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Road to Redemption
by Tom FitzgeraldToeing the start line of the 1983 Boston Marathon, Cooper McKenzie finds himself in a race to make meaning of his troubled, unimpressive life.Cooper McKenzie is contending with the stark realities of middle-age—he is fully disenchanted with his career, he is struggling to meet the financial needs of his young family, and he has accumulated an unbearable number of &“what ifs&” and even regrets. Amid his mounting anger, the effects of aging manifest into a serious medical diagnosis, and he feels he&’s been handed a death sentence. As Cooper takes inventory of the pivotal moments of his life, things left unfinished, unfortunate outcomes, and a negative sense of self, it&’s clear he is entrenched in a hopeless cycle. Dealt an unbelievable blow, he resolves to rewrite his script of failure even as his own body is failing him. A story of resiliency builds as Cooper makes his way to the start of the Boston Marathon, a distance he has never completed, let alone attempted. His reasons for risking it all to finish are painstakingly clear, but with such high stakes, finishing could mean the end. The Road to Redemption captures a personal journey that is altogether universal. We must traverse our own lived experience, particularly those moments of vulnerability and shame, to reach the end goal of knowing the truth of what we can do and who we are.
Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation
by Aili McConnon Andres McConnonRoad to Valor is the inspiring, against-the-odds story of Gino Bartali, the cyclist who made the greatest comeback in Tour de France history and secretly aided the Italian resistance during World War II. Gino Bartali is best known as an Italian cycling legend: the man who not only won the Tour de France twice, but also holds the record for the longest time span between victories. During the ten years that separated his hard-won triumphs, his actions, both on and off the racecourse, ensured him a permanent place in Italian hearts and minds. In Road to Valor, Aili and Andres McConnon chronicle Bartali’s journey, starting in impoverished rural Tuscany where a scrawny, mischievous boy painstakingly saves his money to buy a bicycle and before long, is racking up wins throughout the country. At the age of 24, he stuns the world by winning the Tour de France and becomes an international sports icon. But Mussolini’s Fascists try to hijack his victory for propaganda purposes, derailing Bartali’s career, and as the Nazis occupy Italy, Bartali undertakes secret and dangerous activities to help those being targeted. He shelters a family of Jews in an apartment he financed with his cycling winnings and is able to smuggle counterfeit identity documents hidden in his bicycle past Fascist and Nazi checkpoints because the soldiers recognize him as a national hero in training. After the grueling wartime years, Bartali fights to rebuild his career as Italy emerges from the rubble. In 1948, the stakes are raised when midway through the Tour de France, an assassination attempt in Rome sparks nationwide political protests and riots. Despite numerous setbacks and a legendary snowstorm in the Alps, the chain-smoking, Chianti-loving, 34-year-old underdog comes back and wins the most difficult endurance competition on earth. Bartali’s inspiring performance helps unite his fractured homeland and restore pride and spirit to a country still reeling from war and despair. Set in Italy and France against the turbulent backdrop of an unforgiving sport and threatening politics, Road to Valor is the breathtaking account of one man’s unsung heroism and his resilience in the face of adversity. Based on nearly ten years of research in Italy, France, and Israel, including interviews with Bartali’s family, former teammates, a Holocaust survivor Bartali saved, and many others, Road to Valor is the first book ever written about Bartali in English and the only book written in any language to fully explore the scope of Bartali’s wartime work. An epic tale of courage, comeback, and redemption, it is the untold story of one of the greatest athletes of the twentieth century.
Road to Valour: Gino Bartali – Tour de France Legend and World War Two Hero
by Aili McConnon Andres McConnonAn Italian SCHINDLER'S LIST, this is the inspirational story of Gino Bartali, who made the greatest comeback in Tour de France history and secretly aided the Italian Resistance during the Second World War.ROAD TO VALOUR is the inspiring, against-the-odds story of Gino Bartali, the cyclist who made the greatest comeback in Tour de France history and still holds the record for the longest gap between victories. Yet it was his actions during the Second World War, when he secretly aided the Resistance, rather than his remarkable exploits on a bike, that truly cemented his place in the hearts and minds of the Italian people.Based on nearly ten years of research, and including fascinating new interviews, this is the only book written that fully explores the scope of Bartali's wartime work. A breathtaking account of one man's unsung heroism and his resilience in the face of adversity, this is an epic tale of courage, comeback and redemption, and the untold story of one of the greatest athletes of the twentieth century.
Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer
by Smith Jamie"As an avid cyclist and amateur bike racer I feel like I can relate to every word in this book. It was so good that I bought two extra copies to give to my cyclist friends[.]"Veteran race announcer and long-time cycling enthusiast Jamie Smith sets out to explain the sport he loves and the roadies who live for it. Every seemingly neurotic tendency is explained and celebrated with humorous illustrations from nationally syndicated cartoonist Jef Mallett.This book is perfect for: Anyone who has ever known a roadieAnyone who has considered becoming a roadieAnyone who has walked away from a bike race completely puzzledFinally, a book to explain those people who roll out for a ride dressed in technicolored Lycra at the crack of dawn on Saturday, and return at sundown with a glow of satisfaction and even stronger tan lines. Whether interested onlooker or cycling aficionado, readers will find themselves laughing out loud as they revel in the roadie&’s world.
Roar: A Celebration of Great Sporting Women
by Sam QuekRoar is a celebration of the bold and fearless - the women empowering future generations to follow in their footsteps - but it is also an inspiring look at how sport can change lives and challenge society. From the tennis court to the boxing ring, the visibility of women in sports has been gathering pace. Women's competitions are increasingly popular.In Roar Sam takes a deep dive into the experiences of some of sport's most high-profile female athletes - some have overcome heartbreaking adversity to reach the top of their game; others have succeeded in the face of prejudice. Like Sam, all have been propelled by sheer grit and determination to succeed. Many now campaign for women's equality and acceptance in sport, knowing the confidence it can bring young girls and the message that they can achieve anything. Featuring a series of candid interviews from some of sport's most successful women, Sam lifts the lid on what it takes to reach those heights: from coping with puberty to foregoing teenage fun to pursue a dream; from the punishing physical training schedule to the mental power needed to win or bounce back from defeat; from the pressure of the media spotlight to the challenge of competing as a new mother. And, what it feels like in that magical moment when you step up to the podium knowing every sacrifice has been worth it. Contributors include Gabby Logan, Paula Radcliffe MBE (long-distance runner), Amy Williams MBE (skeleton racer), Dame Katherine Grainger (rower and current chair of UK Sport), Dame Sarah Storey (Paralympian cyclist), Fatima Whitbread MBE (javelin thrower), Sky Brown (skateboarder), Shaunagh Brown (rugby union player), Sheila Parker MBE (footballer and first England captain), Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE (hockey player and former England women's captain), Rebecca Adlington OBE (middle-distance swimmer), Christine Ohuruogu MBE (400 metres sprinter), and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE (wheelchair racer and cross-bench peer).
Roaring Back: The Fall and Rise of Tiger Woods
by Curt SampsonThe incredible true story of Tiger Woods&’s dramatic comeback following his humbling and very public personal, physical, and professional setbacks. One publicly imploded marriage. Two car accidents. Eight surgeries. And now, a miracle of hard work and storied talent: five Masters wins. Once hailed as &“the greatest closer in history&” before he fell further than any beloved athlete in America&’s memory, Tiger swung at the world&’s wildest expectations and beat the skeptics with his April 2019 Masters championship. Roaring Back traces his road to Augusta and the improbable, phenomenal comeback of one of the greatest golfers in history.New York Times–bestselling author Curt Sampson details the highs and lows of Woods&’s career in three gripping acts. From his startling loss at the 2009 PGA Championship, detrimental obsession with his swing, and that infamous night involving an ex-wife and a nine-iron…to adoring fans and lucrative sponsors turning their backs, exclusive interviews with past instructors and PGA tour peers, and an arrest complete with a toxicology report . . . finally to Tiger coming from behind for his fifth green jacket as the crowd rumbled in Georgia, and how his comeback rivals those of the most dramatic in his sport. Sampson also places Woods&’s defeats and triumphs in the context of historic comebacks by other notable golfers like Ben Hogan, Skip Alexander, Aaron Silton, and Charlie Beljan, finding the forty-three-year-old alone on the green for his trajectory of victory against all odds. As this enthralling book reveals, Tiger never doubted the perseverance of the winner in the mirror.&“Sampson admirably details all the highs and lows.&” —Jim Nantz, CBS Sports
Roars from the Back of the Bus: Rugby Tales of Life with the Lions
by Stewart McKinneyRoars from the Back of the Bus is an absorbing, amusing and at times moving collection of tales that give a rare insight into the camaraderie that exists between players at the top of their game, showing that relationships forged through experiences on a Lions tour last a lifetime. From the first Tour in 1888, it showcases characters with immense personality who fought together in wars or on rugby pitches in foreign lands, and who shared a bond developed through touring as representatives of the home nations. Despite the changes to the game after the advent of professionalism, the experiences of Jamie Heaslip, Brian O’Driscoll and Joe Worsley are still similar in some ways to those of earlier intrepid tourists like Blair Mayne, Lewis Jones, Sir Carl Aarvold or David Rollo. Containing defining memories and private insights from across the tours and the decades, Roars from the Back of the Bus shows that the Lions ethos remains strong at the heart of every team.
Roasted Peanuts
by Tim EganSam and Jackson both agreed: nothing beat baseball. The crowds cheering, the bright green grass, the tasty roasted peanuts. Sam was an amazing athlete-very strong and fast, a big-leaguer in the making. Jackson, on the other hand, was not very strong or very fast at all. He could throw very far, but that was about it. When Sam makes the team and Jackson doesn’t, he misses having Jackson there on the field with him. And then he sees a poster . . . Tim Egan has crafted a quirky tale of friendship and loyalty, complete with a late-inning nail biter that will keep baseball fans on the edge of their seats!
Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders
by Rob NeyerBLOOPER: BALL SQUIRTS THROUGH BILLY BUCKNER'S LEGS. BLUNDER: BILLY BUCKNER'S MANAGER LEFT HIM IN THE GAME. Baseball bloopers are fun; they're funny, even. A pitcher slips on the mound and his pitch sails over the backstop. An infielder camps under a pop-up...and the ball lands ten feet away. An outfielder tosses a souvenir to a fan...but that was just the second out, and runners are circling the bases (and laughing). Without these moments, the highlight reels wouldn't be nearly as entertaining. Baseball blunders, however, can be tragic, and they will leave diehard fans asking why...why...why? Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders does its best to answer all those whys, exploring the worst decisions and stupidest moments of managers, general managers, owners, and even commissioners. As he did in his Big Book of Baseball Lineups, Rob Neyer provides readers with a fascinating examination of baseball's rich history, this time through the lens of the game's sometimes hilarious, often depressing, and always perplexing blunders. · Which ill-fated move cost the Chicago White Sox a great hitter and the 1919 World Series? · What was Babe Ruth thinking when he became the first (and still the only) player to end a World Series by getting caught trying to steal? · Did playing one-armed Pete Gray in 1945 cost the Browns a pennant? · How did winning a coin toss lead to the Dodgers losing the National League pennant on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'round the World"? · How damaging was the Frank Robinson-for-Milt Pappas deal, really? · Which of Red Sox manager Don Zimmer's mistakes in 1978 was the worst? · Which Yankees trade was even worse than swapping Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps? · What non-move cost Buck Showalter a job and gave Joe Torre the opportunity of a lifetime? · Game 7, 2003 ALCS: Pedro winds up to throw his 123rd pitch...what were you thinking? These are just a few of the legendary (and not-so-legendary) blunders that Neyer analyzes, always with an eye on what happened, why it happened, and how it changed the fickle course of history. And in separate chapters, Neyer also reviews some of the game's worst trades and draft picks and closely examines all the teams that fell just short of first place. Another in the series of Neyer's Big Books of baseball history, Baseball Blunders should win a place in every devoted fan's library.
Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Legends: The Truth, the Lies, and Everything Else
by Rob NeyerThe latest and greatest in ESPN.com baseball guru Rob Neyer's Big Book series, Legends is a highly entertaining guide to baseball fables that have been handed down through generations. The well-told baseball story has long been a staple for baseball fans. In Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Legends, Neyer breathes new life into both classic and obscure stories throughout twentieth-century baseball -- stories that, while engaging on their own, also tell us fascinating things about their main characters and about the sport's incredibly rich history. With his signature style, Rob gets to the heart of every anecdote, working through the particulars with careful research drawn from a variety of primary sources. For each story, he asks: Did this really happen? Did it happen, sort of? Or was the story simply the wild invention of someone's imagination? Among the scores of legends Neyer questions and investigates... Did an errant Bob Feller pitch really destroy the career of a National League All-Star? Did Greg Maddux mean to give up a long blast to Jeff Bagwell? Was Fred Lynn the clutch player he thinks he was? Did Tommy Lasorda have a direct line to God? Did Negro Leaguer Gene Benson really knock Indians second baseman Johnny Berardino out of baseball and into General Hospital? Did Billy Martin really outplay Jackie Robinson every time they met? Oh, and what about Babe Ruth's "Called Shot"? Rob checks each story, separates the truths from the myths, and places their fascinating characters into the larger historical context. Filled with insider lore and Neyer's sharp wit and insights, this is an exciting addition to a superb series and an essential read for true fans of our national pastime.
Robert Griffin III: Athlete, Leader, Believer
by Jim Kelly Ted KluckRobert Griffin III exploded ontothe NFL scene with a style and flair anything but typical. With a HeismanTrophy on his mantel, RG3 entered professional football in 2012 under aspotlight that glowed beyond his own team, the Washington Redskins. Could theBaylor graduate electrify the NFL as he had the college game? Could he return afabled franchise to the realm of elite Super Bowl contenders?Author Ted Kluck deepens thereader's connection to a man who became the face of a revered NFL franchisebefore his twenty-third birthday. One player fueled by infectious enthusiasmfor his craft. One man whose authenticity somehow seems to match hisotherworldly skills on the gridiron. RG3's focus on victory stood second onlyto the wisdom of his father: "Remember faith first." Kluck follows RG3's career fromthe very beginning. In addition, he dives into RG3's relationships with andcomparisons to players such as Tim Tebow, Michael Vick, Marcus Lattimore, Kyle Shanahan, Randall Cunningham, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and more. Robert Griffin III's storysurpasses standings and statistics. Succeeding as a professional athlete is achallenge of the first order. Thriving as a cross-cultural phenomenon is thefoundation of legends.
Roberto & Me
by Dan GutmanSometimes you can change history . . . and sometimes history can change you. When Stosh travels into the past to meet Roberto Clemente, a legendary ballplayer and a beloved humanitarian, he's got only one goal: warning Roberto not to get on the doomed plane that will end his life in a terrible crash. In the sixties, Stosh meets free-spirited Sunrise, and together they travel across the country to a ball game that leaves them breathless-and face-to-face with Roberto. But when the time comes for Stosh to return to the future, he finds that the adventure has only just begun. . . . Join Stosh and Sunrise on a journey that will take you into the past, from the excitement of Woodstock to a life-changing encounter with Roberto Clemente-and into a surprising future!
Roberto Clemente (Superstars of Baseball)
by Tania RodriguezNot many baseball players are as legendary as Roberto Clemente. He broke color barriers. He gave back to his community. And through it all, he played great baseball. During his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he did some amazing things. Sadly, Clemente's life was cut short by a plane crash. Today, however, his memory lives on. Fans everywhere still think of the player from Puerto Rico as an inspiration to us all.
Roberto Clemente: Orgullo de los Piratas de Pittsburgh
by Jonah Winter Raúl ColónNIMAC-sourced textbook
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
by Jonah WinterOn an island called Puerto Rico, there lived a little boy who wanted only to play baseball. Although he had no money, Roberto Clemente practiced and practiced until--eventually--he made it to the Major Leagues. America! As a right-fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he fought tough opponents--and even tougher racism--but with his unreal catches and swift feet, he earned his nickname, "The Great One." He led the Pirates to two World Series, hit 3,000 hits, and was the first Latino to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But it wasn't just baseball that made Clemente legendary--he was was also a humanitarian dedicated to improving the lives of others.
Roberto Clemente: The Great One
by Bruce MarkusenThirty-five years ago, Roberto Clemente made baseball history when he became the first Latin American to enter the Hall of Fame. Roberto Clemente: The Great One evaluates one of the game's most dynamic players and perhaps its most selfless humanitarian. From modest beginnings in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to a legendary career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, to his tragically premature death in a plane crash, Roberto Clemente remains one of baseball's most compelling characters. Interviews with teammates Willie Stargell and Al Oliver, former major league commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and close friends of Clemente lend insight into his character and contributions. Markusen successfully analyzes the cultural misunderstandings between Clemente and his audience as well as the struggles and hardships he and other Latin American players endured during that era. Regardless, he is a key example of how athletes can be more than just a source of entertainment. Undoubtedly, Clemente was never give the national exposure he deserved until the 1971 World Series, and subsequently his death in 1972 not only cut short a tremendous career but also deprived the world of more humanitarian efforts to those in need. The Great One fully examines Clemente's legacy, which he developed at a time of unprecedented success for Latin American players.
Roberto Clemente: Young Baseball Player
by Meryl Henderson Montrew DunhamTraces the personal life and baseball career of the Puerto Rican baseball superstar, from his childhood love of the game through his professional career and untimely death to his election to the Hall of Fame in 1973.
Roberto Clemente: Young Baseball Player (Childhood of Famous Americans Series)
by Montrew DunhamThis inspirational account of one of Puerto Rico's -- and America's -- most beloved heroes explores the early years of a man who was both a Hall of Fame right fielder and a courageous humanitarian.
Robinson Canó (Superstars of Baseball)
by Tania RodriguezRobinson Canó has had an amazing life in baseball. He's won the World Series. He's played in All-Star Games, won awards, and made millions of dollars. He's played for one of baseball's most popular teams, the New York Yankees. He's even won the Home Run Derby. Read how Canó learned to love baseball from his father, José. Follow Canó's journey from playing baseball in a Dominican high school to playing in the Major Leagues. Explore the life of one of baseball's biggest stars--and find out how he went from big dreams to the big leagues.
RoboCup 2014: Robot World Cup XVIII
by H. Levent Akin Reinaldo A. C. Bianchi Subramanian Ramamoorthy Komei SugiuraThis book includes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the 18th Annual RoboCup International Symposium, held in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, in July 2014. The 36 revised papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 66 submissions and include 11 champion-team papers, three special-track papers on open-source hardware and software, nine papers on the advancement of the RoboCup leagues track, and three best papers. The contributions present current research and educational activities in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence with a special focus on the interaction between robots and humans.
Robotic Sailing 2016
by José C. Alves Nuno A. CruzThis book contains selected papers that address a variety of topics related to the design, development and operation of unmanned and fully autonomous sailing boats. These papers were presented in the 9th International Robotic Sailing Conference, in association with the 9th World Robotic Sailing Championship that took place in Viana do Castelo, Portugal from the 5th to 10th of September 2016. The book is divided in three parts, each focusing on key aspects of robotic sailing. The first part addresses the design, construction and validation of autonomous sailboat platforms, including their rigs, appendages and control mechanisms. The second part is devoted to the development of sensors and algorithms to enhance the performance of robotic sailing boats, in terms of their speed, course control and manoeuvring ability. Finally, the papers in the last part are dedicated to the improvement of behaviours required for the accomplishment of complex autonomous missions. Robotic sailing is a relatively new multidisciplinary area of research, with a recognized great potential for persistent ocean observation. Using the wind for boat propulsion is something mankind has been doing for centuries. Automating and optimizing the sailing process in the harsh marine environment is an ever present challenge which is now promising to bear fruit.
Robotics in Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: Current Concepts, Techniques and Emerging Uses
by Jess H. LonnerThis state-of-the-art book focuses specifically on the current and emerging uses of robotics for knee and hip arthroplasty, with an expanding market anticipated, particularly as costs drop, data emerges and surgical efficiencies improve. It is divided into four main sections. Part one covers the background and basic principles of robotics in orthopedic surgery, discussing its history and evolution, current concepts and available technologies, perioperative protocols for recovery and pain management, economic considerations, and risks and complications. The second and third parts focus on the techniques themselves for the knee and hip respectively, including unicompartmental and bicompartmental knee arthroplasty, patellofemoral arthroplasty, and total knee and hip arthroplasty utilizing Navio, Mako, iThink, Omni and ROSA Knee robots. The final section presents the emerging use of robotics in spine surgery as well as for hospital process improvement. Presenting the most current techniques, technology and evidence, Robotics in Knee and Hip Arthroplasty will be a valuable resource for orthopedic surgeons, residents and fellows looking to implement and utilize these developing management strategies in their clinical practice.
Robots Revolt (Trapped in a Video Game #3)
by Dustin Brady Jesse BradyKids who love video games will love this third installment of the new 5-book series about 12-year old Jesse Rigsby and the wild adventures he encounters inside different video games. The robots are here and they're not happy, at all. After accidentally releasing the robot villains from Super Bot World 3 into the real world, Jesse Rigsby's got to figure out a way to make everything right before anyone gets hurt. He'd usually rely on his friend Eric to help him with this sort of thing, but he's gone missing. <p><p> To find Eric, Jesse will have to survive rickety mine carts, sewer piranhas, mysterious men in suits, and a 100-foot-tall robot named Goliatron. This is Jesse's most dangerous adventure yet because this time the video game is real. And in the real world, there are no extra lives.
Rock 'n' Roll Soccer
by Ian Plenderleith Rodney MarshThe North American Soccer League - at its peak in the late 1970s - presented soccer as performance, played by men with a bent for flair, hair and glamour. More than just Pelé and the New York Cosmos, it lured the biggest names of the world game like Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, Gerd Müller and George Best to play the sport as it was meant to be played-without inhibition, to please the fans. The first complete look at the ambitious, star-studded NASL, Rock 'n' Roll Soccer reveals how this precursor to modern soccer laid the foundations for the sport's tremendous popularity in America today. Bringing to life the color and chaos of an unfairly maligned league, soccer journalist Ian Plenderleith draws from research and interviews with the men who were there to reveal the madness of its marketing, the wild expectations of businessmen and corporations hoping to make a killing out of the next big thing, and the insanity of franchises in scorching cities like Las Vegas and Hawaii. That's not to mention the league's on-running fight with FIFA as the trailblazing North American continent battled to innovate, surprise, and sell soccer to a whole new world. As entertaining and raucous as the league itself, Rock 'n' Roll Soccer recounts the hype and chaos surrounding the rapid rise and cataclysmic fall of the NASL, an enterprising and groundbreaking league that did too much right to ignore.