Atomic Golf
World-famous bodybuilder Steve Michalik and professional gold coach Michael Manavian team up in this powerful new book, which presents Atomic Golf - a system that joins Michalik's undeniably effective methods of mind-body training with Manavian's unique techniques for creating the perfect golf swing.
Wisdom for a Young Golfer
Jump inside this amazing, original golf book... Filled with the ABC's of success to life and the game of golf, this book is written by the very people who have achieved fame and fortune in their respective golf-related field. Historically compelling and just plain fun to read, Wisdom For A Young Golfer will fascinate those golfers new to the game, as well as the serious golf historian and weekend hacker. You will not be able to put these compelling letters down until you have reached the very last page. Then you will want to share this rich knowledge with someone close to you, even if they have never picked up a driver or putter in their life. Wisdom For A Young Golfer includes letters from Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, and many more. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit The First Tee. The First Tee's mission is to positively impact young people with educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.
The 50 Greatest Players in New England Patriots Football History
Perhaps even more than the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots are the team of the entire northeast from Rhode Island to Canada. Here, sports historian Robert W. Cohen ranks the 50 best players to ever take the field for the Patriots. Who can forget Wes Welker, Troy Brown, Jim Nance, Ted Bruschi, and Tom Brady. They're all here, with photos, playing histories, stats, and career highlights.
Take Your Eye Off the Puck
A guide for sports fans on how to watch and appreciate the game of hockey More and more fans are watching the NHL each week, but many of them don't know exactly what they should be watching. How does an offense create shooting lanes for its best sniper? When a center breaks through and splits between two defensemen, which defender is to blame? Why does a goalie look like a Hall of Famer one week and a candidate for the minor leagues the next? This guide for sports fans on how to watch and appreciate the game of hockey takes you inside a coach's mind as he builds a roster or constructs a game plan, to the chaos of the goalie's crease, and deep into the perpetual chess match between offense and defense. Discussing topics such as what to look for when a team goes on the power play and why playing center might be the most grueling job in sports, Take Your Eye Off the Puck shows fans how to get the most out of watching their favorite sport.
100 Things North Carolina Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
Perfect for UNC fans who think they already know everything 100 Things North Carolina Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource guide for true fans of the Tar Heels. Whether you're a die-hard booster from the days of Dean Smith or a new supporter of Roy Williams, these are the 100 things all fans need to know and do in their lifetime. It contains every essential piece of Tar Heels knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom.
Baseball Research Journal
The flagship publication of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the Baseball Research Journal is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publication presenting the best in SABR member research on baseball. History, biography, economics, physics, psychology, game theory, sociology and culture, records, and many other disciplines are represented to expand our knowledge of baseball as it is, was, and could be played.
100 Things Duke Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
Perfect for Duke fans who think they already know everything 100 Things Duke Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource guide for true fans of the Blue Devils. Whether you're a die-hard booster from the days of Mike Gminski or a new supporter of Jahlil Okafor, these are the 100 things all fans needs to know and do in their lifetime. It lists figures from the Vic Bubas era to the current Coach K era--with stories on each of his four national championships and the players involved. The book also features the places all Duke fans needs to visit, such as the Angus Barn, and provides background on the university, including how it was founded and what makes the famed chapel such a special structure. Every essential piece of Blue Devils knowledge and trivia is here, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom.
Game of My Life Detroit Lions
It was Thanksgiving Day, 1962. The Detroit Lions handed Green Bay its only loss during the Packers' championship season. But the Lions didn't just beat Vince Lombardi's team--they sacked All-Pro quarterback Bart Starr a league-record eleven times. All-Pro defensive lineman Roger Brown recorded six of those sacks, and he describes this most memorable game in Game of My Life Detroit Lions. Since their founding as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1929, the Detroit Lions have carried the hearts and souls of some of the NFL's most loyal fans. Now supporters of this storied franchise will go into the locker room and onto the turf with over twenty Lions legends in Game of My Life Detroit Lions. Sportswriter Paula Pasche opens the doors to players' private remembrances of how it was and how they reacted to the spotlight. Readers will hear tales from Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, and fan favorites such as Charlie Sanders, Mel Farr, Shaun Robinson, Doug English, and so many more. Within these pages, Detroit gridiron greats offer glimpses of the National Football League in the 1950s, the 1960s, and right up through the present day. More than fifty years of Lions' experience is represented in this collection of tales told by the men who lived through some of the most memorable moments in franchise history. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports--books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Boy on Ice
The tragic death of hockey star Derek Boogaard at twenty-eight was front-page news across the country in 2011 and helped shatter the silence about violence and concussions in professional sports. Now, in a gripping work of narrative nonfiction, acclaimed reporter John Branch tells the shocking story of Boogaard's life and heartbreaking death. Boy on Ice is the richly told story of a mountain of a man who made it to the absolute pinnacle of his sport. Widely regarded as the toughest man in the NHL, Boogaard was a gentle man off the ice but a merciless fighter on it. With great narrative drive, Branch recounts Boogaard's unlikely journey from lumbering kid playing pond-hockey on the prairies of Saskatchewan, so big his skates would routinely break beneath his feet; to his teenaged junior hockey days, when one brutal outburst of violence brought Boogaard to the attention of professional scouts; to his days and nights as a star enforcer with the Minnesota Wild and the storied New York Rangers, capable of delivering career-ending punches and intimidating entire teams. But, as Branch reveals, behind the scenes Boogaard's injuries and concussions were mounting and his mental state was deteriorating, culminating in his early death from an overdose of alcohol and painkillers.Based on months of investigation and hundreds of interviews with Boogaard's family, friends, teammates, and coaches, Boy on Ice is a brilliant work for fans of Michael Lewis's The Blind Side or Buzz Bissinger's Friday Night Lights. This is a book that raises deep and disturbing questions about the systemic brutality of contact sports--from peewees to professionals--and the damage that reaches far beyond the game.
The Handy Hockey Answer Book
Stan Fischler, hockey journalist since 1954 and Lester Patrick Award-winner "for contributions to hockey in the United States," covers the sport's history, its origins, rules, players, and more! Stick handlers without helmets rushing goaltenders without masks on rinks lacking sideboards gives way to a faster game with bigger players and overtime shootouts. The National Hockey League goes from a Canadian and regional sport to one that is watched by more fans throughout North America than ever. Hockey may have changed, but its essence and appeal remain. The Handy Hockey Answer Book, written by hockey historian, broadcaster, author, and self-professed Hockey Maven, Stan Fischler, brings the game to life through exciting game action, vital stats, players, rules, and more. It traces the early spread of hockey, Lord Stanley's involvement, and the birth of the cup, then explains the rules, the equipment, strategies, and positioning, before following the ups and downs of the National Hockey League and its teams and players. From the traditions, all-time cup- and award-winners and record-breakers to the modern game, The Handy Hockey Answer Book answers more than 800 questions on the game, greats, goals, and growing popularity of hockey, including ... Where does hockey come from? What was the Stanley Cup first called? Where did the name "Patrick Division" come from and why are the Patrick brothers important? When was six-man hockey invented and who was its creator? What is a "Zamboni" and after whom was it named? What was the Gretzky Rule? How did the hockey puck develop its present shape? Which is the oldest current NHL team? Why is the term "Original Six" a misnomer? Which Hall of Famer trained on champagne? Who holds the Montreal Canadien's franchise record for career goals? Who centered Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsey on Detroit's legendary "Production Line." Which team was the first to come back from being down 3-0 in a series. Who played right wing on a line with Phil Esposito for the Bruins in the late 60s and 70s? Who was the first European player to lead the league in scoring? What NHL team won and lost the Stanley Cup on the same day? Which hockey player was supposed to be "kidnapped" as part of a scheme to increase attendance at New York Rangers games? Did an NHL club ever play all its "home" games of the Stanley Cup finals on the road? Starting with a Middle Ages game resembling ice golf to the NHL's Original Six to the modern high school, college, and professional games, this is a clear, concise, and illuminating primer to the game of hockey! A glossary of terms and a bibliography for further reading round out this helpful primer on the sport.
Art Ross
The first authorized biography of Art Ross, Hockey Hall of Famer, NHL founding father, and long-time member of the Boston Bruins.Though he last played the game nearly one hundred years ago, Art Ross remains connected with the greatest stars in hockey. Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Sidney Crosby have all won the award that bears his name, the trophy given annually to the NHL's top scorer. Ross himself managed just one goal during his NHL career; however, in the dozen years leading up to the formation of the NHL in 1917, he was one of the biggest stars in the game. After his playing career ended, Ross became one of the founding fathers of the Boston Bruins, holding the positions of coach, general manager, and vice president. He was one of the men most responsible for making the NHL a success in the United States, and was integral to the modernization of hockey. All these accomplishments led to him being one of the first players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.Hockey historian Eric Zweig brings to life the early days of hockey. From the mining towns of Northern Ontario to the hallowed halls of Boston Garden, Art Ross was one of the biggest names in hockey over his six decades in the game.
Past Time
What if NFL teams went back to power offenses like the late-80s Parcellsian Giants? Are running backs over 220 pounds more effective and less likely to get hurt? Can a running quarterback survive if he's deployed more like a running back? And why are there whole groups of people out there this obsessed with the past? Author Ted Kluck found, online, a community of computer nerds and football enthusiasts so rooted in the past and so uninterested in the future that they have created algorithms and computer software that can accurately simulate football games, seasons, and careers using fields of data that already exist on the thousands of players who have suited up in the National Football League. In this book, part memoir and part Bill-Jamesian exploration into football nerdery, The Odyssey Online Football league takes the author-a jaded journalist, a lifelong football player, and a burned-out coach-through a year immersed in the late 1970s, in hopes of rekindling his love for the game. Past Time is an homage to football's past, and a meditation on its present and future.
The Grand Old Man of Baseball
In The Grand Old Man of Baseball, Norman L. Macht chronicles Connie Mack's tumultuous final two decades in baseball. After Mack had built one of baseball's greatest teams, the 1929-31 Philadelphia Athletics, the Depression that followed the stock market crash fundamentally reshaped Mack's legacy as his team struggled on the field and at the gate. Among the challenges Mack faced: a sharp drop in attendance that forced him to sell his star players; the rise of the farm system, which he was slow to adopt; the opposition of other owners to night games, which he favored; the postwar integration of baseball, which he initially opposed; a split between the team's heirs (Mack's sons Roy and Earle on one side, their half brother Connie Jr. on the other) that tore apart the family and forced Mack to choose--unwisely--between them; and, finally, the disastrous 1951-54 seasons in which Roy and Earle ran the club to the brink of bankruptcy. By now aged and mentally infirm, Mack watched in bewilderment as the business he had built fell apart. Broke and in debt, Roy and Earle feuded over the sale of the team. In a never-before-revealed series of maneuvers, Roy double-crossed his father and brother and the team was sold and moved to Kansas City in 1954. In Macht's third volume of his trilogy on Mack, he describes the physical, mental, and financial decline of Mack's final years, which unfortunately became a classic American tragedy.
The 50 Greatest Players in Detroit Tigers History
This book carefully examines the careers of the fifty men who made the greatest impact on the Detroit Tigers franchise. Features include quotes from opposing players and former teammates, summaries of each player's best season, recaps of their most memorable performances, and listings of their notable achievements.
Forever Red
On any given workday, any little thing might send Steve Smith's thoughts spinning back to Saturday--last Saturday, Saturday two weeks ago, Saturday two years ago, back into the thrilling minutiae of game day--until reality reminds him: this is not how well-adjusted adults act. Steve Smith is not a well-adjusted adult. He's a Nebraska football fan, and this is his rollicking account of what it's like to be one of those legendary enthusiasts whose passion for the Cornhuskers is at once irresistible and hilarious.A journey into an obsessed Nebraska fan's soul, Forever Red immerses readers in the mad, mad world of Husker football fandom--where wearing the scarlet-and-cream Huskers gear has its own peculiar rules; where displaced followers act as the program's ambassadors, finding Husker subculture beyond the pale; and where the team's performance can barely keep pace with its followers' expectations but sometimes exceeds their wildest dreams.Revised, updated, and expanded from the 2005 edition, Smith's story of thirty-plus years following the team takes readers back to memorable game moments from 1980 up through the roller-coaster ride of recent years. Blending wit and insight, Smith offers a window on the world to the uninitiated and the fellow fanatic alike where fantasy and football meet, where dreams of glory and gritty gridiron realities forever join.
The '85 Bears
The ultimate record of a great franchise's greatest season as told by none other than Da Coach himself In Ditka's own words, this 30th anniversary volume of The '85 Bears is packed with special features that make it the ultimate must-have treasure for every Bears fan. This updated edition features the authors' reflections on the incredible championship season as well as recaps and statistics for every regular- and post-season game, bringing the entire 1985 campaign to life. Interviews with fan favorites--from the Fridge to Buddy Ryan--as well as special commentary from Gary Fencik offer extra insight into the team's Super Bowl run. Capping off a truly memorable volume is a bonus audio CD that features an exclusive interview with Mike Ditka, providing even more memories from a truly golden era of Chicago football.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Playbook
The X's and O's behind the Steelers' most memorable moments For serious football fans wanting to relive the most unforgettable, extraordinary, and gut-wrenching plays in Pittsburgh Steelers history, this account explores the team's greatest calls, providing context, back story, relevant circumstances, and comments from those directly involved in each play. Dozens of color photos help to reanimate each memory, including the Immaculate Reception, Willie Parker's 75-yard Super Bowl XL run from scrimmage, quarterback Mark Malone's record-setting catch of 90 yards from Terry Bradshaw, and John Henry Johnson running for a 45-yard score to help the Steelers upset the Browns.
So You Think You Know Football?
So You Think You Know Football is the motherlode of NFL rules. Whether you know everything about on- and off-field rules or are a true novice, Austro illustrates the ins and outs of the NFL using examples from games. Each rule explanation is followed by quiz questions to test your inner referee.
Friday Night Lights
Named Sports Illustrated's best football book of all time and a #1 NYT bestseller, this is the classic story of a high school football team whose win-loss record has a profound influence on the town around them. Return once again to the timeless account of the Permian Panthers of Odessa -- the winningest high-school football team in Texas history. Socially and racially divided, Odessa isn't known to be a place big on dreams, but every Friday night from September to December, when the Panthers play football, dreams can come true. With frankness and compassion, Pulitzer Prize winner H. G. Bissinger unforgettably captures a season in the life of Odessa and shows how single-minded devotion to the team shapes the community and inspires -- and sometimes shatters -- the teenagers who wear the Panthers' uniforms. The inspiration for the hit television program and film of the same name, this anniversary edition features a new afterword by the author.
Football Rules
A new official does not need any other book but this one to work from. This book takes the complex information in the rules and breaks it down for laymen. The information paints a visible picture of a fast paced game so as it is easy to understand. With this book a new official is able to see the scenarios on the field in a modern and easy view. I have taken this book along with the national book and given it to football coaches and, who after reading Football Rules- Simply Stated, have thanked me for doing so. They could not believe the simplicity but yet thoroughness of the work. Thom Pickens North Florida Officials Association Secretary Without Football Rules: Simply Stated I would not be the official that I am today. Having played, I thought that I knew everything there was, however, McPhilomy showed me a complete new world. The author's ability to phrase the rules so that they can be learned quickly and easily is unmatched from other works that I have read. It is Simply Stated that gave me the keys to be a successful official, working high school ball, and built my rules knowledge foundation as I move up to the college ranks. I also use Simply Stated to train new high school officials. I highly recommend Simply Stated for any official or fan who wants a clear and concise view on the rule and how it should be interpreted. I use Simply Stated as the basis for my high school rules study every year, and will for years to come. Football Rules: Simply Stated is THE primer on high school rules and should be a part of every official's professional library. Kellum F. Sowers North Florida Officials Association Vice President, Training Officer 2006 Rookie of the Year
This Ain’t Brain Surgery
Plenty of people were surprised when Larry Dierker was named the manager of the Houston Astros at the end of the 1996 season, but perhaps no one was more surprised than Larry Dierker. Despite his status as a fourteen-year ace starter in the big leagues (thirteen of them with Houston), two-time All-Star, and well-regarded longtime TV colorman for the Astros, Dierker's hiring refuted conventional wisdom and deeply confounded most major league observers. For one thing, Larry had no managerial experience at any level of the game before taking over the 'Stros; for another, former pitchers rarely become managers (especially former pitchers with a taste for Hawaiian shirts and a talent for amateur songwriting); and, well, managers are supposed to become broadcasters, not the other way around! But, in his five years at the controls, Dierker guided the Astros to four National League Central division crowns and four playoff appearances, and was named the National League Manager of the Year in 1998. Employing on-the-field strategies at once cerebral and daring, adroitly handling every sort of distraction and disaster that can befall a team -- including suffering a nearly catastrophic seizure during a game -- he excelled like no other manager in Astros history, until resigning at the end of the 2001 season. Let's face it, after nearly four decades in baseball, Larry Dierker has been there and done that like no one else before him. In This Ain't Brain Surgery he reflects on his memories of growing up in the majors -- from learning the fine art of locker-room pranks at his first spring training to deciding what to say to the crowd when the Astros retired his number ("Aloha," naturally). With the unique perspective that comes from having studied the sport's angles from the mound, the broadcasting booth, and the dugout, Dierker draws from his vast experience to take on everything in the game with sharp wit, keen insight, and startling candor, inviting us farther onto the field, deeper into the clubhouse, and more fully into the baseball mind than we've ever been before. Brimming with indispensable analysis, thoughtful reflection, and raucous humor, This Ain't Brain Surgery is the finest baseball book since Ball Four, and marks Larry Dierker as a writer at the top of his game.
Overcoming History
Over the course of four years, prolific baseball writer and editor Bill Nowlin interviewed 72 major league umpires, another two dozen call-up and AAA umpires, and four umpire supervisors. The result is the most complete and intimate portrait ever done of a vitally important yet largely unappreciated aspect of professional baseball. Nowlin's deep knowledge of the game and of umpiring and his conversational interview style provide the perfect setting for the umpires to open up about themselves and their profession, and they do. From part-time call-ups to 30+ year veterans, the profiles that take shape transform the "men in blue" from anonymous background figures to fully formed characters--passionate, dedicated, driven, grateful. Join all the big-name umpires and young up-and-comers as they describe the challenges, frustrations, and disappointments they have faced, the thrill and honor of being at the pinnacle of their profession, while sharing funny and poignant moments from their careers. By the end of WORKING A "PERFECT GAME," readers not only have a detailed picture of the day-to-day life of a major league umpire, but also an authentic understanding of the personalities and people hidden behind the mask of the game's arbiters. WORKING A "PERFECT GAME" is divided into two parts: A collection of interviews, followed by a behind-the-scenes look at everything umpire, from school, to the minor leagues, to getting the call, to spring training, to favorite positions, to instant replay, and more. Read about -The long, hard road to reaching the majors, from umpire school, to the low minors, onward to Triple A until getting the call - 10 years or more of grueling travel, cheap hotels, and low pay -The passion that drives umpires - the pursuit of perfection and the love of baseball -The variety of ways the umps got started and who helped them keep their eyes on the prize -The never-ending logistics - airplanes, hotels, different cities, different ballparks -Life under a microscope, with every ball and strike and every safe and out evaluated electronically, with results tabulated and reported and game tapes published -Ejections - a necessary task, but one that is anything but relished, and why every umpire recalls the first time he gave someone the thumb -The thrill of post season baseball, from the joy of getting the call to the intense pressure of the ultimate baseball spotlight -The burden and privilege of being the ultimate upholders of the integrity of baseball, a responsibility that they take very seriously Reading WORKING A "PERFECT GAME" will give you deep insight into and understanding of the most important part of baseball no one knows about - umpiring. You'll never watch a game the same way.
The Golden Game
The Golden Game presents in words and pictures 150 years of baseball history, from sandlot ball in the 1850s and the Pacific Coast League to the western arrival of the Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Athletics, and Padres. Here is a stirring, colorfully written narrative about the state that has been the birthplace and proving ground for more Major Leaguers than any other, including Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and Jackie Robinson. Blending U.S. and California history as a backdrop to a narrative rich with anecdotes, The Golden Game reveals the significant impact that California has had on baseball history.Written not just for Californians but for all baseball fans, The Golden Game goes beyond its geographic boundaries to tell the fascinating saga of California baseball and how it has indelibly shaped the national pastime.
The National Pastime 2015
The National Pastime is the annual review of baseball historical research and regional topics published by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Each year the publication focuses on the history of baseball in a different region or city, following the annual SABR convention from one major league territory to another. Recent issues have included Philadelphia, Southern California, and Minnesota. Upcoming in 2014: Houston. 2015: Chicago
Beating Goliath
Beating Goliath is a memoir about overcoming loss and keeping faith by the innovative former head coach of the top ranked Baylor Bears college football team.Growing up in Rule, Texas, Art Briles learned at a young age the importance of hard work and faith from his parents. Soon that faith would be tested. On their way to see him play in a college football game, Briles' parents and aunt died in a car crash. This event shaped Briles into the man he is today. His father, Dennis, left him with a series of lessons. He taught his son that the world doesn't just hand you things, you have to earn them. And he taught him the influence that faith could have in his life. Briles put these lessons to work as a football coach, where he established his reputation for turning struggling teams into winners, from high school to the staff at Texas Tech to head coach at the University of Houston. Hired to coach Baylor in 2007, he was faced with a familiar task. Within three years, Briles led the Bears to their first bowl game in 15 years. Today, he instills those same lessons into his young players, helping them find a reason to excel. There are plenty of excuses for failure but Briles surrounds himself with people who are fearless when it comes to chasing success. That is one of the many lessons he imparts to his readers in Beating Goliath, with chapters that include: * God and the Teaching of Dennis Briles* Finding Your Passion* You Can Change Attitude, Not Talent* Passing in the Land of Earl Campbell* Everybody is a Captain Filled with dramatic football stories and lessons learned, this book will inspire and entertain.
Manchester City
How did the inflatable banana save football?Did you know Pope John-Paul II was a follower?How MCFC almost started World War III.'You have no history' is a familiar chant heard by Manchester City fans, who are used to being tormented for years of apparent underachievement. From the very first match on 13 November 1880, through to the present day and beyond, read and learn about the history of a great club. Documenting all the club's ups and downs, Mike Devlin tries to convince you that the club that has no history really does have one after all.
Baseball's Untold History
Seamheads' Mike Lynch turns his keen eye for the amazing and unusual to baseball's biggest stage, the World Series, in Volume II of his acclaimed Baseball's Untold History Series. Read about the least likely heroes, biggest MVP flops, the oddest World Series stat lines, and an all-time O-fer line-up. Meet the 16-game winner who spent the series in an insane asylum; the Hall of Famer who was arrested for scalping World Series tickets; the only player to be picked off twice in the same Fall Classic game; the hurler who belted the only home run of his long professional career in his first series at bat; and much, much more.
Eight World Cups
"Full of humor and insight about sport and culture.... The pomp, glory, and great entertainment all get their due in Eight World Cups."--The Boston Globe Blending witty travelogue with action on the field--and shady dealings in back rooms--George Vecsey offers an eye-opening, globe-trotting account of eight World Cups. He immerses himself in the great national leagues, historic clubs, and devoted fans and provides his up-close impressions of charismatic soccer stars like S籀crates, Maradona, Baggio, and Zidane, while also chronicling the rise of the U.S. men's and women's teams. Vecsey shows how each host nation has made the World Cup its own, from the all-night street parties in Spain in 1982 to the roar of vuvuzelas in South Africa in 2010, as the game in the stadium is backed up by the game in the street. But the joy is sometimes undermined by those who style themselves the game's protectors. The paperback edition also includes a new afterword about the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which reached new levels of excitement and interest, especially in the United States. Vecsey's sharp reporting and eye for detail make his book an unforgettable journey.
A Whole Lot of Bar-b-q
An anthology of nine touching and funny stories by the editor of Spitball Magazine, and author of 16 baseball books. The book is filled with characters from all walks of life, all of whom are gripped, one way or another, by the force of that feeling so many of us have for baseball. Among the book's characters are a lottery winner whose dream of owning a baseball team turns into a nightmare; a lonely man who has a blind date among the Bleacher Bums at Wrigley Field; and appearances by Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, and the spirit of Pete Rose.
Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is known throughout the world for his devastating ability and his carefully crafted image. A two-time Ballon d'Or winner with his own fashion label, he is every inch the modern superstar, but behind the glamour lies one of the most dedicated athletes the sport has ever known. Luca Caioli, author of the bestselling Messi, tells the inside story of the Real Madrid star whose determination has driven him to the very top of his game, featuring insights from those who know him best: coaches, teammates, girlfriends and even the man himself. Updated to include all the action from his hugely successful 2013/14 campaign, Ronaldo offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of football's all-time greats.
The Baffled Parent’s Guide to Coaching Boys’ Lacrosse
A novice's guide to coaching one of the nation's fastestgrowing youth sportsUnlike other lacrosse titles, this latest addition to the acclaimed Baffled Parent's Guide series arms newcomers with a total road map for mastering all aspects of coaching a 6- to 12-year-old boy's lacrosse team. From skill fundamentals to managing a game, it covers all the bases in a clear, step-by-step format. At the heart of Coaching Boys' Lacrosse is a set of original drills designed to keep kids engaged and motivated while teaching them the subtleties of the game. This book has been endorsed by University of Maryland's renowned lacrosse coach, Dave Cottle, whose teams have been ranked in the top 10 nationally for 11 consecutive years.
Miracle at Fenway
Before the Boston Red Sox became the 2013 World Champions, there was the season that broke the curse and started it all...Saul Wisnia's Miracle at Fenway tells that story. The players and coaching staff of the 2004 Boston Red Sox are now and forever, legends. After all, it had been eighty-six years since Boston last won a World Series, a fact anybody even remotely associated with the team as a player, executive, or fan was reminded of on a daily basis. For members of the 2004 Red Sox roster, winning that October was one of the greatest experiences in their lives. For fans, the '04 team will always be remembered as the one that finally silenced the "1918" chants. Hundreds of articles and numerous books were written in the immediate aftermath of the thrilling '04 season, but ten years have passed and Miracle at Fenway has a fresh perspective, including the type of analysis and insight that comes with a decade of reflection. As a Red Sox fan since birth, and from having written about and worked alongside the team for his entire professional life, Saul Wisnia has cultivated relationships with people at every level of the Sox organization. From the players to the fans to the upper echelons of team management, he has their accounts of 2004 as they saw it and as they remember it today, now that the memories have had time to take root and blossom. In the winning tradition of baseball oral histories, Wisnia tells the story of 2004 as experienced by the people who lived it, in an engaging style filled with insight and excitement.
Bushville Wins!
The rip-roaring story of baseball's most unlikely champions, featuring interviews with Henry Aaron, Bob Uecker and other members of the Milwaukee Braves, Bushville Wins! takes you to a time and place baseball and the Heartland will never forget. "Bushville hits the sweet spot of my childhood, the year my family moved to Wisconsin and the Braves won the World Series against the Yankees, a team my Brooklyn-raised dad taught us to hate. Thanks to John Klima for bringing it all back to life with such vivid detail and energetic writing." -- David Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author of Clemente and When Pride Still Mattered In the early 1950s, the New York Yankees were the biggest bullies on the block. They were invincible: they led the New York City baseball dynasty, which for eight consecutive years held an iron grip on the World Series championship. Then the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953, becoming surprise revolutionaries. Led by visionary owner Lou Perini, the Braves formed a powerful relationship with the Miller Brewing Company and foreshadowed the Dodgers and Giants moving west, sparking continental expansion and the ballpark boom. But the rest of the country wasn't sold. Why would a major league team move to a minor league town? In big cities like New York, Milwaukee was thought to be a podunk train station stop-off where the fans were always drunk and wouldn't know a baseball from a beer. They called Milwaukee Bushville. The Braves were no bushers! Eddie Mathews was a handsome home run hitter with a rugged edge. Warren Spahn was the craftiest pitcher in the business. Lew Burdette was a sharky spitball artist. Taken together, the Braves reveled in the High Life and made Milwaukee famous, while Wisconsin fans showed the rest of the country how to crack a cold one and throw a tailgate party. And in 1954, a solemn and skinny slugger came from Mobile to Milwaukee. Henry Aaron began his march to history. With a cast of screwballs, sluggers and beer swiggers, the Braves proved the guys at the corner bar could do the impossible - topple Casey Stengel's New York baseball dynasty in a World Series for the ages.
Belles of the Ballpark
Belles of the Ballpark: Celebrating the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League recaptures the AAGPBL's 11 amazing seasons. From its inspiring beginnings in World War II, thanks to the innovation of Chicago Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley, the "Girls League" gave Midwestern towns a league of their own. Share classic memories from former players, coaches, fans, major leaguer Casey Candaele (son of a Girls League batting champion) and his brother Kelly, who wrote the story that became the movie A League of Their Own. A member of the all-girls Wisconsin baseball youth league, supported by the AAGPBL, tells about her opportunity decades before Little League allowed females on the field. Discover how two women rescued the league's history from near obscurity in the 1980s. If you liked the movie, you'll love this epic true story.
Crack of the Bat
The crack of the bat on the radio is ingrained in the American mind as baseball takes center stage each summer. Radio has brought the sounds of baseball into homes for almost one hundred years, helping baseball emerge from the 1919 Black Sox scandal into the glorious World Series of the 1920s. The medium gave fans around the country aural access to the first All-Star Game, Lou Gehrig's farewell speech, and Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Red Barber, Vin Scully, Harry Caray, Ernie Harwell, Bob Uecker, and dozens of other beloved announcers helped cement the love affair between radio and the national pastime. Crack of the Bat takes readers from the 1920s to the present, examining the role of baseball in the development of the radio industry and the complex coevolution of their relationship. James R. Walker provides a balanced, nuanced, and carefully documented look at radio and baseball over the past century, focusing on the interaction between team owners, local and national media, and government and business interests, with extensive coverage of the television and Internet ages, when baseball on the radio had to make critical adjustments to stay viable. Despite cable television's ubiquity, live video streaming, and social media, radio remains an important medium through which fans engage with their teams. The evolving relationship between baseball and radio intersects with topics as varied as the twenty-year battle among owners to control radio, the development of sports as a valuable media product, and the impact of competing technologies on the broadcast medium. Amid these changes, the familiar sounds of the ball hitting the glove and the satisfying crack of the bat stay the same.
To the Nines
To the Nines will introduce you to a whole new golfing experience by sharing the stories of nineteen nine-hole layouts across the country. This book will send you on a mission to discover the roots of the game and seek out your own unheralded courses. This new edition includes recent renovations and rebunkering of several of these classic "nines."
Sol White's Official Baseball Guide
Sol White was a standout player and manager in the early years of professional African American baseball. In 1907, he wrote and published the first and only account of the stars, teams, and great feats of the era. For more than 60 years the Sol White Guide remained the only work devoted to black baseball history. Without White's vision, much of the information and images in the book would be lost forever. From the 57 rare photographs, to the game accounts and box scores, to the early 20th century diamond lingo, Sol White's Official Base Ball Guide is an irreplaceable time capsule of a critical yet nearly forgotten chapter in baseball history. The Summer Game Books edition includes an introduction by historian Gary Ashwill, tracing the origins and development of the African American game, recounting White's life both on and off the field, and documenting the tremendous impact the Guide has had on baseball scholarship. The richly annotated text provides fascinating details and sidebars to the narrative, and includes a 14-page Who's Who section filled with career highlights and colorful stories about all the major figures in the book. Few individuals belong in the company of Jackie Robinson for the impact they had on the advancement of African Americans in baseball. "King Solomon" White is one who does, and Sol White's Official Base Ball Guide is his greatest contribution.
I Don't Care If We Never Get Back
Ben, a sports analytics wizard, loves baseball. Eric, his best friend, hates it. But when Ben writes an algorithm for the optimal baseball road trip--an impossible dream of seeing every pitch of 30 games in 30 stadiums in 30 days--who will he call on to take shifts behind the wheel, especially when those shifts include nineteen hours straight from Phoenix to Kansas City? Eric, of course. Will Eric regret it? Most definitely. On June 1, 2013, Ben and Eric set out to see America through the bleachers and concession stands of America's favorite pastime. Along the way, human error and Mother Nature throw their mathematically optimized schedule a few curveballs. A mix-up in Denver turns a planned day off in Las Vegas into a twenty-hour drive, and a summer storm of biblical proportions threatens to make the whole thing logistically impossible, if they don't kill each other first. I Don't Care If We Never Get Back is a charming, insightful, and hilarious book about the limits of fandom and the limitlessness of friendship.
Baseball's Untold History
Go deep inside the game with Seamheads.com founder and SABR stalwart Mike Lynch. Amazing stories about the players, managers, and owners that will educate and fascinate even the most ardent students of the game. From "cup of coffee" cases--some tragic, some incredible--to owners who make Marge Schott look like a saint--to tales of some of the strangest lives and careers ever seen in big league baseball. -What was behind the mysterious death of Astros' ace Don Wilson? -Who collected over 3000 hits and 300 homeruns-in the minor leagues? -Why did Gary Carter, the Expos' greatest player, get exiled from Montreal? -What is so cool about Virgil Trucks, other than his name? -Why was 19th Century Hall of Fame star Bill Dahlen known as "Bad Bill"? BUH: The People is part secret history, part scholarship, and 100% baseball fun.
Golf's Forgotten Legends & Unforgettable Controversies
GOLF'S FORGOTTEN LEGENDS His father didn't want him playing golf, he was stricken with tuberculosis at 33, and he used a golf swing pros would never teach today. Yet he is renowned for being the world's first superstar golfer and greatest of his time. He was America's first golf hero, yet most American golfers know very little about him. At 19 he won the U.S. National Open and did it again the following year. However, he was ruthlessly maligned by Golf Magazine and the film "The Greatest Game Ever Played. He was arguably the most talented golfer in the history of the game, gaining prominence from the 1930s to 1950s. He was the first golfer in history to be blackballed by the PGA Tour for being too good. The greatest players came to him for instruction, including Ben Hogan. This golf pro threw away a U.S. Open Championship after she finished the tournament with the winning score. Read the story of her innocent mistake and what she could have done to reclaim her title.
Why Soccer Matters
Pel矇--legendary footballer and humanitarian--explores the sport's recent history and shares his most inspiring experiences, heartwarming stories, and hard-won wisdom. "I know in my heart that soccer was good to me, and great to the world....I saw, time and again, how the sport improved countless millions of lives, both on and off the field. For me, at least, that's why soccer matters." The world's most popular sport goes by many names--soccer, football, the beautiful game--but fans have always agreed on one thing: The greatest player of all time was Pel矇. Before Messi, before Ronaldo, before Beckham, Pel矇 had a stunning twenty-year career, where he was heralded as an international treasure. His accomplishments on the field proved to be pure magic: an unprecedented three World Cup championships and the all-time scoring record, with 1,283 goals. Since retiring, he has traveled the world as soccer's global ambassador, relentlessly promoting the positive ways soccer can transform young men and women, struggling communities, even entire nations. This is Pel矇's legacy, his way of passing on everything he's learned and inspiring a new generation. In Why Soccer Matters, Pel矇 details his ambitious goals for the future of the sport and, by extension, the world.
Nabc Drill Book
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has long been respected as the premier coaching organization of the sport, and its membership includes some of the most illustrious figures and foremost teachers in basketball history. NABC Drill Book, Volume I contains over 100 of the best drills for improving a team's offense and defense -- including improving transitions between the two. Included here are drills from the following great teachers of the game: Bob Knight Pete Newell John Wooden Mike Krzyzewski Roy Williams Tex Winter Dave Odom Rick Samuels Dick Davey Lute Olson Jerry Tarkanian Wimp Sanderson Jerry Krause Tubby Smith James Seward Denny Crum And Many More!
Golf's Forgotten Legends & Unforgettable Controversies
Golf's Forgotten Legends is the most interesting, intriguing, controversial, and humorous golf book ever written.
The 50 Greatest Players in St. Louis Cardinals History
This book carefully examines the careers of the fifty men who made the greatest impact on one of the most successful franchises in the history of professional sports. Features of The 50 Greatest Players in St. Louis Cardinals History include quotes from opposing players and former teammates, summaries of each player's best season, recaps of their most memorable performances, and listings of their notable achievements.
Smoky Joe Wood
WINNER OF THE 2014 SEYMOUR MEDAL sponsored by the Society for American Baseball Research and finalist for 2014 SABR Larry Ritter AwardThough his pitching career lasted only a few seasons, Howard Ellsworth "Smoky Joe" Wood was one of the most dominating figures in baseball history--a man many consider the best baseball player who is not in the Hall of Fame. About his fastball, Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson once said: "Listen, mister, no man alive can throw harder than Smoky Joe Wood." Smoky Joe Wood chronicles the singular life befitting such a baseball legend. Wood got his start impersonating a female on the National Bloomer Girls team. A natural athlete, he pitched for the Boston Red Sox at eighteen, won twenty-one games and threw a no-hitter at twenty-one, and had a 34-5 record plus three wins in the 1912 World Series, for a 1.91 ERA, when he was just twenty-two. Then in 1913 Wood suffered devastating injuries to his right hand and shoulder that forced him to pitch in pain for two more years. After sitting out the 1916 season, he came back as a converted outfielder and played another five years for the Cleveland Indians before retiring to coach the Yale University baseball team. With details culled from interviews and family archives, this biography, the first of this rugged player of the Deadball Era, brings to life one of the genuine characters of baseball history.
Mashi
In the spring of 1964, the Nankai Hawks of Japan's Pacific League sent nineteen-year-old Masanori Murakami to the Class A Fresno Giants to improve his skills. To nearly everyone's surprise, Murakami, known as Mashi, dominated the American hitters. With the San Francisco Giants caught in a close pennant race and desperate for a left-handed reliever, Masanori was called up to join the big league club, becoming the first Japanese player in the Major Leagues.Featuring pinpoint control, a devastating curveball, and a friendly smile, Mashi became the Giants' top lefty reliever and one of the team's most popular players--as well as a national hero in Japan. Not surprisingly, the Giants offered him a contract for the 1965 season. Murakami signed, announcing that he would be thrilled to stay in San Francisco. There was just one problem: the Nankai Hawks still owned his contract.The dispute over Murakami's contract would ignite an international incident that ultimately prevented other Japanese players from joining the Majors for thirty years. Mashi is the story of an unlikely hero who gets caught up in an American and Japanese baseball dispute and is forced to choose between his dreams in the United States and his duty in Japan.
