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Gambling with the Myth of the American Dream (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society #44)
by Aaron M. DuncanThis book explores the rise and increased acceptance of gambling in America, particularly the growth of the game of poker, as a means for examining changes to the American Dream and the risk society. Poker both critiques and reinterprets the myth of the American Dream, putting greater emphasis on the importance of luck and risk management while deemphasizing the importance of honesty and hard work. Duncan discusses the history of gambling in America, changes to the rhetoric surrounding gambling, the depiction of poker in the Wild West as portrayed in film, its recent rise in popularity on television, its current place in post-modern America on the internet, and future implications.
Gambling: A Story of Triumph and Disaster
by Mike AthertonGambling is a fascinating account of gambling through history, from Greek mythology and the ancient role of lots, dice and cards, to the high profile cricket and football match throwing and 'super casinos' of today. Mike Atherton explores this controversial and captivating phenomenon and the way that many present day sports provide the most popular focus for gambling, why so many of today's sportsmen become fervent gamblers and how in some cases this has led to corruption, addiction and ruined reputations. With recent high profile incidents involving the likes of Mohammad Amir and Joey Barton, gambling in sport is a topic that remains at the top of the sporting agenda. Scandalous cases such as the Cronje and Grobbelar incidents are analysed in detail, as well as an investigation into why such a high proportion of the of the world's population have always sought out risk, and how this trend has encompassed all social classes and cultures.
Gambling: A Story of Triumph and Disaster
by Mike AthertonGambling is a fascinating account of gambling through history, from Greek mythology and the ancient role of lots, dice and cards, to the high profile cricket and football match throwing and 'super casinos' of today. Mike Atherton explores this controversial and captivating phenomenon and the way that many present day sports provide the most popular focus for gambling, why so many of today's sportsmen become fervent gamblers and how in some cases this has led to corruption, addiction and ruined reputations. With recent high profile incidents involving the likes of Mohammad Amir and Joey Barton, gambling in sport is a topic that remains at the top of the sporting agenda. Scandalous cases such as the Cronje and Grobbelar incidents are analysed in detail, as well as an investigation into why such a high proportion of the of the world's population have always sought out risk, and how this trend has encompassed all social classes and cultures.
Game
by Walter Dean MyersDrew Lawson knows basketball is taking him places. It has to, because his grades certainly aren't. But lately his plan has run squarely into a pick. Coach's new offense has made another player a star, and Drew won't let anyone disrespect his game. Just as his team makes the playoffs, Drew must come up with something big to save his fading college prospects. It's all up to Drew to find out just how deep his game really is.
Game 7, 1986: Failure and Triumph in the Biggest Game of My Life
by Daniel Paisner Ron DarlingNew York Times Bestseller: Mets starting pitcher Ron Darling reflects on his role in the dramatic World Series tiebreaker in this candid personal memoir.Every little kid who’s ever taken the mound in Little League dreams of someday getting the ball for Game Seven of the World Series. Ron Darling got to live that dream—only it didn’t go exactly as planned. In Game 7, 1986, the award-winning baseball analyst looks back at what might have been a signature moment in his career, and reflects on the ways professional athletes must sometimes shoulder a personal disappointment as their teams find a way to win.Darling’s memoir breaks down one of baseball’s great “forgotten” games—a game that stands as a thrilling, telling, and tantalizing exclamation point to one of the best-remembered seasons in Major League Baseball history. Game 7, 1986 is a book for the thinking baseball fan, a chance to reflect on what it means to compete at the game’s highest level, with everything on the line.“A departure from the typical sports narrative.” —New York Daily News“What makes this book so interesting is how Darling puts the reader into his head as he stands on the mound in Game 7. ”—The Tampa Tribune
Game Birds and Gun Dogs: True Stories of Hunting Grouse, Quail, Pheasant, and Waterfowl in North America (Outdoor Adventure Ser.)
by Joseph B. Healy Vin T. SparanoTales and true stories about hunters, their dogs and the upland game and waterfowl they hunt.
Game Boys
by Michael KaneA year inside the fierce rivalries and big business of competitive videogaming A technology-fueled spin on a classic sports tale, Game Boys profiles "cyber-athletes" who compete for dominance in the professional gaming circuit, a world populated with rivalries, big egos, corporate sponsorships, and large cash prizes. Michael Kane's pioneering account of the lifestyle and business of gaming takes readers to the heart of "e-sports," what many consider the successor in sports entertainment to the X-games and competitive poker. Following the top teams-3D and CompLexity, a rivalry as bitter as the Yankees versus the Red Sox-Kane profiles the star players as they cheat, strategize, sign with rival teams, and get berated by sideline-pacing coaches. Are gamers really the athletes of tomorrow? They act like they are. A lively tour of the quirks and dramas of a subculture on the cusp of big things, Game Boys is a tale of sports glory and a glimpse into the lucrative business of gaming. .
Game Change
by Joseph MonningerSeventeen-year-old Zeb Holloway is happy to work in his uncle’s auto repair shop and cruise through school without much effort. He’s a quarterback on his high school’s undefeated football team, but he never plays. Why would he when T.T. Munroe—a walking, talking highlight real— is around? That is, until T.T’s injured a week before the state championships. Now Zeb is starting. As he assumes the role of QB and team leader, the entire town is watching him. And when a college recruiter says Zeb could have a future beyond his small New Hampshire town, he realizes there’s a bigger life out there for him . . . if he can play his heart out.
Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador, and the Future of Hockey
by Ken DrydenFrom the bestselling author and Hall of Famer Ken Dryden, this is the story of NHLer Steve Montador—who was diagnosed with CTE after his death in 2015—the remarkable evolution of hockey itself, and a passionate prescriptive to counter its greatest risk in the future: head injuries. Ken Dryden’s The Game is acknowledged as the best book about hockey, and one of the best books about sports ever written. Then came Home Game (with Roy MacGregor), also a major TV-series, in which he explored hockey’s significance and what it means to Canada and Canadians. Now, in his most powerful and important book yet, Game Change, Ken Dryden tells the riveting story of one player’s life, examines the intersection between science and sport, and expertly documents the progression of the game of hockey—where it began, how it got to where it is, where it can go from here and, just as exciting to play and watch, how it can get there.
Game Changer
by Cora StauntonCora Staunton is an iconic figure in the world of modern GAA. In this ground-breaking autobiography, she reveals her extraordinary journey from teenage rookie to the highest-scoring forward in the history of Ladies Gaelic Football. Since making her senior inter-county debut for Mayo at just thirteen years of age, Cora has become a feared and respected opponent on any pitch. Now, for the first time, she recounts the triumphs of her career and the personal struggles that have plagued it. In this refreshingly candid book, Cora recalls finding refuge in the game after the death of her mother, but also speaks openly about the challenges and conflicts she and her teammates have experienced in the under-resourced world of female sport. She gives a fascinating insight into her move to a professional team in Sydney and how she coped with going from a veteran to a newcomer overnight. In the first-ever autobiography of a female GAA star, Game Changer will take its place as one of the most influential and powerful sports books in recent years.
Game Changer
by Fergus ConnollyTeam sports like football, basketball, soccer, and rugby are hugely popular the world over, on both college and professional levels, and such popularity means that they are big business. Very big. Broadcasting rights alone bring in billions: ESPN paid $5.6 billion to broadcast college football playoffs for twelve years; Turner Sports/CBS shelled out $10.4 billion to show the national college basketball tournament through 2024; and the most recent NBA TV deal came in at a cool $26.4 billion. As the rewards for winning have increased, it’s no surprise that sports team budgets have followed suit. Sure, the athletic program at the University of Texas brought in $161 million last year, but the Longhorns also spent $154 million over the same period. Fifteen other college athletics program also racked up over $100 million in annual expenses. But that’s child’s play compared to the outgoings at the world’s most valuable soccer team, Manchester United, which spent more than $500 million in 2015. The trouble is that all this spending often fails to yield better results. Teams in all sports have tried just about every gimmick to “hack” their way to better performance. But as they’ve gotten stuck in stats, mired in backroom politics, and diverted by the facilities arms race, many have lost sight of what should’ve been their primary focus all along: the game itself. In Game Changer, Fergus Connolly shows how to improve performance with evidence-based analysis and athlete-focused training. Through his unprecedented experiences with teams in professional football, basketball, rugby, soccer, Aussie Rules, and Gaelic football, as well as with elite military units, Connolly has discovered how to break down the common elements in all sports to their basic components so that each moment of any game can be better analyzed, whether you’re a player or a coach. The lessons of game day then can be used to create valuable learning experiences in training, evaluate the quality of your team’s performance, and home in on what’s working and what isn’t. Game Changer also shows you how to expand training focus from players' physical qualities to also advance athletes technically, tactically, and psychologically. His TTPP Model not only helps players continually progress but also stops treating them like a disposable commodity and instead prioritizes athlete health. Bringing together the latest evidence-based practices and lessons from business, psychology, biology, and many other fields, Game Changer is the first book of its kind that helps coaches, athletes, and casual fans: • Create a cohesive game plan that improves performance through defined objectives, strategies, and tactics • Put statistical analysis and technology into context so teams can bypass the hype and get meaningful results • Identify dominant qualities to maximize during training and limiting factors to improve • Create realistic, immersive learning experiences for individual players and the entire team that deliver defined outcomes • Structure player development with a new, holistic model that puts athlete health first and helps reduce the chance of injury and burnout • Balance training load so that all players are fresh and ready to play at their best in competition • Rethink coaching and organizational leadership and enhance communication, group dynamics, and player interaction • Create a winning team culture
Game Changer
by Kirk Cousins“This game means a lot to me, and by the grace of God, I’ll never lose sight of the privilege it is to play it.”—Kirk Cousins Kirk’s book is a reflection of who he is—not just a football player, but someone who is committed to making those around him better in every walk of life. —Mike Shanahan, head coach, Washington Redskins In 2011, the NFF selected 16 college football players as "National Scholar Athletes", one of the highest honors a college football player can receive … Kirk was one of these distinguished 16, which says everything you need to know about him. —Archie Manning, chairman, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Kirk Cousins is a lot more than an outstanding quarterback. He walks the talk. Few people I've met can inspire like he does. —Jon Gruden, ESPN announcer and former head coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers In a world with far too many bad examples, Kirk is a bright light of hope, inspiration, and leadership for a new generation. —Bill Huizenga, United States Congressman, Michigan What’s it really like for a person of strong character to live in the spotlight of pressure and fame? Sit down with Kirk Cousins, record-setting Michigan State quarterback and 2012 draft pick of the NFL’s Washington Redskins. In Game Changer, Cousins gives readers an inside look at his life—as experienced under the bright lights ofcollege and professional football—and how he put his faith and values into action, both on and off the field. Featuring: Personal stories and struggles of a competitive Christian athlete Truthful discussion of media hype and modern sports culture Reflections on honesty, humility, hard work, privilege, and responsibility Life principles for winning choices on and off the field
Game Changer
by Neal Shusterman"A timely, speculative thought experiment in perspective, privilege, and identity." —Kirkus"The conceit behind Shusterman’s latest is truly unique. While it exhibits the author’s usual storytelling aplomb, it also manages to delve into more serious and timely subject matter, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia. Despite these heavy topics, the story still moves at a lively pace and, thanks to a zany sci-fi twist, manages to pack in a few laughs as well." —BooklistAll it takes is one hit on the football field, and suddenly Ash’s life doesn’t look quite the way he remembers it.Impossible though it seems, he’s been hit into another dimension—and keeps on bouncing through worlds that are almost-but-not-really his own.The changes start small, but they quickly spiral out of control as Ash slides into universes where he has everything he’s ever wanted, universes where society is stuck in the past…universes where he finds himself looking at life through entirely different eyes.And if he isn’t careful, the world he’s learning to see more clearly could blink out of existence…This high-concept novel from the National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe series tackles the most urgent themes of our time, making this a must-buy for readers who are starting to ask big questions about their own role in the universe.
Game Changer
by Tommy GreenwaldThirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery--and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this an inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or was something more sinister happening on the field that day? Told in an innovative, multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy's inner thoughts, Game Changer explores the joyous thrills and terrifying risks of America's most popular sport.
Game Changer (Field Party)
by Abbi GlinesThe sixth book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Field Party series—a Southern soap opera with football, cute boys, and pick-up trucks—from USA TODAY bestselling author Abbi Glines.Ezmita Ramos has always had big plans for her future, ones that would take her far outside the Lawton city limits. But with overprotective parents who control every part of her life, she&’s worried that these dreams will never become reality. There&’s nothing Asa Griffith wants more than to leave Lawton. It&’s his senior year and he&’s all set to attend Ole Miss in the fall, but a part of him also worries about what will happen if he leaves his mom living alone with his abusive father. After a huge fight with his father that escalates to violence, Asa is forced out of the house in the middle of the night with nowhere to go. When Asa and Ezmita cross paths that night, neither of them is in the mood to socialize. But they also feel this undeniable chemistry, one that gives them each hope that better days lie ahead. Then Asa is sent away to live with his grandmother for four months, only to return to Lawton and find out Ezmita has moved on. Still, the sparks between Asa and Ezmita linger. Neither of them has forgotten the way they felt seen by the other at their lowest points. Can Asa and Ezmita find their way back to each other?
Game Changer: A Gay Sports Romance (Game Changers #1)
by Rachel ReidThe book that started it all! USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Reid's beloved Game Changers series starts here, with a secret-relationship romance set in the world of professional hockey.New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter takes his pregame rituals very seriously. When a particular smoothie precedes Scott's breaking his on-ice slump, he&’s desperate to recreate the magic…and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.Kip Grady knew there was more to Scott&’s frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott&’s penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon—and more. What goes on between them is hot, incredible and frequent…but also only on Scott&’s terms and always behind his closed apartment doors.Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can&’t afford to do anything that might derail his career or the public&’s image of what a hockey captain should be. Kip is ready to go all in with Scott—but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?Need more Reid? Don't miss The Shots You Take—a sweet and sexy hockey romance about two ex-best friends with benefits who are about to discover whether you can ever really have a second chance. Available now!Game ChangersBook 1: Game ChangerBook 2: Heated RivalryBook 3: Tough GuyBook 4: Common GoalBook 5: Role ModelBook 6: The Long Game
Game Changer: John Mclendon And The Secret Game
by John CoyWhen they piled into cars and drove through Durham, North Carolina, the members of the Duke University Medical School basketball team only knew that they were going somewhere to play basketball. They didn't know whom they would play against. But when they came face to face with their opponents, they quickly realized this secret game was going to make history. Discover the true story of how in 1944, Coach John McLendon orchestrated a secret game between the best players from a white college and his team from the North Carolina College of Negroes. At a time of widespread segregation and rampant racism, this illegal gathering changed the sport of basketball forever.
Game Changer: The Technoscientific Revolution in Sports
by Rayvon FouchéHow has technology challenged the notion of unadulterated athletic performance?We like to think of sports as elemental: strong bodies trained to overcome height, weight, distance; the thrill of earned victory or the agony of defeat in a contest decided on a level playing field. But in Game Changer, Rayvon Fouché argues that sports have been radically shaped by an explosion of scientific and technological advances in materials, training, nutrition, and medicine dedicated to making athletes stronger and faster. Technoscience, as Fouché dubs it, increasingly gives the edge (however slight) to the athlete with the latest gear, the most advanced training equipment, or the performance-enhancing drugs that are hardest to detect. In this revealing book, Fouché examines a variety of sports paraphernalia and enhancements, from fast suits, athletic shoes, and racing bicycles to basketballs and prosthetic limbs. He also takes a hard look at gender verification testing, direct drug testing, and the athlete biological passport in an attempt to understand the evolving place of technoscience across sport. In this book, Fouché: • Examines the relationship among sport, science, and technology• Considers what is at stake in defining sporting culture by its scientific knowledge and technology• Provides readers and students with an informative and engagingly written studyFocusing on well-known athletes, including Michael Phelps, Oscar Pistorius, Caster Semenya, Usain Bolt, and Lance Armstrong, Fouché argues that technoscience calls into question the integrity of games, records, and our bodies themselves. He also touches on attempts by sporting communities to regulate the use of technology, from elite soccer's initial reluctance to utilize goal-line technology to automobile racing's endless tweaking of regulatory formulas in an attempt to blur engineering potency and reclaim driver skill and ability. Game Changer will change the way you look at sports—and the outsized impact technoscience has on them.
Game Changers #1 (Game Changers #1)
by Mike LupicaNew York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica scores a touchdown with his new middle-grade sports series! Ben McBain is every football team's dream player. He's a jack-of-all-trades guy that can handle almost any position. When the game is on the line, Ben's number is the one being called for the final play. But Ben wants to be the starting quarterback and the one thing standing in his way is the coach's son. Shawn O'Brien looks the part. He has been groomed by his father, a former professional quarterback. But despite his size and arm strength, Shawn is struggling. Ben is torn between being a good teammate and going after his own dream. As Ben finds out, Shawn isn't the easiest person to help. And when Ben gets an unexpected opportunity, the entire game will change for the both of them. Best-selling author Mike Lupica kicks off a winning new series about sports and friendship that will captivate readers.
Game Changers Book 2: Play Makers (Game Changers #2)
by Mike LupicaMike Lupica presents the second book in his New York Times bestselling Game Changers series! Still living large off their incredible football championship win just weeks before, Ben McBain and his crew must now prepare for basketball season. Ben is known as the best point guard throughout the league. And now that Shawn O'Brien has joined their team, they are a shoe-in to win it all. But there is a new kid in town, Chase Braggs, a point guard like Ben who seems to be better, stronger, and faster. Refusing to let his team down, Ben hits the courts hard to practice. Ben's rivalry with Chase seems to take the fun out of playing ball with his best friends. Will Ben be able to pull it together for his team and for himself?
Game Changers Book 3: Heavy Hitters (Game Changers #3)
by Mike LupicaMike Lupica presents the third book in his NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Game Changers series! Ben and his friends, the Core Four Plus One, are so excited to play in their town's All-Star Baseball league. But in the first game of the season Ben gets hit by a pitch. It's never happened to him before and it shakes him up. Another player on Ben's team, Justin, is acting really weirdly. Ben's known Justin for a while and they're friendly but he's not one of Ben's closest "boys." Justin is the team's best hitter but his behavior on and off the field is erratic. Ben discovers that Justin's parents are getting a divorce and Justin is thinking about quitting the team. Like good teammates do, Justin helps Ben deal with his issues at bat while Ben is there for his friend while his family is struggling.
Game Changers Collection: Male/Male Sports Romance Stories
by Rachel ReidThe first three of USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Reid&’s scorching M/M hockey romances, now in one volume!&“This is a sweet, satisfying romance.&” —Publishers Weekly, starred review for Tough GuyGAME CHANGERPro hockey star Scott Hunter knows a good thing when he sees it. When a smoothie made by juice bar barista Kip Grady precedes Scott breaking his on-ice slump, he&’s desperate to recreate the magic...and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.Kip knew there was more to Scott&’s frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never imagined being invited back to Scott&’s penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon, nevermind touched everywhere. When it happens it&’s red-hot, incredible and frequent, but also only on Scott&’s terms and always behind his closed apartment doors. With playoff season approaching, the spotlight on Scott is suddenly brighter than ever. Kip is ready to go all-in with Scott—but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?HEATED RIVALRYHockey is Shane Hollander&’s life. He&’s got a spotless reputation, and now that he&’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won&’t let anything jeopardize that--especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane&’s not. He&’s the self-proclaimed king of the ice, and no one can beat him—except Shane. They&’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option…TOUGH GUYRyan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he&’s determined to make a fresh start in the city&’s dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah.Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn&’t stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn&’t forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it&’s clear the chemistry between them has only intensified.Game ChangersBook 1: Game ChangerBook 2: Heated RivalryBook 3: Tough GuyBook 4: Common GoalBook 5: Role ModelBook 6: The Long Game
Game Changers Volume 2: A Spicy Hockey Romance Collection (Game Changers)
by Rachel ReidCommon GoalVeteran goaltender Eric Bennett has faced down some of the toughest shooters on the ice, but nothing prepared him for his latest challenge—life after hockey. It&’s time to make some big changes, starting with finally dating men for the first time.Graduate student Kyle Swift moved to New York nursing a broken heart. He&’d sworn to find someone his own age to crush on (for once). Until he meets a gorgeous, distinguished silver fox hockey player. Despite their intense physical attraction, Kyle has no intention of getting emotionally involved. He&’ll teach Eric a few tricks, have some mutually consensual fun, then walk away.Eric is more than happy to learn anything Kyle brings to the table. And Kyle never expected their friends-with-benefits arrangement to leave him wanting more. Happily-ever-after might be staring them in the face, but it won&’t happen if they&’re too stubborn to come clean about their feelings.Everything they both want is within reach… They just have to be brave enough to grab it.Role ModelThe hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup and a recent scandal… Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He doesn&’t want to be in the news anymore, and he definitely doesn&’t want to &“work on his online presence&” with the team&’s peppy social media manager.Harris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isn&’t happy about the trade—anyone could tell, frankly, as he doesn&’t exactly hide it well—but Harris doesn&’t give up on people easily. Even when he&’s developing a crush he&’s sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troy&’s smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior, well… That&’s a man Harris couldn&’t turn his back on if he wanted to.Suddenly, Troy&’s move to the new team feels like an opportunity—for Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to surrender to their growing attraction. But indulging in each other behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all.The Long GameShane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other for ten years and have kept it secret. From friends, from family…from the league. If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. He loves Ilya, but what if going public ruins everything?Ilya is sick of secrets. Shane has gotten so good at hiding his feelings, sometimes Ilya questions if they even exist. The closeness, the intimacy, even the risk that would come with being open about their relationship…Ilya wants it all.It&’s time for them to make the call and decide what&’s most important—hockey or love.Originally Published in 2020
Game Changers: A Benchwarmers Novel (The Benchwarmers Series #2)
by John FeinsteinTrouble is about to tip off for Jeff and Andi’s sixth-grade basketball teams in Game Changers, a standalone second book in the middle-grade Benchwarmers series by #1 New York Times bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein.After a controversial season playing on the boys' soccer team, Andi Carillo is ready to kick butt and take names on the girls' basketball team. Jeff Michaels, her best friend, is raring to drop his benchwarmer status from soccer and play a leading role on the boys' basketball squad. But between a coach's coded racism and a teammate's endless sabotage, neither Andi nor Jeff is in for a layup of a season. To make matters worse, the local media smells more than one juicy story. Will Andi and Jeff be able to power through and find a way to help both their teams rebound?From sportswriting legend John Feinstein comes this fast-paced novel about two friends who are willing to risk it all to change the game—on and off the court.
Game Changers: How a Team of Underdogs and Scientists Discovered What it Takes to Win
by João MedeirosAt the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Great Britain ranked thirty-sixth in the medals table, finishing below countries like Algeria, Belgium and Kazakhstan. It was their worst ever record, a dismal performance labelled a national disgrace. But then something happened. In Sydney in 2000 and then Athens in 2004, Team GB achieved a much more respectable tenth place. By 2016, in Rio, they finished second, above China and Russia, with sixty-seven medals. How have they so convincingly reversed their fortunes?In Game Changers we meet the coaches and sports scientists who rethink how sport is analysed and understood, how athletes train and perform under pressure. In Liverpool in the 1980s, a motley group - a mathematician, a physiologist, a psychologist and a former Olympic basketball player - began to pioneer new ways of tracking performance. Over the decades that followed, performance analysis came of age, becoming an essential component of any elite team, from English Premier League title winners Manchester City to America's Cup high-performance sailing teams. Using a hybrid of scientific method and trial-and-error, scientists have uncovered the tenets of accelerated learning, the mechanics of physiological adaptation, the organisational principles behind elite teams, the understanding of how hormones and environment affect performance. These discoveries are not confined to athletic endeavours - they are universal and reveal what it takes to win not only in sports, but are applicable across a wide range of disciplines, including business, leadership and education.