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Written for every sports fan who follows the Patriots, this account goes behind the scenes to peek into the private world of the players, coaches, and decision makers--all while eavesdropping on their personal conversations. From the New England locker room to the sidelines and inside the huddle, the book includes comments about Raymond Berry, Gino Cappelletti, John Hannah, and Bill Parcels, among others, allowing readers to relive the highlights and the celebrations.
There is no other stadium like Fenway Park with its wooden seats, manual scoreboard, and the looming green monster; no other history that includes such an infamous trade, a curse, and a penchant for losing critical games; no other group of fans that measure up to the loyal Red Sox Nation. There is simply no other team that compares to the Red Sox.
This revised and updated version of 101 Reasons to Love the Red Sox is filled with reasons to celebrate Boston's best-loved team: the 2004 World Series championship, the beloved B, five World Series titles before 1919, Yawky Way, the legendary Ted Williams, Royal Rooters, the -Impossible Dream- season, Cy Young, and Big Papi. Vintage and modern photos, baseball cards, memorable stories, and sports trivia provide a portrait of the Red Sox from their very beginning to the present. The heart of the players and fans combined with the Red Sox' storied past truly make Fenway Park a field of dreams.
This revised and updated version of 101 Reasons to Love the Red Sox is filled with reasons to celebrate Boston's best-loved team: the 2004 World Series championship, the beloved B, five World Series titles before 1919, Yawky Way, the legendary Ted Williams, Royal Rooters, the -Impossible Dream- season, Cy Young, and Big Papi. Vintage and modern photos, baseball cards, memorable stories, and sports trivia provide a portrait of the Red Sox from their very beginning to the present. The heart of the players and fans combined with the Red Sox' storied past truly make Fenway Park a field of dreams.
The thrilling behind-the-scenes account of how the NFL's most sensational scandal culminated in sports history's greatest comeback, featuring dozens of exclusive interviews with Patriots players -- including Tom Brady himself.
In January 2015, rumors circulated that the New England Patriots -- a team long suspected of abiding by the "if you ain't cheating you ain't trying" philosophy -- had used under-inflated footballs in their playoff victory against the Indianapolis Colts. As evidence began to build, however, a full on NFL investigation was launched, exploding an unsubstantiated rumor into an intense scandal that would lead news coverage for weeks. As shockwaves rippled throughout the NFL system, the very legitimacy of one of the league's most popular teams and their star quarterback began to erode, even as the Patriots and Brady went on to win that year's Super Bowl. But as the celebrations gave way to the offseason, the investigation only intensified, reopening old wounds between the Patriots' powerful owner, Robert Kraft, and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell. Brady was devastated and seemingly more nervous in front of a judge that on a game-winning drive. When the dust settled, Brady would be able to play again - but only after watching the first four games of the 2016 season from his couch. The pressure couldn't have been more intense: Brady's legacy was at stake. If he failed to return to his usual self, all the critics and even the history books would have to put a giant asterisk next to his name, signifying one thing: he was a cheater. 12 is the propulsive story of this gritty comeback. It's a drama that unfolds in the locker room, the court room, and under the brightest lights in all of sports -- the Super Bowl. Now for the first time, readers will have an exclusive look into Tom Brady's experience and the NFL's shocking strangle-hold on their players. With unprecedented access to Brady himself, his teammates, and his lawyers, we will see just how a football legend went up against one of the largest corporations in the world to stage the greatest comeback in NFL history and emerge a god of the gridiron.
In January 2015, rumors circulated that the New England Patriots -- a team long suspected of abiding by the "if you ain't cheating you ain't trying" philosophy -- had used under-inflated footballs in their playoff victory against the Indianapolis Colts. As evidence began to build, however, a full on NFL investigation was launched, exploding an unsubstantiated rumor into an intense scandal that would lead news coverage for weeks. As shockwaves rippled throughout the NFL system, the very legitimacy of one of the league's most popular teams and their star quarterback began to erode, even as the Patriots and Brady went on to win that year's Super Bowl. But as the celebrations gave way to the offseason, the investigation only intensified, reopening old wounds between the Patriots' powerful owner, Robert Kraft, and the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell. Brady was devastated and seemingly more nervous in front of a judge that on a game-winning drive. When the dust settled, Brady would be able to play again - but only after watching the first four games of the 2016 season from his couch. The pressure couldn't have been more intense: Brady's legacy was at stake. If he failed to return to his usual self, all the critics and even the history books would have to put a giant asterisk next to his name, signifying one thing: he was a cheater. 12 is the propulsive story of this gritty comeback. It's a drama that unfolds in the locker room, the court room, and under the brightest lights in all of sports -- the Super Bowl. Now for the first time, readers will have an exclusive look into Tom Brady's experience and the NFL's shocking strangle-hold on their players. With unprecedented access to Brady himself, his teammates, and his lawyers, we will see just how a football legend went up against one of the largest corporations in the world to stage the greatest comeback in NFL history and emerge a god of the gridiron.
Showing that human nature--not statistics--dictates the outcome of ballgames, the author watches from the dugout as a spectacular series unfolds between the Cardinals and their archrivals, the Cubs.
An insightful and . . . amusing look at the inner workings of pro football (The New York Times) from the bestselling author of Word Freak In Word Freak, Stefan Fatsis invaded the insular world of competitive Scrabble players, ultimately achieving an expert-level ranking. Now, in his new book, he infiltrates a strikingly different subculture-pro football. After more than a year of preparation, Fatsis molded his fortyish body into one that could stand up-barely-to the rigors of NFL training. And for three months he became a placekicker for the Denver Broncos. Making the most of unprecedented access to an NFL team and its players, and drawing on his own personal experience, Fatsis with wry candor and hard-won empathy unveils the mind of the modern pro athlete and the workings of a storied sports franchise as no writer has before.
It's the book in which America's favorite sportswriter returns to the arena of his most successful bestseller, A Season on the Brink. It's the book that takes us inside the intensely competitive Atlantic Coast Conference & paints a portrait of how college baskettball is coached & played at the highest level. It's the book that takes us onto the courts, into the locker rooms, & inside the high-pressure world of the talented coaches who have helped make the ACC's nine colleges - Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Maryland, Wake Forest, & Florida State - world-renowned for their championship basketball teams. The author's afterword to this edition will recap the ACC's current season & preview the 1998-99 rivalries.
"Diligent, detailed, and overpowering. This is not a book of conjecture: It's one of bootstrap journalism." --New York magazine The New York Times calls sports journalist Selena Roberts's blistering biography, A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez, "Important...devastating...merciless." A columnist for Sports Illustrated, Roberts pulls no punches in her tough and brilliant New York Times bestseller, an exploration of the multi-million-dollar Yankees slugger's checkered life and career. A-Rod is an eye-opening, unputdownable look at one of the greatest--and most flawed--players in today's game.
Trek deeper into the wilderness with New York Times bestselling author Dave Canterbury! In this valuable guide, survivalist Dave Canterbury goes beyond bushcraft basics to teach you how to survive in the backcountry with little or no equipment. Using the foundation you learned in Bushcraft 101, Canterbury shows you how to completely immerse yourself in the wilderness with advanced bushcraft and woodcraft techniques. He covers crucial survival skills like tracking to help you get even closer to wildlife, crafting medicines from plants, and navigating without the use of a map or compass. He also offers ways to improvise and save money on bushcraft essentials like fire-starting tools and packs. With Canterbury's expert advice and guidance, you will learn how to forgo your equipment, make use of your surroundings, and truly enjoy the wilderness. Whether you're eager to learn more after your first real outdoor adventure or have been exploring the backcountry for years, Advanced Bushcraft will help you take your self-reliance and wilderness experience to the next level.
Whitetail rut behavior and the hunting strategies that take it into account have come a long way in the last thirty years. We now know when--almost to the date-whitetails breed in a particular geographic location. We can translate and decipher deer vocalizations and language; have better knowledge of the size of a buck's home range; know why bucks make rubs, and where; and much more.
Still, one thing remains the same: The rut is a time for hope and big dreams--that the biggest buck in the woods will be so transfixed that he'll finally make the mistake that brings him within range.
Here, from some of the most respected and entertaining writers in the business, is an anthology of hunting the rut. Chapters include:
Catching the Early Rut, by Gary Clancy; Hitting the Rut Right, by Greg Miller; S-L-O-W Stalking the Rut, by Bob McNally; Forget About Hunting Scrapes, by John Weiss; Do You Savvy Rut Speak? by John Weiss; The Seven Phases of the Rut, by Curt Wells; EZ Guide to Calling Bucks, by Michael Hanback; Best Stands for the Rut, by Bill Winke; Calling the Rut, by John Weiss; Just a Matter of Time, by Kenn Young; Climb High for Rutting Bucks, by Bob Robb; Sure-Cure for the Post-Rut Blues, by Greg Miller; Early Rubs and How to Hunt Them, by Greg Miller; A Sham in the Deer Woods! by Gary Clancy; Follow Your Does, by Dave Justmann; and more.
Still, one thing remains the same: The rut is a time for hope and big dreams--that the biggest buck in the woods will be so transfixed that he'll finally make the mistake that brings him within range.
Here, from some of the most respected and entertaining writers in the business, is an anthology of hunting the rut. Chapters include:
Catching the Early Rut, by Gary Clancy; Hitting the Rut Right, by Greg Miller; S-L-O-W Stalking the Rut, by Bob McNally; Forget About Hunting Scrapes, by John Weiss; Do You Savvy Rut Speak? by John Weiss; The Seven Phases of the Rut, by Curt Wells; EZ Guide to Calling Bucks, by Michael Hanback; Best Stands for the Rut, by Bill Winke; Calling the Rut, by John Weiss; Just a Matter of Time, by Kenn Young; Climb High for Rutting Bucks, by Bob Robb; Sure-Cure for the Post-Rut Blues, by Greg Miller; Early Rubs and How to Hunt Them, by Greg Miller; A Sham in the Deer Woods! by Gary Clancy; Follow Your Does, by Dave Justmann; and more.
Ben Hoganas former ball shagger recounts firsthand stories of the golf legendaand reveals, for the first time, Hoganas Swing Secret, a source of mystery to golfers for more than fifty years.
Ben Hoganas pro-golf record is legendary. A four-time PGA Player of the Year, he celebrated sixty-three tournament wins and became known as a man of few words and fewer close friends. Most of what we know about Hogan has been based on myth and speculation. Until now.
In the 1960as, though Hoganas competitive career was over, he kept the practice habits that had made him famous and remade modern competitive golf. He hired fifteen-year-old Jody Vasquez to help. Each day, after driving to a remote part of the course at the Shady Oaks Country Club, Hogan would spend hours hitting balls, and Vasquez would retrieve them. There, and over the course of their twenty-year friendship, Hogan taught Jody the mechanics of his famous swing and shared his thoughts on playing, practicing, and course managementaunknowingly revealing much about his character, values, and beliefs, and the events that shaped them.
In "Afternoons with Mr. Hogan," Jody Vasquez shares dozens of stories about Hogan, from the way he practiced, selected his clubs, and interacted with other star players to his little-known humor and generosity. Combining the gentle insight of Tom Kiteas "A Fairway to Heaven" (which recalls Kiteas golf education under Harvey Penick) with the sage perspective of Penickas own "Little Red Book," Vasquezas tribute is funny, poignant, and full of advice for golfers of all levels.
Two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd tells her inspirational story of going from nearly quitting soccer to the number one player in the world in this young reader's edition of her memoir When Nobody Was Watching, now available in paperback. There was a time when Carli Lloyd almost quit soccer. Then she met James Galanis, a trainer who believed in her and saw her as a player with rare talent and skill who needed to work on her weaknesses. He offered to help her, but only if she made soccer her number one priority. Carli said yes. In her own words, Carli Lloyd, the two-time recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award, tells her inspirational story of going from near defeat to the ultimate goal. All Heart is for players, fans, coaches, dreamers, and anyone who has ever thought about giving up.
Discover the shocking #1 New York Times bestseller: the true story of a young NFL player's first-degree murder conviction and untimely death -- and his journey from the Patriots to prison.
Aaron Hernandez was a college All-American who became the youngest player in the NFL and later reached the Super Bowl. His every move as a tight end with the New England Patriots played out the headlines, yet he led a secret life -- one that ended in a maximum-security prison. What drove him to go so wrong, so fast?
Between the summers of 2012 and 2013, not long after Hernandez made his first Pro Bowl, he was linked to a series of violent incidents culminating in the death of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player who dated the sister of Hernandez's fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins.
All-American Murder is the first book to investigate Aaron Hernandez's first-degree murder conviction and the mystery of his own shocking and untimely death.
Aaron Hernandez was a college All-American who became the youngest player in the NFL and later reached the Super Bowl. His every move as a tight end with the New England Patriots played out the headlines, yet he led a secret life -- one that ended in a maximum-security prison. What drove him to go so wrong, so fast?
Between the summers of 2012 and 2013, not long after Hernandez made his first Pro Bowl, he was linked to a series of violent incidents culminating in the death of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player who dated the sister of Hernandez's fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins.
All-American Murder is the first book to investigate Aaron Hernandez's first-degree murder conviction and the mystery of his own shocking and untimely death.
It was an epic downfall. In twenty-four seasons pitcher Roger Clemens put together one of the greatest careers baseball has ever seen. Seven Cy Young Awards, two World Series championships, and 354 victories made him a lock for the Hall of Fame. But on December 13, 2007, the Mitchell Report laid waste to all that. Accusations that Clemens relied on steroids and human growth hormone provided and administered by his former trainer, Brian McNamee, have put Clemens in the crosshairs of a Justice Department investigation.
Why did this happen? How did it happen? Who made the decisions that altered some lives and ruined others? How did a devastating culture of drugs, lies, sex, and cheating fester and grow throughout Major League Baseball's clubhouses? The answers are in these extraordinary pages.
"American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime" is about much more than the downfall of a superstar. While the fascinating portrait of Clemens is certainly at the center of the action, the book takes us outside the white lines and inside the lives and dealings of sports executives, trainers, congressmen, lawyers, drug dealers, groupies, a porn star, and even a murderer--all of whom have ties to this saga. Four superb investigative journalists have spent years uncovering the truth, and at the heart of their investigation is a behind-the-scenes portrait of the maneuvering and strategies in the legal war between Clemens and his accuser, McNamee.
This compelling story is the strongest examination yet of the rise of illegal drugs in America's favorite sport, the gym-rat culture in Texas that has played such an important role in spreading those drugs, and the way Congress has dealt with the entire issue. Andy Pettitte, Jose Canseco, Alex Rodriguez, and Chuck Knoblauch are just a few of the other players whose moving and sometimes disturbing stories are illuminated here as well. The New York "Daily News" Sports Investigative Team has written the definitive book on corruption and the steroids era in Major League Baseball. In doing so, they have managed to dig beneath the disillusion and disappointment to give us a stirring look at heroes who all too often live unheroic shadow lives.
Why did this happen? How did it happen? Who made the decisions that altered some lives and ruined others? How did a devastating culture of drugs, lies, sex, and cheating fester and grow throughout Major League Baseball's clubhouses? The answers are in these extraordinary pages.
"American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime" is about much more than the downfall of a superstar. While the fascinating portrait of Clemens is certainly at the center of the action, the book takes us outside the white lines and inside the lives and dealings of sports executives, trainers, congressmen, lawyers, drug dealers, groupies, a porn star, and even a murderer--all of whom have ties to this saga. Four superb investigative journalists have spent years uncovering the truth, and at the heart of their investigation is a behind-the-scenes portrait of the maneuvering and strategies in the legal war between Clemens and his accuser, McNamee.
This compelling story is the strongest examination yet of the rise of illegal drugs in America's favorite sport, the gym-rat culture in Texas that has played such an important role in spreading those drugs, and the way Congress has dealt with the entire issue. Andy Pettitte, Jose Canseco, Alex Rodriguez, and Chuck Knoblauch are just a few of the other players whose moving and sometimes disturbing stories are illuminated here as well. The New York "Daily News" Sports Investigative Team has written the definitive book on corruption and the steroids era in Major League Baseball. In doing so, they have managed to dig beneath the disillusion and disappointment to give us a stirring look at heroes who all too often live unheroic shadow lives.
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller!
Heroes Triumphed.Announcers Went Wild.
And The Fans Roared.
Feel The Thunder Again. Featuring the riveting stories that bring you back to the moment, acclaimed sports photographs and two audio CDs narrated by award-winning sports journalist Bob Costas, And The Fans Roared delivers more than forty of the most spine-tingling sports moments ever broadcast. Joe Garner's bestselling book And The Crowd Goes Wild left sports fans clamoring for more of the thrilling events that brought them to the edge of their seats. And The Fans Roared delivers. In gripping style, And The Fans Roared highlights announcers' surprised, amazed and awestruck calls from every major sports arena--from baseball, football, basketball and the Olympics, to hockey, auto and horse racing, tennis, boxing, cycling and golf. Accompanying this book, the two audio CDs highlight the exciting moments that brought us to our feet, when heroes reached for the stars, announcers reached for the words to describe them...and the fans roared! Relive the most electrifying sports moments ever broadcast, including: September 29, 1954 -- Willie Mays Makes "The Catch"
October 25, 1964 -- Jim Marshall Runs the Wrong Way
January 22, 1973 -- George Foreman Beats Joe Frazier
"Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"
February 23, 1980 -- Eric Heiden Dominates Winter Olympics
October 7, 1984 -- Walter Payton Breaks Career Rushing Record
"Looking for the record...he's got it!"
September 11, 1985 -- Pete Rose Smacks Hit No. 4,192
"It is pandemonium here at Riverfront Stadium!"
May 7, 1989 -- "The Shot" Michael Jordan Beats Cleveland
March 28, 1992 -- Duke Beats Kentucky on Laettner Buzzer-Beater
October 23, 1993 -- Joe Carter Homer Wins World Series
August 1, 1996 -- Michael Johnson Wins 200 and 400 Gold in Atlanta Hear each memorable broadcast again--or for the very first time in this New York Times bestseller!
O'Connor explores the heated professional and personal battle between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in fascinating, intimate, and revelatory detail. Drawing on unique access to both players, O'Connor illuminates the golf greats' extreme differences and sprawling influences.
Ball Four is a baseball classic, a number one bestseller when it was published; it still is in demand throughout the U.S. Now in a new updated hardcover edition, Ball Four will reach a whole new generation of avid baseball fans. In fact, Ball Four has been selected by the NY Public Library as one of the Books of the Century. And David Halberstam writes: a book deep in the American Vein, so deep in fact that is by no means a sports book. Bouton has written a baseball book about the reality of the game. Thirty years after its publication, it remains as wonderful to read as ever.
Since Nick Saban was hired as head coach at Alabama in 2007, the Crimson Tide have established a record of excellence that is unparalleled in college football's modern era. Featuring stunning action photography from all five championship campaigns and expert analysis from author Christopher Walsh, Bama Dynasty is the inside story of Alabama's era of dominance and the team's path to its fifth championship under Saban. This commemorative book takes fans through Alabama's first four championship seasons as well the exciting journey in 2017. Led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and a ferocious defense, Alabama started the season with 11 straight wins, found sweet redemption against No. 1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, and finally topped the college football world by beating SEC foe Georgia in the national championship game. Relive an unforgettable season with this must-have keepsake, which includes features on Hurts, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Levi Wallace, Ronnie Clark, and more. Roll Tide!
The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, "Eyewitness Books" provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures. With information on everything from bats and balls to great players and World Series games, this completely revised edition of "Eyewitness: Baseball" includes all-new spreads on the minor leagues, college baseball, and more.
Baseball Italian Style brings together the memories of major leaguers of Italian heritage whose collective careers span almost a century, from the 1930s up to today. In these first-person accounts, baseball fans will meet at an intimate level the players they cheered as heroes or jeered as adversaries, as well as coaches, managers, front-office executives, and umpires.
The men who speak in this collection, which includes eight Hall of Famers (Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Ron Santo, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Tom Lasorda, Tony La Russa, and Joe Torre) go beyond facts and figures to provide an inside look at life in the big leagues.
Their stories provide a time capsule that documents not only the evolution of Italian American participation in the national pastime but also the continuity of the game and the many changes that have taken place, on and off the field. At a time when statistical analysis plays an increasingly prominent role in the sport, the monologues in this book are a reminder that the history of baseball is passed on to future generations more eloquently, and with much greater passion, through the words of those who lived it than it is by numerical data.
The men who speak in this collection, which includes eight Hall of Famers (Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Ron Santo, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Tom Lasorda, Tony La Russa, and Joe Torre) go beyond facts and figures to provide an inside look at life in the big leagues.
Their stories provide a time capsule that documents not only the evolution of Italian American participation in the national pastime but also the continuity of the game and the many changes that have taken place, on and off the field. At a time when statistical analysis plays an increasingly prominent role in the sport, the monologues in this book are a reminder that the history of baseball is passed on to future generations more eloquently, and with much greater passion, through the words of those who lived it than it is by numerical data.
An addictive read, sure to spark conversation wherever baseball is spoken, the third edition of The Baseball Maniac's Almanac is part reference, part trivia, part brain teaser, and absolutely the greatest, most unusual, and thorough compendium of baseball stats and facts ever compiled.
There's trivia, and then there's knowledge--deep, extensive, obsessive knowledge--masquerading as trivia. It's the kind of trivia that, if you know the answer, makes you feel triumphant, and if you don't, gives you an education. The kind of trivia based not on what we shouldn't be expected to know, but on what we should--if we're to consider ourselves true fans.
Dennis Purdy, author of the just-published "Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball," has been collecting baseball trivia since before he could shave, and now presents the best of the best: a massive collection of over 1,000 trivia games. Not solo questions, but half-page games, every one involving matching multiple players to their accomplishments, or evaluating multiple clues to discover a mystery subject's identity, or digging deep into a round-up of terms, nicknames, phrases, awards, events, individual teams, locations, and more. The games cover three centuries of baseball history. Home run calls and the announcers who made them famous. The peculiar geography of a baseball field-- "where's the garden? the gateway? the firing line?" Inimitable slang: "cackler, chucker, clinker, and squibber." The lesser-known career feats of baseball's "Big 3," Ruth, Aaron, and Bonds. World Series potpourri--"They won the first night game in World Series history. . . . The team that lost the most World Series--13 . . . The only American League team to lose the World Series in three consecutive seasons" . . . And much, much, much more.
Dennis Purdy, author of the just-published "Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball," has been collecting baseball trivia since before he could shave, and now presents the best of the best: a massive collection of over 1,000 trivia games. Not solo questions, but half-page games, every one involving matching multiple players to their accomplishments, or evaluating multiple clues to discover a mystery subject's identity, or digging deep into a round-up of terms, nicknames, phrases, awards, events, individual teams, locations, and more. The games cover three centuries of baseball history. Home run calls and the announcers who made them famous. The peculiar geography of a baseball field-- "where's the garden? the gateway? the firing line?" Inimitable slang: "cackler, chucker, clinker, and squibber." The lesser-known career feats of baseball's "Big 3," Ruth, Aaron, and Bonds. World Series potpourri--"They won the first night game in World Series history. . . . The team that lost the most World Series--13 . . . The only American League team to lose the World Series in three consecutive seasons" . . . And much, much, much more.
Major League Baseball has compiled the definitive instruction manual on learning to play the game. Fully illustrated with action photos of MLB stars illustrating key points and drills for each defensive position, this book also includes special tips from MLB players on batting, base running, the rules of the game, and coaching. Easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams of all the skills beginning players need to master the game--how to throw, hit, and field all the positions--while also promoting good sportsmanship. Each skill and position is presented separately, with photographs and drawings of a player executing the specific skill, advice on how to perform it, and when to use it, and the most common mistakes. Written and compiled by the best baseball instructors, coaches, and players in the world, this comprehensive how-to is informative enough to help even the brightest young stars shine brighter. With keen insights from instruction and developmental coaches, the need to create a positive environment in practice and encourage creativity as well as technical correctness is stressed. Most importantly, the coaches understand that kids are not just small adults--and they back up their understanding with advice on how to help kids fall in love with America's pastime. Model training sections construct excellent practice sessions--from warm-up through cool-down exercises and hundreds of drills and games to reinforce--this is an essential tool for all coaches as a guide to improving performance and enjoyment of practice and playing the game. This must-have resource covers it all: Batting, Pitching, Base running and sliding, Specific drills for playing all defensive positions, Coaching and rules, Offensive and defensive strategy. Partial list of Big League tips on How to Play the Game: Tony Gwynn (hitting), Sammy Sosa (judging fly balls), Bernie Williams (playing the outfield), Mark Grace (approach to hitting), Alex Rodriguez (fielding ground balls), Jeff Bagwell (hitting), Roberto Alomar (fielding ground balls), Jaret Wright (pitching mechanics), Edgar Renteria (how to play SS), John Lackey (improving your pitching), Carlos Delgado (mastering 1B), Rocco Baldelli (basic approach at plate), Cristian Guzman (fielding ground balls), Danny Kolb (good approach on the mound), Dontrelle Willis (pitching strategies), Torii Hunter (playing the outfield), Jason Marquis (pitching with control), Chone Figgins (sliding), Orlando Cabrera (improving your game), Gary Bennett (becoming a better catcher), Ervin Santana (pitching under pressure), Mark Teixeira (playing 1B), Ryan Howard (hitting), Joey Gathright (playing the OF), Troy Tulowitzki (succeeding at the plate), Joel Zumaya (pitching with poise), Josh Johnson (pitching with confidence)
A long loved but unavailable baseball classic, Batting features interviews with over 250 pioneering baseball figures who share their insights into the game from a hitter's perspective. Legendary baseball figures such as Ty Cobb, Casey Stengel, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Rogers Hornsby, and Babe Ruth reveal the secrets of such integral and interesting parts of the game as place hitting, bunting, hit and run, the sacrifice, batting stance, the batting order, and how to choose a bat. The pros cover the way to beat a slump, common baseball player superstitions, how to outguess the pitcher, and the best way to deal with unhappy fans and the press. Batting is also noteworthy for returning baseball to its roots, downplay-ing slugging and stressing instead a scientific and mental approach to offense-including place hitting, bunting, and base stealing.
This special edition features the original classic along with accompanying advertisements, a biographical introduction by Frederick Ivor-Campbell, and an expanded index by Leverett T. Smith Jr.F. C. Lane (1885-1984) was a longtime editor of and writer for Baseball Magazine, the sport's first monthly magazine. Frederick Ivor-Campbell is the vice president of the Society for American Baseball Research.
Authorized by the twelve-time all-Star and future Hall of famer himself, and written by the nation's leading expert on youth mentoring and an award-winning investigative journalist, the incredible story behind one of the greatest baseball sluggers of all-time.
Manny Ramirez is a future Hall of Fame outfielder who has played in Los Angeles, Boston, and Cleveland. He ranks 17th in career homeruns and eighth in career slugging percentage--the only players above him on both lists are Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and Barry Bonds. Manny is the hottest icon in baseball right now, and that will continue throughout the offseason, where speculation regarding his free agency will be the top baseball news on ESPN and throughout
sports media. In contrast to most sports biographies, Becoming Manny brings an unusually
thoughtful analysis to the territory, examining
Manny's life through the lens of larger issues like youth-mentoring and immigration, while also telling the story of a great career. Manny has perplexed the baseball world for years now with his amazing hitting and his unique approach to life and the game. Incredibly focused at the plate and incredibly carefree everywhere else, Manny has become a constant topic of discussion on national sports radio and television, on sports websites, and in print. With unprecedented access, Jean Rhodes and Shawn Boburg have uncovered fascinating stories and family photos spanning from Manny's early years in the Dominican Republic to the present. This is an authorized inside look at the roots, development, and career of an individual and player on his way from Washington Heights to the Hall of Fame.
Manny Ramirez is a future Hall of Fame outfielder who has played in Los Angeles, Boston, and Cleveland. He ranks 17th in career homeruns and eighth in career slugging percentage--the only players above him on both lists are Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and Barry Bonds. Manny is the hottest icon in baseball right now, and that will continue throughout the offseason, where speculation regarding his free agency will be the top baseball news on ESPN and throughout
sports media. In contrast to most sports biographies, Becoming Manny brings an unusually
thoughtful analysis to the territory, examining
Manny's life through the lens of larger issues like youth-mentoring and immigration, while also telling the story of a great career. Manny has perplexed the baseball world for years now with his amazing hitting and his unique approach to life and the game. Incredibly focused at the plate and incredibly carefree everywhere else, Manny has become a constant topic of discussion on national sports radio and television, on sports websites, and in print. With unprecedented access, Jean Rhodes and Shawn Boburg have uncovered fascinating stories and family photos spanning from Manny's early years in the Dominican Republic to the present. This is an authorized inside look at the roots, development, and career of an individual and player on his way from Washington Heights to the Hall of Fame.
Today's busy pace has led to a quest for ways to relieve stress. The best method available is Qiging--an ancient Chinese system of breathing techniques and exercises that strengthen the mind, body and spirit as they balance and augment Qi, or "life force."
This small, thorough volume presents different forms of Qigong in detail through fully illustrated exercises. Included are an explanation of the principles of Qigong, warming-up exercises, breathing exercises and a guide to self-massage of the inner organs. The authors have also provided a table that describes the various exercises, listing their physical benefits and classifying them according to level of difficulty, so that readers can tailor their own personal routines.
In Behind the Green Monster: Red Sox Myths, Legends, and Lore by Bill Ballou fans will relive the most exhilarating and heart-wrenching moments in Red Sox history, while also separating the facts from fiction. Numerous myths are dispelled once and for all including, including why the Curse of the Bambino never existed, why the Game 6 loss in the 1986 World Series was not Bill Buckner's fault, who was the real key to Boston's ninth-inning rally in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, was Curt Schilling's bloody sock a fake, did Johnny Pesky ever hit a ball off the foul pole named for him, and did Ted Williams really hit a ball of the head of someone sitting 37 rows deep in the right field bleachers. From Yaz's miraculous September in 1967 to the Manny Ramirez trade, the most famous and infamous moments are all combined into one volume. Behind the Green Monster delves into those headlines, sets the record straight and gives Sox fans many reasons to celebrate their strong allegiance to their beloved Red Sox.
August 30, 2018 marks the 100th birthday of the former Boston Red Sox outfielder and baseball legend. In Being Ted Williams, esteemed sportscaster Dick Enberg offers a series of personal anecdotes that loosely follow Ted's life from his childhood in San Diego, to his fun teenage years playing in the Pacific Coast League, his glorious yet frustrating Red Sox career, his heroic actions as a fighter pilot in two wars (as John Glenn's favorite wing-man), and his post-career years leading to his heart-rending appearance at age eighty at the 1999 All-Star Game. Though other books have recounted Williams's career, none have done so through the eyes of someone like Enberg, who followed Ted's career as just a young boy, trying to emulate his classic swing, then as a broadcaster, and finally as a friend, when the two men could enjoy numerous get-togethers until Ted's passing in 2002. Enberg also weaves in personal stories and commentary on what it means to be a hero from other legendary sports figures, such as Bobby Knight, Vin Scully, Bill Walton, and many more. Being Ted Williams makes the perfect gift for the baseball fan looking for a unique perspective on one of the sport's greatest legends through the lens of one of the best broadcasters in the game's history.
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The definitive biography of the NFL's most enigmatic, controversial, and yet successful coach Bill Belichick is perhaps the most fascinating figure in the NFL--the infamously dour face of one of the winningest franchises in sports. As head coach of the New England Patriots, he's led the team to five Super Bowl championship trophies. In this revelatory and robust biography, readers will come to understand and see Belichick's full life in football, from watching college games as a kid with his father, a Naval Academy scout, to orchestrating two Super Bowl-winning game plans as defensive coordinator for the Giants, to his dramatic leap to New England, where he has made history. Award-winning columnist and New York Times best-selling author Ian O'Connor delves into the mind of the man who has earned a place among coaching legends like Lombardi, Halas, and Paul Brown, presenting sides of Belichick that have been previously unexplored. O'Connor discovers how this legendary coach shaped the people he met and worked with in ways perhaps even Belichick himself doesn't know. Those who follow and love pro football know Bill Belichick only as the hooded genius of the Patriots. But there is so much more--from the hidden tensions and deep layers to his relationship with Tom Brady to his sometimes frosty dealings with owner Robert Kraft to his ability to earn the unmitigated respect of his players--if not their affection. This is a man who has many facets and, ultimately, has created a notorious football dynasty. Based on exhaustive research and countless interviews, this book circles around Belichick to tell his full story for the first time, and presents an incisive portrait of a mastermind at work.
The Best American Series(R)
First, Best, and Best-Selling The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume's series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected--and most popular--of its kind. The Best American Sports Writing 2011 includes Paul Solotaroff, Sally Jenkins, Wells Tower, John McPhee, David Dobbs, Wright Thompson, P. J. O'Rourke, Selena Roberts, and others
See what it takes to track trophy-sized bucks like the legends do. If there is such a thing as hunting royalty, then the Benoit family is it. They have been raking in trophy-sized bucks since Larry Benoit first began to pioneer his unique tracking methods. As the family grew, so did the Benoit hunting repertoire, expanding beyond simple snow tracking to all-season tracking. Author Bryce M. Towsley had a unique opportunity in the late nineties: to deer hunt with the Benoits for an extended period in the deep woods of Maine. He spent time with the Benoit family observing and learning their hunting tactics, techniques, and long-protected secrets. The product of Towsley's inclusion in the Benoit family tradition is Big Bucks the Benoit Way. Fully illustrated with Towsley's beautiful, full-color photography and written with his trademark prose and with a new introduction by the author, it tracks his experience following in the footsteps of the great Benoit hunters, learning their craft and sharing it with you. Big Bucks the Benoit Way is more than an exploration of the fine art of tracking bucks; it's a glimpse at the heart and beauty of American big-game hunting. Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bow hunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Raised in the Dominican Republic, signed by the Seattle Mariners, and released by the Minnesota Twins, David Ortiz landed in baseball-crazy Boston, of all places. Generally regarded as an underachiever to that point in his career, Ortiz blossomed into one of the most feared and adored sluggers in baseball while altering the course of the game's history, helping Boston win its first World Series in eighty-six years and thereby breaking the infamous "Curse of the Bambino."Along the way, Ortiz established his place as a truly Ruthian figure in the annals of our national pastime: an imposing figure in the batter's box, yet an endearing man to the young, particularly in his native Dominican Republic, where he has focused his charitable efforts on improving the health of children. The son of two caring parents, and a loving father of three, Ortiz is a hero to many.Now, in his memoir, the man affectionately known as "Big Papi" recounts his life from growing up in an impoverished area of the Dominican Republic (where baseball is king) to his ascension in Boston (where he became one). Ortiz discusses, in detail, his historic and record-setting performances as a member of the Red Sox, his exploding popularity, the challenges of playing in Boston, and life in the Red Sox clubhouse.BIG PAPI is a unique memoir by a charismatic man who appeals to young and old, on the baseball field or off.
David Ortiz first won over the Fenway faithful in 2003 with his monstrous home runs, beaming smile, big hugs, and kind heart. The following fall, he proved heroic, belting walk-off hits in Games 4 and 5 of the ALCS in an epic series comeback over Jeter's Yankees. His legendary feats helped the Red Sox end the 86-year-old "Curse of the Bambino" and deliver a World Series title to Boston. In the largest gathering in American history--of any kind--3 million fans cheered Ortiz & Co. in the World Series victory parade. "Big Papi" has walloped over 500 home runs and led Boston to two more world titles. In 2013, following the Boston Marathon bombings, he epitomized "Boston Strong" by crushing a series-turning grand slam in the ALCS and blasting .688 in the World Series, earning MVP honors. Authors David Fischer and David Aretha celebrate this David's career in a fully illustrated, scrapbook-style album with prose as passionate as Big Papi himself. Included too are dozens of personal anecdotes and recollections about Ortiz from prominent members of the Red Sox organization and the Boston community. Supreme photography and treasures from the Baseball Hall of Fame--rarely seen photographs and artifacts--enhance the nostalgic experience. This unique collection captures the magic of David Ortiz, one of the greatest heroes the game has ever known. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports--books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
A New York Times bestseller "Enormously entertaining . . . Explores the question of whether a baseball lifer can actually be a tragic figure in the classic sense--a man destroyed by the very qualities that made him great." -- Wall Street Journal "Bill Pennington gives long-overdue flesh to the caricature . . . Pennington savors the dirt-kicking spectacles without losing sight of the man." -- New York Times Book Review Even now, years after his death, Billy Martin remains one of the most intriguing and charismatic figures in baseball history. And the most misunderstood. A manager who is widely considered to have been a baseball genius, Martin is remembered more for his rabble-rousing and public brawls on the field and off. He was combative and intimidating, yet endearing and beloved. In Billy Martin, Bill Pennington resolves these contradictions and pens the definitive story of Martin's life. From his hardscrabble youth to his days on the Yankees in the 1950s and through sixteen years of managing, Martin made sure no one ever ignored him. Drawing on exhaustive interviews and his own time covering Martin as a young sportswriter, Pennington provides an intimate, revelatory, and endlessly colorful story of a truly larger-than-life sportsman. "The hair on my forearms was standing up by the end of the fifth paragraph of this book's introduction. I knew Billy Martin. I covered Billy Martin. But I never knew him like this." -- Dan Shaughnessy, best-selling author of Francona "An exhaustive, detailed and fascinating look at a baseball genius whose biggest fight might very well have been against himself." -- Tampa Tribune
When we first meet him, Michael Oher is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or how to read and write. He takes up football, and school, after a rich, white, Evangelical family plucks him from the streets. Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist becomes the priceless package of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability, his blind side.
Comprehensive, authoritative, controversial, hilarious, and impossible to put down, this book offers every hardwood fan a courtside seat beside the game's finest, funniest, and fiercest chronicler.
In the tradition of previous World Series championship books from Sports Publishing, Boston Red Sox: 2007 World Series Champions takes readers through the Red Sox' run to their second World Series championship in four seasons. Filled with quality color photography, the book highlights many moments of glory from the regular season, from Boston's five April wins over the rival New York Yankees through a September hot streak that secured the American League's Eastern Division title. There are lengthy sections on the playoff sweep of the Angels and the Red Sox' come-from-behind, seven-game triumph over the Cleveland Indians in the National League Championship series. Profile sections help readers get to know key Red Sox such as outfielder Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Manny Ramirez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, David Ortiz, and others.
Little-known facts, statistics, stories, quotes, nicknames, all-time leaders, rosters, puzzles, and more from over one hundred years of Red Sox history
The Boston Red Sox were originally named the Pilgrims--but for over one hundred years they have always been Beantown's favorite team, with a history that has been celebrated and mourned by generations of fans.
If you love the Red Sox, you'll find hours of challenging trivia in this book. Packed with text and information, it includes: *A history of the Red Sox from their origins to the present * Trvia questions designed to test your baseball memory * Corssword puzzles, word games, unusual quotes, funny nicknames, and anecdotes about the Sox *Complete all-time Red Sox roster of players, with stats * Comprehensive leader tables for batters and pitchers *Award winners, Hall of Famers, and other honors *And much more!
Do You Know...
- Who was the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in the twentieth century?
- Who decided to turn Babe Ruth into an outfielder?
- What was Ted Williams's batting average with one day left in the 1941 season: .406, .399, .3996, or .4001? What happened on that day?
- How many batting titles did Carl Yastrzemski win in his career?
- Which team Roger Clemens's had 20 strikeouts against in a 1986 game?
Bring this book to Fenway, or keep it next to your favorite armchair at home, to liven up commercial breaks and rain delays. In no time you'll be an expert on Red Sox trivia!
The #1 New York Times-bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary "The Boys of '36" For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times--the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington's eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys' own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man's personal quest.
John Feinstein tells the inspirational story of Bruce Edwards, the most famous caddy in professional golf and the unexpected star of the 2003 US Open, who died aged 49 in 2004.
"Derek Jeter is undoubtedly the most talked about, argued about, cheered, booed and ultimately respected baseball player of his generation. And as public a figure as he has been, he is in many ways the least known. That changes now as Ian O'Connor, one of the best sports writers anywhere, goes deep and does what no one has quite been able to do: Tell us a bit about who Derek Jeter really is."--Joe Posnanski, author of The Machine "Deftly told."--Washington Post In The Captain, Ian O'Connor draws on unique access to Derek Jeter and more than 200 new interviews to reveal how a biracial kid from Michigan became New York's most beloved sports figure and the face of the steroid-free athlete. O'Connor takes us behind the scenes of a legendary baseball life, from Jeter's early struggles in the minor leagues, when homesickness and errors threatened a stillborn career, to the heady days of Yankee superiority and nightlife, to the battles with former best friend A-Rod. All along the way, Jeter has made his Hall-of-Fame destiny look easy. But behind that leadership and hero's grace there are hidden struggles and complexities that have never been explored, until now.
Precise illustrations and photographs never before used in riding books explain anatomy and image work to give mind and body new and relaxed approaches to the inner process of riding.
This guide contains whitewater runs in New England and New York - novice to expert - with descriptions, maps and river run information for more than 70 rivers.
The greatest relief pitcher of all time shares his extraordinary story of survival, love, and baseball. Mariano Rivera, the man who intimidated thousands of batters merely by opening a bullpen door, began his incredible journey as the son of a poor Panamanian fisherman. When first scouted by the Yankees, he didn't even own his own glove. He thought he might make a good mechanic. When discovered, he had never flown in an airplane, had never heard of Babe Ruth, spoke no English, and couldn't imagine Tampa, the city where he was headed to begin a career that would become one of baseball's most iconic. What he did know: that he loved his family and his then girlfriend, Clara, that he could trust in the Lord to guide him, and that he could throw a baseball exactly where he wanted to, every time. With astonishing candor, Rivera tells the story of the championships, the bosses (including The Boss), the rivalries, and the struggles of being a Latino baseball player in the United States and of maintaining Christian values in professional athletics. The thirteen-time All-Star discusses his drive to win; the secrets behind his legendary composure; the story of how he discovered his cut fastball; the untold, pitch-by-pitch account of the ninth inning of Game 7 in the 2001 World Series; and why the lowest moment of his career became one of his greatest blessings. In The Closer, Rivera takes readers into the Yankee clubhouse, where his teammates are his brothers. But he also takes us on that jog from the bullpen to the mound, where the game -- or the season -- rests squarely on his shoulders. We come to understand the laserlike focus that is his hallmark, and how his faith and his family kept his feet firmly on the pitching rubber. Many of the tools he used so consistently and gracefully came from what was inside him for a very long time -- his deep passion for life; his enduring commitment to Clara, whom he met in kindergarten; and his innate sense for getting out of a jam. When Rivera retired, the whole world watched -- and cheered. In The Closer, we come to an even greater appreciation of a legend built from the ground up.
The fourth edition of Coaching Youth Basketball stresses fun, safety, and effective instruction, helping you create an environment that promotes learning, helps your kids enjoy their basketball experiences, and motivates your athletes to come out year after year.
Numerous coaching books present the skills and drills of basketball. But here's a book that teaches you how to convey these skills to your athletes in an engaging and positive manner. Coaching Youth Basketball's focus on teaching offensive and defensive skills through gamelike activities sets it apart from the current lineup of basketball coaching books. And, it's the only one written with the expertise of USA Basketball's Don Showalter.
The fourth edition includes new activities and age-specific coaching tips that are sure to jump-start your practices, all in a reorganized format geared for sequential learning and quick reference.
The expertise of USA Basketball combined with essential coaching skills like communicating with parents and officials, motivating players, and preparing for games and practices make this book a must-read as you prepare to meet the challenges and enjoy the rewards of coaching young athletes.