There's Always This Year
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A "powerful" (The Guardian) reflection on basketball, life, and home--from the author of the National Book Award finalist A Little Devil in America "Mesmerizing . . . not only the most original sports book I've ever read but one of the most moving books I've ever read, period."--Steve James, director of Hoop DreamsONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Vulture, Chicago Public Library, BookPage A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, Time, The Washington Post, NPR, The Boston Globe, The New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Book Riot, Electric LitGrowing up in Columbus, Ohio, in the 1990s, Hanif Abdurraqib witnessed a golden era of basketball, one in which legends like LeBron James were forged and countless others weren't. His lifelong love of the game leads Abdurraqib into a lyrical, historical, and emotionally rich exploration of what it means to make it, who we think deserves success, the tension between excellence and expectation, and the very notion of role models, all of which he expertly weaves together with intimate, personal storytelling. "Here is where I would like to tell you about the form on my father's jump shot," Abdurraqib writes. "The truth, though, is that I saw my father shoot a basketball only one time." There's Always This Year is a triumph, brimming with joy, pain, solidarity, comfort, outrage, and hope. No matter the subject of his keen focus--whether it's basketball, or music, or performance--Hanif Abdurraqib's exquisite writing is always poetry, always profound, and always a clarion call to radically reimagine how we think about our culture, our country, and ourselves. LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION AND THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD
Bunt!
Bill Baynes has written the most original baseball story since Field of Dreams. Bunt! is a taut tale of what happens when one new player tweaks one of the sport's oldest skills. A sharp-eyed rookie develops such precise bat control that he can bunt a baseball just about anywhere he wants it. He can hop it. Stop it. Even spin reverse-English on it. What happens? Insane infielders, angry pitchers, hysterical chanting fans and a surprising breakout into a late-season California League pennant race. ESPN sportscaster Mike Patrick says, "Anyone who loves baseball will love this book." Written plainly for young adults who may not read all that much, Bunt! is a crossover novel full of game action and brimming with baseball lore. A wily skipper, a by-the-rules coach, and a team of upward-bound hopefuls and downward-slipping veterans inherit a young unknown with game-changing abilities. The chill of autumn whispers beneath the roar of raucous fans as a season climaxes into a facedown between arch-rivals.
Let Me See What Happens If I...
Let Me See What Happens If I... helps you think like a shot maker. Think of each shot as a new day in life. It teaches you Distance Control=Spin + Velocity. The goal-where do you want the ball to stop rolling? Learn how to get your mind to manipulate and take control of the ball, then create a swing that will accomplish your goal (shot) and lower your scores. Most importantly, "Let Me See What Happens If I.." shows you how to overcome life's failures just as you would in sports. Golf- the Game Of Learning Failure, proves that you can overcome any difficult situation with the right approach and how to have fun no matter what level you are at.
Set Pieces in Soccer
In recent years, the systematic study of football has demonstrated the importance of set pieces, regardless of the level and gender of the participants or the tournament they are playing in, both for the goal scoring and the final result of the match. Despite their importance, there appears to be a gap in the contemporary football/soccer literature, which this book hopes to fill. It aims to take a holistic approach to the subject, providing scientific knowledge as well as the theoretical background that every football coach should possess regarding set pieces. Importantly, the book examines both the offensive and defensive function of the team in set pieces, while emphasis is also placed on preparation for the next stage, namely the offensive or defensive transition. At the same time, however, the book offers a large number of routines (drills) that coaches can incorporate into their training sessions to effectively prepare their players in practice. For a better understanding of these routines, the book is accompanied by animations that can be viewed on the mobile/tablet by scanning the QRCODE.
Swing Like a Pro
A leading biomechanics expert and a premier golf instructor share the secrets of the perfect swing using a breakthrough learning tool--for novice and advanced golfers alike. For seventeen years, CompuSport International's biomechanics expert Dr. Ralph Mann devoted himself to studying the swings of more than 100 PGA and LPGA Tour players to uncover the keys to a better game and a lower handicap. The results: the computer-generated composite Pro, which embodies the mechanical elements of the holy grail of the golf swing--efficient, effective, and now achievable. Illustrated with 175 animated 3-D stills of the Pro that pinpoint the exact motions of a body executing the perfect swing, Swing Like a Pro provides accurate, consistent information about how to play the game properly, breaking down the exact steps you can take to develop and refine your skills at performing every aspect of the shot. Mann teams up with renowned golf instructor Fred Griffin to examine and explain - Setup, including how to grip and align the club properly while finding the perfect balance for your body- The seven characteristics of a great backswing, with drills for improvement- How to achieve distance with accuracy through your downswing- How to put all these elements together with both timing and tempo- And much more! With its unique cutting-edge, scientific approach, and the expertise of its authors, Swing Like a Pro promises to be the best golf Pro you ever consulted to help you improve your swing and shave strokes off your handicap--and proves that there is such a thing as a perfect swing.
Buzzie and the Bull
Buzzie and the Bull chronicles a baseball year in the lives of two lifelong friends who couldn't be more different: Buzzie Bavasi, the legendary general manager of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, and Al "the Bull" Ferrara, bon vivant and bench player. Their 1965 baseball journey encompassed a thrilling pennant race settled on the final day of the season, a city engulfed in flames, a perfect game, and a GM who extolled his friend the Bull as a hero in May and then banished him from the team in July. Over seventeen years, Bavasi's teams won eight pennants and four World Series titles. His approach deserves review, and his friendship with Ferrara illustrates the ground on which he staked his baseball career. The summer of 1965 proved Bavasi's thesis that champions are built on players with one core characteristic: nerves of steel. A look at the partnership of a general manager who valued fearlessness above all else and a player who loved living on the edge, Buzzie and the Bull offers a counterpoint to today's focus on advanced statistical analysis that may be crowding out the important work of discovering a player's unique human qualities: the intangibles.
The Tennis Collection
One of the largest collections of tennis memorabilia including sneakers, hundreds of vintage rackets, rare tennis accessories, and tennis ensembles worn by the sport's most iconic players. From a sixteenth-century Italian book, the first to describe the game of tennis, to Arthur Ashe's 1979 competition racket, and Novak Djokovic's adidas tennis kit worn during his Wimbledon 2007 victory, this volume features over 150 pieces of extraordinary ephemera from the Museo de la Moda, alongside images of tennis superstars and seminal moments in tennis history. The trailblazing champion of adaptive tennis, Gustavo Fern獺ndez, takes readers through his selection of one-of-a-kind tennis pieces from the world-class fashion museum in Santiago, Chile. Featuring original interviews with Novak Djokovic, Guillermo Vilas, Gabriela Sabatini, and Roger Federer, The Tennis Collection is organized by themes such as sportswear, which features pieces like Bill Tilden's 1920s tennis sweater, to trendsetting tennis outfits worn by Virginia Wade, Chris Evert, Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios, and Venus Williams; sections on rackets from eighteenth-century wooden rackets to Roger Federer's 2006 "Ncode six-one tour 90" racket; as well as rare tennis accessories, artwork, and vintage tennis magazines. A rich survey the sports evolving style, fashion, and design, this volume is a must-have for lovers of the world of tennis.
Sox Bid Curse Farewell
In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in historic fashion. This book, published on the 20th anniversary of the 2004 championship, celebrates that team by collecting biographies all of the players on the roster alongside essays about that unprecedented postseason run and its ripples throughout New England. These biographies include everyone on the team, from the stars like David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Johnny Damon to a couple of guys who would later manage their own teams in the big leagues in Dave Roberts and Gabe Kapler, to the manager, Terry Francona, and his coaches.Seeing the team win the World Series for the first time in 86 years resonated throughout New England and "Red Sox Nation" beyond, tapping into the strong sentiments that people have rooting for the underdog. When Dan Shaughnessy wrote the book The Curse of The Bambino, the title resonated with every Red Sox fan. But the "curse" was reversed when the Red Sox avenged that and every other loss to the Yankees by becoming the first team to ever win a seven-game series after being down three games to none.Chicago Cubs and White Sox fans have had even longer waits, but only the Red Sox had so many excruciating last-minute losses along the way. We hope readers will enjoy the story of Kathryn Gemme, who finally saw her Red Sox win it all again, when she was 109 years old. Also in the book we include the memories of a few dozen fans and details of the first-of-its-kind "trophy tour" to all 351 towns in Massachusetts.This book began as a project of the Boston Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research, but grew to embrace the contributions of 68 different SABR members, including both Yankees and Cardinals fans. SABR's Digital Library has now passed 100 volumes, all created, researched, and written by SABR members.
2024 Minor League Analyst
The best resource for projecting future performance of minor league athletes--essential for fantasy league baseball players. The first book of its kind to fully integrate sabermetrics and scouting, the 2024 Minor League Baseball Analyst provides a distinctive brand of analysis for more than 1,000 minor league baseball players. Features include scouting reports for all players, batter skills ratings, pitch repertoires, performance trends, major league equivalents, and expected major league debuts. A complete sabermetric glossary is also included. This one-of-a-kind reference is ideally suited for baseball analysts and those who play in fantasy leagues with farm systems.
Managing the Show
Managing the Show is a revealing look and behind the scenes details of the responsibilities of Major League Baseball's general managers.Tune in to any MLB broadcast, radio, TV or streaming and you will hear broadcasters and reporters including "The Show," in their reporting.One of the side effects of the "Moneyball" era has been the glamorization (and, at times, charm, and obsession) of baseball's general manager position. Baseball general managers are the ones responsible for managing the show. Let's take a look inside that.We as fans think we know what to do and we think we know what is going through the head of an MLB general manager, but we really don't. We don't until now. Managing the Show - Inside the Daily Responsibilities of Major League Baseball's General Managers, opens up the world of baseball general management and pulls back the curtain of what really happens in baseball and inside the world of a baseball general manager.This book shares information on how baseball's general managers work to further develop their show. Just like armchair quarterbacks in football, we as true baseball fans put ourselves in the shoes of the team's general manager, at least in our own minds or in hot stove league conversations abound. Now it's time to get out of that armchair and see the real story.The book consists of stories and interviews with former and current baseball general managers at the Major League Baseball level.This book is written for the baseball fan.
Women’s Club Football in Brazil and Colombia
The first women's football book on Latin America centring the perspectives of players brings rare interview material that cuts through the clich矇s to uncover the lived reality of women footballers. It includes the first large-scale survey of South American women footballers' views into dialogue with institutional and media perspectives.The early chapters consider the backdrop Latin American women footballers operate in, a media and institutional panorama that privileges a heteronormative athletic femininity whilst ensuring women's football is never portrayed as anything other than an inferior version of the hegemonic (men's) game.Following this, drawing on nine months of ethnographic fieldwork in which 33 semi-structured interviews were carried out with players and institutional figures, this pioneering book foregrounds the lived reality of women's football in three strategic locations. Firstly, three months were spent in the Amazon region of Brazil where Esporte Clube Iranduba provides a fascinating alternative model for the growth of women's football. This is contrasted with Santos FC, where women's football tends to be constantly overshadowed by the presence of banal patriarchy, and finally with another fleeting glimpse of how another model is possible at Atl矇tico Huila of Colombia, the surprise winner of the women's Copa Libertadores in 2018.
Beautiful Games
There are very few original voices. Rick Walton is one. Beautiful Games, despite being something of a sequel to The Dots Will Not Be Joined, stands out, feels unique. Sure, it's about a life in sport and the power of and necessity for active cultures but Walton again takes on the universe. It's charged, unashamedly philosophical: 'authentic, wise, and beautiful'.Largely autobiograpical - 'to be clear and true' - the book is in three sections. 'Formations' leads off in a mire of weird-but-all-pervasive discrimination, in Northern England: with young lives somehow made blissful by familial love and several hours of footie *every day*. The local park becomes not just the place to head cannonballs but the site of something big. Heading a football becomes big.Then there is crushing, multiple loss, addressed directly, remembered through tears. Then adventure, with sport often the way in, across the hemisphere, from Grimsby to Thunder Bay and back to Wales. The wonders; the 'soccer'; the Italians; the knives. Madness; hilarity; joy. Big, filmic, relatable stories.Part Two is about who has inspired this life in games - and maybe how. So brilliance and good practice. All Blacks; Clough; Guardiola; Stokes/McCullum and England Women Cricket. Not a comprehensive list but a nod towards genius, behaviours, 'positives'. Part Three is where the author - an award-winning sports coach and teacher - makes the Case for Sport. Why and how. By looking at nuts and bolts: Sport Development; research; critical insights; urgency. We drive towards the conclusion that we must, for our communities, for our wellbeing, get moving.
The Baseball Code
In the tradition of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Karate Kid, The Baseball Code is a story about the passing on of wisdom from generation to generation, from father to son, from teacher to student, from coach to player. It is a story about goodness; about why we tell the truth and why sometimes we don't; about always doing your best; about playing fair and putting the team first; about understanding that giving up what you want isn't the same as losing and that sometimes a sacrifice bunt is the right play. Terry Richards is a retired math professor, struggling with grief and loneliness after the loss of his wife. Noah is a ten-year-old boy down the street whose father has recently moved away. When Noah's baseball rolls into Terry's yard, their friendship begins with a simple game of catch and conversation. Terry also recalls his conversations with his wife, as with bittersweetness he remembers their first date, their first argument, and the rose garden they planted together in the back yard. He thinks about his father and the talks they had playing catch after dinner. He knows that his dad not only taught him baseball but also taught him right from wrong and what it meant to have honor. He passes that wisdom on to Noah as he shares with him his love of the game. He calls those values, "The Baseball Code." Like a Field of Dreams (Shoeless Joe) and The Sandlot, The Baseball Code is a story about the love of the game; about the smell of a well-oiled glove; about the feel of the handle of the bat as you turn it in your hands; about running across an expanse of green grass on a hot summer afternoon, gazing up at the spinning red seams of a white baseball as it cuts its arc against a bright blue sky, timing your strides and the reach of your arm so perfectly that the ball drops into your mitt like a plum ripe from a tree. Terry teaches Noah the fundamentals of the game: Always hustle, watch the ball into your glove, get to the bag early for the double play. Together, they build a field to practice on with their friends. They weather the ups and downs of the Summer League season-the disappointment of bad calls and unfair decisions, humorous incidents of coaches who can't play the game, and the exhilaration of making the winning play. The Baseball Code is a story about the relationships that give life meaning and the beauty of the things that connect us. It is about the gardens that we plant and watch grow; about the fields that we build and play on; about the gifts that we give and the sacrifices we make as together we share the pain and joy of living.
The Baseball Code
In the tradition of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Karate Kid, The Baseball Code is a story about the passing on of wisdom from generation to generation, from father to son, from teacher to student, from coach to player. It is a story about goodness; about why we tell the truth and why sometimes we don't; about always doing your best; about playing fair and putting the team first; about understanding that giving up what you want isn't the same as losing and that sometimes a sacrifice bunt is the right play. Terry Richards is a retired math professor, struggling with grief and loneliness after the loss of his wife. Noah is a ten-year-old boy down the street whose father has recently moved away. When Noah's baseball rolls into Terry's yard, their friendship begins with a simple game of catch and conversation. Terry also recalls his conversations with his wife, as with bittersweetness he remembers their first date, their first argument, and the rose garden they planted together in the back yard. He thinks about his father and the talks they had playing catch after dinner. He knows that his dad not only taught him baseball but also taught him right from wrong and what it meant to have honor. He passes that wisdom on to Noah as he shares with him his love of the game. He calls those values, "The Baseball Code." Like a Field of Dreams (Shoeless Joe) and The Sandlot, The Baseball Code is a story about the love of the game; about the smell of a well-oiled glove; about the feel of the handle of the bat as you turn it in your hands; about running across an expanse of green grass on a hot summer afternoon, gazing up at the spinning red seams of a white baseball as it cuts its arc against a bright blue sky, timing your strides and the reach of your arm so perfectly that the ball drops into your mitt like a plum ripe from a tree. Terry teaches Noah the fundamentals of the game: Always hustle, watch the ball into your glove, get to the bag early for the double play. Together, they build a field to practice on with their friends. They weather the ups and downs of the Summer League season-the disappointment of bad calls and unfair decisions, humorous incidents of coaches who can't play the game, and the exhilaration of making the winning play. The Baseball Code is a story about the relationships that give life meaning and the beauty of the things that connect us. It is about the gardens that we plant and watch grow; about the fields that we build and play on; about the gifts that we give and the sacrifices we make as together we share the pain and joy of living.
Fifty Years Of Golf
Author Horace G. Hutchinson is a well-known person in golf history. His book "Fifty Years of Golf" The 1919 book offers a perspective on the growth and development of golf during a half-century, offering insights into the changes and expansion of the game during that time. Skilled amateur golfer, writer, and golf course architect Horace G. Hutchinson provides a first-hand narrative of the history of the game, its players, and the evolution of golf courses. He examines the advancements in golf technology, strategies, and the growth of competitive golf. It is expected that the book will cover significant events and turning points in the history of golf, including the birth of important competitions, the impact of famous players, and the development of rules and manners. The story is enhanced by Hutchinson's own experiences and insights, giving readers a thorough picture of golf's development over the course of five decades.
Managing the Show
Managing the Show is a revealing look and behind the scenes details of the responsibilities of Major League Baseball's general managers.Tune in to any MLB broadcast, radio, TV or streaming and you will hear broadcasters and reporters including "The Show," in their reporting.One of the side effects of the "Moneyball" era has been the glamorization (and, at times, charm, and obsession) of baseball's general manager position. Baseball general managers are the ones responsible for managing the show. Let's take a look inside that.We as fans think we know what to do and we think we know what is going through the head of an MLB general manager, but we really don't. We don't until now. Managing the Show - Inside the Daily Responsibilities of Major League Baseball's General Managers, opens up the world of baseball general management and pulls back the curtain of what really happens in baseball and inside the world of a baseball general manager.This book shares information on how baseball's general managers work to further develop their show. Just like armchair quarterbacks in football, we as true baseball fans put ourselves in the shoes of the team's general manager, at least in our own minds or in hot stove league conversations abound. Now it's time to get out of that armchair and see the real story.The book consists of stories and interviews with former and current baseball general managers at the Major League Baseball level.This book is written for the baseball fan.
In A League Of Their Own!
In a League Their Own! is the true story of the Dick, Kerr Ladies FC. Formed at a munitions factory in Preston, their unique history lay buried for far too long as they became football's best kept secret. They set the football world alight during the First World War and went on to become the best in the world. On Boxing Day 1920, 53,000 spectators packed Goodison Park, Everton to watch them play, and by 1921 their popularity was at its height. However, the FA saw things in a very different light and changed the course of the women's game forever. On 5 December 1921, they banned women from playing on League grounds, and the ban remained in force for almost fifty years. Against all the odds, the Dick, Kerr Ladies continued playing until 1965 and raised in excess of 瞿10 million for charity. This 2021 edition reveals yet more amazing stories of these incredible women, and documents an accurate playing history from 1917-1965.My grandmother Alice Kell, never really spoke about her time playing football, other than to blame her severe arthritis on it. I always knew she had been captain of a women's football team in her youth, but never realised just what an enormous contribution she had made to the history of the Dick, Kerr Ladies. It wasn't until I returned to Preston and read Gail's book that I learned just what an amazing group of women they were. I am immensely proud of my grandmother and everything she achieved. Val ConnMy family and I are delighted that my cousin, Lily Parr, has been acknowledged and portrayed with such accuracy in this book. Thanks to the dedicated and thorough research undertaken by Gail, we feel that people can now get to know the real Lily who was always a very special part of our lives. June Patten I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Gail Newsham's book about the Dick, Kerr Ladies. The late Florrie Redford, was my auntie and how proud she would have been to know that the team would be part of the history of Preston. Mrs J Shaw, Blackpool
For a Football Fan Who Has it All
Welcome to the wonderful world of football!Football brings together young athletes, big money, and intense competition. Because of this, some incredible football/soccer stories have emerged that sound almost too exciting to be real. And we have some doozies for you along with some that are rare and fascinating. The stories we've uncovered will surprise and delight every football fan.Have you read about two referees who red-carded themselves during the game?How about two teammates who got into a donnybrook causing the whole team to get into a brawl?Or the goalkeeper who knocked himself out when he hit the side post during intense action on a foggy field?You will find the answers on these pages, intriguing stories and facts your friends won't believe, plus football quizzes, and much more!Stories of football history, amazing play, and ability, and as years go by, more and more unique personalities are joining the fun and playing the beautiful game we all love.Whether you call them quirky, unconventional, or just plain crazy, their football stories will fascinate you and put a smile on your face. Get ready for an entertaining look at these amazing tales from the pitch, the grandstands, and the lives of those who play football!
The Bob Verga Shift
Can one player truly change the course of history?In 1966, an all-black basketball team from the University of Texas El Paso (then Texas Western University) defeated an all-white team from the University of Kentucky to win the NCAA championship in a game that has become famous as a civil rights milestone. A closer inspection of the events leading to that momentous game reveal the unlikely events that made a way for those two teams to walk onto that court.Travel back in time to 1960s Durham, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Texas to unravel the remarkable truth behind the teams involved in the famous 1996 final four, and see how one man's absence changed history and paved the way for desegregation and civil rights progress.This new look at basketball's impact on American history shows how supposedly minor events can have significant historical consequences.
For a Football Fan Who Has it All
Welcome to the wonderful world of football!Football brings together young athletes, big money, and intense competition. Because of this, some incredible football/soccer stories have emerged that sound almost too exciting to be real. And we have some doozies for you along with some that are rare and fascinating. The stories we've uncovered will surprise and delight every football fan.Have you read about two referees who red-carded themselves during the game?How about two teammates who got into a donnybrook causing the whole team to get into a brawl?Or the goalkeeper who knocked himself out when he hit the side post during intense action on a foggy field?You will find the answers on these pages, intriguing stories and facts your friends won't believe, plus football quizzes, and much more!Stories of football history, amazing play, and ability, and as years go by, more and more unique personalities are joining the fun and playing the beautiful game we all love.Whether you call them quirky, unconventional, or just plain crazy, their football stories will fascinate you and put a smile on your face. Get ready for an entertaining look at these amazing tales from the pitch, the grandstands, and the lives of those who play football!
For a Football Fan Who Has it All
Welcome to the wonderful world of football!Football brings together young athletes, big money, and intense competition. Because of this, some incredible football/soccer stories have emerged that sound almost too exciting to be real. And we have some doozies for you along with some that are rare and fascinating. The stories we've uncovered will surprise and delight every football fan.Have you read about two referees who red-carded themselves during the game?How about two teammates who got into a donnybrook causing the whole team to get into a brawl?Or the goalkeeper who knocked himself out when he hit the side post during intense action on a foggy field?You will find the answers on these pages, intriguing stories and facts your friends won't believe, plus football quizzes, and much more!Stories of football history, amazing play, and ability, and as years go by, more and more unique personalities are joining the fun and playing the beautiful game we all love.Whether you call them quirky, unconventional, or just plain crazy, their football stories will fascinate you and put a smile on your face. Get ready for an entertaining look at these amazing tales from the pitch, the grandstands, and the lives of those who play football!
Woman Offside
Few people, let alone women, have made the transition from national team player to president of their national football association. Lise Klaveness of Norway is an exception. During the FIFA congress in Doha, Qatar in 2022, Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Association, gave a speech that sent shock waves through the football world: "In 2010, the World Cup was awarded by FIFA in unacceptable ways with unacceptable consequences...Our members do demand change, they question the ethics in sport and insist on transparency. We must listen! We cannot ignore the calls for change." Previously, only activists or whistleblowers had dared to talk publicly about issues such as the rights of migrant workers, LGBTQI rights, gender equity, and governance reform. Among the football leaders inside FIFA, Klaveness was seen as a nuisance, and she was told to keep quiet. But among football fans, primarily in Norway, but also in other parts of the world, she was perceived as a breath of fresh air. After the speech, Klaveness has continued her work, trying to reform FIFA from the inside. But how much can one person do, in today's football world? Football writer and journalist Marius Lien followed Klaveness closely for one year, from January to December 2023. Through FIFA and UEFA congresses, the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia and travels around her home country Norway. The result is a book that provides deep insight into how the football world works in the midst of the Gianni Infantino era.
715 at 50
Editor-photographer Randy Cox literally had a front-row seat to history when he covered the Braves' 1974 home opener and his hero Henry Aaron belted career home run #715. Pull up alongside Randy in the photographers' box, race onto the field with him, crowd into the media room. Hear the story as it's never been told before--minute by minute and image by image--from someone who was there!715 at 50: The Night Henry Aaron Changed Baseball and the World Forever features 44 photos taken by Cox that night--the star-studded pregame ceremony, in-game action shots (including 715!), the euphoric on-field aftermath, and the postgame press conference. 715 at 50 takes you back to that night and does so much more!** Exclusive interviews with Aaron's teammates Ron Reed and Buzz Capra, who won and saved the game, respectively** Details on Aaron's feud with Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and the controversy triggered by home run 714** Sidebars about Dusty Baker and Eddie Mathews, brother Tommie, the Braves' escape from Milwaukee, Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium, and loads of other great baseball history** An interview with former Braves' PR guru, Bob Hope, who orchestrated the night and remained close friends with Aaron for 50 years** Chapters covering Aaron's incredible career, tributes from the baseball world, and the culture-changing impact Aaron had beyond the gameGet a ticket to your own front-row seat to one of the most historic games in baseball history and celebrate the legend of one of its greatest and most beloved heroes.
Practice Like You Play
The purpose of this book is to explore the history of pitching and bowling machines for baseball, softball, and cricket; study the current market for such training devices; identify the pros and cons of such machines; and, finally, discuss and explain why video pitching simulators are a far better way to train hitters and batters for these sports for one, primary reason-- they are the closest thing to training hitters and baters in a game-like environment. This book describes the optimal training method for both young and experienced baseball, softball, and cricket hitters--from Little League to college to aspiring professional players--for play in real games. The book explains how a Video Pitching (or Bowling) Simulator like the one designed, engineered, manufactured, and marketed by ProBatter Sports can deliver a pitch that creates an authentic, game-like and fun experience for players of all ages.
B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program
DEVELOP YOUR PLAYERS NOW!Are you tired of "thinking about" improving your player's or team's basketball skill level, even promising to spend more time on it during practices, but never making it happen?Are you tired of finding and using the same boring drills to teach your clients?Are you looking for a basketball skills training program that will take you from wasting time searching for drills to implementing a carefully designed basketball training program as fast as possible..... without the frustration and headache of deciding what skill to teach next?In this completely basketball skill focused and detail-oriented book, David Smith presents a proven solution that will improve an individual's basketball skill level in 60 days. Basketball Coaches and Personal Trainers will win more and earn more respectively.In B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program you will find: *Smith's 60 day basketball skill training method that takes you from wasting time searching for drills to implementing a carefully designed basketball training program*Eleven workout strategies to create an individualized plan and earn more as a basketball personal trainer*How to keep your player's improving after the season*Easy ways you can use the B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program to create your own team focused programDavid Smith is an American Businessman, Thinker, and Philanthropist. He is the founder of B180 basketball, Inc. Smith is the author of Answers to the Struggles of Life, B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program, Champion's Vision, basketball Diet, Black Athlete White Athlete, and Sports Entrepreneur. He is a talented writer and thinker that inspires individuals from all walks of life.
For a Football Fan Who Has it All
Welcome to the wonderful world of football!Football brings together young athletes, big money, and intense competition. Because of this, some incredible football/soccer stories have emerged that sound almost too exciting to be real. And we have some doozies for you along with some that are rare and fascinating. The stories we've uncovered will surprise and delight every football fan.Have you read about two referees who red-carded themselves during the game?How about two teammates who got into a donnybrook causing the whole team to get into a brawl?Or the goalkeeper who knocked himself out when he hit the side post during intense action on a foggy field?You will find the answers on these pages, intriguing stories and facts your friends won't believe, plus football quizzes, and much more!Stories of football history, amazing play, and ability, and as years go by, more and more unique personalities are joining the fun and playing the beautiful game we all love.Whether you call them quirky, unconventional, or just plain crazy, their football stories will fascinate you and put a smile on your face. Get ready for an entertaining look at these amazing tales from the pitch, the grandstands, and the lives of those who play football!
First Token
First Token: A Story of Life, Love, & Tennis was conceived in a dream, giving birth to the author's long-held aspiration to publish a novel. First Token is the marriage of historical fiction and timeless, universal love; love of another, love of country, and love of faith. The story is set in the 1950s, a golden era for some, misery for others, transformation for all.Hillard Abraham, an unmarried lawyer with a blue-collar upbringing and a quirky personality, becomes the second Jewish member at a Long Island tennis club. Hillard befriends Dexter Alexander, a Korean War veteran and the club's first black employee. Dexter's wife, Becky, works for the wealthy Cabot family. So begins an unforgettable story of relationships. Hillard views the world through a prism of logic, even applying logic to the tyranny of segregation and the Holocaust. An unexpected relationship derails his sense of logic; a spiritual encounter distills his existence to its core. "Where do we fit in, Buster?" he asks his feline confidant, an orange tabby.First Token resonates with those who yearn for the wholesome values and attributes of the 1950s and with those who value the American Dream. While baseball is America's national passion, tennis occupies a loftier position. The sport of kings is a microcosm for the business of life. The narrative mirrors the way we think, fusing recollection with the here and now. The delivery reflects the pace and cadence of the day, and the wit is as dry as a well-poured Martini. As America's Semiquincentennial approaches, and the challenges for those who cherish liberty and independence are ongoing, remember this: as the going gets tough, the tough get funny.
First Token
First Token: A Story of Life, Love, & Tennis was conceived in a dream, giving birth to the author's long-held aspiration to publish a novel. First Token is the marriage of historical fiction and timeless, universal love; love of another, love of country, and love of faith. The story is set in the 1950s, a golden era for some, misery for others, transformation for all.Hillard Abraham, an unmarried lawyer with a blue-collar upbringing and a quirky personality, becomes the second Jewish member at a Long Island tennis club. Hillard befriends Dexter Alexander, a Korean War veteran and the club's first black employee. Dexter's wife, Becky, works for the wealthy Cabot family. So begins an unforgettable story of relationships. Hillard views the world through a prism of logic, even applying logic to the tyranny of segregation and the Holocaust. An unexpected relationship derails his sense of logic; a spiritual encounter distills his existence to its core. "Where do we fit in, Buster?" he asks his feline confidant, an orange tabby.First Token resonates with those who yearn for the wholesome values and attributes of the 1950s and with those who value the American Dream. While baseball is America's national passion, tennis occupies a loftier position. The sport of kings is a microcosm for the business of life. The narrative mirrors the way we think, fusing recollection with the here and now. The delivery reflects the pace and cadence of the day, and the wit is as dry as a well-poured Martini. As America's Semiquincentennial approaches, and the challenges for those who cherish liberty and independence are ongoing, remember this: as the going gets tough, the tough get funny.
The Football Game That Changed America
A fascinating history of the Super Bowl and its massive impact on the sports world and beyond.The Super Bowl has changed what was just another wintry Sunday into America's unofficial holiday. It's the biggest entertainment event of the year. It's the most important advertising event of the year. It is the biggest gambling event of the year. More Americans watch this game than vote in presidential elections.How did this all happen? In The Football Game That Changed America, Dennis Deninger reveals how the Super Bowl went from almost being canceled after its first two years to becoming an ingrained part of American life. He tells the story of how this colossal event came to be--including the challenges, stumbles, and amusing surprises along the way--and details the game's incredible impact well beyond the sports world, touching virtually every facet of life in the United States. Featuring colorful characters, bold rivals, and twists of fate, The Football Game That Changed America brings the history, growth, and future of the Super Bowl to life. It's a captivating deep dive into a sporting event like no other.
The Joy of Football
A nostalgic look back at your first football match. The magic of the FA cup, and the world cup. A humorous and light-hearted look at one coaches life in grassroots football. From the hand of God to a bad hair day at training with the pub team. The ups and downs of being a youth team coach. Having a friend almost play for Arsenal to being 4-0 down in an U14 match and coming back to win 6-4! Classic examples of running into an oak tree, saluting the Barnsley tea ladies and many more football shenanigans.
B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program
DEVELOP YOUR PLAYERS NOW!Are you tired of "thinking about" improving your player's or team's basketball skill level, even promising to spend more time on it during practices, but never making it happen? Are you tired of finding and using the same boring drills to teach your clients?Are you looking for a basketball skills training program that will take you from wasting time searching for drills to implementing a carefully designed basketball training program as fast as possible..... without the frustration and headache of deciding what skill to teach next?In this completely basketball skill focused and detail oriented book, David Smith presents a proven solution that will improve an individuals basketball skill level in 60 days. Basketball Coaches and Personal Trainers will win more and earn more respectively.In B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program you will find: * Smith's 60 day basketball skills training method that takes you from wasting time searching for drills to implementing a carefully designed basketball training program*Eleven workout strategies to create an individualized plan and earn more as a basketball personal trainer*How to keep your player's improving after the season*Easy ways you can use the B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program to create your own team focused programDavid Smith is an American Businessman, Thinker, and Philanthropist. He is the founder of B180 Basketball, Inc. Smith is the author of Answers to the Struggles of Life, B180 Basketball Fundamental Skills Program, Champion's Vision, Basketball Diet, Black Athlete White Athlete, and Sports Entrepreneur. He is a talented writer and thinker that inspires individuals from all walks of life.
Nothing to Prove
I lost my co-ordination and began hallucinating at home. I saw animals in my living room clear as a bell, remembering specifically the vivid colours of a toucan and the prominent stripes of a zebra. Near my door was a perfectly rectangular image of a playing card, the ace of spades. Even though sport was a massive part of my existence, there was a lot more to life than lawn bowls. Without it, I may not have survived my mental breakdowns. Without mental illness, I would never have become as tough as I am in sport. As bizarre as it sounds, I am grateful for experiencing both. They made me who I am today.
Mid-Wicket Tales a Century and More of Cricket
First published in 2014, Mid-wicket Tales is back almost a decade later, in arevised and expanded edition to delight and entertain cricket fans and scholarsalike. Humorous and richly detailed, this marvellous series of essays-writtenby two 'incurable cricket romantics'-tells the characterful story of one ofthe most beloved sports in the world.A seamless blend of theories with statistical data, technical assessments, andcharming anecdotes, the essays range in theme from Kapil Dev's batting style;big-hitting superstars like Victor Trumper, Viv Richards, and Virender Sehwag;the fearsome pace of Michael Holding; the magical close catches of EknathSolkar and Bobby Simpson; and the mastery of Sachin Tendulkar; to delightfulevenings spent with the dashing Salim Durani and the fabulous M.S. Dhoni, and illuminating conversations with the cerebral stars, Rahul Dravid and S.Venkataraghavan. This revised edition also has superb new essays where welearn of Mahatma Gandhi's involvement with cricket, discover the integralrole of video analytics in modern-day cricket strategy, and experience thebrilliance of women's cricket, which has taken the world by storm.
Official History of the Fifa World Cup
Fully updated - includes the full story of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. The Official History of the FIFA World Cup is the definitive inside story of the 22 FIFA World Cups to have taken place since the inaugural tournament in 1930. Packed with stunning photography, unique official documents and in-depth statistics, it is a must-read for any football fan around the world. No other event in the sporting world can rival the glamour, impact, fervent following and universal appeal of the FIFA World Cup. This unique official book tells the stories behind the scenes, as well as analyzing the most famous incidents. It features the biggest stars and many previously unknown ones too, all with a unique worldwide point of view.
Bites of Cricket
When has a batter been out 'Delayed Hit Wicket', or to a 'Bi-Bouncer Ball'? What are the Best Cricket Wordplays? When did Streaking Stop Play? Will England's Test Revolution take hold? What was the Worst Ball Ever, the Best Test Ever, and the Best ODI? How did AB de Villiers meet Sherlock Homes? These and a wide range of other intriguing cricket questions are answered here in the course of 52 Bites that range between the serious, the humorous and the plain bizarre - like cricket itself.
How to Make the Ideal, Repeatable Golf Swing
Find out how to strike the ball flawlessly each and every time you swing. This Book contains all the information you need to take your golf game to the next level and beyond! You will learn how to create a golf swing that will have people stopping what they're doing to watch you swing! The three secrets to playing great golf: master these three easy concepts, and you'll see an increase in your score.
Save Baseball
Major League Baseball has been in crisis in recent years. Game attendance is down by millions and fan interest is in free fall. The future of the game is in jeopardy. While the League acknowledges the issues, many are stumped as to how to address them. This book explores in detail the critical challenges facing MLB, and their ramifications, along with some potential solutions. Interviews with baseball insiders, players to executives, give a perspective on baseball's struggle to reinvent itself for future generations.
The Fenway Effect
To be a part of Red Sox Nation is to be a hopeful romantic who neither betrays loyalty nor surrenders hope in the direst of circumstances. From Bangor to Back Bay, New Englanders endure in baseball matters. And life. The team's history has intersected with the history of Boston and well beyond it, through the Curse of the Bambino, the military service of Ted Williams during World War II, and the Boston Marathon bombing. The Fenway Effect chronicles these stories and others that have built the incredible saga of the Boston Red Sox. How did Cheers depict the passion of Boston's sports fans? Why is Narragansett beer so important to New England? What's the architectural impact of The Teammates--the statue of Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, Ted Williams, and Dom DiMaggio outside Fenway Park? What did the Boston press really think about Red Sox owner Harry Frazee selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees? What was the origin of Fenway Park's predecessor--Huntington Avenue Grounds? Even Yankees fans will tip their caps to the rich impact of the Red Sox on music, movies, branding, broadcasting, and more. Plus, there's a chapter focusing on the oral history of Red Sox fans, some of whom share here anecdotes that are funny, insightful, and heartwarming.
Draft Day
Doug MacLean, former NHL coach, general manager, team president, and one of the game's biggest personalities, reveals how teams build for greatness--or fail to--on hockey's most anticipated day. A Moneyball for hockey. The NHL draft is a critical time for teams, when the foundation for future championships is laid--or when championship dreams die. Only time will tell if a draft is successful, but a failed draft can severely set teams back for seasons, much to the dread of ownership, management, and most importantly, the fans. For even the most die-hard hockey fan, the preparation for draft day is a black box. Former president, general manager, and coach Doug MacLean takes readers behind the scenes, from the 2022 draft in Montreal to revealing draft stories from the past, to show how players are discovered and evaluated to create successful teams. Just as Moneyball illustrated the value of analytics in building teams in baseball and beyond, Draft Day shows the careful considerations that go into assessing talent for success. What is that balance in today's game between metrics and instinct, between analytics and traditional scouting? MacLean draws from his own career as well as anecdotes from across the league to illustrate the hard-won lessons and principles that lead to building successful teams. Hockey is big business, and this book is an invaluable resource for any leader seeking an edge for building resilient organizations. Entertaining and informative, with never-before-told details from some of the biggest moments in NHL history, Draft Day is for every hockey fan who wonders how their team develops that hard-to-define winning chemistry--or fails to, year after year.
Remembering Torn-Down Ballparks, Over a Cold Beer
The perfect beer-table book for fans of the Great American Pastime--regardless of team affiliation! Beginning with Comiskey Park in 1990, author Ken Finnigan used to take road trips to many ancient remaining ballparks with his oldest brother. The idea was to see them just before they got knocked down, instead of imagining what they were like after demolition. They went on journeys to quite a few other old baseball stadiums in the early 1990s and even investigated some of the former sites where ballparks were decommissioned years before. Most of the sites he saw in the early 1990s are no longer standing. Remembering Torn-Down Ballparks, Over a Cold Beer, through vintage full-color art featured on beer coasters, reveals what it may have been like to see the stadiums that are no longer around. From the journal-styled observations of each ballpark, to the artwork from the coasters and the artifacts depicted, Finnigan offers baseball enthusiasts a sense of having a piece from each ballpark.
George Best Down Under
George Best is widely regarded as a brilliant footballer - one of the best in the world - with a troubled life.A European Cup and Ballon d'Or winner with Manchester United, the Northern Ireland international had all the skills and panache to be at the top of the game. George Best visited four times between 1967 and 1990, the first time with Manchester United ahead of their European Cup win as the biggest football star in the universe, the last time as a supernova. As early as Best's second visit in 1983, journalist Andrew Dettre wrote that Best's visit to Australia "must surely...be considered rock bottom" for a man of his talents. Lucas Gillard, in collaboration with Jason Goldsmith, has built on sections from their first book Be My Guest - Football Superstars in Australia to produce this myopic of George Best's tours down under. Despite the popular view that Best's tours down under were all about drinking and women, Gillard and Goldsmith go behind-the-scenes to talk with people who knew him, who played with him, and who knew there was much more nuance, complexity, and back story to the man than the archetypal celebrity footballer the media preferred to present.
Covey
Stanley Coveleski's life was a story of triumph and tragedy.He was born in the Coal Region town of Shamokin, PA in 1889, the eighth child of Polish immigrants, and went to work as a breaker boy when he was twelve. But he escaped the 12-hour work days in the mines by throwing stones at a can tied to a tree-his own crash course in how to pitch a baseball.Years later, he was one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball.In a season marked by personal and team tragedy-the death of his wife and his teammate Ray Chapman, who is the only player to die as a result of being hit by a pitch-Covey pitched three complete-game victories in the Cleveland Indians' 1920 World Series championship.Covey, one of 17 pitchers still allowed to throw a spitball after it being outlawed before the 1921 season, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.Check out this interview about the book...
Secrets of Baseball
Secrets of some of baseball's most noted Hall-of-Famers (Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, "Pie" Traynor, "Tris Speaker" are among the stars who are represented) that is not only historically interesting but gives the young player, the coach, and the seasoned professional alike practical tips for improving their game.
The Most Important Game
In The Most Important Game, human performance coach Paul Monahan will help you explore your own inside game so that you can play your best golf more often.Through his own reflections as a leader, coach, and student of the game, Paul offers fresh perspectives on the mental game of golf for anyone who wants to elevate their inside game skills, hit better shots when it means the most, and enjoy the game more. The Most Important Game thoughtfully tees up Paul's reflections, stories, and metaphors designed to help you cultivate: - Awareness of the thoughts that impact your enjoyment of the game.- Presence, so that you can show up to play the only shot that matters-the next one.- Resilience to recover quickly from the unfortunate bounces.- Possibility Thinking to keep hope and passion alive for you no matter what is happening on the course. The Most Important Game will help you strengthen your inside game so that the game you play on the outside is more fun and fulfilling.
Fans Called Him Turkey, I Called Him Dad
Baseball Hall of Famer Norman Thomas "Turkey" Stearnes (1901-1979) batted more than .400 three times, led the Negro Leagues in home runs seven times and holds the all-time Negro Leagues record for career home runs. Despite his legendary achievements on the field, Stearnes worked off-seasons in Detroit's auto plants, including one owned by Walter Briggs, who also owned the Detroit Tigers--a team Stearnes couldn't play for because he was black. Written by his eldest daughter, this first biography of "Turkey" Stearnes intimately recounts his life and career and gives overdue recognition to one of the greatest all-around players in the history of baseball.
A Year of Baseball Trivia Page-A-Day(r) Calendar 2025
Spend a year at the ballpark with 365 days of trivia, stats, and immortal records for the baseball fan. BASEBALL FUN: Here's everything you love about the game, right on your desktop every day of the year: Hall of Famers, Famous Firsts, Immortal Records, Dubious Distinctions, quotes, and more. HOME RUN GIFT: Trivia fans and stat geeks will love testing their knowledge with this collection of fascinating factoids from the author of The Major League Baseball Book of Fabulous Facts and Awesome Trivia. PLASTIC FREE: Printed on responsibly sourced paper and 100% recyclable.
A Year of Basketball Trivia Page-A-Day(r) Calendar 2025
A slam dunk: a year of basketball trivia, stats, and immortal records for the hoops fan.NOTHING BUT NET: Tip off to a daily dose of all things basketball: great moments, records set and broken, stats, team history, famous players, and more. FASCINATING FACTS: Brush up on your knowledge with trivia categories including Basketball Worldwide, Famous Firsts, Odd Rituals, Draft History, College Ball, and league icons In Their Own Words. A GIFT FOR HOOPS FANS: NBA fans, March Madness obsessives, and pick-up players of all ages and levels will love this calendar. PLASTIC FREE: Printed on responsibly sourced paper and 100% recyclable.
