is beautiful. It doesn't take her long to uncover the facts I missed, and that's when it all goes to hell. I just wish I would've listened before it was too late. Now all I can do is shield her from the fallout. But do to that, she needs to accept the truth: I'm the disaster. She can't save me.
Moving in Stereo
Wimbledon 1996, and tennis journeyman Richard Blanco is enjoying a late career run of success. He reaches the quarter finals, and, partially due to the possibility that he might beat his nemesis Boris Becker, his agent scores him a million-dollar endorsement deal. Unknown to anyone but his complicated psychologist, Blanco is hearing voices--again. Soon, his long-dead friend Luke Scream, former front man for a punk band, will start injecting insanity into Blanco's father-ravaged psyche. Over this chemically infused summer Blanco plays some mature tennis, yet makes dangerous choices, like getting tied to a hotel bed, and becoming the plaything of a shrewd, unstable businesswoman, whose presence he hides from his down-to-earth stripper girlfriend. Moving In Stereo hopscotches the circuit--London, Los Angeles, New York--but when Blanco returns to his home academy in Florida, he faces a penis-shrinking threat from a charismatic rookie, destined to steal his mojo, and spiraling his impulsiveness to new levels of absurdity. Fans of J. P. Dunleavy and David Foster Wallace will love this book and demand more from Tom Trondson. Tom Trondson uses his considerable first-hand knowledge of professional tennis-its history, psychology, mores, and endorsement deals-for this seriocomic bildungsroman. His protagonist, Richard Blanco, is an erratic also-ran of the pro circuit: capable of winning on Centre Court but more likely to flame out spectacularly. Trondson has given us a persuasive, compelling bad boy: a caddish libertine and a haunted searcher who might be careening towards some sort of enlightenment. A crosscourt winner. -Dylan Hicks, author of Amateurs and Boarded Windows
Mud and Thunder
Ed Roberts is a young, talented and ambitious midfielder playing for Northtown United, a club buried in the depths of the Football League. A new owner and manager transform its fortunes and steers it into the First Division. Roberts plays a pivotal role in that progress and goes on to represent England before becoming one of the first English footballers to play abroad. This is his warts-and-all story of what it was like to play at all levels - before the advent of the Premier League, the influx of foreign stars, the appearance of the super agent and vastly inflated salaries. He writes, candidly, about some of the men he played with and for, how he didn't always toe the club line, his failed international career and his off-field relationships. He broaches subjects such as racism, alcoholism, homosexuality and early player power. It all amounts to one of the most honest and compelling accounts yet written by a former footballer.
Game As They Make ’Em
Eustace Cockrell was a pioneer television writer who contributed to many of the early western shows including Have Gun Will Travel and Gunsmoke. He also wrote for such high-profile television programs as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Naked City.Prior to his Hollywood career Cockrell was a prolific writer of short stories. Over a 25-year period beginning in 1932, his works appeared regularly in pulp fiction magazines including Blue Book and Argosy and in "slicks" like Collier's and Saturday Evening Post.While Cockrell's short stories covered a broad range of fiction categories - detective, adventure, romance and even science fiction - he was primarily a writer of sports stories. Game As They Make 'Em is a collection of 22 sports tales written between 1934 and 1950. Featured are a variety of settings including football, baseball, wrestling, tennis, golf and horse racing. (Cockrell's boxing stories are contained in Vol. III of his collected works, Refugee Smith and Other Stories of the Ring, published by Mission Point Press in 2022.)
Stealing A Second Chance
10 out of 10 would recommend!The emotions the trauma and the love in this book are so deep and detailed I felt like they were my own with every page I felt all of the love the grief and the conflict of each character. This books tells a story like no other it's beautiful, inspirational and simply epic Goodreads Reviewer, CourtneyOne crack of the bat drove us apart...And it also binds us together-forever.The silence and rejection stings.But, at some point, I have to quit fighting for her-for us. WilsI've been pretending for so long, it's become normal.To the average person, I have it all...a multi-million-dollar contract to play baseball, four homes, and if I choose-my pick of any gorgeous woman on my arm. The only problem?The one woman I want-no, need-in my life completely erased me from her memory when we were only teens.I'd give everything up for a second chance with Kenni Davis, my best friend's little sister.A tragic event that should have brought the two of us closer together, ripped us at the seams. She blames me for all of it.KenniWhen a ghost from my past is traded to the Sarasota Sharks-where I'm the Public Relations Director-I'm hit with the realization that I cannot keep running from my past, no matter how desperately I want to. The moment our eyes meet, I know he still loves me...And I can't deny that I still love him, too. But betraying my brother isn't an option. It's been eight, long years since I've seen my soul mate. Wils thrusts himself back into my life and makes me second-guess everything. And honestly, I'm tired of running. Being near him again, after all this time, still brings me to my knees.The only question that remains is if I'll allow myself to get lost in Wilson Shepherd again.And if I do...Will we both get our hearts broken all over again?Excerpt: "Would you rewind time and choose not to love me?" I'm at a loss because I could never not love him. Then he asks, "Do you think that would have made a difference?" His mouth puckers against the top of my head. Our embrace is different from the one in my office. It's heartfelt. It's full of 'could have beens.' The room spins. The air around us pushes us together. I squeeze him tighter as I can no longer feel the hardwood floor beneath us. "I don't know." His mouth slips from the crown of my hair to my ear. "Tell me you would still choose to love me. Please tell me if you could rewind time, you would still choose to love me." His voice is faint and scratchy, like it is supposed to be an internal thought-not words meant for human consumption. Stealing A Second Chance is Book 1 in the Sarasota Sharks SeriesTropes: Brother's Best Friend, Forced Proximity, Virgin romanceStealing A Second Chance is an Emotional Contemporary Romance with Shots of Humor. Sarasota Sharks Series should be read in order. Although each couple has their own HEA in each book, you get to know the side characters in the previous book. This series is a built around a group of friends. Also available in KU: The Racing Hearts SeriesAlways With Me Book 1 (Brandon & Gracie) - Second Chance at first Love- Virgin romance - EmotionalLet Me Love You Book 2 (Ben & Mia) - Second Chance- Best Friends - Forced Proximity - Emotional (Trauma trigger but it's not explicit)Come On Baby Book 3 (Nic & Kaylee) - Insta-Lust/Love - Forced Proximity - Lots of twists and turns, Romantic Suspense
George Carr Football Star
A children's work of fiction about a young footballer who learns a lesson in life.
Jarrod Black Chasing Pack
Aussie footballer Jarrod Black's life in the English Football League is going well after his exciting adventures in Newcastle, but there's no time to get complacent. The opportunity to play Harlowe Croft in the long-running action movie series has arisen and with it the chance to relocate to Australia. At the same time, our man finds out that dangerous criminals are on the loose and looking for him. Jarrod sets off, ready to balance football and a new adventure, not knowing the danger - or the excitement - that might be waiting around the corner.
Send in the Clown
A groundbreaking look at golf legend Moe Norman, in a way never told before. Yes, Moe Norman did spend nights sleeping in sand traps or in his car, hitting golf balls off of coke bottles, and had an outward appearance that would make you stop in your tracks. But to those in the know, that wasn't what set him apart. No, it was his golf swing. The best ball-striker in the history of the sport they say. Too bad that during his day, it was everything else about him that people judged him on instead... SAMPLE REVIEWS: "I knew Moe well and had the pleasure of spending time with Moe in both Florida (Royal Oak) and Alberta (Belvedere Golf Club). SEND IN THE CLOWN is an incredible portrayal and the facts are extremely accurate. I could feel Moe's cadence and personality throughout the book. Fantastic job Andrew Stelmack. Moe would have loved it!!! "Garry Meyer, PGA of Canada, Class A Life Member, past PGA National Board Member "An enjoyable and captivating read. Finished the book quickly. Couldn't put it down. Well done." The Golf Podcast Live "Andrew Stelmack brings Moe Norman to life in a unique, stylized way. One of the best golf books of 2022." Alan Shipnuk, American Sportswriter and co-owner of Fire Pit Collective, previous senior writer at Sports Illustrated. "A bold undertaking to present Moe Norman's life in this way rather than a non-fiction biography. Works well at drawing the character of Moe Norman." Golf Monthly "A touching, poignant, fictionally based story based on the legendary and enigmatic Canadian golfer Moe Norman. Moe's story is well documented in biographies written by both Lorne Rubenstein and Tim O'Connor. But what Andrew Stelmack succeeds in doing in this book is to bring Moe Norman to life on the page enabling the reader to really feel the pain, sadness, struggles and rejection he faced throughout his life trying to fit the status quo (especially in the golf world at that time). Kudos to Andrew Stelmack for retelling Moe's story as we can all benefit from the message that being different can be a blessing, a gift, not a detriment." J. Lyons"Eleven stars out of ten! The inspirational book of the year! Right from the first pages I was gripped." J. England, Producer, Screenwriter, Editor Being born with a special gift is often something to be celebrated. But sometimes, unless you are willing to play by everyone else's rules and change the essence of who you are, the door to share your "special something" is more often than not slammed shut in your face, rather than held wide open for you to walk through. There is a price to pay. Moe was one of those kinds of people. And he paid the price. His love and passion for the game never wavered and one of the greatest players in the game was relegated to being a side-show note in history because of it. Until now. Come along for a wild ride of ups and downs, challenges and obstacles, victories and defeats, and learn about a man whose name should have been on your lips long ago, whether you are a golf fan or not. A book that will resonate strongly with anyone who has had to hide a part of their truth in the search for acceptance.
Sachsational!!!
Eddie Sachs gets out of his 1947 Ford. It shows lots of wear and tear. Sachs spots a trailer half way down the track and starts walking toward it. Four men are painting the grandstands in Turn Four with gray paint. Two extra fifty - five gallon barrels of gray paint have been placed by the cross-over walkway. Eddie asks directions to General Manager's office.
Sachsational!!!
Eddie Sachs gets out of his 1947 Ford. It shows lots of wear and tear. Sachs spots a trailer half way down the track and starts walking toward it. Four men are painting the grandstands in Turn Four with gray paint. Two extra fifty - five gallon barrels of gray paint have been placed by the cross-over walkway. Eddie asks directions to General Manager's office.
Too Many Men on the Ice
This coming-of-age story follows two fanatical Boston Bruins fans, Steve and Dan, across Canada to Alaska, chasing 1979 Stanley Cup dreams. Throughout their journey, these young men learn a lot about Canadian hospitality and the beautiful country that created the greatest game of all time: hockey. "A great story with a very easy reading style" Terry O'Reilly # 24
A Plausible Reason for Your Lousy Behavior
1962. Spring, summer, and fall. The bay area and the Sacramento Valley beyond.The Giants and the Dodgers go to the wire for the National League pennant and a chance to play the New York Yankees. Five years previous, their hated American League next-door neighbor.Salvage work and farming are dirty and "get poor quick" occupations. Jim, John, and Frenchy weather accidents, prop up their aspirations, and wreak revenge, heading into an uncertain winter.
Space Jelly
Space Jelly is a clever tale about the love for the game basketball that takes place in a fantasy, dreamworld setting. Read how the Mice single-handedly restores the love of basketball in a dueling match against a crew of make-believe characters.The last time we saw the Mice, they were on a journey to a climactic championship game. Space Jelly is a new journey for Mice fans to enjoy. Follow the epic basketball team on their latest adventure.
Lil’ Champ Plays Baseball
Lil' Champ book series follows Lil' Champ as he competes at different sports while learning life lessons. Such as, working and playing as a team. Competing to the best of your ability with sportsmanship by being respectful and having manners towards others. And last but least, have fun while doing it. Look for these other titles with Lil' Champ: Lil' Champ Plays Football Lil' Champ Plays Basketball Lil' Champ Plays Soccer Lil' Champ Plays Floor Hockey Lil' Champ Does Archery
Football -- Divinity and the Divine
Bar none, Football (Futbol in Spanish) is the greatest game ever played by earthlings and is the only major diplomatic force that can bring the world together. Since the subject and passion of futbol transcends Catholicism, Islam, and Hinduism combined, it deserves a layman's understanding to fully acknowledge the deity that is futbol. This book is about revering and understanding the beautiful game while still offering criticism. It covers history, rules, tactics, and the sordid influence of money in this most exalted sportIt also includes a preview of teams playing in World Cup - -2022 in Qatar and offers predictions of how countries will fare based on innovative analysis. We especially hope that gamblers everywhere will benefit from these unorthodox insights.
Shape of things to come
A phone call... some click... and everything changes.....
