Book picks similar to
On the Line by Fred Bowen
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Sweating Blood: My Life in Squash: The Official Autobiography of Nick Matthew
Nick Matthew - 2013
That’s not physically possible, but if you could Nick Matthew would have done it by the bucket-load. Throughout his 15-year career, Matthew has fought his way to the top of the PSA World Rankings in his gladiatorial sport, winning 25 World Tour titles, including being crowned world champion on two occasions and British Open champion three times. Nick holds the record of five British National titles in addition to being crowned Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles Gold Medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games making him England’s most successful player. Sweating Blood: My Life In Squash is much more than the tale of a squash player. In this brutally honest story: Nick psychoanalyses his own obsessive-compulsive personality and explains how it helps him win; He remembers how, as a late developer, he was constantly told he lacked the talent to succeed yet went on to become the most successful English player of all time; He gives an amazing behind-the-scenes access to the sport: the prize money, the anti-doping, the gruesome training, the post-match celebrations, the crazy players on the PSA World Tour and the far-flung corners of the globe where he competes; He remembers the career-threatening shoulder operation that eventually put him on the road to World Championship and Commonwealth Games glory; He tries to understand how his relationship with another top British player went so horribly wrong; He digs back into his Yorkshire upbringing and remembers the colourful characters who turned him into the champion he is today; And he pinpoints the most crucial moments in his career – the moments when he really felt like he was sweating blood.
The Curse: The Colorful & Chaotic History of the LA Clippers
Mick Minas - 2016
Author Mick Minas goes behind the scenes-- interviewing players, coaches, and front office personnel--to create the first in-depth look at the history of the Clippers.The Curse is filled with drama: the unauthorized relocation of the franchise that led to the NBA filing a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Clippers, the disruption of the team's first playoff appearance by the Los Angeles riots, the bold but unsuccessful attempt to sign Kobe Bryant at the peak of his career, and the scandal that ultimately resulted in owner Donald Sterling being banned from the NBA for life. Featuring some of basketball's biggest names, including World B. Free, Elgin Baylor, Danny Manning, Doc Rivers, Larry Brown, Dominique Wilkins, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul, The Curse delves into the disasters of the past and the complications of the present. This is the definitive history of the NBA's most dysfunctional franchise.
Fyast Life
Lola Bandz - 2014
Meet Imani a college girl with ambitions that reach the sky and a yearning for love. Living in a world where her dreams are unattainable she hustles by day when shes done with the books. One night at the club she meets a smooth, loving gangsta by the name of Jake. Jake is surviving in this world of snakes and rats, trying to stay out of the dope game is his objective In life but it seems as though he will get roped back in with the help of his little brother . Once he lays eyes on Imani he sees his future clearer. Wanting to build an life with this beauty is consuming his mind. Come join this couple on their journey in the Fyast Life. A 2 part series.
B4 The G-Spot: The Legend of Granite McKay
Noire - 2014
The prequel to G-Spot, the #1 bestseller that established the Urban Erotic genre. Meet the Man and the Myth...the Kingpin and the Killer...The Lover and the Legend...The Gangsta who put the G in the G-Spot...The TRUE King of Harlem! "I didn't come to Harlem ridin' shotgun. I came packin' one!"--GRANITE MCKAY. WARNING! This here ain't no romance, it's an urban erotic tale These gutter plots I drop will have you biting off your nails! A menace has arrived, a terror Harlem’s never seen He started from the bottom and turned a dollar into a dream! Before the ballin and the stuntin and the sexin and the flexin, Brutal vision and ambition is how this gangsta manifested! So let’s stand up and salute the ruthless boss who paved the way Let’s go back B4 the G-Spot to: The Legend of GRANITE McKAY!
The Bill James Gold Mine 2008
Bill James - 2007
Now Bill James is doing it again with The Bill James Gold Mine a groundbreaking collection of original essays, statistical profiles, and hidden nuggets of information worth their weight in gold. Always known for his piercing wit and cutting analysis, Bill James wrote 17 new essays for The Bill James Gold Mine, including: Clutching Hitter of the Year, Measuring Consistency, Closer Fatigue, Hall of Famers Among Us. Of course, it wouldn't be from Bill James if it didn't come with innovative and intriguing profiles and nuggets of statistical information on players from all 30 teams, including: Impacting by Position in Inning, Pitching Type Analysis, Pitcher's Record of Opposing Batters, Games Played by Opening Day Starters.
Kobe Bryant: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Shooting Guards (Basketball Biography Books)
Clayton Geoffreys - 2014
Kobe Bryant has been the face of the Lakers dynasty for the past two decades and for good reason. Few players have commanded a basketball court as much as Kobe in historical performances such as his notable 81-point performance in just under 42 minutes of playing time in 2006 against the Toronto Raptors. While the 2015-2016 NBA season will mark the end to Kobe’s storied career, the Black Mamba’s legacy will never be forgotten. Few players can parallel Kobe Bryant in terms of competitive fire and will to win. His polarizing figure defines him and makes even those who do not like him at the very least respect him. Read on to learn about the days of when Kobe played alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Robert Horry, Metta World Peace, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol in some of the greatest times of Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball history.
Here is a preview of what is inside this book:
Early Life and Childhood
High School Years
Kobe Personal Life
Kobe’s Impact on Basketball and Beyond
The Black Mamba’s Legacy
An excerpt from the book: When Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant gave himself the nickname Black Mamba, everyone wondered why he chose to liken himself to a reptile.The Black Mamba is one of the fastest and most deadly snakes in the world. It was also the codename used by Uma Thurman's assassin character in the Quentin Tarantino movie Kill Bill. And yes, Black Mamba was also the boxing nickname given to Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s uncle, Roger Mayweather. For sure, Bryant never wanted a part of the Mayweather’s so it must have been that Tarantino movie that got into him. It turns out that Bryant did in fact watch Kill Bill and was so intrigued by the codename Black Mamba that he said he checked out the snake. Upon reading up on the mamba, Bryant decided that it was the perfect description of how he wanted his game to be. The Black Mamba is said to have a 99% striking accuracy at maximum speed and in rapid succession. Bryant said it's the kind of surgical precision that he wants in his game. Kobe Bryant has always been known as a perfectionist and a player who despite being great wants strives to be the greatest.Bryant also talks about the Black Mamba mentality in which he says one has to "figure it out no matter what comes, whether its hell or high water." This resilient attitude has been at the core of Bryant's game, and it's what has made him bounce back from the many obstacles he has faced on and off the court.Kobe Bryant is one of the most popular basketball players on the planet. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest scorers in the game and one of the most lethal offensive weapons that has ever graced the NBA's courts. However, Kobe Bryant isn't all about scoring points. He is a winner and he has proved that he can win on his own. Bryant isn’t just about basketball either. He is also a million dollar businessperson and a worldwide icon. More importantly, Bryant is a husband, a father, and a son.
Bo Knows Bo
Bo Jackson - 1990
Here's a revealing look at the real Vincent Bo Jackson: the rebellious child, high school sports star, womanizer who became a devoted husband and father, the boy who wanted to succeed, and the man who has. Photographs.
A Kingpin's Dream 3
Briana Crosby - 2015
A happy ending is always the goal when you meet the person you love but is that always the case? When love meets war, relationships are tested and attitudes clash. Find out if the couples will have their happily ever after in this sizzling finale!
Honey Dipp 1
Reds Johnson - 2014
Encountering one problem after another, she hasn’t been able to catch a break. A ray of light finally breaks through Honey Dipp's gloomy world when she meets super sexy GUY SANTOS. Not only does he give Honey the most breathtaking sex she's ever experienced, but he gives her his heart. Honey is in bliss! But when Honey Dipp's sordid past forges its way into the relationship, will Guy continue to love her or will he leave Honey broken and shattered like so many others have? Exactly how strong is a man's love when it's challenged by a woman's ugly secrets?
She Fell In Love With A Hitta 2
Antoinette Sherell - 2018
Will someone come to her rescue, or will she be left to fend for herself? Meanwhile, Adonis is left enraged at his girlfriend, Teagan, after she admits a truth that had already plagued his thoughts. Will his reaction cost them both their unborn child? Along with their newfound problems, there was still the issue of whether Gi’Dore will continue her blossoming love with Rico—putting the nail in the coffin of her and Achilles’ chaotic yet addictive love. Adonis cut his and Criss’ secret relationship loose, but will she manage to weasel her way back in? Then, there is Achilles... and he was determined to win Gi’Dore back at all cost. Find out what great lengths he’s willing to go to and if it will be enough for him to secure the love of his life.
Recklessly In Love with a Detroit Bad Boy 2
Miss Candice - 2019
Because her two year relationship with her boyfriend Orlando was somewhat her safety net, she was reluctant to give into her true feelings for Gunna. Despite her efforts to focus on her relationship, she finds herself drawn to Gunna more than she cared to admit. Cheating on Orlando was something that she never thought she'd do. Unfortunately, Caprice isn't the only one with secrets. Gunna's rise to fame was a quick one. And while most are congratulating him on his success, there are people that would rather see him with a headstone than with a music deal. In the midst of trying to stay alive, and working on his album, his feelings for Caprice are spiraling out of control. Angel finds herself in a tough situation after finding out that her abusive boyfriend is having an affair with a transsexual. Leaving would be in her best interest, that is, if leaving was as easy as it sounded. As usual, she's stuck in an abusive relationship, depressed, and suicidal. Just when she thinks that things couldn't possibly get any worst - they do when someone from her past resurfaces. Starr's love triangle is more out of control than ever. Leaving her fiance's cousin alone proves to be harder than she imagined. A near death experience sends her paranoia to the roof, giving her no other choice but to cut ties with Chris. Unfortunately, she gets some devastating news that makes her situation ten times worse. Precious's level of shadiness goes up a notch when she does the unimaginable. Proving to Derek that her love has no limits, she hits the ultimate lick that could possibly get them out of her mother's house for good. Sadly, a shocking revelation crushes Precious in ways she never could imagine.
Kwame & Kyhanna: A Youngstown Love Story
Chante Amor - 2016
With her older brother incarcerated, a drug addicted mother and a little brother who depends on her for everything Kyhanna had to grow up faster than she imagined.After an unexpected event takes place, the life that Kyhanna had grown accustomed in surviving in is literally thrown upside down and she is left to pick up the pieces alone. From the minute Kwame Patterson first laid eyes on the young bombshell Kyhanna he’d been determined to make her his. Even if he’s never been the knight in shining armor type, Kyhanna is that type of chick to make a young boss like him switch his whole style up. He’s decided to give up his player ways in order to embark on the love of a lifetime. But just because one decides to put their past behind them doesn’t mean that their past won’t come back to haunt them and soon Kwame finds himself in the middle of two crazy ass women who refuse to let him go.In Kwame and Kyhanna a true bond between two hearts are revealed along with every possible scenario designed to break them up…will true love prevail?
Big and Aimee 2: the finale
Charae Lewis - 2016
Knowing that her mother's death was no accident, leaves Aimee devastated and hurt. Revenge is the only thing on her mind, but when she learns that Big may be in trouble, her plans come to a halt and her love is put to the test.Big finds himself in a sticky situation when he's on the other side of the gun. He's pissed off so many people in recent weeks that it could be anybody holding him at gun point. Big tried to come up with a plan, but when things don't go as he hoped, Big soon finds himself fighting for his life.Will Aimee put her mother's killers behind bars? Will Big make it out of his situation alive? Are Big and Aimee meant to be together, or are they done for good? Follow this thrilling suspense to see if Big and Aimee will find their way back to one another.
Love & Hennessy 3: An Addictive Kind of Love (Love & Hennessy: An Addictive King of Love)
Carmen Lashay - 2017
Will they finally get their happily ever after? Or is there somebody out there that refuses to let them be happy? Part three of this heart-pounding saga picks up right where it left off with Ghost still searching for answers as to who killed Henry and turned snitch. Will Tommie choose to let Rodney be apart of his child’s life? Or is that chapter in her life finally closed for good? Jasmine and Dom have an on again off again romance, that's mostly off because Jasmine is hesitant when it comes to giving Dominic all of her. Will she put her pride to the side and get her man? Or will she wait till it too little too late? Dom, fed up with Jasmine's flip-flopping love decides he's done with her for good. Will he stick to his word and kick her to the curb when a new love interest captures his attention? Or is the love he had for Jasmine too strong to just let slip away. Rodney, pissed off that his cousin not only stole his girl but has staked claims to his child, isn't so willing to let go of them both without a fight. Will he continue to fight for their love until he succeeds? Or will he finally give up and focus on his relationship with Kelly? The plot of this crazy story once again thickens as rules are broken, bonds are bent, and no one is to be trusted, as enemies become friends, and friends become a thing you regret you ever had. Jump back into the saddle and take another ride with the gang as Tommie, Ghost, Dom, Jasmine, and Rodney are once again racing against the clock to stay alive while they battle with lies, treachery, deceit, and a little thing called love. Each battling with their own demons, will everybody come out on top, defeat their enemy and manage to stay alive long enough to find their happily ever after? Or will they all once again find out the sad truth that all is fair in Love and Hennessy?