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College Football: History, Spectacle, Controversy
by John Sayle WattersonThe rules of the game have changed in the past hundred years, but human nature has not."In March [1892] Stanford and California had played the first college football game on the Pacific Coast in San Francisco... The pregame activities included a noisy parade down streets bedecked with school colors. Tickets sold so fast that the Stanford student manager, future president Herbert Hoover, and his California counterpart, could not keep count of the gold and silver coins. When they finally totaled up the proceeds, they found that the revenues amounted to $30,000—a fair haul for a game that had to be temporarily postponed because no one had thought to bring a ball!"—from College Football: History, Spectacle, Controversy, Chapter ThreeIn this comprehensive history of America's popular pastime, John Sayle Watterson shows how college football in more than one hundred years has evolved from a simple game played by college students into a lucrative, semiprofessional enterprise. With a historian's grasp of the context and a novelist's eye for the telling detail, Watterson presents a compelling portrait rich in anecdotes, colorful personalities, and troubling patterns.He tells how the infamous Yale-Princeton "fiasco" of 1881, in which Yale forced a 0-0 tie in a championship game by retaining possession of the ball for the entire game, eventually led to the first-down rule that would begin to transform Americanized rugby into American football. He describes the kicks and punches, gouged eyes, broken collarbones, and flagrant rule violations that nearly led to the sport's demise (including such excesses as a Yale player who wore a uniform soaked in blood from a slaughterhouse). And he explains the reforms of 1910, which gave official approval to a radical new tactic traditionalists were sure would doom the game as they knew it—the forward pass.As college football grew in the booming economy of the 1920s, Watterson explains, the flow of cash added fuel to an already explosive mix. Coaches like Knute Rockne became celebrities in their own right, with highly paid speaking engagements and product endorsements. At the same time, the emergence of the first professional teams led to inevitable scandals involving recruitment and subsidies for student-athletes. Revelations of illicit aid to athletes in the 1930s led to failed attempts at reform by the fledgling NCAA in the postwar "Sanity Code," intended to control abuses by permitting limited subsidies to college players but which actually paved the way for the "free ride" many players receive today.Watterson also explains how the growth of TV revenue led to college football programs' unprecedented prosperity, just as the rise of professional football seemed to relegate college teams to "minor league" status. He explores issues of gender and race, from the shocked reactions of spectators to the first female cheerleaders in the 1930s to their successful exploitation by Roone Arledge three decades later. He describes the role of African-American players, from the days when Southern schools demanded all-white teams (and Northern schools meekly complied); through the black armbands and protests of the 60s; to one of the game's few successful, if limited, reforms, as black athletes dominate the playing field while often being shortchanged in the classroom.Today, Watterson observes, colleges' insatiable hunger for revenues has led to an abuse-filled game nearly indistinguishable from the professional model of the NFL. After examining the standard solutions for reform, he offers proposals of his own, including greater involvement by faculty, trustees, and college presidents. Ultimately, however, Watterson concludes that the history of college football is one in which the rules of the game have changed, but those of human nature have not.
The Games Presidents Play: Sports and the Presidency
by John Sayle WattersonThe Games Presidents Play provides a new way to view the American presidency. Looking at the athletic strengths, feats, and shortcomings of our presidents, John Sayle Watterson explores not only their health, physical attributes, personalities, and sports IQs, but also the increasing trend of Americans in the past century to equate sporting achievements with courage, manliness, and political competence.The author of College Football begins with George Washington, whose athleticism contributed to his success on the battlefield and may well have contributed to the birth of the republic. He moves seamlessly into the nineteenth century when, for presidents like Jackson, Lincoln, and Cleveland, frontier sports were part of their formative years. With the twentieth-century presidents—most notably the hyperactive and headline-grabbing Theodore Roosevelt—Watterson shows how the growth of mass media and the improved means of transportation transformed presidential sports into both a form of recreation and a means of establishing a positive self-image.Modern presidents have used sports with varying degrees of success. Herbert Hoover fled Washington on weekends to the trout pools of Camp Rapidan in the Blue Ridge to escape relentless pressures and public criticism during the Great Depression. Franklin Roosevelt demonstrated remarkable physical endurance in his campaign to restore his ravaged body from polio. An obsessive love affair with golf became an issue for Dwight Eisenhower in his campaign for reelection in 1956. Richard Nixon, a former third-string college football lineman, placed calls to Coach George Allen of the Washington Redskins, once suggesting a trick play in a big game.From the opening pitch of the baseball season to presenting awards to Olympic champions, our sports culture asks the president to play an increasingly active role. Sports, Watterson argues, open a window into the presidency, shedding new light on presidential behavior and offering new perspectives on the office and the sporting men—and women—who have and will occupy it.
The Games Presidents Play: Sports and the Presidency
by John Sayle WattersonThis look at the connections between sportsmanship and statesmanship “introduces an intriguing way of evaluating presidential fitness for office” (Richmond Times-Dispatch).Whether throwing out the first pitch of the baseball season, fishing for trout, or cheating at golf, American presidents through history have had connections to the world of sports in many ways. This book explores how various commanders-in-chief worked and played—and how their athletic activities reflected their political identities.The author considers George Washington, whose athleticism contributed to his success on the battlefield and perhaps to the birth of the republic. He moves into the nineteenth century, when frontier sports were part of the formative years of Jackson, Lincoln, and Cleveland. With twentieth-century presidents—most notably the hyperactive, headline-grabbing Teddy Roosevelt—he shows how the growth of mass media and transportation transformed presidential sports into both a form of recreation and a means of establishing a positive image. Exploring everything from FDR’s fight to restore his polio-ravaged body to Eisenhower’s obsessive love affair with golf to Nixon’s enthusiasm for football, this book uses sports to open a window onto the presidency and the nation’s culture, as well as the strengths, weaknesses, and personalities of America’s leaders.“Watterson’s history rises above trivia in its attention to the political ramifications of presidents’ sports while also being a consistently entertaining trove of lore and, as the author puts it, ‘just weird stuff,’ such as John Q. Adams granting an interview while skinny-dipping. A wry and perceptive work.” —Booklist “An enjoyable study of politics and culture.” —Publishers Weekly“Will appeal to history buffs and sports fans alike.” —Library Journal
Sports Injuries of the Elbow
by Adam C. Watts Lennard Funk Michael Hayton Chye Yew Ng Mike WaltonThis book provides a concise guide to the diagnosis, investigations, surgical principles and post-operative rehabilitation to sports injuries of the elbow. It features guidance on best practice and information on the appropriate use of the latest diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Injuries seen in athletes who participate in overhead and contact sports are discussed along with a range of other injury types. Relevant concepts in applied biomechanics and information on sport-specific rehabilitation are also covered enabling the reader to develop a deep understanding of how to develop appropriate treatment plans tailored to individual needs. Sports Injuries of the Elbow comprehensively covers the diagnosis and treatment of patients with elbow injuries acquired during sporting activities, and is an indispensable resource for all medical professionals seeking an up-to-date reference on how to diagnose and treat a range of sports injuries that affect the elbow.
Idaho Ruffed Grouse Hunting: The Heartbeat of the Woods (Sports)
by Andrew Marshall WaymentRuffed grouse hunting is to bird hunting what fly fishing is to fishing--the pinnacle of the sport. Grouse hunters are a diehard lot consumed by chasing evasive birds through impenetrable thickets. Back east, grouse hunting has a rich, long-standing literary history, with great authors such as Burton Spiller, William Harnden Foster, Grampa Grouse and many others. Tapping into and carrying on this literary tradition, hunter and author Andrew Wayment offers stories from years of grouse hunting throughout the Gem State. Grouse hunters everywhere will relate to and enjoy this intimate look into "ruffin' it in Idaho."
Hitting the Mark
by Aidan WayneMarcus Economidis is a famous action-movie star renowned for doing his own stunts. But put him back in his Michigan hometown for his latest project and he’s a nervous wreck. Why? Taemin Choi—the taekwondo master who trained Marcus and helped him move beyond debilitating shyness to become the man he is today. Taemin was Marcus’s first crush, and now that he’s grown, their reunion might lead to more than a mentorship. Marcus’s kindness and confidence impresses Taemin, and the attraction is instant—for both of them. Making time for each other won’t be easy, what with Taemin training to qualify for the Olympics and Marcus working on his latest film. But it all seems worthwhile when they’re together, reacquainting themselves with each other—in the dojang and beyond—and nurturing a romance more satisfying than anything either ever thought possible. But can their romance withstand the pressures of Marcus’s fame and Taemin’s grueling schedule?
The Young Rugby Player: Science and Application
by Jonathon Weakley Sarah Whitehead Ben Jones Kevin TillThe Young Rugby Player: Science and Application provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the recent research behind the preparation, development and performance of the young rugby player. Each chapter concludes with key take-home messages and practical applications demonstrating how practitioners can provide evidence-informed delivery with the young rugby athlete. The book highlights how research and science can inform practice including coaching, sport science, player development and performance with the young rugby player. Each author is a world leader within their respective discipline including academics and practitioners who research and practice across youth rugby. The book includes chapters on: • Introducing the young rugby player, including topics related to growth and maturation, talent identification and development and understanding the demands of youth rugby. • Understanding and developing the young rugby player, including topics related to physical, psycho-social, technical and tactical development, alongside training practices and fatigue and recovery. • Other hot topics including nutrition, injury, concussion and injury prevention and the female young rugby player. This text is vital reading for all coaches, sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches and all academics with an interest in the science and practical application of working with the young rugby player.
Tourist Cultures: Identity, Place and the Traveller
by Stephen Wearing Deborah Stevenson Tamara YoungSharp, engaging and relevant, Tourist Cultures presents valuable critical insights into tourism - arguing that within the imagined-real spaces of the traveller self it becomes possible to envisage tourist cultures and futures that will empower and engage.<P><P> Here is a framework for understanding tourism which is subject-centred, dynamic, and capable of dealing with the complexity of contemporary tourist cultures. <P> The book argues that tourists are not passive consumers of either destinations or their interpretations. Rather, they are actively occupied in a multi-sensory, embodied experience. It delves into what tourists are looking for when they travel, be they on a package tour, or immersing themselves in the places, cultures and lifestyles of the exotic. <P> Tourism is examined through a consideration of the spaces and selves of travel, exploring the cultures of meaning, mobilities and engagement that frame and define the tourist experience and traveller identities.<P> This book draws on the explanatory traditions of sociology, human geography and tourism studies to provide useful insights into the experiential and the lived dimensions of tourism and travel. <P> Written in an accessible and engaging style, this is a welcome contribution to the growing literature on tourism and will be important reading for students in a range of social science and humanities courses.
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Boston
by Helen WeatherallThanks to conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts, Boston-area hiking opportunities are vast and abundant. 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Boston guides hikers on routes trodden by the likes of Wampanoag warrior King Phillip and his colonial adversaries, Concord's Henry David Thoreau, Mason Walton - the hermit of Ravenswood, and countless farmers and tradespeople who have walked this historic land since the country's founding.With helpful list of hikes in the front of the book for special interests - best hikes for children, scenic hikes, hikes good for wildlife viewing or seeing waterfalls, best hikes with historic sites and more - hikers of all skill levels can find their perfect hike. Expertly drawn trail maps and trail profiles complement the detailed trail descriptions and useful at-a-glance information.
A Negro League Scrapbook
by Carole Boston WeatherfordFeaturing lively verse, fascinating facts, and archival photographs, here is a celebration of the Negro Leagues and the great players who went unrecognized in their time.Imagine that you are an outstanding baseball player but banned from the major leagues. Imagine that you are breaking records but the world ignores your achievements. Imagine having a dream but no chance to make that dream come true. This is what life was like for African American baseball players before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier. Meet Josh Gibson, called "the black Babe Ruth," who hit seventy-five home runs in 1931; James "Cool Papa" Bell, the fastest man in baseball; legendary Satchel Paige, who once struck out twenty-four batters in a single game; and, of course, Jackie Robinson, the first black player in Major League Baseball, and one of the greatest players of all time. Written by acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford with a foreword by Buck O'Neil, a Negro leagues legend whose baseball contributions spanned eight decades, this book is a home run for baseball and history lovers, and makes a great gift for both boys and girls.
Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive
by Carole Boston Weatherford Eric Velasquez<p>Jesse Owens grew up during the time of Jim Crow laws, but segregation never slowed him down. After setting world records for track in high school and college, he won a slot on the 1936 U.S. Olympic team. That year, the Olympics were in Berlin, then controlled by the Nazis, and Hitler was certain they would be a chance to prove to the world that Aryans were superior to all other races. But the triumph of Jesse's will helped him run through any barrier, winning four gold medals and the hearts of millions, setting two world records, and proving the Nazi dictator unmistakably wrong. <p>The story of Jesse Owens comes alive for young readers with Carole Boston Weatherford's award-winning free verse poetry. Eric Velasquez tackles this challenging subject with the use of pastels for the first time in twenty years-a technique that is both heart-stopping and immediate.</p>
European Sports Law
by Stephen WeatherillEuropean Sports Law: Collected Papers 2nd edition contains the collected works (1989-2012) of Stephen Weatherill, Jacques Delors Professor of European Community Law, Somerville College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, with an extensive introduction on the background and rationale for the selected papers. Stephen Weatherill is a leading academic and author on the subject of European Union law and professional sport. His work is of the highest academic standard and practice-oriented at the same time, which has a strong impact on major court cases and the development of international sports law in general. The updated 2nd edition is a vademecum for those involved with international sport and the challenges European law and sport provide and is an indispensable tool for administrators, managers, researchers, academics, marketers, broadcasters, advisers and practitioners. The book appears in the ASSER International Sports Law Series (ISSN: 1874-6926), under the editorship of Dr. David McArdle, Dr. Ben Van Rompuy and Marco van der Harst LL. M.
Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest
by Beck WeathersI am neither churchly nor a particularly spiritual person, but I can tell you that some force within me rejected death at the last moment and then guided me, blind and stumbling--quite literally a dead man walking--into camp and the shaky start of my return to life. On May 10, 1996, nine climbers perished in a blizzard high on Mount Everest, the single deadliest day ever on the peak. The following day, one of those victims was given a second chance. His name was Beck Weathers.The tale of Dr. Seaborn Beck Weathers's miraculous awakening from a deep hypothermic coma was widely reported. But the hidden story of what led the pathologist to Everest in the first place, and his painful recovery after his dramatic rescue, has not been told until now. Brilliant and gregarious, Weathers discovered in his thirties that mountain climbing helped him cope with the black dog of depression that had shadowed him since college. But the self-prescribed therapy came at a steep cost: estrangement from his wife, Peach, and their two children. By the time he embarked for Everest, his home life had all but disintegrated. Yet when he was reported dead after lying exposed on the mountain for eighteen hours in subzero weather, it was Peach who orchestrated the daring rescue that brought her husband home. Only then, facing months of surgery and the loss of his hands, did Beck Weathers also begin to face himself, his family, his past and uncertain future. Told in Beck Weathers's inimitably direct and engaging voice--with frequent commentary from Peach, their family, their friends and others involved in this unique journey--Left for Dead shows how one man's drive to conquer the most daunting physical challenges ultimately forced him to confront greater challenges within himself. Framed by breathtaking accounts of his near death and resurrection, and of his slow and agonizing physical and emotional recovery, Left for Dead offers a fascinating look at the seductive danger of extreme sports, as in rapid succession a seemingly unstoppable Weathers attacks McKinley, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro--before fate stops him cold, high in the Death Zone of the world's tallest peak. Full of deep insight and warm humor, Left for Dead tells the story of a man, a marriage and a family that survived the unsurvivable. Candid and uncompromising, it is a deeply compelling saga of crisis and change, and of the abiding power of love and family--a story few readers will soon forget.
Her Good Side
by Rebekah Weatherspoon**A New York Times Best Romance Book of the Year**A swoony, heart-melting YA romance from beloved author Rebekah Weatherspoon about two awkward teens who decide to practice dating in order to be good at the real thing. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.Sixteen-year-old Bethany Greene, though confident and self-assured, is what they call a late-bloomer. She&’s never had a boyfriend, date, or first kiss. She&’s determined to change that but after her crush turns her down cold for Homecoming—declaring her too inexperienced—and all her back-up ideas fall through, she cautiously agrees to go with her best friend&’s boyfriend Jacob. A platonic date is better than no date, right? Until her friend breaks up with said boyfriend.Dumped twice in just two months, Jacob Yeun wonders if he&’s the problem. After years hiding behind his camera and a shocking summer glow up, he wasn&’t quite ready for all the attention or to be someone&’s boyfriend. There are no guides for his particular circumstances, or for taking your ex&’s best friend to the dance.Why not make the best of an awkward situation? Bethany and Jacob decide to fake date for practice, building their confidence in matters of the heart. And it works—guys are finally noticing Bethany. But things get complicated as their kissing sessions—for research of course!—start to feel real. This arrangement was supposed to help them in dating other people, but what if their perfect match is right in front of them?
Gunners' Glory: 14 Milestones in Arsenal's History
by Graham WeaverFrom the all-conquering side of the 1930s to the Double-winning teams of 1971, 1998 and 2002, Arsenal Football Club have been one of the major forces in English football.Graham Weaver plots the club's progress from their first silverware in 1930 to the present day through the 14 most significant games in Arsenal's history, both domestically and in Europe. The club's greatest triumphs, such as Anfield in 1989, Copenhagen in 1994 and Old Trafford in 2002, are covered, with a thorough description of the players and their strengths and weaknesses, a full background to each game and details of the match itself, together with quotes and contributions from those who took part. This book is a must for those who remember fondly the cup final wins, Championship deciders and European successes of Arsenal's distant and recent past, or for those who wish to learn more about the history of London's premier club.
My Year in the Middle
by Lila Quintero WeaverSixth-grader Lu Olivera just wants to keep her head down and get along with everyone in her class. The trouble is, Lu's old friends have been changing lately -- acting boy crazy and making snide remarks about Lu's newfound talent for running track. Lu's secret hope for a new friend is fellow runner Belinda Gresham. <p><p>But in 1970 in Red Grove, Alabama, blacks and whites don't mix. As segregationist ex-governor George Wallace ramps up his campaign against the current governor, Albert Brewer, growing tensions in the state -- and in the classroom -- mean that Lu can't stay neutral about the racial divide at school. Will she find the gumption to stand up for what's right and to choose friends who do the same?
Checkered Flag Cheater (Motor City Novel #3)
by Will WeaverTrace Bonham is living large as the teen driver for a professional Super Stock racing team. He's the poster boy for a nationwide advertising campaign. He's on the road instead of stuck in high school. And he's blowing away the competition wherever he races. Off the track, Trace gets all sorts of perks, from the highway cop who cuts him some slack after seeing his face on a billboard, to the attentions of "fence bunnies" who hop his way wherever he goes. But with every victory on the track--and every protest from other drivers that his engine is illegal--Trace is increasingly aware that his winning is due to more than just his driving skills. And he knows that with his girlfriend back home he's not playing it straight either. The stakes are high and the action is fast in this freestanding sequel to Super Stock Rookie, as a brilliant young athlete seems headed for a spin-out from which he may not be able to recover.
Farm Team
by Will WeaverWith his father in jail and his mother working full-time, fourteen-year-old Billy Baggs finds himself in charge of running the family farm in northern Minnesota and having to give up the thing he loves most--baseball.
Hard Ball
by Will WeaverA fourteen-year-old Minnesota farm boy has to figure out how to get along with the arch-rival in his love life and on the baseball diamond, and both boys must learn how to deal with the unfair expectations of their fathers.
Saturday Night Dirt
by Will WeaverIt's a sizzling summer Saturday, and Headwaters Speedway has suddenly become the place to be. Thanks to rain outs across the state, this small-town dirt track is drawing both big-time stock cars and local drivers. There's Trace Bonham, whose Street Stock Chevy is acting up in a big way. And Beau Kim, whose "stone soup" Modified has been patched together from whatever parts he could scrape up. And no one could forget Amber Jenkins, a strawberry blonde who has what it takes to run rings around them all. Keeping everyone on track is Melody Walters, who knows that the impending rain might be exactly what they need to keep her father's speedway afloat--or sink it for good. In Will Weaver's high-revving novel, the first in the Motor series, a cast of car-obsessed teens and adults are all out to prove themselves, both on and off the quarter-mile track, as they move through their day on a collision course to meet on Saturday night dirt.
Striking Out
by Will WeaverSince the death of his older brother, thirteen-year-old Billy Baggs has had a distant relationship with his father, but life on their farm in northern Minnesota begins to change when he starts to play baseball.
Super Stock Rookie
by Will WeaverFilled with authentic race-car action and detail, Weaver's fast-paced novel--the second in his Motor series--is the story of a boy struggling with the speed and demands of his own success.
The 21st Century Sniper: A Complete Practical Guide
by Brandon WebbThe twenty-first-century sniper is a mature, intelligent shooter who leverages technology to his deadly advantage. He has spent thousands of hours honing his skills. He is a master of concealment in all environments, from the mountains of Afghanistan to the crowded streets of Iraq. He is trained in science and left alone to create the unique art of the kill. To the sniper, the battlefield is like a painter's blank canvas. It is his job to simultaneously utilize tools, training, and creativity to deliver devastating psychological impact upon the battlefield. And it is he alone who is left with the intimacy of the kill. A complete practical guide for any modern sniper, former Navy SEAL and military sniper Brandon Webb reveals the tips and basic training necessary to become an efficient marksman. Webb is an international authority on sniping, and after serving multiple missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, he ran the Navy SEAL sniper course, which is arguably the best sniper qualification course in the world. Including details on advanced sniper training for maritime, helicopter, and urban sniper operations, The 21st Century Sniper also touches on the latest research, development, testing, and evaluation of sniper weapons systems and optics. From trajectories and wind speed to camouflage and best vantage points and targets, Webb covers everything an expert sniper needs to know. This book is suitable for gun enthusiasts, outdoorsmen, the beginning sniper, and those with military backgrounds.
The Man in the Middle: The Autobiography of the World Cup Final Referee
by Howard Webb<p>The long-awaited autobiography of Howard Webb, the man who refereed the World Cup final. <p>Webb's first game as a match official came when he was just 18 and his father's verdict was blunt: 'Useless - he doesn't know his arse from his elbow.' It wasn't the last time his performance would come under fire. But Webb progressed through the ranks, and his natural calm authority made a good impression on players and administrators alike, and soon he was being offered the top matches and the toughest fixtures. <p>The policeman went on to take charge of some of the most important games, including the 2009 FA Cup final, the 2010 Champions League final and - the biggest of the lot - the 2010 World Cup final. Now, in this superb and honest memoir, Howard Webb reveals what it is like to be at the heart of the action in the modern-day game where every decision can be unpicked by television cameras. He explains how he learned to handle some of the game's superstars. Refereeing is a hard business, but Webb shows just why he enjoyed it so much and provides fascinating insights into how he dealt with the most challenging situations. <p>With his unique perspective on the game, and the characteristic honesty he has displayed as a pundit on BT Sport, Webb has written a book that reveals the game - and the man himself - in a new light.