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Finley Ball: How Two Baseball Outsiders Turned the Oakland A's into a Dynasty and Changed the Game Forever
by Nancy FinleyThis is the story of a losing baseball team that became a 1970s dynasty, thanks to the unorthodox strategies and stunts of two very colorful men. <P><P>When Charlie Finley bought the A's in 1960, he was an outsider to the game-a insurance businessman with a larger-than-life personality. He brought his cousin Carl on as his right-hand man, moved the team from Kansas City to Oakland, and pioneered a new way to put together a winning team. With legendary players like Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and Vida Blue, the Finleys' Oakland A's won three straight World Series and riveted the nation. <P><P>Now Carl Finley's daughter Nancy reveals the whole story behind her family's winning legacy-how her father and uncle developed their scouting strategy, why they employed odd gimmicks like orange baseballs and "mustache bonuses," and how the success of the '70s Oakland A's changed the game of baseball.
September 1918: War, Plague, and the World Series
by Skip DesjardinOne hundred years ago, in September 1918, three things came to Boston: war, plague, and the World Series. This is the unimaginable story of that late summer month, in which a division of Massachusetts militia volunteers led the first unified American fighting force into battle in France, turning the tide of World War I. Meanwhile the world’s deadliest pandemic—the Spanish Flu—erupted in Boston and its suburbs, bringing death on a terrifying scale first to military facilities and then to the civilian population. At precisely the same time, in a baseball season cut short on the homefront and amidst the surrounding ravages of death, a young pitcher named Babe Ruth rallied the sport’s most dominant team, the Boston Red Sox, to a World Series victory—the last World Series victory the Sox would see for 86 years. In September 1918: War, Plague and the World Series, the riveting, intertwined stories of this remarkable month introduce readers to a richly diverse cast of characters: David Putnam, a Boston teenager and America’s World War I Flying Ace; a transcendent Babe Ruth and his teammates, battling greedy owners and a hostile public; entire families from all social strata, devastated by sudden and horrifying influenza death; unknown political functionary Calvin Coolidge, thrust into managing the country’s first great public health crisis by an absentee governor; and New England’s soldiers, enduring trench warfare and poisonous gas to drive back German forces. At the same time, other stories were also unfolding: Cambridge high school football star Charlie Crowley, a college freshman teamed up with stars Curly Lambeau and George Gipp under a first-time coach named Knute Rockne; Boston suffrage leader Maud Wood Park was fighting for women’s right to vote, even as they flexed their developing political muscle; poet E.E. Cummings, an Army private found himself stationed at the center of a biological storm; and Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge maneuvered as the constant rival of a sitting wartime president. In the tradition of Erick Larsen's bestselling Devil in the White City, September 1918 is a haunting three-dimensional recreation of a moment in history almost too cinematic to be real.
Sport Law: A Managerial Approach
by Linda A. Sharp Anita M. Moorman Cathryn L. ClaussenSport Law: A Managerial Approach, third edition, merges law and sport management in a way that is accessible and straightforward. Its organization continues to revolve around management functions rather than legal theory. Concise explanations, coupled with relevant industry examples and cases, give readers just enough legal doctrine to understand the important concepts that apply to each area. This book will help prepare students as they get ready to assume a broad range of responsibilities in sport, education, or recreation.
Some Kind of Trouble
by Christy GissendanerTrouble with a capital "T" is about to send one ex-football player over the edge in Christy Gissendaner's new addition to the Out of Bounds series. Book 2, will make you laugh, cry, and shake your pom-poms as two exes try to control the sparks between them. Find out what happens when a sexy werebear end's up in Some Kind of Trouble!Hal and Macy just don't get along. Not since their break-up in college have the two of them spent more than five minutes in each other's company. All of that is about to change when Macy takes a job at Hal's bar, Out of Bounds.Hal is a werebear with a problem ... namely one sexy ex-cheerleader who gets under his skin. His hopes at a football career were dashed, but he's made a name for himself as a likable bar owner. When Macy appears, saying she needs money fast, he reluctantly agrees to let her waitress for him. But neither expects the sparks to flare to life again. Battling their own desires and demons, these two exes must learn to trust each other when a life and death situation threatens to tear them apart.Content Notes: Paranormal, Contemporary, Shifters, Other Weres, Sports, Athletes, Hot
Fight Princess
by M. S. KayeA murderer is on the loose, and if Celisse isn't careful, she could be his next victim. In a race against time, Celisse investigates the crime, searching for the clues that link the murder, an underground fight ring, and the man who raises the most passionate feelings in her. M.S. Kaye pens a hot, sexy, suspenseful romance in Book 1 of her Full Contact series, Fight Princess.Things aren't what they seem. Don't get involved.Celisse is too headstrong to listen. Her best friend's boyfriend is dead, and she does not heed Cullen's warning, slipped to her in a note as he's being arrested for the murder.Cullen tries to keep Celisse out of danger and also tries to avoid her, both unsuccessfully. He can't deny his feelings for her anymore, but he knows he can't have her. If she ever discovered the truth about his past, she'd surely hate him.While struggling with her intense feelings for Cullen, Celisse uses her skills as an ex-prosecutor to investigate, all while continuing to fight for Ogden, the organizer of an underground fight ring. She eventually realizes things are connected--the ring, Ogden, Cullen, the murder, and herself. She races to uncover the truth before she's arrested or becomes the next victim--or perhaps, the next culprit.Content Notes: Spicy
Spark of Doubt
by Anson BarberLove this electrifying should never be doubted. Spark of Doubt is the new paranormal romance from author Anson Barber. You won't be able to stop reading as you find that a shared secret can lead to so much more.Jasmine has been able to move things with her mind ever since she was nearly electrocuted at the age of sixteen and has kept her talent hidden from her friends and family for nearly ten years.When she discovers her boss, Marcus Weller, has the same ability, she decides to share her secret with the man she has had a crush on for years. As they experiment with the boundaries of their abilities, other boundaries start to shift and romance sparks.Though Marcus has just gotten through a trying divorce, he seems determined to start a serious relationship with a reluctant Jasmine. Unable to keep him at bay any longer, she finally concedes to his proposal, but when Jasmine suddenly loses her powers, she wonders if he'll lose interest when she's no longer special.Content Notes: Sweet
Stealing Luca's Heart
by Ellie LyonsJust what is going on at the Tetari farm in New Zealand? First her father is injured in a suspicious hunting accident, now someone is after the Tetari family and their land. With the help of charismatic businessman and eldest son, Luca Tetari, Ally Edwards is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. As passion flares and love blooms, Ally and Luca search for the answers in Ellie Lyons' romantic suspense novel, Stealing Luca's Heart, Book 1 of her new, contemporary series.When Ally Edwards' father, Cal, is injured in a suspicious hunting accident in New Zealand, she takes leave from her job as a University of Iowa economics instructor to rush down to be at her father's bedside. When she arrives, she finds herself hosted by her father's friends, the Tetari family, who welcome her into their home.Luca Tetari, the eldest son, is not only a businessman in the family corporation, but also the team captain of the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team. Luca is the consummate player, skillful on the pitch and off, indulging his fans and beguiling everyone around him. But as she gets to know him, Ally discovers that Luca is far deeper as a person than his surface charm would indicate, and soon she finds herself falling in love.But while Ally and Luca are realizing their new affections, the Tetari family and their land are under attack by unknown assailants. With a new "green" energy project in development, who is trying to take over their property, and how? Does this have anything to do with Cal's injury? After all, if someone has hurt one person, mightn't that same individual be willing to injure--or even kill--additional people to achieve his or her goals?Content Notes: Spicy, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Race Against Time
by Anson BarberHe's finally realizing his dream. There's more to her than meets the eye. Together they'll have to survive threats, secrecy, and sabotage! Strap in for high-speed action in Race Against Time, the next exciting chapter of Anson Barber's Racing Hearts paranormal romance series.Chase Hinkley is excited to be starting his semiprofessional racing career. He's eager to move up the ranks with his heart set on NASCAR, but his dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Being a driver for Burke Motorsports isn't all it's cracked up to be. His boss, Kevin Burke, is a devious man who bets against his drivers and manipulates races for his own ends.Worse is the fact Chase is falling for Burke's girl--the beautiful Ryan Westcott. Chase can't compete with the fancy gifts Burke showers her with; all he can offer is a shoulder to cry on and someone to talk to. Trying to keep his feelings within the barriers of friendship, Chase also wrestles with a car that doesn't run right, sabotage, and constant threats if he doesn't fall into line and cooperate with Burke's plans.Despite the damage to his career, he has no choice but to intervene when Ryan is threatened by Burke. Being Ryan's hero is better than winning any race on a track, and his goals quickly shift to include her. With Ryan by his side, he begins to think about a different path, one that doesn't include being on the road--a simpler future where he can settle down in his hometown, surrounded by his friends and family, and live his life with the only girl who has ever touched his heart.But Ryan isn't what she seems, and her secrets might destroy everything.Content Notes: Spicy, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense
Kindling the Past
by M. S. KayeIn the midst of tragedy, Kindle is trying to forge a new life. But when she starts having visions of the past, she needs to follow them to the truth ... no matter what the cost. Kindling the Past is M. S. Kaye's sweeping tale of friendship and love, and will be a welcome addition to your romance library.Kindle is fighting to survive on her own, to break free from her possessive and violent ex-boyfriend, and trying not to let her best friend, Anna, know she's in love with her husband. Most of all, she fights the visions she sees of the past--she doesn't believe in that kind of stuff.Then Anna is shot and killed.In their grief, Kindle and Ty, Anna's husband and Kindle's Taekwondo instructor, grow closer. Although Kindle is careful never to let him too close, he helps her learn to accept that her visions are real. Eventually, the truth about Anna's death breaks through into Kindle's visions, and she must find a way not to let it destroy her.Content Notes: Spicy, Non Sexual Graphic Violence, Non Sexual Physical Assault, Contemporary, Suspense, Paranormal, Sports, Athletes
Sacked By the Quarterback
by Belle MauriceCan bad luck be caused by the wrong you've done to someone? Sonny Black thinks so, and he's about to do something change that. Sometimes, love means saying you're sorry ... and proving it! Sacked By the Quarterback, Belle Maurice's new contemporary romance and the next book in the Afternoon Delights collection.Sonny Black was the star quarterback in high school who couldn't possibly be in love with the geekiest girl in school, Mandy Daws. He'd been seeing her under the guise of chemistry tutoring, but when his buddies found out there was a little more going on, he lied and said she was a slut, wrecking her life and earning her enduring hatred. Eleven years later, Sonny is the star quarterback headed for the Super Bowl despite amazing bad luck that has earned him the nickname Sonny Black Cloud. When someone mentions that the bad luck must stem from someone he failed in the past, the first name that comes to mind is Mandy's. He tracks her down at the small university where she teaches chemistry and tries to seduce, beg, or win her forgiveness, and he needs it before the Super Bowl.Content Notes: Hot, Contemporary, Athletes, Sports
False Start
by Marianne RiceVowing to never follow her heart again, Meg Fulton keeps men at a safe distance. But retired NFL player Connor McKay manages to crack Meg's defenses, and she discovers the sports-loving alpha male is much more than a sexy package wrapped in great biceps and a tight rear end. False Start, Book 1 of Marianne Rice's new romance series will be a welcome addition to your romance library.Ex-NFL player turned high school football coach, Connor McKay is well loved by all ... except by the sexy principal who wants to make changes to his athletic program. Intrigued by Meg Fulton's beauty and intelligence, Connor doesn't mind going head-to-head with her. When he and Meg are set up on a blind date, he's finally able to open a crack in Meg's high emotional wall and see the caring woman inside. What Connor doesn't expect is that his buddy and ex-teammate is the one responsible for Meg's wall in the first place. To choose between a one-time brother and the woman he's fallen hopelessly in love with, Connor will make the riskiest play of his life.Always the misfit growing up, newly hired high school principal Meg Fulton uses a fashionable wardrobe and a sharp tongue to keep men at a safe distance. After a drunken, abusive experience in the back of a Chevy as a naïve teen, she became a single mother with a tough hide...until Connor McKay walks into the picture. She can't stand him. He's a sports-loving alpha male--no thanks! Meg has a good reason to hate jocks. Been there, done that, much to her regret. But as her path continues to cross with Connor's, and attraction heats to a boiling point, Meg learns there's more to Connor than biceps and a tight rear end. Things are heating up with them, when someone from her past threatens to tear them apart. Meg runs for cover...and from Connor. It will take a leap of love for Meg to shed the scars of her past and let love into her life.Content Notes: Sweet, Contemporary, Sports, Athletes
False Hope
by Marianne RiceMason Tucker prefers solitude and the company of his laptop, but when vivacious Emma Fulton begs for his computer expertise in tracking down family secrets, he agrees in order to keep an eye on the feisty brunette, as trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes. Welcome back to the world of the McKay-Tucker Men. Marianne Rice is pleased to present False Hope, Book 2 of her suspenseful, romance series.Emma Fulton never had to worry about much. Socially driven and happily single, she's been blessed with charm, good looks, and a close-knit community. But after a medical emergency, a dollop of family drama, and a series of near-tragic events, she finds she must question who she can trust.Preferring solitude to intimacy, Mason Tucker's relatives make it difficult to escape social gatherings and small talk. When Emma's mother marries into his family, he finds himself reluctantly drawn to the beautiful woman who is his complete opposite. But after helping her through a terrible discovery, Emma begins to break down some of Mason's communication barriers and insecurities.When Emma asks for his assistance in tracking down a secret, Mason tags along in order to keep her safe. Unfortunately, not everyone has Emma's safety in mind when danger waits for the perfect opportunity to strike.Content Notes: Spicy, Contemporary, Suspense, Medical, Athletes
Screaming Quietly
by Evan JacobsIan Taylor is a varsity football player at School, dating one of the hottest cheerleaders on campus. At home he is his divorced mother's right hand, helping her to keep his younger autistic brother, Davey, in line. Ian considers Davey a freak. And no one must ever know about him. But it's a game changer when Davey begins attending a special day class at Ian's school. Undaunted, Ian continues his charade of denying Davey's existence, even when Davey has massive public meltdowns. He internalizes his strong feelings--Screaming Quietly inside--until resentment, anger, and embarrassment force him to burst. But his love for Davey and his desire to man up eventually allow him to overcome peer pressure and fully own his life.
The Gift (Red Rhino)
by Jim WestcottZeke’s parents have split up. His dad is hurt and angry when Zeke sides with his mother. But Zeke’s emotions go on a crazy roller coaster ride when he’s visited by a mysterious kid that only he can see ... until he finds out his grandpa can also see the ghost. Zeke’s world is rocked in new ways when he finds out that he can see and talk to the dead.
Clan Castles
by Evan JacobsNinety-nine levels. That's how tough it is to win the video game Clan Castle. Jake and his best friend, Kyle, have been playing the game for months. Now they're at Level 99. The toughest and most challenging. With luck and skill, they clear it! What happens next is unbelievable. They get transported inside the game. And they're back at Level 1. Will they ever be able to get out?
Starstruck
by Jeff GottesfeldNo longer will upper-elementary students have to read material junior to their maturity and interests. Characters are age appropriate and come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Science fiction, sports, paranormal, realistic life, historical fiction, and fantasy are just a few of the many genres.
Soccer Star Lionel Messi (Goal! Latin Stars of Soccer)
by John Albert TorresConsidered by some to be the greatest soccer star of all time, Lionel Messi's story is nothing short of spectacular. As this sports biography highlights the biggest moments of his career, it becomes quite clear why he is the most important player to Argentina's national squad and his club team, FC Barcelona.
Beyond the Battleground
by Tom BisioDrawing on ideas from classical military strategy, the Yijing (Book of Changes), and Chinese martial arts theory, Tom Bisio presents a fascinating exploration of how insights from these sources can be deployed to manage crisis situations in all aspects of our daily lives. Suggesting approaches for cultivating a strategic mindset that can be applied to one's relationships, work, and personal self-fulfillment, Beyond the Battleground offers methods of adapting to circumstances, conserving one's own resources, and avoiding or dissolving conflict that will aid any reader navigating the uncertainties of the changing world, including the business person, military theorist, or martial artist. Deftly interweaving his background in East Asian philosophy and history and his career in traditional Chinese medicine with his lifelong interest in the martial arts and military science, Bisio also presents examples of successful strategies from history's great commanders such as Sunzi, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Mao Zedong.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Lost Samurai School: Secrets of Mubyoshi Ryu
by Antony Cummins Mieko KoizumiAvailable for the first time in English, this book is both an illustrated samurai arts manual and a groundbreaking historical account of the teachings of a Japanese samurai who formed a school known as Mubyoshi Ryu in the 1600s. Abundantly illustrated with more than 350 images representing the practices of Mubyoshi Ryu, The Lost Samurai School collects and translates ancient documents that contain the instructions of founding master Hagiwara Juzo, revealing the enthralling martial arts, secret weapons, magic, and espionage as they were practiced by samurai in their daily lives. The scrolls contain fascinating descriptions of "civilian" samurai skills, which concentrate more on personal protection than battlefield warfare, including the full ninja curriculum and elements of esoteric magic. Antony Cummins contextualizes the many expertly translated documents with a history of the era, the school, and its grandmaster. The illustrations bring to life the skills required to master everything from jūjutsu, to shuriken-jutsu (throwing blades), to swords, to chain weapons, to the quarterstaff. The Lost Samurai School is a journey into the past that will preserve such skills for the future.
Introduction to Baguazhang: From Circle Walking to Advanced Practices
by Kent HowardThis clear, step-by-step guide to the fundamentals of Bagua Zhang lays out the principles, practices, and underlying philosophy of this cerebral and sophisticated Chinese internal martial art. Leading readers from the most basic precepts of Bagua Zhang practice to advanced techniques, Kent Howard draws on his deep understanding of the art and his decades of teaching to set students on a path toward mastery. While Bagua Zhang is often perceived as a complex martial art that is difficult to learn, Howard breaks it down into clear and easily absorbed principles and exercises that beginners can master and incorporate into higher levels of practice at their own pace. Numerous easy-to-follow photographs illustrate core practices such as circle-walking, post standing, and palm changes, as well as foundandational techniques of posture and alignment, fluid motion, generating whole-body power, absorbing and redirecting energy, striking while in motion, and much more. In addition to providing a solid foundation for a lifetime practice, Bagua Zhang Fundamentals also offers more advanced practitioners valuable tips on how to increase their knowledge and understanding of this multifaceted martial art.
Heaven's Wind: The Life and Teachings of Nakamura Tempu-A Mind-Body Integration Pioneer
by Stephen EarleFor the first time in English, Stephen Earle tells the epic story of Nakamura Tempu, one of Japan’s most inspirational twentieth-century thinkers and teachers, whose mind-body approach to personal transformation influenced hundreds of thousands, including prominent leaders in government, industry, and the arts. Earle chronicles Tempu’s origins in the samurai tradition, his genius for martial arts, and his work in Manchuria as a spy during the Russo-Japan War of 1904–1905. He relates how, after escaping a Russian firing squad, Tempu contracted tuberculosis; how he embarked on a search for a cure that led to the halls of Columbia University, the salons of Paris, and the foothills of the Himalayas, where he practiced yoga under the tutelage of an Indian guru; and how he not only regained his health but also underwent a spiritual transformation. This transformation laid the groundwork for the secular and practical methodology for self-realization and the cultivation of will that Tempu developed and disseminated to the sick and socially disenfranchised, as well as to princes and prime ministers. Over the course of nine decades, Tempu’s philosophy of mind-body unification has charted a clear and accessible path to mastery over hardship and the ability to meet life’s challenges head-on. Yet, the man, his story, his teachings, and his legacy remain almost unknown outside of Japan—until now. In addition to demonstrating how Tempu’s teachings were significant to Japan’s reconstruction and economic rise following the devastation of World War II, Heaven’s Wind is also an engaging historical narrative, an account of personal transformation, and a clear guide to the practical philosophy of mind-body unity.
Lifelong Yoga: Maximizing Your Balance, Flexibility, and Core Strength in Your 50s, 60s, and Beyond
by Alexandra Desiato Roy Williams Sage RountreeYoga offers vital tools for healthy aging: strength, flexibility, balance, and peace of mind. In this one-of-a-kind book, Sage Rountree and Alexandra DeSiato describe the poses and routines that can help keep people of any age fit and injury free. In addition to demonstrating simple ways to maintain and even increase our ability to be active into our 50s, 60s, and beyond, the authors—both yoga teachers with decades of experience—offer poses and routines aimed toward specific goals, such as improving balance, maintaining strength and flexibility, and recovering properly between workouts. Each fully illustrated sequence is introduced with a brief overview of its benefits, along with modifications and options suited to individual requirements. Rountree and DeSiato also offer sequences that help support specific activities such as running, swimming, or golf, as well as yard work, travel, and caring for grandchildren. An essential and easy-to-follow guide, Lifelong Yoga offers key practices for maintaining and improving physical and mental well-being throughout a lifetime.
Moving Stretch: Work Your Fascia to Free Your Body
by Suzanne WyldeMoving Stretch is an effective, powerful, and enjoyable type of resistance stretching that not only strengthens and frees the body, but reconditions the body's fascia, rejuvenates the tissue, releases adhesions, relieves pain, and increases flexibility. This accessible guide gives step-by-step instructions for people who feel tight or older than they should, people with poor posture, athletes who want to boost their performance, and those who want something more than conventional stretching. This book provides you with many different stretches for the whole body including the hands and feet, as well as routines for specific goals such as improving posture, helping office workers stay healthy, stretching the back, and more. Even those with sedentary lives will see and feel a difference, with just 10-20 minutes of stretching yielding benefits that may last the whole day.Many of us are limited in our movements, hunched over, or tight. Ideally we would move in a variety of ways throughout the day, keeping our bodies fresh and youthful. However, office jobs and sofas can lead to bodies that are imprisoned in a cage of tension, whose tissue is dehydrated and stuck together, with some areas that are very weak or tight. Normal stretching is not strong enough to break us out of that state. When we tense our bodies and move through that tension, we engage the fascia and recondition it into a more youthful state, restoring great posture, elasticity, and power.
The Kata and Bunkai of Goju-Ryu Karate: The Essence of the Heishu and Kaishu Kata
by Giles HopkinsChallenging timeworn conventions of karate training and revealing the original intent of classical kata—or forms—through detailed descriptions of self-defense applications known as bunkai, this is a crucial addition to any martial-arts library. Containing more than 265 photos, the book is divided into chapters that illuminate each of the ten classical kata of Goju-ryu. Drawing on more than forty years of experience in the martial arts, Giles Hopkins Sensei takes us on a journey into the Goju-ryu karate system, providing a principles-based method for analysis of kata practice. Arguing against the commonly held notion that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, he insists that a kata cannot simply mean what the user wants it to mean, but contains specific martial principles that must be followed for it to work effectively. The step-by-step descriptions of the receiving, controlling or bridging, and finishing techniques contain in-depth analysis of commonly misunderstood aspects of kata. Each chapter concludes with an engaging anecdote from the author’s time in Okinawa, the birthplace of Goju-ryu, connecting it with the kata under discussion. Equally useful for the novice and for more advanced karate practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of kata and bunkai.
Teaching Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: A Practical Guide
by Brendon Abram Mark Stephens Margaret A. HowardA practical, hands-on, experienced-based guide from a military veteran turned yoga teacherBrendon Abram combines his first-hand experience with PTSD in the field and years of teaching to offer this practical guide to bringing trauma-sensitive yoga to both clinical and studio settings. Drawing on his work with military veterans, first responders, and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, he emphasizes the importance of respecting the uniqueness of every individual and demonstrates how to use the foundational principles of yoga to create a safe experience. Abram explains that basic principles of yoga bring power to the practice and that breath, mindful movement, focused awareness, and acceptance of present-moment experience form the foundation of any yoga offering.