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Piazza: Catcher, Slugger, Icon, Star
by Greg W. PrinceA franchise and fan base in perpetual search of validation finally had its ticket punched as 2016 dawned. Mike Piazza, who held records in one hand and a city’s rapt attention in the other, gained election to the Hall of Fame. Within weeks of this long-awaited announcement, the ballclub with whom he chose to cast his eternal lot, the New York Mets, made a date to retire his number.In Piazza: Catcher, Slugger, Icon, Star, Greg W. Prince-cocreator of Faith and Fear in Flushing, "the blog for Mets fans who like to read,” and author of Amazin’ Again, the story of the 2015 National League champions-explores the parallel paths Piazza and the Mets set out on in the early 1990s and how their individual journeys merged into a mutual quest for transcendence. From marriage of convenience to lifetime bond to a state of baseball grace reached only once before in team history, Piazza examines how the stranger from Los Angeles became New York’s favorite son and why Mets fans continued to rally to Piazza’s cause years after he took his final swing for them.
Pipe Dreams
by Sarina BowenA goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a shot to the heart…Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers' office during the play-offs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.
Piper Morgan Makes a Splash
by Lucy Fleming Stephanie FarisPiper Morgan tries her hand at acting in the fourth book of the charming Piper Morgan series.Piper’s mom is helping out at a local pool shop, and the owner wants to shoot a commercial for his store. Piper thinks it’s the PERFECT opportunity to get in front of the camera and experience a little bit of show-biz. But will Piper’s contribution to the TV commercial make a splash—or will it go belly-up?
Pittsburgh’s Greatest Teams
by David FinoliPittsburgh is synonymous with winning. From the Penguins and Steelers to the Pirates and Panthers, the Steel City knows championships. The Negro League's Crawford and Homestead Grays are too often overlooked in the city's sports history but were as talented as any team that has played there. Names such as Lemieux, Crosby, Roethlisberger, Bradshaw, Clemente and Stargell are legends of American sport and members of Pittsburgh's most cherished franchises. The 1970s Steelers were known as the Steel Curtain. The Penguins have raised the Stanley Cup five times. Author Dave Finoli ranks the fifty greatest teams that won trophies, brought glory and lifted the hearts of Pittsburgh's devoted sports fans.
Play Big: Lessons in Being Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL
by Jen Welter Stephanie KrikorianWhen Jen Welter became a linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, she was the first woman to ever break the glass sideline of the NFL. In Play Big, Welter reveals the grit that it took to be a trailblazer in the ultimate boys' club. Pre-NFL, Welter was an undersized, underestimated athlete who made sacrifice after sacrifice to acheive her football dreams--rising to the top of women's football leagues and eventually daring to play against men twice her size. Play Big lays out how she succeeded despite the odds, through force of will and determination, revealing the wisdom Welter gained over countless setbacks and challenges. With vivid wit and candor, Play Big will coach you to do the same--whatever your obstacles might be--while translating Welter's hard-earned advice for cultivating true perseverance and toughness.
Play Like a Girl: How a Soccer School in Kenya's Slums Started a Revolution
by Ellie RoscherGrowing up and living in Kibera, Kenya, Abdul Kassim was well aware of the disproportionate number of challenges faced by women due to the extreme gender inequalities that persist in the slums. After being raised by his aunts, mother, and grandmother and having a daughter himself, he felt that he needed to make a difference. In 2002, Abdul started a soccer team for girls called Girls Soccer in Kibera (GSK), with the hope of fostering a supportive community and providing emotional and mental support for the young women in the town. The soccer program was a success, but the looming dangers of slum life persisted, and the young women continued to fall victim to the worst kinds of human atrocities. Indeed, it was the unyielding injustice of these conditions that led Abdul to the conclusion that soccer alone was not enough to create the necessary systemic change. In 2006, after much work, the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy (KGSA) was established with their first class of 11 girls and 2 volunteer teachers. Today, KGSA is composed of 20 full-time staff, provides a host of artistic and athletic programs for more than 130 students annually, and continues to expand. By providing academics inside and outside of the classroom along with artistic and athletic opportunities, KGSA inspires the young women of Kibera to become advocates for change within their own communities and for Kenya as a whole. Play Like a Girl tells the KGSA story through Abdul’s voice and vision and the stories of key staff and students. It is written by Ellie Roscher who spent 2 summers doing research at KGSA and several years writing this book.
Play On: The New Science of Elite Performance at Any Age
by Jeff BercoviciA lively, deeply reported tour of the science and strategies helping athletes like Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Carli Lloyd, and LeBron James redefine the notion of &“peak age.&” Season after season, today&’s sports superstars seem to defy the limits of physical aging that inevitably sideline their competitors. How much of the difference is genetic destiny and how much can be attributed to better training, medicine, and technology? Is athletic longevity a skill that can be taught or a mental discipline that can be mastered? Can career-ending injuries be predicted and avoided? Journalist Jeff Bercovici spent extensive time with professional and Olympic athletes, coaches, and doctors to find the answers to these questions. His quest led him to training camps, tournaments, hospitals, antiaging clinics, and Silicon Valley startups, where he tried cutting-edge treatments and technologies firsthand and investigated the realities behind health fads like alkaline diets, high-intensity interval training, and cryotherapy. Through fascinating profiles and first-person anecdotes, Bercovici illuminates the science and strategies extending the careers of elite older athletes, uncovers the latest advances in fields from nutrition to brain science to virtual reality, and offers empowering insights about how the rest of us can find peak performance at any age.
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life
by Kwame Alexander Mr Thai Neave<P>You gotta know the rules to play the game. <br> Ball is life. <br>Take it to the hoop. <br>Soar. <P>What can we imagine for our lives?<br> What if we were the star players, moving and grooving through the game of life? <br>What if we had our own rules of the game to help us get what we want, what we aspire to, what will enrich our lives? <P>Illustrated with photographs by Thai Neave, The Playbook is intended to provide inspiration on the court of life. Each rule contains wisdom from inspiring athletes and role models such as Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Carli Lloyd, Steph Curry and Michelle Obama. <P>Kwame Alexander also provides his own poetic and uplifting words, as he shares stories of overcoming obstacles and winning games in this motivational and inspirational book just right for graduates of any age and anyone needing a little encouragement. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Playfair Cricket Annual 2017
by Ian MarshallThe cricket world's bestselling pocket annual. The indispensable guide to the season.The Playfair Cricket Annual 2017 includes coverage of the 2016 season, including the Specsavers County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup and the NatWest T20 Blast. It also contains: a detailed register of all current first-class county players and umpires; county records and 2016 first-class averages; current county players' first-class and List A limited-overs career records; Test match scores and averages (May 2016-February 2017); women's International records, plus England players' register; register of probable touring teams and series records; 2017 fixtures, including 2nd XI and Minor Counties.
Playfair Cricket Annual 2017
by Ian MarshallThe cricket world's bestselling pocket annual. The indispensable guide to the season.The Playfair Cricket Annual 2017 includes coverage of the 2016 season, including the Specsavers County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup and the NatWest T20 Blast. It also contains: a detailed register of all current first-class county players and umpires; county records and 2016 first-class averages; current county players' first-class and List A limited-overs career records; Test match scores and averages (May 2016-February 2017); women's International records, plus England players' register; register of probable touring teams and series records; 2017 fixtures, including 2nd XI and Minor Counties.
Playing Dirty
by Taryn Leigh TaylorA game they both want to win Lainey Harper has never been a puck bunny. She wants nothing to do with hockey or hockey players-not after what she's been through. So why can't she resist Cooper Mead? Portland's newest hockey star, Cooper, is all muscle and charisma. And he's Lainey's worst nightmare. Hooking up with him would bring back memories that Lainey needs to keep buried. And risk the hard-earned anonymity she's sacrificed everything to protect. When Lainey finally gives in to Cooper's sexy charm, the chemistry's intense-but so is the media exposure. And now Lainey's got even more to lose than her secret-she's got Cooper.
Playing Games: An introduction to the philosophy of sport through dialogue
by Randolph FeezellWhat is sport? Why does sport matter? How can we use philosophy to understand what sport means today? This engaging and highly original introduction to the philosophy of sport uses dialogue – a form of philosophical investigation – to address the fundamental questions in sport studies and to explore key contemporary issues such as fair play, gender, drug use, cheating, entertainment and identity. Providing a clear, informative and accessible introduction to the philosophy of sport, every chapter includes current sporting examples as well as review questions and guides to further reading. The dialogue form enables students to engage in debate and raise questions, while encouraging them to think from the perspectives of athlete, coach, spectator and philosopher. The issues raised present real and complex ethical dilemmas that relate to a variety of sports from around the world such as soccer, athletics, baseball, basketball, hockey and tennis. No other book brings this rich subject to life through the use of dialogue, making this an indispensable companion to any course on the philosophy or ethics of sport.
Playing Hurt: My Journey from Despair to Hope
by Mitch Albom John U. Bacon John SaundersFor the first time ever, the popular late host of ESPN's The Sports Reporters and ABC's college football openly discusses a lifelong battle with depression.During his three decades on ESPN and ABC, John Saunders became one of the nation's most respected and beloved sportscasters. In this moving, jarring, and ultimately inspiring memoir, Saunders discusses his troubled childhood, the traumatic brain injury he suffered in 2011, and the severe depression that nearly cost him his life. As Saunders writes, Playing Hurt is not an autobiography of a sports celebrity but a memoir of a man facing his own mental illness, and emerging better off for the effort. I will take you into the heart of my struggle with depression, including insights into some of its causes, its consequences, and its treatments.I invite you behind the facade of my apparently "perfect" life as a sportscaster, with a wonderful wife and two healthy, happy adult daughters. I have a lot to be thankful for, and I am truly grateful. But none of these things can protect me or anyone else from the disease of depression and its potentially lethal effects.Mine is a rare story: that of a black man in the sports industry openly grappling with depression. I will share the good, the bad, and the ugly, including the lengths I've gone to to conceal my private life from the public.So why write a book? Because I want to end the pain and heartache that comes from leading a double life. I also want to reach out to the millions of people, especially men, who think they're alone and can't ask for help. John Saunders died suddenly on August 10 ,2016, from an enlarged heart, diabetes, and other complications. This book is his ultimate act of generosity to help those who suffer from mental illness, and those who love them.
Playing with Temptation (Pleasure Cove)
by Reese RyanIn this contemporary romance, a pro footballer needs a PR miracle, and the woman who broke his heart may be the only one who can pick up the pieces.North Carolina wide receiver Nate Johnston built his reputation on talent, drive and good sportsmanship. But when a compromising video goes viral, Nate’s career is on the line. Nate feels ambushed when his brother enlists media consultant Kendra Williams to do damage control. But can Nate control himself around the woman he reignited desire for the woman he once wanted for is wife?Seven years ago, Kendra walked away from the man she loved. And she’s regretted it ever since. Now her son needs a closer relationship with his father . . . and Kendra needs to win back Nate’s trust. After breaking his heart, repairing his career is the least she can do. But powerful passion still smolders between them, tempting the former lovers to move beyond their painful past . . .
Plott Hound Tales: Legendary People & Places behind the Breed
by Bob PlottThis history of the hunting dog &“looks at the breed in relation to outlaws and lawmen, celebrities and common folks—and everyone in between&” (Appalachian History.net). Though originating in Germany, the Plott hound reached worldwide fame through the contributions of many colorful characters from the Southern Appalachians. Originally brought to America by German immigrant Johannes &“George&” Plott, the hounds quickly became renowned for their stamina and gameness. Quill Rose—a legendary local outlaw, moonshiner, gunfighter and more—helped cultivate the bloodline for bear hunting, while revered baseball icon Branch Rickey brought national acclaim to the breed through his hunts in the Hazel Creek Watershed. Writer Frank Methven wrote extensively about the Plott hound for decades, and the Methven Award remains one of the most coveted big game hunting awards in the world. Author and breed expert Bob Plott reveals the fascinating people and places that have shaped the history of the Plott hound. &“Written as only a third great-grandson of George Plott—the man who first brought the Plott bear hounds to America—could write it.&” —Watauga Democrat
Plunge (Orca Sports)
by Eric HowlingCade's dad thinks triathlons are for wimps. He doesn't think it's a real sport and wishes Cade would play football instead, like his older brother, Trent. So Cade trains in secret and qualifies to compete in the provincial championship in Sylvan Lake. The night before the event, Cade's coach suddenly can't go, and Cade is forced to ask his dad for a ride there. He only agrees because Trent has a football game nearby. The road trip takes a nasty turn when his dad swerves to avoid a deer and their car hurtles into an ice-cold river. It's up to Cade to use his skills to save his entire family.
Pocket Bios: Muhammad Ali (Pocket Bios)
by Al BerengerA colorfully illustrated, pocket-size picture book biography of the famous professional boxer and activist Muhammad Ali.Muhammad Ali remains one of the most inspiring and celebrated sports figures today. A gold-medal Olympian and multi-title winning boxer, Ali was an important civil rights activist. From his childhood growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, to his amateur boxing training beginning at the age of 12, to his achievements within the professional boxing ring and beyond as a conscientious objector, follow this extraordinary man's life and accomplishments.Pocket Bios are full of personality, introducing readers to fascinating figures from history with simple storytelling and cheerful illustrations. Titles include men and women from history, exploration, the sciences, the arts, the ancient world, and more.
The Pocket Guide to Equine Knots: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Most Important Knots for Horse and Rider (Skyhorse Pocket Guides)
by Dan AadlandAs anyone who has ever stepped foot into a barn knows well, riding, handling, and caring for a horse is no easy task. Learning how to correctly tie knots can make things easier, but with more than four thousand different types of knots out there, the choices can be overwhelming. Experienced trainer and breeder Dan Aadland is here to help with The Pocket Guide to Equine Knots, a compact guidebook filled with only the most useful and practical knots for dealing with horses. Here, you’ll learn to recognize a “good” knot—a knot that holds but can be untied after pressure. You’ll look into the world of hitches (systems for packing items onto a horse) and splices (useful ways of joining ropes and creating loops). And you’ll learn step-by-step how to properly tie dozens of different knots, including:Square knotBowknotHitchAnd many moreSo whether you’re an experienced rider or you’re about to head out on the trail for the first time, The Pocket Guide to Equine Knots is guaranteed to help you as you ride off towards your next adventure.
The Pocket Guide to Fishing Knots: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Most Important Knots for Fresh and Salt Water (Skyhorse Pocket Guides)
by Joseph B. HealyAnyone who has spent time on the water knows that fishing success comes down to effective connections—the angler must first ensure that the knot connections throughout the fishing line are sound and appropriate for the task at hand. A failed knot—picture a wind knot tarpon leader made a huge silver king pulls hit a fly or a seven-pound bass pulls free because of a poorly tied attachment to your crankbait—will bring your otherwise happy day to a screeching halt and leave you muttering about what might have been. In The Pocket Guide to Fishing Knots, learn the knots of success, and why the connections are recommended by the country's top anglers. Some of the knots featured here include:Blood knotPerfection loopImproved clinch Double surgeon's Albright knot Whether you’ve spent a lifetime fishing the waters of the world, or this is your first season casting a line, The Pocket Guide to Fishing Knots will be sure to help you get your biggest catch yet.
The Pocket Guide to Prepper Knots: A Practical Resource to Knots That Can Help You Survive (Pocket Guide)
by Patty HahneKnowing the ropes when a catastrophic situation strikes can be the key to survival, and in The Pocket Guide to Prepper Knots, Patty Hahne demonstrates the most important multi-purpose knots preppers should be prepared to know. Illustrated with step-by-step instructions for tying them and the knots being used in various situations, the book covers such topic as:•The uses for various types of ropes as well as their advantages and disadvantages•How putting a knot in a rope affects its overall strength•Why being proficient in a few multi-purpose knots is more beneficial than being vaguely familiar with a large number of knots•And much moreThe Pocket Guide to Prepper Knots is a valuable addition to any prepper’s book collection. Its compact design makes it easy to carry in a purse or pocket, stored in the car, or slipped into a bug-out bag.
Point Guard
by Mike LupicaGus and Cassie have always been on the same team off the field, but in this third novel in New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica’s Home Team series can they stay friends when they’re on the same court?Everyone assumes that Gus, whose family is from the Dominican Republic, is a baseball guy. But this year Gus is even more excited about basketball than any other sport he’s ever played. He’s been practicing some new moves and lately he’s more surprised when he misses his shot than when he scores. Plus now that he’s convinced his friend Teddy to try out for the team and Jack’s shoulder is healed, it looks like Walton’s home team will be unstoppable. But this isn’t going to be the season Gus expected, because their team is getting a new player—and she just happens to be one of his best friends. Gus knows Cassie is more than good enough to compete on the boys’ team, and besides they really do need a point guard, so why isn’t he able to shake the feeling that she belongs on their bleachers rather than their bench? And to make matters worse, with their center Steve Kerrigan constantly making comments about his Dominican heritage, and Steve’s dad voicing his views on immigration as he runs for office, Gus is starting to wonder if he really belongs in Walton after all. Can Gus find a way to bring the home team together both on and off the court, or will all these prejudices block their shot at a winning season?
Poppy
by Nancy E. Walker-GuyeFollow along with Poppy the bicycle as he helps Greg, Erica, and Jay learn how to ride.
Positive Pedagogy for Sport Coaching: Athlete-centred coaching for individual sports
by Richard LightThe concept of positive pedagogy has transformed the way we understand learning and coaching in sport. Presenting examples of positive pedagogy in action, this book is the first to apply its basic principles to individual sports such as swimming, athletics, gymnastics and karate. Using the game based approach (GBA) (an athlete-centred, inquiry-based method that involves game-like activities), this book demonstrates how positive pedagogy can be successfully employed across a range of sports and levels of performance, while also providing insight into coaches’ experiences of this approach. Divided into three sections that focus on the development, characteristics and applications of positive pedagogy, it fills a gap in coaching literature by extending the latest developments of GBA to activities beyond team sports. It pioneers a way of coaching that is both efficient in improving performance and effective in promoting positive experiences of learning across all ages and abilities. Positive Pedagogy for Sport Coaching: Athlete-centred coaching for individual sports is invaluable reading for all sports coaching students as well as any practising coach or physical education teacher looking for inspiration.
Power in Practice: The Pragmatic Anthropology of Afro-Brazilian Capoeira
by Sergio González VarelaConsidering the concept of power in capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian ritual art form, Varela describes ethnographically the importance that capoeira leaders (mestres) have in the social configuration of a style called Angola in Bahia, Brazil. He analyzes how individual power is essential for an understanding of the modern history of capoeira, and for the themes of embodiment, play, cosmology, and ritual action. The book also emphasizes the great significance that creativity and aesthetic expression have for capoeira's practice and performance.
The Power of Mindfulness: Mindfulness Meditation Training in Sport (MMTS)
by Amy Baltzell Joshua SummersThis book offers both sport psychology practitioners and sport athletes a clear understanding of mindfulness to help athletes optimize sport performance. It provides a clear insight how sport athletes can learn to increase their ability to concentrate, be fully present during high pressure competition and how to effectively respond to distracting thoughts and emotions (e.g. performance anxiety; dread). The strategies offered in the chapters are based on Mindfulness Meditation Training for Sport (MMTS), an empirically supported mindfulness intervention for sport, which was created by the authors. MMTS has been adopted internationally by practicing sport psychologists – used with collegiate, club, and Olympic teams. Through offering a clear explanation of mindfulness and self-compassion (an essential element of MMTS), brief mindfulness based practices, and consistently offering how such practices link to performance – the reader learns to implement all of MMTS or elements of MMTS to help the increase their ability to focus, cope with difficult emotions, and perform their best when it matters.