Conventional wisdom long held that big name, highly athletic hitters and young pitchers with rocket arms were the ticket to success. But Beane and his staff, buoyed by massive amounts of carefully interpreted statistical data, believed that wins could be had by more affordable methods such as hitters with high on-base percentage and pitchers who get lots of ground outs. Given this information and a tight budget, Beane defied tradition and his own scouting department to build winning teams of young affordable players and inexpensive castoff veterans. Lewis was in the room with the A's top management as they spent the summer of 2002 adding and subtracting players and he provides outstanding play-by-play. In the June player draft, Beane acquired nearly every prospect he coveted (few of whom were coveted by other teams) and at the July trading deadline he engaged in a tense battle of nerves to acquire a lefty reliever. Besides being one of the most insider accounts ever written about baseball, Moneyball is populated with fascinating characters. We meet Jeremy Brown, an overweight college catcher who most teams project to be a 15th round draft pick (Beane takes him in the first). Sidearm pitcher Chad Bradford is plucked from the White Sox triple-A club to be a key set-up man and catcher Scott Hatteberg is rebuilt as a first baseman. But the most interesting character is Beane himself. A speedy athletic can't-miss prospect who somehow missed, Beane reinvents himself as a front-office guru, relying on players completely unlike, say, Billy Beane. Lewis, one of the top nonfiction writers of his era (Liar's Poker, The New New Thing), offers highly accessible explanations of baseball stats and his roadmap of Beane's economic approach makes Moneyball an appealing reading experience for business people and sports fans alike. --John Moe

    K. Nayudu and Sachin Tendulkar naturally figure in this captivating history of cricket in India, but so too—in arresting and unexpected ways—do Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Indian careers of those great English cricketers Lord Harris and D. R. Jardine provide a window into the operations of Empire, while the extraordinary life of India's first great slow bowler, Palwankar Baloo, introduces the still-unfinished struggle against caste discrimination. Later chapters explore the competition between Hindu and Muslim cricketers in colonial India and the extraordinary passions now provoked when India plays Pakistan. An important, pioneering work, this is also a beautifully-written meditation on the ramifications of sport in society at large, and on how sport can influence both social and political history.

    In this revised edition of "When the Game Stands Tall," author Neil Hayes, who had unrestricted access to the De La Salle team, writes from the inside about the games, the players, and their visionary coach, Bob Ladouceur, who managed to amass the highest winning percentage in football history (.995) through standing for something greater than winning. The book, which also features interviews with major sports figures like Bill Walsh and John Gruden, is a revealing portrait of the coach who believed above all in instilling basic life skills where winning is not the goal, but merely the byproduct of playing the game. The Streak had become a national story long before it ended in September 2004. In this revised paperback, Neil Hayes catches up on the lives of the main characters and takes readers through the final tumultuous year. What results is a timeless and inspirational story of struggle, tragedy, and triumph.

    Firing fastballs at ninety miles per hour, he loves being a winner. But when his father is accused of a crime, Shane's charmed world is turned upside down. Nothing is the way it once was, and Shane's not sure he wants to -- or even can -- pitch ever again. But like baseball, life sometimes throws you curves, and Shane discovers it's how you play the game that counts most of all.

    He saw the exceptional play on the basketball court and the surprising poise with which LeBron has handled the pressure, the scrutiny, the criticism that arrived with the early onset of fame.The odds were against James from the start. Born in poverty to a 16-year-old single mom, without a stable home for the first decade of his life, LeBron could have become just one more scarred product of a rough childhood in the projects. Instead, he became the darling of the sports world--and he plays the part well.He was called the best high school basketball player ever. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior, was featured on national television, and signed more than $100 million in promotional contracts before the end of his senior year. It was no surprise when he became the no-doubt-about-it No. 1 pick in the NBA draft right after high school graduation.This is a story for any fan who wants to get to know LeBron better, and for anyone curious about how a high-school basketball phenom is made.

    . . . Both lyrical and gripping." — KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)When Paul Faustino of LA NACION flips on his tape recorder for an exclusive interview with El Gato — the phenomenal goalkeeper who single-handedly brought his team the World Cup — the seasoned reporter quickly learns that this will be no ordinary story. Instead, the legendary El Gato narrates a spellbinding tale that begins in the South American rainforest, where a ghostly but very real mentor, the Keeper, emerges to teach a poor, gawky boy the most thrilling secrets of the game. A seamless blend of magic realism and exhilarating soccer action, this evocative novel will haunt readers long after the story ends.

    He was the undisputed finest high school player in America. He was the one NBA scouts drooled over, corporations dreamed of, event promoters begged for, and now fans clamor after. Never before had a high school basketball player been so highly touted or an eighteen-year-old athlete been the subject of such fascination. Maybe no basketball player in the world has had that level of attention.Now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron has become a certified NBA all-star. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that LeBron James is a force on the basketball court, and his rags to riches story is the stuff that dreams are made of.Ryan Jones has updated his smash hit book King James to incorporate everything that is LeBron: the controversy, the star power, the shoes, the cars, the hobnobbing with the world's most famous celebrities, and, of course, the game. This is a book for every fan of LeBron James and for anybody interested in reading about an NBA legend in the making.

    Each of the two-page readings contains life wisdom from the Coach, application and reflection from Jay and a daily Scripture reading and prayer.

    Olga Korbut came before her, and many other medalists would follow, but none has ever been as dominant in winning the hearts of millions around the world. With grit and determination, Nadia Comaneci ushered in a new era for women's sports, one where young girls could vault into the arena of superstardom. Even today, almost thirty years after her greatest triumphs, you need only mention the name "Nadia" and gymnastics fans know instantly whom you are talking about.In Letters to a Young Gymnast, Nadia shows what it takes to achieve athletic perfection and become the best. With inspiring and dramatic stories from her own experience, she tells us how the young girl that Bela Karolyi discovered in a Romanian elementary school found the inner strength to become a world-class athlete at such a young age. This collection of Nadia's memories, anecdotes, and advice grants unique insights into the mind of a top competitor. From how to live after you've realized your dream, to the necessity of "a spirit forged with mettle," Nadia's thoughts on athleticism and sacrifice are eye-opening and surprisingly challenging.

    With the same exuberant spirit that fueled the formation of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, joyful text & jubilant pictures celebrate these brave girls' love of the game & the league they called their own.

    One hundred seasons of baseball. One hundred years of tradition. This official book celebrates the most successful team in sports history. Lavishly illustrated and designed with more than 175 photographs from the Yankees’ own archives, some never seen before, this dazzling volume brings to life a century of baseball with the Bronx Bombers.This winning retrospective captures the glorious championships, intense rivalries, and unparalleled players who have thrilled millions of fans year after year. From the unbeatable, record-breaking 1927 Yankees managed by Hall-of Famer Miller Huggins to the ongoing legacy of Joe Torre and his phenomenal four World Series victories; from such unforgettable players as the Babe, Lou Gehrig, and Yogi Berra, to today’s powerhouse hitters Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Jason Giambi; from the early magnificent days in the House That Ruth Built to the Steinbrenner era that heralded unprecedented excellence for three decades and counting—here is an inimitable portrait of America’s team.Taking you where no other book has gone before—onto the field and into the bull pens and locker rooms—it features notable essays by leading writers like Roger Kahn and Robert Creamer, along with dozens of candid, first-person accounts and reminiscences from the players themselves.A must-have keepsake for every fan, this fitting tribute to the Yankees 100th season, a is brimming with some of the most astonishing athletes and accomplishments ever, including Joe DiMaggio’s fifty-six game hit streak, Roger Marris’ sixty-one homers, and Mickey Mantle’s Triple Crown season. Like the Yankees themselves, this book is sure to be a classic.From the Hardcover edition.

    Enjoy 40 maps, 130 photographs, 26 pages of color photos, remarkable personal accounts of falls and historical descents, a foreword by Scot Schmidt, and a bonus chapter by Shane McConkey. Learn about each route in detail including the "difficulty", "fun factor", "pitch", and "hero factor". Also learn about the ski movies each line is in and where in those ski movies you can find them.

    Chapters cover the basics of training and fitness; training specifics for swim, bike, and marathon; mental strategies; and more. Sample training plans, photographs, charts, tables and case studies are also included.

    Which means nobody else could have written Tales from the Blues Bench. This rollicking book, co-written with award-winning St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriter Tom Wheatley, details Plager's romance with the Bluenotes from day one in 1967 to the present day. He was an original Blues player, a rugged defenseman whose specialty was the hip check. He remains an original personality and a good-humored man whose specialty is now the quick quip. As a master storyteller, Plager packs Tales from the Blues Bench with insights from every level of the hockey rink. He chronicles the puzzling mind games of a young Scotty Bowman, the quirky coach whose legend began with the original Blues. In those old-school days, Plager learned memorable lessons from veterans like Al Arbour, Doug Harvey, Glenn Hall, Dickie Moore, and Jacques Plante, all headed to the Hall of Fame. The early years also brought the three Plager brothers -- Bob, Barclay, and Billy -- together in St. Louis after they battled out of little Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Bob played long enough to help break in two Western Canadian kids, future captain Brian Sutter and future Hall of Famer Bernie Federko. Plager later coached a new generation of stars in St. Louis, players like Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan, and Curtis Joseph. As head coach of the Peoria, Illinois, farm team, he led the Rivermen to a championship and a pro hockey- record 18-straight wins, developing future Blues like Kelly Chase and Nelson Emerson. The years unfortunately brought tragedy, as well, with the premature deaths of Bob Gassoff, Doug Wickenheiser, and Bob's beloved brother Barclay. The tears and the cheers, the fun and the frustration -- it is all found in Tales from the Blues Bench, as only Bob Plager could tell it.

    Basketball on Paper doesn’t diagram plays or explain how players get in shape, but instead demonstrates how to interpret player and team performance. Dean Oliver highlights general strategies for teams when they’re winning or losing and what aspects should be the focus in either situation. He describes and quantifies the jobs of team leaders and role players, then discusses the interactions between players and how to achieve the best fit. Oliver conceptualizes the meaning of teamwork and how to quantify the value of different types of players working together. He examines historically successful NBA teams and identifies what made them so successful: individual talent, a system of putting players together, or good coaching. Oliver then uses these statistical tools and case studies to evaluate the best players in history, such as Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Charles Barkley and how they contributed to their teams’ success. He does the same for some of the NBA’s "oddball" players-Manute Bol, Muggsy Bogues, and Dennis Rodman and for the WNBA’s top players. Basketball on Paper is unique in its incorporation of business and analytical concepts within the context of basketball to measure the value of players in a cooperative setting. Whether you’re looking for strategies or new ideas to throw out while watching the ballgame at a sports bar, Dean Oliver’sBasketball on Paper will give you amazing new insights into teamwork, coaching, and success.

    Sportswriter Terry Pluto profiles the colorful players who made that season so memorable. He takes us through the entire 1964 season from training camp at Hiram College to the championship game in Municipal Stadium. Along the way he recreates an era and a team for which pride was not just a slogan.They were a team of men in the truest sense of the words, men who didn't expect to be coddled, men who didn't believe the world should genuflect at the mere mention of their names. They had the greatest running back in the history of football, and a coach who wore a hearing aid. Their quarterback had a Ph.D. in math. They had a defensive end who was a preacher, and a halfback who became a millionaire. Together, they won it all.Back before Free Agency, before shoe contracts and end zone dances, football was a tough game played by men who loved it. They had real jobs in the off season, as insurance salesmen or manufacturers' representatives, and they lived in the community where they played. They were grateful to the fans for their support and believed that nothing they accomplished was important unless the team won.

    Hockey Tough provides players and coaches proven methods for mastering the mental side of the game. Author Saul Miller shares the psychological training and emotional management techniques he has successfully taught individual hockey players and teams for over 20 years.Throughout the book, NHL stars such as Mark Messier, Pavel Bure, Chris Pronger, and Markus Naslund offer insights and tips on a variety of topics related to achieving a winning mind-set for the sport. These players explain how to focus and score, how to deal with personality conflicts on and off the ice, and how to bounce back with confidence after a subpar performance.Miller, one of North America's most prolific and sought-after sport psychology consultants in hockey, presents mental exercises and assignments to help players-develop a winning attitude on and off the ice, -stay focused to execute skills and tactics, -maintain the mental stamina required in this physically demanding sport, -overcome emotional fatigue and physical aches and pains to perform at the highest level throughout the season, -manage their anger to avoid costly penalties in crucial game situations, and-develop the discipline and tenacity to force and capitalize on opponents' mistakes.Miller presents many other topics of interest, such as the intangibles that coaches and scouts look for in players and what it takes to make it to the top level of competition.Motivation, teamwork, leadership, and poise are essential factors to successful performance. Hockey Tough will strengthen each of these areas and help players achieve a mind-set to excel on the ice.

    . . colorful descriptions make this a fun read." -Los Angeles Times "One of the best sports books of the year." -Booklist Ken Baker wanted nothing more than to play ice hockey with the pros-until a brain tumor cut his dreams short while in college. After surgery and several years of rehab, Baker, who in high school was a top prospect for the U.S. Olympic team, put his successful journalism career on hold to attempt the seemingly impossible: a comeback. He moved away from his family to become the third-string goalie for the Bakersfield Condors, an AA-level minor-league team in the dusty oil town of Bakersfield, California. At the age of thirty-one, Baker became the oldest rookie in all of pro-hockey, facing 100-m.p.h. slap shots and long bus rides, hostile fans and cheap motel rooms, body bruises, and battle-worn teammates. From his visit to an NHL training camp to his first nerve-rattled minutes as a pro, Baker joins the rookies who still dream of making it to the Show, the veterans long past their prime, and the obsessive fans who keep them going. When the season is over, Baker's pro-hockey adventure ends up teaching him nearly everything he will ever need to know about life.

    With 1,500 alphabetical entries and 300 illustrations, The Encyclopedia of Surfing is the most comprehensive review of the people, places, events, equipment, vernacular, and lively history of this fascinating sport by "one of surfing's most knowledgeable historians" (San Francisco Chronicle). Each year, the surf industry brings in $4.5 billion, and more than two-and-a-half million Americans, from California to Delaware, have caught the wave. The Encyclopedia of Surfing is a book that no surfer-or armchair adventurer-will be able to resist.

    Some make the trip as boys, when the promise of a spot in the lineup with the Yankees or Red Sox or Tigers glows on the horizon, as certain as the sunrise. Some go later in life, long after their Little League years, to glimpse the past, not the future. And still others talk of somedays and of pilgrimages that await. For Tom Stanton, the trip took nearly three decades. The dream first grabbed hold of him in 1972, in the era of Vietnam and Watergate and Johnny Bench and the Oakland Athletics. Stanton, then an eleven-year-old Michigan boy who lived for the game, became fascinated by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the sport’s spiritual home, the place to which great players aspire. He plotted ways to convince his father to take him to the famous village along Lake Otsego. But his plans for that season never materialized. They disappeared in the turmoil caused by his mother’s life-threatening illness and his brother’s antiwar activities. Still, the dream lingered through the summers that followed. Twenty-nine years later, he invited the two men who had introduced him to the sport, his elderly father and his older brother, to join him on a trip to the Hall. Finally, they embarked on their long-delayed adventure. The Road to Cooperstown is a true story populated with colorful characters: a philanthropic family that launched the museum and uses its wealth to, among other things, ensure that McDonald’s stays out of the turn-of-the-century downtown; the devoted fan who wrote a book to get his hero into the Hall of Fame; the Guyana native who grew up without baseball but comes to the induction ceremony every year; the librarian on a mission to preserve his great-grandfather’s memory; the baseball legends who appear suddenly along Main Street; and the dying man who fulfills one of his last wishes on a warm day in spring. As he did with his award-winning book, The Final Season, Tom Stanton again tells a magical tale of fathers, brothers, and baseball heroes certain to resonate with sports fans everywhere. This adventure, though brief, provides a true bonding experience that is the heart of a sweet, one-of-a-kind book about baseball, family, the Hall of Fame, and the town with which it shares a rich heritage.

    . . and for my money he's the best there is at it," says novelist Richard Ford in his introduction to Game Time. Angell's famous explorations of the summer game are built on acute observation and joyful participation, conveyed in a prose style as admired and envied as Ted Williams's swing. Angell on Fenway Park in September, on Bob Gibson brooding in retirement, on Tom Seaver in mid-windup, on the abysmal early and recent Mets, on a scout at work in backcountry Kentucky, on Pete Rose and Willie Mays and Pedro Martinez, on the astounding Barry Bonds at Pac Bell Park, and more, carry us through the arc of the season with refreshed understanding and pleasure. This collection represents Angell's best writings, from spring training in 1962 to the explosive World Series of 2002.

    Their collective efforts are sure to make thi

    From his discovery in the middle of a Minnesota field to his 1943 comeback season at Wrigley, from the University of Minnesota to the Hall of Fame, Bronko Nagurksi's life is a story of grit, hard work, passion, and, above all, an unstoppable drive to win.Monster of the Midway recounts Nagurski's unparalleled triumphs during the 1930s and '40s, when the Chicago Bears were the kings of professional football. From 1930, the Bronk's first year, through 1943, his last, the Bears won five NFL titles and played in four other NFL Championship Games. Focusing on Nagurski's 1943 comeback season, and how he miraculously led the Bears to their fourth NFL championship against the backdrop of World War II era Chicago, Jim Dent uncovers the riveting drama of Nagurski's playing days. His efforts were the stuff of legend, and his success in 1943 accomplished in spite of a battered frame, worn-out knees, multiple cracked ribs, and a broken bone in his lower back.While chronicling the drama of the '43 championship chase, Dent also tells of both the Bears' colorful early years and Bronko's improbable rise to fame from the backwoods of northern Minnesota. Woven into the narrative are the sights and smells and sounds of one of the most romantic, flavorful eras of the twentieth century. And laced through it all are stories of legend: Bronko rubbing shoulders with colorful characters like George Halas, Red Grange, Sid Luckman, and Sammy Baugh; Bronko running into (and breaking) the brick wall at Wrigley Field; Bronko winning All-American spots for two positions; Bronko knocking scores of opponents unconscious; and Bronko reaching the heights of football glory and, with rare grace, turning his back on the game after winning his last championship.Rich in unforgettable stories and scenes, this is Jim Dent's account of Bronko Nagurski-arguably the greatest football player who ever lived-and his teammates, the roughest, toughest, rowdiest group of players ever to don leather helmets, and the original Monsters of the Midway.

    Describes the life and career of the basketball superstar and center for the Los Angeles Lakers.

    Players of every skill level will find ways to improve their game and get ahead of their opponents with 350 of Byrne's clever and intricately diagrammed moves ??—?? many of which are outlined here for the first time by one of the game's most masterful players and teachers.

    This handbook contains essential information for competitive boxers, fitness boxers, martial artists, coaches, and fans. Find answers to your boxing questions, including: Why should a boxer lead with the shoulder? How should my boxing strategy change, depending upon the style of my opponent? How do judges score bouts? Which drills will make me more effective in the ring? Easy-to-follow instructions, diagrams, charts and tables help you understand competitive boxing skills and strategy you can put to use in the gym or in the ring. Learn to make informed decisions about your training, and gain the competitive edge for immediate success.

    The PROSPECTUS gives you the final word on what the players did, why they did it, and what they're going to do in the future. Readers will get the in-depth statistics covering every crack of the bat from the 2002 season that they would expect. They'll also find entertaining essays on every team and articles on special-interest topics not found anywhere else. Sprinkled throughout are the same touches of irreverent humor that BASEBALL PROSPECTUS readers enjoy and expect. The exclusive Davenport Translations again compare performances across leagues and ballparks, and the PROSPECTUS provides new ways to analyze everything, from starting pitchers' win-loss records to pitcher workloads to bull pen effectiveness. Find out why ESPN's Peter Gammons says, "BASEBALL PROSPECTUS's rankings are an invaluable tool. If more general managers understood them, they wouldn't do some of the trades they do."

    One of the game's great characters. A man who faced doen the demons. A top television pundit and columnist. This is the story of James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves, one of the all-time greats of English football.Jimmy Greaves was born in east London in February 1940, and from humble beginnings began his rise to the top of the game. He scored on his Chelsea debut, aged seventeen, and became the first player to score 100 goals before the age of twenty-one. When Jimmy left Stanford Bridge for AC Milan in 1963, it outraged the Chelsea faithful, but after only four months Jimmy returned to London, to Tottenham Hotspur for £99,999. Scoring a hat-trick on his debut, Jimmy went on to help Spurs win the fA Cup and the European Cup-Winners' Cup. Throughout the 1960s Greavsie was the hero of White Hart Lane.But for all his success at both club and international level (44 goals in 57 games), there were dark struggles to overcome too. An injury picked up in the final group game of the 1966 World Cup meant that Jimmy cast a forlorn figure on the sidelines during England football's finest hour. And after a move to West Ham at the start of the 1970s, Jimmy career would be plagued by alcoholism. But however powerful his addiction, Jimmy was too strong a character to be pulled under. He came through and reinvented himself as a celebrated pundit on the beautiful game.'Greavsie' is a gripping and truthful autobiography, the story of a remarkable life laced with Jimmy's trademark wit. It is a fascinating account of the golden era of football, the characters who populated it, and the goalscoring machine at the centre of it all.

    Avid stat fans look forward to it every year, and casual baseball fans enjoy its comprehensive content. This book contains a myriad of stats on every hit, pitch and catch in Major League Baseball's 2007 season. New and key features include: Improved! Manufactured Runs and Manager's Record Exclusive! The Fielding Bible Awards New! Young Talent Inventory Career data for every 2007 major leaguer (and a few bonus players), with more statistical categories than any other book. Other unique stats include: Win Shares, Team Efficiency Summary, Career Assessments

    But, I read the book from cover to cover. I just couldn't stop. I loved it! The good thing about the book is that it is written from the heart -- truthful and fearless. I recommend it highly to anyone who has ever touched a barbell or dumbbell. Bob Kennedy - Publisher of Musclemag International A Fantastic Book by one of the Good Guys in the Iron Game. This book, like Bill Pearl, is a model of perfection. A very through and factual book with humor thrown in. The photos alone are worth the cost. Pat Casey What an extraordinary story. You have had more experiences in your lifetime than most of us could have in several. Not only that, you didn't sit back and wait for life to happen or come to you…you went after IT! You touched my heart, made me laugh, think and admire. I found it truly amazing and inspirational. Thank you for sharing. Stacy Krayer This book goes far beyond the usual "schmaltzy" and "humdrum" bodybuilding autobiography. Not just another "sets and reps" publication, this is the story of Bill Pearl's personal journey through life, in which he reveals himself as a well-rounded, talented, intelligent man who was never just a "muscle head." Pearl's writing is engaging, humorous and honest, without embellishment, and he has more stories to tell than the brothers Grimm! What is constant throughout is his love for the Iron Game and his sadness at some of the changes that have manifested themselves over the years. Never one for holding back, Bill's frank and sometimes raw comments regarding his early years I found very moving and his revelations of what goes on behind the scenes of championship bodybuilding will not only surprise but also amuse readers of this splendid narrative. His down-to-earth, candid comments on some of the stars of bodybuilding are both interesting and informative and most definitely capture the true personalities of people such as John Grimek, Reg Park, Clancy Ross, Sergio Oliva, Lee Haney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Leo Stern, etc. Bill's account of his brief stint in the movies and his relationship with the "one and only" Arthur Jones help make this book delightfully different. His adventures in many parts of the world make very interesting reading and his chapter on "The Golden Age of Strength Training" is very well done and should be well received by all who have ever trained with weights. In an age where the word "superstar" is tossed around lightly, its true meaning has become all but lost. In the world of bodybuilding there are, in my opinion, just a handful of people who deserve this title, Bill Pearl is most definitely one of them. George Coates - contributing author to numerous physique magazines This is 290 pages of fascinating reading for all of us who will never forget those magic days. It introduces us to all manner of personages that Bill meet along the way ranging from John Grimek to John Paul Getty to Sri Chinmoy to Arthur Jones - a must read. Gary Cleveland Candid, Powerful, Amazing insight into a true Icon Strongman and Bodybuilding Champion. Bill Pearl was and is the forward thinking visionary of the physical culture. His story is a must for all exercise enthusiasts and historians. Dr. Jeffrey W. Noah - North Carolina Amateur Physique Association (NCAPA) Chairman This delightful book is a "must-buy" for true muscle fans. Full of humour combined with humility, it is the real story of one of the world's greatest ever bodybuilding champions. Read and discover the many untold stories and hidden facets of Bill Pearl's fantastic bodybuilding career, which covers the Golden Years of muscle building, from Grimek to Schwarzenegger. Bill's, latest and for me, his best book yet, contains "Pearl's" of wisdom, fascinating facts e.g. Did you know Bill was also a musician and competent mesmerist (hypnotist, which must have been why he always got me to pay for the drinks) and a wealth of rarely seen photographs and illustrations. The book is an emotional and at times hilariously honest journey, from his early tough childhood to the worlds' greatest physique. Highly recommended reading. I absolutely loved it, and can only say "Thanks Bill for the memories." David Gentle - renown author and physical culture historian Want to find out who the real Bill Pearl is, without the bulletproof muscle magazines protecting his image. Four years in the making "Beyond the Universe - The Bill Pearl Story" is the most inspiring autobiography I have read in years. From Pearl's humble beginnings near Prineville, Oregon to his current place as the true ICON of the Iron Game. The many unexpected twists and turns of the story will make you laugh, think, ponder the meaning of life, but most of all it will entertain you, hard to put down. The chapter about Arthur Jones alone is worth the price of the book. Profusely illustrated with hundreds of pictures from Bill's exciting career as a physique star, gym owner, antique car collector, travels around the world. If you buy one book this year make it "Beyond the Universe". You won't be disappointed. Osmo Kiiha "The Bill Pearl Story" - An inspiring and true story evidencing that a steadfast adherence to the principals and application of hard work and fair dealings with others will overcome adversity and result in true success. Christopher A. Toy One hundred years from now, sports historians will turn to Bill's book for insights into the world of bodybuilding as it existed in the late twentieth century. Its honesty and lack of BS will make it a classic of sports literature. David Chapman In reading this book you will not only know the man Bill Pearl, you will get to know the "pearl" Bill Pearl. Raymond Long This is THE book for any bodybuilding aficionado but especially the Bill Pearl fan. The hundreds of photographs alone are worth at least twice the price of the book but perhaps more importantly, Bill tells you his story from his heart and that's priceless. Mike Payne

    From Wilt Chamberlin's 100-point game to Michael Jordan's 1989 last-minute miracle shot against Cleveland, every stunning event in basketball history is included in this important book--a must for any sports fan.

    24 photos, 12 in color.

    Andrews, Augusta National, Pinehurst, Pebble Beach. And anyone who has played the royal and ancient sport is an armchair architect at heart. From alterations for their home course to visions of their very own backyard dream course, most golfers would love to test their hands at course design.What makes certain courses timeless? Unlike the venues of other popular recreational sports like tennis and racquetball, whose playing fields are bound by strict measurements that do not vary, each golf course is unique. Offering an endless topographical variety, from short to long, flat or hilly, wet or dry, every course represents a compelling blend of risks versus rewards, with decisions and challenges to test every golfer’s game and mental toughness. Combining Geoff Shackelford’s informative narrative with detailed illustrations by architect Gil Hanse, Grounds for Golf explains the fundamentals of golf course design in an understandable and entertaining style. Modern photographs, anecdotal sidebars, and witty quotations augment a course design primer that will enhance readers’ enjoyment of golf's lore while introducing the fundamentals of course design. By explaining the golf course from the ground up, Grounds for Golf will not only help readers in their understanding of the game, but will help their games themselves.

    From Fred Geary to Alex Young and Dixie Dean through to such modern icons as Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill, Everton: The School of Science takes in the stories of all the men who made the club great. Fully revised and updated to include all the action to the closing stages of the 2009/10 season, Everton: The School of Science is the definitive history of one of English football’s aristocrats; an engrossing and graphic account of the inside stories, glories and shattered dreams of ‘The People’s Club’. Written with the enthusiasm and stoicism of a committed fan, the wit of a fanzine and the authority of a historian, it is the ultimate guide to the team’s story.

    More than a decade after his reign, Bo is synonymous with Michigan and victory, having guided his team through one of the most successful eras in college football. During 21 years of coaching, Bo led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten titles and never had a losing season. Dan Ewald explores the pugnacious will, vision and determination Bo applied to his team and life itself.

    But racing is very difficult, complicated, hard work."--Tyler Alexander, Racing Engineer since 1964 For the first time, the enthralling history of one of the world's greatest sporting spectacles is told by its leading players--Jackie Stewart, Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ayrton Senna, and many others--the Formula 1 drivers, team bosses, designers, pit crews, journalists, spouses, lovers, camp followers, and fans. A beautifully illustrated and hugely ambitious project, assembled by a group of top journalists who have all covered the sport for years, this compendium is packed with action photography. Often controversial viewpoints come directly from those who act out the life-and-death dramas on the road. The chronicle starts with the grainy photos and rare memoirs of pioneering days a century ago, using the words of the men who began it all, such as Karl Benz and Sir Henry Segrave. Year by year, event by thrilling event, follow the innovations in car technology and racing technique to today's high-tech, high-finance, high-danger game; where grime and glitz, pain and passion are a way of life. The photo cavalcade puts you into the driver's seat in fiery crashes and finish-line celebrations. Rare behind-the-scenes sessions and a collector-quality gallery of the most famous driving machines of all time are part of the excitement.

    

    The spirit of Buckeyes football is not captured by just one phrase, one season, or one particular game; instead, the student-athletes and coaches who made the magic happen over eight decades blend their experiences to capture the true essence of their beloved school. From Howard "Hopalong" Cassady and Chris Spielman to Cris Carter and the players who helped win the 2002 National Championship, Ohio State fans will relish the intimate stories told by the figures they have come to cherish.

    It supplements the photos and provides insights on application, timing, and strategy.

    Explains the philosophy of the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle, building a well-organized offensive system with the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle, communication, practice, and the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle running game and passing game. Also includes 14 special tips for running the system. Features dozens of photographs and illustrations.

    Second place just wasn't good enough. Winning was the reason he rose from bed early and stayed at the track late into the night. In 22 years Earnhardt reached victory 97 times in Winston Cup competition. He won 76 Winston Cup races, six Busch Clash/Bud Shootouts, and 12 Daytona 125-Mile Qualifiers. And he was three times a winner in the Winston All-Star events. The Earnhardt Collection is the only book to chronicle this complete winning history. From his first win at Bristol in 1979 through his final checkered flag at Talladega in 2000, the reader will marvel at the coverage of each Dale triumph. Featuring many never-before-published photos of Dale Earnhardt on and off the track, we believe we have created the ultimate Earnhardt collectible.

    Wooden is the consummate businessman, who during the last twelve years of his job obtained a virtual monopoly on the national title for collegiate basketball. Learn how he did so as the master strategist, psychologist, motivator, and example. Husband, father, friend, educator, poet, athlete, Hoosier, and just plain great guy, Coach Wooden':s story and approach to life is an inspiration for all ages. At last, the complete story is told. For the inside story of a true hero in sports and life, this is indispensable and joyous reading.

    Would Ichiro succeed in the world's most challenging baseball league? Includes black-and-white photos and players' statistics.

    The application of Chin Na can be applied to any empty hand fighting discipline.Chin Na in Ground Fighting explores the use of joint locks, pressure points and bone displacement techniques for actual fighting encounters that have landed on the ground. The material in this book concentrates on: holding techniques which are capable of immobilizing an opponent with a limited danger of counter-attack, the principles and theory of these holds, the identification and use of pressure points for offensive and defensive purposes.Over the last twenty-two years as a street policeman (Vancouver, B.C.), I have come to realize the acute deficiencies of Karate as a defensive art, or more practically, as a controlling art; as my chosen vocation demands. For myself, Chin Na was like a snap-on tool, allowing me to adapt my martial arts ability to suit the highly balanced needs of personal self-protection with controlling those I was empowered to arrest. - from the Preface.General history of Chin Na and Ground fighting stylesPositional changes for ground fightingAn introduction to meridian theoryA systematic look at joint locks (arm, legs, neck and body)

    National Soccer Team as a sophomore in high school? She played in the first ever women's World Cup tournament? She holds the all-time international scoring record for men and women?From playing on boys' soccer teams—because most towns and schools didn't sponsor teams for girls—to playing in the first ever professional women's soccer league, follow Mia on her incredible journey from the backyard matches of Texas to the most spectacular arenas in the world in this fun-filled, triumphant biography!

    He was the ace of the Whiz Kids rotation that led the Phillies to the NL pennant in 1950. In 1966 Roberts introduced Marvin Miller to the players' union, a major chapter in baseball history.

    Jim Tressel's team finished the regular season with a perfect 13-0 record, the most regular season wins ever at Ohio State. Officially licensed by The Ohio State University, A Season to Remember follows the Buckeyes from April's Scarlet and Gray game through their Fiesta Bowl matchup against Miami. All stories and photos come from the files of the Columbus Dispatch. Also included are profiles on kicker Mike Nugent, receiver/cornerback Chris Gamble, linebacker Matt Wilhelm, safety Mike Doss, quarterback Craig Krenzel and running back Maurice Clarett.

    The tricks run the gamut from classic old school to modern with an emphasis on diversification, creativity, and originality. Included are riding basics and tips for controlling fear, visualizing, and focusing. Sequential shots detail every move needed to successfully re-create the various skateboarding tricks. The mechanics of the sport are also covered, including types of boards available, and the various wheels, bearings, and skateboarding surfaces.

    You'll find in-depth features on Red Sox legends and tragedies, the ten best and ten worst trades in the team's history, the Sox's most dramatic moments and more. Over one hundred photos bring the team and its history to life.

    Liebling, Jimmy Breslin, George Plimpton, Wallace Stegner, William Faulkner, and John Steinbeck.

    The love between team and borough was equally storied, an iron bond of loyalty forged through years of adversity and sometimes legendary ineptitude. Coming off their first World Series triumph ever in 1955, against the hated Yankees, the Dodgers would defend their crown against the Milwaukee Braves and the Cincinnati Reds in a six-month neck-and-neck contest until the last day of the playoffs, one of the most thrilling pennant races in history.But as The Last Good Season so richly relates, all was not well under the surface. The Dodgers were an aging team at the tail end of its greatness, and Brooklyn was a place caught up in rapid and profound urban change. From a cradle of white ethnicity, it was being transformed into a racial patchwork, including Puerto Ricans and blacks from the South who flocked to Ebbets Field to watch the Dodgers’ black stars. The institutions that defined the borough – the Brooklyn Eagle, the Brooklyn Navy Yard – had vanished, and only the Dodgers remained. And when their shrewd, dollar-squeezing owner, Walter O’Malley, began casting his eyes elsewhere in the absence of any viable plan to replace the aging Ebbets Field and any support from the all-powerful urban czar Robert Moses, the days of the Dodgers in Brooklyn were clearly numbered.Michael Shapiro, a Brooklyn native, has interviewed many of the surviving participants and observers of the 1956 season, and undertaken immense archival research to bring its public and hidden drama to life. Like David Halberstam’s The Summer of ’49, The Last Good Season combines an exciting baseball story, a genuine sense of nostalgia, and hard-nosed reporting and social thinking to reveal, in a new light, a time and place we only thought we understood.From the Hardcover edition.

    The 1920s may have been the Golden Age of Sports with Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey among others dominating the scene but during the mid to late 1930s, one sports legend gave resolve and enjoyment to a nation emerging from the Great Depression. Seabiscuit was that sporting icon. The story of Seabiscuit as told so eloquently by Laura Hillenbrand has dominated the book scene for two years. Seabiscuit, Charles and Marcela Howard, Tom Smith, Red Pollard, and George Woolf have once again become a part of our national conscience. Now comes another gift. In 1975, Barbara Howard received from her great aunt, Marcela Howard, a box of letters written to Seabiscuit and his owner Charles Howard. Some were letters of congratulations, a suggested name for a foal, a birthday card, or a valentine.

    A Pulitzer Prize-winner for his ground-breaking reporting on the Vietnam War, Halberstam wrote more than 20 books, almost all of them bestsellers. His work has stood the test of time and has become the standard by which all journalists measure themselves.The Teammates is the profoundly moving story of four great baseball players who have made the passage from sports icons--when they were young and seemingly indestructible--to men dealing with the vulnerabilities of growing older. At the core of the book is the friendship of these four very different men--Boston Red Sox teammates Bobby Doerr, Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Ted Williams--who remained close for more than sixty years.The book starts out in early October 2001, when Dominic DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky begin a 1,300-mile trip by car to visit their beloved friend Ted Williams, whom they know is dying. Bobby Doerr, the fourth member of this close group--"my guys," Williams used to call them--is unable to join them.This is a book--filled with historical details and first-hand accounts--about baseball and about something more: the richness of friendship.

    Fiercely confident, competitive and clever, he reigns nobly from his home outside Tiger Stadium. Combining photographs and anecdotes, this is a history of the five Mikes reigning from 1936 to 2003.

    As the Yankees celebrate their 100th anniversary, this book is a behind the scenes tale of the New York Yankees as told by former public relations director Marty Appel.

     Invented by English schoolboys in the 1850s, squash first came to the United States in 1884 when St. Paul's School in New Hampshire built four open-air courts. The game took hold in Philadelphia, where players founded the U.S. Squash Racquets Association in 1904, and became one of the primary pastimes of the nation's elite. Squash launched a U.S. Open in 1954, but its present boom started in the 1970s when commercial squash clubs took the sport public. In the 1980s a pro tour sprung up to offer tournaments on portable glass courts in dramatic locales such as the Winter Garden at the World Trade Center. James Zug, with access to private archives and interviews with hundreds of players, describes the riveting moments and sweeping historical trends that have shaped the game. He focuses on the biographies of legendary squash personalities: Eleo Sears, the Boston Brahmin who swam in the cold Atlantic before matches; Hashim Khan, the impish founder of the Khan dynasty; Victor Niederhoffer, the son of a Brooklyn cop; and Mark Talbott, a Grateful Dead groupie who traveled the pro circuit sleeping in the back of his pickup. A gripping cultural history, Squash is the book for which all aficionados of this fast-paced, exciting game have been waiting.

    It contains the physical hitting of football, the speed and quickness of hockey, and the passing and shooting ability of basketball. Anybody can play this game, from the little guy who has speed and quickness to the big guy who has strength and power. Make no mistake; once you have thrown a lacrosse ball with a lacrosse stick, the game has got you! Lacrosse For Dummies is for anyone interested in lacrosse, from the "peanut" player (four or five years old) to the old-timer, from the new fan to the fanatic, from the beginning coach to the experienced coach, from the parent who's a novice to the parent who has been through the "wars" of lacrosse. Whatever your association to the sport, this book is an interesting and exciting read.Lacrosse For Dummies covers what you need to know to get the most out of this exciting sport, whether you're a fan, coach, player, or parent of a player. From the fundamen tals of passing and catching to equipping yourself for the game, this book has everything you ever wanted to know about lacrosse, but were afraid to ask. Lacrosse For Dummies opens with the basics of the game, and familiarizes you with such things as the ball and the stick, the position of the players on the field, the equipment used, and the way the game is played. The other parts of the book illustrate how you should watch the game for maximum enjoyment, how you can become a better player, and how you can become a better coach.This book also explores:The fundamentals of playing lacrosse The rules of the game How to develop offensive and defensive skills Preparing yourself for a game Lacrosse has had a hectic history of ups and downs, probably more than any other sport, but it is still the most exciting sport around. Lacrosse For Dummies can show you how to enjoy this game from any perspective--fan, coach, or player.

    Flavored with wild (and often ribald) anecdotes, inside stories, interviews, and never-before-told material, Going Long brings the incredible story of the maverick American Football League to life through the words of those who lived it.

    - Author tour to include Laguna Beach, Irvine, Washington, D.C., and New York City

    Offering comprehensive coverage of the NHL from its inception in 1917 to the current season, this compendium features commentary on milestone achievements from each era, as well as final standings, top scorers, best goalies, playoff game scores, trophy winners, All-Stars, and much more.

    . . the SEC . . . the Final Four . . . sometimes it seems that American higher education is more about sports than studies. Not so, says this well-researched, evenhanded study of athletics in university life. Sports--particularly football--play a key role in defining institutions that might otherwise be indistinguishable and are an indispensable tool in building a sense of community on campus, as well as an important factor in mustering alumni and political support. While abuses exist, the "football school" is not only a legitimate member of the academic community but an inevitable one as well--and football provides much-needed identity at every level from the local to the national scale. Pointing out that universities compete as much academically as athletically, J. Douglas Toma argues that fielding a winning sports team is a quick, effective way to win recognition and that doing so pays dividends across the board, by raising public awareness (thereby making a school more attractive to potential students and faculty) and by creating a wider constituency of "fans" whose loyalties pay off in increased contributions and appropriations that support academic programs as well. He notes that universities like Harvard and Yale, now eclipsed on the gridiron, were "football powers" in the era when America's westward expansion spawned new schools unable to challenge older institutions academically but able to win acclaim through sports. This fosters a campus and alumni culture based on "football Saturday"--a bonding experience that helped forge a larger community whose support, both personal and financial, has become integral to the life of the institution. Football U. brings welcome impartiality to a subject all too often riven by controversy, pitting football boosters against critics who complain that academic achievement takes second place to athletic success. But as a tool for creating "brand awareness" as well as local loyalty and widespread support, high-profile athletic programs meet a variety of institutional needs in ways no other aspect of university life can. This, Toma observes, is a two-edged sword, for even as it fosters collegiality, it discourages reform when the pendulum swings too far in the direction of athletic dominance. Nevertheless, Football U. is here to stay. J. Douglas Toma is Director and Senior Fellow, The Executive Doctorate and Penn Center for Higher Education Management, the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.

    From 1896 when Bennett Park opened, until the last game at Tiger Stadium in 1999, Michigan and Trumbull was the most famous street corner in Michigan. This book takes you on a visual tour of baseball in the Motor City from the beginning of the Tigers franchise to the historic final game played at Tiger Stadium. Here you will find Tiger legends Cobb, Gehringer, Greenberg, Kaline, Lolich, Trammell, and others, many captured in never before published photographs.

    The story of Roger Owens, Dodger Stadium's famous Peanut Man, whose rise from hopelessness on L.A.'s inner-city streets to peanut-tossing fame in the baseball stands continues to inspire sports fans -- and non-fans -- looking for a real-life American hero.

    Includes articles by Bear Bryant on coaching philosophy, Emory Bellard on flexible triple option, Bobby Bowden on motivation and organization, Lloyd Carr on defending great offensive players, Larry Coker on planning for a championship team, Duffy Daugherty on mental attitude and emotions in football, Joe Paterno on the important things about football, and Tubby Raymond on the ageless Delaware wing-t. Additional articles by Butch Davis of the University of Miami, Bob Devaney of the University of Nebraska, Paul Dietzel of the University of South Carolina, LaVelle Edwards of BYU, Hayden Fry of Iowa, Lou Holtz of Arkansas, Johnny Majors of Tennessee, Tony Mason of Arizona, Bill McCartney of Colorado, and many, many more. Truly an heirloom reference that will inspire, inform and entertain. Massive 8 by 11inch format, and nearly an inch thick

    Designed for everyday use as well as for sports, and written by two chiropractors, it supplies all the basic and advanced concepts of stretching for optimal performance. By following these explicit movement by movement instructions, with hundreds of accompanying photos, you can:* prevent on-the-job muscle strain and backaches from heavy physical labor.* drain emotional stress from a tense body.* find ideal stretching routines for plane, car, or office.* improve your performance in every sport.* get a good stretch in the morning bath or shower--in only 10 minutes!* sneak in quick stretches during the day to rejuvenate your system.* follow programs for everyone from senior citizens to active athletes to even the youngest infants.Complete sections on anatomical structure and photos of several nonprofessionals doing the stretches will inspire you to get out there and do it right.

    Lieb consorted with the club’s biggest stars, christened the legendary Dreyfuss “the first-division man,” and produced The Pittsburgh Pirates, one of the fifteen celebrated histories of major league teams commissioned by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in the 1940s and 1950s. Originally published in 1948, Lieb’s history ranges from the ball club’s earliest professional days in the late nineteenth century as the Pittsburgh Alleghenies to its spring training session in preparation for the 1948 season, a span that included six National League pennants and two World Series championships, as well as a loss to the Boston Red Sox, then the Pilgrims, at the inaugural World Series a century ago. “This reprint of Fred Lieb’s The Pittsburgh Pirates is an invitation for baseball readers to enjoy Lieb’s wonderful stories of the great Pirate teams of the first half of the twentieth century,” writes Richard “Pete” Peterson in the new foreword to this edition. “Lieb’s book is rich with accounts of World Series triumphs and disappointments, of epic encounters on the playing field, like that between Wagner and Cobb, of mutinies in the clubhouse, of courageous comebacks, and of devastating defeats, including the infamous ‘homer in the gloaming.’” In Lieb’s personable and anecdotal prose, honed over the course of his sustained sportswriting career, the book conveys “baseball drama of the highest order,” including the pre-Dreyfuss days of Captain Kerr, Ned Hanlon, and Connie Mack; Dreyfuss’s dynasty in the early twentieth century; the dramatic World Series triumphs of 1909 and 1925; the end of the Dreyfuss era and the sale of the club to a syndicate headed by John Galbreath and Bing Crosby; and the purchase of Hank Greenberg and the emergence of slugger Ralph Kiner. Aided by twenty-five black-and-white photographs, this rare history revisits the glories and stories of “fabulous old Pirates” such as Honus Wagner, Tommy Leach, Fred Clarke, Babe Adams, Max Carey, Kiki Cuyler, Pie Traynor, Paul and Lloyd Waner, and Arky Vaughan.

    The drama of the area's steep mountains rising from rich, old growth forests is matched by few places on earth. This marks the first time a wilderness area would include lowland forests, valleys, and streams. Read about the natural history of the area, hike the trails from Everett/Seattle to Leavenworth, or simply enjoy the view along the drive with the guidebook sure to become a classic.

    Forests of longleaf and slash pine flatwoods, coastal hammocks, desert scrub, and floodplain forests create welcoming habitats for vanishing species. The region's geology offers physical challenges for the hiker as welldeep ravines, rough riverside trails along steep bluffs, and giant sinkholes. Hiking in North Florida means the opportunity to camp along the state's broadest rivers, to clamber in and out of ravines and up and over relict dunes, to walk to the edge of sweeping vistas across prairies and salt marshes, to hike along vast lakes and bubbling springs.The hikes described in this all-new guide range in length from 1 to 22 miles. Each hike description includes a topographic map, mile-by-mile directions, and information on distance, difficulty, terrain, and hiking time. An overview chart makes it easy to pick a hike for every ability.

    Essays that capture the essence of each season. A continuous timeline pinpoints the highlights of each season, such as award winners, statistical leaders, and amazing feats.

    Updated with more than 1,000 short stories. Timeline that pinpoints each significant detail of every hockey season. More than 1,000 photos, many in full-color.

    This book is divided into knowledge development and open water training.

    It was nothing like that in the 1930s. America was white and that was that. It didn't do you no good to dream of making it to the big time. It was impossible. And then, y'know, along came Jesse and along came Joe."-- Ruth Owens, Jesse's late wifen the summer of 1935, within weeks of each other, Joe Louis and Jesse Owens emerged as the first black superstars of world sport, and their subsequent political and social impact on America was nothing short of sensational. To fans (and even critics) the world over, they seemed larger than life, and yet in their endeavors they were unfailingly human: as vulnerable as they were courageous; as troubled as they were brilliant; as unsettled in themselves as they are now fixed in history.Scrupulously researched and written in spare, eloquent prose, Heroes Without a Country vividly re-creates some of the most dramatic sporting events of the past century. In August 1936, in front of Hitler and an imposing phalanx of Nazi commanders, Jesse Owens, "the fastest man on earth," won an unprecedented four medals at the Olympic Games in Berlin. Two years later, in "the fight of the century," his great friend Joe Louis crushed Germany's Max Schmeling to signal the end of white supremacy in boxing. Like Jesse, Joe had been born to black sharecropping parents in a country demeaned by racism; together their victories became a rallying point for the disenfranchised black population of America. Idolized across the world, they were two young men at the pinnacle of their careers who overcame prejudice and fear to achieve their goals. Yet for both of them, success brought its own perils. In 1938, two years after winning his gold medals in Berlin, Owens was hounded out of amateur sports by the infamously tyrannical Olympic boss "Slavery Avery" Brundage and, facing financial ruin, he was reduced to running for money against dogs, horses, and even his friend Joe Louis. Later the two would be subjected to FBI investigations, harassed by the IRS, and beleaguered by debt and despair. Jesse watched Joe slip into drug addiction and mental illness.In Heroes Without a Country, award-winning writer Donald McRae captures the uncanny coincidences and intertwined events that bound these men together -- through both triumph and tragedy -- and provides an intimate and thought-provoking dual portrait of two of the most important athletes of the twentieth century.

    The bar is 60'6", the exact distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate, and the restaurant houses 1,500 pieces of baseball memorabilia, including photographs, vintage newspapers, a Sammy Sosa autographed bat, and items from Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, and others. Harry Caray's is just north of the Loop in one of Chicago's most architecturally significant buildings.The Harry Caray's Restaurant Cookbook is a visit to Chicago and the restaurant that serves "the best Chicken Vesuvio in the city"***. More than 150 recipes include "potent pasta, holy-cow steaks, and chicken fit for the Chairman of the Board." **** The stories, sidebars, and pictures bring back memories of baseball and Chicago. This important addition to the RoadfoodTM Cookbook series is sure to be a favorite with people in Chicagoland and throughout the country."When you only have time to visit one restaurant in Chicago, it's got to be Harry Caray's" - David M. Lissner, Dining Chicago.* Chicago Tribune** Jay Leno*** Chicago Tribune and ABC**** Chicago Sun Times

    You'll also meet non-baseball pals like Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher, and Rocky Marciano, as well as presidents from Eisenhower to Bush. Mickey McDermott loves people, people love him, and after reading his riveting autobiography you'll know why.In the minors, he pitched two no-hitters and shattered the American Association strikeout record long held by the legendary Johnny "2-No-hit" Vander Meer. In the majors, the buzz was that, with his 100-mile-an-hour fastball, this whip-armed southpaw rookie could be the next Bob Feller, Lefty Gomez, or Cy Young. Or, as Birdie Tebbetts, whose hand stung from catching him put it, "This could be the greatest left-hander of his generation." But happy-go-lucky McDermott, as popular among fellow ballplayers as free beer, took his eye off the ball, choosing to have himself a ball instead.Play ball with him in the Cuban League, as Castro's revolution sweeps through the stadium and a ricocheting bullet fells the first-base coach, and in the Mexican League, where a manager shoots his short-stop for missing a sign that loses the game. Stand by in the operating room when he momentarily dies on the table and comes back to life. Sympathize with him as he hits the skids, literally and figuratively. Read about how Mickey, finally sober after years of drinking, carousing, and squandering his talents, wins millions of dollars in the Arizona state lottery, commenting, "Either somebody up there likes my jokes or the Heavenly Computer printed out the wrong McDermott."

    In this, his first book, the nine-time Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop tells the story of his life, from the sandlots of Caracas to Game Seven of the World Series and beyond. Along the way he shares plenty of entertaining and eye-opening anecdotes about fellow baseball players and the game they play.

    To make it extra special, he decides to borrow his father's most cherished hockey souvenir -- a puck signed by Bobby Orr. Brady knows he's not allowed to play with it, but he convinces himself that his dad won't really mind.When Brady's friends arrive, they are so impressed by the puck, Brady decides they can play with it. Convinced it's helping his game, he winds up to take a shot... and misses! Unfortunately the puck soars over the net and into a snowbank! Everyone jumps in after it, but it's lost.Brady's friends try to help him think of an excuse, but by the time his father comes home, Brady decides he should tell the truth. Luckily, although his dad is hurt and disappointed, he's proud of his son for taking responsibility for his actions. And, just as luckily, he's noticed that Brady's dog has retrieved the puck, and assures his son that it's closer than he thinks.

    Introduced are Grandmaster Helio Gracie, who as a frail boy in Brazil in the 1930s developed the art, creating leverage techniques that allowed him to overcome other martial artists, regardless of size or strength; Rickson Gracie, the mystical family champion who has never been defeated in combat; and Royce Gracie, the most famous active martial artist in the United States, who put Brazilian jiu-jitsu on the map by winning the first three Ultimate Fighting Championships before the largest pay-per-view audiences in history. In addition to stunning action shots of the Gracies in all the legendary matches and their unique perspectives on what really went on during those fights, this book includes archival photos of the family, from their beginnings in Brazil in the 1930 to the present day and the new generation of champions. Fans will learn of Renzo's transformation from Rio street brawler to New York celebrity and revered teacher; of Royce and Royler's exploits as mischievous kids; and of Rickson's battle against one of Rio's toughest drug gangs.

    A collection of George Plimpton's finest pieces on the contemporary sports scene, selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the top sports books of 2003

    When Eddie's former caddie, "Fat Albert" Auberlain (a cross between Tiger Woods and John Daly), loses his PGA Tour card, his endorsements, and his composure after posting a twelve on a par three at the Fruit-of-the-Loom Waste Management Open, Eddie finds the sad sack on his doorstep. Fat Albert, in debt up to his eyeballs and with several needy relatives to feed, had barely been eking out a living on Tour as it was, and the pressure was threatening to make him implode altogether. Eddie takes pity on his protege but isn't quite sure what he can do, when along comes nuclear physicist Norman Standish with the most revolutionary advance in golf equipment since the double niblick-a golf ball they call Scratch. If Standish's claims are true, Eddie could make the killing of his strange and wonderful life and just possibly change the game forever. With McAllister's patented golf hustling hijinks, roller-coaster plotting, and laugh-out-loud skewering of pro sports hypocrisy, Eddie's die-hard fans and golf fiction aficionados will laugh all the way to the putting green. As Eddie himself puts it in The Foursome, "Why do you think they call the devil "Scratch"?"

    Stadiums and arenas bear the names of businesses, while sponsors' logos appear on athletes' clothing and equipment, on the facilities in which they play, and in the titles of the events in which they compete. Media companies pay vast sums for the rights to broadcast sports events, and advertisers pay a premium to promote products during the screening of these events. Cities invest, at the expense of other social projects, in the staging of major sports events and to attract professional teams to their areas. Star athletes are transferred for multi-million fees and professional sport franchises are sold for sums higher than the gross domestic products of some countries. Even recreational athletes are subject to a constant barrage of commercial pressures to improve their game.Sport's links to commerce have intensified over the past 30 years but have been subjected to little academic analysis. This book represents an attempt to fill that significant gap in the literature by examining five different aspects of the commercialisation of sport: - The sports industry - The public sector - The commercialisation of 'amateur' sport - Sport and television - Sports sponsorship There has been a rapid and widespread commercialisation of sport and it is vital that we now raise critical questions and analyse the changes that have taken place.

    Read about baseball's best international players!

    These older drivers have proven that they still have what takes to lead the sport. They may be older, but that doesn't mean they're any less aggressive or desiring of the checkered flag.

    Through bright photographs and action-packed text, each book surveys the team from its founding to today.

    Peter Robinson - considered to be one of the world's greatest sports photographers, and quite possibly the world's greatest football photographer - has captured through his lens some of the game's foremost players and football's highs and lows.

    Each book in the For Fun series features bold, full-color photos, informative text, and all sorts of fun facts about your favorite pastime. A quick reference guide, timeline of important events, instructions on basic skills, biographies of notable people, glossary, and index are included.

    This nostalgic visual history celebrates more than 150 years of baseball's - and America's - past. Beginning in the 1840s and continuing through to the end of the 20th century, the book captures in portraits, watercolours, carvings, painted signs, lithographs and a wide variety of everyday objects reminders of baseball the way it used to be.

    This first volume covers the following age groups: 7-10, 11-13 and 14-16.

    Kliban, Gary Larson, Charles Addams, and Gahan Wilson, the nation's leading sports cartoonist tackles, well, everything!

    This is a must-have reference book for any devoted fan of the game of hockey, and a source of countless hours of reading pleasure.

    The small town Milton S. Hershey made famous with chocolate has also earned a place of honor on the sports map with its tradition-rich hockey club, the Hershey Bears. The Bears, eight-time winners of the Calder Cup,established an unparalleled puck legacy in the twentieth century. They continue to etch ice history in the twenty-first century at Giant Center. The Hershey Bears: Sweet Seasons tells the story of the oldest and most celebrated franchise in American Hockey League history. Venerable Hersheypark Arena opened on December 19, 1936, and the Bears played their last game there in 2002. With steeply graded seats and unobstructed views, the more than seven-thousand-seat arena was regarded by many as the best facility ever built for watching hockey. Lloyd Blinco, Arnie Kullman, Frank Mathers, Willie Marshall, Ralph Keller, Tim Tookey, and Mitch Lamoureux are a small fraction of the line of great players and coaches spanning more than seven decades who have earned hockey immortality in Hershey.

    The game's roots in the Flower City can be traced to the early nineteenth century, when a primitive form of baseball was being played on Mumford's Meadow near the Genesee River. Since that time, some of the greatest names in baseball history, including Stan Musial and Cal Ripken Jr., have honed their skills in Rochester. Their exploits, along with those of numerous others, are documented with rare photographs in Baseball in Rochester. Through the years, nineteen people with local ties have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Red Wings have won ten Governors' Cups-more than any other International League team-and Rochester has been designated Baseball City, U.S.A., by Baseball America magazine. Baseball in Rochester chronicles not only the superstars but also the quirky characters and moments that make the minor leagues so appealing.

    Every car and all the drivers since 1950 are described and illustrated in this stunning new book. The Complete Book of Formula One is the first ever encyclopedia covering all the cars and drivers that have raced in Formula One. The author has had the exclusive co-operation of the Haymarket LAT Archive, a collection of nine million outstanding motorsport images dating back to 1896. No other archive is as comprehensive, and many of the images in this book have never been seen before.

    Jerome Holtzman has covered the sport of baseball for the Chicago Daily Times, Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Tribune since the mid 1940s, now his thoughts and best columns are collected together in one edition as an official history of Major League Baseball.

    And the magic that has played out on the field over the years has been rivaled only by baseball scribes' prowess on the page. Excellence breeds excellence, and for 100 years some of the best writers in America have chronicled the New York Yankees, taking a single swing or game and somehow making it singular. This brand-new anthology from the series editor of The Best American Sports Writing and author of Yankees Century collects the best writing about the Yankees over the course of their long history. Published to coincide with the team's centenary celebration, this is a must-have volume for fans the world over who claim the New York Yankees as their own.

    871-989 A.D.). Chen is a mystical figure whose advice and perspective was sought by ancient Chinese Emperors.Liuhebafa was the last of the internal methods to be taught outside China. Even inside China, Liuhebafa had an almost mythic quality. Among the groups of inner circle students, Liuhebafa was graduate study in the internal arts.Liuhebafa s Five Character Secrets (of Li Dong Feng) are the original precepts of this rare internal martial art known as Huayue Xinyi Liuhebafaquan. Li Dong Feng discovered aged manuscripts of Chen Tuan, during an expedition to Chen s ancient mountain home. Realizing the importance of what he had found, Li remained on Mount Hua until he mastered the material in the manuscripts.Li returned to his home and then recorded all he had learned on Mount Hua in one hundred and thirty-four verses now known as The Five Character Secrets of Li Dong Feng. This is the only existing treatise on the original principles of Liuhebafa.This book contains the original Chinese treatise of Li Dong Feng, Pinyin Romanization of the Chinese characters, word for word translation, literal translation, interpretive translation and the author s commentary on the meaning of each verse.There is more here than meets the eye. It is wise to approach the Secrets with a beginner s mind. Imagine being beckoned to sit by the fire. Lean a little closer to better hear the master as he recites the lines that will open the doors of your mind and heart."

    In this definitive biography of the legendary Everton star, John Keith draws on his own previously unpublished taped interviews as well as interviews from BBC Radio Merseyside archives. He has also spoken to Dixie's two sons and his daughter, all of whom have co-operated fully. The book will be published to coincide with Everton FC's unveiling of a new statue of Dean at Goodison Park. This is a unique insight into the life of a footballing legend and features the Everton icon's own compelling account of his remarkable life and times.

    Fitness celebrity trainer Matt Roberts takes you step-by-step through special workout sequences that combine special resistence exercises, cardio workouts and stretching techniques.

    Vibrant four-color photos, statistics, quotes, and stories offer fresh details on some of the most famous events in sports history, including “the Play” (Stanford vs. Cal), “the Ice Bowl,” Laettner's Buzzer-Beater, and N.C. State's Men's Basketball title. For those sports fans too young to have seen these famous moments or for those who wish to relive them over and over again, there is a exclusive DVD featuring sports icon Jim McKay, which features a detailed documentary on 20 of the highlights featured in the book.

    Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether readers are planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, these books tell them what they need to know.In Basic Essentials Archery readers will learn the history of the sport, essentials of archery equipment and gear, safety, technique, equipment care and maintenance, target shooting, and competition.Other books in the Basic Essentials series include Animal Tracks, Backpacking, Camping, Canoe Paddling, Canoeing, Cooking in the Outdoors, Edible Wild Plants & Useful Herbs, Fly Fishing, GPS, Hypothermia, Knots for the Outdoors, Map & Compass, Climbing Ice, Minimizing Impact, Mountaineering, Rescue in the Backcountry, Photography in the Outdoors, Rafting, Sea Kayaking, Sit-on-Top Kayaking, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Solo Canoeing, Solo Hiking, Survival, Weather Forecasting, Whitewater Kayaking, Wilderness First Aid, and Women in the Outdoors.

     Hockey fans everywhere are always hungry for more information on the game. Hockey's Greatest Stars profiles hockey's greatest players -- the all-stars and the promising young lions. Fans will enjoy the book's lively and incisive commentary combined with memorable quotes and insider tales of trades and off-ice antics.The book profiles 60 of the greatest NHL players of all time plus the 20 top players of today. Each profile is illustrated with action-packed photographs.The legends include:Wayne GretzkyMaurice RichardBobby HullTim HortonGordie Howe. While the young lions include:Sidney CrosbyAlex OvechkinSteve StamkosDrew DoughtyCarey Price. Sure to be as popular as the first and second editions, this third edition of Hockey's Greatest Stars is an entertaining and informative book for every hockey fan.