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The Rivals: Their Epic Duels and Extraordinary Friendship
by Johnette Howardn March 1973 two women met on a tennis court in Akron, Ohio. Over the course of the next sixteen years, together they would change the world. In their long careers Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert played each other eighty times, sixty of those in finals. For twelve consecutive years, from 1975 to 1986, one or other finished the season ranked No. 1 in the world. Each set out to be the finest player women's tennis had ever seen; each goaded the other to greatness. Their contrasting styles - Martina, the epitome of serve-and-volley tennis, bravely charging to the net against cool and controlled Chris, the world's greatest baseline player - captivated millions across the globe. Tennis was a chauvinistic game when they arrived. But their brilliance demanded, and received, long-overdue respect for female sporting achievement. Their ability to forge a close friendship amidst their fierce competition still provokes wonder and admiration from fans. There has never been a sporting rivalry to match the intensity, longevity, public impact and emotional resonance of the years-long duel between these two great athletes. For nearly two decades we were transfixed by the struggle between the ice-maiden Chris - blonde, all-American, a nation's sweetheart - and the supreme athlete Martina, a Czech defector, the first outspoken openly gay athlete in female sport, and a woman who wore her heart on her sleeve at all times. Their lockstep careers played out against the backdrop of seismic change in sport and society: the women's movement; the gay rights' movement; the fall of the Iron Curtain; and the rise of women's tennis from backwater to big time (with a huge nod of gratitude to Billie Jean King). Thirty years on from the first meeting, both have become legends. Based on interviews with both Martina and Chris and those who knew them best, Johnette Howard gives us the story of these two remarkable women. Brilliantly researched, beautifully written, The Rivals will be read by those who love sport for years to come.
The River Home: An Angler's Explorations
by Jerry DennisIn this remarkable collection of essays and stories, winner of the Best Book of the Year Award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America, Jerry Dennis demonstrates why he has emerged as one of America's finest writers on nature and the outdoors. In prose that has drawn comparisons with John Voelker, Sigurd Olson, and Aldo Leopold, Dennis celebrates the simple pleasures and complex challenges of family life, the allure of giant trout, the sacredness of secret places, and such wonders as bad weather, quirky fishing companions, and the occasional naked angler. Ranging from northern Michigan to Iceland, Chile, and the fabled rivers of the American West, The River Home is a passionate record of a life lived fully, crafted with clarity, insight, and good humor—by a writer gifted with an instinct for what matters. PRAISE:"This bright and sharply written book is a guide to a life lived consciously, a prerequisite and bonus of the sport done well." —Lisa Faye Kaplan, USA Today&“Collections of essays about the outdoors and fishing crowd the shelves, but Dennis&’s fresh writing and marvelous insights merit special attention. This fine collection will appeal to fans of Hal Borland, W.D. Wetherell, and Nick Lyons, as well as to those who enjoy the essays of fiction writers William Tapply and Thomas McGuane.&” —Booklist&“Even if you&’ve never pulled on a pair of waders, you should read this funny and wise book about fly fishing – and a lot more.&” —Georgia Times-Union&“In this book, Dennis elevates the typical &‘outdoor&’ essay, usually a mere recollection of adventures while hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, or pursuing other outdoor activities. He has transcended the typical by blending in elements of &‘nature&’ writing: observation, research, speculation about the world in which the sportsman places himself.&” —The Oakland Press
The River: 'An urgent and visceral thriller... I couldn't turn the pages quick enough' (Clare Mackintosh)
by Peter HellerONE OF THE OBSERVER THRILLERS OF THE YEAR: 'GLORIOUS PROSE AND RAZOR-SHARP TENSION' 'LYRICAL AND ACTION-PACKED' Guardian'I COULDN'T TURN THE PAGES FAST ENOUGH' Clare Mackintosh'IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN, OR FORGET' Sunday Mirror'GLORIOUS DRAMA AND LYRICAL FLAIR Denise Mina, New York TimesTwo friends Wynn and Jack have been best friends since their first day of college, brought together by their shared love the great outdoors.The adventure of a lifetime When they decide to canoe down the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they anticipate the ultimate wilderness experience: no phones, no fellow travellers, no way of going back. A wild ride But as a wildfire starts to make its way towards them, their trip becomes a desperate race for survival. And when a man suddenly appears, claiming his wife has vanished, the fight against the raging flames becomes a much deadlier game of cat and mouse.
The Riverton Rifle
by Reggie Leach Bobby Clarke"It all comes down to making the right life choices," says the NHL's legendary Reggie Leach, and this intimate biography lays bare the decisions that led him to become one of the best snipers in hockey history. Nicknamed the Riverton Rifle for his thrilling speed and deadly shooting skills, Leach overcame a childhood marked by poverty and racism to rise through the NHL, playing for the Stanley Cup-winning 1975 Philadelphia Flyers. Through Leach's own recollections, The Riverton Rifle traces his trajectory from humble beginnings to NHL stardom, and follows the dramatic fall caused by his drinking problem and his subsequent rebirth as a successful businessman, family man, and pillar of the Aboriginal community.
The Road Back Home: A Northern Childhood
by Sid Waddell'I had not lived in the former pit village of Lynemouth since 1961 but the winding road north from Newcastle will always be the same nostalgic highway, each twist charged with vivid memories and powerful emotions...'So begins a story full of wonderful humour, emotional candour and hardy tales of tough times - a quietly epic family saga set amid the pit villages of the North East . It stretches from the 1920s, before Sid's parents had even met, to the final closing of the mine and his mother's death in 1999.Sid paints a picture of a colourful, tight knit community full of good times and hard work, god-fearing women and hard-drinking men. Always dominating the skyline is Auld Betty, the pit head that took the men away each day and, with a prayer, brought them back each evening. Amongst the unforgettable cast of his extended family and friends, we follow the Waddells' attempts to stay afloat and provide a better future and possible escape for youngsters like Sid.
The Road Back: A Journey of Grace and Grit
by Michael VitezIn his new book, The Road Back, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Michael Vitez writes about Matthew Miller, 20, a member of the University of Virginia triathlon club. Matt had just pedaled up a mountain pass and was on top of the world in so many ways, in love, with dreams of attending medical school, so fit his resting pulse was 42! And then, cycling along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, he was hit by a Porsche, face first, at 45 miles per hour. He broke every bone in his face and suffered severe brain injury. He stopped breathing. The real story is not what happened, but what happened after. The Road Back is the incredible, humbling, miraculous story of Matt's survival and recovery, all the way to an Ironman, and medical school. It is a story, truly, of grace and grit. Vitez first wrote about Matt for his newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer. The response was so overwhelming, and the recovery continued to be so exceptional that Vitez took a leave, immersed himself in Matt's life and wrote the book. Matt Miller's story really is The Perfect Storm in reverse -- everything had to go flawlessly for him to have any chance of survival. And it did! This is a story in which America shines. THE ROAD BACK is not only about a young man's drive to reclaim his life, but about the people who rode with him, rescued him, helped him heal, and saw up close his amazing comeback.
The Road Headed West: A Cycling Adventure Through North America
by Leon McCarronJust months after graduating, and terrified at the prospect of a life spent behind a desk, Leon took off to cycle across America. Over five months and 6,000 miles, he faced tornados, swollen river crossings and one hungry black bear. But he also met kind strangers and learned what happens when you take a chance and follow the scent of adventure.
The Road to Barcelona: The Glory of 72 and My Life in Football
by Dave SmithEIGHT YEARS WITH RANGERS, MORE THAN 300 GAMES, INCREDIBLE HIGHS, PAINFUL LOWS – AND IT ALL CAME DOWN TO ONE NIGHT IN THE NOU CAMP' 24 May 1972. The biggest night in the history of Rangers. Having overcome the might of Italian giants Torino and Beckenbauer’s Bayern Munich en route to the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Dynamo Moscow stood between the Light Blues and the trophy. The stage was set in Barcelona for an unsung hero: Dave Smith. Creator of two of the goals on the night and arguably man of the match. In a rollercoaster career, Smith joined the Ibrox club from Aberdeen in 1966 for a record fee. He tasted defeat in the 1967 European Cup Winners’ Cup final and had his career blighted by two horrific leg breaks during a period in which he also experienced the tragedy of the Ibrox disaster. But by 1972 Smith was a lynchpin of Willie Waddell’s team. Playing as sweeper, he dicated the tempo of games with his vision and pinpoint passing. The star of the Nou Camp victory was voted Player of the Year in Scotland to cap the most memorable of seasons. He departed Rangers in 1974, making a shock switch to Arbroath after a fallout with new Ibrox manager Jock Wallace, before going on to star overseas in South Africa and then alongside George Best for the LA Aztecs in America. Rejecting the chance to join Paris Saint-Germain, Smith chose to end his career in Scotland’s lower leagues as player-manager at Berwick Rangers where he would find success and happiness playing the game the way it was meant to be played.
The Road to Cooperstown: A Father, Two Sons, and the Journey of a Lifetime
by Tom StantonAs he did with his award-winning book, The Final Season, Tom Stanton again tells a magical tale of fathers, brothers, and baseball heroes certain to resonate with sports fans everywhere. Every true baseball fan dreams of visiting Cooperstown. Some make the trip as boys, when the promise of a spot in the lineup with the Yankees or Red Sox or Tigers glows on the horizon, as certain as the sunrise. Some go later in life, long after their Little League years, to glimpse the past, not the future. And still others talk of somedays and of pilgrimages that await. For Tom Stanton, the trip took nearly three decades. The dream first grabbed hold of him in 1972, in the era of Vietnam and Watergate and Johnny Bench and the Oakland Athletics. Stanton, then an eleven-year-old Michigan boy who lived for the game, became fascinated by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the sport's spiritual home, the place to which great players aspire. He plotted ways to convince his father to take him to the famous village along Lake Otsego. But his plans for that season never materialized. They disappeared in the turmoil caused by his mother's life-threatening illness and his brother's antiwar activities. Still, the dream lingered through the summers that followed. Twenty-nine years later, he invited the two men who had introduced him to the sport, his elderly father and his older brother, to join him on a trip to the Hall. Finally, they embarked on their long-delayed adventure. The Road to Cooperstown is a true story populated with colorful characters: a philanthropic family that launched the museum and uses its wealth to, among other things, ensure that McDonald's stays out of the turn-of-the-century downtown; the devoted fan who wrote a book to get his hero into the Hall of Fame; the Guyana native who grew up without baseball but comes to the induction ceremony every year; the librarian on a mission to preserve his great-grandfather's memory; the baseball legends who appear suddenly along Main Street; and the dying man who fulfills one of his last wishes on a warm day in spring. This adventure, though brief, provides a true bonding experience that is the heart of a sweet, one-of-a-kind book about baseball, family, the Hall of Fame, and the town with which it shares a rich heritage.
The Road to Croker
by Eamonn SweeneyThe 21st anniversary edition of the GAA classic, with a new author Foreword.In 2003, sportswriter and GAA fanatic Eamonn Sweeney set out to uncover why each year, from May to September, the Irish nation is seized in the grip of GAA frenzy. The result was a best-seller sports memoir, first published in 2004.In this hilarious and riveting account, Sweeney transports us to the raw excitement of the terraces, the clubhouses and the bars, recalling the highs and lows of a remarkable season. Via Kerry, Down, Tyrone, Tipperary, Cork, Dublin and beyond, he revealed how it was that, from working-class estates to Gaeltacht communities, from republican strongholds to the Dublin cross-dressing scene, the GAA cast the same spell across Ireland. Find out which midlands town was the Irish capital of arm wrestling, what it was like to play for the weakest team in the country, and why you should never ring a Laois man the day after he's won the Leinster title. Told with immediacy and verve, The Road to Croker was the first book to unravel the mysteries of a national obsession. Including anecdotes and interviews with players, managers and fans, this is the companion volume to the author's acclaimed 2025 book The Last Ditch.
The Road to Croker
by Eamonn SweeneyThe 21st anniversary edition of the GAA classic, with a new author Foreword.In 2003, sportswriter and GAA fanatic Eamonn Sweeney set out to uncover why each year, from May to September, the Irish nation is seized in the grip of GAA frenzy. The result was a best-seller sports memoir, first published in 2004.In this hilarious and riveting account, Sweeney transports us to the raw excitement of the terraces, the clubhouses and the bars, recalling the highs and lows of a remarkable season. Via Kerry, Down, Tyrone, Tipperary, Cork, Dublin and beyond, he revealed how it was that, from working-class estates to Gaeltacht communities, from republican strongholds to the Dublin cross-dressing scene, the GAA cast the same spell across Ireland. Find out which midlands town was the Irish capital of arm wrestling, what it was like to play for the weakest team in the country, and why you should never ring a Laois man the day after he's won the Leinster title. Told with immediacy and verve, The Road to Croker was the first book to unravel the mysteries of a national obsession. Including anecdotes and interviews with players, managers and fans, this is the companion volume to the author's acclaimed 2025 book The Last Ditch.
The Road to J.O.Y.: Leading with Faith, Playing with Purpose, Leaving a Legacy
by Scott DrewScott Drew, head basketball coach of the NCAA National Championship-winning Baylor Bears, rebuilt a program mired in scandal by instilling a culture of putting Jesus first. More than a book about basketball, this is a road map for leading with, and living out, your faith in any context--in sports, in business, and in life.Nearly seventeen million viewers tuned into the 2021 NCAA National Championship to see the Baylor Bears, led by head coach Scott Drew, beat the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs, who were undefeated heading into the championship game. The win was Baylor&’s first National Championship--the culmination of the biggest turnaround in college sports history. When Drew accepted the head coaching position at Baylor in 2003, the job was arguably the worst in all of college sports. The men&’s basketball team had been disgraced by scandal: one player murdered a teammate, and the head coach who lied about the details tried to conceal illegal cash payments to his players, including a false allegation that the murdered player had been dealing drugs. It was an unprecedented story and a national embarrassment. Still, Coach Drew had a confident vision of what the program could be, even in the face of such adversity, and he guided his team to the pinnacle of success while leading with, and living out, his faith. The Road to J.O.Y. shares:Biblical principles that have helped Coach Scott Drew lead well through challenging timesAn insider&’s look at the others-first culture that spurred Baylor&’s reboundCoach&’s wisdom for investing in others and creating a successful organizationThe leadership lessons Drew has learned from growing up in a famous basketball family and years of coachingHow faith is the foundation for everything Drew does With equal parts inspirational memoir and personal and professional growth, The Road to J.O.Y. is perfect for anyone who is looking to better live out their faith, lead a team, achieve a goal, or mentor others.
The Road to Lisbon: A Novel
by Martin Greig Charles McGarryA young fan invests his hope in his heroes in this &“spectacular&” novel inspired by the true story of a hardscrabble Scottish football club&’s 1967 season (Scottish Daily Mail). In 1967 Celtic manager Jock Stein stepped from the tunnel of Lisbon&’s Estadio Nacional and took up a position pitch-side as his team of homegrown players ran out to face the might of Inter Milan, the charismatic superstars of Italian football, in the European Cup final. Celtic were a team forged in Stein&’s own image, steeled with a relentless industry and integrity by their inspirational manager whose character had, in turn, been honed by the horrors of the deep dark of the coalfields. This extraordinary novel delves into the very heart of that incredible season, telling the story through the eyes of Stein—as he plots and plans and drags his team to the pinnacle of European club football—and those of Tim, an idealistic young fan journeying to the big game from the south side of Glasgow, whose dreams of life beyond the decaying slums are inextricably tied to those of his heroes. The Road to Lisbon is a novel of hopes and dreams, of self-discovery and triumph over adversity—and of an unerring love for an institution that represents so much more than just a football club.
The Road to Omaha: Hits, Hopes, and History at the College World Series
by Ryan McGeeIn the spirit of Three Nights in August and The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty, veteran sports writer Ryan McGee goes behind the scenes, into the stands, and onto the field to reveal an exciting yet personal look at one of the hottest sports championships in the country--the College World Series. Every summer, college baseball teams from around the nation come to Omaha, Nebraska, to play pure move-the-man-over, run-manufacturing baseball in a series that's part college bowl game, part county fair. In 2008, the ten-day, eight-team tournament was the scene of one of the greatest series in its illustrious history. And Ryan McGee puts the reader behind closed doors with the underdog champs, the Fresno State Bulldogs, as well as with their seven opponents, from the first batting practice session, to bus rides to the ballpark, to the locker room and the dugout. It's the CWS as few ever see it.But The Road to Omaha goes far beyond the 2008 season. It's an in-depth look at the managing strategies and playing style of college baseball, as well as a series of profiles that examine the people behind and around the CWS--the players, coaches, and fans who keep that feeling of good-old-days innocence alive through their reverence for the Great American Pastime.McGee also takes up residence at Rosenblatt Stadium itself, reliving its rich history and tapping into the electricity around it, from the tailgating fans to the surrounding neighborhoods. "The Blatt" is America's last real connection to the baseball belief that Field of Dreams can actually happen: a wooden-framed ballpark with cramped concourses where teams share locker rooms, change clothes in the parking lot, and sign autographs for kids until their fingers cramp. "The Blatt" is a monument to tradition--and the last of its kind to keep that tradition alive.Thanks to Ryan McGee's quick eye for play-by-play action, as well as his deep love for sports, The Road to Omaha is a rare glimpse into the kind of baseball our grandfather's knew--a snapshot of the one of the last remaining vestiges of pure Americana: a hometown, baseball, and the people who shape it and are shaped by it in turn.
The Road to Sparta: Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run That Inspired the World's Greatest Foot race
by Dean KarnazesThe Road to Sparta is the story of the 153-mile run from Athens to Sparta that inspired the marathon and saved democracy, as told—and experienced—by ultramarathoner and New York Times bestselling author Dean Karnazes.In 490 BCE, Pheidippides ran for 36 hours straight from Athens to Sparta to seek help in defending Athens from a Persian invasion in the Battle of Marathon. In doing so, he saved the development of Western civilization and inspired the birth of the marathon as we know it. Even now, some 2,500 years later, that run stands enduringly as one of greatest physical accomplishments in the history of mankind. Karnazes personally honors Pheidippides and his own Greek heritage by recreating this ancient journey in modern times. Karnazes even abstains from contemporary endurance nutrition like sports drinks and energy gels and only eats what was available in 490 BCE, such as figs, olives, and cured meats. Through vivid details and internal dialogs, The Road to Sparta offers a rare glimpse into the mindset and motivation of an extreme athlete during his most difficult and personal challenge to date. This story is sure to captivate and inspire—whether you run great distances or not at all.
The Road to Sparta: Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run that Inspired the World's Greatest Foot Race
by Dean KarnazesThe Road to Sparta is the story of the 153-mile run from Athens to Sparta that inspired the marathon and saved democracy, as told--and experienced--by ultramarathoner and New York Times bestselling author Dean Karnazes. In 490 BCE, Pheidippides ran for 36 hours straight from Athens to Sparta to seek help in defending Athens from a Persian invasion in the Battle of Marathon. In doing so, he saved the development of Western civilization and inspired the birth of the marathon as we know it. Even now, some 2,500 years later, that run stands enduringly as one of greatest physical accomplishments in the history of mankind. Karnazes personally honors Pheidippides and his own Greek heritage by recreating this ancient journey in modern times. Karnazes even abstains from contemporary endurance nutrition like sports drinks and energy gels and only eats what was available in 490 BCE, such as figs, olives, and cured meats. Through vivid details and internal dialogs,The Road to Sparta offers a rare glimpse into the mindset and motivation of an extreme athlete during his most difficult and personal challenge to date. This story is sure to captivate and inspire--whether you run great distances or not at all.
The Road to the NFL
by Tim GreenDrawing on interviews with six of today's biggest players, this is the real story of how some of the toughest, most talented guys came to play the game. You'll be surprised at what it took to get them into helmets and pads, but it's a touchdown all the way!
The Roar of the Crowd (Winning Season #1)
by Rich Wallace<p>Manny's starting his first football season with the Hudson City Hornets, and he's determined to get in the game and not warm the bench. Problem is, Manny's not a big guy, and when he tries to tackle the offense, he's the one who ends up on the ground. <p>Coach isn't too pleased, especially when the team starts losing. But Manny refuses to give up; he's as tough as anyone out there and he's fast. He's got the season to prove to Coach, his teammates, and himself that he has the talent to earn the roar of the crowd. <p> <p><b>Lexile Level: 680L</b></p>
The Rock Balancer's Guide: Discover the Mindful Art of Balance
by Travis RuskusThe first mainstream book about rock balancing, combining inspiring full-colour photographs with practical guidance on how to balance rocks and, in the process, let go of limiting beliefs and find happiness in the present moment.Rock balancing is the practice of piling up stones in natural settings, creating everything from simple towers to amazingly elaborate and apparently gravity-defying edifices. People balance rocks for fun, to challenge themselves and as a way of being mindful, connecting to nature and focusing on the present moment. This is the first mainstream book about the meditative art of rock balancing, combining technical advice on creating the structures with c. 40 spectacular colour photographs of the author's own balances, as well as guidance on approaching rock balancing as a mindfulness/meditation practice. As the book guides you through the practical techniques of rock balancing, it also explains how to breathe properly, how to approach the rocks with self-belief, face fear and go beyond what you had previously thought to be your limits. Finally, it discusses how to let go and destroy the balances you have created, leaving nature in a pristine state. The book includes inspirational quotes, tips and step-by-step instructions for beginner and more advanced rock balancers, as well as a range of meditative exercises to do while balancing, and fun challenges, such as balance 10 rocks from the biggest to smallest, balance a rock on the top of your head and balance three rocks in an impossible way. A rock balance is a metaphor for whatever you are trying to achieve in life - and this practice allows you to train yourself to do more than you ever thought possible.
The Rock Says: The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment
by Joe Layden Dwayne JohnsonThe autobiography of Dwayne Johnson, the professional wrestler known as "The Rock."
The Rodchenkov Affair: How I Brought Down Russia’s Secret Doping Empire – Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020
by Grigory Rodchenkov***Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, 2020 - the inside story of the Russian doping programme by the man behind it all***One of the Financial Times's 'Fifty people who shaped the decade' 'The biggest sports scandal the world has ever seen'In 2015, Russia's Anti-Doping Centre was suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following revelations of an elaborate state-sponsored doping programme at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Involving a nearly undetectable steroid delivery system known as 'Duchesse cocktail', tampering and switching of urine samples, and a complex state-sanctioned cover-up, the programme was masterminded by Grigory Rodchenkov.The Rodchenkov Affair tells the full, unadulterated story that was first glimpsed in Bryan Fogel's award-winning documentary and still continues to captivate and shock the world. Charting the author's childhood growing up under the Iron Curtain, his first encounter with doping as a 22-year-old student athlete at Moscow State University, and his subsequent career working for the Soviet Olympic Committee, this breathtakingly candid journey reveals a rigged system of flawed individuals, brazen deceit and impossible moral choices.
The Rodfather: Inside the Beautiful (Ugly, Ridiculous, Hilarious) Game
by Paul Howard Roddy CollinsThe hilarious memoir from the funniest man in football!Roddy Collins is a football man - now in the sixth decade of a career as a player (at sixteen clubs), manager (twelve clubs) and commentator. And he is a funny man: an unequalled raconteur with a sharp eye for the absurdities of the professional game and spectacular recall. He has made friends wherever he has gone, along with some high-quality enemies. When John Delaney said he could get Roddy a job if he'd just stop criticising him, Roddy replied that he'd 'rather dig holes in the road'.Now, with the brilliant Paul Howard, Roddy puts it all down on paper for the first time - the adventures, the rows and the craic - in what is not only one of the funniest but also one of the most eye-opening books ever written about professional football.
The Roger Angell Baseball Collection: The Summer Game, Five Seasons, and Season Ticket
by Roger AngellFrom &“the clear-eyed poet laureate of baseball&”—a definitive collection of three nonfiction classics chronicling MLB into the modern age (New York Post). In these three classic volumes, legendary New Yorker sportswriter Roger Angell chronicles the triumphs, travails, heroes, and history of America&’s favorite pastime. In The Summer Game, Angell covers ten seasons in the major leagues from the 1960s to the early 1970s. With his signature panache, Angell captures the flavor of the game and the spirit of legends such as Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Willie Mays. In Five Seasons, Angell covers the mid-1970s, which he calls &“the most important half-decade in the history of the game.&” From the accomplishments of Nolan Ryan and Hank Aaron to the rising influence of network television, Angell offers a fresh perspective on this transformative period. And in Season Ticket, Angell recounts the larger-than-life narratives of baseball in the mid-1980s. Diving into subjects including the notorious 1986 World Series and the Curse of the Bambino, Sparky Anderson&’s Detroit Tigers, and performance-enhancing drug use, Angell offers insights that are crucial to understanding the game as we know it today.
The Roger Kahn Reader: Six Decades of Sportswriting
by Roger Kahn Bill DwyreMost famous for his classic work The Boys of Summer, Roger Kahn is widely regarded as one of the greatest sportswriters of our time. The Roger Kahn Reader is a rich collection of his stories and articles that originally appeared in publications such as Sports Illustrated, theNew York Times, Esquire, and the Nation. Kahn’s pieces, published between 1952 and today, present a vivid, turbulent, and intimate picture of more than half a century in American sport. His standout writings bring us close to entrepreneurs and hustlers (Walter O'Malley and Don King), athletes of Olympian gifts (Ted Williams, Stan Musial, “Le Demon Blond” Guy Lefleur), and sundry compelling issues of money, muscle, and myth. We witness Roger Maris’s ordeal by fame; Bob Gibson’s blazing competitive fire; and Red Smith, now white-haired and renowned, contemplating his beginnings and his future. Also included is a new and original chapter, “Clem,” about the author’s compelling lifelong friendship with former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Clem Labine. Written across six decades, this volume shows Kahn’s ability to describe the athletes he profiled as they truly were in a manner neither compromised nor cruel but always authentic and up close.
The Role of Self and Adaptation in Learning and Development: Chasing Excellence
by Daniel RodriguezThis book introduces readers to Psychoadaptation—a general model of change that stresses the importance of experiencing disequilibrium in the development of a healthy Self—and applies it to a range of examples across the academic, sport, and health domains. Built upon his studies of human development and learning, Daniel Rodriguez offers an overview of a model of change with a specific focus on the development of Self and conceptions of Self. The author begins by focusing on academic topics such as conducting research, teaching, and being a student, before highlighting examples from sport and health. With a clear and engaging tone, each chapter highlights how the theory behind Psychoadaptation can be applied across a variety of contexts and in the modern world. The result is a solid balance of scientific theory and practical application that readers can relate to their own circumstances and research. Offering a unique conceptualization to development, learning, and behavior change, this is a useful resource for students and scholars within these areas, as well as clinicians working in the fields of health and sport. It will also benefit individuals looking to embark upon their own journeys to Self-development.