LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 'Excellent and compellingly honest' Alyson Rudd, The Times In I Love This Game, the long-awaited autobiography of Patrice Evra, the former Manchester United and France star looks back on a remarkable life and career. Having played alongside some of the club's greatest legends, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, in one of United's most successful eras, Evra has now found a new role as an in-demand pundit and social media star. But, as he reveals in this frank, often shocking, but always compelling memoir, beneath the surface things were not so simple, and he had to fight all the way to get to the top. Initially, it was football that saved him from being sucked into the gang culture of his tough neighbourhood of Les Ulis in the suburbs of Paris. Then, once he achieved his dream of becoming a professional, he had to deal with racism and a notorious dispute with Luis Suarez; he also became a central figure in the infamous 'strike' by the France national team in the 2010 World Cup; and there was the moment he launched an attack against a Marseille fan while warming up. 'I Love This Game' has become Evra's catchphrase. Throughout this wonderful book, his passion for his sport shines through and there are revealing and entertaining behind-the-scenes insights about the players and managers he's worked with, from Sir Alex Ferguson to Paul Pogba, who knows him as Uncle Pat. With infectious enthusiasm and sharp observation, Evra takes the reader where few football autobiographies dare to tread.

Four-year-old Sam Payne can knock the baseball out of the park. That "the park" is only the back yard of his suburban home makes little difference to his mother, Martha Payne, who understands baseball a lot better than she understands parenting. She yearns to make her son a star on the Little League field, where promising young players are rewarded with a spot on the All-Star team.

Fueled by endless ambition but only a pinch of maternal instinct, Payne helps her son navigate through the thrilling but often heartless world of Little League baseball. While revealing a host of parental neuroses and coaching excesses, "Put Him In, Coach "delves into the inscrutable bond between mother and son-a bond sometimes forged in unlikely places.

As Sam progresses from tee-ball through years of strikeouts and wild pitches and up to the brink of adolescence, he and his mother discover as much about each other as they do about the perils of the game. Most importantly, Payne learns that in raising a son, sometimes less is more-even if your kid does have a shot at becoming the next Babe Ruth.

Put Him In, Coach A Mother's All-Star Memoir, is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. The Mom's Choice Awards honor excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. The Awards esteemed panel of judges includes education and media experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, and scientists, including Dr. Twila C. Liggett, ten-time Emmy-winner and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, creator of Baby Einstein and the Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times best-selling author; LeAnn Thieman, motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books, and Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach and founder of the Mom's Choice Awards. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. Martha Payne's memoir has been honored with this distinguished award.

In 1964, Dan Reilly landed the dream job of every New York Mets fan. Pulled from his humble position in Shea Stadium's ticket office to become the Mets' mascot-and Major League Baseball's first official mascot-Reilly donned the baseball-shaped, papier-mache head of Mr. Met and began a career rubbing elbows with some of the game's most illustrious players. "The Original Mr. Met Remembers" is packed with never-before-told anecdotes, detailed team history, and intimate glimpses of players on and off the field. With a cast of characters that include the inimitable Casey Stengel, the bumbling Marv Throneberry, and Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, Reilly delivers a rollicking ride from the Mets' celebrated first season in 1962 to their unexpected and thrilling 1969 World Series victory.

A must-read for baseball fans and sports historians alike, "The Original Mr. Met Remembers" recalls America's favorite pastime in all its glory, and is a devoted fan's personal tribute to one of New York's most celebrated teams.

Queens of Pain tells the remarkable and largely unknown tale of women's cycle racing from the 1890's to the early 1990's. From the fin-de-siecle velodromes of North America to the glamour and chaos of the first women's Tour de France, Queens of Pain offers a sweeping panorama of female racing history. Told through the lives of the great champions, its heroines include stuntwomen and speed skaters, young mothers and teenage tearaways, shop assistants and coal-delivery girls. When prejudice and officialdom denied them one stage they found another: from six-day track racing to epic place to place records, from 12-hour time trials to unofficial road races. The greatly expanded women's racing scene of today is the direct legacy of these pioneering riders whose stories form an unbroken thread since the invention of the bicycle.

Grabbing the Brass Ring is an epic Homeric tale of a complex and enigmatic man, Richard Mansan - a front-line fighter, an adventurer, and a natural leader. In a time close to ours...on a world not unlike our own...Mansan is either blessed or cursed with the ability to clearly see the inevitable consequences of mankind's actions, choices, and hubris - a vision shared by no one else. As a result of serendipity or design, he finds himself inextricably entwined with the major leaders of the day. Yet, despite the benefit of his friendship and counsel, as well as their own valiant efforts, they are unable to stem the tide of events as the world catapults madly to an unavoidable fate. A story of power, war, greed, ignorance, pride, and redemption, Grabbing the Brass Ring will give the reader a glimpse at the worst...and the best within all of us. After a phenomenal career as a legendary football player, record-setting track and field star, powerhouse wrestler and weightlifter, and multi-titled heavyweight boxing champion - Michael Earl Nolan joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941. He fought at Guadalcanal, Bougainville with the famed Raiders, and Iwo Jima, rising from private to captain during the war, and retiring a major. With an amazing life that spanned hopping freight trains in the 1930s to becoming the highly respected civil engineer responsible for the massive Coronado National Forest, Nolan was a fascinating individual, a sensitive and prophetic novelist, a devoted family man and friend. To this day, he remains an inspiration, a real-life hero in every sense of the word.

An illustrated compendium of kickass women in sport, from around the world and throughout history, including legends like Billie Jean King and modern-day superstars like Simone Biles and Dina Asher-Smith. The perfect book to inspire any sports fan. Meet your new superheroes Discover the fascinating stories behind 38 iconic and internationally renowned women in sport, all of them record-breakers, trailblazers and game-changers. Whether from the world of soccer, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, boxing or skiing, every one of these women has been a ground-breaker in her field. It's time these individuals took centre stage and had their achievements celebrated the world over. Be empowered and inspired by their extraordinary stories, their awesome achievements and their wonder-words of wisdom with this pocketbook of remarkable women from across the globe and throughout history. Among others, you will learn about the incredible lives and achievements of: Simone Biles Serena Williams Dina Asher-Smith Rachael Heyhoe Flint Jessica Ennis-Hill Nicola Adams Danica Patrick Paula Radcliffe Michelle Kwan Megan Rapinoe Ellen MacArthur Ibtihaj Muhammad Ronda Rousey Each inspiring profile also features a bespoke illustration.

Generations of fighting Harris blood exploded through Roy Harris's veins that August night in 1958 as he stood in the boxing ring in Los Angeles. He was facing the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, Floyd Patterson, who, at the time, had earned that crown at an earlier age than any other man in history.

Roy faced a psychological handicap met by few other heavyweight challengers. How could a rustic backwoodsman turned gentleman-scholar-soldier cope with such a challenge? What strange events had conspired to create the meeting of such a contrast in pugilistic antagonists?

"Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot" is, in part, the story of how and why Roy Harris emerged from backwoods obscurity to the pinnacle of fistic heaven--a heavyweight title bout. But this is also the story of the rapidly vanishing breed that spawned and nourished him--the rugged individualistic frontiersmen from the oil-rich southeast Texas thicket country. Today, Cut and Shoot is a growing community northeast of Houston. Roy has retired from illustrious careers not only in boxing, but as an attorney, real estate mogul, and the county clerk of Montgomery County, Texas, for twenty-eight years.

Roy's personal memories are inserted throughout "Roy Harris of Cut and Shoot," adding authenticity to this dramatic saga.

Explores Jackie Robinson's compelling and complicated legacy Before the United States Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public schools, and before Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, Jackie Robinson walked onto the diamond on April 15, 1947, as first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making history as the first African American to integrate Major League Baseball in the twentieth century. Today a national icon, Robinson was a complicated man who navigated an even more complicated world that both celebrated and despised him. Many are familiar with Robinson as a baseball hero. Few, however, know of the inner turmoil that came with his historic status. Featuring piercing essays from a range of distinguished sportswriters, cultural critics, and scholars, this book explores Robinson's perspectives and legacies on civil rights, sports, faith, youth, and nonviolence, while providing rare glimpses into the struggles and strength of one of the nation's most athletically gifted and politically significant citizens. Featuring a foreword by celebrated directors and producers Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, this volume recasts Jackie Robinson's legacy and establishes how he set a precedent for future civil rights activism, from Black Lives Matter to Colin Kaepernick.

Eric Tabarly was one of yachting's iconic figures who became a legend in French sailing from the moment he beat the British to win the second edition of the single-handed transatlantic in 1964. It was not so much that he won but the way in which he did it that raised his profile in his native country. Purpose-built for the race, his 44-foot Pen Duick II took yacht development forward in seven league boots, at a time when his more corinthian competitors' advances were only incremental. He beat Sir Francis Chichester, the winner of the first edition of the race, by nearly three days. Tabarly, a French Naval officer, was tough and fearless as well as an innovator; although it was single-handed sailing that elevated him to legendary status (he was awarded France's Legion D'Honneur for his triumph) he was soon taking part in races like the Sydney Hobart, the Fastnet Race and the Transpac, winning line honours in all three and setting a new course record in the Transpac. Before long he had begun to make plans to compete in a new round the world race - the Whitbread. Two dismastings prevented him (the fastest entrant on all points of sail) from winning the 1973 race. By now Tabarly had reached celebrity status in France but despite his appearances in the media it was always his exploits on the open ocean that commanded the most attention...such as winning the 1976 single-handed transatlantic race where he overcame the massive 236-foot schooner Club Mediterranee in his 73-foot Pen Duick VI. In 1984 Eric Tabarly was voted the most popular sports figure in France and ten years later, then 63, he was drafted into the Whitbread again to take over command of the French maxi La Poste where his legendary leadership skills were called upon to pull together a disparate team. Tabarly loved sailing to the very end and it was during a voyage to Ireland in 1998 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pen Duick that he was struck by the boom just off the Welsh coast and swept overboard to his death. France and the international sailing community mourned his passing.

When soon after I started to meditate, I seemed to find myself inside of the beautiful birds body, flying so free. It was a beautiful feeling, the feeling of free flight, and I was able to fly wherever I wished and when suddenly I returned to my own body, there underneath the tree, I felt like a new person. I felt as if I was one with all that surrounded me in nature.

The Fearless Falcon

Where time is lost and truth begins,
the chains are finally broken.
All without you find within,
once scarred and tangled, now silken.

The worldly lust that pained once so,
seems now just an ancient token.
The Fearless Falcon flies so high,
True love can never be broken.

I read "Cochise" and I congratulate John " "Cochise" is free, beautiful, interesting and full of surprises. It is sensitive and able to fully convey the spirit of an era, the hippie generation. An enjoyable universal crossroad, John Leslie Fultz, Cochise for European basketball fans, is a psychedelic author, who writes as creatively as he scored baskets. His college rivalry with the great Julius "Dr. J" Erving, adventures with the late, great John Belushi, his friendship with Italian singers Vasco Rossi and Lucio Dalla and his teammates, Claude English and Dino Meneghin are all included
Luca Maggitti- Journalist and Writer. Conducts basketball TV programs. Journalist for Il Tempo since 2001.

"They Called Me Kociss" is an intense, fast paced, vibrant story. It is pure, sincere and honest like the man who decided to write it always was both during happy and difficult times. A great and important message that should be beneficial to the new generation. It is story that is not only for those who love basketball Marco Tarozzi -Won Coni- USSI's Award as "Sports Writer of the Year" (2004)

Class Dismissed is a look at the adventures of a high school social studies teacher who hunts around the world. Without the benefit of sponsors or freebies, the author goes on safari in Africa, up to the Canadian provinces and around the fifty states. as real life hunts are described as they happen. And most adventures told without too much exaggeration bow in your hand as you venture into the field after game and on many occasions bring home the bacon. No pun intended while reading about elk hunting. many frustrations and sweet victory. For the turkey hunter, here are some hunts that you will appreciate and even laugh as you can relate to the excitement and challenge of the hunt. in some hunts and witness the majesty of the outdoors. Family stories also show another side of this hunter.

What's so bad about being married to a coach? Mary Lou Podlasiak boldly, but playfully, reveals how the "women behind the men" really feel. Whether you are dating a coaching fanatic, or have spent half of your existence married to one, the stories and insight within will no doubt change the way you feel about yourself. (Unless, of course, you are already feeling good!)

Filled with warm memories, as well as a minefield of topics, the primary focus is aimed at turning frustration into empowerment. Read about the events that have led the author, and other seasoned wives, to look beyond the annoyances and view their situations as nothing less than wonderfully life-affirming.

Mike North's true loves are boxing and photography. But, a Missourian in Los Angeles, he has only managed to live his dreams through being an amateur boxing official and a wedding photographer. Then he meets David, the skilled journalist and retired British midshipman, and together they navigate the hard-hitting, complex, and exciting world of boxing in its heyday. AT THE APRON: A NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS brings us right up to ringside to witness the thrilling, true-tolife experiences of photographers, journalists, promoters, judges, and fighters both at and away from the apron.

"AT THE APRON "explores the boxing world, capturing the lively and action-packed decades in which boxing was the premier combat sport. Mike North, writer, photographer, and amateur boxing official, introduces us to an incredible cast of characters who chose the boxing life-and the arenas where their lifeblood was spent-and invite us to share in their stories, their knowledge, and their passion.

St. Patrick High School, a small, no-frills Catholic institution located in a rough urban area of New Jersey, houses one of the nation's most storied high school basketball programs. Kevin Boyle, a leader who garnered multiple National Coach of the Year awards, cultivated that winning tradition, and brought the team to the top of its sport over the course of two decades.

In Celtic Pride, sportswriter and author Brian Fitzsimmons chronicles a group of teenagers forced to juggle friendship and the immense pressure of being on the nation's best team throughout the 2010-2011 season, while unmasking the man behind it all.

This biography narrates how, with the help of a close support system and famous alumni now making headlines at the collegiate and professional levels, Boyle orchestrated a rags-to-riches story. Despite being hampered by a budget shortfall strong enough to present a potential death blow to his school's existence, Boyle not only produced a number of high-achieving players but also earned the reputation of being one of the most respected high school basketball coaches in the United States.

"Overtime," is a true story about Texas high school football, the way it is and what it should really be about-love.

A story about facing one's shame and becoming a man of substance, "Overtime" gives you a look into the author's life and those of the young men he coaches.

Vivid flashbacks and colorful play-by-play make this a book that you won't want to put down. "Overtime" is an attempt to carve out the eternal question, "Why are we here?"

Right before your eyes you'll see a wounded boy mature into a man who believes winning in football comes second to winning in life. "Overtime" is a book about overcoming adversity and learning how to be a real man. It is an honest and moving story that athletes, coaches, and all people can identify with.

"Awesome, a must read story. It could change your life."
-David McWilliams, University of Texas head football coach, 1987-1991

Baseball was everything and everywhere in the 1950s on the east side of Brockton, Massachusetts. In "The Eastside Kid, " author John DeCosta tells what it was like growing up in that era and what the game of baseball has meant to his life.This memoir describes DeCosta's baseball experiences both as a youngster and as an adult, and it shows how this passion shaped him. With photographs included, "The Eastside Kid" shares DeCosta's life story from 1957 to 2007, including details about his Catholic family, his love for animals, his first job, serving in the military in Korea, dealing with heart problems, and his continued participation in baseball.From the sandlot to Little League to adult amateur baseball, "The Eastside Kid" provides an inside view of how deeply baseball beats in the heart of John DeCosta.

'I never set out to take the lead. It just happened - like MND itself. But we are making a fight of it.' DODDIE WEIR In the five years since Doddie Weir's MND diagnosis, he has continued to live life to the max. He's raised millions for research and support for his fellow sufferers with the help of some incredible charity fundraisers, celebrated his 50th birthday and been awarded an OBE. And throughout it all, Doddie has tackled life head on, like the mad charging giraffe he has always been, both on and off the rugby pitch. Now, join Doddie as he lifts the lid on what his life with MND has really been like, both in public and in private. Being Doddie, there's always lots of laughter and an incredibly positive attitude, but it's also a rollercoaster of emotions. It's a battle Doddie will continue to tackle with his trademark dignity and legendary humour. And it's a fight he remains determined to win.

When directed toward you, two of the more humbling words that can ever be uttered are: "You're fired " For Red Cashion, however, being fired by both the Southwest and Southland Conferences forced him to make significant attitude changes that took him all the way to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Red's rise to prominence in the NFL-many sportswriters described him as the most well-known official NFL history-was primarily the result of Cashion adopting a much more enthusiastic approach. He only achieved his dreams when he stopped blending into the background and began passionately asserting his personality with a trademark call that became recognized across the country. First dooowwwnnn...and life to go is an inspiring, captivating story that accentuates the power of a positive attitude. Cashion also recounts fascinating stories about some of the NFL's biggest personalities during his 25-year tenure in the league, and he provides strong opinions about the game's current direction. Cashion's advice for protecting current players from concussions, for example, is as revolutionary as it is rudimentary. His vision of the NFL's future is every bit as intriguing as his colorful description of his time in the league. "Red represented quality, judgment and a little special flair " - Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue "First dooowwwnnn is a first-rate read by a first-class man." -Former Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen

"The nine members of the 1975-1976 Yeshiva University varsity basketball team attended their Jewish studies classes from nine to one, their secular classes from two to seven, practiced until ten, and went on to become doctors, dentists, or lawyers. The 1975 team's daily schedule and accomplishments were not unique, but rather representative of the approximately six hundred players who for eighty-three years have worn the Yeshiva University blue and white uniform. . . " "Why They Played," Chapter 11? The stories and observations that follow describe what happens when Yeshiva players attempt to find time for everything: Torah study, secular knowledge, and athletic triumph. When Dr. Halpert scours the globe for good player-athletes who will lead the team to victory, he looks for athletic promise, but in searching for the best, he is cognizant that, in the final analysis, his team will be the YU team. He knows that the players must be the best-but also informed by values, Jewish values, universal values, and values touched by the breath of Torah. Rabbi Simcha Krauss Rabbi Emeritus Young Israel of Hillcrest "The passion is there because the game of basketball is that kind of game. Coach Halpert exemplifies that spirit because he can get excited-and if you don't get excited, then the players won't get excited. He is able to translate that feeling and inner love to the players." Lou Carnesecca St. John's University