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Oahu Trails
by Kathy MoreyThis guide to 45 great hikes on Oahu includes 2 new trips in the inland rainforests of Kailua and Waimanalo. Explore the beaches, cliffs, and rainforests, and learn about native plants, Hawaiian history, and local mythology.
Oak Hill Country Club: A Legacy of Golfing Excellence (Sports)
by Sal MaioranaIn 1901, Oak Hill Country Club opened on the Genesee River. There were only nine holes, and the clubhouse was a converted farmhouse, but for the members, it was a haven. In the 1920s, the club moved to Pittsford, where world-famous architect Donald Ross built two eighteen-hole courses. A stately Tudor-style clubhouse was added, and in 1949, Oak Hill's reputation as one of the best courses in America was cemented when the USGA held the U.S. Amateur here. Golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods have competed in such tournaments as the 1956 and 1968 U.S. Open, the 2003 and 2013 PGA Championship and the 2008 Senior PGA Championship. Visit the most exciting moments on the legendary East Course and the history of one of America's most historic golf meccas.
Oar Than Friends: The sizzling new enemies to lovers TikTok sensation
by Lulu Moore"Lulu Moore created a perfect book boyfriend in OAR THAN FRIENDS. Oz is the very definition of boy obsessed and his pursuit of Kate is absolutely delicious! This book is sweet and sexy and I didn't want it to end!" ~ New York Times bestselling author Monica MurphyShe's rowing for Cambridge. He's rowing for Oxford. But they just can't keep one another at oar's length . . .Arthur Osbourne-Cloud has his future mapped out for him – graduate Oxford and follow his dreadful father into politics. Except Arthur wants anything but that. He’d rather spend his days rowing for gold at the Olympics,.And this year he has the Boat Race to win. Kate Astley also has her future mapped out. Fly half-way across the world, and win a scholarship at Cambridge University to study medicine. Oh, and crew for the legendary Boat Race. Seems simple enough. But then she meets Arthur. For Arthur, this feisty American challenges everything he's been taught to believe, while Kate battles between what she's expected to do, and what she wants to do. The bitter rivalry between their universities ought to destroy them. Or will it just be a matter of time before they surrender to the sizzling chemistry between them?But In The Boat Race, there can only be one winner. Who will sink and who will swim?PRAISE FOR OAR THAN FRIENDS:'I could not put this book down' Goodreads Reviewer'A breathtakingly unique take on the college rivals and sports romance tropes' Goodreads Reviewer'5+ stars!' Goodreads Reviewer'This book gives it all, and I'm not ashamed to say, I laughed, I cried, and I may have bit through my lip because of the tension in the end' Goodreads Reviewer'It’s a 5-star read - if I could give more I would' Goodreads Reviewer
Obesity: A Kinesiology Perspective (Routledge Research in Physical Activity and Health)
by Roy J. ShephardThere have been many books written on the subject of obesity, but most have approached the topic from the standpoint of the nutritionist, concluding from the somewhat fallacious evidence of changes in body mass that exercise has little place in the prevention or the treatment of obesity. This new volume, written by an exercise physiologist, approaches the topic through a thoughtful lens, suggesting that regular physical activity plays an important role in preventing the development of obesity, is a valuable adjunct therapy in the treatment of the established condition, and makes a solid contribution to the maintenance of weight loss once target weights have been achieved. In addition to detailing evidence that supports such a conclusion, the text offers a unique perspective on obesity over the ages. It evaluates methods of determining body fat content that are appropriate to field and epidemiological studies, and it looks at the timing and aetiology of the recent obesity epidemic. It also considers the diseases associated with obesity and the resultant medical costs, attempting to disentangle the respective contributions of a sedentary lifestyle and the resultant accumulation of fat to the observed patterns of ill-health. Other sections of the text suggest that adipose tissue has important functions beyond the passive storage of energy, and looks critically at the excuse of "bad genes" that some people plead to explain their excessive body weight. Obesity: A Kinesiologist’s Perspective should thus provide helpful information and be a key resource for students and researchers alike in bariatrics, kinesiology and nutrition as well as the related disciplines.
Obie Is Man Enough
by Schuyler BailarA coming-of-age story about transgender tween Obie, who didn’t think being himself would cause such a splash. For fans of Alex Gino’s George and Lisa Bunker’s Felix Yz. <p><p> Obie knew his transition would have ripple effects. He has to leave his swim coach, his pool, and his best friends. But it’s time for Obie to find where he truly belongs. <p><p> As Obie dives into a new team, though, things are strange. Obie always felt at home in the water, but now he can’t get his old coach out of his head. Even worse are the bullies that wait in the locker room and on the pool deck. Luckily, Obie has family behind him. And maybe some new friends too, including Charlie, his first crush. Obie is ready to prove he can be one of the fastest boys in the water—to his coach, his critics, and his biggest competition: himself.
Obsessed: The highly anticipated sports autobiography from the Irish Rugby legend
by Johnny SextonTHE NO. 1 BESTSELLERIn his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny Sexton tells the story of his life and explores the sources of his unmatched will to win.'Sexton will go down as Ireland's greatest ever player' Gordon D'Arcy, Irish Times‘A revealing glimpse into the psyche of a serial winner’ Robert Kitson, Guardian___________________Four European Cups. Four Six Nations championships (including two Grand Slams). A series win in New Zealand. Two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world. And the World Player of the Year award. No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton.Outspoken, on and off the field, Sexton offers an honest look at his childhood, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game.But it is also a work of deep self-exploration, tracing the psychological arc of a player who almost always felt embattled, who struggled with self-doubt, and who was still learning new lessons about being a team-mate and a leader into his late thirties.Intense, witty, perceptive and frank, Obsessed is an autobiography worthy of its author and the essential chronicle of an extraordinary era in Irish rugby.___________________'Levels of wit and psychological insight that are all too rare in a sporting star’s autobiography’ The Telegraph'A fascinating portrait of a man always at war … Candid, frank and brilliantly written, this is a must for any rugby lover’ Daily Mail'A seriously compelling book’ Stephen Jones, Sunday Times'The best ever Irish player to play the game' Andy Farrell‘An autobiography to be inhaled’ Irish Examiner‘Sexton is on that rarefied plane of athlete where even his mere presence can feel quietly decisive’ Jonathan Liew, Guardian‘An essential read for any keen follower of professional sport in Ireland’ Irish Independent‘One of the best sports biographies in any discipline in recent times’ RTÉ Guide‘A rich insight into one of Irish sport’s most complex, high-performing minds … up there with the all-time great rugby books.’ Irish Independent
Obstacle Challenge (Jake Maddox Adventure)
by Jake MaddoxTanisha Carter can't believe her luck when she finds out her favorite extreme obstacle course challenge is coming to her town. She needs a partner to compete, so her video game pal, Derek, agrees to team up with her. Derek is big for his age, but strong, and Tanisha is sure their combination of speed and strength will make for a winning team. But when training reveals Tanisha's fear of heights, the pair realizes they have more than one obstacle to overcome in this extreme challenge.
Obstacle Fit
by Pete WilliamsDo you want to climb walls, shiver under barbwire, shimmy through culverts, negotiate monkey bars and ropes, plunge into dumpsters of ice water, and run miles through dirt, mud, and water - all the while testing your mental and physical limits with a body you've chiseled into the best shape of its life?If so, you're an aspiring obstacle racer. And you're not alone.In Obstacle Fit, Pete Williams gets you ready to tackle Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, Warrior Dash, and the dozens of other obstacle races that have become the fastest growing segment of participatory sports.More than 2 million people annually compete in obstacle races, pushing their bodies to extremes and posting images of themselves muddy and triumphant via social media.Athletes typically train for an obstacle race with either an anaerobic, strength-based program featuring little running or with a regimen of heavy running and little core conditioning. As a result, they're ill prepared for alternating tests of running and obstacles and can even risk injury.Williams, a competitive obstacle racer, NASM-certified personal trainer, and co-author of seven fitness books, shows you how to train efficiently for obstacle races with an integrated, six-week program of core conditioning and interval training that mirrors the obstacles, rhythms, and challenges of an actual race.Obstacle Fit, which requires little equipment, can be used as a stand-alone program or adapted to complement your existing training. Performed indoors or outdoors, Obstacle Fit focuses on flexibility, strength, stability, and speed, helping you navigate any obstacle race quickly and powerfully.
Obstacle Race Training
by Margaret Schlachter Hobie CallThe beauty of obstacle course racing is that it gets you out of your everyday routine and lets you experience life. If you are stuck in a cubicle or trapped in an urban jungle-congested traffic and crowds are your daily obstacles. Running an obstacle course race gives you the chance to get back to nature-to roll in it, get dirty, and tap into your primal self so you can experience life-in the raw, unedited and real.Margaret Schlachter is one the foremost competitors in obstacle course racing today. She put together this simple guide to make your obstacle race experience everything it's supposed to be-a test of your true self. She describes first-hand her personal training methods in learning to climb a rope, scale a wall, flip a tire, throw a spear, and carry a sandbag. More importantly, she provides guidance on how to get yourself mentally and spiritually prepared for the big day-and how to dig deep within yourself during a race to find the last ounce of strength to carry you across that finish line.Every weekend thousands of competitors run obstacle races all over the world. Winning or losing is secondary. More important for them is the ability to meet the physical and mental challenges and achieve personal success by completing the race. Obstacle Race Training is an invaluable resource that enables each and every competitor to experience the maximum level of success that they are capable of.
Obstacle Race Training
by Margaret Schlachter Hobie CallThe beauty of obstacle course racing is that it gets you out of your everyday routine and lets you experience life. If you are stuck in a cubicle or trapped in an urban jungle-congested traffic and crowds are your daily obstacles. Running an obstacle course race gives you the chance to get back to nature-to roll in it, get dirty, and tap into your primal self so you can experience life-in the raw, unedited and real.Margaret Schlachter is one the foremost competitors in obstacle course racing today. She put together this simple guide to make your obstacle race experience everything it's supposed to be-a test of your true self. She describes first-hand her personal training methods in learning to climb a rope, scale a wall, flip a tire, throw a spear, and carry a sandbag. More importantly, she provides guidance on how to get yourself mentally and spiritually prepared for the big day-and how to dig deep within yourself during a race to find the last ounce of strength to carry you across that finish line.Every weekend thousands of competitors run obstacle races all over the world. Winning or losing is secondary. More important for them is the ability to meet the physical and mental challenges and achieve personal success by completing the race. Obstacle Race Training is an invaluable resource that enables each and every competitor to experience the maximum level of success that they are capable of.
Obstacle Race Training Bible: The #1 Resource to Prepare for and Conquer Any Course!
by James VillepigueThe first how-to guide to help readers prepare for and conquer a new and growing form of distance racing popping up all over the country, written by bestselling fitness author James Villepigue. Obstacle Race Training Bible provides readers with one-stop access to everything you need to know to prepare for and successfully complete a Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, Warrior Dash, or any of the other international or regional obstacle races that are taking the world by storm. All of these races combine running various distances and terrain with hard-core obstacles that are both physically and mentally challenging: climbing through pitch-black flooded tubes and over walls, carrying logs uphill, traversing monkey bars, crawling through mud and under barbed wire, leaping over burning hay bales, swimming in ice cold water, navigating through live wires, and more. This combination of running and obstacles is what gives participants a very different kind of challenge than they get with a 5K, marathon, or triathlon. It's a combination that also requires a very different approach to training and preparation, and that's what this book provides. Coverage includes: Profiles of all the major races: running distance, obstacles involved, completion percentage, fitness level required, etc. Obstacle overviews, including photos of what they look like, the mental and physical challenges involved, and the most effective strategies for completing them Obstacle-specific exercises that condition participants for the strength, stamina, flexibility, and mental toughness needed to complete the obstacle 8-week training programs designed for complete novices, elite athletes, and everyone in between Important information on what to wear, nutrition during training, and race day strategies
Obstruction (Famille Prescott #1)
by Mignon MykelQu’obtient-on lorsqu’on combine une petite rousse, un joueur de la LNH et Hawaï ? Une rupture de contrat... Ayant grandi avec le hockey, Caleb Prescott connaît très bien les hauts et les bas d’une saison. Il s’était juré une chose : s’en tenir au jeu, sans être porte-parole. Sydney Meadows termine son baccalauréat et décide de faire un stage dans une agence artistique. Amusant, non ? Jusqu’à ce qu’elle reçoive une mission impossible… persuader un joueur de hockey réputé, qui fait peu d’apparition dans les médias, d’être la vedette d’une émission de rencontres. Ce qui débute comme un simple défi se complique rapidement de plusieurs façons différentes…
Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health II (Studies in Systems, Decision and Control #277)
by Pedro M. Arezes Paula Carneiro Patrício Cordeiro Rui B. Melo Gonçalo Perestrelo Mónica P. Barroso Nélson Costa A. Sérgio Miguel J. Santos BaptistaThis book explores a number of important issues in the area of occupational safety and hygiene. Presenting both research and best practices for the evaluation of occupational risk, safety and health in various types of industry, it particularly focuses on occupational safety in automated environments, innovative management systems and occupational safety in a global context. The different chapters examine the perspectives of all those involved, such as managers, workers and OSH professionals. Based on selected contributions presented at the 16th International Symposium on Occupational Safety and Hygiene (SHO 2020), held on 6–7 April, 2020, in Porto, Portugal, the book serves as a timely reference guide and source of inspiration to OSH researchers, practitioners and organizations operating in a global context.
Ocean Cruising on a Budget
by Anne HammickHow to buy a small but good boat secondhand and cheap, and fix it up. How to buy provisions at wholesale prices, and stretch them during the cruise, but still eat royally. Which gear and instruments are necessary or even helpful, and which are not. Ingenious ways to make do afloat.
Ocean Liners of the 20th Century
by Gordon NewellWith his vast collection of photographs and memorabilia, combined with his skill as a writer, Newell truly makes the ships and memories of them become living personalities. How Jack London, Count von Luckner, Sir Ernest Shackleton and all other intrepid adventurers of the sea would have gloried in this book; and present-day sea rovers, you, how you will glory in it! Here are the glamour, majesty and color of the most exciting things ever built—the mammoths of the sea.Gordon Newell’s salty stories and fine photos bring these monarchs and superliners to life so completely, that you hear once more the deep-throated whistle blasts as the ships knife their way out of the fog, one after another. “I am not recording affection for the Mauretania as President of the United States, but as civilian Franklin D. Roosevelt who loves the sea, its ships and the men who sail them…” writes F.D.R. in his story “Queen with a Fighting Heart.” Author Gordon Newell shares these sentiments. “The Kronprinz Wilhelm” he writes, “was not a ship to give up easily. Night was falling, the darkness would give her a fighting chance. The last of the fuel was shoveled into the furnaces. The worn-out engines were breaking their hearts for the ship…out of the night she came, the sky glowing red above the crowns of her belching funnels. The white glow of acres of foam at her bow. The guns of the British cruisers swung around.”
Ocean of Insight: A Sailor's Voyage from Despair to Hope
by Heather Lyn MannHeather Lyn Mann was a battle-weary environmental advocate in Madison, Wisconsin, struggling over what to do about climate change when she and her husband decided to explore the Atlantic on a small sloop. This memoir of six years living afloat is a chronological unfolding of disasters and discoveries--life-threatening storms, the boredom of isolation, societies on the brink of extinction, sinking ships, colorful Caribbean characters, near collisions, a pirate scare, and more. Throughout, the ocean becomes Mann's teacher, transforming her with uncompromising lessons on how to harmonize with natural order, the exact moments and ways to let in fearlessness, resilience, happiness, impermanence, balance, compassion, skillful action, and beginner's mind. Her suspenseful, sometimes hilarious, and always heart-warming journey of body and mind, shaped by ancient Buddhist teachings, entertains as it charts reality's depths and danger zones so arm-chair adventurers, spiritual seekers, and the climate concerned can navigate tumultuous waters and arrive together on the shore of planetary well-being.From the Trade Paperback edition.
October 1964: Summer Of '49, October 1964, The Amateurs, Playing For Keeps
by David HalberstamThe &“compelling&” New York Times bestseller by the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, capturing the 1964 World Series between the Yankees and Cardinals (Newsweek). David Halberstam, an avid sports writer with an investigative reporter&’s tenacity, superbly details the end of the fifteen-year reign of the New York Yankees in October 1964. That October found the Yankees going head-to-head with the St. Louis Cardinals for the World Series pennant. Expertly weaving the narrative threads of both teams&’ seasons, Halberstam brings the major personalities on the field—from switch-hitter Mickey Mantle to pitcher Bob Gibson—to life. Using the teams&’ subcultures, Halberstam also analyzes the cultural shifts of the sixties. The result is a unique blend of sports writing and cultural history as engrossing as it is insightful. This ebook features an extended biography of David Halberstam.
Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit
by Matt MccarthyA Season on the Mound with Minor League Baseball's Most Unlikely Pitcher. Matt McCarthy never expected to get drafted by a Major League Baseball team. A molecular biophysics major at Yale, he was a decent left-handed starter for a dismal college team. But good southpaws are hard to find, and when the Anaheim Angels selected him in the twenty-first round of the 2002 draft, McCarthy jumped at the chance to live every boy's dream. In Odd Man Out, McCarthy tells the captivating and hilarious story of his year with the Provo Angels, Anaheim's Class A minor league affiliate in the heart of Mormon country. He quickly discovers the dirty truths of the minors: the Americans and Dominicans don't speak to each other, the allure of steroids is ever present, and everyone puts his own stats ahead of the team's success. With a brilliant eye for baseball's character, McCarthy takes readers through the ups and downs of an antic, grueling season filled with cross-country road trips, bizarre rivalries, and players competing with cutthroat intensity for the ultimate prize-a call up to the majors. In the spirit of Ball Four, McCarthy recounts inside-the-locker-room tales of teammates who would go on to stardom, including Bobby Jenks, Joe Saunders, and Ervin Santana. Odd Man Out is one of the great books about baseball life, capturing with rare perfection the gritty essence of our national pastime as it is played outside the spotlight.
Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit
by Matt Mccarthy"The best baseball book since Moneyball." Hailed by critics as one of the great books about baseball, Odd Man Out captures the gritty essence of our national pastime as it is played outside the spotlight. <P><P>Matt McCarthy, a decent left-handed starting pitcher on one of the worst squads in Yale history, earned a ticket to spring training as the twenty-sixth-round draft pick of the 2002 Anaheim Angels. This is the hilarious inside story of his year with the Provo Angels, Anaheim's minor league affiliate in the heart of Mormon country, as McCarthy navigates the ups and downs of an antic, grueling season, filled with cross-country bus trips, bizarre rivalries, and wild locker-room hijinks.
Odd Man Rush: A Harvard Kid?s Hockey Odyssey from Central Park to Somewhere in Sweden?with Stops along the Way
by Bill Keenan Adam GravesIn his hilarious, gritty, and touching debut, Bill Keenan--a hockey star once on the fast-track to the NHL--tells of how he overcame multiple obstacles to find fulfillment and redemption in the strange world of European minor-league professional hockey. Keenan’s hockey obsession begins as a five-year-old on Lasker Rink in New York’s Central Park--"love at first stride,” as he calls it. He then becomes the youngest, and skinniest, player on the New York Bobcats, a Junior B hockey team. Later, after his hockey career at Harvard doesn’t end as planned--with a fat NHL contract--Keenan decides to play in the minor leagues in Europe, where the glamour of professional sports is decidedly lacking. Part fish-out-of-water travelogue, part coming-of-age memoir, Odd Man Rush will capture the interest of not just hockey fans, but also fans of good writing. Throughout, Keenan’s deep affection for the game shines through, even as he describes fans who steal players’ clothes from the locker room or toss empty beer cans onto the rink after games. Abusive fans, cold showers, long bus rides--nothing diminishes his love for the sport. "Because that’s the way it works with me and hockey. Even when it’s horrible, it’s wonderful. ”
Odd-Shaped Balls: Mischief-Makers, Miscreants and Mad-Hatters Of Rugby
by John ScallyRugby is not a game for those who think that centres are what you find in a box of Black Magic or who confuse Jonah Lomu with Joanna Lumley. At the same time, it is not a game for the bright: what kind of tortured mind would invent an oval ball? Of course, it helps if you know the rules and don't have any fear. In this respect you are in the same boat as most referees, particularly if you have a problem with your eyesight. Odd-Shaped Balls captures the humour, the agony and the ecstasy of one of the world's most popular sports. It snoops inside sweaty, smelly dressing-rooms, reveals the passions of coaches and fans - without whom rugby would cease to exist - and delves deep into the sport's archives to recall its heroes, villains and victims, all of whom are part of the daily currency. The book is no less than a who's who of the game, with both old and young getting the opportunity to have their say. Lining out is a cast of mischief-makers, miscreants and mad-hatters: from Max Boyce to Keith Wood; from Sean Fitzpatrick to Austin Healy; from Bill Beaumont and his streaker to Gavin Hastings; from Gareth Edwards to David Campese; and from the man in the scrum to the man at the bar. All exponents of surrealism, comic genius and savage wit, they offer a quirky insight into the sporting psyche as well as providing some riotous good laughs.With hundreds of funny stories, Odd-Shaped Balls is a light-hearted romp through decades of rugby tomfoolery that is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of all sports fans.
Odds Against
by Dick FrancisFrom the New York Times–bestselling &“master of crime fiction and equine thrills,&” a jockey turned investigator tackles crime in the horse racing world (Newsday). Dick Francis, Edgar Award–winning master of mystery and suspense, takes you into the thrilling world of horse racing. A hard fall took hotshot jockey Sid Halley out of the horse racing game, leaving him with a crippled hand, a broken heart, and the desperate need for a new job. Now he&’s landed a position with a detective agency, only to catch a bullet from some common thug. And things are about to get even more hectic. The agency is giving him a case to handle on his own. The case brings him to the door of Zanna Martin, a woman who might be just what Sid needs to get him back up and running. But he&’s up against a field of thoroughbred criminals, and the odds against him are making it a long shot that he&’ll even survive . . . &“Dick Francis is a wonder.&” —The Plain Dealer &“An imaginative craftsman of high order.&” —The Sunday Times &“Few things are more convincing than Dick Francis at a full gallop.&” —Chicago Tribune &“Few match Francis for dangerous flights of fancy and pure inventive menace.&” —Boston Herald &“[The] master of crime fiction and equine thrills.&” —Newsday &“[Francis] has the uncanny ability to turn out simply plotted yet charmingly addictive mysteries.&” —The Wall Street Journal &“Francis is a genius.&” —Los Angeles Times &“A rare and magical talent . . . who never writes the same story twice.&” —The San Diego Union-Tribune
Odell Beckham Jr. (Amazing Athletes Ser.)
by Jon M FishmanOdell Beckham Jr.—New York Giants wide receiver—shocks National Football League (NFL) fans with his incredible catches. In a 2014 game versus the Dallas Cowboys, Odell made a one-handed touchdown reception that earned his game jersey a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But he is more than just a showman on the field. Odell was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, and his performance only improved in 2015. Learn more about Odell's journey to stardom.
Odisha and Sports: A Story of Hope and Glory
by Boria Majumdar Vineel Krishna RavellaFor decades, Odisha was considered as one of India&’s most backward states. But under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, it has made huge strides in every sphere, from human-development indices and disaster management to becoming the role model for India&’s future sporting programme. This book, co-authored by Boria Majumdar, one of India&’s best known sports scholars and commentators, and Vineel Krishna, Secretary Sports for the Government of Odisha, is an attempt to make sense of that transformation, especially in the sporting space. It is a tale of what can happen when a wealth of untapped talent is harnessed by proper administration and planning, and the creation of state-of-the-art infrastructure. It is the story of how a state stepped in at the last minute to stage a major event, and how its success turned into a springboard for future endeavours. It documents the sea change that has been witnessed in the past half-decade, with the creation of world-class stadia, high-performance centres and hostels to house the most talented kids from the relatively under-developed regions of the state. It&’s also testament to the resilience and determination of the athletes, many of whom have overcome colossal odds to shine on the world stage. Most of all though, it&’s a story of hope – of what can happen when a government prioritises its people and recognises the power of sport to bring about lasting and positive social change.
Of Myths and Sticks
by Kevin GibsonAs engaging as the great game itself, the stories behind the National Hockey League are entertaining, fascinating and, at times, unbelievable. Faux facts emerge from urban legends, conspiracy theories and coincidences, leaving sports fans to debate truth and fiction in the world of hockey trivia. Few are better qualified to both debunk falsehoods and nail down amazing facts than TSN stats archaeologist Kevin Gibson, whose book Of Myths and Sticks blows the whistle on all hockey matters from the mainstream to the obscure.What was the date of the first NHL game? Who scored the first goal and which team won? Did Gordie Howe ever actually have a Gordie Howe hat trick? Gibson offers definitive answers to these fundamental questions, but also contributes fascinating background nobody else thought to ask about, such as game-time weather, contract disputes and the flu epidemic that claimed the lives of two players and cancelled the 1919 Stanley Cup Final. Gibson scores laughs with true facts from between the posts, noting that legendary Canadiens goalie Georges Vezina sired 24 children ("he was known for saves on the ice and scoring off"), and that the Quebec Bulldogs' shameful record of 4-20 may have been due, in part, to the worst nickname ever for a goaltender ("Holes"). The myth of the Original Six is down-sized to the Original One, as Gibson points out that the Montreal Canadiens is the only team to have been around at the start of the NHL and to have retained their original team name.Other highlights include hall-of-famers, hall-of-shamers and an extensive "On This Date" chapter that highlights 366 trivia-worthy moments from 95 years of hockey history. Combining extensive research, humor and keen curiosity, Of Myths and Sticks is hockey's version of MythBusters-what's true, what's not, and how can we make finding out almost as entertaining as watching the game.