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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Ball games
Treat yourself to Second Helpings and more choice cuts in the style
of Simon Brown's much lauded first volume of memoirs, Playing off
the Roof & Other Stories. Exuberantly revisiting his early
years in National Service, at Oxford and as a young barrister, Lord
Brown recalls matters grave and trivial from his time at the Bar
and on the Bench, along the way regaling us with tales of
Paddington Bear, Nigel Lawson and Mozart at the Warsaw opera. He
also has something to say about the current legal scene and
considers such thorny problems as the 2019 prorogation judgment and
whether trial by jury might be dispensed with in order to clear a
mounting backlog of criminal cases. Drawing witty lessons from a
life of trials, Lord Brown finds time to muse on when a judge might
choose to change a sentence already imposed, what to say after
dinner and why the game of golf is strictly for the birds!
Arguing about the merits of players is the baseball fan's second
favorite pastime and every year the Hall of Fame elections spark
heated controversy. In a book that's sure to thrill--and
infuriate--countless fans, Bill James takes a hard look at the
Hall, probing its history, its politics and, most of all, its
decisions.
The Masterful, Definitive History of Argentinian Soccer Lionel
Messi, Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano: in every generation
Argentina has uncovered a uniquely brilliant soccer talent. Perhaps
it's because the country lives and breathes the game, its theories,
and its myths. Argentina's rich, volatile history-by turns sublime
and ruthlessly pragmatic-is mirrored in the style and swagger of
its national and club sides. In Angels with Dirty Faces, Jonathan
Wilson chronicles the operatic drama of Argentinian soccer: the
appropriation of the British game, the golden age of la nuestra,
the exuberant style of playing that developed as Juan Peron led the
country, a hardening into the brutal methods of anti-futbol, the
fusion of beauty and efficacy under Cesar Luis Menotti, and the
emergence of all-time greats. Praise for Inverting the Pyramid
"Here, for the first time in decades, is a top-notch soccer book on
how soccer is actually played on the field." -Simon Kuper "An
outstanding work...The soccer book of the decade." -Sunday Business
Post
Enjoy the glorious game in a whole new way with this mighty
collection of rugby puzzles If you can't watch the match from the
comfort of your own toilet, you need something just as gripping to
keep you enthralled. Whether it's spotting the difference between
two crunching tackles or locating world-famous stadiums, this
puzzle book is just the ticket. These amusing activities and fun
facts will prove a sure-fire winner with any fan of the game. From
bestselling author and professional brain-teaser Hugh Jassburn,
this eye-catching collection will pit your wits against such
challenges as these: Find all the items of rugby kit hidden in a
word search Unscramble the names of famous players at Anagram RFC
Guess the year when the Rugby Football Union officially endorsed
the oval-shaped ball Prove you know what the various signals made
by the referee and their assistants actually mean A superb gift
idea, this is an all-round treat for rugby obsessives and casual
fans alike.
Formerly reserved for the elite, tennis has become a popular sport
over the years. And even if you don't play yourself, the tennis
lifestyle exerts a certain fascination. It's not uncommon at Grand
Slams like Wimbledon to find it more interesting who's watching
from the stands than who's down on the court. However, famous
tennis personalities are also a source of conversation - just
remember John McEnroe's infamous outbursts. This, the ultimate
tennis book is dedicated to the stories on and off the court, it
explains the history of the sport, shows the most important courts
and tournaments, the most exciting competitions and legendary
athletes. Tennis fashion and equipment are also covered, and who
knows, maybe after reading this entertaining tennis compendium you
will feel the need to pick up a racket. Text in English and German.
More than 6 years after his death David Halberstam remains one of
this country's most respected journalists and revered authorities
on American life and history in the years since WWII. A Pulitzer
Prize-winner for his ground-breaking reporting on the Vietnam War,
Halberstam wrote more than 20 books, almost all of them
bestsellers. His work has stood the test of time and has become the
standard by which all journalists measure themselves.
The New York Times bestseller, now with a new introduction "The
Breaks of the Game" focuses on one grim season (1979-80) in the
life of the Bill Walton-led Portland Trail Blazers, a team that
only three years before had been NBA champions.
The tactile authenticity of Halberstam's knowledge of the
basketball world is unrivaled. Yet he is writing here about far
more than just basketball. This is a story about a place in our
society where power, money, and talent collide and sometimes
corrupt, a place where both national obsessions and naked greed are
exposed. It's about the influence of big media, the fans and the
hype they subsist on, the clash of ethics, the terrible physical
demands of modern sports (from drugs to body size), the unreal
salaries, the conflicts of race and class, and the consequences of
sport converted into mass entertainment and athletes transformed
into superstars--all presented in a way that puts the reader in the
room and on the court, and "The Breaks of the Game" in a league of
its own.
Cheslin roared with happiness as the final whistle blew in Yokohama. They were champions! Later, as his captain lifted the 2019 Rugby World Cup trophy into the air, he felt prouder than he'd ever been before - of himself, his team and his country.
Cheslin Kolbe tells the story of a kid from Kraaifontein, Cape Town, whose talent took him to international sports stardom, first to Toulouse, France, and eventually to the call-up that would change his life forever: to play for the Springbok 2019 World Cup squad. It's the heartwarming story of a small player with a big heart whose signature sidestep helped the Springboks win the World Cup trophy for South Africa.
Cheslin Kolbe is part of the "Road to Glory" series, which covers some of South Africa's sporting legends as they set out on their journeys to becoming national and international stars.
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