The 50 Greatest Players in Boston Red Sox History

The Boston Red Sox are one of the most iconic baseball teams, representing not just a city or a state, but an entire region it s the only professional baseball team in New England. Baseball greats such as Cy Young and Babe Ruth wore the uniform early in their careers and many other players, including Ted Williams, Wade Boggs, Carl Yastrzemski, Pedro Martinez, and Johnny Damon have played with New England s beloved ball club. Sports historian Robert W. Cohen has chosen the 50 best ever to play for the Sox and profiles their exploits. Chances are you ll find your favorite player here.

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Row for Freedom: Crossing an Ocean in Search of Hope

An incredible account of one woman's record-breaking row across the Atlantic
Thirty-two-year-old Julia Immonen and four other women take on a challenge completed by fewer people than have climbed Mount Everest or gone into space: row three thousand miles, unaided, from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
"Row for Freedom "chronicles that dramatic journey, detailing the grueling, peril-filled crossing, which broke two world records, as it weaves together Julia's search for hope and purpose against a background of relationships scarred by violence.
As Julia's physical and emotional treks unfold, you also learn about the plight of the thirty million victims of the modern-day slave trade that serves as the motivation for her row. Be inspired by Julia's self-discovery and her team's triumph in one of the most formidable physical quests ever undertaken.

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Season of Saturdays: A History of College Football in 14 Games

From an award-winning writer, journalist, and college football expert: an entertaining cultural history that highlights the key moments, games, personalities, and scandals of the popular and controversial American pastime.
Every Saturday in the fall, countless college students, alumni, and sports fans wake up filled with a particular kind of hope and excitement, ready for their team's game. Half of them finish the day in joyous celebration, and the other half in abject depression, but all of them are ever ready to do it over again the next weekend.
College football is one of the unifying cornerstones of American culture. Since the first game in 1869, football has grown from a stratified offshoot of rugby to a ubiquitous part of our national identity. Today, as college conferences fracture and grow, amateur athlete status is called into question, and a playoff system threatens to replace big-money bowl games, we're in the midst of the most dramatic transitional period in the history of the sport.
Michael Weinreb's "Season of Saturdays" examines the evolution of college football, from the moral and ethical quandaries that informed its past to the fascinating changes that may affect its future. Since its nascent days on elite Ivy League campuses, college football has inspired both school spirit and controversy. Weinreb explores the game's inherent violence, its early seeds of big-business greed, and its impact on institutions of higher learning. Filtered through the stories of such iconic coaches as Woody Hayes and Joe Paterno and Steve Spurrier, "Season of Saturdays "also celebrates some of the greatest games of all time while exploring their larger significance. Part popular history, part memoir--and always uniquely American--"Season of Saturdays" is both a look back at how the sport became so fraught with problems, and a look ahead at how the sport might survive another century.

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Build Your Running Body: A Total-Body Fitness Plan for All Distance Runners, from Milers to Ultramarathoners: Run Farther, Faster, and Injury-Free

Whether you're a miler or an ultramarathoner, if you want a fit, fast, and injury-resistant running body, there's a better way to train than relentlessly pursuing mileage. This easy-to-use workout manual draws on the latest research in running physiology to target all the components that go into every stride--including muscles, connective tissue, cardiovascular fitness, energy production, the nervous system, hormones, and the brain. With the breakthrough whole-body training program in "Build Your Running Body," runners will improve their times, run longer and more comfortably, and reduce injury.With more than 150 workouts--from weightlifting and cross-training to resistance exercises and plyometrics--fine-tuned to individual skill levels and performance goals, PLUS: - 393 photos that make it easy to follow every step of every workout - 10 training programs to help runners of all levels integrate the total-body plan into their daily routines - Interviews with leading runners, exercise scientists, and coaches--learn how elite runners train today - Race strategy for the crucial weeks leading up to the competition and through to the finish line - Exercises to prevent injury and rehabilitate common running ailments - Seasoned insight on barefoot running, the pros and cons of stretching, and other hot-button topics - Nutrition guidance on carbs, proteins, fats, and weight loss - More than 30 recipes to speed recovery and cement fitness gains - Beginners' guidelines every step of the way - Valuable tips on proper apparel, tracking your progress, and more!


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Hiking and Biking in the Black Forest

With over 30 hikes and 10 cycling routes covering the north, central and southern areas, this guidebook delves deep into the heart of Germany's Black Forest. Detailled route descriptions of short, easy routes for families and longer, multi-day journeys for the more experienced make the varied guide an invaluable companion for hikers and bikers.

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Derek Jeter: Born to Be a Yankee

In celebration of one of the most widely beloved Yankees on the eve of his retirement, a handsomely designed, lavishly illustrated full-color commemorative keepsake volume that showcases his outstanding nineteen-year career.
In the fourth grade, Derek Jeter told his teacher that he was going to play shortstop for the New York Yankees--a dream would come true less than a decade later. Drafted out of Kalamazoo Central High School in 1992 when he was just eighteen, Jeter became the Yankees' starting shortstop and the American League's Rookie of the Year in just four years. One of the few professional athletes to have played his entire career with a single team, he helped the Yankees win five World Series championships, four of them in his first five years.
In his nearly two decades in pinstripes, Jeter became the team's all-time career leader in hits, games played, stolen bases, and at bats and the all-time leader in hits by a shortstop in major league baseball. A recipient of dozens of awards and accolades, admired by fans, teammates, and opponents alike, Derek Jeter is and will always be the quintessential New York Yankee.
Drawn from the breadth of the archives and photo library of the New York Post, Derek Jeter: Born to be a Yankee charts the future Hall of Famer's rise and commemorates every significant highlight and milestone in his career. Packed with dozens of color photographs, it pays homage to the man who has personified the modern New York Yankees, and will be a collector's item for both Yankee fans and baseball aficionados of all ages and generations.

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Thrown

In this darkly funny work of literary nonfiction, a bookish young woman insinuates herself into the lives of two cage fighters--one a young prodigy, the other an aging journeyman. Acclaimed essayist Kerry Howley follows these men for three years through the bloody world of mixed martial arts as they starve themselves, break bones, fail their families and form new ones in the quest to rise from remote Midwestern fairgrounds to packed Vegas arenas. With penetrating intelligence and wry humor, Howley exposes the profundities and absurdities of this American subculture.

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Skateboarding Skills

From selecting the right board, to learning which way to stand, to landing a kick flip, 'Skateboarding Skills' provides critical instruction for young readers of all experience levels. New riders will learn essential skills to advance their riding ability while experienced riders will learn new tricks to add to their repertoire.

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Pain Don't Hurt: Fighting Inside and Outside the Ring

The no-holds-barred memoir from kickboxer Mark "Fightshark" Miller, the only professional fighter in history to return to the ring after open-heart surgery
In 2007, Mark Miller was a rising star in professional kickboxing, until a routine physical uncovered a serious condition that required open-heart surgery. The crisis helped to temporarily reunite his fractured family and made Miller more determined than ever to return to the kickboxing ring. But within a year, his parents and brother were all dead, and Miller's fragile optimism imploded, sending him into a tailspin of drugs and alcohol.
Pain Don't Hurt is a story of incredible tenacity, dedication, and hard work--how one fierce competitor overcame repeated obstacles to realize his dreams. Miller recounts stories ranging from his childhood spent in the Steelers locker room to the surprising life lessons he learned from other fighters to his triumphant return to fighting in a Moscow kickboxing ring. He talks frankly about family and fatherhood--of the hard lessons about masculinity and violence learned from his abusive father. He also offers an inspiring, exciting, and frank account of the fights--both in and out of the ring--that have shaped him.
A deeply personal account of guts, blood, and glory, Pain Don't Hurt pays tribute to the never-say-die spirit embodied in a man who refuses to back down, no matter the odds.

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Poker: The Real Deal

The secret is out. Poker has become the hottest game in town. No longer viewed as the pastime of husbands seeking refuge from their wives, it is regularly played by an estimated 80 million people. Many play at home or online, but taking the game out of the kitchen and into the casino can be intimidating. That' s where POKER: THE REAL DEAL comes in. World-class poker player and co-host of the hit show CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN Phil Gordon has paired with writer Jonathan Grotenstein to write this comprehensive guide to the game. In addition to introducing the most popular forms of poker and explaining the intricacies of this game of skill, they describe the ins and outs of poker psychology and groom the reader, from home player to seasoned professional, in a single volume. They examine the different breeds of players from the Rock to the Manic, detail what to wear, drink and tip, and profile the legends of the game with tips from some of the biggest names in poker today. This definitive guide to poker provides a rare inside look at the game in language accessible to players of every level.

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Fifty Places to Paddle Before You Die: Kayaking and Rafting Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

The author of the bestselling 'Fifty Places' series teams up with kayaking, canoeing, rafting and paddle-boarding experts to highlight the fifty best paddle-sport destinations.

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Beating Goliath: My Story of Football and Faith

Growing up in Rule, Texas, Art Briles learned at a young age the importance of hard work and faith from his parents. Soon that faith would be tested.
On their way to see him play in a college football game, Briles' parents and aunt died in a car crash. This event shaped Briles into the man he is today. His father, Dennis, left him with a series of lessons. He taught his son that the world doesn't just hand you things, you have to earn them. And he taught him the influence that faith could have in his life.
Briles put these lessons to work as a football coach, where he established his reputation for turning struggling teams into winners, from high school to the staff at Texas Tech to head coach at the University of Houston. Hired to coach Baylor in 2007, he was faced with a familiar task. Within three years, Briles led the Bears to their first bowl game in 15 years.
Today, he instills those same lessons into his young players, helping them find a reason to excel. There are plenty of excuses for failure but Briles surrounds himself with people who are fearless when it comes to chasing success. That is one of the many lessons he imparts to his readers, with chapters that include:
* God and the Teaching of Dennis Briles
* Finding Your Passion
* You Can Change Attitude, Not Talent
* Passing in the Land of Earl Campbell
* Everybody is a Captain
Filled with dramatic football stories and lessons learned, this book will inspire and entertain.

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The Yankee Way: Playing, Coaching, and My Life in Baseball

Legendary New York Yankee Willie Randolph tells the story of his life playing and coaching for the most storied professional sports franchise in the world, detailing his career on and off the field with some of baseball biggest stars.
In his long-awaited memoir, Willie Randolph shares stories from life in New York Yankee pinstripes, opening up about the team that raised him and the city that molded him.
For over thirty years, Randolph has been a part of Yankee lore and mythology. From the best seat in the stadium he has witnessed the greats, from Reggie Jackson to Don Mattingly to Derek Jeter; larger-than-life managers, including Billy Martin and Joe Torre; and of course The Boss himself. Randolph offers truly unique, firsthand insight into some of the greatest players to ever play the game and the greatest teams ever to call the Bronx their home.
But though Randolph is a Yankee, he is first and foremost a quintessential New Yorker. Brooklyn born and raised, he shares memories of his rise from the projects to the house that Ruth built. Along the way he discusses, his triumphs and struggles on the field and in the dugout, as well as his time spent as manager of the Yankees' crosstown rivals, the Mets.
As fascinating and thoughtful as Randolph himself, filled with sixteen pages of black-and-white photos, The Yankee Way is a moving portrait of a legendary team, a unique city, and a remarkable man.
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All-Time, All-Team Pro Football Quiz

Combining off-the-wall trivia questions with hardcore stats and nickname puzzlers, the All-Time, All-Team Pro Football Quiz contains stumpers for even the most well-versed football fan. Whether you re a Cheesehead or a Broncomaniac, you ll find quizzes for every team in the league from the teams you love to the teams you love to hate. Which former NFL player had a role in Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles? True or False: Gerald Ford was the only U.S. president to play in the NFL? Who was the first black coach in NFL history? How many teams that won NFL championships are now defunct?"

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Failproof Tactics for Whitetail Bowhunting: Tips and Techniques to Help You Take a Trophy This Season

Fail-Proof Tactics for Whitetail Bowhunting has it all! Veteran bowhunter Bob McNally brings together in one book the tips, tricks, and masterful secrets of the masters of whitetail bowhunting. More than thirty bowhunters--with six hundred years' deer bowhunting experience and five thousand whitetails harvested between them--offer their sage advice on taking this most popular of North American big game animals. Learn how to: * Choose the hunting bow that's right for you * Manage land for BIG bucks! * Shoot a bow accurately * Call and decoy deer * Hunt the rut * Find choice deer foods * Pick hot tree stand sites * Use trail cameras * Plan bowhunts the right way * And so much more you need to know! Fail-Proof Tactics for Whitetail Bowhunting includes top whitetail hunters like Mark Drury, Matt Morrett, Fred Bear, Ted Nugent, Bill Jordan, Jim Crumley, Harold Knight, Ralph Cianciarulo, Stan Potts, David Blanton, Claude Pollington, Will Primos, and many others. If you're looking to improve your chances of taking a deer this season, look no further! Learn from the experts; get bigger, better bucks.

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Opening Kickoff: The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation

It s America s most popular sport, played by thousands, watched by millions, and generating billions in revenues every year. It s also America s most controversial sport, haunted by the specter of life-threatening injuries and plagued by scandal, even among its most venerable personalities and institutions. At the college level, we often tie football s tales of corruption and greed to its current popularity and revenue potential, and we have vague notions of a halcyon time before the new College Football Playoff, power conferences, and huge TV contracts. Perhaps we conjure images of young Ivy Leaguers playing a gentleman s game, exemplifying the collegial in collegiate. What we don t imagine is a game described in 1905 as a social obsession this boy-killing, man-mutilating, education-prostituting, gladiatorial sport. In The Opening Kickoff, Dave Revsine tells the riveting story of the formative period of American football between 1890 and 1915. In just a quarter century football spread across the nation, captivating people from coast to coast. It was a time that saw the game s meteoric rise, fueled by overflow crowds, breathless newspaper coverage, and newfound superstars including one of the most thrilling and mysterious the sport has ever seen. But it was also a period racked by controversy in academics, recruiting, and physical brutality that, in combination, threatened football s very existence. A vivid storyteller, Revsine brings it all to life in this captivating narrative."

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Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball

John Feinstein gave readers an unprecedented view of the PGA Tour in "A Good Walk Spoiled." He opened the door to an NCAA basketball locker room in his explosive bestseller "A Season on the Brink." Now, turning his eye to our national pastime, sports journalist John Feinstein explores the colorful and mysterious world of minor-league baseball--a gateway through which all major-league players pass in their careers . . . hoping never to return.
Baseball's minor leagues are a paradox. For some players, the minors are a glorious launching pad toward years of fame and fortune; for others, a crash-landing pad when injury or poor play forces a big leaguer back to a life of obscure ballparks and cramped buses instead of Fenway Park and plush charter planes. Focusing exclusively on the Triple-A level, one step beneath Major League Baseball, Feinstein introduces readers to nine unique men: three pitchers, three position players, two managers, and an umpire. Through their compelling stories, Feinstein pulls back the veil on a league that is chock-full of gifted baseball players, managers, and umpires who are all one moment away from getting called up--or back--to the majors.
The stories are hard to believe: a first-round draft pick and pitching ace who rocketed to major-league success before finding himself suddenly out of the game, hatching a presumptuous plan to get one more shot at the mound; a home run-hitting former World Series hero who lived the dream, then bounced among six teams before facing the prospects of an unceremonious end to his career; a big-league All-Star who, in the span of five months, went from being completely out of baseball to becoming a star in the ALDS, then signing a $10 million contract; and a well-liked designated hitter who toiled for eighteen seasons in the minors--a record he never wanted to set--before facing his final, highly emotional chance for a call-up to the big leagues.
From Raleigh to Pawtucket, from Lehigh Valley to Indianapolis and beyond, "Where Nobody Knows Your Name" gives readers an intimate look at a baseball world not normally seen by the fans. John Feinstein gets to the heart of the human stories in a uniquely compelling way, crafting a masterful book that stands alongside his very best works.

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A History of Women's Boxing

A History of Women s Boxing traces the history of the sport back to the 1700s, through the 2012 Olympic Games when women were first allowed to box, and up to the present. Rich in detail and exhaustively researched, this book illuminates the struggles, obstacles, and successes of the women who fought and continue to fight in the ring and out to gain respect in a sport traditionally considered for men alone. Inside-the-ring action is brought to life through photographs, newspaper clippings, and anecdotes, as are the stories of the women who played important roles outside the ring, from spectators and judges to managers and trainers. The first comprehensive history of women s boxing, this book is sure to enlighten all readers boxing fans, historians, scholars, and general sports fans alike."

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Complete Linebacking (2ND ed.)

Learn from a legend. Lou Tepper, coach to more than 20 NFL linebackers, including 3 Butkus Award winners, has created the most in-depth book ever written on football's most important defensive position.
In "Complete Linebacking," players and coaches receive a clinic on fundamentals, presnap keys, and techniques used by inside and outside linebackers in specific defenses, including the 32, 31, 52, 51, and 33. Coverage includes 4 key linebacker diagnostic tests, 44 drills to improve linebacking skills, presnap communication, relaying defense signals from the sideline, and special practice and game grading systems to evaluate and maximize performance.
The authoritative guide on playing the position, "Complete Linebacking" is a must-have for any linebacker, head coach, or defensive coach in today's fast-paced, ever-evolving game.

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Black Caviar: The Horse of a Lifetime

Black Caviar has captured the heart of a nation like no sporting figure since the days of Phar Lap and Don Bradman. This is greatness the likes of which is rarely seen. This is a tale that will not weary. This is the authorised story of the horse that couldn't be beaten, by acclaimed journalist and broadcaster Gerard Whateley., ∗'His [Whatelely] is always a human voice, intelligent and relaxed, telling a story in prose that, like the horse he is writing about, lifts the spirit.' - Weekend Australian, ∗'An outstanding book of its kind.' - Sydney Morning Herald, ∗'This is a book about greatness. It's about a horse that transcended the track to become an Australian icon. Her story deserves to be told.' - The Canberra Times, ∗'Yet another winner for the Black Caviar team.' - Courier Mail, ∗'Highly recommended.' - The Weekly Review, ∗'As an avid reader of sports and racing biographies, I must say this book rates up there with the best.' - Bendigo Advertiser Black Caviar is the biography of the Australian champion, written by acclaimed journalist and broadcaster Gerard Whateley, with a foreword by Peter Moody, BLACK CAVIAR this book documents the career of the racehorse who transcended the track to become an Australian icon. It begins with the entrancing story of champion trainer Peter Moody, a self-made man bred in the remote outback of Queensland, who came to select and guide the fastest horse the world had ever seen. Under Moody's patient and masterful guidance, the hulking injury-prone filly matured into a champion, idolized by a devoted following more akin to a rock band than a racehorse. Her gift is to defy the very nature of sport, making victory look both certain and effortless. But would her customary speed be enough to prevail at the most famous race track of all? At the climax of the tale, half a world away from her devoted nation and in front of the Queen, Black Caviar set out to conquer the world. With her invincible run and marauding dominance, Black Caviar has returned racing to the glory days of more than half a century past and secured a reputation that will echo for as long as horses are sent out to race.

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1954: The Year Willie Mays and the First Generation of Black Superstars Changed Major League Baseball Forever

1954: Perhaps no single baseball season has so profoundly changed the game forever. In that year--the same in which the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled, in the case of "Brown vs. Board of Education," that segregation of the races be outlawed in America's public schools--Larry Doby's Indians won an American League record 111 games, dethroned the five-straight World Series champion Yankees, and went on to play Willie Mays's Giants in the first World Series that featured players of color on both teams.
Seven years after Jackie Robinson had broken the baseball color line, 1954 was a triumphant watershed season for black players--and, in a larger sense, for baseball and the country as a whole. While Doby was the dominant player in the American League, Mays emerged as the preeminent player in the National League, with a flair and boyish innocence that all fans, black and white, quickly came to embrace. Mays was almost instantly beloved in 1954, much of that due to how seemingly easy it was for him to live up to the effusive buildup from his Giants manager, Leo Durocher, a man more widely known for his ferocious "nice guys finish last" attitude.
Award-winning, "New York Times" bestselling author Bill Madden delivers the first major book to fully examine the 1954 baseball season, drawn largely from exclusive recent interviews with the major players themselves, including Mays and Doby as well as New York baseball legends from that era: Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford of the Yankees, Monte Irvin of the Giants, and Carl Erskine of the Dodgers. "1954" transports readers across the baseball landscape of the time--from the spring training camps in Florida and Arizona to baseball cities including New York, Baltimore, Chicago, and Cleveland--as future superstars such as Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and others entered the leagues and continued to integrate the sport.
Weaving together the narrative of one of baseball's greatest seasons with the racially charged events of that year, "1954" demonstrates how our national pastime--with the notable exception of the Yankees, who represented "white supremacy" in the game--was actually ahead of the curve in terms of the acceptance of black Americans, while the nation at large continued to struggle with tolerance.

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How to Play and Win at Bridge: Rules of the Game, Skills and Tactics

Bridge has been one of the world's most popular games for centuries, and is well-respected as a strategic game that can be as competitive and technical or as fun and sociable as the players decide. Here is a clear and effective tutorial for beginners, covering all the basic principles of the game.

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The Mammoth Book of the World Cup

A guide to the one of the few truly international events. It covers everything from its roots in Uruguay in 1930 to the modern all-singing, all-dancing Greatest Show on Earth! 

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They Called Me God: The Best Umpire Who Ever Lived

Publisher Marketing:
In the pageantry of baseball, one select group is virtually unknown in the outside world, derided by fans, faced with split-second choices that spell victory or defeat. These men are up-close observers of the action, privy to inside jokes, blood feuds, benches-clearing brawls, and managers' expletive-filled tirades. In this wonderful memoir, Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey takes us within baseball as you've never seen it, with unforgettable inside stories of baseball greats such as Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, and Whitey Herzog.
Doug Harvey was a California farm boy, a high school athlete who nevertheless knew that what he really wanted was to become an unsung hero--a major league umpire. Working his way through the minor leagues, earning three hundred dollars a month, he survived just about everything, even riots in stadiums in Puerto Rico. And while players and other umps hit the bars at night, Harvey memorized the rule book. In 1962, he broke into the bigs and was soon listening to rookie Pete Rose worrying that he would be cut by the Reds and laying down the law with managers such as Tommy Lasorda and Joe Torre.
This colorful memoir takes the reader behind the plate for some of baseball's most memorable moments, including:
- Roberto Clemente's three thousandth and final hit
- The "I don't believe what I just saw" heroic three-and-two pinch-hit home run by Kirk Gibson in the '88 World Series
- The nail-biting excitement of the close-fought '68 World Series, when Doug called St. Louis Cardinal Lou Brock out at home plate and turned the trajectory of the series
But beyond the drama, Harvey turned umpiring into an art. He was a man so respected, whose calls were so feared and infallible, that the players called him God. And through it all, he lived by three rules: never take anything from a player, never back down from a call, and never carry a grudge.
A book for anyone who loves baseball, "They Called Me God "is a funny and fascinating tale of on- and off-the-field action, peopled by unforgettable characters from Bob Gibson to Nolan Ryan, and a treatise on good umpiring techniques. In a memoir that transcends sport, Doug Harvey tells a gripping story of responsibility, fairness, and honesty.

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A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at One Hundred

In "A Nice Little Place on the North Side, "leading columnist George Will returns to baseball with a deeply personal look at his hapless Chicago Cubs and their often beatified home, Wrigley Field, as it turns one hundred years old. Baseball, Will argues, is full of metaphors for life, religion, and happiness, and Wrigley is considered one of its sacred spaces. But what is its true, hyperbole-free history?
Winding beautifully like Wrigley's iconic ivy, Will's meditation on "The Friendly Confines" examines both the unforgettable stories that forged the field's legend and the larger-than-life characters--from Wrigley and Ruth to Veeck, Durocher, and Banks--who brought it glory, heartbreak, and scandal. Drawing upon his trademark knowledge and inimitable sense of humor, Will also explores his childhood connections to the team, the Cubs' future, and what keeps long-suffering fans rooting for the home team after so many years of futility.
In the end, "A Nice Little Place on the North Side" is more than just the history of a ballpark. It is the story of Chicago, of baseball, and of America itself.

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Black Noon: The Year They Stopped the Indy 500

Before noon on May 30th, 1964, the Indy 500 was stopped for the first time in history by an accident. Seven cars had crashed in a fiery wreck, killing two drivers, and threatening the very future of the 500.
"Black Noon" chronicles one of the darkest and most important days in auto-racing history. As rookie Dave MacDonald came out of the fourth turn and onto the front stretch at the end of the second lap, he found his rear-engine car lifted by the turbulence kicked up from two cars he was attempting to pass. With limited steering input, MacDonald lost control of his car and careened off the inside wall of the track, exploding into a huge fireball and sliding back into oncoming traffic.
Closing fast was affable fan favorite Eddie Sachs. "The Clown Prince of Racing" hit MacDonald's sliding car broadside, setting off a second explosion that killed Sachs instantly. MacDonald, pulled from the wreckage, died two hours later.
After the track was cleared and the race restarted, it was legend A. J. Foyt who raced to a decisive, if hollow, victory. Torn between elation and horror, Foyt, along with others, championed stricter safety regulations, including mandatory pit stops, limiting the amount a fuel a car could carry, and minimum-weight standards.
In this tight, fast-paced narrative, Art Garner brings to life the bygone era when drivers lived hard, raced hard, and at times died hard. Drawing from interviews, Garner expertly reconstructs the fateful events and decisions leading up to the sport's blackest day, and the incriminating aftermath that forever altered the sport.
"Black Noon" remembers the race that changed everything and the men that paved the way for the Golden Age of Indy car racing.

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The Champion's Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive

Even amongst the most elite performers, certain athletes stand out as a cut above the rest, able to outperform in clutch, game-deciding moments. These athletes prove that raw athletic ability doesn't necessarily translate to a superior on-field experience--it's the "mental "game that matters most.Sports participation--from the recreational to the collegiate Division I level--is at an all-time high. While the caliber of their game may differ, athletes at every level have one thing in common: they want to "excel. "In "The Champion's Mind," sports psychologist Jim Afremow, PhD, LPC, now offers the same advice he uses with Olympians, Heisman Trophy winners, and professional athletes, including: - Tips and techniques based on high-performance psychology research, such as how to get in a "zone," thrive on a team, and stay humble- How to progress within a sport and sustain excellence long-term- Customizable pre-performance routines to hit full power when the gun goes off or the puck is dropped"The Champion's Mind "distills actionable advice into clear and concise steps for athletes looking to find confidence, concentration, and mental preparedness--the mental edge that sets champions apart.

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A Difficult Par: Robert Trent Jones Sr. and the Making of Modern Golf

The definitive account of modern golf's foremost architect from the "New York Times "bestselling author of "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong "
Robert Trent Jones was the most prolific and influential golf course architect of the twentieth century and became the archetypical modern golf course designer. Jones spread the gospel of golf by designing courses in forty-two US states and twenty-eight countries. Twenty U.S. Opens, America's national championship, have been contested on Jones-designed courses.
"New York Times "bestselling biographer James R. Hansen, author of "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong," recounts how an English immigrant boy arrived in upstate New York in 1912, just as golf was emerging as a popular pastime in America. Jones excelled as a golfer, earning admission to Cornell University, whose faculty consented to a curriculum tailored to teach him the knowledge needed to design golf courses. Cornell provided the springboard for an act of self-invention that propelled Jones from obscurity to worldwide fame.
Jones believed that every hole should be "a difficult par but an easy bogey." As gifted as he was at golf design, Jones was equally skilled as a salesman, promoter, and entrepreneur. "Golf Digest"'s annual rankings of the 100 Greatest Golf Courses have regularly featured about fifty Jones designs, paving the path for his two sons, Robert Jr., and Rees, whose work would carry on their father's tradition. Hansen examines Jones's legacy in all its complexity and influence, including the fraternal rivalry of Jones's distinguished sons.

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The Closer

The greatest relief pitcher of all time shares his extraordinary story of survival, love, and baseball.
Mariano Rivera, the man who intimidated thousands of batters merely by opening a bullpen door, began his incredible journey as the son of a poor Panamanian fisherman. When first scouted by the Yankees, he didn't even own his own glove. He thought he might make a good mechanic. When discovered, he had never flown in an airplane, had never heard of Babe Ruth, spoke no English, and couldn't imagine Tampa, the city where he was headed to begin a career that would become one of baseball's most iconic. What he did know: that he loved his family and his then girlfriend, Clara, that he could trust in the Lord to guide him, and that he could throw a baseball exactly where he wanted to, every time.
With astonishing candor, Rivera tells the story of the championships, the bosses (including The Boss), the rivalries, and the struggles of being a Latino baseball player in the United States and of maintaining Christian values in professional athletics. The thirteen-time All-Star discusses his drive to win; the secrets behind his legendary composure; the story of how he discovered his cut fastball; the untold, pitch-by-pitch account of the ninth inning of Game 7 in the 2001 World Series; and why the lowest moment of his career became one of his greatest blessings.
In "The Closer, "Rivera takes readers into the Yankee clubhouse, where his teammates are his brothers. But he also takes us on that jog from the bullpen to the mound, where the game -- or the season -- rests squarely on his shoulders. We come to understand the laserlike focus that is his hallmark, and how his faith and his family kept his feet firmly on the pitching rubber. Many of the tools he used so consistently and gracefully came from what was inside him for a very long time -- his deep passion for life; his enduring commitment to Clara, whom he met in kindergarten; and his innate sense for getting out of a jam.
When Rivera retired, the whole world watched -- and cheered. In "The Closer, "we come to an even greater appreciation of a legend built from the ground up.

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Facing Mariano Rivera: Players Recall the Greatest Relief Pitcher Who Ever Lived

The all-time career leader in saves, with 652, Mariano Rivera is one of the greatest professional athletes in history. Since taking over the closer's role for the New York Yankees in 1997, until his retirement in 2013, Rivera saved 30 or more games in every season but one. In addition, he has an astonishing MLB record 42 postseason saves, with 11 of them coming in the World Series. After 19 seasons in the Major Leagues, his preeminence among relief pitchers is assumed and his induction into Cooperstown assured.
And he accomplished it all, mostly, with one devastating pitch: his signature cut fastball. As third baseman Corey Koskie put it: "You knew what pitch [Rivera's] going to throw, a cutter. . . . You start to swing at the pitch and the next thing you know, the ball explodes your bat. I tried multiple things hoping to figure out a way get the barrel [of the bat] on one of his pitches. . . . Nothing worked."
Far from a conventional biography, "Facing Mariano Rivera" offers perspectives and testimonials from opponents and teammates alike, including Rivera's minor-league roommate and the final batter he faced in the major leagues. Some opponents had uncommon success against "The Sandman," and they share their secrets for hitting him. Most, however, echo the sentiments of five-time All-Star Mike Sweeney: "When you're at Yankee Stadium and Mariano Rivera is coming in the game, it feels like a horror movie . . . when you hear the music and you're scared to death, because you know what's going to happen."
Truly dominant pitchers come along only rarely. This book tells the reader what it's like to battle one of the all-time best, in the words of the players who did just that.

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The Sailing Bible: The Complete Guide for All Sailors from Novice to Expert

"The Sailing Bible" is a comprehensive handbook for all sailors, whatever their experience. It takes novice sailors from learning the anatomy of their boat to handling emergencies while experienced sailors get sound advice and expert tips that will improve their skills, safety and enjoyment on the water.
Jam-packed with vital data, step-by-step instructions, explanatory diagrams and lively action photos, "The Sailing Bible" is thorough, user-friendly and appropriate for all sailboats. Organized progressively from learning to sail to navigation and boat maintenance, the authors cover everything sailors must know to get the most out of the sport.
Topics include: Dinghies and yachts Cruising and racing Launching, helming, trapezing and capsizing Racing techniques and tactics Buoys, tides, charts and navigation Anchoring and marina berthing Knots, ropes and flags Boat etiquette and seamanship Safety and emergencies and much more.

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Brooklyn Bounce: The Highs and Lows of Nets Basketball's Historic First Season in the Borough

When the Brooklyn Nets played their first game at Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn in the fall of 2012, they succeeded in bringing a major professional sports franchise back to Brooklyn for the first time since the Dodgers abandoned the borough in 1957.
Now, "Brooklyn Bounce" chronicles the Nets' historic inaugural season in the borough, full of highs and lows--plenty of them entirely unexpected. Jake Appleman takes us inside the locker room and courtside, examining the team's transition from the New Jersey swamp to gentrified Brooklyn, from an opening night delayed by Hurricane Sandy to an epic seven-game playoff showdown with the Chicago Bulls.
The Nets were the game's foremost paradox in 2013, a team that managed to be the most improved in the NBA, but also consistently disappointed. What made them interesting wasn't their style of play or even their unique collection of personalities; it was their constant state of reinvention and their evolving relationship with their new home: as the Barclays crowds would chant it, BROOOOOOK-LYN!

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Autocourse Official History of the Indianapolis 500 (Revised, Updated) (2ND ed.)

THE Indianapolis "500" is much more than merely the best known automobile race in the world. It is a cherished time-honored institution with a glorious history dating back more than one hundred years. Known to most as, quite simply, "The 500," it has been held every year since 1911, the only exceptions being 1917-18 and 1942-45, during the periods when America was involved in the two world wars. Steeped in tradition, it has meant many things to many people and has played an enormous role in the lives of human beings, perhaps even more so for the spectators and devotees than for the participants themselves. For over half a century, Memorial Day meant either trekking to the track or else ensuring that whatever other activity was planned for the day, a radio would always be within earshot. In more recent decades, settling down in front of the television has been added to the equation, while it is now the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend on which the extravaganza takes place, rather than on Memorial Day itself. But the feeling is the same. For the participants, it has been a nearly 100-year saga of dreams, innovation, ingenuity, bravery, triumph, and tragedy. Paupers became millionaires, young men from small towns and broken homes became international celebrities, and regrettably, some of them gave their lives. The "500" has endured world wars, depressions, recessions, political strife, and negative journalism, and yet it continues to draw massive passionate and emotional crowds, whose loyalty is rewarded with never-to-be-forgotten moments such as the finishes of 2006 and 2011, when Dan Wheldon snatched victory on literally the final turn. This, then, is the story of the Indianapolis 500 and how it came to be. This is the story of more than 100 editions of the race, interspersed with a look at some of the compelling personalities, some little-known facts, an attempt to document the origins of some of the traditions, and perhaps even to dispel a few myths.
From Harroun to Franchitti, it's all here...

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Orr: My Story

One of the greatest sports figures of all time breaks his silence in a memoir as unique as the man himself.
He has never written a memoir, authorized a biography, or talked to journalists about his past, but now he is finally ready to tell his story.
Bobby Orr is often referred to as the greatest ever to play the game of hockey. From 1966 through the mid-seventies, he could change a game just by stepping on the ice. No defenseman had ever played the way he did, or received so many trophies, or set so many records, several of which still stand today.
But all the brilliant achievements leave unsaid as much as they reveal. They don't tell what inspired Orr, what drove him, what it was like for a shy small-town kid to suddenly land in the full glare of the media. They don't tell what it was like when the agent he regarded as a brother betrayed him and left him in financial ruin. They don't tell what he thinks of the game of hockey today.
He is speaking out now because "I am a parent and a grandparent and I believe that I have lessons worth passing on." "Orr: My Story" is more than a book about hockey--it is about the making of a man.

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Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player

Following up on the success of her acclaimed book, "A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg," bestselling author Elaine Sandberg's new book offers novice players the advice they need to excel at mah jongg. "Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player" provides beginners with the information they need to strategize, excel, and win!
This book teaches players how to overcome common difficulties and provides the knowledge to sharpen strategic skills and increase win ratios. By showing beginners how to see and utilize different strategic elements, players learn how to elevate their skills and increase their wins. A gem of a book that is the perfect gift for mah jongg players of all ages!

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The Trad Climber's Bible

Traditional, or simply, " trad climbing," is a do-it-yourself adventure requiring the climbing team to negotiate the climb and to carry, hand-place and remove most if not all components of the roped safety system. In The Trad Climber's Bible, two of the most revered and respected trad climbers in the world, John Long and Peter Croft, offer hard-won knowledge to aspiring trad climbers in a narrative format that is as informative as it is entertaining. With photos by iconic climbing photographer Greg Epperson and AMGA Certified Rock Instructor Bob Gaines, this full color book will appeal to climbers of all stripes.

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National Geographic Secrets of the National Parks: The Experts' Guide to the Best Experiences Beyond the Tourist Trail

Find the best National Geographic picks in 32 amazing national parks including Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, the Everglades' Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail, and Yosemite's exquisite Snow Creek Trail. Discover that Lamar Valley is home to many of the park's wolf packs; why the Everglades is the domain of the pink flamingo; and that astounding views of Yosemite's Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon are accessible on an easy day hike. The majority of national park visitors often stick to the most celebrated trails and scenic overlooks, missing a whole world of stunning scenery in the process. Informed by park rangers, superintendents, and frequent park visitors, "National Geographic Secrets of the National Parks" provides all the inspiration and information you need to plan your visit beyond the well-trodden, touristy spots in these 32 great national parks. Stunning photographs, informative sidebars, and easy-to-use maps will help make your next national park adventure memorable.
FEATURED PARKS:
EAST: Acadia - Shenandoah - Great Smoky Mountains - Biscayne - Everglades
SOUTHWEST & ROCKIES: Big Bend - Petrified Forest - Grand Canyon - Bryce Canyon - Zion - Capitol Reef - Mesa Verde - Canyonlands - Arches - Rocky Mountain - Wind Cave - Badlands - Theodore Roosevelt - Yellowstone - Grand Teton - Glacier
PACIFIC: Mount Ranier - Olympic - Crater Lake - Redwood - Yosemite - Channel Islands - Sequoia & Kings Canyon - Death Valley - Joshua Tree - Hawaii Volcanoes - Haleakala

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I Run, Therefore I Am Still Nuts!

Whether you are just getting acquainted with the joys of running or you can recite the brand and model number of your last 12 pairs of running shoes, you'll identify with this book as runners did with the popular first volume, "I Run, Therefore I Am--Nuts!"
Best-selling running humorist Bob Schwartz--the Dave Barry of running--is back and will once again have you laughing as he captures the humor, craziness, and obsessions of runners--new and old--with this new collection of 43 hilarious stories.
"I Run, Therefore I Am-- STILL Nuts!" brings out the humor in situations that every runner can relate to:
- Suffering from RWIA, otherwise known as running watch information addiction
- The addictive nature of high-intensity interval training
- The depths of despair upon learning your favorite shoe will be discontinued
- Embracing the saving grace of age-graded race time calculators
- Attempting to run with a reluctant canine companion
- Trying out running in the oxymoron of barefoot shoes
If you know that the iliotibial band is not an alternative rock group, wear bruised toenails like badges of honor, and know the feeling of having an elephant resting on your shoulders as you've hit the wall--this book is for you!

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Dr. J: The Autobiography

With startling honesty and an unmistakable voice, Dr. J is a historic self-portrait of an American legend, Julius "The Doctor" Erving.
With his flights of improvisation around the basket and his towering afro, Julius Erving became one of the most charismatic (and revolutionary) players basketball has ever known. But while the public has long revered this cultural icon, few have ever known of the double life of Julius Erving. Dr. J traces the inner lives of the nearly perfect player and the imperfect man--and how he has come to terms with both.

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The Angler's Practical Guide to Fishing: Freshwater, Game, Saltwater, Fly Fishing: A Comprehensive How-To Manual on Tackle, Techniques and Locations.

Expert advice on where to fish, what to fish for, the best fishing techniques for all kinds of species, and locations and tips on reading all types of water. The book includes an in-depth visual guide to all the major species of fish, together with professional tips of the trade on how to catch them.

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Who's on Worst?: The Lousiest Players, Biggest Cheaters, Saddest Goats and Other Antiheroes in Baseball History

A hilarious celebration of the worst in baseball history: The boneheads, cheats, jerks and losers who make the grand old game so fun
Libraries and Internet sites are filled to groaning with debates about who the best ballplayers of all time were--but how many times can you argue about Mantle vs. Mays? Since baseball is a game of failure, it's much more fun to dive into the fray and explore baseball's "worst" who was the lousiest pitcher of all-time? the biggest goat? the most despicable owner? the greatest cheater?
Filip Bondy wields formidable research, advanced sabermetrics and his considerable wit to provide this indispensable guide to the less glorious side of our national pastime. Each chapter is filled with rich and colorful stories of the players unfortunate enough to be chosen in each category and is followed by a handy top-ten list, such as Most Overpaid Yankees.
From a delightful survey of batters who fell below the dreaded "Mendoza Line" to a rundown of managers who had long careers distinguished by relentless losing to a roster of players who took steroids but "still" stunk, "Who's on Worst?" is a thoroughly entertaining portrait of the personalities who deserve their place in baseball history as much as the immortals.

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The Squared Circle: Life, Death and Professional Wrestling

Grantland and Deadspin correspondent presents a breakthrough examination of the professional wrestling, its history, its fans, and its wider cultural impact that does for the sport what Chuck Klosterman did for heavy metal.
"The Squared Circle" grows out of David Shoemaker's writing for Deadspin, where he started the column "Dead Wrestler of the Week" (which boasts over 1 million page views) -- a feature on the many wrestling superstars who died too young because of the abuse they subject their bodies to -- and his writing for Grantland, where he covers the pro wrestling world, and its place in the pop culture mainstream. Shoemaker's sportswriting has since struck a nerve with generations of wrestling fans who--like him--grew up worshipping a sport often derided as "fake" in the wider culture. To them, these professional wrestling superstars are not just heroes but an emotional outlet and the lens through which they learned to see the world.
Starting in the early 1900s and exploring the path of pro wrestling in America through the present day, "The Squared Circle "is the first book to acknowledge both the sport's broader significance and wrestling fans' keen intellect and sense of irony. Divided into eras, each section offers a snapshot of the wrestling world, profiles some of the period's preeminent wrestlers, and the sport's influence on our broader culture. Through the brawling, bombast, and bloodletting, Shoemaker argues that pro wrestling can teach us about the nature of performance, audience, and, yes, art.
Full of unknown history, humor, and self-deprecating reminiscence--but also offering a compelling look at the sport's rightful place in pop culture--"The Squared Circle "is the book that legions of wrestling fans have been waiting for. In it, Shoemaker teaches us to look past the spandex and body slams to see an art form that can explain the world.
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Cycling the Hudson Valley: A Guide to History, Art, and Nature on the East and West Sides of the Majestic Hudson River

An indispensable resource for dedicated cyclists planning to bike the Hudson Valley or the casual rider looking to take the family out for a couple of hours, this guidebook will help you experience the Hudson Valley, one of the most beautiful, historic, and environmentally and culturally rich regions in New York, as only cyclists and walkers can. Detailing the parks, trails, attractions, villages, towns, and cities of this breathtaking river valley, including Albany, New York City, and fascinating sites in between, the guide has been designed primarily for use by bicyclists, but it will also be useful to those enjoying the area by other means.
The cycling routes laid out in this guidebook were developed from Parks & Trails New York s years of experience organizing the Great Hudson Valley Pedal, its annual supported bike tour from Albany to Manhattan, as well as many hours bicycling and walking the valley s roads and trails. Park & Trails New York s goal is to set out safe and inviting routes on both sides of the Hudson River, as close to the river as possible.

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Finally: The Golf Swing's Simple Secret - A Revolutionary Method Proved for the Weekend Golfer to Significantly Improve Distance

"Every weekend golfer should read this great book." - CAMILO VILLEGAS (Multiple time PGA Tour winner). Have you ever wondered why the average handicap on the USGA has barely improved in the last 20 years? The answer is very simple: a) The Golf Swing is very difficult to understand and to perform. b) The average weekend golfer would love to improve but doesnt have the time or the interest to spend long hours practicing. After studying the golf swing for over 25 years, JF Tamayo has developed a revolutionary method proved for the weekend golfer of any level to significantly improve distance and accuracy from day one, based on three main principles: 1) FOCUS ON CHANGES THAT MOST POSITIVELY AFFECT RESULTS: Opposite to the traditional methods, this book will only ask you to make changes in the most relevant parts of the swing needed to hit solid and consistent shots: the backswing and the transition between the backswing and the downswing. 2) LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP AN EASY, REPEATABLE AND SOLID BACKSWING: One of the biggest breakthroughs of the method was the development of a unique and much easier way to consistently make a solidly sound backswing that will look similar to the new Tiger Woods one plane backswing but much simpler to learn, to do and to repeat. 3) LEARN HOW TO CREATE LAG: Being able to increase lag during the downswing is one of the major differences between the amateur's golf swing versus a professional's and probably one of the most misunderstood concepts of golf. In this book you will easily learn how to lag the club like the pros, dramatically improving your clubhead speed, ball striking ability and distance. This incredible and simple method will instantly take your game to a higher level while you will be helping others since 50% of the profits obtained from this project will be donated to charity.

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Everest: The First Ascent: How a Champion of Science Helped to Conquer the Mountain

Winner of the Banff Mountain Book Competition and the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature
Harriet Tuckey's book is both the history of what went into the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest in 1953 and a biography of her father, Dr Griffith Pugh, whose role was absolutely pivotal, yet mostly untold. As the expedition's physiological consultant, Pugh designed almost every aspect of the survival strategy for the expedition, the acclimatization program, the oxygen- and fluid-intake regime, the diet, the clothing and the high altitude boots. Without him and his work, the ascent of Everest would have been impossible.

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The Total Outdoorsman Manual (Updated, Expanded) ( Field & Stream )

"The Total Outdoorsman Manual" is the ultimate guide book for the outdoors enthusiast, packed with hundreds of practical tips and techniques from T. Edward Nickens and the experts at "Field & Stream" magazine, that is guaranteed to improve your hunting, fishing, camping and survival skills. This special edition, issued for the 10th anniversary of the Total Outdoorsman Challenge has all the content readers love, plus 50 new activities that can help anyone compete in the Challenge.
With practical information for both the beginner and advanced outdoorsman, the book is an authoritative, comprehensive, and entertaining guide that will enable anyone to master the outdoors and hunt, fish, and camp like an expert. The 10th anniversary edition includes a chapter of new tricks and skills from Total Outdoorsman Challenge contestants.
HUNT BETTER How to track a buck, make the toughest shots, master bowhunting and knife skills, and haul, butcher, and cook wild game.
FISH SMARTER Advice on the best techniques for flyfishing, baitcasting, and spinning, as well as surefire ways to get the most out of your motorboat, canoe, or kayak.
SURVIVE ANYTHING Whether you fall through thick ice, are swept away by a raging river, or have a stare down with an angry bear, these skills means the difference between life and death.
CAMP ANYWHERE Tested and proven expert tips to help you stay warm, eat well, and build a fire in any situation in record time.


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From Black Sox to Three-Peats: A Century of Chicago's Best Sportswriting from the Tribune, Sun Times, and Other Newspapers

Bears, Bulls, Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks--there's no city like Chicago when it comes to sports. Generation after generation, Chicagoans pass down their almost religious allegiances to teams, stadiums, and players and their never-say-die attitude, along with the stories of the city's best (and worst) sports moments. And every one of those moments--every come-from-behind victory or crushing defeat--has been chronicled by Chicago's unparalleled sportswriters.
In "From Black Sox to Three-Peats," veteran Chicago sports columnist Ron Rapoportassembles one hundred of the best columns and articles from the "Tribune," "Sun-Times," "Daily News, Defender, "and other papers to tell the unforgettable story of a century of Chicago sports. From Ring Lardner to Rick Telander, Westbrook Pegler to Bob Verdi, Mike Royko to Hugh Fullerton, Melissa Isaacson to Brent Musburger, and on and on, this collection reminds us that Chicago sports fans have enjoyed a wealth of talent not just on the field, but in the press box as well. Through their stories we relive the betrayal of the Black Sox, the cocksure power of the '85 Bears, the assassin's efficiency of Jordan's Bulls, the Blackhawks' stunning reclamation of the Stanley Cup, the Cubs' century of futility--all as seen in the moment, described and interpreted on the spot by some of the most talented columnists ever to grace a sports page.
Sports are the most ephemeral of news events: once you know the outcome, the drama is gone. But every once in a while, there are those games, those teams, those players that make it into something more--and great writers can transform those fleeting moments into lasting stories that become part of the very identity of a city. "From Black Sox to Three-Peats" is Chicago history at its most exciting and celebratory. No sports fan should be without it.

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