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July 1 - Canada Day
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CELA will be closed on Tuesday, July 1st for Canada Day. Our office will reopen and our Contact Centre services will resume on Wednesday, July 2nd. Enjoy your holiday!
Showing 1 - 20 of 4586 items
By Carlton Stowers, Marcus Allen. 1997
In his eloquent words, hear mega-football superstar Marcus Allen--Heisman trophy winner, Super Bowl MVP, and record-breaking running back--tell his inspiring…
and unforgettable story.In Marcus, learn about his triumphant rise to athletic stardom, to his rocky 11-year relationship with Los Angeles Raiders coach Al Davis, to his controversial friendship with O.J. Simpson, and all the high and low points in between.Marcus on Al Davis:"I could neither understand nor determine why Al Davis had declared war against me. But for all the motives suggested, none involved the possibility that the issue might be racial. Al Davis was many things that I didn't admire, but he was no bigot." Marcus on O.J. Simpson:"I am and forever will be forever be tortured by the loss of two people who were my friends; one murdered, one now forced to live a lifetime being blamed for tragedy." Marcus on Football"It teaches hard lessons about success and failure, joy and disappointment. And when played well, it has a poetry all its own."By George Vecsey. 2014
"Full of humor and insight about sport and culture.... The pomp, glory, and great entertainment all get their due in…
Eight World Cups."—The Boston GlobeBlending witty travelogue with action on the field—and shady dealings in back rooms—George Vecsey offers an eye-opening, globe-trotting account of eight World Cups. He immerses himself in the great national leagues, historic clubs, and devoted fans and provides his up-close impressions of charismatic soccer stars like Sócrates, Maradona, Baggio, and Zidane, while also chronicling the rise of the U.S. men's and women's teams.Vecsey shows how each host nation has made the World Cup its own, from the all-night street parties in Spain in 1982 to the roar of vuvuzelas in South Africa in 2010, as the game in the stadium is backed up by the game in the street. But the joy is sometimes undermined by those who style themselves the game's protectors.By Maria Sharapova. 2017
From the five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, the candid, captivating story of her rise to tennis stardom.*One of The…
Boston Globe's Best Books of 2017*In the middle of the night, a father and his daughter step off a Greyhound bus in Florida and head straight to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. They ring the bell, though no one is expecting them and they don’t speak English. The two have arrived from Russia with only seven hundred dollars and the conviction that this six-year-old will be the next tennis star. Amazingly, they are right.Young Maria Sharapova went on to win Wimbledon at just seventeen years old, in an astonishing upset against the reigning champion Serena Williams—the match that kicked off their legendary rivalry and placed Sharapova on the international stage. At eighteen, she reached the number one WTA ranking for the first time, and has held that ranking many times since. In this gripping autobiography, the five-time Grand Slam winner recounts the story of her phenomenal rise to success, narrated with the same no-holds-barred, fiercely provocative attitude that characterizes her tennis game.Full of thrilling, insightful episodes from her beginnings in Siberia, from career-defining games, and from her recent fight to get back on the court, Unstoppable is an inspiring tale of persistence, pulsing with fearlessness and candor. Sharapova’s is an utterly unforgettable story.By Rob Miech. 2012
Phenom: The Making of Bryce Harper presents a look back at the controversial college season that launched the 2010 MLB…
#1 draft pick's professional career and earned the then 17-year-old phenom the Golden Spikes Award for the nation's top player.Before Bryce Harper was the top pick in the Major League Baseball draft, before he signed the sport's biggest contract ever for a first-year pro, he gambled his future on one make-or-break season.The Las Vegas High School sophomore already had dominated the competition like Mickey Mantle on the playground and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which dubbed him the "most exciting prodigy since LeBron James." Seeking greater tests as a hitter, the precocious phenom got his GED and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, where he could face pro prospects in a challenging wooden-bat league that prohibited the hitter-friendly aluminum bats used throughout college ball. Harper shattered the school's home run record with 31 (the previous mark was 12) and compiled a startling 1.513 OPS while leading his team to the Junior College World Series. For his heroics, the 17-year-old became the only position player from a junior college to win the Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation's best amateur baseball player. Las Vegas sportswriter Rob Miech was "embedded" with the Southern Nevada Coyotes team and brings us along for the ride—into the dugout and locker room and on team buses and in motel rooms, from the scorched fields to the snow-capped horizons of the Scenic West Athletic Conference—to deliver a warts-and-all account of a boy among men playing like a man among boys. Amid the media circus that descended upon team and town, we read fascinating personal stories including the dynamics between veteran coach Tim Chambers and Harper's protective father, the camaraderie with—and jealousies of—other players, the fans and autograph seekers (and girls) who all want a piece of the young star, and how Harper is suspended from the World Series after protesting an umpire's call, and the role his faith plays in his life. Phenom shows us a season in the life of baseball's top rising star, culminating in a dramatic conclusion when Harper is drafted #1 by the Washington Nationals and, after tense negotiations that go up until just seconds before the midnight deadline, signs a $9.9 million contract. Even more than this, Miech's book is the story of a team and its community, the hopes and aspirations of its players and coaches, and the spirit of pure baseball that lies at the heart of the American dream.By Kevin Cook. 2019
The dramatic story of a legendary 1979 slugfest between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies, full of runs, hits,…
and subplots, on the cusp of a new era in baseball historyIt was a Thursday at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, mostly sunny with the wind blowing out. Nobody expected an afternoon game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs on May 17, 1979, to be much more than a lazy early-season contest matching two teams heading in opposite directions—the first-place Phillies and the Cubs, those lovable losers—until they combined for thirteen runs in the first inning. “The craziest game ever,” one player called it. “And then the second inning started.”Ten Innings at Wrigley is Kevin Cook’s vivid account of a game that could only have happened at this ballpark, in this era, with this colorful cast of heroes and heels: Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Bruce Sutter, surly slugger Dave Kingman, hustler Pete Rose, unlucky Bill Buckner, scarred Vietnam vet Garry Maddox, troubled relief pitcher Donnie Moore, clubhouse jester Tug McGraw, and two managers pulling out what was left of their hair.It was the highest-scoring ballgame in a century, and much more than that. Cook reveals the human stories behind a contest the New York Times called “the wildest in modern history” and shows how money, muscles, and modern statistics were about to change baseball forever.By Alan Goldstein. 2016
Proclaimed the young fighter from Louisville. Most boxing fans criticised this upstart and few believed he had the skills to…
justify such a statement. He proved them so very wrong on so many levels. Muhammad Ali became the greatest heavyweight ever to step into the boxing ring and a compelling presence outside of it - the most recognised man on the planet. Muhammad Ali: The Story of a Boxing Legend charts the fascinating story of an extraordinary man through the words of not just Ali himself, but of those who were lucky enough to bear witness to the legend that was unfolding in front of them.By Alan Goldstein. 2016
Proclaimed the young fighter from Louisville. Most boxing fans criticised this upstart and few believed he had the skills to…
justify such a statement. He proved them so very wrong on so many levels. Muhammad Ali became the greatest heavyweight ever to step into the boxing ring and a compelling presence outside of it - the most recognised man on the planet. Muhammad Ali: The Story of a Boxing Legend charts the fascinating story of an extraordinary man through the words of not just Ali himself, but of those who were lucky enough to bear witness to the legend that was unfolding in front of them.By Chris Haft. 2024
Willie McCovey, known as &“Stretch,&” played Major League Baseball from 1959 to 1980, most notably as a member of the…
San Francisco Giants for nineteen seasons. A fearsome left-handed power hitter, McCovey ranked second only to Babe Ruth in career home runs among left-handed batters and tied for eighth overall with Ted Williams at the time of his retirement. He was a six-time All-Star, three-time National League home run champion, and 1969 league MVP, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 in his first year of eligibility. Known as a dead-pull line drive hitter, McCovey was called &“the scariest hitter in baseball&” by pitcher Bob Gibson. Born in Mobile, Alabama, McCovey encountered daunting hurdles, such as Jim Crow laws that prevented him from playing organized ball as a youth and playing for Major League managers such as Tom Sheehan and Alvin Dark, who took a dim view of his abilities. But neither that nor other difficulties on the field—the platooning, the slights, the unrelenting injuries—seemed to affect McCovey, as he remained grateful to be playing baseball. McCovey was the most treasured Bay Area icon of all, a humble, approachable superstar who earned the admiration of seemingly everyone he encountered. McCovey&’s life wasn&’t measured in his home run and RBI totals, though those were impressive. His greatest significance lay in the warmth and respect he extended and which others reciprocated. These elements elevated McCovey to a pantheon where relatively few athletes reside. He remains synonymous with not just the team he ennobled but also the city he represented. In A Giant among Giants, the first biography of McCovey, who passed away in 2018 at the age of eighty, Chris Haft tells the story of one of baseball&’s best hitters and most-beloved players.By Rachel Swaby, Kit Fox. 2019
Rachel Swaby and Kit Fox present Mighty Moe, the untold true story of runner Maureen Wilton, whose world record-breaking marathon…
time at age 13 was met first with misogyny and controversy, but ultimately with triumph.In 1967, a girl known as Mighty Moe broke the women’s world marathon record at a small race in Toronto. This was an era when girls and women were discouraged from the sport and the longest track event at the Olympics for women was 25.6 miles shorter than a marathon. Thirteen-year-old Moe’s world-beating victory was greeted with chauvinistic disapproval and accusations of cheating—as were many of her achievements in the sport she had excelled at from the age of ten. Within less than two years, the controversy took its toll and Maureen quit running. Here is the untold story of Mighty Moe’s tenacity and triumph in the face of adversity as a young athlete—and of a grown-up Maureen finding her way back to the sport decades later. This inspiring biography for readers and racers of all ages showcases the truly groundbreaking achievements of an unassuming, amazing young athlete. Mighty Moe includes an introduction by Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially register and run in the Boston Marathon (and Maureen’s only fellow female competitor at the 1967 record-setting race), and an afterword by Des Linden, the first-place finisher of the 11,628 women who raced the 2018 Boston Marathon.By Erik Weihenmayer, Buddy Levy. 2018
2018 Colorado Book Awards finalist in the Creative Nonfiction andNational Bestseller and Honorable Mention Award Winner in the Outdoor Literature…
category of the 2017 National Outdoor Book Awards (NOBA) — “A beautiful book about family and finding a way to achieve more than you ever thought possible.” —Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling authorErik Weihenmayer has a long history of turning obstacles into adventures. Born with a rare condition that blinded him as a teenager, he never let his diagnosis hold him back from a full life. As an athlete, explorer, speaker and activist, he has opened the eyes of people around the world to what's possible. In 2001, he became the first blind man to climb Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. In 2005, he co-founded his nonprofit organization, No Barriers, to empower others to overcome adversity and achieve their biggest goals. This special edition of No Barriers introduces kids to the incredible true story of Erik's most terrifying journey: solo kayaking the thunderous whitewater of the Grand Canyon. Erik and his friends form a courageous crew to do battle with some of the harshest elements nature has to offer. Along the course of Erik's journey, he meets other trailblazers: adventurers, scientists, artists, and activists who show Erik the way forward and teach him the meaning of No Barriers—“What’s Within You is Stronger Than What’s in Your Way.”By Dominique Moceanu. 2012
In this searing and riveting New York Times bestseller, Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu reveals the dark underbelly of Olympic…
gymnastics, the true price of success…and the shocking secret about her past and her family that she only learned years later.At fourteen years old, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team, the first and only American women’s team to take gold at the Olympics. Her pixyish appearance and ferocious competitive drive quickly earned her the status of media darling. But behind the fame, the flawless floor routines, and the million-dollar smile, her life was a series of challenges and hardships. Off Balance vividly delineates each of the dominating characters who contributed to Moceanu’s rise to the top, from her stubborn father and long-suffering mother to her mercurial coach, Bela Karolyi. Here, Moceanu finally shares the haunting stories of competition, her years of hiding injuries and pain out of fear of retribution from her coaches, and how she hit rock bottom after a public battle with her parents. But medals, murder plots, drugs, and daring escapes aside (all of which figure into Moceanu’s incredible journey), the most unique aspect of her life is the family secret that Moceanu discovers, opening a new and unexpected chapter in her adult life. A mysterious letter from a stranger reveals that she has a second sister—born with a physical disability and given away at birth—who has nonetheless followed in Moceanu’s footsteps in an astonishing way. A multilayered memoir that transcends the world of sports, Off Balance will touch anyone who has ever dared to dream of a better life.By Leanne Shapton. 2012
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography Named a Best Book of the Year by The ObserverBack…
in print, a “fusion of cool, clear-eyed prose and watercolors, photographs and painted portraits” (Time Out New York) by celebrated author and artist Leanne Shapton, on a sport that has shaped her life. Intimate with chlorinated space; weightless yet limited; closed off to taste, sound, and most sight; acutely aware of the clock: this is a swimmer’s state. When ten-year-old Leanne Shapton joins an Ontario township swim team with her brother, she finds an affinity for its rhythms—and spends years training, making it to the Olympic trials twice. Swimming Studies reflects on her time immersed in a world of rigor and determination, routine and competition, pairing together contemplative essays and paintings. Vivid details of an aquatic life appear: adolescence in suburban Canada, dawn risings for morning practice, bus rides with teammates, a growing collection of swimsuits, dips in lakes and oceans. When she trades athletic pursuits for artistic ones, the metrics of moving through water endure. In these elegant and potent meditations, Shapton renders swimming as a mode of experiencing time, movement, and perspective, capable of shaping our lives in every environment.The instant no. 1 Sunday Times bestseller WINNER of the Autobiography of the Year at the Sports Book Awards A…
Sunday Times best biography of the year 'It's an incredible read for anyone facing adversity in their life; how to cope with it, how to stay positive in really difficult situations.' - Sally Nugent'A throat-catching love letter to his wife and children . . . this lovely man has reframed a universally sad story into a life-enhancing one. The overall message is one of hope.' - The Times'It's just stunning; funny and beautifully written' - as heard on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show'A candid, sad yet ultimately life-affirming book. There is a thread of gratitude that runs far deeper than performative celebrity humility.' - Guardian-------- Sir Chris Hoy knows better than most how life can change in the blink of an eye. In elite sport, the margin between victory and defeat is miniscule, and the pressure is immense. Chris has built a glittering sporting career on understanding these moments: how to feel for them, how to cope with them, how to make them count.Last year, he faced another life-changing moment. He found out that the ache in his shoulder was in fact a tumour, and that he had Stage 4 cancer.He will be living with this disease for the rest of his life.In this memoir, Chris shares the next phase of his extraordinary life with exceptional bravery. He looks over the challenges he has faced thus far, and the ways he has taken them on. With his wife Sarra and their young children by his side, he shares how he has used these experiences to find ways to focus on the moments that matter, showing us how to do the same.--------What readers think:'Honest, inspirational and beautifully written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A must read for anyone facing adversity in their lives, or indeed anybody who needs to put positivity back into theirs.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This has really helped me navigate my own cancer journey. Thank you Chris!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I already had a sense of pride when I bought this book. It turned out to be everything I had hoped it would be.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a man. Such an inspiring read - read it over a weekend. Couldn't put it down.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐By Simon Mugford. 2025
Is Virat Kohli your ultimate cricketing hero? From when he was a small boy, Virat Kohli's special talent for cricket…
has wowed everyone around him. His dedication to his training and teammates, smart tactics and his incredible ability with the bat have placed him firmly among the ranks of the best cricketers of all time. Read the amazing story of how Virat honed his skills as a boy to become a living legend following in the footsteps of the great Sachin Tendulkar. Filled with lots of facts and stats, the inspiring narrative features fun cartoons, a simple narrative style and a cast of characters chipping in with quotes, jokes and comments.By Roland Lazenby. 2023
The definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson. He is one of the most beloved, and at times…
controversial, athletes in history. His iconic smile lifted the dowdy sport of American professional basketball from a second-tier sport with low ratings into the global spotlight a transformation driven by Magic's ability to eviscerate opponents with a playing style that featured his grand sense of fun. He was a master entertainer who directed the Los Angeles "Showtime" Lakers to the heights of both glory and epic excess, all of it driven by his mind-blowing no-look passes and personal charmBy Rachelle Burk. 2020
Discover the life of Simone Biles—a story about going for the gold for kids ages 6 to 9Simone Biles has…
been called the greatest gymnast of all time, winning five Olympic and 25 World Champion medals by age 22. Before she wowed the world with her incredible gymnastics skills, Simone was an energetic young girl who dreamed of becoming a top gymnast. She trained for hours every day and made many sacrifices to pursue her goals. Explore how Simone Biles went from being a kid growing up in Texas to an Olympic athlete who has won more gymnastics medals than anyone in history.Independent reading—This Simone Biles biography is broken down into short chapters and simple language so kids 6 to 9 can read and learn on their own.Critical thinking—Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Simone's life, find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.A lasting legacy—See how Simone's accomplishments helped open doors for female athletes across the world.How will Simone's hard work and determination inspire you?Discover activists, artists, athletes, and more from all across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures like: Misty Copeland, Jackie Robinson, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, and Maya Angelou.By Phil Jackson, Michael Arkush. 2004
An inside look at the season that proved to be the final ride of a truly great dynasty—Kobe Bryant, Shaq,…
and the LA Lakers For the countless basketball fans who were spellbound by the Los Angeles Lakers&’ 2003–2004 high-wire act, this book is a rare and phenomenal treat. In The Last Season, Lakers coach Phil Jackson draws on his trademark honesty and insight to tell the whole story of the season that proved to be the final ride of a truly great dynasty. From the signing of future Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the Kobe Bryant rape case/media circus, this is a riveting tale of clashing egos, public feuds, contract disputes, and team meltdowns that only a coach, and a writer, of Jackson&’s candor, experience, and ability could tell. Full of tremendous human drama and offering lessons on coaching and on life, this is a book that no sports fan can possibly pass up.By Jon Spurling. 2025
'SPORTING HISTORY AT ITS BEST' Daily Telegraph'A TERRIFIC READ AND A WORTHY TRIBUTE' FourFourTwo'VERY WELL WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED' Nostalgic GoonerFrom…
Herbert Chapman to Arsène Wenger, this is the definitive history of Arsenal's time at the famous Highbury stadium.After several years of sitting in Highbury's local pubs and cafés with a dictaphone, Jon Spurling has pooled hours of exclusive interviews with fans, programme sellers, local publicans and even those who dug the foundations of the Laundry End (and later cleared rubbish from its terraces) to meticulously construct the biography of the ground and chart the ups and downs of one of England's greatest league clubs. Spurling has also spoken to numerous players, the late greats of yesteryear including Ted Drake, George Male and Reg Lewis, legends of a more recent vintage from Bob Wilson, Charlie George and Malcolm MacDonald to Anders Limpar, as well as heroes of the Wenger era such as Patrick Vieira. Written in the year that Arsenal moved to the Emirates, Jon Spurling has produced the definitive account of the club's 93 years at Highbury.By Jon Spurling. 2006
'SPORTING HISTORY AT ITS BEST' Daily Telegraph'A TERRIFIC READ AND A WORTHY TRIBUTE' FourFourTwo'VERY WELL WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED' Nostalgic GoonerFrom…
Herbert Chapman to Arsène Wenger, this is the definitive history of Arsenal's time at the famous Highbury stadium.After several years of sitting in Highbury's local pubs and cafés with a dictaphone, Jon Spurling has pooled hours of exclusive interviews with fans, programme sellers, local publicans and even those who dug the foundations of the Laundry End (and later cleared rubbish from its terraces) to meticulously construct the biography of the ground and chart the ups and downs of one of England's greatest league clubs. Spurling has also spoken to numerous players, the late greats of yesteryear including Ted Drake, George Male and Reg Lewis, legends of a more recent vintage from Bob Wilson, Charlie George and Malcolm MacDonald to Anders Limpar, as well as heroes of the Wenger era such as Patrick Vieira. Written in the year that Arsenal moved to the Emirates, Jon Spurling has produced the definitive account of the club's 93 years at Highbury.By Andrew Martin. 2021
Introduce kids ages 6 to 9 to a century of baseball's biggest stars From legendary sluggers to civil rights heroes,…
the game of baseball has seen a lot of amazing players—and this book features 10 of the very best. Perfect for new fans or those who already know a thing or two about baseball, this kid-friendly guide is packed full of fun facts and essential stats that will teach them all about the incredible careers of these sports superstars.What sets this collection of baseball biographies apart:10 decades, 10 players—Starting in the 1920s, this book shows the ways players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Mike Trout have made history.Runners up—Each decade also includes a brief look at some of the other greats, including Bob Gibson, Ken Griffey Jr., and Ichiro Suzuki.A helpful glossary—All of the terms kids need to know are highlighted and defined in the back of the book.Super stats—Kids will see exactly how outstanding each player was with a quick breakdown of their career stats.Delight young fans and get them interested in the history of the game with this standout among baseball books.