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Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Sport
The greatest American Indian baseball player of all time, Charles
Albert Bender, was, according to a contemporary, "the coolest
pitcher in the game." Using a trademark delivery, an impressive
assortment of pitches that may have included the game's first
slider, and an apparently unflappable demeanor, he earned a
reputation as baseball's great clutch pitcher during tight Deadball
Era pennant races and in front of boisterous World Series crowds.
More remarkably yet, "Chief" Bender's Hall of Fame career unfolded
in the face of immeasurable prejudice. This skillfully told and
complete account of Bender's life is also a portrait of greatness
of character maintained despite incredible pressure-of how a
celebrated man thrived while carrying an untold weight on his
shoulders. With a journalist's eye for detail and a novelist's feel
for storytelling, Tom Swift takes readers on Bender's improbable
journey-from his early years on the White Earth Reservation, to his
development at the Carlisle Indian School, to his big break and
eventual rise to the pinnacle of baseball. The story of a
paradoxical American sports hero, one who achieved a
once-unfathomable celebrity while suffering the harsh injustices of
a racially intolerant world, Chief Bender's Burden is an
eye-opening and inspiring narrative of a unique American life.
One of cricket's great characters, Franklyn Stephenson was branded
a 'rebel' for touring in apartheid South Africa with a West Indian
XI. As a black sportsman, he knew his actions went against the
wishes of the authorities and that there would be consequences, yet
he overcame the character slurs and subsequent bans from both his
beloved Barbados and the West Indian Test selectors. Recognised as
the first fast bowler to develop a cunning slower ball, Stephenson
became one of the world's top all-rounders. The beaming Barbadian
achieved cricketing immortality in 1988 by completing the domestic
Double of scoring 1,000 runs and taking 100 wickets during an
English summer - a feat that is unlikely to be repeated. Read about
encounters, on and off the field, with household names such as Viv
Richards, Andy Roberts, Clive Lloyd and Desmond Haynes - and a
lifelong friendship with Sir Garfield Sobers. From a childhood full
of dramatic life experiences to the heights of one-day finals at
Lord's, here is the story of an amiable cricketing giant.
Autobiography of Llanelli prop, Welsh Rugby Union Board and
International Rugby Board member Anthony Buchanan. Although he only
won a handful of International caps for Wales, Anthony Buchanan's
story is unusual in that it spans both the playing and
administrative sides of the game as well as bridging Welsh rugby's
momentous shift from the amateur days to professionalism. A trusted
confidant of Gareth Jenkins, he is ideally placed to comment on
Llanelli RFC's transition from club to region, not to mention the
birth of European rugby. He is a natural raconteur and as well as
telling his own story, he delivers a rare and informed insight into
one of Wales's most famous rugby clubs and regions and the highest
echelons of the game. In his capacity as former Chairman of the
International Referees Selection Panel, he discusses his frank
opinions of the role of Television Match Officials and their impact
on the game for players and spectators alike, the career of Nigel
Owens and the infamous red card issued by Alain Rolland to Sam
Warburton in the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final. He also provides
a behind-the-scenes look at the rugby world that is always laced
with humor and often downright hilarious.
In this very personal book, Stirling Moss guides the reader through
his motor racing life with a fascinating, insightful and often
amusing commentary to an unrivalled collection of over 300
photographs, many of which will be unfamiliar to even his most
ardent fans. He takes us from his childhood to the height of his
fame as 'Mr Motor Racing' and then to the sudden end of his career
with that crash at Goodwood in 1962. Along the way we dwell on his
finest moments as well as the setbacks, and delight in the sheer
variety of machinery - almost 100 different cars - in which he
competed during his rollercoaster racing life. This is a book that
all motor racing enthusiasts will treasure. Starting in 1948, he
made his name in little 500cc Coopers, moving towards stardom in
HWM, ERA and Cooper F2 cars, then his own F1 Maserati 250F. The
1955 Mercedes season and its twin highlights a winning the Mille
Miglia and the British Grand Prix. His longing to win in British
cars was rewarded with two fine F1 seasons at Vanwall (1957a 58),
with whom he came very close to winning the F1 World Championship,
and sports car successes with Aston Martin.- Rear-engined Cooper
and Lotus F1 cars with Rob Walker (1958a 62), including two
celebrated Monaco GP wins.- Two-seater variety: the amazing range
of sports cars he drove included Jaguars (XK120, C-type and
D-type), Maseratis (150S to 450S), Ferraris (250 GT SWB and Testa
Rossa) and Porsches (550 Spyder to RS61), plus Frazer Nash Le Mans
Replica, Osca, Healey 100S, Cooper 'Bobtail' and more. Ever busy
and versatile: rallying with Sunbeams, trialling a Harford special,
Bonneville record-breaking with MG EX181, saloon car racing in a
humble Standard Ten a and even a kart race. Published to mark the
60th anniversary of Moss' famous win in the 1955 Mille Miglia road
race in a Mercedes 300SLR.Foreword by 2014 Formula One World
Champion Lewis Hamilton."
Micky Adams has a football CV as long as your arm, having put in
438 appearances as a full-back - for teams such as Gillingham,
Leeds, Fulham and Southampton, followed by a management career that
took in over a dozen clubs at every tier of English football. As a
manager, Adams took the helm at some of the biggest clubs in the
English football, including Leicester City, Brighton & Hove
Albion, Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Port Vale and Fulham,
winning four promotions and a league title, as well as a reputation
for bringing success and stability in often difficult environments.
In this extraordinary autobiography, written with veteran sports
writer and long-time friend Neil Moxley, Micky Adams reveals the
truth behind incidents on and off the pitch, including what really
happened at La Manga, where three Leicester City players were
accused of sexual assault during a mid-season training break, and
what it was like to play with Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier in
one of the most enduring careers in football.
A heartfelt portrait of Hank Aaron, featuring nearly 40 years of
stories plus never-before-told insights from the home run king When
journalist Terence Moore was 12 years old, he treasured his poster
of Henry Aaron. Years later, Aaron would sign it for him: "Best
wishes to Terry." Later still, Moore would be named an honorary
pall bearer at the home run king's funeral, staying up late into
the night with Aaron's widow, Billye, to get the obituary just
right for the program. Friends and family knew Aaron as
quick-witted, hilarious, and fiercely opinionated beyond what was
shown in public. With the encouragement of Aaron's family, Moore
now shares this intimate perspective on the baseball legend, the
culmination of decades of friendship and correspondence. The Real
Hank Aaron captures the icon's contagious laugh and pointed views,
from the depth of his admiration for Jackie Robinson to his true
thoughts on Barry Bonds and the steroid era. Also featuring Aaron's
views on race, politics, media, and sports fandom, this is a
charming and illuminating glimpse at the man outside the spotlight.
At one point in her life, Dorothy Paget was described by journalist
Quintin Gilbey, as `so much in the public eye that she became,
apart from royalty, the best-known woman in the land.' Synonymous
with Golden Miller, perhaps the greatest racehorse ever to jump a
fence, Paget ploughed fortunes into racing and breeding, buying -
despite never visiting - the Ballymacoll Stud in Ireland. She also
happened to be the biggest gambler ever to walk the turf. Living an
eccentric lifestyle, she would spend most of the day in bed and
rise at night, placing bets with bookmakers and their staff,
specifically employed for these late night duties. She was even
allowed to place bets on races that had already been run the
previous day. This long overdue telling of the life of an
extraordinary, larger-than-life character is now available in
paperback.
SHORTLISTED FOR INTERNATIONAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR AT THE 2020
TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS. As Kieran Read prepares to call time
on his distinguished New Zealand career at the end of the Rugby
World Cup, this is the open and honest life story of one of rugby's
greatest players, a legendary All Black and a two-time World Cup
winner. Kieran Read first played for the All Blacks as a
23-year-old in 2008 and since then has amassed more than a century
of Test appearances in the famous jersey. Now, after a stellar
provincial, club and international career - including back-to-back
World Cup victories - the New Zealand captain writes openly and
honestly about his time in the game. Read takes to these pages with
his trademark determination, lifting the lid on the unique
pressures of succeeding as captain the most celebrated All Black of
all time (Richie McCaw). He outlines the decisions that molded his
career and uncovers the skills of the coaches who shaped him, while
offering readers an inside account of how the world's greatest team
functions and thrives. Read unpacks the emotional toll of injury
and the ignominy of defeat, neatly illustrating the intense
experience of representing a rugby-obsessed nation while delivering
a masterclass in how to manage the many demands on the mind and on
the body. Forthright and frank, Read's well-respected views on the
game and its future are a must-read for rugby fans, and his take on
the myriad personalities and the peccadilloes of his team-mates,
coaches and opponents will be sure to surprise and delight. From
the playing fields of Papakura to the summit of the sport, Read has
faced every challenge head on. His life story if no exception.
*Change your life through fitness - feel-good, sustainable advice
on nutrition, training & mental health - from the UK's N.1
Women's Fitness Trainer* Strong Body = Strong Mind. Lisa
Lanceford's life was transformed through the power of fitness. The
daily habit of working out and eating better led to improvements in
her mood, confidence and personal relationships. Today she feels
strong, loves her body and is happier at home and work. Written
with Lisa's characteristic warmth, accessibility and humour, and
founded in nutritional science, 7 Steps to Strong outlines her
essential advice for readers in an easy-to-follow guide. Includes
tips on: - Weight Training and how to build muscle (and fight
stereotypes/misconceptions of femininity) - Fat Loss and the myths
around losing 'weight' - Daily HIIT schedules, nutrition and
mood-boosting workouts - Gym-free alternatives and home fitness -
How to unlock confidence, de-stress and conquer anxiety
UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE 2021/22 SEASON THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES TOP
TEN BESTSELLER The behind-the-scenes story of the Marcelo Bielsa
revolution at Leeds United and their first season back in the
Premier League after sixteen years of hurt. FEATURING FRESH
PERSONAL INSIGHT FROM MARCELO BIELSA On 27th February 2022, after
170 matches in charge, promotion to the Premier League and some of
the most exhilarating football the English game has ever seen,
Leeds United parted company with their most beloved and successful
manager in a generation: Marcelo Bielsa. His parting gift was to
embrace the crowds of adoring fans who turned up to say thank you
as he left the club's training ground for the final time. In And it
was Beautiful, The Athletic's Phil Hay chronicles Leeds United's
glorious first season back in the top flight - which saw them
finish ninth - after a chaotic sixteen-year absence. Phil pulls
back the curtain on the hallmarks that now define the Marcelo
Bielsa era, from his gruelling training schedule - including his
infamous 'murderball' sessions - to innovative tactical methods
that elevated Championship regulars into Premier League stars.
Bielsa performed miracles, turning football into high art and
making an extraordinary cultural impact on the city of Leeds. The
result is a unique and fitting tribute to a Leeds United icon.
After a trophy-laden and record-setting club and international
career, England's greatest ever goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, could
rightly look forward to an equally successful post-playing career.
But a gambling habit forged in his playing days soon spiralled into
a gambling addiction: a silent, self-destructive and ruinous
obsession that destroyed relationships, his mental health and very
nearly himself. With the love and support of his wife Steph, he was
able to face up to his addiction, find hope for the future and
overcome his 45-year secret and turn his life around. Peter and
Steph - who has over 20 years' experience working in the NHS - now
campaign to raise awareness of this, and other destructive
addictions, helping both addicts and their partners weather the
long and arduous journey back to recovery. Their support for and
work with 'The Big Step' campaign aims to bring in stricter
advertising controls and team kit sponsorship rules. Steph and
Peter bravely tell both sides of their journey with a direct
honesty and an empathy born of real-life experience, offering
advice and hope to not only those affected by gambling, but
sufferers of other chronic addictions. They also shine a light on
football's obsession with gambling, taking millions of pounds from
the gambling sites and bookies who sponsor the game, while
neglecting to support both the players and fans who fall prey to
addiction. This is the ultimately uplifting story of how he was
saved - by Steph's love and support, and his own strength and
determination.
FULLY UPDATED WITH JOSE MOURINHO'S SENSATIONAL RETURN TO CHELSEA
When Jose Mourinho realised as a teenager that he was never going
to be a great player, he decided he was going to become the best
coach in the world. From translator and assistant to Sir Bobby
Robson at Barcelona to multiple league and Champions League-winning
manager at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and now Chelsea
once again, Jose Mourinho's ascent has been rapid. FURTHER ANATOMY
OF A WINNER is the definitive account of the life and psychology of
one of the greatest football managers of all time.
This is a biography of one of West Ham United's greatest ever
players, and the history of the club during his time in claret and
blue. During those dozen years, Len Goulden had a glittering
career, and became an England star. He scored the final goal in the
defeat of Germany in May 1938; the game being made infamous by the
England players being obliged to give the Hitler salute prior to
the kick-off. West Ham goal-keeping legend Ernie Gregory, who
watched Goulden from the stands of Upton Park before signing for
the club in 1936 claimed that: "We've had some great forwards over
the years at West Ham but Len was the greatest-the daddy of them
all. He was the one I paid my money to see...I can still see Len
now-controlling the ball, he killed it instantly...Len was the
tops." 'Golden Len Goulden' plucks from history a player who ranks
with the best ever to wear the hammers over his heart.
**Winner of the Rugby Book of the Year at the Sports Book Awards
2022** Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky made his name on a
cold January day at Twickenham in 1936, his achievements captured
for posterity by the newsreels of the time. On his England debut,
having already scored one exhilarating try, the striking blond
winger collected a pass on the right and, path blocked, veered left
at such a pace that a line of opponents were left grasping at thin
air. It was a historic try, unrivalled in skill and speed - and it
inspired England's first ever victory over the All Blacks. Born to
a noble family in St Petersburg in 1916, he had been due a life of
wealth and privilege, until revolution forced the Obolenskys to
flee Russia. Arriving in Britain with just a handful of
possessions, they were reduced to relying on handouts, little
Alex's very education resting on the charity of others. But as the
young boy began his new life in a strange country, it was his
natural sporting ability that would bring him lasting fame. The
controversial selection for England of a Russian-born prince was a
huge story in the press, stirring up xenophobia as well as
excitement at the 19-year-old Oxford student's sheer pace. His
later exploits on and off the field would keep his name in the
papers, yet Alex was destined to win only four international caps,
despite touring with the Lions and appearing for the Barbarians.
After joining the RAF to serve his adopted king and country, he
died at the controls of a Hurricane in March 1940. Bringing a
fascinating era to life, The Flying Prince explores the mystery and
mythology surrounding Alexander Obolensky, and for the first time
tells the full story of the sporting hero who died too young. *****
'Well-researched . . . a pleasure to read. There are plenty of
colourful characters' - THE TIMES 'The fascinating tale of the
Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for
the first time' JOHN AIZLEWOOD, I NEWS 'A first biography from Hugh
Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of
it too' - BEST RUGBY BOOKS 2021 'Expertly fills in the gaps . . .
Now we have a biography his story deserves' - THE RUGBY PAPER
Jimmy Adamson was a football enigma, revered by some, disliked by
others - a supremely elegant player of the '50s and early '60s, a
title winner and a respected coach, but a manager whose spirit was
ultimately shattered. In 1962, Adamson had the world at his feet:
FA Cup finalist, Footballer of the Year and invited to become
England manager, having been assistant at the World Cup in Chile.
But Adamson said 'no'. In 1970 he predicted that Burnley would
become the 'Team of the Seventies', but despotic chairman Bob
Lord's selling policy saw the vision fade and die. Controversially
sacked in 1976, Adamson moved to Sunderland and then endured two
torrid years at Leeds United before turning his back on the game.
This is a poignant story of broken dreams, failed ambitions and
personal tragedy, ending in estrangement from the club he loved. A
story of what might have been.
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