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The Right Set: A Tennis Anthology (Vintage International)
by Caryl PhillipsFrom stately lawns and gentlemen players to Andre Agassi and Venus Williams: 65 great writings on tennis that chronicle the transformation of the sport. Since its inception, tennis has embraced traditions more patrician than plebeian. But times--and tennis--have changed. The game once reserved for royalty has moved from estate lawns to the concrete courts of the city. Old guard amateurs have given way to prodigies plastered with corporate logos. And while barriers of gender, race, and class have been shattered, the modern plagues of self-promotion, the paparazzi, and challengers of ever-escalating talent loom large. InThe Right Set, award-winning novelist and editor Caryl Phillips presents a collection of writings on the remarkable evolution of a gentleman's pastime into a sport of jet-set players of athletic and psychological genius. Here are the stories of champions, from the Renshaw twins to "ghetto Cinderella" Venus Williams. Here, too, are volleys between tradition and innovation--debates on everything from etiquette and earnings to André Agassi's rejection of the customary tennis whites. Insightful, informative, wonderfully entertaining,The Right Setis as colorful and surprising as the game itself. John McPhee on Ashe vs. Graebner David Higdon on Venus Williams James Thurber on Helen Wills Martina Navratilova on Bad Losers Martin Amis on Smashing the Rackets and more From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Right Swipe: swipe right on this irresistible romcom
by Alisha Rai'A fun, hilarious and touching modern romance' Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal'We absolutely adored this book!' Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The UnhoneymoonersIt's a perfect match . . . but will it last?Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionised romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career - and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules: - Nude pics are by invitation only - If someone stands you up, block them- Protect your heart Only there aren't any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former sports star Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night... and then disappears. Rhi thought she'd buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful - and in league with a business rival. He says he won't fumble their second chance, but she's wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that's too high a risk...More rave reviews for The Right Swipe!'I absolutely loved it: Strong, successful, unapologetically ambitious alpha woman. Huge, muscly, softy, emotionally intelligent guy. Crackling connection. Cackle-worthy dialogue . . . I HIGHLY recommend' Sally Thorne, New York Times bestselling author of The Hating Game'The Right Swipe is everything you want in a Summer read: fun, clever, and so, so sexy' Popsugar'Rai crafts some of the best romance writing of the year' Entertainment Weekly'Alisha Rai delivers compelling emotion, fascinating characters and edgy romance in a razor-sharp, thoroughly modern voice that readers will adore. I sure did!' Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author'I loved this book so much' ***** Reader review'Have a glass of wine and enjoy, you won't regret it!' ***** Reader review'Great romcom!' ***** Reader review'I ADORE ALISHA RAI' ***** Reader review
The Ring of Earth (Young Samurai #4)
by Chris BradfordYoung Samurai: The Ring of Earth is the fourth book in this blockbuster series by Chris Bradford .JACK FLETCHER IS ON THE RUNWith no sensei to guide him, he has just his wits and his swords against many new and unknown enemies, as he journeys along the treacherous road to the port of Nagasaki and perhaps home...But the Shogun's samurai are hot on his trail. Barely escaping their clutches, Jack runs headlong into a trap. Kidnapped by ninja and led to their village deep in the mountains, Jack has no means of escape.The only question is who will kill him first - the ninja or samurai?'A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end' - Eoin Colfer
The Ring of Fire (Young Samurai #6)
by Chris BradfordYoung Samurai: The Ring of Fire is the sixth book in this blockbuster series by Chris BradfordJACK FLETCHER FACES HIS TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET.After a snowstorm forces him to take shelter, Jack comes across a village in need of protection from raiding mountain bandits. Torn between moving on or helping, Jack is persuaded to stay and fight the villagers' cause.But Jack is the first and only samurai to do so. Now he must enlist other warriors to the villagers' aid before the bandits return to steal their harvest. No easy task when the reward is so little and he is a foreigner. If only he had his friends to call on...Using the Ring of Fire, can Jack overpower the bandits and win?'A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end' - Eoin Colfer
The Ring of Sky (Young Samurai #8)
by Chris BradfordPacked with historical action-adventure, the eighth and final book in Chris Bradford's blockbuster Young Samurai series reaches a thrilling conclusion.JACK FLETCHER IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFEThe port of Nagasaki is within reach, but the Shogun's samurai are closing in fast for the kill. So too is Jack's old school rival, Kazuki. Every road is blocked and every mountain pass guarded as Jack makes his final dash for safety.But with all of Japan hunting him, he's going need a miracle to survive. And even if he reaches the end of the road, will there be a ship bound for home? Or will he be burned at the stake first?Only the Ring of Sky knows his fate...www.youngsamurai.com 'A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end' - Eoin Colfer
The Ring of Water (Young Samurai #5)
by Chris BradfordYoung Samurai: The Ring of Water is the fifith book in this blockbuster series by Chris BradfordJack Fletcher has been left for dead.Bruised and battered, Jack Fletcher wakes up in a roadside inn wrapped only in a dirty kimono. He has lost everything, including his memory of what happened.Determined to discover the truth, Jack goes on a quest to retrieve his belongings - his precious swords, his friend Akiko's black pearl and most important of all, his father's prize possession. Relying on his samurai and ninja training, Jack realises The Ring of Water is the key to his survival.But with only a washed up Ronin - a masterless samurai - for help, what will Jack manage to find? What will he lose? And what will he have to sacrifice?'A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end' - Eoin Colfer
The Ring of Wind (Young Samurai #7)
by Chris BradfordJACK FLETCHER IS BATTLING THE HIGH SEASAmbushed by the Shogun's samurai, Jack and his friends have only one hope of escape - the Seto Sea. But with ferocious storms, man-eating sharks and ninja pirates at every turn, their chosen route is fraught with danger. A treacherous crew only adds to their problems as they flee south from a ruthless samurai sea lord. Unless Jack can harness the Ring of Wind, he and his friends are destined for a watery grave . . .Book 7 in the blockbuster Young Samurai series by Chris Bradford. Visit www.youngsamurai.com for competitions and FREE teacher resources.'A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end' - Eoin Colfer
The Ripple Effect: A Celebration of Britain's Brilliant Wild Swimming Communities
by Anna Deacon Vicky AllanA Beautifully Photographed Swimming Book“Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of wild swimming - you won't regret it.” -Dr. Rangan ChatterjeeDive into the wonderful world of wild swimming with a series of photographs by Anna Deacon that captures the wonderful world of diving.Forging friendships in the water. Enter the world of aquatics and learn about the community of swimmers that Britain’s wild swimming creates. Wild swimming isn’t just a pastime; it’s an ocean of connection that attracts swimmers across Britain and draws people from all walks of life to dive deep and find inspiration in the water.A swimmer’s paradise. The Ripple Effect showcases all types of swimmers. From fans of the wim hof method to those who want to take their swimming exercises to the open water, this book of aquatic photography is the perfect gift for swimmers.More than just pictures. Anna Deacon offers a community to connect. With visually stunning photographs depicting wild swimmers in Britain’s natural aquatic habitats, you’ll feel just as eager to go diving for your own wild adventure.Inside, you’ll find: Authentic photography showcasing an array of wild swimming communitiesSwimming stories that inspire, encourage, and laughThe wonderful world of wild swimming and why it’s so popular in BritainIf you liked Shaping Surf History, Comp, or Women Making Waves, or Winter Swimming, you’ll love The Ripple Effect.
The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE)
by Thom LoverroIndependent wrestling promotions were once the norm all across the country. However, with the rise of World Wrestling Entertainment and the creation of World Championship Wrestling -- out of three Southern promotions -- the possibility of an independent succeeding grew fainter and fainter. As the nineties began, independents were looking for creative ways to survive. In the East, several banded together to share cost and talent; they were known as Eastern Championship Wrestling. Based out of a warehouse in Philadelphia that stored parade floats and hosted bingo, this promotion seemed doomed to be just one more ninety-day wonder. When they hired a brash New Yorker, Paul Heyman, he warned Eastern Championship Wrestling that the job was just temporary. He would come in, shake up a lot of the wrestlers, and then leave. But what Heyman did redefined professional wrestling in the nineties. What he created was a company that dared to push the boundaries of sports entertainment. What he created became Extreme Championship Wrestling. As the person responsible for booking -- who was going to wrestle and who was going to win -- Heyman dared to break with tradition. Rather than relying on local talent and down-and-out veterans to draw in crowds, he created new characters and story lines that would appeal to the core wrestling fans: eighteen- to twenty-four- year-old men. Paul also realized that to persuade them to come, you had to get their interest and keep it. You had to offer the fans more than just the match. ECW became known for the interview, the shoot. Heyman got to know each wrestler's style, and in their interviews he would encourage them to speak from their hearts. When it came to the matches, ECW broke even farther from the mainstream. Tables, ladders, chairs, barbed wire, and even frying pans were used with abandon. Wrestlers not wanting to be topped put their bodies on the line, taking ever greater risks, daring to jump, leap, and fall from places never tried before. ECW matches became the stuff of legend. Word spread as savvy wrestling fans began talking about the promotion and exchanging tapes. To keep the buzz building, wrestlers used the age-old trick of taunting the fans, and ECW fans responded in kind. By including the fans in the shows, ECW attracted a rabid, cult-like following that is still going strong today. For nearly a decade, ECW redefined professional wrestling with a reckless, brutal, death-defying, and often bloody style that became synonymous with "hardcore." Through extensive interviews with former ECW talent and management -- Paul Heyman, Mick Foley, Tazz, Tommy Dreamer, Rob Van Dam, and many more -- The Rise & Fall of ECW reveals what made this upstart company from Philadelphia great -- and what ultimately led to its demise.
The Rise and Fall of Dodgertown: 60 Years of Baseball in Vero Beach
by Rody JohnsonIronically, the last year of Dodgertown will mark the sixtieth anniversary of the team's relationship with Vero Beach, a sleepy beach town a couple of hours north of Miami. Since 1948, when Branch Rickey first brought his team to a former naval air station for training (the players slept in barracks), the Dodgers have practiced fundamentals in a bucolic setting. Featuring roofless dugouts, a grassy berm surrounding the outfield, and intimate seating for 6,400, Holman Stadium has been home to the Dodgers longer than even famed Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.Granted special access to the team's archives and personal interviews with players, management, and staff, Rody Johnson offers a fascinating and remarkable history of the sometimes rocky relationship between the city and the team. Beginning with the signing of Jackie Robinson in 1946 and ending with the close of spring training in 2007, The Rise and Fall of Dodgertown traces the changes in baseball and society for more than a half century. It is a story of community, passion, and the beauty of an American sport.
The Rise and Fall of Olympic Amateurism
by John Gleaves Matthew P LlewellynFor decades, amateurism defined the ideals undergirding the Olympic movement. No more. Today's Games present athletes who enjoy open corporate sponsorship and unabashedly compete for lucrative commercial endorsements. Matthew P. Llewellyn and John Gleaves analyze how this astonishing transformation took place. Drawing on Olympic archives and a wealth of research across media, the authors examine how an elite--white, wealthy, often Anglo-Saxon--controlled and shaped an enormously powerful myth of amateurism. The myth assumed an air of naturalness that made it seem unassailable and, not incidentally, served those in power. Llewellyn and Gleaves trace professionalism's inroads into the Olympics from tragic figures like Jim Thorpe through the shamateur era of under-the-table cash and state-supported athletes. As they show, the increasing acceptability of professionals went hand-in-hand with the Games becoming a for-profit international spectacle. Yet the myth of amateurism's purity remained a potent force, influencing how people around the globe imagined and understood sport. Timely and vivid with details, The Rise and Fall of Olympic Amateurism is the first book-length examination of the movement's foundational ideal.
The Rise and Rise of Illegal Ticket Touting: An Ethnography of Deviant Entrepreneurship (Routledge Studies in Organised Crime)
by Alessandro MorettiThis book presents an ethnographic study of contemporary ticket touts in the UK. Despite the recent interest in the topic of black-market ticket sales, media coverage and parliamentary interventions over the last ten years have revealed a widespread lack of knowledge with regards to the phenomenon of touting and the players involved in the practice. The Rise and Rise of Illegal Ticket Touting sheds light on the world of touting and delivers an authentic picture of the individuals involved, of their methods, values, and motivations for performing ticket touting as an organised, entrepreneurial deviant activity. The touts’ attitudes, perceptions, adaptations to – or outright dismissal of – the changing legal landscape are focal points of the study. Of equal importance are the touts’ varied methods of buying and selling tickets, the hierarchical structures and strict ethos of their criminal organisations, and their specific modi operandi for evading detection and arrest both on the streets and online. This book illuminates why historic and renewed attempts to challenge ticket touting have been unsuccessful, focusing on inadequate legislation, a lack of enforcement, and the widespread corruption and exploitable loopholes that exist within the official, primary ticket market. An accessible and compelling read, The Rise and Rise of Illegal Ticket Touting will appeal to students and scholars of criminology, sociology, social policy, policing and all those with an interest in live music and sport and the hidden practices that lurk beneath the surface.
The Rise and Size of the Fitness Industry in Europe: Fit for the Future?
by Jeroen Scheerder Hanna Vehmas Kobe HelsenThis book explores the rise, size and shape of the European fitness industry by using harmonised data as well as in-depth analyses of national surveys in fifteen European countries. Following an introduction to the socio-historical and conceptual aspects of fitness, the collection presents the scope of fitness as a business and participatory activity. Furthermore, both policy and governance issues as well as community and supply angles are considered. Drawing on this unique material, the book will appeal to students and scholars of sport business, sport economics, sport management, and social sport sciences, but also to administrators, policymakers and entrepreneurs in the international and national sport and health community.
The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance
by Steven KotlerA razor-sharp analysis of how record-breaking exploits in extreme sport are redefining the limits of being human.Right now, more people are risking their lives for their sports then ever before in history. As Thomas Pynchon once put it in Gravity's Rainbow, 'it is not often that Death is told so clearly to f@%* off'. Over the past three decades, the bounds of the possible in action and adventure sports - from sky-diving to motocross to surfing and beyond - have been pushed farther and faster. A generation's worth of iconoclastic misfits have rewritten the rules of the feasible; not just raising the bar, but obliterating it altogether. Along the way, they have become a force pushing evolution relentlessly onward. In a thrilling narrative that draws on biology, psychology, and philosophy, Steven Kotler asks why, at the tail end of the 20th century and the early portion of the 21st, are we seeing such a multi-sport assault on reality? Did we somehow slip through a wormhole to another universe where gravity is optional and common sense obsolete? And where - if anywhere - do our actual limits lie?
The Rise of Washington State University Football: The Erickson & Price Years (Sports)
by Ben DonahueThe rise of the crimson and gray. In 1987, Dennis Erickson arrived in Pullman, Washington to take over the struggling Washington State University football program. Under his leadership, the Cougars ended 1988 with a 9-3 record and a victory in the Aloha Bowl. In just two years, the team had transformed, and Erickson's lifelong friend, Mike Price, took over in 1989 to build on that legacy. By the end of Price's tenure, WSU had appeared in five bowl games including two Rose Bowls, eclipsing the four bowl games in the entire program's history. The coaches also produced a number of high-profile NFL quarterbacks, including Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf. Join author Ben Donahue as he explores how the Washington State University Cougars went from doormats to perpetual contenders.
The Rise of the Bulldogs: The Untold Story of One of the Greatest Upsets of All Time
by Dan TaylorThe The Rise of the Bulldogs tells the extraordinary story of the unranked 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs and their remarkable journey from a seemingly lost season to NCAA National Champions.Baseball fans across America were held spellbound by Fresno State's nail-biting and improbable adventure through the NCAA playoffs. A record viewing audience of almost 2 million households tuned in to ESPN's live coverage as Fresno State grabbed their crown. Now in this gripping on-the-field account, readers can experience what Baseball America magazine columnist John Manuel described as "the biggest upset winners in College World Series history, perhaps all of college sports." Only a handful of people close to the team know the inside truth about the turmoil—the injuries, the conflicts, and the betrayals that took place during the Bulldogs' momentous season. Television sportscaster Dan Taylor is one of those insiders, and he reveals the real story in these pages.Taylor shows how late-season tumult forced a reevaluation of the commitment, direction, and relationships among the players themselves; how the team bonded as a unit and developed leadership from within; and how these changes led to a positive and carefree brand of baseball. Ultimately, the group found the belief they needed in one another in the midst of the most unlikely crowning of a national champion in the history of collegiate sports. This is the ultimate underdog story, with a long shot coming out on top against overwhelming odds.
The Rise of the National Basketball Association
by David George SurdamToday's National Basketball Association commands millions of spectators worldwide, and its many franchises are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But the league wasn't always so successful or glamorous: in the 1940s and 1950s, the NBA and its predecessor, the Basketball Association of America, were scrambling to attract fans. Teams frequently played in dingy gymnasiums, players traveled as best they could, and their paychecks could bounce higher than a basketball. How did the NBA evolve from an obscure organization facing financial losses to a successful fledgling sports enterprise by 1960? Drawing on information from numerous archives, newspaper and periodical articles, and Congressional hearings, The Rise of the National Basketball Association chronicles the league's growing pains from 1946 to 1961. David George Surdam describes how a handful of ambitious ice hockey arena owners created the league as a way to increase the use of their facilities, growing the organization by fits and starts. Rigorously analyzing financial data and league records, Surdam points to the innovations that helped the NBA thrive: regular experiments with rules changes to make the game more attractive to fans, and the emergence of televised sports coverage as a way of capturing a larger audience. Notably, the NBA integrated in 1950, opening the game to players who would dominate the game by the end of the 1950sdecade: Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Oscar Robertson. Long a game that players loved to play, basketball became a professional sport well supported by community leaders, business vendors, and an ever-growing number of fans.
The Rise of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009-2018: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and the Greatest Dynasty in Hockey
by Rick BukerThe story of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the ten-year period from 2009 to 2018 reads like a classic Greek tragedy, filled with gut-wrenching plot twists and turns. After rising from the ashes of the early 2000s on the wings of young stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to capture the 2009 Stanley Cup, the Penguins were hailed as hockey’s newest superpower. However, plagued by a career-threatening concussion to Crosby and a series of ghastly playoff exits, the would-be dynasty hit the skids. Dismayed over the downward spiral, ownership cleaned house and turned to long-time Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford in an effort to restore the club’s sagging fortunes. With coach Mike Sullivan now at the helm and scorer Phil Kessel on the roster, the Pens put together a stunning resurgence, capturing back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017. In The Rise of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009-2018, Rick Buker details how the Penguins have become the strongest hockey dynasty of the 21st century to date. This book ties that 10-year span together in an easy-to-read format, including an appendix at the back with season by season stats. The perfect gift for any fan of Pittsburgh hockey!
The Rise of the Seminoles: FSU Football Under Bobby Bowden
by Lew FreedmanThe Rise of the Seminoles is the fairy-tale story of Florida State University football. From 1973-75, the football team at FSU had a combined record of 4-29. The next season, Bobby Bowden took over as head football coach and, over the next thirty-three years, led FSU to twenty-one bowl game wins and two National Championships. The Rise of the Seminoles is not just about Bobby Bowden; it is about the season that started it all: 1976. Before Bowden took over and the University of Miami gained its notoriety, college football in the state of Florida consisted of the University of Florida. Florida State wasn’t even on the radar. Today, FSU is a football powerhouse and recently won the 2013 National Championship. Through the writing talents of Lew Freedman, one of only two reporters covering FSU during Bowden’s time, this book follows the incredible journey the Seminoles have taken through history. Drawing from firsthand experience and Bowden himself, Freedman is the perfect author to bring this story to life. No matter their age, fans of the FSU football program can enjoy and take pride in their team’s very own rags-to-riches story.
The Rise of the Ultra Runners: A Journey To The Edge Of Human Endurance
by Adharanand FinnAn electrifying look inside the wild world of extreme distance running. Once the reserve of only the most hardcore enthusiasts, ultra running is now a thriving global industry, with hundreds of thousands of competitors each year. But is the rise of this most brutal and challenging sport—with races that extend into hundreds of miles, often in extreme environments—an antidote to modern life, or a symptom of a modern illness? In The Rise of the Ultra Runners, award-winning author Adharanand Finn travels to the heart of the sport to investigate the reasons behind its rise and discover what it takes to join the ranks of these ultra athletes. Through encounters with the extreme and colorful characters of the ultramarathon world, and his own experiences of running ultras everywhere from the deserts of Oman to the Rocky Mountains, Finn offers a fascinating account of people testing the boundaries of human endeavor.
The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality
by Mike SielskiKobe Bryant’s death in January 2020 did more than rattle the worlds of sports and celebrity. The tragedy of that helicopter crash, which also took the life of his daughter Gianna, unveiled the full breadth and depth of his influence on our culture, and by tracing and telling the oft-forgotten and lesser-known story of his early life, The Rise promises to provide an insight into Kobe that no other analysis has. <P><P> In The Rise, readers will travel from the neighborhood streets of Southwest Philadelphia—where Kobe’s father, Joe, became a local basketball standout—to the Bryant family’s isolation in Italy, where Kobe spent his formative years, to the leafy suburbs of Lower Merion, where Kobe’s legend was born. The story will trace his career and life at Lower Merion—he led the Aces to the 1995-96 Pennsylvania state championship, a dramatic underdog run for a team with just one star player—and the run-up to the 1996 NBA draft, where Kobe’s dream of playing pro basketball culminated in his acquisition by the Los Angeles Lakers. <P><P> In researching and writing The Rise, Mike Sielski had a terrific advantage over other writers who have attempted to chronicle Kobe’s life: access to a series of never-before-released interviews with him during his senior season and early days in the NBA. For a quarter century, these tapes and transcripts preserved Kobe’s thoughts, dreams, and goals from his teenage years, and they contained insights into and told stories about him that have never been revealed before. <P><P> This is more than a basketball book. This is an exploration of the identity and making of an icon and the effect of his development on those around him—the essence of the man before he truly became a man.
The Risk (Briar U)
by Elle KennedyStep into a world of hot hockey players, feisty heroines and steamy scenes . . . Everyone says I'm a bad girl. They're only partly right - I don't let fear rule me, and I certainly don't care what people think. But I draw the line at sleeping with the enemy. As the daughter of Briar's head hockey coach, I'd be vilified if I hooked up with a player from a rival team.And that's who Jake Connelly is. Harvard's star forward is arrogant, annoying and too attractive for his own good. But fate is cruel - I require his help to secure a much-coveted internship, and the sexy jerk isn't making it easy for me.I need Connelly to be my fake boyfriend. For every fake date . . . he wants a real one.Which means this bad girl is in big trouble. Nothing good can come from sneaking around with Jake Connelly. My father would kill me, my friends will revolt, and my post-college career is on the line. But while it's getting harder and harder to resist Jake's oozing sex appeal and cocky grin, I refuse to fall for him.That's the one risk I'm not willing to take.Praise for Elle Kennedy: 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland, No.1 New York Times bestselling author 'Elle Kennedy delivers another sexy and addictive read, and my latest personal favourite from her!' Tijan, New York Times bestselling author
The Rivalry Heard 'Round the World: The Dodgers-Giants Feud from Coast to Coast
by Steve Dilbeck Joe Konte Bruce JenkinsGames between the Dodgers and Giants are never just another day at the ballpark. Dating back to the late nineteenth century--when the teams embodied the competitive spirit of rival metropolises of New York and Brooklyn--the Giants-Dodgers rivalry gained intensity throughout the early twentieth century. The cheering and jeering continued unabated until 1957, when the clubs backed the moving vans up to the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field, and took their rivalry to new venues in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Indeed, Brooklyn-New York baseball was a tough act to follow, but the West Coast version didn't take long to fire up the emotions. Only six games into the first West Coast season, the clubs had their first beanball dustup. The venue had changed but the venom remained, and the rivalry became author Joe Konte's obsession. Fifty-five years ago, he attended one of the first Giants-Dodgers games ever played outside of New York. A longtime newspaper editor and baseball fiend, Konte understands what is so special about what is one of the most significant rivalries in American sports. And so--via statistical analysis, game summaries, roster scrutiny, manager matchups, season recaps, and more--he has put together a rivalry bible. Focusing primarily on the California years, but also providing background on the origins and the New York years, The Rivalry Heard 'Round the World captures the spirit and intensity of one of the greatest rivalries in American sports.
The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball
by John TaylorA BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN ACCOUNT OF THE NBA'S GLORY DAYS, AND THE RIVALRY THAT DOMINATED THE ERA. In the mid-1950s, the NBA was a mere barnstorming circuit, with outposts in such cities as Rochester, New York, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Most of the best players were white; the set shot and layup were the sport's chief offensive weapons. But by the 1970s, the league ruled America's biggest media markets; contests attracted capacity crowds and national prime-time television audiences.
The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game (Final Four Mystery #5)
by John FeinsteinBestselling writer John Feinstein is back with another exciting sports-mystery, this one set behind the scenes at the storied Army-Navy football game.Teen sportswriters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are thrilled to be covering "America's Game." The Black Knights of Army and the Midshipmen of Navy have met on the football field since 1890, and it's a rivalry like no other, filled with tradition. But this year, the match-up is also filled with intrigue.For weeks, Stevie and Susan Carol have been spending time at Annapolis and West Point, getting to know the players, and coaches. And the secret service agents. Since the president will be attending the game, security will, of course, be tighter than tight. As the game draws nearer Stevie and Susan Carol can tell that the agents are getting tenser. But as usual when Stevie and Susan Carol cover a big event--nothing is quite as it seems, and the coaches aren't the only ones calling plays...From the Hardcover edition.