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Showing 1761 - 1780 of 4119 items
By Kevin Garnett. 2021
A unique, unfiltered memoir from the NBA champion and fifteen-time all-star ahead of his induction into the Hall of Fame.Kevin…
Garnett was one of the most dominant players the game of basketball has ever seen. He was also one of its most outspoken. Over the course of his illustrious twenty-one-year NBA career, he elevated trash talk to an art form and never shied away from sharing his thoughts on controversial subjects. In KG A to Z, published ahead of Garnett&’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he looks back on his life and career with the same raw candor. Garnett describes the adversity he faced growing up in South Carolina before ultimately relocating to Chicago, where he became one of the top prospects in the nation. He details his headline-making decision to skip college and become the first player in two decades to enter the draft directly from high school, starting a trend that would be followed by future superstars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He shares stories of playing with and against Bryant, James, Michael Jordan, and other NBA greats, and he chronicles his professional ups and downs, including winning a championship with the Boston Celtics. He also speaks his mind on a range of topics beyond basketball, such as fame, family, racism, spirituality, and music. Garnett&’s draft decision wasn&’t the only way he&’d forever change the game. His ability to play on the perimeter as a big man foreshadowed the winning strategy now universally adopted by the league. He applies this same innovative spirit here, organizing the contents alphabetically as an encyclopedia. If you thought Kevin Garnett was exciting, inspiring, and unfiltered on the court, just wait until you read what he has to say in these pages.By Libby Riddles, Tim Jones. 1988
Libby Riddles wanted an adventure. At age 16 she left home for the snowy wilderness of Alaska, the Last Frontier.…
There her love of animals drew her to the sport of sled dog racing. When she entered the Iditarod, the famous marathon from Anchorage to Nome, she was just another Iditarod Nobody. Twelve hundred miles later, having conquered blizzards, extreme cold, and exhaustion, she and her dogs crossed the final stretch of sea ice, miles ahead of the nearest competitor... and suddenly she realized: I will be the first woman to win the Iditarod. This is the story of a courageous woman and her heroic dogs. This is the story of Libby Riddles's adventure.By David Sharp. 2013
The story of a unique athlete&’s remarkable journey—from riding his bike in the Ngong Hills of Kenya to the sport&’s…
pinnacle, victory in the Tour de France. On 21 July 2013 Chris Froome made history as the second British cyclist to win the Tour de France—in the 100th edition of the world&’s most famous bike race—and the first ever African-born rider to wear the coveted maillot jaune on the top step of the podium in Paris. Froome&’s path into the elite ranks of road racing has been unlike any other in the annals of the sport. Born in Nairobi to British parents he was educated in South Africa and studied economics at university. But he abandoned his degree to take up the offer of a professional cycling contract in Europe. A fish out of water, Froome encountered a shock entrance into the rough and tumble world of top-level European bike racing. Incredibly, within two years—and despite his progress being severely hampered when he contracted a debilitating tropical disease—Froome had signed for the world&’s biggest cycling team, British cycling supremo Sir Dave Brailsford&’s Team Sky, finished second overall in the Vuelta a Espana, and sacrificed his own ambitions to help teammate Bradley Wiggins claim Britain&’s first ever Tour de France title in 2012. At the turn of 2013 Froome superseded Wiggins as Sky&’s team leader and went on to win four out of the five stage races he entered, including the prestigious Criterium du Dauphine, before dominating the 2013 Tour de France on a relentless pursuit of the ultimate prize in cycling.Grover Cleveland Alexander was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, with 373 career victories during twenty seasons in…
the Major Leagues. Elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938, the right-hander remains a compelling—and tragic—figure. &“Pete&” Alexander&’s military service during World War I was the demarcation line between his great seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and his years of struggle and turmoil with the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals after the Great War. Indeed, Alexander&’s service during World War I has all but been forgotten, even though it dramatically changed his life—and his game. Alexander served in the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment, which included big leaguers and star athletes among its officers and men. Naturally, the regiment fielded an outstanding baseball team, but it also faced hard service during the final weeks of the war. After the armistice in November 1918, the unit undertook occupation duty in Germany.The Best Team Over There examines this crucial period closely: where Alexander was stationed, how he was trained, how he withstood the effects of combat and shelling, how he interacted with his fellow athletes and soldiers, and how the war changed his baseball career, revealing for the first time the little-known details of this critical stage in the legendary pitcher&’s life and career. We can&’t truly understand Alexander and his enduring appeal to baseball fans without also understanding his life as a gunner and soldier.By Andrew Maraniss. 2021
*"[An] excellent exercise in narrative nonfiction." --Booklist (starred review)From New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss comes the remarkable true…
story of Glenn Burke, a "hidden figure" in the history of sports: the inventor of the high five and the first openly gay MLB player. Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown. On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first ever high five. But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come. New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn Burke: from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult times: facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic.Packed with black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched, never-before-seen details about Glenn's life, Singled Out is the fascinating story of a trailblazer in sports--and the history and culture that shaped the world around him.Praise for Singled Out:"A compelling narrative . . . This is a meticulously researched history of the ways queer culture in the &’70s intersected with baseball, Blackness, and larger culture wars, with one man at their center." --Kirkus ReviewsBy Diego Borinsky. 2021
Hoy que se aproxima su retiro, en conversación íntima y sin reservas con Diego Borinsky, Andrés D'Alessandro -máximo ídolo del…
club brasileño Inter, y desde siempre muy querido por todos los hinchas de River- cuenta por primera vez su vida, de La Paternal y Racing a Brasil pasando por Europa y, por supuesto, por el Monumental, con testimonios de quienes mejor lo conocen y más lo aprecian, de su esposa y sus padres a Marcelo Bielsa. Mucha gente cree que voy discutiendo con todos por la calle. No soy así, quizás se dejan llevar por la imagen de discutidor que se ve en el campo de juego. Es parte de mi carácter, el mismo que me llevó a construir esta carrera de la que me siento muy orgulloso. La idea de escribir un libro nació porque se acerca el final y de algún modo quiero dejar un mensaje, un legado, y mostrar quién es no sólo el que entra con sus compañeros a hacer lo mejor por su equipo, sino también la persona que se va después a la casa con su bolsito. No puedo reclamarle nada a mi carrera, aunque debo admitir que mi gran espina es no haber podido jugar un mundial. Jamás imaginé que triunfaría en Brasil. Tampoco que iba a terminar organizando partidos benéficos y que me nombrarían ciudadano ilustre y embajador del Instituto de Cáncer Infantil. Son halagos que me llenan el alma y me obligan a redoblar el compromiso. Me produce una profunda tristeza saber que dejaré de hacer lo que me gusta tanto e hice durante toda mi vida. Me he largado a llorar más de una vez en estos meses hablando sobre el futuro. Leyendo el libro van a comprender por qué todos los integrantes de la familia D'Alessandro somos tan sensibles y de lágrima fácil. Espero les guste y lo disfruten, como yo he disfrutado de mis años en el fútbol y de contarlos en estas páginas.Andrés D'Alessandro «Gran polemista, analizaba todas las decisiones. Sin embargo, aún en el disenso, siempre sentí que contaba con su adhesión. Cuestionador, pero en sintonía con los intereses colectivos y con los del entrenador, comprometido con el escudo a defender».Marcelo Bielsa «En el colegio era un poco rebelde, pero nada demasiado grave. Con lo que me volvió loca en la infancia fue con todos los golpes que se dio. Ay, Dios santo, ese chico era un infierno de inquieto, no ganamos para sustos».Gladys (mamá) «Su mayor virtud como persona creo que es la honestidad. Existe una relación directa y sincera entre lo que dice y lo que hace. Es auténtico. Eso le jugó muchas veces en contra en su carrera».Érica (esposa) «Acompaño a Inter desde los ocho años y no tengo dudas: Paulo Roberto Falcão, Valdomiro Vaz Franco, Fernando Lúcio da Costa y Andrés Nicolás D'Alessandro son los cuatro máximos ídolos de la historia del club».Marcelo Medeiros, presidente de Inter «El apodo Cabezón se lo puse yo. De chico era muy caprichoso, le decías una cosa y hacía lo contrario, era discutidor. Andrés dice que yo nunca lo vi jugar bien, pero en el fondo le buscaba el pretexto, lo fui llevando de esa manera para que nunca se conformara».Eduardo (papá) «Hay muchos futbolistas que juegan por instinto y otros que entienden el juego, que tienen lectura y son entrenadores dentro del campo. Dale es uno de esos. Quiere saber los porqués de todo, siempre pregunta. Juega con la cabeza, pero también con el corazón».Dunga (exentrenador de Andrés y amigo)By Daniel Ponce de Leon. 2021
Daniel Ponce de Leon's hard-fought journey to Major League Baseball and recovery from a near-death injury, followed by his astonishing…
big league debut, will inspire readers to trust God in all circumstances.The path you take to achieving your dreams is not always easy. Daniel Ponce de Leon, an acclaimed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, overcame many challenges to get to the Major Leagues. Drafted four times, he spent a long four years climbing his way up through the minors before finally reaching AAA, only one step away from the Major Leagues. Then, Daniel's dream was almost shattered when he was struck in the head by a line drive. Spending weeks in the hospital and months recovering from a large epidural hematoma, skull fracture, brain swelling, and hemorrhaging, Daniel held on to his belief that he would one day realize his dream.Fourteen months later, and fully recovered, he made his first Major League start, becoming the fifth pitcher in modern Major League history to throw seven innings of no-hit ball in his first outing. MLB.com referred to it as one of the greatest debuts in Major League Baseball history.In One Line Drive, Daniel retells his remarkable journey, sharing how he never would have made it without his faith in God and the support of family and friends. Full of grit, determination, and faith, Daniel's story is an inspiring reminder to keep pressing on regardless of any setback or disappointment.By Deion Sanders, Jim Nelson Black. 1999
Superstar Deion Sanders tells his powerful life story and reveals how power, money and sex could not satisfy the void…
in his life--a void ultimately satisfied by his relationship with Christ.By César Polanía, Hugo Mario Cárdenas, Jorge Enrique Rojas. 2019
La historia del técnico más importante de la historia del fútbol colombiano. Gabriel Ochoa Uribe es la leyenda viva más…
importante del fútbol colombiano. 'El Médico', como se le conoció y se le recuerda, transformó la manera de jugar en el país. A punto de cumplir 90 años, sigue siendo el director técnico con el mayor número de campeonatos ganados en la historia de Colombia, y el único en disputar tres finales seguidas de la Copa Libertadores. César Polanía, Hugo Mario Cárdenas y Jorge Enrique Rojas, periodistas consagrados, buscaron al médico Ochoa para recordar sus días como arquero y D.T. Además, convocaron 11 titulares, entre los que se cuentan Carlos #el Pibe# Valderrama, Julio César Falcioni, Francisco #Pacho# Maturana, Ricardo Gareca y Willington Ortiz, para reconstruir con sus voces y memoria la vida, los triunfos y las anécdotas personales y deportivas del técnico de técnicos, el hombre al que el fútbol colombiano le debe sus momentos más preciados. Un magnífico relato periodístico que, por primera vez en un libro, rinde homenaje a uno de los hombres más sabios del fútbol latinoamericano, y que repasa medio siglo de historia del balompié en Colombia. #Siempre fui admirador del profesor Ochoa. Todos los equipos que él dirigió fueron ganadores. Fueron muchas las enseñanzas que dejó en el fútbol#. - Carlos #el Pibe# Valderrama (Tomado del libro) #Gabriel Ochoa Uribe fue mi ídolo, mi inspiración, el hombre que me enseñó el camino#. - Francisco Maturana (Tomado del libro)By Jorge Señorans. 2019
Más de treinta historias de jugadores, entrenadores o personajes del presente y el pasado de uno de los deportes más…
populares del Uruguay. En este libro el lector podrá encontrar desde las historias más emocionantes, hilarantes y de sacrificio que rodean este juego en nuestro país. Un jugador manco que fue campeón federal y enmudeció una cancha en Brasil; sobornos y jugadores suspendidos por ser acusados de profesionales; el increíble espíritu de solidaridad de la selección uruguaya que no fue al Mundial de 1950 por un conflicto de la prensa; las historias más insólitas del único uruguayo en llegar a la NBA que fue al cumpleaños de LeBron James; la negativa de Panchi Barrera a jugar en la NBA; el estadounidense que reveló que haber venido a Uruguay le salvó la vida y otro que iba a entrenar con una cuchilla en el bolso; el extraño partido donde los jugadores se metían dobles en contra para forzar un alargue; las memorables anécdotas de los Juegos Olímpicos desde los interminables viajes a Helsinky y Melbourne a la gran selección de Los Ángeles 1984: estas son solo algunas de las historias que picarán por estas páginas junto a los nombres de Ebers Mera, el maestro Rubén Bulla, Eduardo Gordon, el contador Damiani, Alfredo Venditto, los Moglia, Sánchez Padilla, Víctor Hugo Berardi, Adesio Lombardo, Fefo Ruiz, Tato López, entre muchos otros jugadores de hoy, de ayer y de siempre. Poco se ha publicado en Uruguay sobre el básquetbol, uno de los deportes más populares del país. Este trabajo del periodista Jorge Señorans se centra en las personas que practicaron y practican este juego. Narra vivencias y pequeñas historias que hacen del básquetbol un deporte dominado por la pasión dentro y fuera de la cancha. Desde los tiempos del amateurismo, cuando perder ese espíritu era motivo de retarse a duelo, hasta la profesionalización actual, donde miles de jugadores han pasado por las canchas más pintorescas de los barrios montevideanos. Pequeñas grandes historias del básquetbol uruguayo reúne relatos tan insólitos como reales de quienes hicieron y hacen gigante al básquetbol nacional.By Bob Willis, Mike Dickson. 2020
'Verdict on Willis book: a treat' - Express'The book is a gem' - Mike Atherton 'It's a lovely book, containing…
previously unseen musings from the great man' - David Lloyd'enjoyable and eye-opening... a delight to read' - The Telegraph 'A warm, polished recollection.' - The Guardian'It's such a great read' - Piers Morgan'Willis book will bowl you over' - Sunday Mirror & The PeopleA biography celebrating the life of the legendary cricketer Bob Willis, with tributes from key figures in sports and media and a foreword by Sir Ian Botham. Following his passing in 2019, tributes to Bob came flooding in in every major news outlet and from every major figure in the industry - and outside of it. His career spanned decades, from his days as a cricketer for England to his time as a pundit on Sky TV. This autobiography includes never-before-seen writing from Bob alongside contributions from key figures as well as a detailed account of the great England victory over Australia at Headingly in 1981.The book, edited by Bob's brother David, combines a new biography, written by Daily Mail sportswriter Mike Dickson, with a celebration of a truly legendary man. Tributes from some of his many friends in the world of cricket and beyond are accompanied by reflections on highlights from an eventful life, drawing on autobiographical and personal material by Bob himself, contemporary press reports and the accounts of team-mates and opponents.By Hernán Castillo. 2011
La biografía no autorizada de Julio Grondona. La historia del hombre que llegó a manejar el dinero de la FIFA…
sin hablar inglés. Eterno. Camaleónico. Poderoso. El repaso de la vida de Julio Grondona remite inmediatamente a esas palabras. Un hombre de códigos, buenos o malos. Guiños y favores son conceptos asociados a su historia. Una historia atravesada por negociaciones y negocios, repleta de apuestas fuertes. Una historia en la que el inoxidable presidente de la AFA se sentó mano a mano con dictadores y representantes de la democracia. Con radicales y peronistas, con amigos y enemigos; en la AFA y en la FIFA. Negoció y convivió con todos. Él mismo se burla de quienes lo investigan: "Tengo más denuncias que Al Capone". Guste o no, es el dirigente más influyente de la historia del fútbol argentino, y él lo sabe. Aquí, un repaso por su vida. Una vida semejante a la de Dr Jekill y Mr Hyde, ese personaje de ficción que, en él, parece real.By Cesar Bianchi, Javier Tairovich. 2019
Este libro recorre los claroscuros de un jugador excepcional, un hincha dentro o fuera de la cancha, un hombre de…
campo, un padre presente, un amigo leal y solidario. Al futbolista uruguayo más ganador de todos los tiempos no le gusta mirar fútbol. Cristian Gabriel Rodríguez —de oficio jugador de fútbol— ha ganado 26 títulos oficiales en Uruguay, Argentina, y sobre todo en la península ibérica. En equipos de Portugal y España fue multicampeón. Hay un denominador común en todas estas vueltas olímpicas: siempre las dio con una bandera o un gorrito del equipo de sus amores, Peñarol. El niño de Juan Lacaze, al que apodaban Cebolla como a su padre, tenía dos sueños a cumplir cuando fuera grande: tener muchos caballos y jugar en Peñarol. Hoy tiene más de cien equinos en su establecimiento «El Chichongo» y no solo llegó a jugar en Peñarol: fue campeón con la aurinegra tres veces, como juvenil y como capitán experimentado. Y antes de volver a radicarse definitivamente en el campo para darle de comer a las gallinas, quiere seguir jugando y ganando en Peñarol. Este libro recorre los claroscuros de un jugador excepcional, un hincha dentro o fuera de la cancha, un hombre de campo, un padre presente, un amigo leal y solidario.By Rory Best. 2020
'Extraordinary... great fun' Barry Egan, Irish Sunday Independent'A wonderful story . . . vivid and comprehensive.' Stephen Jones, Sunday Times''Throughout…
it all though there is a feeling of warmth for the sport and for others. Above all there is a sense of achievement... Best was never one of the glamour boys, but he deserves star billing.' Daily TelegraphRory Best is widely-regarded as one of Ireland's greatest ever captains. Entrusted by Joe Schmidt to lead the side that looked on the wane following the 2015 World Cup, Best's inspirational leadership skills and abrasive qualities proved to be the foundation stones for the most successful period in Ireland's history.His first year in charge saw Ireland complete a hat-trick of victories against the southern hemisphere 'Big Three', including leading his side to a first ever victory over world champions New Zealand in Chicago, a feat that etched Best's place in Irish sporting folklore and ended the All Blacks' record-winning streak of 18 Test victories.Ireland's annus mirabilis under Best's captaincy would come in 2018 however, when he led the side to only their third Grand Slam title, culminating with a famous victory over England at Twickenham, and a record-breaking run of 12 successive Test victories.When he stepped down as Ireland captain at the age of 37 following the World Cup in Japan, his fourth tournament, history will no doubt also judge Best to be one of their greatest forwards.A hugely-popular figure across the game, Best finished his career as Ireland's most capped forward, behind only Brian O'Driscoll and Ronan O'Gara in the all-time records, and also made over 200 appearances for his province Ulster.By Josh Greenberg. 2021
"Josh Greenberg is my kind of nature writer."—The Wall Street Journal It's the beginning of trout fishing season, and Josh…
Greenberg — proprietor of one of the nation&’s most famous fishing outfitters, on America's most iconic trout-fishing stream, the Au Sable River in Michigan —is standing in the Au Sable at dusk when he gets the call that a dear fishing buddy has died. The solace he takes from fishing — from reading the movement of the river water, studying the play of the light, and relying on his knowledge of insect and fish life — prompts him to reflect on the impact of the natural world on his life in his fisherman&’s journal. Over the course of a year, the journal transcends fishing notes to include some beautifully lyrical nature writing, entertaining stories of the big one that got away, cheerful introspection about a love that&’s hard to explain, and yes, a tip or two. Eventually, Josh Greenberg realizes he hasn&’t been all alone in the woods, not really. Much of his relationship with his family and friends has played out on the river. And as he catches — and releases — trout after trout back into one of the most beautiful rivers in America, Greenberg comes to help us realize, too, that there&’s more to fishing than catching fish.By Greg Larson. 2021
Greg Larson was a starry-eyed fan when he hurtled headfirst into professional baseball. As the new clubhouse attendant for the…
Aberdeen IronBirds, a Minor League affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, Larson assumed he&’d entered a familiar world. He thought wrong. He quickly discovered the bizarre rituals of life in the Minors: fights between players, teammates quitting in the middle of the games, doomed relationships, and a negligent parent organization. All the while, Larson, fresh out of college, harbored a secret wish. Despite the team&’s struggles and his own lack of baseball talent, he yearned to join the exclusive fraternity of professional ballplayers. Instead, Larson fell deeper into his madcap venture as the scheming clubbie. He moved into the clubhouse equipment closet, his headquarters to swing deals involving memorabilia, booze, and loads of cash. By his second season, Larson had transformed into a deceptive, dip-spitting veteran, now fully part of a system that exploited players he considered friends. Like most Minor Leaguers, the gravitational pull of baseball was still too strong for Larson—even if chasing his private dream might cost him his girlfriend, his future, and, ultimately, his love of the game. That is, until an unlikely shot at a championship gives Larson and the IronBirds one final swing at redemption.Clubbie is a hilarious behind-the-scenes tale of two seasons in the mysterious world of Minor League Baseball. With cinematic detail and a colorful cast of characters, Larson spins an unforgettable true story for baseball fans and nonfans alike. An unflinching look at the harsh experience of professional sports, Clubbie will be a touchstone in baseball literature for years to come.By Steve Steinberg, Lyle Spatz. 2021
The careers of pitchers Jack Quinn and Howard Ehmke began in the Deadball Era and peaked in the 1920s. They…
were teammates for many years, with both the cellar-dwelling Boston Red Sox and later with the world champion Philadelphia Athletics, managed by Connie Mack. As far back as 1912, when he was just twenty-nine, Quinn was told he was too old to play and on the downward side of his career. Because of his determination, work ethic, outlook on life, and physical conditioning, however, he continued to excel. In his midthirties, then his late thirties, and even into his forties, he overcame the naysayers. At age forty-six he became the oldest pitcher to start a World Series game. When Quinn finally retired in 1933 at fifty, the &“Methuselah of the Mound&” owned numerous longevity records, some of which he holds to this day. Ehmke, meanwhile, battled arm trouble and poor health through much of his career. Like Quinn, he was dismissed by the experts and from many teams, only to return and excel. He overcame his physical problems by developing new pitches and pitching motions and capped his career with a stunning performance in Game One of the 1929 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, which still ranks among baseball&’s most memorable games. Connie Mack described it as his greatest day in baseball.Comeback Pitchers is the inspirational story of these two great pitchers with intertwining careers who were repeatedly considered washed up and too old but kept defying the odds and thrilling fans long after most pitchers would have retired.By Lawrence Baldassaro. 2021
Before there was Joe DiMaggio, there was Tony Lazzeri. A decade before the &“Yankee Clipper&” began his legendary career in…
1936, Lazzeri paved the way for the man who would become the patron saint of Italian American fans and players. He did so by forging his own Hall of Fame career as a key member of the Yankees&’ legendary Murderers&’ Row lineup between 1926 and 1937, in the process becoming the first major baseball star of Italian descent. An unwitting pioneer who played his entire career while afflicted with epilepsy, Lazzeri was the first player to hit sixty home runs in organized baseball, one of the first middle infielders in the big leagues to hit with power, and the first Italian player with enough star power to attract a whole new generation of fans to the ballpark. As a twenty-two-year-old rookie for the New York Yankees, Lazzeri played alongside such legends as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He immediately emerged as a star, finishing second to Ruth in RBIs and third in home runs in the American League. In his twelve years as the second baseman for Yankee teams that won five World Series, he was their third-most productive hitter, driving in more runs than all but five American Leaguers, and hitting more home runs than all but six. Yet for all that, today Lazzeri is a largely forgotten figure, his legacy diminished by the passage of time and tarnished by his bases-loaded strikeout to Grover Cleveland Alexander in Game Seven of the 1926 World Series, a strikeout immortalized on Alexander&’s Hall of Fame plaque. Tony Lazzeri reveals that quite to the contrary, he was one of the smartest, most talented, and most respected players of his time, the forgotten Yankee who helped the team win six American League pennants and five World Series titles.By Dave Parker, Dave Jordan. 2021
&“For that period of time, he was the greatest player of my generation.&”—Keith Hernandez Dave Parker was one of the…
biggest and most badass baseball players of the late twentieth century. He stood at six foot five and weighed 235 pounds. He was a seven-time All-Star, a two-time batting champion, a frequent Gold Glove winner, the 1978 National League MVP, and a World Series champion with both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Oakland A&’s. Here the great Dave Parker delivers his wild and long-awaited autobiography—an authoritative account of Black baseball during its heyday as seen through the eyes of none other than the Cobra. From his earliest professional days learning the game from such baseball legends as Pie Traynor and Roberto Clemente to his later years mentoring younger talents like Eric Davis and Barry Larkin, Cobra is the story of a Black athlete making his way through the game during a time of major social and cultural transformation. From the racially integrated playing fields of his high school days to the cookie-cutter cathedrals of his prime alongside all the midseason and late-night theatrics that accompany an athlete&’s life on the road–Parker offers readers a glimpse of all that and everything in between. Everything. Parker recounts the triumphant victories and the heart-breaking defeats, both on and off the field. He shares the lessons and experiences of reaching the absolute pinnacle of professional athletics, the celebrations with his sports siblings who also got a taste of the thrills, as well as his beloved baseball brothers whom the game left behind. Parker recalls the complicated politics of spring training, recounts the early stages of the free agency era, revisits the notorious 1985 drug trials, and pays tribute to the enduring power of relationships between players at the deepest and highest levels of the sport. With comments at the start of each chapter by other baseball legends such as Pete Rose, Dave Winfield, Willie Randolph, and many more, Parker tells an epic tale of friendship, success, indulgence, and redemption, but most of all, family. Cobra is the unforgettable story of a million-dollar athlete just before baseball became a billion-dollar game.By Colin O'Brady. 2020
In this Young Readers Edition of Impossible First—perfect for fans of My Shot by Elena Delle Donne and Shaken by…
Tim Tebow—Colin O&’Brady vividly recounts his fifty-four-day, unsupported, record-shattering solo crossing of Antarctica using every ounce of his strength, years of training, and sheer force of will.Prior to December 2018, no individual had ever crossed the landmass of Antarctica alone, without support, and completely human-powered. But Colin O&’Brady was determined to do just that—even though ten years earlier a tragic accident raised doubts that he&’d ever walk again normally. O&’Brady&’s quest drew him into a head-to-head battle with British SAS Captain Louis Rudd—also striving to be &“the first.&” Enduring Antarctica&’s sub-zero temperatures and pulling a sled that initially weighed 375 pounds in complete isolation and through a succession of whiteouts, storms, and a series of near disasters, O&’Brady journeyed 932 miles to a world first. Honest, deeply moving, filled with moments of vulnerability—and set against the backdrop of some of the most extreme environments on earth, from Mount Everest to Antarctica—The Impossible First reveals how anyone can reject limits, overcome immense obstacles, and discover what matters most.