- Table View
- List View
Underdogs: The Philadelphia Eagles' Emotional Road to Super Bowl Victory
by Zach Berman Merrill ReeseFollowing a season with incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, the Philadelphia Eagles went on to do what fans had all but written off as impossible: for the first time in the franchise's history, Philly won a Super Bowl.Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat reporter Zach Berman takes fans on a journey through the action-packed season -- from the preseason and midseason player pickups that shaped a championship team to the gut-wrenching injury of star quarterback Carson Wentz through to the bold play calling and nail-biting moments in Super Bowl LII, in which the Eagles bested the favored-to-win New England Patriots.A book unique in its scope and insight thanks to Berman's on-the-ground reporting, Underdogs will detail the unlikely story that captured national attention; explain how the team resonated among a desperate fan base that waited 57 years for a championship; and even delve into the players' social activism during a particularly political NFL season. With a foreword by beloved Philadelphia radio announcer Merrill Reese and an 8-page full-color photo insert, it's the perfect keepsake item for anyone who bleeds green.During his six years covering the Birds, Berman has developed relationships with some of the most notable characters that led the team to Super Bowl victory. In Underdogs, he'll explain why Nick Foles contemplated retirement on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP. He'll detail Howie Roseman's journey to NFL executive of the year after being cast aside by former coach Chip Kelly. He'll show Malcolm Jenkins' journey to team captain, how Chris Long's life changed in a Tanzania hotel bar, why Eagles kicker Jake Elliott didn't consider football until he was chosen at random at a high school pep rally, and where Carson Wentz ate dinner the night before he left for the NFL Draft. These more obscure stories offer incredible context and depth to an already fascinating story of success against the odds.
Undone By You (The Chicago Rebels Series #3)
by Kate MeaderUSA TODAY bestselling author Kate Meader brings her signature &“steamy sex scenes, colorful characters, and riveting dialogue&” (RT Book Reviews) to this novella in the Chicago Rebels series, following the general manager of the Rebels as he scores with one of his players off the ice.Dante Moretti has just landed his dream job: GM of the Chicago Rebels. And screw the haters who think there should be an asterisk next to his name because he&’s the first out and proud managing executive in pro hockey. He&’s earned the right to be here and nothing will topple him off that perch—especially not an incredibly inconvenient attraction to his star defenseman, Cade &“Alamo&” Burnett. Cade has always been careful to keep his own desires on the down low, but his hot Italian boss proves to be a temptation he can&’t resist. Sure, they both have so much to lose, but no one will ever know... As Dante and Cade&’s taboo affair heats up off the ice and their relationship gets more and more intense, they&’ll have to decide: is love worth risking their careers? Or is this romance destined to be forever benched?
University Cricket and Emerging Adulthood: Days In The Dirt
by Harry C. R. BowlesThis book provides a detailed ethnographic account of the lives and experiences of a group of male, university-based academy cricketers transitioning into (and away from) professional sport. Set in one of the six university centres of cricket excellence established by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2000 as a pathway into professional cricket, the study examines the nature of the university cricket experience in relation to a process of occupational identity-exploration and development. Through a series of empirical insights, the author illustrates the tension between aspiration and reality players encountered in deciding whether cricket, as an occupation and future identity-commitment, was right for them. In so doing, the book reveals the questions of identity generated by players’ interactions with their cricketing environment relating to their lives as student-cricketers and as young people.University Cricket and Emerging Adulthood will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines, including sociology, psychology, sport coaching, sport policy and leisure studies.
University of Nike: How Corporate Cash Bought American Higher Education
by Joshua HuntThe dramatic expose of how the University of Oregon sold its soul to Nike, and what that means for the future of our public institutions and our society. In the mid-1990s, facing severe cuts to its public funding, the University of Oregon—like so many colleges across the country—was desperate for cash. Luckily, the Oregon Ducks’ 1995 Rose Bowl berth caught the attention of the school’s wealthiest alumnus: Nike founder Phil Knight, who was seeking new marketing angles at the collegiate level. And so the University of Nike was born: Knight has so far donated more than half a billion dollars to the school in exchange for high-visibility branding opportunities. But as journalist Joshua Hunt shows in University of Nike, Oregon has paid dearly for the veneer of financial prosperity and athletic success that has come with this brand partnering. Hunt uncovers efforts to conceal university records, buried sexual assault allegations against university athletes, and cases of corporate overreach into academics and campus life—all revealing a university being run like a business, with America’s favorite “Shoe Dog” calling the shots. Nike money has shaped everything from Pac-10 television deals to the way the game is played, from the landscape of the campus to the type of student the university hopes to attract.More alarming still, Hunt finds other schools taking a page from Oregon’s playbook. Never before have our public institutions for research and higher learning been so thoroughly and openly under the sway of private interests, and never before has the blueprint for funding American higher education been more fraught with ethical, legal, and academic dilemmas. Encompassing more than just sports and the academy, University of Nike is a riveting story of our times.
Unknown, Untold, and Unbelievable Stories of IU Sports (Well House Bks.)
by Doug Wilson John C. Decker Pete DiPrimioA collection of previously unheard-of, incredible tales from the Indiana University Athletics program.For over 125 years, Hoosier athletes and coaches have grabbed headlines with their accomplishments and accolades. Legendary performers and larger-than-life figures have called Bloomington home, and their stories have been passed down through generations. But for every classic tale about a Hoosier athlete, coach, or program, there’s another that’s been forgotten. Until now.After gaining unprecedented access to IU archives and longtime employees, authors John Decker, Pete DiPrimio, and Doug Wilson reveal events and images that were lost for decades. Filled with new and entertaining stories of the people who have made IU Athletics legendary, Unknown, Untold, and Unbelievable Stories of IU Sports is a must-have for any fan.Discover behind-the-scenes stories of:the Olympic Trials featuring Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, and Steve Alfordthe infamous 1997 black football jerseysErnie Pyle’s outlandish automobile polo match to raise funds for the IU marching bandJ. Moye’s notorious block against Dukethe time Sam Bell won the bid for an NCAA track meet—without a facility or even bleachersand many more incredible stories from the renowned IU Athletics program“Unknown, Untold, and Unbelievable Stories of IU Sports is packed with enough rare information that, after reading it, anyone—from the casual fan to the dyed-in-the-wool fanatic—can be a Hoosier sports expert on trivia night.” —Bloom Magazine
Unnecessary Roughness: Inside the Trial and Final Days of Aaron Hernandez
by Jose Baez Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez George WillisThe revelatory inside story of the trial and final days of New England Patriots superstar Aaron Hernandez, by his attorney and New York Times bestselling author Jose Baez.When renowned defense attorney Jose Baez received a request for representation from Aaron Hernandez, the disgraced Patriots tight-end was already serving a life sentence for murder. Defending him in a second, double-murder trial seemed like a lost cause--but Baez accepted the challenge, and their partnership culminated in a dramatic courtroom victory, a race to contest his first conviction, and ultimately a tragedy, when Aaron took his own life days after his acquittal.This riveting, closely-observed account of Aaron's life and final year is the only book based on countless intimate conversations with Aaron, and told from the perspective of a true insider. Written with the support of Hernandez's fiancée, Unnecessary Roughness takes readers inside the high-profile trial, offering a dramatic retelling of the race to obtain key evidence that would exonerate Hernandez, and later play a critical role in appealing his first conviction.With revelations about Aaron's personal life that weren't shared at trial, and an exploration of the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy diagnosis revealed by his autopsy, Jose Baez's Unnecessary Roughness is a startling courtroom drama and an unexpected portrait of a fallen father, fiancé, and teammate.
Unsinkable: From Russian Orphan to Paralympic Swimming World Champion
by Jessica LongThe top Paralympic swimmer in the world, Jessica Long delivers an inspirational photographic memoir. Born in Siberia with fibular hemimelia, Jessica Long was adopted from a Russian orphanage at thirteen months old and has since become the second most decorated U.S. Paralympic athlete of all time. Now, Jessica shares all the moments in her life—big and small, heartbreaking and uplifting—that led to her domination in the Paralympic swimming world. This photographic memoir, filled with photographs, sidebars, quotes, and more, will thrill her fans and inspire those who are hearing her story for the first time.
Unstoppable Me
by Adam DirksUnstoppable Me, written by New York Times bestselling author and champion surfer Bethany Hamilton with husband, Adam Dirks, tells the story of Makana the lion, who loves to surf but loses her nerve when she wipes out. When her friend encourages her to go back out again, Makana summons up the courage and discovers the success that comes from believing in yourself and never giving up.As seen in the feature film Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, this playful book will have little ones cheering for Makana and inspire them to stay strong and keep trying, no matter what challenges might come their way.
Unstoppable Moses: A Novel
by Tyler James SmithIn this coming-of-age debut, a seventeen-year-old boy has one week in the aftermath of a disastrous prank to prove to the authorities, and to himself, that he’s not a worthless jerk who belongs in jail.Moses and his cousin Charlie were best friends, wisecracking pranksters, unstoppable forces of teenage energy—until the night they became accidental arsonists and set in motion a chain of events that left Moses alone, guilt-stricken, and most likely trapped in his dead-end town. Then Moses gets a lucky break: the chance to volunteer as a camp counselor for week and prove that the incident at the bowling alley should be expunged from his record. And since a criminal record and enrollment at Duke are mutually exclusive, he’s determined to get through his community service and get on with his life. But tragedy seems to follow him wherever he goes, and this time, it might just stop him in his tracks.“Unstoppable Moses is radiant; one of those rare debut novels that shines with humor, love, compassion, and hope, with a cast of unforgettable characters that jump off the pages and into your heart. Tyler James Smith is a masterful storyteller.”—Andrew Smith, Printz Honor and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award-winning author of Grasshopper Jungle“When people say reading makes us more empathetic, they are talking about books like Unstoppable Moses by Tyler James Smith. A lyrical, hilarious, so-real-it-hurts debut that reminds us all just how much we have to lose, and why it’s important to never give up. I’m so happy this book is in the world.”—Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, Morris Honor-winning author of The Smell of Other People’s Houses
Upon Further Review: The Greatest What-Ifs in Sports History
by Mike PescaFrom Mike Pesca, host of the popular Slate podcast The Gist, comes the greatest sports minds imagining how the world would change if a play, trade, injury, or referee's call had just gone the other way. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Calibri} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Cambria} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Cambria; min-height: 14.0px} No announcer ever proclaimed: "Up Rises Frazier!" "Havlicek commits the foul, trying to steal the ball!" or "The Giants Lose the Pennant, The Giants Lose The Pennant!" Such moments are indelibly etched upon the mind of every sports fan. Or rather, they would be, had they happened. Sports are notoriously games of inches, and when we conjure the thought of certain athletes - like Bill Buckner or Scott Norwood - we can't help but apply a mental tape measure to the highlight reels of our minds. Players, coaches, and of course fans, obsess on the play when they ask, "What if?" Upon Further Review is the first book to answer that question.Upon Further Review is a book of counterfactual sporting scenarios. In its pages the reader will find expertly reported histories, where one small event is flipped on its head, and the resulting ripples are carefully documented, the likes of... What if the U.S. Boycotted Hitler's Olympics? What if Bobby Riggs beat Billie Jean King? What if Bucky Dent popped out at the foot of the Green Monster?What if Drew Bledsoe never got hurt? Upon Further Review takes classic arguments conducted over pints in a pub and places them in the hands of dozens of writers, athletes, and historians. From turning points that every sports fan rues or celebrates, to the forgotten would-be inflection points that defined sports, Upon Further Review answers age old questions, and settles the score, even if the score bounced off the crossbar.
Urban Calisthenics: Get Ripped and Get Strong with Progressive Street Workouts You Can Do Anywhere
by Tee MajorAre you seeking a better way to build a stronger body that doesn&’t require a gym? Are you ready for the next level of fitness and a more extreme challenge? If you&’ve grown bored or frustrated with traditional strength training methods and aren&’t getting the results you want, Urban Calisthenics has the workouts you need. With progressive bodyweight street workouts you can do anywhere, all you&’ll need to get ripped and strong is your body, a few simple pieces of equipment, and the willpower to make it happen. With nearly 70 bodyweight exercises and 10 precision routines, Urban Calisthenics will help you create the strong, balanced, muscular body you&’ve been seeking. You&’ll quickly forget the gym and discover a greater level of fitness that can be achieved virtually anywhere, and at any time! · Loaded with nearly 70 exercises, from basics like the push-up, chin-up, and lunge, to superhuman movements like the planche, human flag, and the double clap push-up · Utilizes a progressive training approach that starts with basic bodyweight exercises and guides you through more challenging movements until you're ready for the most challenging bodyweight exercises of all · Features 10 high-intensity, whole-body workouts that will push you to your limits and beyond· Contains dynamic full-color photography, detailed step-by-step instruction, and positive motivation from globally recognized bodyweight training expert Tee Major
Urethane Revolution: The Birth of Skate San Diego 1975 (Sports)
by John O'MalleyThe history behind the advent of urethane wheels and the birth of the modern movement of skateboarding, as told by a man who lived it. One crazy year on the California coast—in 1975 a hippie skunkworks, bred in garages and shacks, launched the modern skater movement. Strap in for a wild ride replete with two car chases, two plane crashes, a massive truck bomb, Colombian narcos, the Mafia, senior White House staff, a gypsy fortuneteller, three straight-up miracles, Jacques Cousteau, big piles of cocaine and naked hippie chicks. Author John O'Malley was in the thick of it all, and he retraces the trip that starts with a bang and races to a melt-in-your-mouth ending. &“A truly mesmerizing account of the rebirth of skateboarding in the 1970s. Brash and wild with opinions…The Revolution was in fact televised, and O&’Malley had a front row seat.&” —Michael Brooke, publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine &“The always interesting, sometimes shocking, off-color page-turner dialogues the history of skateboarding from one of its founding fathers, John O&’Malley.&” —San Diego Uptown News
Us Against You: A Novel (Beartown Series)
by Fredrik BackmanThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown returns with an unforgettable novel &“about people—about strength and tribal loyalty and what we unwittingly do when trying to show our boys how to be men&” (Jojo Moyes).Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did. Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too. A small community tucked deep in the forest, Beartown is home to tough, hardworking people who don&’t expect life to be easy or fair. No matter how difficult times get, they&’ve always been able to take pride in their local ice hockey team. So it&’s a cruel blow when they hear that Beartown ice hockey might soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in the neighboring town of Hed, take in that fact. As the tension mounts between the two adversaries, a newcomer arrives who gives Beartown hockey a surprising new coach and a chance at a comeback. Soon a team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you&’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; always dutiful and eager-to-please Bobo; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the town&’s enmity with Hed grows more and more acute. As the big game approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt intensifies. By the time the last goal is scored, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after everything, the game they love can ever return to something as simple and innocent as a field of ice, two nets, and two teams. Us against you. Here is a declaration of love for all the big and small, bright and dark stories that give form and color to our communities. With immense compassion and insight, Fredrik Backman—&“the Dickens of our age&” (Green Valley News)—reveals how loyalty, friendship, and kindness can carry a town through its most challenging days.
Vintage Camper Trailer Rallies
by Paul Lacitinola Caroline LacitinolaA celebration of vintage midcentury trailers and the people that love them. This follow-up to the authors&’ Vintage Camper Trailers focuses on trailer rallies, events where hundreds of vintage trailers aficionados come together to show off their trailers and share their love of the hobby. It features hundreds of new photos of trailerites and their trailers, along with the fun and festivities that occur at the rallies. Also included are a history of camper trailers, along with information on the major trailer hobby groups, such as Tin Can Tourists, the Wally Byam Airstream Club, and Sisters on the Fly, and tips on how to plan and organize your own rallies and events, based on the authors&’ own first-hand experience.
Virgin Territory: A Hellions Hockey Romance (A Hellions Hockey Romance #3)
by Lia RileyDon't miss the third and final book in Lia Riley's sexy and addictive Hellions Angels series—the perfect grumpy/sunshine beach read!Practice makes perfect...Patrick “Patch” Donnelly has what it takes to be the best goalie in the NHL... if only he could learn to control his temper. When Coach orders him to get his head in the game with private yoga classes, Patch isn’t having it. There’s no way this tough Boston guy would be caught dead downward dog-ing his way to inner peace. But if he refuses, he risks his starting position and the dream he sacrificed everything for, including joining the priesthood.Yoga instructor Margot Kowalski is over men. After yet another toxic relationship, she’s eager to forget love and focus on growing her business. Doing the Hellions head coach a favor by helping out a troubled player can't hurt, and it might give her career a high-profile boost. But free-spirited Margot is soon charming the pants off Patch. Literally. Her sassy combination of sweet and sexy proves irresistible to the goalie. Before Patch can give into temptation though, he’ll have to confess his biggest secret:He’s a virgin.But Patch is hiding more than sexual inexperience, and his dark past soon threatens to destroy his shot at true love.
WJEC/Eduqas GCSE PE: Study And Revision Guide
by Sean WilliamsSo much more than a traditional revision resource, this Study and Revision Guide has been carefully designed to give students clear guidance on every aspect of the GCSE course and prepare them thoroughly for their final exams. // Written by an experienced teacher and examiner and endorsed by WJEC, it provides high quality support you can trust. // The innovative design allows the content of each topic to be covered in a three-step sequence: knowledge and understanding (AO1) pages begin each topic, followed by (AO2) application of knowledge and then (AO3) analysis & evaluation. // Comprehensive support for Unit 1 / Component 1 Introduction to Physical Education. // Clear and succinct presentation of the key information needed per topic, ensuring students are fully equipped for assessment. // Provides a clear focus on the assessment needs for exam success. // Recap and summaries per topic present information in diagrammatic and visual styles to aid the revision process.
Walk On: From Pee Wee Dropout to the NFL Sidelines--My Unlikely Story of Football, Purpose, and Following an Amazing God
by Pete Carroll Ben Malcolmson Patti McCordIn this true, compelling account of perseverance and hope from Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll's assistant, a young journalist walks on to a top-ranked USC football team and, guided by his faith, shares God's love, launching him on an unexpected journey with an amazing outcome.Had anyone told Ben Malcolmson that he'd someday be a wide receiver on the national champion USC football team--after not playing football since an unfortunate fifth-grade Pop Warner experience--he would have called them crazy. As a reporter for The Daily Trojan, in the spirit of George Plimpton, he participated in walk-on tryouts for the team and was dumbfounded to find himself listed on the roster. His position on the team never amounted to much in a game-time contribution, but Ben felt strongly that his faith was inextricably linked to his purpose. He felt called to anonymously place Bibles in each USC teammate locker on Christmas Eve--to resounding indifference and rejection from his friends. It wasn't until three years later, when his role at USC had led to a role with Coach Pete Carroll at the Seahawks organization, that an old friend connected with Ben and told him that one of the Bibles had captivated the heart of a teammate in the three days before his death. With a humble spirit dedicated to consistent acts of discipleship, Ben Malcolmson is an authentic voice for the power of simple obedience and trust, for what can happen when a believer allows God to work in a life. Walk On is the result of God using his faithful people to work in the lives of others.
Walk: Tales, Trivia and Rambling Routes for Hikers
by David BathurstWhether you prefer a leisurely ramble through woods, a meandering city stroll, a blustery seaside promenade or a vigorous mountain hike, you’ll be enthralled by the stories, excerpts of classic writing, trivia and practical tips in this book – perfect for anyone who loves the freedom of lacing up their hiking boots and heading for the hills.
Walk: Tales, Trivia and Rambling Routes for Hikers
by David BathurstWhether you prefer a leisurely ramble through woods, a meandering city stroll, a blustery seaside promenade or a vigorous mountain hike, you’ll be enthralled by the stories, excerpts of classic writing, trivia and practical tips in this book – perfect for anyone who loves the freedom of lacing up their hiking boots and heading for the hills.
Walter Camp and the Creation of American Football
by Roger R TamteWalter Camp made the development of football--indeed, its very creation--his lifelong mission. From his days as a college athlete, Camp's love of the game and dedication to its future put it on the course that would allow it to seize the passions of the nation. Roger R. Tamte tells the engrossing but forgotten life story of Walter Camp, the man contemporaries called "the father of American football." He charts Camp's leadership as American players moved away from rugby and for the first time tells the story behind the remarkably inventive rule change that, in Camp's own words, was "more important than all the rest of the legislation combined." Trials also emerged, as when disputes over forward passing, the ten-yard first down, and other rules became so public that President Theodore Roosevelt took sides. The resulting political process produced losses for Camp as well as successes, but soon a consensus grew that football needed no new major changes. American football was on its way, but as time passed, Camp's name and defining influence became lost to history. Entertaining and exhaustively researched, Walter Camp and the Creation of American Football weaves the life story of an important sports pioneer with a long-overdue history of the dramatic events that produced the nation's most popular game.
Warren Spahn: A Biography of the Legendary Lefty
by Lew FreedmanWith 363 victories, Warren Spahn is the winningest left-handed pitcher in baseball history. During his 21-year career, Spahn won 20+ games thirteen times, was a 17-time All Star, a Cy Young–award winner, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. In addition, Spahn was also a war hero, serving in World War II and awarded the Purple Heart.To say Spahn lived a storied life is an understatement.In Warren Spahn, author Lew Freedman tells the story of this incredible lefty. Known for his supremely high leg kick, Spahn became one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. However, the road wasn’t as easy as it would seem.Struggling in his major-league debut at age twenty, manager Casey Stengel demoted the young left. It would be four years before Spahn would return to the diamond, as he received a calling of a different kind—one from his country.Enlisting in the Army, Spahn would serve with distinction, seeing action in the Battle of the Bulge and the Ludendorff Bridge, and was awarded a battlefield commission, along with a Purple Heart.Upon his return to the game, he would take the league by storm. Spahn dominated for over two decades, spending twenty years with the Braves (both Boston and Milwaukee), as well as a season with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. Pitching into his mid-forties, he would throw two no-hitters at the advanced ages of thirty-nine and forty. From his early days in Buffalo and young career, through his time and the military and all the way to the 1948 Braves and “Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain,” author Lew Freedman leaves no stone unturned in sharing the incredible life of this pitching icon, who is still considered the greatest left-handed pitcher to ever play the game.
Water Colour
by Greg FrenchFeaturing wild and warming tales from a life spent in the natural world, Water Colour is the literary equivalent of a fishing trip with great friends. Sixteen years after the much-loved Frog Call, fly fisher and storyteller Greg French has produced another glimmering collection of tales from his travels around Australia and beyond. In Water Colour, Greg visits old friends and new, reflects on a changing world, and delves deeply and often unexpectedly into matters of the soul. His stories, always told with humour and enthusiasm, are fascinating glimpses into the quirks of our relationships, between each other and with the environment. Water Colour is a celebration of humour and love, of sadness and loss, and of the kinds of insights that only an afternoon of fishing can inspire.
Water Colour
by Greg FrenchFeaturing wild and warming tales from a life spent in the natural world, Water Colour is the literary equivalent of a fishing trip with great friends. Sixteen years after the much-loved Frog Call, fly fisher and storyteller Greg French has produced another glimmering collection of tales from his travels around Australia and beyond.In Water Colour, Greg visits old friends and new, reflects on a changing world, and delves deeply and often unexpectedly into matters of the soul. His stories, always told with humour and enthusiasm, are fascinating glimpses into the quirks of our relationships, between each other and with the environment. Water Colour is a celebration of humour and love, of sadness and loss, and of the kinds of insights that only an afternoon of fishing can inspire.
We Begin Our Ascent
by Joe Mungo ReedOne of the Best Books of the Summer—as chosen by Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, The Daily Beast, Kirkus Reviews, Good Housekeeping, AFAR magazine, and Bookish. “A dazzling debut by an essential new talent.” —George Saunders “Unforgettable…a powerful new literary voice.” —Mary Karr “Exceptional…Reed is an author to watch.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Sol and Liz are a couple on the cusp. He’s a professional cyclist in the Tour de France, a workhorse but not yet a star. She’s a geneticist on the brink of a major discovery, either that or a loss of funding. They’ve just welcomed their first child into the world, and their bright future lies just before them—if only they can reach out and grab it. But as Liz’s research slows, as Sol starts doping, their dreams grow murkier and the risks graver. Over the whirlwind course of the Tour, they enter the orbit of an extraordinary cast of conmen and aspirants, who draw the young family ineluctably into the depths of an illegal drug smuggling operation. As Liz and Sol flounder to discern right from wrong, up from down, they are forced to decide: What is it we’re striving for? And what is it worth? We Begin Our Ascent dances nimbly between tragic and comic, exploring the cost of ambition and the question of what gives our lives meaning. Reed melds the powerful themes of great marital dramas like Revolutionary Road with the humor, character, and heart of a George Saunders collection. Throughout, we’re drawn inside the cycling world and treated to the brilliant literary sports-writing of modern classics like The Art of Fielding or End Zone.
We Did Everything But Win: Former New York Rangers Remember the Emile Francis Era (1964-1976)
by George Grimm Emile FrancisWe Did Everything But Win: An Oral History of the Emile Francis Era New York Rangers (1964–1976) is an entertaining account of one of the most exciting and unforgettable periods in the history of the Broadway Blueshirts as told by Francis as well as several of his players.George Grimm chronicles each season of the Francis era when “The Cat” transformed them from perennial league doormats to a team that made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs for nine consecutive seasons, including a Finals appearance in 1972. There are also chapters detailing Emile’s playing career and his hiring as general manager as well as the aftermath of his dismissal and an analysis of his tenure behind the bench and as GM. It was during those years that the National Hockey League doubled in size and the Rangers moved into a brand-new Madison Square Garden. As the popularity of the National Hockey League skyrocketed, who could forget the Rangers’ battles on the ice with Boston’s Big Bad Bruins and Philadelphia’s Broad Street Bullies and showdowns with the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks? All the great moments are here including a heart-stopping, triple-overtime victory in the 1971 playoffs and Vic Hadfield’s 50th goal the following season. We Did Everything But Win is a tribute to the Rangers of that era; Jacques Plante and Marcel Paille, Eddie Giacomin and Gilles Villemure, Harry Howell and Jim “The Chief” Neilson, “The Old Smoothies,” the “G-A-G Line,” and the “Bulldog Line.” It’s the story of colorful players with nicknames like “Boomer,” “Stemmer,” and “Sarge” and fan favorites such as Brad Park, Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Walt Tkaczuk. It’s all here—the highs and the lows, the inspiring victories, the devastating losses, and the funny moments along the way.