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Tales from the Vanderbilt Commodores: A Collection of the Greatest Commodore Stories Ever Told (Tales from the Team)
by Chris LeeThough boasting a smaller student body than most other Southeastern Conference schools, Vanderbilt University's spirit and passion is without bounds--and with good reason. This book highlights several Vandy sports programs whose teams have shined over the course of the school's athletic history and the players and coaches who have been a part of them.Much of Vandy's recent athletic success has come from the football team. Under coach James Franklin, the Commodores had their first sold-out season opener since 1999. In 2012, the squad tied the school record for most wins and finished in the top 25 poll, en route to a bowl game for the second straight year, and followed that with another bowl game in 2013. The men's basketball team has also offered a lot of excitement of late. In 2011-2012, the squad boasted the top two scorers in the conference in John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor, both of whom were drafted to the NBA. The team won the SEC Tournament title that season, beating conference rival Kentucky. On the women's side, the team made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2013, marking the 11th time in as many seasons that coach Melanie Balcomb has led the team to at least 20 wins and an NCAA berth. The Commodores have also had something to cheer about on the baseball field, winning or sharing three SEC titles since 2007. In 2012, alumnus David Price received the American League Cy Young Award. Pedro Álvarez, also an alumnus and an infielder on the Pittsburgh Pirates, was a member of the 2013 National League All-Star team.In this latest addition to the Tales From series, Chris Lee highlights these athletes and coaches and so many others who have become part of Commodore lore. It's perfect for the fan of the black and gold!
Tales from the Villanova Wildcats Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Wildcat Stories Ever Told (Tales from the Team)
by Bob Gordon Ed PinckneyTake a bunch of nice kids, dump in gobs of fiery Italian seasoning, mix in copious measures of robust Augustinian teaching, and stir gently for four years. That's the winning recipe that transformed April Fool's Day 1985 into a feast for underdogs and everymen everywhere. March Madness maddened to the max that year with the crowning of perhaps the NCAA Tournament's most unlikely champion, the Villanova Wildcats. The most unlikely and perhaps the most liked team to ever win the championship, the Villanova kids won the nation over with courtesy and class more than jump shots and slam dunks. The NCAA final was supposed to be a slam dunk for Georgetown, the defending national champions. But 'Nova never buckled under "Hoya Paranoia," the fear factor that paralyzed most Georgetown opponents in the John Thompson era. Paternal coach Rollie Massimino drilled commitment, loyalty, and honor into his "family" as much as Xs and Os. The result was a poised, disciplined, and undaunted quintet who played what some have called the perfect basketball game where they sizzled the cords with unprecedented 78.6 percent shooting accuracy.Wildcat icon Ed Pinckney, along with teammates and other members of Coach Mass's "family," relate the tale of how "Villa-nowhere," as the 'Cats were dubbed before April 1, fooled the whole world. This reissue of Tales from the Villanova Wildcats Locker Room is a perfect gift for fans of Villanova basketball!
Tales from the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Demon Deacon Stories Ever Told (Tales from the Team)
by Dan Collins Skip ProsserBased on the gold-standard currency of tradition and success, few college basketball programs are richer in history than Wake Forest University’s. This reissue of Tales from the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Locker Room, first published in 2004, traces that vibrant history from the birth of the league to the growing successes of the team today. An original member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have provided the acclaimed league with much of its color and character--not to mention many of its colorful characters. Author Dan Collins provides stories about legendary players like Muggsy Bogues, the 5’3” guard who defied the description of basketball as a big man’s game, and the glory days of Tim Duncan, the onetime aspiring Olympic swimmer who grew up to become a five-time NBA champion and one of the greatest players in the game. The book looks at great coaches like Richard Crozier, the director of the university gymnasium who introduced basketball to Wake Forest; coach Murray Greason, whose love for the game of basketball was second only to his love for his beagle hounds; and coach Bones McKinney, the hyperactive Baptist minister whose dual, and at times dueling, religions were based on the Bible and basketball. Tales from the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Locker Room chronicles how Wake Forest basketball survived the university’s relocation from the quaint town of Wake Forest to the city of Winston-Salem, and how the university has thrived with the support of its devoted fans.
Tales from the Washington State Cougars Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Cougars Stories Ever Told (Tales from the Team)
by Jim Walden Dave Boling Bud WithersDuring an association with the Washington State football program that started in 1977, Jim Walden established a foundation of competitive expectations that helped spur the success of contemporary Cougar teams. Walden's 1981 Cougars broke a 51-year bowl drought, and with victories in three of his last five Apple Cup games against Washington, Walden finally leveled the field with WSU's cross-state rivals. Walden's teams beat every opponent in the Pac-10 Conference at least once, squaring off against powerhouses USC, UCLA, and Washington despite a deficit in resources that he once described as "having to fight battles every Saturday with a really short sword." He kidded and sparred with coaches like Don James, John Robinson, and Terry Donahue, while ticking off a few others with his outspokenness. He offered his opinions so frequently and frankly that his university president had "The Walden Release" printed and ready as a disclaimer for the press: "The opinions of Coach Walden do not necessarily reflect the stance of the WSU administration."In Tales from the Washington State Cougars Sideline, the stories cover players and coaches alike, including Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson, the colorful "Lone Star" Dietz, Bill Doba, and many more. Walden reveals the effective strategies and the flubs and tells what really happened on the field and in the locker rooms. He also shares the ways he was able to coax prospects into coming to remote Pullman and what he was really screaming at officials all those times. Walden tells his stories the way he coached--all out and nothing held back, with wit and humor.
Tales from the West Virginia Mountaineers Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Mountaineers Stories Ever Told (Tales From The Team Ser.)
by Shelly Poe Mike Logan Don NehlenNo one knows Mountaineers football better than Don Nehlen, head coach of the Mountaineers from 1980 until 2001. Now fans of this dynamic collegiate powerhouse will relive the greatest moments in West Virginia football through the eyes of its most successful coach.When Coach Nehlen arrived in Morgantown in December 1979, he had a large task in front of him-turn a losing team into a force to be reckoned with. In Tales from the West Virginia Mountaineers Sideline, first published in 2006 and now revised, Nehlen, along with former Sports Information Director Shelly Poe, share how he made it happen. Nehlen explains his theories about coaching, the staff that supported him, and the strategies that he employed to create a stronger team. He shares stories about some of his best players like Major Harris, Barrett Green, Rich Braham, and Marc Bulger. He gives the play-by-play for some of his biggest wins and most disappointing losses. Coach Nehlen guides you through the legendary undefeated seasons of 1988 and 1993. In addition, he shares his Hall of Fame experience with you, and muses about the future of college football. Without a doubt, this insider's look at West Virginia football is a must-have for any Mountaineers fan.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports-books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Tales from the West Virginia Mountaineers Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Mountaineers Stories Ever Told (Tales from the Team)
by Shelly Poe Mike Logan Don NehlenNo one knows Mountaineers football better than Don Nehlen, head coach of the Mountaineers from 1980 until 2001. Now fans of this dynamic collegiate powerhouse will relive the greatest moments in West Virginia football through the eyes of its most successful coach. When Coach Nehlen arrived in Morgantown in December 1979, he had a large task in front of him--turn a losing team into a force to be reckoned with. In this book, he shares how he made it happen. Nehlen explains his theories about coaching, the staff that supported him, and the strategies that he employed to create a stronger team. He shares stories about some of his best players like Major Harris, Barrett Green, Rich Braham, and Marc Bulger. He gives the play-by-play for some of his biggest wins and most disappointing losses. Coach Nehlen guides you through the legendary undefeated seasons of 1988 and 1993. In addition, he shares his Hall of Fame experience with you, and muses about the future of college football. Without a doubt, this insider's look at West Virginia football is a must-have for any Mountaineers fan.
Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Badgers Stories Ever Told (Tales from the Team)
by Brian Lucas Justin DohertyThis newly revised edition of Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers Sideline weaves together a series of anecdotes, personal recollections, and research to bring readers a taste of the stories that make Badgers football so interesting. There are the Heisman Trophies hard-earned by running backs Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne, the tumult of a 23-game winless streak broken with a victory over archrival Iowa in 1969, the bizarre tale of "Kangaroo Kicker" Pat O'Dea, and so much more. Without a doubt, Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers Sideline is a must-have for any Wisconsin fan!
Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny (Bunjitsu Bunny Ser. #1)
by John HimmelmanIntroducing Isabel, aka Bunjitsu Bunny! She is the BEST bunjitsu artist in her school, and she can throw farther, kick higher, and hit harder than anyone else! But she never hurts another creature . . . unless she has to. This series of brief stories about Isabel's adventures are a beguiling combination of child-friendly scenarios and Eastern wisdom perfect for the youngest readers.
Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters
by Shoshin NagamineIn this seminal work, available in English for the first time, a master instructor of Okinawan karate shares the lives and the history of the legendary Okinawan martial arts masters. A must-have for martial arts fans, this classic work includes striking photographs and fascinating anecdotes. 103 photos.
Tales of Quails ‘n Such
by Dr Havilah BabcockFirst published in 1951, this book is a collection of hunting and fishing stories from Havilah Babcock, a University professor of English at the University of South Carolina who discovered his love of hunting and fishing whilst on a year’s leave of absence in South Carolina in 1926.These delightful and humorous stories will entertain lovers of the great outdoors!Wonderfully illustrated throughout by artist William J. Schaldach.
Tales of Whitetails: Archibald Rutledge's Great Deer-Hunting Stories
by Archibald RutledgeThirty-five stirring, contemplative stories of deer hunting from a winner of the John Burroughs Medal.Archibald Rutledge—renowned outdoor writer, poet laureate, and authority on whitetails—lived a rich life at Hampton Plantation in South Carolina, and had a mystical attachment to deer that found fulfillment in hunting and writing. No American sporting writer has been more persuasive in capturing the myriad, and often elusive, meanings of the hunt.According to editor Jim Casada, Rutledge has an unrivaled knack for capturing the thrill of the chase, and his ability to set a scene is such that it places the reader squarely amidst the deep swamps, ridges of mixed pines and hardwoods, and dense thickets of palmetto and greenbrier. Rutledge considered deer, “that noble, elusive, crafty, wonderful denizen of the wilds,” to be the wisest of the game animals. His firm belief was that there was “much more to hunting than hunting.” He praised whitetails in poetry, found in them a basis for a sophisticated philosophy, and, most of all, immortalized the world of the hunter and the hunted in prose. Tales of Whitetails is the only book ever published devoted exclusively to Rutledge’s deer tales.
Tales of Woods and Waters: An Anthology of Classic Hunting and Fishing Stories
by Vin T. SparanoWhether it’s hunting, fishing, or simply shooting, the love and thrill of the outdoors will always remain. In Tales of Woods and Waters, well-known outdoor editor Vin T. Sparano has collected thirty-seven of the greatest, most enjoyable, and most well-written outdoors stories to have been published. Experience the tension of hunting in the jungles of Tanzania in Jim Carmichael’s "Kill the Leopard,” the joys of your first . 22 in Garth Sanders’s "My First Rifle,” the nuances of river fishing in Frank Conaway’s "Big Water, Little Men,” and the enduring challenge of turkey hunting in Charles Elliott’s "The Old Man and the Tom. ” Spanning the world and its varied forms of wildlife, these stories demonstrate that no matter where one hunts, shoots, or fishes, the outdoors will always be an important place to form memories that last a lifetime. Along with Sparano’s other collections of hunting stories, Classic Hunting Tales and The Greatest Hunting Stories Ever Told, also published by Skyhorse, this anthology will likely hold a special place on any outdoorsman’s shelf for years to come.
Tales of a Big Game Guide (Fifty Greatest Bks.)
by Russell Annabel“Tall tales of tall ranges. Good reading for any man, for he’ll find his sport, be it fishing, riding, camping, good jokes, fine sportsmanship and hardy company sandwiched in between the big game hunting. Annabel is a guide who certainly knows his trails and game, but far more important he knows what few others do—how to tell a grand story. Brought up in the big game country of Alaska he learned from bitter experience why Tex had wisely refused to let him peruse precocious rams up mountain peaks in winter, how to stalk grizzlies, to manage horses in spring drifts, to bring out heads with 69 inch spreads, and with delicious humor teach adventurous grizzlies a lesson. There are caribou, too, although he makes their hunting sound a bit too easy-dude-ranchey after the he-man stuff which characterizes his usual trips.“It is a book to whet the appetite of any man or woman who has ever longed to stalk big game. Africa is a long way safely out of reach. But Alaska—by plane? Well, maybe, if times pick up before they’re too old for such strenuous adventure. Meanwhile Annabel as guide and all Alaska lies before them. Suggest it as the best possible vacation to take in one’s den.”—Kirkus Review
Tales of a Louisiana Duck Hunter
by Fielding LewisThis collection of short stories-all personal experiences of the author-details the differences of hunting in Louisiana as opposed to other states. One can gain insight into the state, its wildlife, its different ways of duck hunting, and its landscape. There are humorous accounts of hunting dogs, character studies of hunters and woodsmen, and examples of good duck hunting.Find out the difference between a marsh and a swamp-there is one. Relive the sighting of the ivory-billed woodpecker-thought to be extinct. Most sportsmen will find that the various chapters provide them with pertinent information for the enjoyment of this outdoor sport.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fielding Lewis's love of hunting began at the age of six when his grandmother gave him his first BB gun. He spent much of his teen years hunting and observing wildlife and nature with his father. After marrying and returning from the air force, he worked as a mill lumber inspector and plant operator. He purchased a lumberyard that he operated for thirteen years. After selling the lumberyard, he became the editor of a small weekly newspaper in Franklin, Louisiana. His ability to express himself in the written word blossomed into this, his first book, a result of ten years of note taking.
Tales of the Tigress
by Judy KatschkeGo on an adventure with everyone's favorite feline Kung-Fu master in this early chapter book with two awesome stories based on popular episodes of Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness!In the first story, Tigress has to babysit a baby duck who has been separated from his parents. Can she care for the duckling while she searches for his mama? Then, Tigress leaves the Jade Palace to study with Mistress Mugan. There's only one problem--when Tigress feels it's time to go, Mistress Mugan will not let her new student leave! How will Tigress get home to the Jade Palace? © 2015 Viacom International Inc. NICKELODEON and all related logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Based on the feature film "Kung Fu Panda" © 2008 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.
Talk of Champions: Stories of the People Who Made Me: A Memoir
by Kenny SmithA revealing, humorous, behind-the-scenes memoir from Kenny "The Jet" Smith—superstar basketball commentator, host of the top-rated show, Inside the NBA, and two-time NBA champion. Smith reveals memorable inside stories of his playing and broadcasting careers, focusing on the star players, coaches, and mentors who inspired him along the way. Kenny Smith was a star at the University of North Carolina before his storied NBA run, in which he won two championships with the Houston Rockets. His popularity skyrocketed when he joined TNT&’s new show, Inside the NBA, which has thrived for twenty-four years and won multiple Emmys, receiving enormous acclaim for the insight, humor, social commentary, and unrivaled basketball coverage from Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O&’Neal, and Ernie Johnson, Jr. Kenny is known to fans for his laser-sharp analysis and eloquent observations of the basketball scene and culture. In this honest and profound memoir, Kenny writes chapters about each of the extraordinary people who taught him invaluable life lessons. He illuminates the personalities, affections, and quirks of friends such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O&’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kobe Bryant, among others, and what he learned from each of them. He writes about his legendary UNC coach, Dean Smith, and other indelible role models through his career. And he interweaves poignant material about his upbringing in Queens, New York, his parents, his children, and his marriage, explaining the rich knowledge he obtained from the important figures around him. Kenny is also a strong, intelligent voice on race, as his fans and TV viewers will know. Ultimately this is a revealing, humorous, and powerful memoir, offering a candid glimpse inside the rarified world of elite sports and broadcasting, with inspiring takeaways.
Talking Baseball
by Christine VenzonAdrian does not like sports—especially baseball! He’s eager to impress his new friends, though, so he goes to a baseball game with them. When they start speaking in baseball lingo, it almost sounds like a secret code! Will they figure out that he isn’t really a fan of the game? Maybe baseball isn’t really as bad as Adrian thinks!
Talking Irish: The Oral History of Notre Dame Football
by Steve DelsohnAn entertaining fusion of fact, legend, and lore, Notre Dame football has transcended the boundaries of the sport and the university to become a time-honored American tradition. For its legions of devoted fans and alumni, Talking Irish vividly captures it all: the exhilarating wins, the stunning defeats, the tumultuous coaching changes, and the celebrated mystique that surrounds this beloved football dynasty.With never-before-told anecdotes, this candid and revealing oral history -- the first ever written on Fighting Irish football -- is told in the words of more than 150 Notre Dame players, coaches, leading sports journalists, and school faculty. This rousing narrative begins in the 1940s, a decade after the death of the fabled Knute Rockne, and concludes five decades later, with the formidable exploits of Notre Dame football at the end of the twentieth century.
Talking On Air: A Broadcaster's Life in Sports
by Ken ColemanTalking on Air: A Broadcaster's Life in Sports highlights the 40-year career of Ken Coleman. The book details a broadcasting life seen not only from inside the booth, but also from inside the minds and throughout the experiences of many of sports' greatest names.
Talking Space: An anthology of stories told by Western Australians with disability for everyone
by Carers WaTalking Space is a candid insight into the lives of ten Western Australians with disability. Through these stories we investigate the identity of people from different walks of life, ages, experiences, and nationalities. Within ‘Talking Space’ we have collated stories that challenge commonly held beliefs around disability and discover new ways of self-identity within the storytellers’ words. When presenting these stories, we have allowed our storyteller’s to be open with controversial topics and create a platform where they can explore ideas that may go against the grain. At its heart though, Talking Space is a collection of stories about people who have overcome adversity, found their place in community and self-reflected upon what it is to be a person with disability.
Talking to GOATs: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard
by Jim GrayWITH A FOREWORD BY TOM BRADY “As a sportscaster and sports historian, Jim’s career genuinely stands the test of time. . . . This book is sports history about some of the greats by one of the greats, who was taking it all in on the sidelines, in the stands or the dugout, by the eighteenth green, courtside, or in the broadcast booth.” —Tom Brady, six-time NFL Super Bowl champion GOATA riveting, insightful memoir of never-before-told stories from Jim Gray, twelve-time Emmy Award-winner, Hall of Fame sports broadcaster, and renowned interviewer— that explores the author's career and the inside stories and memorable moments of the famous legends he has covered including, Muhammad Ali, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson. <P><P>In Talking to GOATs, award-winning broadcaster Jim Gray looks back at his four decades of sports reporting from the unparalleled perspective of one of the world’s most respected and skilled interviewers. A journalist who many iconic athletes have trusted to tell their stories (of both triumph and disgrace), Jim has had unprecedented access to the people, places and extraordinary events in the world of sports. Asking tough but fair questions, he has broken numerous stories, and landed squarely in the middle of others, from the Ben Johnson and Barry Bonds steroid scandals, to Michael Jordan’s surprise retirement, to the off-the-court Kobe/Shaq feud which led to their on-the-court break up, to being part of the live broadcast for twenty-two Super Bowls. <P><P>He’s climbed into the ring to interview Mike Tyson after he bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear, and stood next to Ron Artest when the “Malice at the Palace” melee erupted, and was on site at the bombing of the Atlanta Olympics.Anyone who has watched Jim effortlessly engage his subjects at the precise moment of triumph or tragedy has little idea what it takes to secure the interview, or what actually happens when the camera cuts away. These are real, mesmerizing, and previously untold stories. Talking to GOATs features numerous world-class athletes, including Muhammad Ali, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Floyd Mayweather, Michael Phelps, Mike Tyson and Tiger Woods, and world leaders George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Mikhail Gorbachev, and many more. On each page, Jim gives the reader a coveted all-access pass as he reviews the best interviews, the best athletes, and the best games in modern sports history. It’s like a personal introduction to the characters and careers of these heroes and villains we’ve known since childhood. He examines how money, celebrity, the media, and power interact, and how sports, more than any other institution, has led to momentous transformations in American society.
Tall Men, Short Shorts: The 1969 NBA Finals: Wilt, Russ, Lakers, Celtics, and a Very Young Sports Reporter
by Leigh MontvilleFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Big Bam A clash of NBA titans. Seven riveting games. One young reporter. Welcome to the 1969 NBA Finals.They don&’t set up any better than this. The greatest basketball player of all time - Bill Russell - and his juggernaut Boston Celtics, winners of ten (ten!) of the previous twelve NBA championships, squeak through one more playoff run and land in the Finals again. Russell&’s opponent? The fearsome 7&’1&” next-generation superstar, Wilt Chamberlain, recently traded to the LA Lakers to form the league&’s first dream team. Bill Russell and John Havlicek versus Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. The 1969 Celtics are at the end of their dominance. The 1969 Lakers are unstoppable. Add to the mix one newly minted reporter. Covering the epic series is a wide-eyed young sports writer named Leigh Montville. Years before becoming an award-winning legend himself at The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated, twenty-four-year-old Montville is ordered by his editor at the Globe to get on a plane to L.A. (first time!) to write about his luminous heroes, the biggest of big men. What follows is a raucous, colorful, joyous account of one of the greatest seven-game series in NBA history. Set against a backdrop of the late sixties, Montville&’s reporting and recollections transport readers to a singular time – with rampant racial tension on the streets and on the court, with the emergence of a still relatively small league on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry, and to an era when newspaper journalism and the written word served as the crucial lifeline between sports and sports fans. And there was basketball – seven breathtaking, see-saw games, highlight-reel moments from an unprecedented cast of future Hall of Famers (including player-coach Russell as the first-ever black head coach in the NBA), coast-to-coast travels and the clack-clack-clack of typewriter keys racing against tight deadlines. Tall Men, Short Shorts is a masterpiece of sports journalism with a charming touch of personal memoir. Leigh Montville has crafted his most entertaining book yet, richly enshrining luminous players and moments in a unique American time.
Tall Story
by Candy GourlayAndi is short. And she has lots of wishes. She wishes she could play on the school basketball team, she wishes for her own bedroom, but most of all she wishes that her long-lost half-brother, Bernardo, could come and live in London where he belongs. Then Andi's biggest wish comes true and she's minutes away from becoming someone's little sister. As she waits anxiously for Bernardo to arrive from the Philippines, she hopes he'll turn out to be tall and just as crazy as she is about basketball. When he finally arrives, he's tall all right. Eight feet tall, in fact-plagued by condition called Gigantism and troubled by secrets that he believes led to his phenomenal growth. In a novel packed with quirkiness and humor, Gourlay explores a touching sibling relationship and the clash of two very different cultures. From the Hardcover edition.
Tall Tales
by Charles R. Smith Jr.Sabine's making backward shots from thirty-five feet out, and her big brothers are speechless. Jo learned how to play ball on a sixteen-foot-high net; now she dunks like Jordan. The guy with the best jump shot in the park can't even see the ball go through the net. He's blind! In this oversized picture book filled with bright, bold graphics and surreal color photos, rhythmic storyteller Charles Smith spins a few yarns that are so outlandish and yet so convincing, readers are left to wonder?are they true stories? Or just tall tales?Charles R. Smith Jr. is the author-photographer of Rimshots: Basketball Pix, Rolls, and Rhythms. This book was inspired by his love for basketball and for writing, and his hope of passing on an appreciation of both to future generations.
Talladega Superspeedway
by Kent WhitakerOriginally named Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway was built on the site of a World War II-era Air Force base in the heart of Alabama. NASCAR founder Bill France and his family envisioned a race track that would be faster, larger, and more exciting than any track built to date. Construction began on May 23, 1968, and was completed on September 13, 1969. The end result is the most modern speedway ever built. Often simply referred to as "Dega," the track is 2.66 miles long, its high-banked turns are nearly three stories tall, and race cars have reached speeds over 200 miles per hour. It is so popular that it is said to become one of the largest "temporary" cities in the state every race weekend.