|
Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Sport
Barry Bonds has emerged, statistically, as the most feared
hitter since Babe Ruth. Bonds, winner of a record six MVP awards,
holds the single-season record for home-runs, slugging percentage,
on-base percentage, and walks, and is the only player ever to have
hit 500 home-runs and stolen 500 bases. His statistical performance
is beyond reproach, but his public image remains controversial, and
recent allegations of steroid use have cast a shadow over his
unprecedented accomplishments. This timely book strips away the
hype and takes an objective look and Bonds' life and career.
It has been said that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to
do in professional sports. "Baseball's All-Time Greatest Hitters"
presents biographies on Greenwood's selection for the 12 best
hitters in Major League history, written by some of today's best
baseball authors. These books present straightforward stories in
accessible language for the high school researcher and the general
reader alike. Each volume includes a timeline, bibliography, and
index. In addition, each volume includes a Making of a Legend
chapter that analyses the evolution of the player's fame and (in
some cases) infamy.
When Jackie Robinson became the first African American player in
major league baseball in 1947, elbowing aside the league's policies
of segregation that had been inviolate for 60 years, he became a
symbol of opportunity and acceptance for African American players
everywhere. Robinson withstood discrimination to establish himself
as a Hall of Fame player, and to lead future generations of black
players into the previously all-white world of Major League
Baseball. Written for students and general readers alike, this
biographical encyclopedia chronicles the history of African
American baseball through the life stories of the game's greatest
players, the legends who played a significant role in the
integration of the major league. From Negro League stars Satchel
Paige and Josh Gibson, to color line shatterer Jackie Robinson, and
those who followed them in the limelight, such as Hank Aaron and
Willie Mays, readers will learn how the inclusion of African
American players in Major League Baseball improved the sport and
race relations in the United States during this critical period in
history. Comprehensive biographical entries also include: BLBuck
O'Neil Judy Johnson BLBuck Leonard BLCool Papa Bell BLRoy
Campanella BLLarry Doby BLMonte Irvin BLWillie McCovey BLErnie
Banks BLElston Howard BLMinnie Minoso BLFrank Robinson BLBob Gibson
BLCurt Flood Providing detailed accounts of each player's amazing
professional achievements, this insightful reference describes how
the spectacular talents of African American players elevated Major
League Baseball forever. Features include a timeline of important
events, numerous photographs, and a bibliography of print and
electronic sources for further reading.
'One of the greatest mountaineering survival stories never told.' -
The Sunday Times Some mountains are high; some mountains are hard.
Few are both. On the afternoon of 13 July 1977, having become the
first climbers to reach the summit of the Ogre, Doug Scott and
Chris Bonington began their long descent. In the minutes that
followed, any feeling of success from their achievement would be
overwhelmed by the start of a desperate fight for survival. And
things would only get worse. Rising to over 7,000 metres in the
centre of the Karakoram, the Ogre - Baintha Brakk - is notorious in
mountaineering circles as one of the most difficult mountains to
climb. First summited by Scott and Bonington in 1977 - on
expedition with Paul 'Tut' Braithwaite, Nick Estcourt, Clive
Rowland and Mo Anthoine - it waited almost twenty-four years for a
second ascent, and a further eleven years for a third. The Ogre, by
legendary mountaineer Doug Scott, is a two-part biography of this
enigmatic peak: in the first part, Scott has painstakingly
researched the geography and history of the mountain; part two is
the long overdue and very personal account of his and Bonington's
first ascent and their dramatic week-long descent on which Scott
suffered two broken legs and Bonington smashed ribs. Using newly
discovered diaries, letters and audio tapes, it tells of the heroic
and selfless roles played by Clive Rowland and Mo Anthoine. When
the desperate climbers finally made it back to base camp, they were
to find it abandoned - and themselves still a long way from safety.
The Ogre is undoubtedly one of the greatest adventure stories of
all time.
In Cold Water immerses the reader in the challenges, sights,
sounds, triumphs and disappointments of swimming the English
Channel--and one man's fixation on the feat. First conquered in
1875 by Matthew Webb, the choppy, 22-mile Channel presents one of
the supreme endurance challenges in all of sports. With nothing but
a basic swimsuit, pair of goggles, a swim cap, and a goal, swimmers
leave Dover Harbor in England and battle their way through frigid
waters, mercurial weather, jellyfish, and unrelenting ship traffic.
They swim through sunrises and sunsets powered by sheer will and
specially formulated energy feeds. And if physical and mental
conditions go their way, they walk out of the water in France. Mike
Humphreys has swum the swim several times--and though he's yet to
achieve his goal, he's amassed a fascinating book full of personal
experiences, history, stories of other Channel swimmers, and lore
surrounding the sport. For sports active adherents, armchair
swimmers and athletes of every stripe, or even just those
fascinated by the challenge of English Channel swimming, In Cold
Water makes fascinating and inspiring reading.
What do you want to be when you grow up? "You can be anything you
want to be" "Do something that you love" "Don't take no for an
answer" "Find your passion and pursue it" "You have to be happy in
what you do..". These are examples of some of the advice we
received growing up, while contemplating our life's pursuits. This
book explores one man's journey; as he literally took that advice
to heart, left a promising career in radio & television, and
with no safety net, made a giant leap of faith to become a
professional basketball coach. As this coaching neophyte attempts
to navigate the scurrilous underbelly of professional basketball,
he encounters a number of fascinating characters along the way.
Some of whom shape his journey and others who impede it. He becomes
a fly on the wall to the swirling world around him and reports his
voyage as it takes him from the comfortable suburbs of the Pacific
Northwest, across the US and back; from the shanty's of Kingston,
Jamaica all the way to the heaving streets of Central China. Is
Rick Turner just a gullible and naive fool, trying to fight against
the well established cliche of: it's not what you know but who you
know? Or is he a romantic dreamer who, by his pursuit, can possibly
inspire others that may be hesitant to chase their own passion and
realize that the journey can often be more important then the
destination?
 |
Tiger Woods
(Paperback)
Jeff Benedict, Armen Keteyian
1
|
R549
R514
Discovery Miles 5 140
Save R35 (6%)
|
Ships in 10 - 15 working days
|
|
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.
FORMER NBA STAR LUTHER WRIGHT SHARES HIS HARROWING AND UPLIFTING
JOURNEY OF FINDING GOD--AND HIMSELF--WHEN HE HAD NOTHING LEFT TO
LOSE.
Luther Wright had the life hoop dreams are made of. A first-round
NBA draft pick for the Utah Jazz, he was a rookie on a team with
basketball legends Karl Malone and John Stockton. He had money,
women, cars, and a luxurious bachelor pad overlooking Salt Lake
City. But within a year, ravaged by drugs and unable to cope with
life as an NBA star, he was homeless, broke and addicted to crack
cocaine.
Wright never wanted to play basketball, yet standing more than
seven feet tall even as a boy, he thought he had no choice. In this
heartrending memoir, he writes candidly about the self-destructive
spiral he found himself on after neglecting his passions to pursue
the dreams of others. After years of living on the streets, he
finally found a gift greater than anything his millions could have
bought him--God. Today, Wright offers a simple message: believe in
yourself, follow your dreams, and only then will you find your
"Perfect Fit."
No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more
inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton. All of
this would have seemed highly unlikely as late as May 2009, when –
approaching his 24th birthday – he was nowhere near first choice at
Leinster, and still uncapped by Ireland.
In his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny will tell the story of
his life, and explore the sources of his unmatched will to win. The
Sexton era – marked by four European Cups, four Six Nations
championships (including two Grand Slams), unprecedented victories in
the Southern Hemisphere, two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the
world, and the World Player of the Year award – was above all the time
when Leinster and Ireland went from being underachievers to being
overachievers.
Always outspoken on and off the field, Sexton will offer an honest look
at his childhood, his sometimes unpromising-seeming early experiences
in club and professional rugby, his relationships with key teammates
and coaches (including Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Joe Schmidt
and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game.
 |
Shift Work
(Paperback)
Tie Domi; As told to Jim Lang
|
R421
R393
Discovery Miles 3 930
Save R28 (7%)
|
Ships in 10 - 15 working days
|
|
Gabby Harnett is believed by many to be the greatest catcher of all
time. This work chronicles Hartnett's life from his early years in
Millville, Massachusetts, through his twenty-year career with the
Chicago Cubs as player and manager, his time in various capacities
in the minor leagues and with the New York Giants and Kansas City
Athletics, to his post-major league career as a businessman in
Chicago. His childhood, early baseball experiences with the local
team and with a nearby prep school, and his first professional
baseball season with the Worcester Boosters of the Eastern League
are covered in detail. Hartnett's major league career as the
catcher for the Cubs is well-documented, including his near
career-ending arm injury in 1929, the 1932 World Series that
featured Babe Ruth's legendary ""called shot,"" and Hartnett's
famous ""homer in the gloamin"" against the Pittsburgh Pirates that
propelled Chicago to the 1938 National League pennant. The author
also compares Hartnett's statistics to those of his famous
contemporaries, Mickey Cochrane and Bill Dickey, on a year-by-year
basis.
Praise for Eddie Jones 'A genuine super-coach' - The Sunday Times
'His gifts of leadership and organisation are remarkable' - The
Daily Mail Eddie Jones is one of the most successful sports coaches
of all time. From coaching three different nations to Rugby World
Cup finals and enjoying a winning record with England of nearly 80
per cent, he knows what's needed to lead and manage high
performance teams. For the first time, Eddie reveals what it takes
to operate in high pressure environments, the successes and
setbacks, and how these lessons can be applied to every walk of
life, from coaching a children's sports team to leading a
multinational organization to simply doing your job better.
Forthright and unflinchingly honest, Eddie Jones reveals what he
has learnt from Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola,
as well as from the founder of Uniqlo and Ron Adams of the NBA.
Drawing on stories from nearly thirty years of coaching, Eddie
explains how you need humour, humility and relentless curiosity to
lead an eclectic mix of superstars - from Maro Itoje to James
Haskell, George Smith to Kyle Sinckler - and create teams that are
relentlessly hungry to win. Leadership is the ultimate rugby book
about what it takes to be the best. Written with Donald McRae,
two-time winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award,
Leadership is the book for anyone who wants to learn how to build
and lead a team to success.
There has never been a fighter like Billy Conn. Handsome as a movie
star and tough as a junkyard dog, Conn threw combinations with the
beauty and speed of later masters Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad
Ali. The kid from the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh began
boxing professionally at age 16, as his manager Johnny Ray fed him
older, more experienced pros in a "baptism of fire." Conn developed
quickly. At age 19 and 20 he defeated most of the world's best
middleweights, a division rich with talent. Still growing, by age
21 he won the world light-heavyweight title. After dominating that
division, he sought greater challenge in the heavyweight division.
He beat three of the best heavyweights, one by knockout and two by
easy decision. Only one challenge remained - the great heavyweight
champion Joe Louis. Their first fight remains one of boxing's
all-time classics, ranked by some as the greatest fight ever.
Conn's story transcends boxing. He pursued and eloped with the love
of his life, the beautiful Mary Louise Smith, despite her father's
vehement and public opposition. Conn and his father-in-law tangled
in a chaotic brawl at a lavish christening party at the Smith home.
Billy starred in a Hollywood movie, The Pittsburgh Kid, and
developed friendships with big stars like Bob Hope, Robert Taylor,
and Frank Sinatra. Through all the glamour Billy remained the
unpretentious "kid" from gritty Pittsburgh, the city he loved. He
became an icon of that city, of the downtrodden Depression-era
working class, and of the American Irish. Conn's place in boxing
and American folk history has been neglected and forgotten in
recent decades. His story of a poor kid with talent and spirit who
went for it all is one worth reading.
|
|