Sportsbiografier

THE STORY OF THE LSU PLAYER WHO WAS SHOT BY A DOGOn a wet cold nasty day in December everything changed for Matt and Liana Branch. An easy comfortable life is what most people hope for. But an easy life does not make for a good story. Nobody's Gonna Die Today is a story that seems too crazy to be true.In this page turning memoir you will laugh, you will cry, and you will see how life, no matter its condition or circumstance is always worth fighting for.Matt Branch is a former college athlete who played football at LSU from 2008-2012. In 2018 he was involved in a near death experience that resulted in the amputation of his left leg. This book reveals the details of that story, about how his football career at LSU and his faith gave him the foundation to begin the process of turning darkness into light.

The I in Running is Orinthal Striggles's recounting of his running life and the effect it has had on his development as a person, as a family man, as a professional, and as a student of human nature. Though stymied by outside influences on his participation in organized athletics, he began running as early as age 6. That personally disciplined lifestyle has carried him through the ups and downs of early disappointments and on to success in running, in family relationships, in his counseling career, in his online coaching, and in other personal relationships. He has not spared himself in sharing the story of what he terms his "short" life. It actually appears that he means the book as a manual for the young runner who needs encouragement to make the lifetime commitment required for success.

On February 11th, 2021, The North Carolina Central Baseball team walked into a meeting with the university's athletic director, expecting to be told they were canceling the upcoming season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they were told their school was canceling baseball altogether, and that the 2021 season would be its last for the Eagles. Across the nation, historically black colleges and university baseball programs, are on the chopping block. This is the true story of the events leading up to that fateful day and how the NCCU baseball family persevered over the following months. Assistant Coach and author, Ed Porcelli, gives a first-hand account of how the players, coaches, friends, and baseball alumni of NCCU baseball, dealt with the loss of its program. What was the real reason as to why the administration decided to drop baseball? Was this really a financial decision due to the covid pandemic, or were there other factors at play? Be in the dugout, with the players and coaches, as Central enjoys its best and last season representing the Eagles. Presidential photographer Al Drago illustrates the many different emotions of the players during their final season, capturing the last moments of the Eagles, before their inevitable extinction.

From the Publisher: From the ultimate team basketball superstar LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August a poignant, thrilling tale of the power of teamwork to transform young lives, including James s own. The Shooting Stars were a bunch of kids LeBron James and his best friends from Akron, Ohio, who first met on a youth basketball team of the same name when they were ten and eleven years old. United by their love of the game and their yearning for companionship, they quickly forged a bond that would carry them through thick and thin (a lot of thin) and, at last, to a national championship in their senior year of high school. They were a motley group who faced challenges all too typical of inner-city America. LeBron grew up without a father and had moved with his mother more than a dozen times by the age of ten. Willie McGee, the quiet one, had left both his parents behind in Chicago to be raised by his older brother in Akron. Dru Joyce was outspoken, and his dad was ever present; he would end up coaching all five of the boys in high school. Sian Cotton, who also played football, was the happy-go-lucky enforcer, while Romeo Travis was unhappy, bitter, even surly, until he finally opened himself up to the bond his teammates offered him. In the summer after seventh grade, the Shooting Stars tasted glory when they qualified for a national championship tournament in Memphis. But they lost their focus and had to go home early. They promised one another they would stay together and do whatever it took to win a national title. They had no idea how hard it would be to fulfill that promise. In the years that followed, they would endure jealousy, hostility, exploitation, resentment from the black community (because they went to a white high school), and the consequences of their own overconfidence. Not least, they would all have to wrestle with LeBrons outsize success, which brought too much attention and even a whiff of scandal their way. But together these five boys became men, and together they claimed the prize they had fought for all those years a national championship. Shooting Stars is a stirring depiction of the challenges that face America s youth today and a gorgeous evocation of the transcendent impact of teamwork.

The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Just Tyrus returns in his inimitable style with deeper reminiscences on the life that shaped him and how he views the world we’re living in.

Angelique Kerber is the most successful and popular German tennis player of the last decade: She won Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open. In her autobiography she describes for the first time in detail her way to the top of tennis and the ups and downs of her career. She reports in a very personal and approachable way how her great successes, but also painful defeats came about. In doing so, she does not avoid the doubts and fears coming with a life as a tennis professional. She tells openly and honestly how she has repeatedly worked her way out of crises.

Bruce Lee remains the gold standard that all martial artists are compared to. But could he actually fight? World Champions in karate competition have gone on record to point out that he never once competed in tournaments. Were his martial abilities merely a trick of the camera? For the first time ever, Bruce Lee authority and bestselling author John Little takes a hard look at Bruce Lee's real-life fights to definitively answer these questions with over 30 years of research that took him thousands of miles.

"For more than a century, professional wrestling has cultivated some of the most eccentric and compelling personalities. As the embodiment of flamboyance and intensity, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair stood at wrestling's apex for decades, cementing his place as a once-in-a-lifetime athlete and performer. When he was in the ring, fans knew they were witnessing the very best, and he not only became a multi-time world heavyweight champion in the NWA, WCW, and the WWE, but his status as a generational great has been confirmed with inductions into numerous Halls of Fame. The Last Real World Champion: The Legacy of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair is a gripping portrait of a wrestling legend. This unflinching biography explores the successes, struggles, and controversy of Flair's life in wrestling, pulling no punches in sharing the truth behind his in-ring achievements and out-of-the-ring hardships. Today, Flair is celebrated for his pioneering career and as an iconic figure in the realm of mainstream sports entertainment. Celebrated wrestling historian Tim Hornbaker tells Flair's complete story, with meticulous attention to detail and exhaustive research, creating a must-read for fans of wrestling, sports, and popular culture."--

"Before Shohei Ohtani and Babe Ruth there was Robert Lee "Parisian Bob" Caruthers (1864-1911). A wunderkind pitcher and right fielder known throughout the country, he was the star on the mound for five league championships in 10 years, and one of two players in history-along with Ruth-to lead the Major Leagues in ERA+ (adjusted earned run average) and OPS+ (on-base plus slugging plus). Coming from a wealthy family, Caruthers had something other players didn't-leverage. This resulted in several holdouts, including one which took him to Europe. This first full-length biography rediscovers one of baseball's most interesting characters and first two-way stars"--

Babe Ruth is an unmatched sports legend. This tribute, written by his daughter, reveals the more personal side of the icon, and includes a collection of Ruth ephemera that fans will treasure.

"One of the most popular players in Cincinnati Reds history, Ernie "Schnozz" Lombardi played 1931-1947 as an eight-time All-Star catcher. A big man with huge hands, a cannon for an arm and a namesake nose, he held two National League batting titles and a career average of .306. Yet he was so famously slow a runner that the infielders took to the outfield, where they could still throw him out. Fastballs not thrown hard enough were caught barehanded and fired back to the mound. One unfortunate play in the 1939 World Series dogged Lombardi for the rest of his life and kept him from the Hall of Fame until long after his death. This first full-length biography gives a complete account of this outstanding, underrated player"--

Living With a Passion is filled with the author's life-changing experiences and the fun she's had in the presence of horses. We are taken on a journey from post war London where her passion for horses began at a young age. Growing up surrounded by bombsites she recalls the beauty of the milkman's horse and of the fascination she felt as it moved with energetic strides and shining coat. This was to be the beginning of her life long passion that would span over the decades and take her from one side of the globe to the other.

Get ready to be transported to a world of magic and mystery in "The Chronicles of the Enchanted Kingdom"!Follow the journey of our brave protagonist as she navigates a world filled with enchantment and wonder. As she travels through the kingdom, she uncovers secrets and conspiracies that threaten the very fabric of their society.With an array of colorful characters, from wise wizards to fearsome dragons, this book is sure to captivate readers of all ages. The detailed descriptions of the magical landscapes and the intricate politics of the kingdom will leave you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next.But it's not just the captivating plot that sets this book apart. The writing itself is a work of art, with vivid imagery and stunning prose that will transport you to a whole new world. The author's masterful storytelling and attention to detail will leave you feeling as though you're right there alongside the characters, experiencing their triumphs and struggles firsthand."The Chronicles of the Enchanted Kingdom" is not just a book, it's an experience. It's a world you'll want to get lost in, a story you won't want to end. So grab a copy, settle in, and get ready for a journey you'll never forget.

Tony Gale is a big legend to fans of West Ham, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers. His long-awaited autobiography is packed full of colourful, hilarious anecdotes from fifty years in the game as a player and popular media pundit and features contributions from a host of footballing greats.

The inspiring story of an ordinary man who, from humble beginnings and against the odds of a devastating illness, has led--is leading--an extraordinary life. To many people, Walter Gretzky is the ultimate dad, the father of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, and the first inspired coach to a talented young boy. Walter's major insight into hockey--that a player should "go where the puck is going"--guided Wayne's brilliant style, and Wayne himself has said about his talent: "It's God-given. It's Wally-given." It's safe to say that no other famous hockey player's father is held in such high esteem, and that Walter Gretzky has carved out this singular niche in his own right. Now, for the first time, Walter tells at length the story of his life, about growing up on a small family farm, about meeting and marrying Phyllis, about raising four boys and a girl in a modest home in Brantford on the salary of a telephone repairman, about hanging onto his modesty and values when the comet of talent and celebrity hit. Walter also talks about the process of recovering from a stroke that came close to killing him ten years ago. Through his own grit and determination, and with the help of dedicated therapists and doctors, his family and friends, Walter battled back from an aneurysm that left him with many cognitive difficulties and destroyed a decade of memories--including his recollection of the death of his mother and almost all of Wayne's NHL triumphs of the eighties. As many of the people who have encountered Walter even briefly will testify, he is very charismatic, and it's his extraordinary compassion, which has flourished since his stroke, that makes him so compelling. Yes, he struggleswith some limitations, but he has also discovered a calling in helping others. All of his many public speaking engagements are for charity, and this book would not exist were it not for Walter's role as the official spokesperson for Canada's Heart and Stroke Foundation. The only way he would ever agree to talk about himself at such length was in the hope that his experience with stroke would be useful to other people. "Every second of every day is important to me," he writes, "and I only hope that if telling my story can help even one person, then all of this will be worth it. And remember, there is life after stroke...look at me!" "From the Hardcover edition.

The Education of a Golfer, first published in 1962, is the fascinating story of legendary golf pro Sam Snead's rise from a poor boy growing up in rural Virginia to become one of the all-time golf greats. Interspersed with golf pointers and illustrations, the book details Snead's many tournaments, the psychology of winning, and how to become a better player. This edition includes line drawings by Burt Silverman and a complete index to the names and places mentioned in the book.

Lucas on Bass Fishing, first published in 1947 (and revised and updated in the 1962 edition provided here), is a classic how-to guide on the equipment, techniques, and insider tips needed for success in catching bass, as well as muskellunge, northern pike, walleyes, and sunfish. Jason Lucas was the Fishing Editor of Sports Afield for 24 years and once boasted of spending at least 8 hours a day fishing ... for 365 consecutive days! His practical advice and knowledge of where bass and other sport fish are to be found in the nation's lakes and rivers remain as true today as when the book was originally published.

This book is the English translation of the Spanish 1st edition of Clemente, vigente vibrante siempre, published in Puerto Rico in 2021. It is an updated edition. In it we have several details as a ballplayer, testimonies, and anecdotes of his personality formation. A true Puerto Rican jibaro, noble and humanitarian. He is our ambassador of Puerto Rican culture in the world not with power nor money, but with dignity ethical deeds. A model to be imitated world- wide. This what this book is about, including details and anecdotes that con rm a great ballplayer and a greater human being.

Coach Duncan began his coaching career in 1968 - in Newport News. VA for the Glendale Gators. He used his education and his experiences to craft a coaching career over 51 years, retiring from coaching in January 2019. He credits swimmers, colleagues and volunteers for his coaching successes - and his family for allowing him the unusual working hours & days, the weekends & weeks away from home and the level of focus he gave to his work.The Art of Swimming and the Game of Racing: Reflections of a USA Club Swimming Coach shares Duncan's coaching history, breaks down the philosophy at the core of Quest Swimming, reflects on the coaching practices Duncan found most effective, and provides advice to coaches interested in owning their own club and pool. This book is designed to provide coaches with a strong foundation to nourish their coaching careers and to share the idea of owning a pool property, a club and coaching with that level of ownership.

Rogers Hornsby, nicknamed "The Rajah", is regarded as one of the best hitters of all time. Known as someone who was difficult to get along with, not well-liked by his fellow players, and reviled or adulated as a manger, through it all he had an enduring love of the game.This is his story, his outlook, his vision for the game. Originally published in 1962 many of the issues Roger had with the game still exist today. His outlooks and opinions may be shared by many fans regarding salaries, managers, and the game itself. He never smoked, drank, or went to the movies, but frequently gambled on horse races during his career. Hornsby was a great baseball player, but he never learned much about human relations. "I have never been a yes man," he boasted a few years before his death. Baseball was his life; he cared for little else-except which horse looked good that day. Asked what he had gotten out of life, he said simply, "I wore a big-league uniform, and I had the best equipment, and I traveled in style, and I could play baseball every day. What else is there?"His Baseball CareerRoger Hornsby had 2,930 hits and 301 home runs in his career; his career batting average of .358 is third only to Ty Cobb, at .366 and Oscar Charleston, at .364, in MLB history. His batting average for the 1924 season was .424, a mark that no player has matched since. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942.