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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was best known as the founder of both the Kansas City Chiefs and the AFL, which later merged with the NFL to form the most successful sports league in U.S. history. Here, author David A. F. Sweet writes about how football was only one of the many interests in Hunt's life and business ventures. Hunt seemed to be omnipresent in the sporting world, having helped form Major League Soccer, the modern pro tennis tour, and the Chicago Bulls. This biography delves deep into Hunt's impact on many popular sports and reveals never-before-disclosed details of this soft-spoken man's true importance in transforming the sporting landscape into the massive industry that it is today.
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!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Havana Hardball
1947 Cuba, where the most memorable season in the history of the Cuban League coincided with Jackie Robinson's spring training on the island before he made his major-league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Make Me Commissioner
"Make Jane Commissioner... Leavy has a voice demanding to be heard--and Major League Baseball should listen."-- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL A New York Times bestselling biographer and lifelong baseball devotee takes readers on an epic journey through the game that baseball has become-- a heartfelt manifesto that's perfect for lovers of the sport. Jane Leavy has always loved baseball. Her grandmother lived one long, loud foul ball away from Yankee Stadium--the same grandmother who took young Jane to Saks Fifth Avenue and bought her her first baseball glove. It's no coincidence that Leavy was covering the game she loved for the Washington Post by the late 1970s. As a pioneering female sportswriter, she eventually turned her talent to books, penning three of the all-time best baseball biographies about three of the all-time best players: Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, and Babe Ruth. But when she went searching for a fourth biographical subject, she realized that baseball had faltered. The Moneyball era of the last two decades obsessed over data and slowed the game down to a crawl, often at the expense of thrills, skills, and surprise. Major League Baseball has begun to address issues too long ignored, yet the questions linger: how much have these efforts helped to improve the game and reassert its place in American culture? Leavy takes a whirlwind tour of the country seeking answers to these questions, talking with luminaries like Joe Torre, Dave Roberts, Jim Palmer, Dusty Baker, and more. What Leavy uncovers is not only what's wrong with baseball--and how to fix it--but also what's right with baseball, and how it illuminates characters, tells stories, and fires up the imagination of those who love it and everyone who could discover it anew.
Fairways & Femininity
Fairways and Femininity: Women in Golf By Stacey Soans Toronto, Canada From the heart of Toronto, Stacey Soans brings a fresh and empowering perspective to the evolving world of women in golf. Fairways and Femininity is more than a celebration of sport-it's a journey into how golf has become a global stage for female empowerment, elegance, networking, and connection. Through compelling storytelling and real-world insight, Stacey highlights the trailblazing women who've shaped the game-from the iconic fairways of St. Andrews to the championship greens of Pebble Beach, and from South Africa's scenic courses to vibrant communities in Scottsdale and beyond. This book explores how women are embracing the golf course not only for play but for powerful networking opportunities, career growth, and building lasting relationships in business and life. Stacey Soans also dives deep into golf course fashion, showcasing how modern athletes like Nelly Korda and Atthaya Thitikul are expressing style, grace, and individuality-transforming the fairway into a runway. Inside, you'll find: -A beginner's guide to help women step onto the course with confidence -Practical travel tips and scenic golf destination highlights -Wellness strategies for staying energized on and off the green -Reflections on fashion, mindset, and personal growth through the game Fairways and Femininity is a bold, inclusive, and inspiring look at how golf has become more than a game-it's a lifestyle.
American Soccer Nation
A comprehensive recounting of the beautiful game on American soil . . . and a look at soccer's boundless potential in the USA Soccer is the most popular game in the world, but does it truly belong in the heart of American sports culture? The answer is a resounding yes--and the 150-year journey of elite men's soccer in the US is filled with drama, surprises, reversals, and triumphs that rival any world-class match. With meticulous research and lifelong passion, Mark C Franek delivers a fast-paced, foundational soccer book that also serves as a celebration of American soccer. This book is a must-have for all fans, players, parents, coaches, and professionals across the sport. In brisk, punchy prose that moves in a confident tiki-taka style, Franek explores: The soccer-like games played by Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans How organized soccer predates gridiron football, started in American colleges, and was carried forward by immigrant communities Why soccer has always been more inclusive and immigrant-friendly than other professional sports The rise and fall of the original ASL and the Golden Age of American soccer America's Olympic and World Cup highs and lows dating back to the early 20th century Soccer's growing popularity today, from MLS and USL to elite youth academies The accordion-like journey of the USMNT over the past 40 years, leading to the USA's co-hosting of the 2026 World Cup A roadmap for how the US can go from good to great on the international stage--based on firsthand accounts from professional athletes and experts in the sport With forewords by Cavan Sullivan and Tim Howard, American Soccer Nation is the definitive text affirming that the US really is a soccer nation.
Hockey Hall of Fame Timeline of the Game
The players. The builders. The moments and stories that define the game. Hockey Hall of Fame Timeline of the Game is a visual catalog of hockey's history -- from the early days of a modest ice game played on ponds to today's fast-paced, global, multi-billion-dollar sport. Hockey Hall of Fame Timeline of the Game is replete with facts, stories, headlines and stats that will satiate the appetites of even the most passionate fans. Hundreds of images, from iconic photographs to obscure illustrations and rare shots, bring the history to life -- all assembled in a colorful, attention-grabbing package. This indispensable reference guides you through these eight hockey-defining eras: Pre-1875 - The early makings of a winter game on the East Coast of Canada 1875-1892 - The first organized hockey games and teams 1893-1917 - The introduction of Lord Stanley's Cup to the rise of the NHL as the dominant professional league 1917-1942 - The NHL under Frank Calder and the expansion into the U.S., anchored by players like Howie Morenz and leaders like Conn Smythe and Art Ross 1942-1967 - The uncertainties of wartime to the post-war era that would produce some of hockey's biggest stars, bitterest rivalries and most important moments, including the television revolution 1967-1993 - An era of change and challenges with the establishment of the NHLPA, the introduction of the entry draft, television rights, incoming European talent and dominant superstars that were pushing the limits of the game -- such as Guy Lafleur, Phil Esposito, Valeri Kharlamov, Scotty Bowman, Vladislav Tretiak, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux 1993-2005 - The great southern NHL expansion, from 21 teams to 30, the first NHL lockout and the NHL goes to the 1998 Nagano Olympics 2005-Present - The 2004-05 NHL lockout, the Crosby-Ovechkin era and the rise of the women's game.
What Is Fifa For?
A wide-ranging look at football's powerful but controversial governing body. Football is the world's most popular sport and truly a global phenomenon. As a result, it attracts huge sums of money from its advertisers, sponsors and broadcasters, much of which flows to FIFA, the sport's international governing body. So, given its decidedly chequered history, the question of what FIFA is for is crucial to the game's future. Examining the organisation's successes such as the explosion of interest in the women's game, alongside its failures and continuing crises over corruption and ethics, Alan Tomlinson asks: what will it take for FIFA to genuinely live up to its own mission of integrity, fair play and accessibility?
Rough Diamonds
Starting in the late 19th century, South African baseball has established a fascinating and multi-layered history. Initially established by a small group of dedicated pioneers, the sport benefited from the contributions of a diverse and multi-national group of enthusiasts and opponents, including sailors, cricketers, missionaries, activists, businessmen and bureaucrats. Established at a time of social segregation, the South African game eventually developed into a system of legislated racism under apartheid. Through its willing participation in official race-based events, the sport was stripped of its innocence, and South Africa was formally expelled from the world game, only to be readmitted in 1992 following the country's slow transition to democracy. This book presents the history of South African baseball, from its inception, to its liberation from apartheid. Based on extensive archival research, this is the first integrated history of South African baseball's eventful past.
Golf
Golf offers a wealth of information and lively anecdotes about the game, its history, its greatest players, and its best courses.Each chapter provides a combination of facts and fun as you explore player and course profiles, great moments, quotes, anecdotes, and lists.Recount the stories of golf's many legends--Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and more.Celebrate the sport's lighter, more playful side, such as when Roger Maltbie lost his $40,000 winner's check in a restaurant, or when 20-year-old Tom Kim took a mud bath retrieving a ball.Read about the game's greatest moments, including Gene Sarazen's double eagle at the 1935 Masters, Nancy Lopez's streak of five wins in her rookie season, and John Daly's out-of-nowhere victory at the 1991 PGA Championship.Mixed in are hilarious quotes and amusing stories about the great pastime of golf.Hardcover, 256 pages.
