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Falling for the Backup (Novella)
by Toni AleoToni Aleo's sexy new eBook original novella featuring the Nashville Assassins will have you believing in the power of love at first sight . . . and second sight . . . and third. After serving as a dutiful bridesmaid in the wedding from hell, Aynslee Shaw just wants to slink home to Nashville and forget the whole trip. That is until the hottest guy she's ever seen is seated next to her on the flight and charms her with his easy laugh and killer smile. But just when she thinks things are getting good, he vanishes, leaving Aynslee wondering, was that guy the one? And did she just let him slip through her fingers? Former superstar goalie Jordan Ryan is back on the ice--finally. After a crippling knee injury that had him wondering if he'd ever play pro hockey again, he's got his full attention on rebuilding his career. So a pretty--okay, beautiful--girl on a plane shouldn't be a distraction. But Jordan is very, very distracted. And when Aynslee crosses his path again, he's not sure any job in the world is worth missing his second chance with a woman like her.Praise for Toni Aleo's Nashville Assassins romances "Aleo melts the ice and hits it into the net with her Assassins series."--Award-winning author Jami Davenport "Taking Shots is really the whole package. You get romance, humor, steamy sex, drama, and then it all wraps up with a great conclusion. I am amazed that this is Toni's first book. She has come out in a huge way. I can't wait to read more from her. Don't hesitate for a moment to grab this book."--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "A little steamy, a little heartbreaking, and a whole lot of fanning yourself are in order this time around, readers. Are your cheeks feeling a little pink yet? Get used to the feeling."--Dreaming in the Pages, on Trying to Score "Empty Net is an honest, heartwarming, endearing story. . . . Toni Aleo doesn't just write a story. She gives you the ability to experience the journey of her characters right along with them. Her stories are enveloped with passion, emotion, humor, love; and let me tell you, that girl knows how to write a sex scene that just makes you sweat!"--Guilty Pleasures Book Review "Sexy and riveting . . . the perfect combination of love and lust."--USA Today bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, on Blue Lines "Funny, charming, sweet, sexy . . . [Falling for the Backup] has everything you want in a story."--Blushing Reader Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from the Loveswept title Empty Net.
Taking Shots: An Assassins Novel (Assassins #1)
by Toni AleoIn Toni Aleo's exhilarating Loveswept debut, the first in a series featuring the hockey hunks of the Nashville Assassins, a reformed bad boy helps a charming, willful woman face off against the demons of her past. No matter how hard she tries, Elleanor Fisher never thinks she's good enough, from her job to her weight to her love life. After enduring years of abuse at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, Elli has been drifting through life in a daze. Until, that is, she meets Shea Adler on a promotional shoot for the NHL's Nashville Assassins. Before Elli knows what's happening, the gorgeous Shea breaks the ice and shatters her world. A brilliant athlete inside the rink, Shea Adler is tired of the life he's living outside of it: the women, the money, the drinking. But everything changes when he meets Elli. After laying eyes on this feisty, witty, beautiful woman, he feels like he's just taken the hardest hit of his life. No matter how skeptical she is, Shea knows they are meant to be together--if only he can convince Elli to put her insecurities aside before she misses out on a shot at love.Praise for Toni Aleo's Nashville Assassins romances "Aleo melts the ice and hits it into the net with her Assassins series."--Award-winning author Jami Davenport "Taking Shots is really the whole package. You get romance, humor, steamy sex, drama, and then it all wraps up with a great conclusion. I am amazed that this is Toni's first book. She has come out in a huge way. I can't wait to read more from her. Don't hesitate for a moment to grab this book."--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "A little steamy, a little heartbreaking, and a whole lot of fanning yourself are in order this time around readers. Are your cheeks feeling a little pink yet? Get used to the feeling."--Dreaming in the Pages, on Trying to Score "Empty Net is an honest, heartwarming, endearing story. . . . Toni Aleo doesn't just write a story. She gives you the ability to experience the journey of her characters right along with them. Her stories are enveloped with passion, emotion, humor, love; and let me tell you, that girl knows how to write a sex scene that just makes you sweat!"--Guilty Pleasures Book Review "Sexy and riveting . . . the perfect combination of love and lust."--USA Today bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, on Blue Lines Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Trying to Score and Empty Net.
Trying to Score: An Assassins Novel (Assassins #2)
by Toni AleoIn a captivating novel of second chances and healing hearts, the newest member of the Nashville Assassins pulls a power play to make things right with the one that got away. Fallon Parker's dream has always been to turn her family's wine company into a runaway success and eventually start a cellar of her own. Since graduating from college, she has worked relentlessly to make that dream a reality, especially after taking a chance on love--and losing. By the time Fallon becomes an official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, she feels like all her hard work is finally paying off. And then the man who broke her heart skates back into her life. On the ice, Lucas Brooks is the NHL's leading scorer--at least when he's not in the box. Off the ice, he's a mess, with all his anger and misery bottled up inside. He threw away the most important person in his life and has regretted it ever since. But when Lucas returns to Nashville in a trade, he's determined to convince Fallon that he's a changed man. The attraction is still there. The tension is electrifying. But the odds are stacked against them--especially after Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a devastating secret.Praise for Toni Aleo's Nashville Assassins romances "Aleo melts the ice and hits it into the net with her Assassins series."--Award-winning author Jami Davenport "Taking Shots is really the whole package. You get romance, humor, steamy sex, drama, and then it all wraps up with a great conclusion. I am amazed that this is Toni's first book. She has come out in a huge way. I can't wait to read more from her. Don't hesitate for a moment to grab this book."--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "A little steamy, a little heartbreaking, and a whole lot of fanning yourself are in order this time around readers. Are your cheeks feeling a little pink yet? Get used to the feeling."--Dreaming in the Pages, on Trying to Score "Empty Net is an honest, heartwarming, endearing story. . . . Toni Aleo doesn't just write a story. She gives you the ability to experience the journey of her characters right along with them. Her stories are enveloped with passion, emotion, humor, love; and let me tell you, that girl knows how to write a sex scene that just makes you sweat!"--Guilty Pleasures Book Review "Sexy and riveting . . . the perfect combination of love and lust."--USA Today bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, on Blue Lines Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Taking Shots and Empty Net.
Africa's World Cup: Critical Reflections on Play, Patriotism, Spectatorship, and Space
by Alegi Peter Bolsmann ChrisAfrica s World Cup: Critical Reflections on Play, Patriotism, Spectatorship, and Space focuses on a remarkable month in the modern history of Africa and in the global history of football. Peter Alegi and Chris Bolsmann are well-known experts on South African football, and they have assembled an impressive team of local and international journalists, academics, and football experts to reflect on the 2010 World Cup and its broader significance, its meanings, complexities, and contradictions. The World Cup s sounds, sights, and aesthetics are explored, along with questions of patriotism, nationalism, and spectatorship in Africa and around the world. Experts on urban design and communities write on how the presence of the World Cup worked to refashion urban spaces and negotiate the local struggles in the hosting cities. The volume is richly illustrated by authors photographs, and the essays in this volume feature chronicles of match day experiences; travelogues; ethnographies of fan cultures; analyses of print, broadcast, and electronic media coverage of the tournament; reflections on the World Cup s private and public spaces; football exhibits in South African museums; and critiques of the World Cup s processes of inclusion and exclusion, as well as its political and economic legacies. The volume concludes with a forum on the World Cup, including Thabo Dladla, Director of Soccer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mohlomi Kekeletso Maubane, a well-known Soweto-based writer and a soccer researcher, and Rodney Reiners, former professional footballer and current chief soccer writer for the Cape Argus newspaper in Cape Town. This collection will appeal to students, scholars, journalists, and fans. Cover illustration: South African fan blowing his vuvuzela at South Africa vs. France, Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, June 22, 2010. Photo by Chris Bolsmann. "
Clinical Kinesiology and Biomechanics: A Problem-Based Learning Approach
by Gordon J. Alderink Blake M. AshbyThis new textbook uses a problem-based learning (PBL) approach for teaching the fundamentals of kinesiology and biomechanics to undergraduate and graduate students in the biomedical, rehabilitative, and exercise science fields. Case vignettes and problems for each major region of the body are presented – cervical spine, thoracic spine and rib cage, lumbar spine and pelvis, shoulder girdle, elbow/forearm, wrist, hand, hip, knee, and ankle/foot. For the cases on the spine and upper extremity, biomechanics of posture are included; for cases involving the hip, knee, and ankle/foot, an extensive study of gait analysis is also incorporated. These case vignettes are not preceded by chapters that provide foundational information. Rather, relevant anatomical, biomechanical, and other information needed to solve/explain each case are embedded in the relevant chapters presenting the clinical cases.
Full Out: Leadership lessons from America's favourite coach
by Monica AldamaFrom the breakout star of Netflix's Cheer, a motivational and inspiring guide to becoming a champion in all areas of life.In Full Out, Coach Monica Aldama shares how she built one of the most successful and beloved cheerleading programs in America. Her uncompromising brand of discipline and consistency goes far beyond the mat - showing how the principles of building a winning team apply to personal goals, the corporate world, parenting and all aspects of life.There's a lot of talk these days about short cuts and life hacks, but what really counts is commitment and integrity, helping your friends, and improving with your teammates. Coach Monica shares deeply personal stories of triumph and tragedy from divorce and remarriage to her husband, her challenges as a young mother working more than full time, and her strenuous weeks on Dancing with the Stars. She shares surprising behind-the-scenes moments from the Cheer docuseries, and insights gleaned from more than two decades of pushing students to succeed. A true force and inspiration who has captured hearts around the world, Coach Monica will show you how to take command of your talent, make the most of your potential, and find your drive to win.
Full Out: Leadership lessons from America's favourite coach
by Monica AldamaFrom the breakout star of Netflix's Cheer, a motivational and inspiring guide to becoming a champion in all areas of life.In Full Out, Coach Monica Aldama shares how she built one of the most successful and beloved cheerleading programs in America. Her uncompromising brand of discipline and consistency goes far beyond the mat - showing how the principles of building a winning team apply to personal goals, the corporate world, parenting and all aspects of life.There's a lot of talk these days about short cuts and life hacks, but what really counts is commitment and integrity, helping your friends, and improving with your teammates. Coach Monica shares deeply personal stories of triumph and tragedy from divorce and remarriage to her husband, her challenges as a young mother working more than full time, and her strenuous weeks on Dancing with the Stars. She shares surprising behind-the-scenes moments from the Cheer docuseries, and insights gleaned from more than two decades of pushing students to succeed. A true force and inspiration who has captured hearts around the world, Coach Monica will show you how to take command of your talent, make the most of your potential, and find your drive to win.
Full Out: Lessons in Life and Leadership from America's Favorite Coach
by Monica AldamaFrom the breakout star of Netflix&’s Cheer, a motivational and inspiring guide to becoming a champion in all areas of life.In Full Out, &“the Bill Belichick of cheerleading&” (The Cut) Coach Monica Aldama shares how she built one of the most successful and beloved cheerleading programs in the country. Her uncompromising brand of discipline and consistency goes far beyond the mat—showing how the principles of building a winning team apply to personal goals, the corporate world, parenting, and all aspects of life. There&’s a lot of talk these days about shortcuts and life hacks, but what really counts is commitment and integrity, helping your friends, and improving with your teammates. Coach Monica shares deeply personal stories of triumph and tragedy—from divorce and remarriage to her husband, her challenges as a young mother working more than full time, and her strenuous weeks on Dancing with the Stars. She shares surprising behind-the-scenes moments from the Cheer docuseries, and insights gleaned from more than two decades of pushing students to succeed. A true force and inspiration who has captured hearts around the world, Coach Monica will show you how to take command of your talent, make the most of your potential, and find your drive to win.
Latinos in the End Zone: Conversations on the Brown Color Line in the NFL
by Frederick Luis Aldama Christopher GonzálezFrederick Luis Aldama and Christopher Gonzalez offer a thought-provoking conversation on the history of Latinos in the pro football leagues. As they weave their way through significant points where culture, politics, and history congeal, Aldama and Gonzalez thread together an alpha-to-omega, all-encompassing story of Latinos in the NFL.
The Leaderboard
by Amy Alcott Jim Nantz Don WadeGolf legend Amy Alcott talks with twenty-seven celebrated individuals about the one thing they have in common--the game they love. In this entertaining and fascinating collection of candid conversations, Amy Alcott offers a rare look at the personal lives and experiences--both on and off the golf course--of prominent entertainers, athletes, political leaders, and other influential figures. A fierce love of the game connects them all, but their varied anecdotes show how this magical sport has touched each of their lives in unique ways. Some highlights: Bill Clinton reveals why Hillary encouraged him to start playing again in his late twenties; Jack Nicholson explains how he began to play golf in his forties and became good enough to shoot a sixty-five; and Ben Crenshaw reminisces about his close relationship with Harvey Penick and about winning the 1995 Masters just days after serving as a pallbearer at Penick's funeral. At times poignant, illuminating, and laugh-out-loud funny, The Leaderboard is sure to inspire and capture the imaginations of golf fans everywhere.
Carlo Ancelotti
by Aleesandro Alciato Paolo Maldini Carlo AncelottiThe entertaining, revealing, and controversial bestselling autobiography of one of the most respected figures in the world of soccer. Carlo Ancelotti is one of only six people to have won the Champions League--European soccer's most coveted trophy--as both player and coach. After a successful career playing for several of the most important teams in Italy--and for the Italian national team--Ancelotti went on to become one of the most acclaimed and outspoken coaches in European football, managing Italian giants Parma, Juventus, and Milan before moving to Chelsea, one of the Premier League's most successful clubs, in 2009. The book moves from anecdotes of his life growing up in Reggio Emilia to stories of his time playing among the best footballers in the world. With a characteristic mixture of sharp insight and humor, Ancelotti explores the differences between the Italian and the English games, shares his thoughts on soccer's future with the MLS in America, and reflects on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. With a preface by the legendary former captain of the Italian national team, Paolo Maldini, this book is at once a tactician's bible from one of the world's most celebrated footballing minds, the fascinating story of an ordinary man reaching great heights, and in part a revealing tell-all from an outspoken insider in the cut-throat world of European soccer. The perfect book for anyone with a passion for the beautiful game.
Comprehensive Chess Course: Learn Chess in 12 Lessons (Comprehensive Chess Course Ser. #Volume I)
by Lev Alburt Roman PeltsThis book provides readers with all the essential information they need to learn chess and to start winning-quickly! The contents-tested and proven to work-leave little to chance. The reader learns the rules, how to apply them efficiently, the principles of winning chess, and how to visualize the board and pieces-all prerequisites for success.
Out of the Ashes: The Remarkable Rise and Rise of the Afghanistan cricket team
by Tim AlboneCool Runnings meets Joseph O'Neill's Netherland in an inspiring and feel-good story of bravery and sporting success from a country so widely known for war and extremism. This is the true story of the Afghanistan cricket team and their extraordinary attempt to join the world's elite cricketing nations. That this devastated nation should be able to field a cricket team at all, let alone one as successful as this, is an unbelievable achievement. Seven years ago, in a country which does not have a real cricket pitch even today, there was no national team. But a group of young Afghan men, exiled by war, learnt to play in the smashed concrete of refugee camps, and have risen from obscurity to the groomed grass pitches of international cricket.With unlimited access, Tim Albone travelled alongside the team for the two years, charting the players' progress from refugees in Pakistan to the brink of international sporting stardom. Far from being bogged down in cricket jargon, this tale of a gang of dedicated, charismatic, occasionally exasperating young men seeking triumph out of disaster is one that will move and inspire everyone.Foreword by Mike Atherton.
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.
Fab Five: Basketball, Trash Talk, the American Dream
by Mitch AlbomTells the story of University of Michigan basketball team and their success in the 1992 and 1993 NCAA tournaments.
Baucher and His School: A SERIOUS WORD WITH THE RIDERS OF GERMANY
by Albert-Eugène Edouard Decarpentry Michael L. M. FletcherBaucher and his School (1948) is an original biography of the "greatest écuyer of all time," François Baucher. Decarpentry comments on the discoveries of one of the most prolific innovators in Equestrian Art. This book comprises the equestrian biography of Baucher, an analytical examination of his method, and its lasting effect on French equitation. Decarpentry's treatise is essential for understanding the importance of Baucher, a phenomenal figure in the history of equitation. Appendix I includes excerpts from the memoir of Louis Rul, clarified and completed by his friend Eugène Caron. Their accounts provide valuable first hand anecdotes of the life and times of Baucher. Appendix II consists of excerpts from 'Baucher and his Art: Serious Warning to the Riders of Germany' by Louis Seeger, Baucher's German rival. Seeger studied Baucher's method with malevolent blindness, but also with indisputable competence. With rigorous examination, Seeger compares and contrasts his own method to Baucher's 'nouvelle méthode.' This counter-argument sheds light on the 'German' versus 'French' method that has endured even today. One of Baucher's lasting effects on equitation is the ideas of 'riding in lightness'. Baucher constantly questioned his and the established methods, experimented and innovated through lifelong trial and error in search of truth. "The appearance of Baucherism started a new era in dressage." prolific innovators in Equestrian Art. This book comprises the equestrian biography of Baucher, an analytical examination of his method, and its lasting effect on French equitation. Decarpentry's treatise is essential for understanding the importance of Baucher, a phenomenal figure in the history of equitation.
Wrecking Crew: The Really Bad News Griffith Park Pirates
by John Albert"You never know what's going to save you. "After years of dingy nightclubs and drug addiction, John Albert and his hard-luck friends certainly never expected their salvation to arrive in the form of a pastime most often associated with Mom, God, and apple pie. Wrecking Crew -- a highly unusual chronicle of recovery and redemption -- documents the transformation of a group of musicians, struggling screenwriters, and wannabe actors into a competitive band of hardballers. For over a decade, it seemed to be enough: the narcotics, gambling, whores, and aimless rebellion. But as they stumbled into their thirties, the blithe pursuit of self-destruction had simply become exhausting to these battle-scarred denizens of the L. A. counterculture. The romantic squalor of being perpetually broken-down, periodically drug-addled, and irresponsible began to lose its charm. The idea of fielding a baseball team to compete in a hard-knocks amateur league seemed merely the latest in a string of half-hearted stabs at restoring order to their ragged lives. But this escapade was different. When these men donned their team uniforms, the old obsessions started to fade and something incredible began to happen. This is the unforgettable story of the Griffith Park Pirates.
Routledge Handbook of Motor Control and Motor Learning (Routledge International Handbooks)
by Gollhofer Albert Taube Wolfgang Bo Nielsen JensThe Routledge Handbook of Motor Control and Motor Learning is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of neurophysiological, behavioural and biomechanical aspects of motor function. Adopting an integrative approach, it examines the full range of key topics in contemporary human movement studies, explaining motor behaviour in depth from the molecular level to behavioural consequences. The book contains contributions from many of the world´s leading experts in motor control and motor learning, and is composed of five thematic parts: Theories and models Basic aspects of motor control and learning Motor control and learning in locomotion and posture Motor control and learning in voluntary actions Challenges in motor control and learning Mastering and improving motor control may be important in sports, but it becomes even more relevant in rehabilitation and clinical settings, where the prime aim is to regain motor function. Therefore the book addresses not only basic and theoretical aspects of motor control and learning but also applied areas like robotics, modelling and complex human movements. This book is both a definitive subject guide and an important contribution to the contemporary research agenda. It is therefore important reading for students, scholars and researchers working in sports and exercise science, kinesiology, physical therapy, medicine and neuroscience.
Wheelmen: Lance Armstrong, The Tour De France, And The Greatest Sports Conspiracy Ever
by Reed Albergotti Vanessa O'ConnellWith a new Afterword.Lance Armstrong won a record-smashing seven Tour de France yellow jerseys after staring down cancer, and in the process became an international symbol of resilience and courage. In a sport constantly dogged by blood doping scandals, Armstrong seemed above the fray. Never had cycling - or any sport-boasted such a charismatic and accomplished champion. Then, in the summer of 2012, the legend imploded. The rumors that had long dogged Armstrong began to solidify. Buried evidence surfaced. Hushed-up witnesses came forth. Armstrong's Tour victories were stripped from him. His sponsors abandoned him. In January 2013, Armstrong finally admitted doping during the Tours, and in an interview with Oprah, described his "mythic, perfect story" as "one big lie." But his admission raised more questions than it answered. With over three years of extensive reporting, deep sourcing, and interviews with nearly every key player, including Armstrong, Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O'Connell have established themselves as the undisputed authorities on this story. Wheelmen reveals the broader tale of how Armstrong and his supporters used money, power, and cutting-edge science to conquer the world's most difficult race. It offers a riveting look at what happens when enigmatic genius breaks loose from the strictures of morality. It reveals the competitiveness and ingenuity that sparked blood doping as an accepted practice, and shows how Americans methodically constructed an international operation of spies and breakthrough technology to reach the top. Lance Armstrong survived and thrived against nigh-insurmountable odds and built a team of unprecedented accomplishment. But in the end, his own outsized ambition destroyed it. At last exposing the truth about Armstrong and American cycling, Wheelmen paints a living portrait of what is, without question, the greatest conspiracy in the history of sports.
Elmo Says... (Big Bird's Favorites Board Books)
by Sarah Albee Tom LeighElmo and his friends play a variation of everyone' s favorite game, "Simon Says." "Elmo Says," is just like the original, except that here, our favorite furry little red monster leads the action. Toddlers and adults can read and join in the play--they just have to be careful to listen for those magic words: Elmo says!
Hugo Sánchez (Superstars of Soccer SPANISH)
by Eduardo Martínez AlanízMuchos están de acuerdo con que Hugo Sánchez es uno de los mejores futbolistas mexicanos en la historia. Fue la estrella de la selección nacional y jugó para el Real Madrid, uno de los mejores equipos del mundo. Entérese como Sánchez llegó a la fama en su país... y más allá. Aunque está retirado, éste ícono del balón pie ha hecho la transición de jugador a técnico y hoy por hoy, después de cuarenta años en el deporte, sigue siendo una figura de renombre.
Hugo Sánchez (Superstars of Soccer)
by Eduardo Martínez AlanízMuchos están de acuerdo con que Hugo Sánchez es uno de los mejores futbolistas mexicanos en la historia. Fue la estrella de la selección nacional y jugó para el Real Madrid, uno de los mejores equipos del mundo. Entérese como Sánchez llegó a la fama en su país... y más allá. Aunque está retirado, éste ícono del balón pie ha hecho la transición de jugador a técnico y hoy por hoy, después de cuarenta años en el deporte, sigue siendo una figura de renombre.
This Is Our Time!
by Eric Alan Chris HaftBaseball has life encoded within it as completely as DNA does: the world's deepest wisdom, edgiest laughter, joys and sorrows. Among the millions who chase baseball's dream, though, only a few scale the sport's most rarified heights-not only in terms of victory, but in becoming true selfless teams who are vivid role models, in a gritty age beyond the destruction of heroes. With uniquely wild style, the 2010 San Francisco Giants follow the 1969 New York Mets and 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers into history as a World Championship team whose success was supposed to be impossible. Welcome to the place where rally thongs meet Zen lessons, where relentless discipline meets fake beards, where the year-long neighborhood party culminates in a million being blessed by the team's Pope in the name of Mays and McCovey. This is the kind of legendary year for which all baseball lovers live, told from deep inside and beyond. This is the timeless beauty and hilarity of life itself, a rich story even for those who never knew before why to care about the game.
Deportes: The Making of a Sporting Mexican Diaspora (Latinidad: Transnational Cultures in the United States)
by José M AlamilloSpanning the first half of the twentieth century, Deportes uncovers the hidden experiences of Mexican male and female athletes, teams and leagues and their supporters who fought for a more level playing field on both sides of the border. Despite a widespread belief that Mexicans shunned physical exercise, teamwork or “good sportsmanship,” they proved that they could compete in a wide variety of sports at amateur, semiprofessional, Olympic and professional levels. Some even made their mark in the sports world by becoming the “first” Mexican athlete to reach the big leagues and win Olympic medals or world boxing and tennis titles. These sporting achievements were not theirs alone, an entire cadre of supporters—families, friends, coaches, managers, promoters, sportswriters, and fans—rallied around them and celebrated their athletic success. The Mexican nation and community, at home or abroad, elevated Mexican athletes to sports hero status with a deep sense of cultural and national pride. Alamillo argues that Mexican-origin males and females in the United States used sports to empower themselves and their community by developing and sustaining transnational networks with Mexico. Ultimately, these athletes and their supporters created a “sporting Mexican diaspora” that overcame economic barriers, challenged racial and gender assumptions, forged sporting networks across borders, developed new hybrid identities and raised awareness about civil rights within and beyond the sporting world.
Sports Analytics: A Guide for Coaches, Managers, and Other Decision Makers
by Benjamin AlamarBenjamin C. Alamar founded the first journal dedicated to sports statistics, the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports. He developed and teaches a class on sports analytics for managers at the University of San Francisco and has published numerous cutting-edge studies on strategy and player evaluation. Today, he cochairs the sports statistics section of the International Statistics Institute and consults with several professional teams and businesses in sports analytics. There isn't a better representative of this emerging field to show diverse organizations how to implement analytics into their decision-making strategies, especially as analytic tools grow increasingly complex. Alamar provides a clear, easily digestible survey of the practice and a detailed understanding of analytics' vast possibilities. He explains how to evaluate different programs and put them to use. Using concrete examples from professional sports teams and case studies demonstrating the use and value of analytics in the field, Alamar designs a roadmap for managers, general managers, and other professionals as they build their own programs and teach their approach to others.