Sportsbiografier

"In 2011, three years after leaving the NFL, Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal disease that takes away the ability to move, talk, and breathe. Doctors gave him three years to live. He was thirty-three years old. As Steve says, he is now ten years past his expiration date. His memoir is the chronicle of a remarkable life, one filled with optimism and joy, despite the trauma and pain and despair he has experienced. Writing using eye-tracking technology, Gleason covers his pre-ALS life through the highs and lows of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, where he made one of the most memorable plays in Saints history, leading to a victory in the first post-Katrina home game, uplifting the city, making him a hero, and reflected in a nine-foot bronze statue outside the Superdome. Then came his heartbreaking diagnosis. Gleason lost all muscle function, he now uses Stephen Hawking-like technology to communicate, and breathes with the help of a ventilator. This book captures Gleason and his wife Michel's unmatched resilience as they reinvent their lives, refuse to succumb to despair, and face his disease realistically and existentially. This unsparing portrait argues that a person's true strength does not reside solely in one's body but also in the ability to face unfathomable adversity and still be able to love and treasure life"--

An examination of the careers of the 50 Houston Astros players who have made the greatest impact on one of Major League Baseball's most iconic franchises. Quotes from the subjects themselves and former teammates are provided along the way, as are recaps of each player's greatest season, most memorable performances, and most notable achievements.

I decided a long time ago that I was going to be GREAT. We were sitting on the couch watching the Olympics like we all did, living and dying a little with each moment, each defeat, each victory. The whole world was watching these great champions do such great things. Everybody was so proud of them. Tears always streamed down their faces during the national anthem. They must have been very proud. It was then that I decided someday I was going to be great like them. I made a pretty good run at it too. It felt like I was almost great a couple of times a lifetime ago. Right now though, I'm vomiting as quietly as humanly possible on a random Tuesday night in the midst of my midlife crisis. I sure do miss being great. Hope the kids can't hear this shit. Being just another fat guy in a BMW* isn't the GREAT I had in mind. -----------------------------*Tim Ferris is cool'Great story. Great title. Great ending.' - ray 'Somebody should make a movie/musical out of this.' - ray's mom 'Loads of people going through some sort of midlife crisis nowadays.' - ray's wife 'The Olympics were just on and rugby is going to be in the 2016 summer games. Great timing.' - everybody i've talked too My wife thinks Matt Damon would be great as me on screen/stage - he's hot and we've got that whole rugby connection. She would be well represented by any super hot model/actress with a raspy voice. A sassy, raspy voice. Wait a second...I mean Kate Hudson. It's always been Kate Hudson. You think Jon Stewart would have me on as a guest? That would be great. I love that show. Jon - I'm free next week._______________________ It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and still move forward' - Rocky Balboa 'that's great!' - the should-be world famous Captain Doctor Walter Heinecke ------------------------------------- - persons who are or expect to be having a midlife crisis anytime soon - things aren't turning out quite as you were sure they would back in the late 80's, early 90's - we were going to be big back then - you'll like this - my immediate and extended family, my friends and anyone that knows me personally - warning - probably wtmi (waytomuchinformation) - people who have it all figured out - this is not written for you, probably won't be a good read - how hard i've been trying is kind of cute though, you may enjoy that - someone who has it all (whether you know it or not) and wants more

David Stocks played in an era few fans today would recognise: one where World War Two was still a recent memory, where players didn't necessarily have to be professional, and where fry-ups were a perfectly acceptable pre-match meal.

A cultural and business history of the UFC, tracing the unlikely rise of mixed martial arts from what was derided in the '90s as "human cockfighting" - more violence than sport - to a global pop culture phenomenon.Senator John McCain once decried mixed martial arts as "human cockfighting," while the New York Times despaired that the sport offered a "pay-per-view prism" onto the decline of western civilization. But the violent spectacle of cage fighting no longer feels nearly as scandalous as it did when the sport debuted in 1993. Today, it's spoken of reverentially as a kind of "human chess" played out in real-time between two bodies and the UFC is one of the most valuable franchises in the world, worth more than any team in the NFL, NBA, or MLB and equal to what Disney paid to acquire Marvel Comics. Once banned in thirty-six states and hovering on the edge of bankruptcy, the UFC has evolved into a $10 billion industry. How did cage fighting go so mainstream?A rollicking behind-the-scenes account of one of the most spectacular upsets in American sports history, Kings of the Cage follows the desperate fighters, audacious promoters, fanboy bloggers, fatherly trainers, philosophical announcers, hustling sponsors, and three improbable twentysomething corporate titans on a darkly comic odyssey to normalize a new level of brutality in American pop culture-and make a fortune doing so. Stylishly written and poignantly observed, the book offers a provocative look at how the hollowing out of the American dream over the past three decades and the violence endemic to modern capitalism left us ready to embrace a sport like cage fighting.

A timely return of this Everest classic autobiography on the 70th anniversary of climbing Everest for the first time together with Sir Edmund Hillary.

Ernie! is a heartfelt tribute to lower-league football hero Ernie Moss, a local boy made good who became a Chesterfield goalscoring legend. Ernie earned his place in footballing folklore for his phenomenal longevity and as Chesterfield's record goalscorer. It's a story of skill and success, heartbreak and honesty, football and family.

A powerful love letter to yoga and an urgent manifesto for its recovery from Nadia Gilani, writer and pioneering yoga teacher.

Growing up in any major metropolitan city can be extremely challenging, especially when you're African American. I never thought that an everyday normal little kid that I was would experience such a roller-coaster ride of a life. It was almost a guarantee that I would end up in jail, uneducated, or even dead by the time I was sixteen. That's according to statistics in the 1980s.As time went on as a sixth-grader, I soon found a few ways to escape the ways of my community. Some of my friends and family, unfortunately, struggled a lot worse than I could ever imagine. The educational system in my town seemed fine to me as a kid. Even in the 2000s, there were some who questioned public school education but not many who took responsibility for teaching their own kids before they even entered a school building.Street education is what most of my peers learned before grade school. We had to learn how to cook and clean behind one another because most of my friends, including my brother and I, didn't have a father in our home. So our mom struggled a lot to maintain a stable home while trying to keep us safe from the streets. Sometimes, our only escape from the dangers of our community was sports. So when we played, we played hard. But never was I ever challenged more than when I put that stick in my hand!

"A deeply reported, revealing biography of tennis phenomenon and activist Naomi Osaka, telling the untold story behind her Grand Slam-winning career, her headline-making advocacy for racial justice and mental health, and the challenges of a life in the international spotlight"--

King of the Journeymen is the gripping autobiography of Peter Buckley, a pro boxer who fought 300 times and was a 'stepping stone' for world champions such as Naseem Hamed and Duke McKenzie. As a boy, Buckley shone as an amateur boxer, but outside the ring he was heading for trouble. He was suspended numerous times from school and sent to prison at age 15 for assault and robbery. Whilst inside, his father died. His life felt hopeless and seemed to be going nowhere. But after his release he turned to professional boxing and things started to improve. Labelled a journeyman, he fought often and lost often, whilst earning more money than he'd thought possible. Buckley never refused a fight, often accepting bouts at a few hours' notice or after a night out. King of the Journeymen is an inspirational tale of a man tenaciously fighting for a better life. Although he lost more fights than he won, Buckley persevered with his career and attained widespread respect from boxers and fans alike.

When Loch Morlich freezes over, we cut a hole in the ice and jump in. Tom 'The Highland Oak' and Luke 'The Albatross' Stoltman are the world's strongest brothers. Between them, they've won everything there is to win in the mighty world of Strongman. Tom can deadlift a 430kg bar to hip height, equivalent to about seven washing machines. Luke isn't far behind. Yet for the Stoltmans, being strong is about more than pure muscle. It's about overcoming adversity. And it's about honouring their biggest fan: their mother, who died in 2016 leaving the family devastated. They've also transcended the sport, not least through launching the hugely successful online Stoltman Strength Academy. Through it all, they've stayed true to their roots in the Highlands of Scotland, giving back to their community, their family, and each other. But it wasn't always like this. Back in 2010, Luke worked full time on oil rigs in the North Sea, and Tom was a teenager contending with the challenges posed by his autism. So, how did two lads from Invergordon conquer the world? Simple. They started lifting. In their autobiography, Tom and Luke Stoltman show you how to lift: how to lift the lid on life with autism. How to lift yourself out of the darkness of bereavement. How to lift the trophy at the World's Strongest Man.

When Rebecca Perry was growing up, she competed nationally and internationally as a trampolinist. 'On Trampolining' deftly blends memoir and lyrical nonfiction to explore a time she 'chose air over earth'. Perry's explorations on pain, flight and grief in relation to competitive sport, memory and the body are sensuous, funny, traumatic and tender.

Football And How To Survive It is an intriguing piece by Pat Nevin, published in 2023 by the Octopus Publishing Group. This book delves into the intricacies of football, offering a unique perspective on the sport that is both enlightening and engaging. As a renowned author, Nevin uses his adept storytelling skills to weave a narrative that is as informative as it is entertaining. The book falls under an exciting genre that combines sports, lifestyle, and survival tactics, making it a must-read for football enthusiasts and novices alike. Published by the reputable Octopus Publishing Group, this book guarantees a high-quality read that is set to captivate readers from start to finish. This book is written in English.

53rd Man tells the inspiring stories of the often-overlooked players trying to make it in the NFL¿the men who are essentially 53rd on rosters of 53¿who toil in obscurity in the hopes of seeing their professional football dreams come true.

Budge Rogers: A Rugby Life is the long overdue biography of one of rugby's most iconic players. It's the story of how Rogers emerged from a modest background to become one of the greats. Cup glory at Bedford and exciting tours with the British Lions and Barbarians, followed by nine years as England captain, and later he became president of the RFU.

The inspirational true story of a high school football coach who motivates and encourages ordinary kids from a handful of farming communities to do extraordinary things on the football field and in life.

Contrary to popular belief, 'Fluxie' did not enter the world on full opposite-lock, nor did he have a cigarette in one hand and a pint in the other. Destined to race, he never got the biggest breaks but he did become one of motorsport's most colourful and best-loved characters, someone who has always lived life to the full.

The Vo Rogue Show is the story about a small, gelded weanling of poor breeding initially called 'Erky' and purchased with the proceeds of a punt, that blossomed into a superstar. This once in a lifetime racehorse captivated the nation, created a cult following and enriched the lives of those who knew and loved him. But this book is not just a story about horse racing. It is a story about life, death, resilience and the undying love for this one horse.