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Fun & Games with Alistair Cooke: On Sport and Other Amusements
by Alistair Cooke Michael ParkinsonFrom Duke Ellington to Churchill Downs, championship golf to Greta Garbo, Alistair Cooke reports on the popular sports and entertainments he loved the most This delightful anthology, drawn from Alistair Cooke's Letter from America BBC broadcasts as well as his reporting for the Guardian, showcases the legendary journalist's wide range of sporting pleasures, which include golf, tennis, baseball, and horse racing, and records memorable fun he had with favorite movies, theater productions, and jazz performances. Included here are perceptive portraits of sports personalities such as Gabriela Sabatini, Arnold Palmer, and Sugar Ray Robinson, whom Cooke regarded as the best fighter in the history of boxing. "A Mountain Comes to Muhammad" captures Muhammad Ali in victory; "Come-Uppance for the 'Onliest Champion' " portrays him in defeat. A "Revised (Soviet) History of Baseball" humorously details Russian misconceptions about America's pastime, a.k.a. beizbol. In "The Road to Churchill Downs," Cooke captures the sights and sounds of Kentucky's crown jewel and delights in the joy that his young daughter, Susan, who appears with her father on the cover of this edition, takes in the sport of kings. Sharing the spotlight are celebrities of the Hollywood variety, including Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Groucho Marx, and Charlie Chaplin. Filled with Cooke's infectious enthusiasm for fun and games of wide variety, the lighter side of the legendary journalist's output will be enjoyed by devotees of popular culture.
Sports Injuries: Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation, Fourth Edition
by Lars Peterson Per A.F.H. RenstromAs more and more people realize the cardiovascular, metabolic, and muscular benefits that regular physical activity provides, the risk for potential injury also increases. In order to provide successful treatment, all persons involved in the management of injury must have a thorough understanding of the healing process of the various tissues and also be familiar with the demands of different types of sports.Written by two world-renowned experts, Sports Injuries, Fourth Edition comprehensively covers the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Essential reading for all athletes, coaches/trainers, physiotherapists, and doctors, the updated edition of this highly popular and well-established textbook skillfully integrates scientific background and evidence with practical application. Topics covered include: Individual risk factors for sports injuries Effects of physical inactivity on the tissues Head and face injuries in sport Cervical, thoracic and abdominal injuries in sport Back and spine injuries in sport Outdoor activities during extreme conditions Sports injuries of the lower and upper extremities Injuries in sport for the disabled Richly illustrated with more than 650 color drawings and photographs, this book covers injuries resulting from the full range of international sports. For each type of injury examined, it details the symptoms, mechanism of injury, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation protocols, and key points—clearly stating what both non-medical and medical professionals should do in each case of injury. This easy-to-follow textbook features a glossary of key terms and protocols with rehabilitation exercises to provide readers with a solid understanding about how to effectively treat, rehabilitate, and prevent sports injuries.
Russell Westbrook: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Premier Point Guards
by Clayton GeoffreysNewly revised for the 2017-2018 season, Russell Westbrook: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Premier Point Guards details the inspirational story of basketball's superstar point guard, Russell Westbrook. Russell Westbrook's ascent into the top point guards in the NBA amongst the likes of Chris Paul and Stephen Curry has definitely been a surprise. From once struggling to make his high school varsity team (he did not make it until his junior year) to spending his freshman year at UCLA as a benchwarmer, few would have predicted that Russell Westbrook would be selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. The rest is history as the Oklahoma City Thunder continue their quest for a championship. <P><P> Russell Westbrook is easily one of the most exciting point guards to play the game of basketball. From flashy crossovers to high flying dunks, Russell Westbrook has a bright basketball career ahead of him. When Kevin Durant came down with a foot injury, Russell Westbrook rose as a primary leader for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the first season since Durant's departure from Oklahoma City, Westbrook again rose to the occasion as he captured the MVP award while putting up forty-two triple doubles in the regular season, a historic record. <P><P> It will be exciting to see how Westbrook and the Thunder do in this year's NBA season as Paul George joins the team. More importantly though, it'll be interesting to see how Westbrook continues to mature as a leader. But don't delay, pick up your copy of Russell Westbrook: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Premier Point Guards today.
Much Ado About Baseball
by Rajani LaRocca"Much Ado About Baseball is the best children's book I've read in the past 10 years!" -Brad Thor, New York Times bestselling author of the Scot Harvath series"A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem." -Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEWIn this companion novel to Midsummer's Mayhem, math and baseball combine with savory snacks to cause confusion and calamity in the town of Comity.Twelve-year-old Trish can solve tough math problems and throw a mean fastball. But because of her mom's new job, she's now facing a summer trying to make friends all over again in a new town. That isn't an easy thing to do, and her mom is too busy to notice how miserable she is. But at her first baseball practice, Trish realizes one of her teammates is Ben, the sixth-grade math prodigy she beat in the spring Math Puzzler Championships. Everyone around them seems to think that with their math talent and love of baseball, it's only logical that Trish and Ben become friends, but Ben makes it clear he still hasn't gotten over that loss and can't stand her. To make matters worse, their team can't win a single game. But then they meet Rob, an older kid who smacks home runs without breaking a sweat. Rob tells them about his family's store, which sells unusual snacks that will make them better ballplayers. Trish is dubious, but she's willing to try almost anything to help the team. When a mysterious booklet of math puzzles claiming to reveal the "ultimate answer" arrives in her mailbox, Trish and Ben start to get closer and solve the puzzles together. Ben starts getting hits, and their team becomes unstoppable. Trish is happy to keep riding the wave of good luck . . . until they get to a puzzle they can't solve, with tragic consequences. Can they find the answer to this ultimate puzzle, or will they strike out when it counts the most?
Shabbat Sabotage
by Emma Carlson BerneWelcome to Camp Shalom, a Jewish sleepaway camp that offers adventure and friendship! But when mysterious events start occurring, the campers will need to use their brains and work together-with some occasional sneaking around-to figure out what's really going on.Maya can't deny that she's nervous on the first day at Camp Shalom. She's never been to sleepaway camp before, she doesn't like insects and heat, and worst of all, she's afraid of swimming after an upsetting experience back at home. Maya feels a lot better about Camp Shalom after meeting friendly Dani, but she's not so sure about bossy Yael. When someone steals the special items their cabin needs to lead Shabbat, Maya and Dani do some sleuthing. They're no closer to catching the thief when Dani discovers that she is being accused. Now Maya really has to find out who sabotaged Shabbat-or her best friend will be sent home from camp. Meanwhile, she still has to pass the camp swimming test or she won't be able to go on the sleepover to Snake Island. Maya has a busy summer ahead, but with Dani's help-and maybe even Yael's-she will find out that honesty and the support of her friends can solve almost every problem.
The Queen of Chess: How Judit Polgár Changed the Game
by Laurie WallmarkThis is the true story of how Judit Polgár captivated the world as she battled to become the youngest chess grandmaster in history!The queen of chess, Judit Polgár, dazzled the world as a prodigy, winning tournaments, gold medals, and defeating eleven world champions, including Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen. At her peak, Judit was rated the eighth best chess player in the world.But before these tremendous successes, Judit burst onto the chess scene as a ferocious, child competitor. Beating adults by five-years-old, and winning international tournaments by age nine, Judit was destined for greatness. Follow her incredible journey as she strives for chess immortality, hunting to become the youngest chess grandmaster in history.
The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score —from Nadia to Now
by Dvora MeyersA “delightful and insightful” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the controversial world of gymnastics and its scoring system, which has propelled powerful and athletic American gymnasts to the top of the sport.It was the team finals of women’s gymnastics in the 2012 London Olympics and McKayla Maroney was on top of her game. The sixteen-year-old US gymnast was performing arguably the best vault of all time, launching herself unimaginably high into the air and sticking a flawless landing. But when her score came, many were baffled: 16.233. Three tenths of a point in deductions stood between her and a perfect score. But if that vault wasn’t perfection, what was?For years, gymnastics was scored on a 10.0 scale. During this era, more than 100 “perfect” scores were awarded in major international competitions. But when the 10.0 scoring system caused major judging controversies at the 2004 Olympics, international elite gymnastics made the switch to the open-ended scoring system it uses today, which values both difficulty and technical execution, making perfect scores a thing of the past—and forever altering the sport in the process.With insight, flair, and boundless love for the sport, gymnastics insider Dvora Meyers answers questions that fans have been asking since the last perfect score was handed out over twenty years ago. She reveals why successful female gymnasts like 2016 Olympics All Around medalists Simone Biles and Aly Raisman are older and more athletic than they have ever been before, how the United States became the gymnastics powerhouse it is today, and what the future of gymnastics may hold.Bolstered by dozens of exclusive interviews with professionals representing every aspect of the sport, The End of the Perfect 10 is “the Simone Biles of gymnastics books” (Slate), a captivating look at elite gymnastics’ entry into the uncharted world of imperfection—and how it has created stronger athletes than ever before.
Running with the Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship with Muhammad Ali
by Chuck Crisafulli Tim ShanahanA personal tribute to the remarkable friendship between Tim Shanahan and Muhammad Ali, including dozens of never-before-told stories about Ali, his family, his entourage, and various celebrities along the way--as well as never-before-published personal photos.In 1976 Tim Shanahan was a medical-instruments salesman living in Chicago and was associated with a charity that arranged for athletes to speak to underprivileged kids. Muhammad Ali was also living in Chicago, having just reclaimed his title as heavyweight champion of the world after defeating George Foreman and Joe Frazier ("The Thrilla in Manila"). He was at the peak of his fame and athletic skill. Shanahan contacted Ali to ask whether he would participate in the program. Not only did Ali agree, he invited Shanahan to his house and then spent several hours talking to Shanahan. It was the beginning of a forty-year friendship. In Running with the Champ, Shanahan shares the stories of various celebrities whom Ali met over the years, such as Michael Jackson (who showed Ali and Shanahan his doll collection), Elvis Presley, John Travolta, Andy Warhol, and many others. Ali invited Shanahan to sparring sessions (and once sparred with him) and the two men would often go running together in the early morning. Shanahan accompanied Ali to his Pennsylvania training camp as the Champ prepared to fight Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, and Leon Spinks and he witnessed numerous unpublicized incidents of Ali's generosity to people in need. When Ali moved to Los Angeles, Shanahan also relocated there. Running with the Champ is a touching, candid narrative of an extraordinary friendship that has persevered through the best and worst of times.
Molina
by Joan Ryan Bengie MolinaLa inspiradora y verdadera historia del pobre obrero de factoría puertorriqueño Benjamín Molina Santana, quien contra viento y marea crió a la mayor dinastía de béisbol de todos los tiempos. Los tres hijos de Molina--Bengie, José y Yadier--han ganado cada uno dos anillos de Serie Mundial, algo sin precedentes en ese deporte Uno de ellos, Bengie, narra su historia.Un libro de reglas del béisbol. Una cinta de medir. Un boleto de lotería. Esas cosas estaban en el bolsillo del padre de Bengie Molina cuando murió de un infarto cardiaco en el terreno surcado de Liga Infantil en su barrio de Puerto Rico. Ellas sirven como guías temáticas en la hermosa memoria de Molina sobre su padre, quien usó también el béisbol para enseñarles a sus tres hijos los principios de lealtad, humildad, valentía y el verdadero significado del éxito. Bengie y sus dos hermanos--José y Yadier, quien fue seleccionado seis veces para el juego Todos Estrellas--se convirtieron en famosos receptores en las Grandes Ligas y entre los tres han sido parte de seis equipos ganadores de Series Mundiales. Solamente los hermanos DiMaggio podrían compararse con los Molina como los más logrados hermanos en la historia del béisbol. Bengie era el que menos posibilidades tenía de llegar a las mayores. Era demasiado lento, demasiado sensible y demasiado pequeño. Pero ávido de ganarse el respeto de su querido padre, Bengie soportó fracaso tras fracaso hasta que un día logró alzar un trofeo de Serie Mundial en una casa club empapada en champán. Todo el tiempo pensó que estaba realizando el sueño glorioso de béisbol de su padre, sólo para descubrir que no había sido ese el sueño de su padre. Escrito con el poder emocional de obras clásicas sobre deportes, como Field of Dreams y Friday Night Lights, Molina es una historia de amor entre un formidable y a la vez imperfecto padre y un hijo que, al desenterrar respuestas sobre la vida de su padre, logra comprender las suyas propias.
The Game: Harvard, Yale, and America in 1968
by George Howe ColtFrom the author of the bestselling National Book Award finalist The Big House comes a story in the tradition of The Boys in the Boat about an unforgettable group of young athletes who battled in the legendary Harvard-Yale football game of 1968 amidst the sweeping currents of one of the most transformative years in American history.On November 23, 1968, near the end of a turbulent and memorable year, there was a football game that would also prove turbulent and memorable: the season-ending clash between Harvard and Yale. Both teams entered undefeated and, technically at least, came out undefeated. The final score was 29-29. To some of the players on the field, it was a triumph; to others a tragedy. And to many, the reasons had as much to do with one side’s miraculous comeback in the game’s final 42 seconds as it did with the months that preceded it, months that witnessed the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy, police brutality at the Democratic National Convention, inner-city riots, campus takeovers, and, looming over everything, the war in Vietnam. George Howe Colt’s The Game is the story of that iconic American year, as seen through the young men who lived it and were changed by it. One player had recently returned from eight months under fire in Vietnam. Two were members of the radical antiwar group SDS. There was an all-American football hero whose nickname was “God.” There was one NFL prospect who quit to devote his time to black altruism, another who went on to be Pro-Bowler Calvin Hill. There was a postal clerk’s son who worried about fitting in with the preppies, and a wealthy WASP eager to prove he could handle the blue-collar kids’ hits. There was a guard named Tommy Lee Jones, and fullback who dated a young Meryl Streep. They came from every class and background, but played side by side and together forged a moment of startling grace in the midst of the storm. Vivid, lively, and constantly surprising, this magnificent and intimate work of history is the story of ordinary people in an extraordinary time, and of a country facing issues that we continue to wrestle with to this day.
Raw
by Colin CowherdIn his no-holds-barred, unapologetically controversial voice, New York Times bestselling author and ESPN radio show host Colin Cowherd gives an insider's look into all things sports, including behind-the-scenes scandals, inter-team rivalries, and players' lives on and off the field.There's a lot you don't see or hear sitting high up in the stands. But Colin Cowherd knows what really goes on--and he's not afraid to share the vivid details of everything we don't see on ESPN. From hotel parties for athletes and other industry professionals, to gossip from the road between games, to what happens at ESPN behind closed doors, Cowherd draws on personal experiences to offer you an exclusive look into the rarefied, outrageous, ego-stuffed sphere of the professional sports world. If you want honest, unvarnished opinions on current sports rivalries, scandals, and statistics, it's all in Raw--from one of America's most outspoken sports broadcasters on air today.
Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution
by Brian KennyBrian Kenny--outspoken MLB Network host and commentator--uses stories from baseball's present and past to examine why we sometimes choose ignorance over information, and how tradition can trump logic, even when directly contradicted by evidence.Forget batting average. Kill the "Win." Say goodbye to starting pitchers. And please, please stop bunting. In Ahead of the Curve, Brian Kenny shows how baseball has been revolutionized--not destroyed--by analytical thinking. Most people who resist logical thought in baseball preach "tradition" and "respecting the game." But many of baseball's traditions go back to the nineteenth century, when the pitcher's job was to provide the batter with a ball he could hit and fielders played without gloves. Instead of fearing change, Brian Kenny wants fans to think critically, reject outmoded groupthink, and embrace the changes that have come with the "sabermetric era." In his entertaining and enlightening book, Kenny discusses why the pitching win-loss record, the Triple Crown, fielding errors, and so-called battling titles should be ignored. He also points out how fossilized sportswriters have been electing the wrong MVP's and ignoring legitimate candidates for the Hall of Fame; why managers are hired based on their looks; and how the most important position in baseball may just be "Director of Decision Sciences." Ahead of the Curve debunks the old way of analyzing baseball and ushers in a new era of straightforward logic. Illustrated with unique anecdotes from those who have reshaped the game, it's a must-read for fans, players, managers, and fantasy enthusiasts. A fresh, fascinating analysis of baseball, Ahead of the Curve will deepen every reader's appreciation of the game.
Dream Again
by Matt Litton Isaiah Austin Robert Griffin IIIThe inspiring story of Isaiah Austin, the man who captured our hearts when he was made the honorary NBA draft pick after a shocking diagnosis ended his professional basketball career before he could even step onto the court."There are two choices in life: you make it your excuse or you make it your story." Isaiah Austin's mother shared these words of wisdom with him as a child as he came to terms with a torn retina taking away the ability to see with his right eye. Faced with adversity at such a young age, Isaiah had to choose--let his disability define him or overcome the challenge and shine. Overcoming that challenge is exactly what Isaiah did as he made a name for himself on Baylor University's NCAA Division 1 basketball team. Everyone expected Isaiah to have a successful career in the NBA after college, but on June 21, 2014--just five days before the NBA draft--Austin was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body's connective tissue, putting him at risk of rupturing his heart if he continued to play basketball. In seconds, Austin's hopes for a career in the NBA became impossible. After hearing about Isaiah's diagnosis, NBA commissioner Adam Silver invited Austin to attend the 2014 draft as his personal guest. The League recognized Isaiah's courage, resilience, and determination in a bittersweet moment when he was made an Honorary Draft Pick. Rather than letting another challenge destroy his faith, Austin has once again strived to overcome adversity by becoming a spokesperson for The Marfan Foundation, raising awareness and understanding for the disease. Despite the many heartbreaking challenges he has faced, Isaiah's story is inspirational and full of hope as he encourages everyone to tower in the face of adversity and keep living out your dreams, no matter what life throws your way. *Proceeds from Dream Again will go to the Isaiah Austin Foundation, which provides support for the awareness and research of Marfan syndrome and those affected by it.
American Hunter
by William Doyle Willie RobertsonNew York Times bestselling author and star of A&E's Duck Dynasty, Willie Robertson, teams up with William Doyle, the bestselling co-author of American Gun, to share the history of America's most well known hunters.American Hunter is the first book ever to compile a chronological history of America's greatest hunters. Based on the powerful personalities of colorful men and women, this book begins with the Plains Indians and moves through legendary hunters like Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill, Teddy Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, Lyndon Johnson, and more. Also included are the histories of American fox, rabbit, deer, squirrel, duck, goose, and big-game hunting, as well as action biographies of classic hunting weapons. Author Willie Robertson, famed hunter of Duck Dynasty and Duck Commander, lends his voice to share this bodacious collection of true stories that you'll want to tell around the campfire after a long day's hunt. As Teddy Roosevelt put it, "The virility, clear-sighted common sense and resourcefulness of the American people is due to the fact that we have been a nation of hunters and frequenters of the forest, plains, and waters." It's about time we honor American hunters with a book that tells their incredible stories of skill, courage, survival, and downright bodaciousness. American Hunter is the perfect book for everyone who enjoys amazing tales of American history and for those who love hunting, sport shooting, and wide open spaces.
I Feel Like Going On: Life, Game, and Glory
by Daniel Paisner Ray LewisRay Lewis, legendary Baltimore Ravens linebacker and one of the greatest defensive players of his generation, holds nothing back on the state of football as well as his troubled childhood, his rise to athletic greatness, the storm that threatened to ruin his NFL career, and the devastating injury that nearly cost him a final moment of glory. <P><P>A lot of folks, they know my game, but they don't know my deal. This book right here, it tells the story of my seventeen-year NFL career. It tells of my two Super Bowls, the mark I was blessed to be able to make on the game, on the city of Baltimore. But it also tells the story of how I grew up--abandoned by my no-account father, raised with my siblings by our God-fearing, hardworking single mother. <P><P>It tells how I sometimes struggled off the field. It tells of the anguish and controversy that found me away from the game. Mostly, it tells how heartbreak can sometimes lift you to greatness and glory--if you find a way to put your focus in faith, and faith in your focus. <P><P>When I left the game, confetti raining down on me and my teammates after winning the Super Bowl, I made a promise to myself to show how the game is really played at the highest level. <P><P>That's what you'll find in these pages--a raw, honest look at the business of football and a look behind the scenes at some of the most torturous aspects of the game. The grind of the NFL--that's what shines through. My deal? That grind is a given. <P><P>Every player who wears an NFL uniform has to slog through the same battles just to get to the league. But it's how you prepare for those battles that defines you--and here I hope to show how an unwavering trust in God and an unbreakable sense of purpose can lift you from tragedy to triumph. From strength to strength, man--that's the deal.
Fox Tossing
by Edward Brooke-HitchingIn the spirit of Schott's Miscellany and The Dangerous Book for Boys, a quirky collection of history's most bizarre sports and stories of mankind's most daring and ridiculous recreational pursuits--from baby boxing, to octopus wrestling, and ice tennis.Have you ever wondered what people did for fun throughout history? Edward Brooke-Hitching began to wonder the same thing while flipping through an eighteenth-century German book on hunting, and found a bygone sport in which German nobles launched foxes into the air. This random discovery of a game that slipped through the mainstream historical cracks led him to wonder: how many other sports have been left out of modern history accounts? Now, Brooke-Hitching shares his hilarious journey to discover the curious recreations contrived by mankind that have long since gone extinct (for good reason). Compiling more than 100 of the most puzzling, cruel, and ludicrous games that have ever been played, including Aerial Golf, Hidden Hunting, Ski Ballet, Eel Pulling, and many more, Brooke-Hitching chronicles an entertaining romp through forgotten leisurely pastimes that history wanted you to forget--and that you definitely shouldn't try at home. An illuminating gift book filled with acerbic humor and charming illustrations, Fox Tossing is sure to be enjoyed by many--and will let you take solace in knowing that at least your grandfather wasn't the genius who invented "Tortoise Racing," or any of the other games too stupid, or too harmful to withstand the test of time.
The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football
by S. C. GwynneIn the tradition of Michael Lewis's Moneyball, award-winning historian S.C. Gwynne tells the incredible story of how two unknown coaches revolutionized American football at every level, from high school to the NFL.Hal Mumme is one of a handful of authentic offensive geniuses in the history of American football. The Perfect Pass is the story of how he irreverently destroyed and re-created the game. Mumme spent fourteen mostly losing seasons coaching football before inventing a potent passing offense that would soon shock players, delight fans, and terrify opposing coaches. The revolution he fomented began at a tiny, overlooked college called Iowa Wesleyan, where Mumme was head coach and Mike Leach, a lawyer who had never played college football, was hired as his offensive line coach. In the cornfields of Iowa, while scribbling plays on paper napkins, these two mad inventors, drawn together by a shared disregard for conventionalism and a love for Jimmy Buffett, began to engineer the purest, most extreme passing game in the 145-year history of football. Implementing their "Air Raid" offense, their teams--at Iowa Wesleyan and later at Valdosta State and the University of Kentucky--played blazingly fast--faster than any team ever had before, and they routinely beat teams with far more talented athletes. And Mumme and Leach did it all without even a playbook. Their quarterback once completed sixty-one of eighty-six passes, both collegiate records. In The Perfect Pass, S.C. Gwynne explores Mumme's leading role in changing football from a run-dominated sport to a pass-dominated one, the game that tens of millions of Americans now watch every fall weekend. Whether you're a casual or ravenous football fan, this is a truly compelling story of American ingenuity and how a set of revolutionary ideas made their way from the margins into the hot center of the game we celebrate today.
438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea
by Jonathan Franklin"The best survival book in a decade" (Outside magazine), 438 Days is the true story of the fisherman who survived fourteen months in a small boat drifting seven thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean.On November 17, 2012, a pair of fishermen left the coast of Mexico for a weekend fishing trip in the open Pacific. That night, a violent storm ambushed them as they were fishing eighty miles offshore. As gale force winds and ten-foot waves pummeled their small, open boat from all sides and nearly capsized them, captain Salvador Alvarenga and his crewmate cut away a two-mile-long fishing line and began a desperate dash through crashing waves as they sought the safety of port. Fourteen months later, on January 30, 2014, Alvarenga, now a hairy, wild-bearded and half-mad castaway, washed ashore on a nearly deserted island on the far side of the Pacific. He could barely speak and was unable to walk. He claimed to have drifted from Mexico, a journey of some seven thousand miles. 438 Days is the first-ever account of one of the most amazing survival stories in modern times. Based on dozens of hours of exclusive interviews with Alvarenga, his colleagues, search-and-rescue officials, the remote islanders who found him, and the medical team that saved his life, 438 Days is an unforgettable study of the resilience, will, ingenuity and determination required for one man to survive more than a year lost and adrift at sea.
Swee'pea: The Story of Lloyd Daniels and Other Playground Basketball Legends
by Ron Naclerio John Valenti"If you care about basketball or about people, you will care about this book." --(John Feinstein, author of Season on the Brink) "[Daniels's] story was quite powerful in an age before the Internet and social media and is a fantastic read for this generation's basketball players, parents, and lovers of the game." --(Ronnie Flores, Ball is Life) In this updated edition of a lost classic of sports writing, authors John Valenti and Ron Naclerio chronicle the life of Lloyd Daniels, one of New York City's most legendary basketball players.Lloyd Daniels learned to hoop on the playgrounds of Brooklyn and Queens during the 1980s. "Swee'pea" they called him. His rep on the court traveled all the way to the Bronx, and across the country, earning him enthusiastic comparisons to the likes of Magic Johnson. Swee'pea was sure to make it to the big time and out of a New York City where drugs and violence had gripped many of its neighborhoods. And eventually he did, leaving the city's asphalt courts for the shiny hardwoods of NCAA programs, minor pro-leagues, and eventually the NBA. He took with him, however, a drug habit, a learning disability, and a reputation for self-destruction. With Swee'pea, Newsday reporter John Valenti and celebrated New York City high school basketball coach Ron Naclerio brilliantly capture how an athletic phenom becomes both a product of his environment, and his own worst enemy. Supplementing Daniels's enigmatic story are profiles of basketball successes like former NBA stars Kenny Anderson, John Salley, and Mark Jackson--and tragedies like Earl "The Goat" Manigault, Richie Adams, and Tony "Red" Bruin--who never made the league. Timeless, gritty, and hard-hitting, Swee'pea is a classic tale that illuminates why so many of basketball's best players throw away multimillion dollar careers, and a journey back to a time when the humble playground courts of New York City were giving rise to some of the finest players in the world.
Open Look: Canadian Basketball and Me
by Jay TrianoA thoughtful, entertaining memoir about one of Canada’s most decorated basketball stars, his love of the sport, and the rise of basketball in Canada.As a child growing up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Jay Triano did what everyone else in the city did on Friday nights: he went to watch basketball. Along with dozens of other fans, Jay and his family would crowd into the gymnasium of the local high school. Of all the places in the world, Jay only ever wanted to be courtside, surrounded by the game he loved with the roar of the crowd behind him. Jay never lost that passion for the game. A talented basketball player, Jay competed at the highest levels of the sport. He broke school records, traveled the world with the national team, and twice played against some of basketball’s biggest stars at the Olympics, all in the hopes of one day becoming a professional athlete. But the road wasn’t always smooth. Basketball was in its infancy in Canada, and Jay’s options were limited. Jack Donohue, the imposing forefather of the national game in Canada, held the fortunes of many players in his hands, and he tested the mettle of those around him. Throughout it all, Jay’s love of the sport drove him onward. As Jay matured, so too did the game of basketball in Canada, from humble origins in quiet communities to international competitions and the peak of the professional game. Along the way, Jay drew inspiration from the remarkable people in his life. When he was playing at university, Jay’s trainer was a young man named Terry Fox, who showed Jay the true meanings of discipline, gratitude, and giving back. Years later, when Jay was coaching Olympic and NBA teams, it was those same lessons that helped him realize that he wasn’t just shaping athletes; he was shaping a new generation. Told with honesty, warmth, and passion, Jay Triano’s story is an uplifting reminder of what it means to love a sport and a country.
Catching the Sky
by Colten Moore Keith O'BrienA transcendent story about risk and the pursuit of happiness, family, and the bond between brothers.Dust and prairie were abundant on the Texas Panhandle, the land that gave birth to generations of Moores. But instead of working the landor the cattle that fed upon it, the Moore brothers, Colton and Caleb, heeded another call. Their dreams, paired with hard work and family sacrifice, eventually became reality. The Moore brothers, with their boundary-exploding athleticism, innovation and appetite for risk, became stars on the burgeoning freestyle ATV and snowmobile circuits. If it had wheels, they could flip it--often higher and better than anyone else--leading a band of pioneers intent on breaking new ground and in a new sport before multitudes of fans at the X Games and beyond. In this vivid, page-turning narrative, Colten Moore offers a profound and deeply moving perspective on his life and that of his brother. Catching the Sky is a clear-eyed look at extreme sports, what drives people to take wild chances, and how one man, Colten, couldn't stop even after the worst possible outcome. His story reminds us that we can dream--and sometimes achieve the impossible, that we can follow our own path, that we can lose something, lose everything, only to find it again--often in the most unlikely place.
Woodlawn
by Bobby Bowden Mark Schlabach Todd GereldsThis riveting true story of courage, strength, and football at the height of racial tension in Birmingham, Alabama, inspired the motion picture Woodlawn, and tells the story of Coach Tandy Gerelds, his running back Tony Nathan, and a high school football game that healed a city. Woodlawn is soon to be a major motion picture starring Jon Voight, Nic Bishop, and C. Thomas Howell.In the midst of violent, impassioned racial tensions in Birmingham, Alabama, new football coach, Tandy Gerelds, was struggling to create a winning football team at Woodlawn High School--one of the last schools in Birmingham to integrate. The team he was handed did not have the caliber of players he needed to win--until he saw Tony Nathan run. But Tony was African American and Coach Gerelds knew that putting him in as running back would be like drawing a target on his own back and the back of his soon-to-be star player. But Coach Gerelds saw something in Tony, and he knew that his decision to let him play was about more than football. It was about doing what was right for the school...and the city. And soon, the only place in the city where blacks and whites got along was on Coach Gerelds's football team. With the help of a new school chaplain, Tony learned to look beyond himself and realized that there was more at stake than winning a game. In 1974, Coach Gerelds's interracial team made Alabama history drawing 42,000 fans into the stadium to watch them play. It was this game that triggered the unity and support of the Woodlawn High School Colonels and that finally allowed a city to heal and taught its citizens how to love.
Hockey Strong: Stories of Sacrifice from Inside the NHL
by Todd SmithFor the casual enthusiast and hockey fanatic alike comes a collection of essays and photographs celebrating the grit and dedication of hockey players to withstand injury and hardship to play the sport they love.Based on the author's interviews with key figures and capturing the inside stories of superstars old and new, Hockey Strong is one of a kind: an exploration of the long, dangerous, and often arduous journey of an NHL player. Packed with intimate interviews, exclusive photographs, and iconic moments, it's a beautifully designed celebration of one of the toughest sports in the world, and the hearts of the athletes who play it. Featuring figures like Kris Draper, Shjon Podein, Craig Berube, Joey Kocur, Rick Tocchet, Chris Nilan, and even the trainer for the 1980 Winter Olympics USA team, Todd Smith provides unprecedented access to the stories behind famous hits, injuries, and fights, while also revealing the human drive and brotherhood that propels such players forward. With a particular focus on the Original Six franchises of the NHL, Smith interviews players young and old from across North America, and illustrates hockey's broad appeal to new and lifelong fans. Unique in its content and design, and appealing to all generations of fans, this is the perfect gift for both the passionate fanatic and the casual follower of hockey.
Touchdown Tony
by Tony NathanIn the movie tie-in to the Fall 2015 film, Woodlawn, Tony Nathan (the central character of the film) shares his experiences as an African American running back on a mostly white team in 1970s Birmingham, Alabama. His courage and superb ability helped heal a city and propelled him to a successful football career as both a player and coach in the NFL. The movie stars Jon Voight, Nic Bishop, and C. Thomas Howell.When Tony Nathan got his hands on a football, it was like Superman putting on his cape for the first time. He stepped onto the field and became a different person--a hero destined to change the course of Alabama history. Somehow, when he held a football, he knew exactly what to do, and it was those instincts that helped him navigate life in one of the most tumultuous cities in America. In this powerful memoir, Tony reveals how he summoned the courage to "run with purpose" during the times when racial tensions ran high as he grew from a boy trapped by the racial divide in Birmingham, Alabama, into a successful man and football hero. Tony's courage, character, passion, and strength contributed to his impressive career on the field--including two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins--and then as a coach who helped train other winning players. Inspirational and uplifting, Touchdown Tony is not only a behind-the-scenes look at a great football player's life and career, it is also a story of redemption and one man's hope to change the future.
Fastpitch: The Untold History of Softball and the Women Who Made the Game
by Erica WestlyIf you think softball is just a "women's version" of the great American pastime of baseball--well, think again.Fastpitch softball is one of the most widely played sports in the world, with tens of millions of active participants in various age groups. But the origins of this beloved sport and the charismatic athletes who helped it achieve prominence in the mid-twentieth century have been largely forgotten, until now. Fastpitch brings to life the eclectic mix of characters that make up softball's vibrant 129-year history. From its humble beginnings in 1887, when it was invented in a Chicago boat club and played with a broomstick, to the rise in the 1940s and 1950s of professional-caliber company-sponsored teams that toured the country in style, softball's history is as diverse as it is fascinating. Though it's thought of today as a woman's sport, fastpitch softball's early years featured several male stars, such as the vaudeville-esque Eddie Feigner, whose signature move was striking out batters while blindfolded. But because softball was one of the only team sports that women were allowed to play competitively, it took on added importance for female athletes. Top fastpitch teams of the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, such as the New Orleans Jax Maids and Connecticut's Raybestos Brakettes, gave women access to employment and travel opportunities that would have been unavailable to them otherwise. At a time when female athletes had almost no prospects, softball offered them a chance to flourish. Women put off marriage and moved across the country just for a shot at joining a strong team. Told from the perspective of such influential players as Bertha Ragan Tickey, who set strikeout records and taught Lana Turner to pitch, and Joan Joyce, who struck out baseball legend Ted Williams and helped found a professional softball league with Billie Jean King, Fastpitch chronicles softball's rich history and its uncertain future (as evidenced by its controversial elimination from the 2012 Olympics and the mounting efforts to have it reinstated). A celebration of this unique American sport and the role it plays in our culture today, Fastpitch is as entertaining as it is inspiring.