A Hollywood Ending
NBA journalist Yaron Weitzman lays out the high stakes drama happening inside the Lakers' organization as they try to juggle the warring priorities between LeBron James and the Buss family. When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, it looked like a match made in heaven. Here was the preeminent athlete of his generation, fresh off ending Cleveland's 50-year title drought and in need of a new challenge to help further burnish his legacy, joining forces with one of the most iconic teams in all of sports. And here were the Lakers, in the midst of their worst stretch in franchise history and reeling from the death of the legendary owner Dr. Jerry Buss, in need of a savior. The script wrote itself. A little over two years later, LeBron and Dr. Buss' daughter, Jeanie, were standing shoulder to shoulder, hoisting the NBA finals trophy into the air. Having won their record-tying 17th NBA title, the Lakers had reclaimed their accustomed perch on top of the basketball world. It looked to be the birth of a new dynasty. But this was a new Lakers' franchise, one beset by infighting and years removed from Kobe's prime. And this was LeBron James, the catalyst of the "player empowerment" era, an athlete chasing things greater than Michael Jordan's ghost. The two parties were too big to peacefully coexist under one roof. The 2020 title would represent the pinnacle of their pairing, and the beginning of a precipitous decline. Drawing from over 250 interviews, Yaron Weitzman takes readers on a riveting, behind the scenes journey of this fraught partnership. From the Succession-like power struggle between the Buss children, to the rise of LeBron's landscape-altering talent agency and its attempts to assert its own power within the Lakers' walls, to the evolution of LeBron's priorities and political voice, "A Hollywood Ending" is the definitive story of an American icon's final years on stage, one portraying him, a fabled NBA franchise, and the world of modern professional sports in a light never seen before.
A Tale of Two Seasons
A Tale of Two Seasons contrasts two very different seasons from Naismith Hall-of- Famer Paul Westphal's span of five decades in professional basketball.One season covers his time as the head coach of the NBA Seattle SuperSonics while the other offers insight into his first coaching job at Southwestern College (now Arizona Christian University.) One paid the highest salary he'd ever earned, while the other paid him nothing. Yet, that one special season with Southwestern is the season he said was his best year in basketball.His stories about life and basketball, both as a player and a coach, are intertwined with humor, insight, hindsight, and his genuine love for the game.An Arizona Christian University Press & End Game Press publication
The Emerald Evertonian
From Dalkey to Dalymount and on to Goodison Park, Peter Farrell left an enduring mark on football for both club and country. With eight minutes remaining at Goodison Park on 21 September 1949, wearing the green of Ireland, Farrell surged towards the Gwladys Street goal and calmly lofted the ball over the England goalkeeper. His strike sealed England's first-ever home defeat to a foreign nation - etched forever into Irish and Merseyside football folklore. That it came on the turf of his beloved Everton made it all the sweeter. It was a defining moment in a distinguished career in blue and green. Like his modern-day compatriot S矇amus Coleman, Farrell is revered as one of Ireland and Everton's greatest captains - leader of character, courage and sportsmanship through testing times. In The Emerald Evertonian, Rob Sawyer charts Farrell's journey from junior football in Dalkey to silverware with Shamrock Rovers and on to post-war England with Everton, where he arrived alongside lifelong friend Tommy Eglington. Drawing on meticulous research and previously unseen sources, Sawyer also explores Farrell's later life in management - on Merseyside, in North Wales and back home in Ireland - and his dignified 25-year struggle with dementia, sustained by the devotion of his family and community. This is a compelling portrait of a remarkable footballer and gentleman, and a vivid window into the game during a transformative era.
Foot-Ball
A sweeping journey through centuries of sport discover how the ball rolled from medieval streets to the modern pitch. Montague Shearman s Foot-Ball: Its History for Five Centuries offers a richly researched, vividly told chronicle of the origins and evolution of football. Tracing early football games, village customs, schoolboy contests and the codification that birthed modern soccer, Shearman maps five centuries of football culture history with rare clarity and passion. Readers encounter the drama of grassroots play, the legal and social battles that shaped rules, and the regional traditions that fed today s global game. This Montague Shearman book is a landmark historical football analysis: part scholarly excavation, part narrative celebration. It situates football history within social change, giving both casual readers and classic literature collectors insights into the evolution of football and the sport s cultural resonance. You ll gain historical football insights on how medieval mob-foot games, public-school adaptations, and early organized clubs led to the football development we know today. Out of print for decades and now lovingly republished by Alpha Editions, this restored edition is prepared for today s and future generations. More than a reprint, it is a collector s item and a cultural treasure carefully edited, annotated, and presented for preservation. Essential for anyone curious about football through the ages, soccer history, and the enduring story of sport s place in society.
Basketball Now!
The greatest players in the NBA ... NOW! Basketball Now! has earned its place as an anticipated release, giving fans the inside stories about their favorite superstars. This fully rewritten and redesigned fourth edition is packed with over 130 action images and 50 player profiles, including a fresh crop of young players whose swagger and skills have launched them to league-wide stardom. Bona fide superstars and clutch game-changers, plus the all-stars of tomorrow, the best defenders and the proven winners -- they're all here. Look out for elite names like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler and dozens more of your NBA favorites. Author Michael Grange gives readers an inside tour of all things NBA, including essays on the changing of the guard (the end of the LeBron, Steph and KD era), the new age of parity, the impact of international stars and the three-point revolution. The book also includes a summary of MVPs (regular season, All-Star Game and Finals) up to the end of the 2024-25 season. Mind-boggling athleticism, career-changing plays and pure magic, Basketball Now! has it all -- straight from the hardwood.
A Big Mess in Texas
The incredible, untold true story of the 1952 Dallas Texans--the most dysfunctional team in the craziest season in NFL history. Rattlesnakes on the practice field, barroom brawls between teammates, bounced checks, paternity suits, house bombings by the Ku Klux Klan, stadium fields covered in circus-elephant dung, one-legged trainers, humiliating defeats, miraculous wins, All-Pro quarterbacks getting drunk at halftime, strip poker with groupies, and even a future Hall of Fame coach stealing a cab. Nearly lost to history, this singular season in the most football-mad region of the world is a kaleidoscope of every larger-than-life, fictionalized Texas football folktale ever written or filmed, with one incredible twist: it's all true. Over a fascinating, ten-month rollercoaster ride in 1952, in the waning Wild West days of the NFL, before television turned the game into a corporation, the forgotten Dallas Texans would go down in history as one of the worst (and, wildest) teams of all time and the last NFL team to fail. But not before defying the Jim Crow South, pulling off a Thanksgiving Day miracle against George Halas's famed Chicago Bears and then celebrating with an even more infamous bender that would make Jimmy Johnson's Dallas Cowboys blush. A year later, the NFL buried all traces of the most loveable, dysfunctional, entertaining team in history by secretly rebranding the train wreck Texans as the wholesome, all-American Baltimore Colts, the team that would go on to save pro football. A Big Mess in Texas tells the Texans' tale with all the humor, drama, game action, colorful characters, villains, world-class athletes, civil rights trailblazers, and incredible plot twists of that legendary season.
COOP
COOP. Say the name to a Lakers fan and after a guaranteed smile, a list of superlatives is sure to follow. The GOAT of NBA perimeter defenders. Five-time NBA champion. The quintessential glue guy. The graceful and thunderous finisher on a patented "Coop-A-Loop" alley-oop from teammate Magic Johnson. But more than anything when describing Michael Cooper, the conclusion is a player who was the ultimate teammate and winner, always willing to sacrifice for the greater good to make sure Showtime was the biggest hit on the hardwood. In COOP: The Making of a Showtime Lakers Legend, take a journey with newly minted Hall of Famer Michael Cooper back to the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles in the 1980s when Magic, Kareem, Big Game James, and Coop made the Forum the epicenter of the NBA and Hollywood nights alike, and put together one of the most dominant runs in the history of the sport. Yet while the Showtime Lakers made the fun, sun, and their epic run look easy, this conversational, candid, and joyous memoir delves deep into the hard work it took to get to the top, and the unbreakable bond they formed along the way. Cooper also takes readers back to his humble beginnings growing up in L.A., where he persevered through a debilitating childhood injury, self-doubt on the court, and a circuitous route to the NBA to become one of the best defenders in the history of the game and an essential Showtime Laker, followed by a fruitful post-playing career as a championship WNBA coach, cherished mentor to many, and a true Lakers legend with his enshrinement to the Hall of Fame.
Sports Illustrated the Boston Red Sox
Celebrate the championship glory, Hall of Fame personalities, and passionate fans that make the Boston Red Sox one of the most historic franchises in baseball Once an intrepid expansion club, the Boston Red Sox have now thrilled their loyal fans for well over a century. Sports Illustrated(TM) celebrates the franchise with The Boston Red Sox, an extraordinary collection of classic stories and photographs from the pages of SI. This commemorative book recalls the most memorable pennant races and World Series victories while spotlighting legendary stars like Ted Williams, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Carl Yastrzemski, and Carlton Fisk. Red Sox fans will unearth countless gems from their team's past on each page of this celebration.
Certified Beauties
THE INSTANT #1 BESTSELLERWith its unpredictability, brutality, and camaraderie, hockey is full of great stories. And great characters. Certified Beauties is a new collection of the most compelling, hilarious, and heartwarming inside hockey stories--the ones that the players tell each other. Grab a seat with TSN's James Duthie as hockey's finest relive the highs, the lows, and heartwarming, hilarious moments on and off the ice including: - How Brady and Matthew Tkachuk both pulled pranks on teammates that almost went horribly wrong- The night a stunned beer league team had to face Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl- The friendship of Darryl Sittler and Borje Salming and the remarkable story of Salming's final visit to Toronto- When Sarah Nurse became a superstar during the chaos of Covid-19- How a team of Canadian "misfits" turned disaster to gold in Riga- When Kevin Bieksa got a big break at the worst possible time- How Darcy Hordichuk captured an alligator and left it on Roberto Luongo's front porchWith a foreword by Sidney Crosby and a special chapter remembering Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, Certified Beauties is essential reading for every hockey fan."No sport breeds better stories than hockey. We tell them constantly on team buses, long flights . . . over beers after a game. And now it's your turn to have a seat on the bench." --Sidney Crosby, from the foreword to Certified Beauties
LaFleur
INSTANT BESTSELLER A celebration of one of the most electric and magnetic hockey players of all time--the incomparable Guy Lafleur--in the words of his peers and admirers, from Joe Sakic to Chris Nilan. Foreword by Wayne Gretzky. Guy Lafleur. The name alone sizzles on the tongue, eliciting memories of Lafleur's tremendous flow (in Quebec he is nicknamed "The Demon Blond"), his on-ice flair, his fiery play, and his incredible touch. He was fast and furious, the modern-day version of the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Lafleur played for the Canadiens during the Habs's fabulous seventies era when they won multiple Stanley Cups. Lafleur was the '70s, from his wardrobe to his hairstyle to his sideburns. He not only fought for the league lead in scoring--he was known to go to discos and even put out his own disco album. He absolutely mesmerized a generation of fans, changed the culture, and has influenced future draft classes ever for a generation. For the first time, authors Steven Finn (who played with Lafleur) and Pierre Gince reveal an intimate portrait of Lafleur, the player and the man, in the words of those who enjoyed him, or who spent all their ice time pointlessly chasing him down the wing. Every chapter evokes different memories of the man nicknamed in English Canada as The Flower. Gilbert Perreault, who battled Lafleur at centre for almost two decades, is here. As is Scotty Bowman, who coached Lafleur, and Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, the Hall of Fame defencemen who skated behind him. Joe Sakic and Steven Finn recount their days playing with Lafleur when he was a Quebec Nordique. Lanny McDonald and Darryl Sittler share their thoughts on Lafleur's rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In all, there are forty profiles by forty prominent players, coaches, family, and media, all of whom admired le Demon Blond.
Jose
A revealing look at the end of an era for football's most talked-about manager.In the space of a few months, Jos矇 Mourinho went from Chelsea's greatest manager to being unceremoniously dismissed. This biography by Harry Harris explores Mourinho's time at Chelsea, his relationships, and the controversies that surrounded him.Discover the inside story of Mourinho's management style, his tactical decisions, and his impact on the team's performance. This book is for football fans and anyone interested in the mind of a complex and driven leader. It offers a unique perspective on the challenges of managing a high-profile club and the price of success. Get your copy now to understand the legacy of the Special One and what led to his dramatic departure.
Nfl: The Ultimate Fan's Guide
From the draft to the Superbowl, via epic touchdowns and crunching tackles, football is a fast and violent game of chess. This comprehensive handbook offers a deep dive into the NFL's greatest teams and moments. Covering key concepts such as the importance of field goals, quarterbacks and wide receivers, NFL: The Fan's Guide reveals the extreme athleticism and complex tactics needed to dominate the modern game. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the game, insights into all 32 NFL teams mean that this must-have guide will take your game day experience to new heights.
Every Day Is Sunday
A New York Times Notable Book of 2025 - One of Barnes & Noble's Best Sports Books of 2025 From veteran New York Times Business & NFL reporter, Ken Belson, a deeply-reported account of how the NFL's Commissioner, Roger Goodell, and its two most powerful owners, Jerry Jones & Robert Kraft, turned the league into a cultural phenomenon. On February 11, 2024, NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, & the league's two most powerful owners, Jerry Jones & Robert Kraft, looked down at the spectacle before them. What they saw was the sport's championship game, the Super Bowl--now a de facto national holiday--being played in a shiny new $2B stadium, home to the first franchise based in Las Vegas, after the league's embrace of nationwide gambling. The moment was over 30 years in the making. As one of Goodell's colleagues said: "Roger doesn't view the other leagues as competition. He wants to be mentioned with Disney and the Vatican, these massive institutions." In Every Day is Sunday, Ken Belson traces the evolution of the league from "one of the four US professional sports," to the superpower it is today. Belson illustrates how the league's rise coincided with the arrival of Jones & Kraft in the early 90's. He provides an inside look on how these two men reshaped the league, taking readers into the secretive owner's meeting, how they decided Goodell was the right man to place as Commissioner, and how the three built, wielded, and held on to their collective power. Perfect for fans of The Dynasty and Big Game, Belson provides a unique peek behind the curtain of how America's favorite sport achieved its status--and how these three men let nothing stand in their way.
Sideline CEO
From ESPN's correspondent Marty Smith-- a book of key leadership principles learned from championship coaches he's interviewed over the past two decades. Sideline CEO delves into the unique psychology and daily preparation and gameplan execution of some of America's most respected leaders--the coaches who have led hugely successful programs to win it all. In talking to these sideline CEOs, Marty develops a set of leadership pillars that include: Building vital TRUST within the organization. Creating open lines of COMMUNICATION. DELEGATING responsibility--and thereby empowerment--to your coaches and players. Establishing and sustaining the RIGHT CULTURE in your program. MANAGING CRISES and adversity. EVOLVING with the game, the players and society, and always challenging your team. Packed with insight, candor and keen storytelling from some of the greatest coaches of all time, Sideline CEO offers valuable takeaways that go beyond the game and can help set intentions for winning in our daily lives.
All They Did Was Win
As the 2008 football season came to a close, few could have guessed what lay just ahead for Auburn.But with the hiring of an unlikely coach and the recruitment of a quarterback from a junior college in Texas, these Tigers took us on a wild, roller-coaster ride all the way to Glendale, Arizona, and a date in the desert to play for the National Championship.Van Allen Plexico and John Ringer, Co-Hosts of the AU Wishbone Podcast, break down all the key games, controversies and critical moments of perhaps the greatest season in Auburn football history, including the epic, seemingly impossible "Camback" Iron Bowl and the BCS National Championship Game against Oregon, in play-by-play detail.This is the complete story of Auburn's 2010 National Championship run, as only the AU Wishbone can tell it.
The Rise and Fall of the Black Aces Hockey Club
What do aliens, D-list celebrities, politicians, scientists, sentient kitchen appliances, forest animals, cyber-criminals, a Pope and God Himself have to do with an obscure beer-league hockey team in Toronto Canada? Only everything. They all play a vital role in the Rise and Fall of the Black Aces Hockey Club, which you may have noticed is also the name of this book. Culled from the "best" examples of 15 years of weekly game reports, this collection is a faithful and 100% true (not really) account of the incredible history of the Black Aces Hockey Club as told by long-time Aces player and unofficial Team Scribe Jeff McCartney.
Men of Troy
From a New York Times bestselling author, a deeply reported account of how the USC Trojan football team captivated the sporting world in the 2000s. The University of Southern California received thousands of calls, emails and letters in 2001, after hiring former NFL coach, Pete Carroll, to resurrect its moribund program. Carroll was a "failure," a "fraud," and a "flake" according to USC boosters, the fans in Los Angeles and the college football cognoscenti. But by the middle of the decade, he had turned USC into a legendary juggernaut, with multiple Heisman Trophy winners and national championships. In Men of Troy, Monte Burke, provides the definitive account of this singular dynasty, based on original reporting and more than 150 new interviews. Burke illustrates how Carroll and his colorful cast of coaches and players--including cross-eyed quarterback turned national heartthrob, Matt Leinart, and the electric, generational running back, Reggie Bush--not only took over college football, but Los Angeles and the country, as well. Burke not only takes readers through the iconic games of the era, but also behind the scenes--in the locker room, on the recruiting trail and into the LA nightlife scene, where the players enjoyed their celebrity status and, at times, succumbed to illicit temptations. He also puts the dynasty in proper context, tracing the breathtaking rise of the program, the sudden and inglorious fall, and the scandal that left a program in ruins and precipitated the drastic changes that led to the current era of college football.
Yoga for Footballers
Written by former Arsenal FC physio and yoga teacher, this is a guide for all ages and abilities to help you play soccer better for longer. Yoga has now become a standard part of soccer training with players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo practising regularly. Sharon Heidaripour is a former professional soccer and Arsenal physio turned yoga instructor and knows all too well that the contact sport can lead to damaging injuries. However, many of them can be prevented if you can spot areas getting fatigued, overloaded, imbalanced or to become inflexible. In this step-by-step guide, Sharon teaches you routines that can be integrated into your daily life - on and off the pitch - and weekly training to help prevent injury and support recovery. Exercises focus on hip mobility, hamstring prehab and rehab, lower back mobility, relaxation and breathwork through morning, evening, pre-training and pre-match, post-training and post-match routines. With full-colour photographs, Sharon shares more than 70 yoga poses and routines with clear instructions, top tips and options to suit all levels and ages, whether you are a casual, amateur or professional soccer player.
The Pocketbook Guide To Sports Coaching
Do you want to know what makes a sports coach successful?This straightforward guide for sports coaches answers exactly that.Tom Lally - founder of Leadershipandsport.com, PE teacher, and sports coach - has created this comprehensive pocketbook, packed with powerful theories and practical tips on what makes a coach successful and how you can apply these principles yourself.Whether you are studying for a coaching qualification and want to be a grassroots coach, or are already an experienced coach, this book is designed for you. It combines research, proven techniques, and practical experience to help you put theory into practice.Discover what makes a successful coachLearn how to develop and motivate your athletesUnderstand how to build a winning teamWith over 90,000 readers accessing Leadershipandsport.com for coaching advice in 2024, this guide is a trusted companion to use before, during, and after your coaching sessions - helping you master the key theories behind success.
The Story of Football in 100 Objects
The captivating story of football told through 100 amazing objects collected from its rich history - a must-read for any football fan What do a Paul Gascoigne puppet, the 1895 British Ladies' kit, John Motson's coat, an inflatable unicorn or the 1966 World Cup Final ball tell us about the beautiful game?Carefully selected from the unique archive of Manchester's National Football Museum, these and many other artefacts give an amazing account of football itself, but also of the clubs, players and fans at all levels. They take us inside moments of high drama, crushing heartbreak and euphoric success, and together reflect a diverse, inclusive and surprising vision of the world's favourite sport.Perfect for fans of all ages, this compendium of cup glories and bittersweet away-days will appeal to anyone with a love of the game.
The Team That History Forgot
While the Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL's newest dynasty, winning three Super Bowls since 2020, most fans don't recall the team's earliest successful years before decades of futility. What about the underdog losers of that very first Super Bowl? When the Kansas City Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I in 1967, they had only been in existence for seven seasons and were tasked with the monumental burden of representing the still-fledgling American Football League against the NFL's team of the decade. The Chiefs won their first AFL Championship in 1962, as the Dallas Texans, when owner Lamar Hunt decided the Dallas market couldn't support two pro football teams--it could barely support one. After just three seasons, the Texans relocated to Kansas City, where they became the Chiefs. Under future Hall-of-Famers Len Dawson, Buck Buchanan, and Johnny Robinson, they were the winningest AFL team and helped integrate pro football more than any other team in the 1960s. In The Team That History Forgot, Rick Gosselin explores the team's struggles and triumphs in its early years, the competition created by the AFL in player signing wars, the recruitment of athletes from historically Black colleges and universities, the loss of the franchise identity with the move from Texas to Kansas City, the first Super Bowl and the humiliating loss against the Packers, and the moves the Chiefs made to recover from that loss and win Super Bowl IV, the last game before the two rival leagues finally merged in 1970. The early Chiefs set a bar for excellence that the team continues to pursue today.
Badger's Rugby Compendium
The essential handbook for all rugby fans that leaves nothing on the paddock!"Outstanding! Who'd have thought a dictionary could be useful and very funny? A book for all rugby fans.' Will Greenwood, England World Cup WinnerBadger's Rugby Compendium is a humorous glossary of over 500 terms, slang and jargon, all the lingo jackaled and cleaned out from the inner world of rugby and delivered on a plate with razor-sharp, amusing definitions and illustrations to entertain the dedicated fan and enlighten the rugby-curious.If you had never seen a rugby match, say you were born and bred on Pluto, but you were fluent in English, on tuning into a game, you might ask yourself three questions: i) Why are all these people rolling around in the mud? ii) Why are they so cross with each other? iii) Why is the commentator talking in Klingon?Many people let rugby pass them by, as they do cricket and other sports built upon a complex set of rules. To understand the rules, to take some pleasure from a sport, as with anything else in life, you must understand the language by which it is described. To go one level deeper and take joy from the sport and immerse yourself in its culture, traditions and nuances, you must have a working knowledge of its jargon and slang. What do they say? The limit of my world is the limit of my words.'He's hoisted a bomb there, buried him with a snotter, gone in for the jackal, hands all over the egg, given him a facial, and kicked off the handbags. He's getting pinged here, and he's got himself ten minutes riding the pine or I'm Bill Beaumont.'There's only one reaction a rugby stranger might have to that: 'You what?' I mean, no wonder the rugby-curious viewer keeps flicking the remote.This packed little glossary puts you 'in the pocket' to understand and enjoy all the slang and vernacular, fun for the devoted fan, and enlightenment for the uninitiated and baffled.If you are Pluto-born and bred, I hope you find this book a helpful introduction to the ancient game loved by millions around our funny little planet and who knows? You might even be eligible to play for Scotland.
Stories from the Phog
Runner up: American Writing Awards Sports Book of the YearCome along on a 40-year journey of Kansas basketball through the eyes of a hoops fanatic.It can be hard to describe the pull of Kansas basketball to those not in the know. Basketball is an important part of the equation, but it's more than just the game. It's about family and friendships, traditions and superstitions. It's about wearing your lucky sweatshirt and watching a game over the holidays with your aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents. It's about making the pilgrimage to Allen Fieldhouse in the bitter cold and gathering at the Wheel or Johnny's after the game. It's about rejoicing in the team's victories and mourning their losses. All of these components coalesce to form what is known as Jayhawk Nation.In Stories from the Phog, lifelong KU hoops fan and Lawrence native Chelan David invites readers on a journey through forty years of Kansas basketball. It begins with a trip to an arcade with David Magley, Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 1978, includes the 2022 National Championship game, and culminates with the changing landscape of college basketball that we are witness to today. In between are encounters with Larry Brown, Danny Manning, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Gradey Dick, and other legends of the Kansas program, and memories from KU fans. Also included are anecdotes from descendants of James Naismith and Phog Allen. A must-read for any KU basketball fan, Stories from the Phog puts readers in the seats at Allen Fieldhouse as the Beware of the Phog banner is unfurled for the very first time, the Jayhawks score 150 points against Kentucky, freshman Jacque Vaughn hits a game winning three-pointer against Indiana, and Nick Collison receives a standing ovation from Dick Vitale. Relive the exhilarating come-from-behind victories against Missouri in 2012 and against West Virginia in 2017, a game that set the record for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sports event.
The Franchise: Philadelphia Eagles
In The Franchise: Philadelphia Eagles, take a more profound and unique journey into the history of an iconic team. This thoughtful and engaging collection of essays captures the astute fans' history of the franchise, going beyond well-worn narratives of yesteryear to uncover the less-discussed moments, decisions, people, and settings that fostered the team's iconic identity. Through wheeling and dealing, mythmaking and community building, explore where the organization has been, how it came to prominence in the modern NFL landscape, and how it'll continue to evolve and stay in contention for generations to come. Eagles fans in the know will enjoy this personal, local, in-depth look at team history.
Moses Malone
Moses Malone overcame abject poverty in segregated Petersburg, Virginia, to become the first modern-day basketball player to jump directly from high school to the pros, paving a path for future stars such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James to follow. Moses Malone: The Life of a Basketball Prophet tells the story of Malone's ascent in the early 1970s to becoming the premier player in the world for a five-year period. The young Malone prophesied his improbable rise and succeeded where others later failed because of his strength of character and unparalleled work ethic. Malone dominated his years in the NBA with a relentless determination that made him the greatest offensive rebounder in basketball history--a record he holds to this day. From 1979 to 1983 he won three of the NBA's Most Valuable Player awards and with Julius Erving helped to deliver the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA championship in 1983. He remains one of just nine players to win the NBA MVP award three or more times. In many ways Malone was an anti-superstar. He lacked a signature move, displayed almost no ego, and shunned the spotlight to the detriment of his commercial appeal. Shy by nature and self-conscious about a speech impediment, Moses kept his distance from the media, some of whom mistook his reticence for stupidity. A man of few words, he possessed a magnetism rooted in humility, authenticity, and passion. Moses was a giver, equally generous in assisting a friend as he was mentoring younger players, including Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. While his contemporaries preened for the cameras, Moses remained the "lunch pail superstar," a quiet and humble teammate who expressed himself through his tireless effort on the court and compassion off it.
In the Japanese Ballpark
Baseball is the national pastime of both the United States and Japan, but the two countries approach and play the game differently both on the field and away from it. To shed light on these differences and help fans gain a greater appreciation for Nippon Professional Baseball, Robert K. Fitts turns to the true experts, the people who play, oversee, promote, and watch the game, to find out what makes Japanese baseball special. In the Japanese Ballpark features engaging interviews with twenty-six baseball personalities to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the game. Fitts speaks with participants in the games such as players, managers, and an umpire; support staff including an interpreter, trainer, and data analyst; front office personnel such as an owner, general and assistant managers, and marketing directors; ballpark workers including cheerleaders, a mascot, beer vendor, and usher; and professionals who surround the sport, such as baseball writers, a player agent, and a sports card dealer; as well as a league commissioner. Through their personal experiences, these individuals reveal the inner workings of the Japanese game and explain the cultural aspects that make Nippon Professional Baseball different from Major League Baseball. In the Japanese Ballpark features interviews with Bobby Valentine, Trey Hillman, Matt Murton, Robert Whiting, Marty Kuehnert, Tomoko Namba, Ambassador Ryozo Kato, and many others. Their experiences and insights provide inside knowledge to make the fan experience more enjoyable, for both those watching a Japanese game for the first time and well as for seasoned followers.
Breakaway
When the first puck dropped in the Professional Women's Hockey League in January 2024, it had been a long time coming. Women have been playing hockey since at least 1890 and playing professionally for decades. But until 2024, even the highest-level female players had never been compensated as professionals: some paid for their own gear and worked second jobs, earning a pittance, if anything, from their chosen profession. In Breakaway, Karissa Donkin tells the story of the players' efforts to create the PWHL, long before the first full season in 2024. Following the unnamed 2024 Montreal PWHL team, with some of the best players in the sport, like Marie-Philip Poulin and Erin Ambrose, Donkin takes readers through the League's founding, the draft process, the practices, and the dramatic arc of the first season. Defying all expectations, with larger crowds and higher revenues than anticipated, this first season was a gamechanger for professional women's sports leagues.
Leap Year
The definitive chronicle of the Philadelphia Eagles' ascent to Super Bowl LIX glory The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2024-2025 NFL season with high hopes amid uncertainty following a historic collapse the previous year. With a retooled coaching staff and new injection of talent, the Birds built their rebirth brick by brick, week after week, and set the stage for a Super Bowl revenge game for the ages. In Leap Year, Zach Berman expertly chronicles the team's remarkable championship season as well as the elements that made it all possible--the highlight reel plays of new addition Saquon Barkley, the quiet leadership of Jalen Hurts, Vic Fangio's dominant defense, and more. Featuring in-depth reporting and an unforgettable cast of characters both on the field and in the front office, this is the story of how the Eagles found their footing, vanquished the reigning back-to-back champion Kansas City Chiefs, and returned the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia.
Bullies
The name 'Broad Street Bullies' in synonymous with tenacity, toughness, and hockey royalty in Philadelphia. Names like Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, Gary Dornhoefer, Don Saleski, Ed Van Impe, and Bob "Hound Dog" Kelly brought an aggressive, punishing style of play to the NHL and delivered back-to-back Stanley Cups to the City of Brotherly Love in 1974 and 1975. Bullies, by longtime Flyers beat writer Sam Carchidi alongside writer and director Jeff Hare, explores this incredible group of hockey legends and why this band of beloved misfits resonated so strongly among the entire city of Philadelphia. Fifty years have passed since the Broad Street Bullies became the first expansion team to win both the Stanley Cup and the hearts of generations of new Flyers fans, and the men who fought those fights and won those battles are forever engrained into the psyche of Philly sports lore. Carchidi and Hare bring these beloved folk heroes back into the spotlight, shedding light on not just what they did on the ice, but what they meant to the city that embraced them.
Old Big Ears
The Champions League is dead. Long live the Champions League! When Nigerian striker Daniel Amokachi scored for Club Brugge in November 1992, he ignited not just a match but a revolution the birth of European football s new commercial era. Belgian coach Raymond Goethals promptly led Olympique Marseille to claim the inaugural title. From these origins emerged the world s premier football league. Broadcast rights now command astronomical sums across continents, shifting football s epicentre from international tournaments to the Champions League stage, featuring giants like Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.
The Franchise: New York Giants
In The Franchise: New York Giants, take a more profound and unique journey into the history of an iconic team. This thoughtful and engaging collection of essays captures the astute fans' history of the franchise, going beyond well-worn narratives of yesteryear to uncover the less-discussed moments, decisions, people, and settings that fostered the team's iconic identity. Through wheeling and dealing, mythmaking and community building, explore where the organization has been, how it came to prominence in the modern NFL landscape, and how it'll continue to evolve and stay in contention for generations to come. Giants fans in the know will enjoy this personal, local, in-depth look at football history.
The Forty Year Old Rookie
What's worse than a has-been? A never-was.Peter Collins plays beer league ice hockey. He's overweight, over the hill, and the only thing crashing harder than his slapshot is his bank account.But when a strange twist of fate - and a few questionable decisions - land him a spot on an NHL roster, Peter sees his chance to earn some big money. The only problem? It's not entirely legit.Now he's skating a thin line between fantasy and fraud, trying to stay on the team. Because when you've waited your whole life for a shot at the big leagues... would you let the truth get in the way?A gripping story about regret, redemption, and how far someone will go to chase a dream.
Money Can't Buy Us Love
In 1960, the wealthy owner of the Merseyside-based Littlewoods corporation, John Moores, took control of Everton Football Club, setting in motion a chain of events that still affect the game in this country today.In Money Can't Buy Us Love, Everton's official statistician Gavin Buckland tells the tale of how Moores and manager Harry Catterick took the so-called 'Mersey Millionaires' to the summit of English football, in the context of the major cultural changes of the time.Money Can't Buy Us Love offers fascinating insight into how strong personalities can take a team to the very top but can also cause its ultimate downfall.
The First All-Star Game
Acclaimed journalist Randall Sullivan tells the story of baseball in America, from its rough-and-tumble origins through the first decades of the twentieth century and into the pivotal summer of 1933--when national crisis and a sport's fight for survival converged in baseball's first All-Star Game1933. America was still reeling from the crash. Breadlines stretched around city blocks, and shantytowns sprawled in the shadows of skyscrapers. American optimism was fading--and baseball was in trouble, too. Owners slashed budgets, fans stayed home, and even the mighty Babe Ruth seemed to have lost some of his magic. The election of Franklin D. Roosevelt offered hope, but just days before his inauguration, five shots rang out--missing the president-elect, killing the mayor of Chicago, and setting in motion a chain of events that would eventually bring together the world's best ballplayers for the first All-Star Game.It was a newspaperman's idea: The Game of the Century. Put the world's best players on one field and let the public decide who belonged there. At a moment when some feared the national pastime would not survive the decade, Chicago would host the ballgame as the highlight of the 1933 World's Fair. The city hoped to shed its reputation as a haven for gamblers and gangsters and help restore America's standing on the world stage. But abroad, dark clouds were gathering. Hitler was Germany's new chancellor, and Mussolini had consolidated his power. As visitors strolled the fairgrounds, Italian warplanes flew overhead, and a zeppelin sent by the German delegation circled the city emblazoned with a swastika.The First All-Star Game is the story of a nation and a sport at a crossroads, and a sweeping look back at baseball's early history and the America that shaped it. Deeply researched and filled with remarkable characters--legendary players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Lefty Grove rubbing shoulders with Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, and Charles Lindbergh--Randall Sullivan explores the history of an American obsession and captures the moment when both the sport and the nation found renewal in a single spectacle of hope.
World Club Football Records - 2026
Fully revised and updated, World Club Football Records 2026 is a net-bulging collection of standout football records, stats and trivia from around the globe.The triumphs and outstanding achievements from the Premier League, FA Cup, Spain's La Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, the Champions League and Copa Libertadores, together with many other leading competitions worldwide, are expertly logged in this amazing book, providing essential reference for football fans everywhere. All the contemporary superstars of world football are prominently featured, including Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo, Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and the next 'chosen one', Bar癟a's Lamine Yamal. It contains, top goalscorers, most appearances, biggest attendances, highest wins and hundreds and hundreds of more amazing football facts... right at your fingertips!
Red Sox Legends Alphabet
From Ted Williams to David Ortiz, Carl Yastrzemski to Pedro Mart穩nez, Red Sox Legends Alphabet celebrates the rich history of one of baseball's most iconic teams. Discover home run heroes, pitching powerhouses, and unforgettable moments that have defined Boston's beloved franchise.
The Ultimate Fourfourtwo Football Quiz Book
Since 1994, Four Four Two magazine has been a go to for football fans, bringing stories from the terraces to the touchline for three decades. A hugely popular part of the Four Four Two brand both in print and online has always been its challenging football quizzes. Now we've compiled the consummate collection: The Ultimate Four Four Two Football Quiz Book. This isn't just any quiz book; its packed with 2,500 questions across more than 180 different quizzes, designed to truly test your knowledge. From who scored the winner in the 1994 League Cup Final to which Swedish Club Peter Crouch joined on loan, and covering everything from the Champions League to the legendary Pele and everything in between. The Ultimate Four Four Two Football Quiz Book is the perfect quiz book to test your knowledge or challenge your friends to see who knows the most about Premier League trivia to World Cup history.
The Golf Bucket List
Track your tee times, course features, fairways, and legendary courses in this handsome flexi-bound guide. The Golf Bucket List, bound in vegan leather and featuring a heat-stamped cover design, is filled with prompts to plan the perfect golfing bucket list. Check off iconic championship courses, record your game experiences, discover hidden gems, and keep precious memories safe in a book dedicated to all things golf. Learn about the most interesting games played at each course, who was there, and what sets it apart from other courses. Then, when you're ready for a round, plan your adventure and use the optimal writing space to reflect on every swing in prompts such as date, players, weather conditions, score, favorite hole, most challenging hole, and lessons learned. You can also paste in your scorecard, photo, or other memento from the round to keep forever. This book includes 35 public and private courses from around the world, including: America's Members-Only Clubs Desert Mountain ClubCypress Point ClubSeminole Golf ClubAugusta National Golf ClubValhalla Golf ClubCrystal Downs Country ClubSand Hills Golf ClubPine Valley Golf ClubShinnecock Hills Golf ClubOakmont Country ClubAmerica's Public Golf Courses Pebble Beach Golf LinksPelican Hill Golf ClubCabot Citrus FarmsStreamsong Golf ResortPrinceville Makai Golf ClubBay Harbor Golf ClubEdgewood Tahoe Golf CourseShadow Creek Golf CourseBethpage Black Golf CoursePinehurst No. 2Tobacco Road Golf ClubPacific Dunes Golf ResortHarbour Town Golf LinksKiawah Island Golf ResortWhistling Straits Golf CourseCourses from Around the World Cape Wickham Golf LinksRoyal Melbourne Golf ClubFairmont Banff Springs Golf CourseRoyal County Down Golf ClubMuirfield Golf ClubSt. Andrews Links (Old Course)Turnberry Golf ClubCarnoustie Golf LinksRoyal Dornoch Golf ClubRoyal Portrush Golf ClubKeep track of every milestone and achievement such as your first hole in one, first eagle, and the first time you broke a score of 80. Golf is a reflective and fun sport unlike any other, so be sure to fill-in The Zen of Golf prompts when you're feeling introspective or the Bunker Activities when you want to daydream a little bit. And once you get through all 35 courses, visit the Honorable Mentions lists for both America and around the world for more courses that are waiting for you to play a round. The Epic Journey series offers beautifully illustrated guides for tracking all kinds of adventures. Bound in elegant vegan leather, these keepsake volumes help you create a timeless record of your favorite experiences as you check off your bucket list must-dos. Within their pages, you can celebrate your passions by indulging in facts, jotting down notes, pasting mementos, and completing challenges. Then return to them anytime to relive the joys of your epic journey. Also available from the series: The Ballpark Bucket List, The Camping Bucket List, The Football Bucket List, The National Parks Bucket List, The 50 States Bucket List, and The Bird Watching Bucket List.
Remembering Harmon
It is a rare player indeed who is remembered as much for his character as he is for a Hall of Fame career. Harmon Killebrew was such a player. In Remembering Harmon, former MLB players share, in their own handwriting, the genuine admiration and affection they had for Harmon Killebrew. Done in a similar format as his first two books, Remembering Roberto and Remembering Henry, author Jim Bark has put together a heartfelt and inspiring tribute to another one of Baseball's all-time greats.
America's Classic Ballparks - Revised Edition
Go out to the ballgame with an interactive tour through America's ballpark landmarks in this new edition of America's Classic Ballparks. The ultimate tribute to the stadiums that shaped America's pastime, America's Classic Ballparks transports you to the golden era of baseball. From the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field to the timeless charm of Fenway Park, this richly illustrated book brings you closer to the game you love. Explore a wealth of information, including up-to-date details about baseball reinventing its stage--from billion-dollar dreams in Vegas, to major-league cameos in minor parks, to mythic games in Iowa cornfields--revealing a sport that is forever caught between spectacle, survival, and nostalgia. Written by acclaimed sportswriter James Buckley Jr., this handsome volume is packed with stunning photography, fascinating history, and nostalgic stories that celebrate the nation's most iconic ballparks, including: Ebbets FieldTiger StadiumPolo GroundsOriginal Yankee StadiumFenway ParkWrigley FieldDodger StadiumOriole Park at Camden YardsOracle Park Whether you're a lifelong fan, a sports history buff, or shopping for the perfect gift, America's Classic Ballparks is a must-have collectible that keeps the spirit of the game alive.
Eckie
Walter "Eckie" Eckersall was one of the most famous people in Chicago for three decades: He was the city's first high school athlete superstar when the competitive prep athletics scene was maturing in Illinois, then quarterback of the University of Chicago Maroons, and finally a prominent sports journalist for the Chicago Tribune. As the greatest player in the University of Chicago's history, Eckersall led the Maroons to a national title in 1905 and earned a place as an All-American three times. Head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg and Eckersall helped set the Maroons on a two-decade path of excellence that made football the biggest and best game in town. As American sports entered a golden age and journalism was revolutionized by advancements in printing technology, Eckersall entered the growing field of sports journalism. He became the lead sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune and the lens through which many Chicagoans understood sports. During his twenty-three-year career, he covered and promoted many of the greatest athletes and sporting events, including the inaugural Indianapolis 500, the Dempsey-Tunney Long Count fight, eleven Rose Bowls, and strange gambling patterns that eventually exposed the 1919 Black Sox scandal. While Eckersall was a great player and well-known writer, he had many flaws, some unknown to the public for decades. He was expelled after his last game with the Maroons, was caught committing theft, secretly eloped in a shotgun wedding and then soon abandoned his wife and young daughter, and struggled with a drinking problem. But he was also notably generous and a vocal and consistent supporter of equal opportunity for Black athletes. Chris Serb's biography sheds new light on Eckersall's long-forgotten career in the context of Chicago's burgeoning sports scene.
Brady vs. Belichick
A unique and unparalleled look into the nature and relationship of two of the pillars in the NFL's greatest dynasty. The greatest dynasty in NFL history stood on two pillars - Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Together they forged a working relationship that provided thrilling results that would change the NFL forever. But what was the nature of that relationship? How did it function? How and when did it falter? How did these two figures come together on a national - and global - stage and create the most dominant team in NFL history? Was it driver and passenger? Mentor and mentee? Superstar and mad scientist? Phenom and tactician? Or were they equals? The Yin and Yang that made the New England Patriots championships possible? It is the greatest unanswered question in NFL history that sparks animated debate across the league, and the answer is more complex and more fraught than anyone really understands. Brady vs. Belichick: Who deserves the credit for nine Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl championships? Veteran NFL insider and New York Times bestselling author Gary Myers draws on his unique and unparalleled access to Belichick and Brady over the course of the two decades, but also to the myriad players, coaches, personnel and family, to get to the bottom of this argument and resolve it once and for all. He drills into the numbers, analyzes the psychology and sociology of this partnership, and use the powerful wand of perspective and context to illuminate the greatest duo that has ever graced the game.
Baseball Legends
Come with us to explore the lives and careers of baseball's biggest hitters and flame-throwing pitchers. All the icons of the sport are here. Few sports have the rich history of baseball. From spring training to the autumnal World Series, baseball's storied franchises have produced many legendary moments over 150 years of the major leagues. But it's the riveting rivalries between the men on the diamond who are sport's star attraction. Pioneers of the game like Shoeless Joe Jackson and Babe Ruth made baseball into a national phenomenon. Big names of the golden era like Jackie Robinson and Joe DiMaggio carried their teams to success. Don't forget the modern-day superstars like Mike Trout and Albert Pujols who've maintained baseball's popularity into the 21st century. Step up to the plate with the sluggers and pitchers who made baseball into America's national pastime.
The World Is Our Course
Do you enjoy golf and travel to exotic locations in overseas countries? The World Is Our Course is a guide to fantastic golfing around the world, written by Dr. Jerry Bailey, founder of Bailey Golf Tours. Find out where to play some of the finer courses around the world, while allowing time for the local sights. This book includes details about playing many courses and their histories. Dr. Bailey also recounts some of the more amusing adventures he has had while golfing and traveling in this entertaining and informative book.
Slam Kicks
The definitive primer on the world's most popular shoe: the basketball sneaker. Basketball shoes have a long and storied history both on and off the court. Back in the 1930s, a basketball sneaker was created for straight-up performance. Today, hoops footwear do double duty: they're designed for and by elite players, but to sneakerheads, how they look is nearly as important as how they perform. SLAM Kicks breaks down the path of the basketball sneaker, from the birth of the very first iconic shoe, the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star, to the white-hot best-selling cultural-phenomenon Nike Air Jordan sneaker line. This book showcases the hottest basketball kicks over time, throwbacks and new shoes alike, covering each legendary sneaker and its design, the technical advancements found in the shoe, the athletes who made the shoe famous, and the cultural waves the footwear has made off the basketball court. Featured sneakers also include the Adidas Jabbar, the Puma Clyde, the Nike Air Force One, the Reebok Question, the AND1 Tai Chi, the Nike Zoom Kobe IV, and many others. SLAM Kicks: Basketball Sneakers That Changed the Game is the perfect gift for basketball-sneaker fans and street-fashion enthusiasts alike.
