- Table View
- List View
Big Air (Lorimer Podium Sports Academy)
by Lorna Schultz NicholsonAboriginal snowboarder Jax has it made. He's in his last year at Podium Sports Academy and he's got a sponsorship from a big snowboarding company in the bag. But then his older brother, always the troublemaker in the family, shows up in Calgary unexpectedly. Suddenly Jax's sponsorship is threatened when the police come asking questions about a break-in at the house where he lives. He wants to help his brother, but will it cost him his future as a professional boarder? Distributed in the U.S by Lerner Publishing Group
Big Apple Takedown
by Rudy JosephsDecember 2001: Vince McMahon steps out of a snowy night into a diner in upstate New York for a meeting with old friend Phil Thomson, now a highly placed government official. Thomson has a strange proposition: creating a new covert black-ops group using the Superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment. The WWE's talented men and women are perfect. Highly skilled athletes with the ideal cover, they travel all across the country and the globe; no one would find it unusual to find them in a town one day and gone the next. The government would train and support the wrestlers in every way possible except one: no one must know the truth. March 2006: The Superstars have been handed their latest assignment -- take down a commercial-grade methyl-amphetamine plant that is bankrolling terrorist activities in Europe. Their mission seems simple and straightforward, until a member of their team is taken prisoner. Now all that they've worked so hard for is in jeopardy, and one of their own might be killed...
Big Bad Beans (The Cul-de-Sac Kids #22)
by Beverly LewisJason Birchall is saving all his money for a super mountain bike. He's been working hard and counting every penny. He's even storing his money in a secret place that no one can find.But Jason's mom is on a health kick, and she's making him eat vegetables...and beans. Jason comes up with a way to hide some the icky food, but it turns out to be a bad mistake.Will Jason and the Cul-de-sac Kids still be able to come up with a way to get that bike?
Big Base Hit (Angel Park All-Stars #2)
by Dean HughesHarlan Sloan, a rookie on the Little League baseball team, gets his first big base hit.
Big Bill
by H. A. BranhamThe first major authorized biography of NASCAR founder, Bill France Sr.Big Bill is the consummate "insider" book on the life and legend of NASCAR founder Bill France and tells the tale of a classic American success story. France Sr. brought his family to Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1934, put down roots and immersed himself in the business of racing, both as a driver and an owner. Nicknamed "Big Bill" because of his 6-foot-5 stature, he made significant contributions to the racing world - he founded NASCAR in December 1947, built Daytona International Speedway in 1959 and built Talladega Superspeedway in 1969, and landed the landmark R.J. Reynolds/Winston sponsorship deal in 1971 that not only transformed NASCAR but also transformed corporate sponsorship of sports in America. The France family has spent the last 30 years gathering a vast collection of files and material about their family patriarch and has turned over countless interviews -- both written and taped -- as well as NASCAR documents, memorabilia, memos, letters and various other materials to the author for this definitive biography. Big Bill offers NASCAR fans a rich, entertaining, emotional, and detailed story about America's most recognized and admired racing family.
Big Bill Tilden: The Triumphs and the Tragedy
by Frank Deford&“A compelling, long overdue tribute&” to America&’s first tennis star from the renowned sportswriter and author of Everybody&’s All-American (Kirkus Reviews). When he stepped onto the Wimbledon grass in 1920, Bill Tilden was poised to become the world&’s greatest tennis star. Throughout the 1920s he dominated the sport, winning championship after championship with his trademark grace, power, and intelligence. He owned the game more completely than Babe Ruth ruled baseball, making his name, for more than a decade, synonymous with tennis. Phenomenally intelligent—he completed his first book on tennis in the three weeks before his first Wimbledon triumph—Tilden&’s success came with a dark side. This classic biography by legendary sports writer Frank Deford tells of Tilden&’s dominance, which was unlike anything the sport had ever seen—and the big man&’s tragic fall.
Big Blue Wrecking Crew: Smashmouth Football, a Little Bit of Crazy, and the '86 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants
by Jerry BarcaBig Blue Wrecking Crew presents the first in-depth examination of the team that rebuilt the New York Giants franchise, a revealing look at football in the 1980s, and how a larger than life cast of characters made something from nothing.A marauding linebacker who changed the game of football, a tough-as-nails quarterback, and a fiery head coach helped the 1986 New York Giants leave an indelible mark on the NFL. Big Blue Wrecking Crew is the no-holds-barred story of the team that created Giant Football, the pound-you-into-submission, quarterback-crushing defense, coupled with a powerful ball control offense that resulted in a 1986 Super Bowl Championship—the first in team history. In a gripping narrative of the season that changed the course of a franchise, author Jerry Barca takes readers on a wild journey filled with improbable characters. Linebacker Lawrence Taylor partied with the same level of recklessness and violence he put forth when he donned his jersey. Bill Parcells motivated his team in an unrelenting Jersey Guy way, and quiet defensive genius Bill Belichick would go on to greatness.Based on years of research and hundreds of interviews, Barca chronicles the Giants’ rise out of rock bottom to their status as a premiere NFL franchise. From behind-the-scenes personnel discussions of general manager George Young to the meeting rooms with Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, Big Blue Wrecking Crew is filled with the riveting exploits of unforgettable players. It is an unfiltered look at how enormous egos came together to win a championship, playing hard and partying equally as hard along the way.
Big Book of Miniature Horses
by Kendra GalePet, show-ring competitor, pasture companion, driving partner, patient therapy horse—the Miniature Horse does it all. But whether you dream of winning ribbons or just hanging out, it is vital to have a solid understanding of safe handling and proper stabling; grooming needs and feeding requirements; general care and management essentials; special health and wellness concerns; and basic training how-tos. In these pages experienced Miniature Horse breeder Kendra Gale of Circle J Miniature Horses provides the most complete Miniature Horse resource available. You not only learn the ins and outs of making a Miniature Horse a part of your life, you gain invaluable professional insight when it comes to buying and breeding, registering and showing, training and handling, and so much more.
Big Book of Who: The 101 Stars Every Fan Needs to Know
by The Editors of Sports Illustrated KidsBatter up! Who was the last player to hit .400? What shortstop began each season with a backflip? Which pitcher has won the most Cy Young Awards? Find out the answers to those questions and many more in Big Book of Who: Baseball, a collection of the 101 baseball stars every fan needs to know, past and present. All the diamond greats are included, from Babe Ruth to Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays to Joe DiMaggio, and Derek Jeter to Mike Trout.Featuring exciting MLB photography and the most current information about baseball's best players, this Sports Illustrated Kids reference book for young sports fans is written in a fun and easy-to-navigate question and answer format. Player profiles, facts, and stats are organized into five comprehensive categories: Champions, Super Sluggers, Prime Pitchers, Cool Characters, and Record Breakers.
Big Bore Revolvers
by Max PrasacIs bigger better? You bet it is, when it's a big-bore revolver! Big-Bore Revolversoffers a one-stop resource for the wheelgun novice to the hardened veteran and everyone in between. With in-depth coverage of commercial and wildcat calibers and their effectiveness, theoretical and actual application of terminal ballistics and a detailed look at today's available revolver platforms, this is the most comprehensive book ever published on the topic. Inside you'll find: A one-stop resource for everything you want and need to know about big-bore revolvers Foreword by Dick Casull, modern big-bore revolver pioneer and father of the cartridge that carries his name--the famous . 454 Casull A comprehensive look at dozens of oversized cartridges, their designers and ballistics Detailed descriptions of the power-house revolvers that can handle big-bore loads--even if you can't! More than 250 full-color photos, highlighting cartridge comparisons, the revolvers themselves, and the big and dangerous game that are no match for the devastating power of these firearms. And much, much more! With a special look at the pioneers behind the big-bore revolution, and hunt stories as giant as the guns and cartridges themselves, this is one book every handgun lover and hunter will want to read cover to cover. Authored by big-bore revolver aficionado Max Prasac, and with collaboration from John Parker and Jack Huntington, two of the most authoritative names in big-bore revolver circles, this compendium of facts, history and first-hand experiences behind the sights fills a long-vacant niche.
Big Buck Secrets
by Steve BartyllaSteve Bartylla has never relied on outfitter to put him on trophy bucks. Instead, he relies on his own scouting and hunting skills. Big Buck Secrets draws from Bartylla's years of successful do-it-yourself hunting for trophy whitetails on both public and private land. This book is grounded in that experience to help you take your deer hunting to the next level with comprehensive instruction on: Scouting new hunting areas Understanding mature buck behavior Hunting during the rut Utilizing decoys Aggressive and creative techniques to deal with hunting pressure And much more! All aimed to put you on the biggest bucks of your life! Hard work and in-depth knowledge of whitetails, understanding how they utilize terrain and seeking pockets where mature bucks exist, are the tools Bartylla relies on most--and shares with you in Big Buck Secrets.
Big Bucks The Benoit Way
by Bryce M. TowsleyBy following the legendary Benoit family, hunters can learn to track and harvest the biggest whitetail bucks on consistent basis. The full-color photography and time-tested methods will gain anyone the advantage over whitetails and the bragging rights over camp.
Big Bucks the Benoit Way: Secrets from America's First Family of Whitetail Hunting
by Bryce M. TowsleySee what it takes to track trophy-sized bucks like the legends do.If there is such a thing as hunting royalty, then the Benoit family is it. They have been raking in trophy-sized bucks since Larry Benoit first began to pioneer his unique tracking methods. As the family grew, so did the Benoit hunting repertoire, expanding beyond simple snow tracking to all-season tracking.Author Bryce M. Towsley had a unique opportunity in the late nineties: to deer hunt with the Benoits for an extended period in the deep woods of Maine. He spent time with the Benoit family observing and learning their hunting tactics, techniques, and long-protected secrets.The product of Towsley’s inclusion in the Benoit family tradition is Big Bucks the Benoit Way. Fully illustrated with Towsley’s beautiful, full-color photography and written with his trademark prose and with a new introduction by the author, it tracks his experience following in the footsteps of the great Benoit hunters, learning their craft and sharing it with you. Big Bucks the Benoit Way is more than an exploration of the fine art of tracking bucks; it’s a glimpse at the heart and beauty of American big-game hunting.Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bow hunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. 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.
Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize
by Jerry GrilloJohnny Mize was one of the greatest hitters in baseball&’s golden age of great hitters. Born and raised in tiny Demorest, Georgia, in the northeast Georgia mountains, Mize emerged from the heart of Dixie as a Bunyonesque slugger, a quiet but sharp-witted man from a broken home who became a professional player at seventeen, embarking on an extended tour of the expansive St. Louis Cardinals Minor League system. Mize then spent fifteen seasons terrorizing Major League pitchers as a member of those Cardinals, the New York Giants of Mel Ott and Leo Durocher, and finally with the New York Yankees, who won a record five straight World Series with Mize as their ace in the hole—the best pinch hitter in the American League. Few hitters have combined such meticulous bat control with brute power the way Mize did. Mize was a line-drive hitter who rarely struck out and also hit for distance, to all fields, and usually for a high average. Nicknamed the Big Cat, &“nobody had a better, smoother, easier swing than John,&” said Cardinals teammate Don Gutteridge. &“It was picture perfect.&” Tabbed as a can&’t-miss Hall of Famer, then all but forgotten, Mize spent twenty-eight years waiting for the call from Cooperstown before he was finally inducted in 1981, delighting fans with his straightforward commentary and sly sense of humor during a memorable induction speech. From the backroads of the Minor Leagues to the sunny Caribbean, where he played alongside the best Black and Latin players as a twenty-one-year-old, and to the Major Leagues, where he became a ten-time All-Star, home run champion, and World Series hero, Mize forged a memorable trail along baseball&’s landscape. This is the first complete biography of the Big Cat.
Big Data Baseball: Math, Miracles, and the End of a 20-Year Losing Streak
by Travis SawchikBig Data Baseball provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the Pittsburgh Pirates used big data strategies to end the longest losing streak in North American pro sports history.New York Times BestsellerAfter twenty consecutive losing seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates, team morale was low, the club’s payroll ranked near the bottom of the sport, game attendance was down, and the city was becoming increasingly disenchanted with its team. Big Data Baseball is the story of how the 2013 Pirates, mired in the longest losing streak in North American pro sports history, adopted drastic big-data strategies to end the drought, make the playoffs, and turn around the franchise’s fortunes.Big Data Baseball is Moneyball for a new generation. Award-winning journalist Travis Sawchik takes you behind the scenes to expertly weave together the stories of the key figures who changed the way the Pirates played the game, revealing how a culture of collaboration and creativity flourished as whiz-kid analysts worked alongside graybeard coaches to revolutionize the sport and uncover groundbreaking insights for how to win more games without spending a dime.From pitch framing to on-field shifts, this entertaining and enlightening underdog story closely examines baseball’s burgeoning big data movement and demonstrates how the millions of data points which aren’t immediately visible to players and spectators, are the bit of magic that led the Pirates to finish the 2013 season in second place and brought an end to a twenty-year losing streak.
Big Deal: One Year as a Professional Poker Player
by Anthony HoldenBIG DEAL is the mesmerising story of a year spent by bestselling biographer Anthony Holden in the tough world of the professional poker player. He spent days and nights in the poker paradise of Las Vegas, in Malta and Morocco, even shipboard, mingling with the legendary greats, sharpening his game, perfecting his repartee, and learning a great deal about himself in the process.Poker, Holden would insist, is not gambling. Like chess it is a paradigm of life at its most intense, a gladiatorial contest that brings out the best as well as the worst in people. Its heroes, its eccentrics and is comedians stalk the pages of this remarkable book, along with all the hair-raising, nail-biting excitement of the games themselves.A classic of the genre, BIG DEAL is here reissued with a new introduction by the author.
Big Deal: One Year as a Professional Poker Player
by Anthony HoldenBIG DEAL is the mesmerising story of a year spent by bestselling biographer Anthony Holden in the tough world of the professional poker player. He spent days and nights in the poker paradise of Las Vegas, in Malta and Morocco, even shipboard, mingling with the legendary greats, sharpening his game, perfecting his repartee, and learning a great deal about himself in the process.Poker, Holden would insist, is not gambling. Like chess it is a paradigm of life at its most intense, a gladiatorial contest that brings out the best as well as the worst in people. Its heroes, its eccentrics and is comedians stalk the pages of this remarkable book, along with all the hair-raising, nail-biting excitement of the games themselves.A classic of the genre, BIG DEAL is here reissued with a new introduction by the author.
Big Game Shooting in Alaska
by C. R. E. RadclyffeEmbark on a thrilling adventure through the rugged wilderness of Alaska with C. R. E. Radclyffe's Big Game Shooting in Alaska. This captivating account provides an exhilarating glimpse into the world of big game hunting at the turn of the 20th century, offering readers a front-row seat to the challenges and triumphs of tracking and hunting some of the most majestic creatures in the Alaskan frontier.C. R. E. Radclyffe, an experienced hunter and storyteller, shares his firsthand experiences of hunting in one of the world’s most remote and untamed landscapes. Through vivid and engaging narrative, Radclyffe brings to life the breathtaking beauty and harsh realities of the Alaskan wilderness, capturing the essence of the hunt and the spirit of adventure that drives it.Big Game Shooting in Alaska delves into the pursuit of various big game species, including moose, caribou, grizzly bear, and mountain goat. Radclyffe provides detailed descriptions of the hunting techniques, equipment, and strategies employed, as well as the physical and mental stamina required to navigate the challenging terrain and extreme weather conditions.The book also offers insights into the natural history and behavior of the animals, enriching the reader’s understanding of the intricate dynamics between hunter and prey. Radclyffe's respect for the wildlife and the environment shines through, emphasizing the importance of ethical hunting practices and conservation.Big Game Shooting in Alaska is an essential read for hunting enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and anyone fascinated by the untamed beauty of Alaska. C. R. E. Radclyffe’s masterful storytelling and keen observations make this book a timeless classic, celebrating the spirit of adventure and the enduring allure of the wild.
Big Game Shooting in Alaska
by Cpt. C. R. E. RadclyffeCaptain Radclyffe was an English gentleman-hunter who visited Alaska in 1903. He bagged Dall sheep on the Kenai Peninsula, back then a relatively new destination for sport hunting. He shot excellent brown bear and moose, one a 57-incher on Kussiloff Lake on the Alaska Peninsula. On his final bear hunt, a sow charged him and his native guide abandoned him. He was arrested for game law violations that prematurely ended his hunt for sheep, adding another interesting dimension to this well-written story. The charges against Radclyffe were later dismissed since he had an off-season permit to collect for the British Museum, but the author’s partner was not so lucky. Radclyffe writes of how the judge enjoyed rubbing the dismissal into the face of the arresting marshal, and he paints a vivid picture of the interactions of the hunters, guides, and authorities. After all his troubles, he lost most of his trophies because of shipping problems related to the Russo-Japanese War. Radclyffe had a way with words that makes the account of his trip to the Alaskan frontier come alive. This is an extremely interesting and well-written account of the game as well as the people that existed 100 years ago in the frozen North. Big Game Shooting in Alaska is dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt, a longtime friend of Radclyffe’s.Richly illustrated throughout.
Big Game, Small World: A Basketball Adventure
by Alexander WolffAlex Wolff canvasses the globe and travels to 16 different countries (and 10 states in the U. S.) to find out exactly why basketball has become a worldwide phenomenon. Whether it's in a pick-up game on the Royal court in Bhutan, in the heart of a former female college player of the year turned cloistered nun, in the tragedy of the legendary junior national team in war torn Yugoslavia, or in the life's work of one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA, Alex Wolff discovers that basketball can define an individual, a race, a culture, and in some instances even a country. Fusing John Feinstein's talent for finding the human drama behind sport with Bill Bryson's travelogue style, Wolff shows how the power and love of basketball extends to the four corners of the earth and engages people of all cultures, races, genders, and generations.
Big Game, Small World: A Basketball Adventure
by Alexander WolffDuring the late 1990s, eminent basketball journalist Alexander Wolff traveled the globe to determine how a game invented by a Canadian clergyman became an international phenomenon. Big Game, Small World presents Wolff’s dispatches from sixteen countries spread across five continents and multiple US states. In them, he asks: What can the game tell us about the world? And what can the world tell us about the game? Whether traveling to Bhutan to challenge its king to a pickup game, exploring the women’s game in Brazil, or covering the Afrobasket tournament in Luanda, Angola, during a civil war, Wolff shows how basketball has the power to define an individual, a culture, and even a country.This updated twentieth anniversary edition features a new preface in which Wolff outlines the contemporary rise of athlete-activists while discussing the increasing dominance within the NBA of marquee international players like Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo. A loving celebration of basketball, Big Game, Small World is one of the most insightful books ever written about the game.
Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times
by Mark LeibovichFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Town, an equally merciless probing of America's biggest cultural force, pro football, at a moment of peak success and high anxiety <P><P>Like millions of Americans, Mark Leibovich has spent more of his life tuned into pro football than he'd care to admit. <P><P>Being a lifelong New England Patriots fan meant growing up on a steady diet of lovable loserdom. That is, until the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era made the Pats the most ruthlessly efficient and polarizing sports dynasty of the modern NFL, and its fans the most irritating in all of Pigskin America. Leibovich kept his obsession quiet, making a nice career for himself covering that other playground for rich and overgrown children, American politics. <P><P>Still, every now and then Leibovich would reach out to Tom Brady to gauge his willingness to subject himself to a profile. He figured that the chances of Brady agreeing were a Hail Mary at best, but Brady returned Mark's call in summer 2014 and kept on returning his calls through epic Patriots Super Bowl victory and defeat, and a scandal involving Brady--Deflategate--whose grip on sports media was as profound as its true significance was ridiculous. <P><P>So began a four-year odyssey that took Mark Leibovich deeper inside the NFL than anyone has gone before. From the owners' meeting to the draft to the sidelines of crucial games, he takes in the show at the elbow of everyone from Brady to big-name owners to the cordially despised NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. <P><P>Ultimately, BIG GAME is a chronicle of "peak football"--the high point of the sport's economic success and cultural dominance, but also the time when the dark side began to show. It is an era of explosive revenue growth, but also one of creeping existential fear. Players have long joked that NFL stands for "not for long," but as the true impact of concussions becomes inescapable background noise, it's increasingly difficult to enjoy the simple glory of football without the buzz-kill of its obvious consequences. <P><P>And that was before Donald Trump. In 2016, Mark's day job caught up with him, and the NFL slammed headlong into America's culture wars. <P><P>BIG GAME is a journey through an epic storm. Through it all, Leibovich always keeps one eye on Tom Brady and his beloved Patriots, through to the 2018 Super Bowl. Pro football, this hilarious and enthralling book proves, may not be the sport America needs, but it is most definitely the sport we deserve. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s
by Dan EpsteinA wild pop-culture history of baseball’s most colorful and controversial decade, the 70s: “A trove of nuggets many of us either never knew . . . or forgot.” —The New York TimesThe Major Leagues witnessed more dramatic stories and changes in the 1970s than in any other era. The American popular culture and counterculture collided head-on with the national pastime, rocking the once-conservative sport to its very foundations. Outspoken players embraced free agency, openly advocated drug use . . . and even swapped wives.Controversial owners such as Charlie Finley, Bill Veeck, and Ted Turner introduced Astroturf, prime-time World Series, garish polyester uniforms, and outlandish promotions such as Disco Demolition Night. Hank Aaron and Lou Brock set new heights in power and speed while Reggie Jackson and Carlton Fisk emerged as October heroes and All-Star characters like Mark “The Bird” Fidrych became pop icons.For the millions of fans who grew up during this time, and especially those who cared just as much about Oscar Gamble’s afro as they did about his average, Dan Epstein’s Big Hair serves up a delicious, Technicolor trip down memory lane.
Big League Babble On: The Misadventures of a Rabble-Rousing Sportscaster and Why He Should Be Dead By Now
by John GallagherVeteran radio and television personality John Gallagher’s salacious, voracious, and dangerously delicious memoirs of a life lived on the edge in the midst of some of the world’s biggest celebrities. Long-time sportscaster John Gallagher has had close to four decades of hosting some of the top-rated radio and TV shows in Canada and, while he was at it, doing enough drugs to wipe out a small village. Along the way there was plenty of drinking, cavorting, and gallivanting with some of the coolest, biggest, and baddest sports stars and Hollywood celebs around. In Big League Babble On, John spares no one, not even himself. Read about his nights boozing with the likes of Tony Curtis, Stevie Nicks, Colin Farrell, and Leafs head coach Pat Burns. Find out how partying with Gallagher saved Mark Wahlberg’s life. Or how he once came a little too close to Princess Di. And the time Muhammad Ali stole John’s Penthouse magazine … for the articles. Gallagher is a pop culture Cuisinart and a walking — but mostly talking — sports almanac. From hot tubbing with Wendel Clark to “chasing skirt” with Robbie Alomar, Gallagher has met (and often partied with) all of the greats. This book will give you an accredited backstage pass and get you close enough to sniff Bo Derek’s perfume (Tigress by Fabergé?).
Big Loosh: The Unruly Life of Umpire Ron Luciano
by Jim LeekeRon Luciano was a college football star, baseball umpire, TV broadcaster, and best-selling author. He barged through the world with an outsized personality, entertaining many, offending a few, and hiding behind a cheerful and outrageous persona until life somehow proved unbearable. Everyone knew him, but nobody really did. Once an All-American tackle at Syracuse University, Luciano turned to umpiring after an injury derailed his professional football career, and he quickly moved up the Minor League ladder to reach the Majors in 1969. As a big, likable loser—Oliver Hardy in blue—he became a fan favorite in the American League, &“shooting&” runners with his forefinger, conducting a legendary feud with Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver, and entertaining writers with outlandish baseball stories—some of which were even true. Even as he added years to his umpiring career and was considered among the game&’s best, some players and managers thought his showmanship detracted from his abilities. He later became a baseball color analyst on national TV before coauthoring a series of rollicking best-selling sports books. Away from the game, he loved Shakespeare and birdwatching. But his upbeat public face was at odds with his private struggle with depression. His suicide at age fifty-seven shocked and puzzled friends, fans, and readers alike. In Big Loosh Jim Leeke recounts Luciano&’s unlikely career, detailing his life as athlete, arbiter, sportscaster, writer, and mythmaker while separating fact from fiction amid the fanciful stories he loved to spin. As a friend said of Luciano, &“If you didn&’t like this man, you didn&’t like people.&”