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LeBron James, 4th Edition (Amazing Athletes Ser.)
by Jeff SavageLeBron James has been a National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar since he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as a teenager in 2003. In 2010, after turning Cleveland into a winning team, LeBron left his hometown to play with the Miami Heat. In Miami, LeBron and his teammates won the NBA Finals in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, LeBron returned to Cleveland to try to bring a championship to the city. Read all about LeBron's remarkable journey.
LeBron James: A Little Golden Book Biography (Little Golden Book)
by Shasta ClinchDream big with a Little Golden Book biography about one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, LeBron James! Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction to nonfiction for young readers—as well as fans of all ages!This Little Golden Book about LeBron James—philanthropist, basketball superstar, and all-time leading scorer in the NBA—is an inspiring read-aloud for young sports fans and their parents! Look for more Little Golden Book biographies:• Simone Biles • Lionel Messi• Tom Brady• Muhammad Ali• Katie Ledecky
LeBron's Dream Team
by James Lebron Bissinger BuzzRead an interview with Buzz Bissinger at hoopsaddict. com here. The SHOOTING STARS were a bunch of kids from Akron, Ohio-LeBron James and his best friends-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 which would carry them through thick and thin (a lot of thin) and, at last, to the brink of a national championship. 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 10. 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, who was ever-present, 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 team mates offered. 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 each other they would stay together and do whatever it took to win a national title. They had no idea how hard it would be to pursue 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 consequence of their own over-confidence. Not least, they would all have to wrestle with LeBron's outsize success, which brought too much attention and even a whiff of scandal their way. But together these five boys became men as they sought a national championship. .
LeBron's Dream Team: How Five Friends Made History
by Buzz Bissinger Lebron JamesThe DREAM TEAM was a bunch of kids from Akron, Ohio-LeBron James and his best friends-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 which would carry them through thick and thin (a lot of thin) and, at last, to the brink of a national championship. 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 10. 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, who was ever-present, 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 team mates offered. In the summer after seventh grade, the DREAM TEAM 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 each other they would stay together and do whatever it took to win a national title. They had no idea how hard it would be to pursue 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 consequence of their own over-confidence. Not least, they would all have to wrestle with LeBron's outsize success, which brought too much attention and even a whiff of scandal their way. But together these five boys became men as they sought a national championship.From the Trade Paperback edition.
LeBron, Inc.: The Making of a Billion-Dollar Athlete
by Brian WindhorstFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Return of the King comes the story of LeBron James's incredible transformation from basketball star to sports and business mogul. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} With eight straight trips to the NBA Finals, LeBron James has proven himself one of the greatest basketball players of all time. And like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan before him, LeBron has also become a global brand and businessman who has altered the way professional athletes think about their value, maximize their leverage, and use their voice. LEBRON, INC tells the story of James's journey down the path to becoming a billionaire sports icon -- his successes, his failures, and the lessons both have taught him along the way. With plenty of newsmaking tidbits about his rollercoaster last season in Cleveland and high-profile move to the Lakers, LEBRON, INC. shows how James has changed the way most elite athletes manage their careers, and how he launched a movement among his peers that may last decades beyond his playing days.
LeBron, Inc.: The Making of a Billion-Dollar Athlete
by Brian WindhorstFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Return of the King comes the story of LeBron James's incredible transformation from basketball star to sports and business mogul.With eight straight trips to the NBA Finals, LeBron James has proven himself one of the greatest basketball players of all time. And like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan before him, LeBron has also become a global brand and businessman who has altered the way professional athletes think about their value, maximize their leverage, and use their voice. LeBron, Inc. tells the story of James's journey down the path to becoming a billionaire sports icon - his successes, his failures, and the lessons both have taught him along the way. With plenty of newsmaking tidbits about his rollercoaster last season in Cleveland and high-profile move to the Lakers, LeBron, Inc. shows how James has changed the way most elite athletes manage their careers, and how he launched a movement among his peers that may last decades beyond his playing days.
LeBron, Inc.: The Making of a Billion-Dollar Athlete
by Brian WindhorstFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Return of the King comes the story of LeBron James's incredible transformation from basketball star to sports and business mogul.With eight straight trips to the NBA Finals, LeBron James has proven himself one of the greatest basketball players of all time. And like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan before him, LeBron has also become a global brand and businessman who has altered the way professional athletes think about their value, maximize their leverage, and use their voice. LeBron, Inc. tells the story of James's journey down the path to becoming a billionaire sports icon - his successes, his failures, and the lessons both have taught him along the way. With plenty of newsmaking tidbits about his rollercoaster last season in Cleveland and high-profile move to the Lakers, LeBron, Inc. shows how James has changed the way most elite athletes manage their careers, and how he launched a movement among his peers that may last decades beyond his playing days.
LeBron: Life Lessons from the King
by Brian BooneA biographical account featuring the secrets to success from one of the greatest basketball players of all time: LeBron James“Nothing is given. Everything is earned.” His power, speed, and killer instincts made him a basketball phenom, but it was blood, sweat, and determination that turned him into an undisputed champion. From the day Sports Illustrated deemed him “The Chosen One” when he was still in high school, LeBron James, a skinny kid from Akron, Ohio, rose to stardom for his world-class athleticism. Two decades, four NBA championships, three Olympic medals, four MVP awards, three teams, and eighteen All-Star selections later, LeBron is the reigning king of the NBA. The world watches in awe as he breaks countless records and sets jaw-dropping new ones. He has taken his success further than anyone imagined, proving himself a savvy investor and businessman, making a splash in the entertainment industry, and emerging as a powerful voice for social justice. Brian Boone's LeBron: Life Lessons from The King offers courtside seats to the highs and lows of LeBron’s unbelievable journey and reveals valuable insights for anyone trying to make their own lofty dreams come true. - Motivating and empowering quotes from King James himself- A biographical look at LeBron’s early years, his rise to fame, and his most spectacular achievements - Original art from Gilang Bogy that captures the spirit of a champion- Guiding truths and hard-earned lessons to inspire your own path to excellence
Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose: A 100-Day Devotional for Athletes
by Andy DooleyAs an athlete, you train your body and mind to be ready for competition. But what about your soul? Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose is your guide to exercising your faith, with Andy Dooley as your trainer.As a professional athlete turned pastor--and a passionate leader, Seattle Seahawks in-game host, social media influencer, and fitness trainer--Andy Dooley knows all about sports and what it takes to be a Christian on and off the field, court, or wherever you may play. A 100-day devotional written to encourage and guide athletes of any age, level, or sport, Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose is just what you need to integrate your faith into what you love to do--play your sport.Let Dooley be your spiritual trainer and coach you to:Become a better teammate in four simple stepsDiscover effective ways to handle stress before a competitionIdentify how God is working through your sport to make you more like himUnderstand and embrace your calling as a Christian who is also an athletePhysical training has value for our lives here on earth, yet it holds zero weight for the eternal. If you learn to be tenacious about living a godly life now as you also strive to become a better athlete and teammate, you'll change the trajectory of your life.
Lead... For God's Sake!: A Parable for Finding the Heart of Leadership
by Urban Meyer Todd G. Gongwer<p>If you've ever asked yourself why you do what you do, or wondered what your purpose is in life, this book is for you. <p>The lives of an intensely-driven basketball coach, an ultra-successful CEO, and an unassuming janitor all intersect in this captivating parable about leadership, relationships, and the pursuit of success. An unforgettable story packed with profound truths, LEAD . . . for God's Sake! will challenge you to think deeply about who you are as a leader, what success means to you, and why you do what you do. Whether you're leading a business, a team, or your own family, this book is the first and most important step to becoming the leader you were meant to be.</p>
Leadbetter's Quick Tips: The Very Best Short Lessons to Fix Any Part of Your Game
by David LeadbetterThis book is a superbly accessible collection of mini-lessons that anyone can benefit from, whatever their golfing standard. David Leadbetter is one of the superstars of golf coaching, credited with helping Nick Faldo to several Majors wins, and continuing to coach the world's best players like Ernie Els and Michelle Wie.
Leadership Questions for Health Care Professionals: Applying Theories and Principles to Practice
by Matthew KutzLeadership Questions for Health Care Professionals: Applying Theories and Principles to Practice by Dr. Matthew R. Kutz presents some of the most common leadership questions with the intent to facilitate intrigue and dialogue about the general concept of leadership and an awareness of potential leadership issues facing health care professionals.Leadership Questions for Health Care Professionals presents responses that will initiate discussion, as well as offer solutions based on the best available evidence across a wide spectrum of relevant research. Discussion questions at the end of each response will allow the reader to engage in critical thinking and re-evaluate their experiences and offer new insights into their leadership journey.Sections include questions on key issues for health care professionals: The essence of leadership Leadership development Teamwork and communication Change Organizational culture and complexity Leadership ethics and power Diversity and multicultural leadership Leadership Questions for Health Care Professionals takes an interprofessional and interdisciplinary approach and is relevant for athletic trainers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, physicians, and more.Leadership Questions for Health Care Professionals: Applying Theories and Principles to Practice offers students a broader conceptual understanding of leadership, as well as the depth required by seasoned health care clinicians, managers, and executives who are looking for practical and evidence-based insights to their toughest leadership issues.
Leadership in Sport (Foundations of Sport Management)
by Ian O'Boyle Duncan Murray Paul CumminsEffective leadership is essential in any sports organisation, both in the boardroom and on the training pitch. Leadership in Sport is the first textbook to examine sports leadership in the round, across both management and coaching environments. It includes a dedicated section to underpinning core leadership theories, and employs a number of case studies throughout to show how best practice is applied in real world settings. Drawing on expertise from some of the leading academics and practitioners throughout the world, and from both disciplines, the book covers various leadership issues including: facilitative leadership strategic leadership leading effective change diversity in leadership communication and empathy motivation and performance. Key conceptual questions—the nature of leadership, its role in sport, styles of leadership, what constitutes ineffective leadership—and other contemporary issues are also explored to give students and practitioners the most complete and clear picture of contemporary leadership in sport. With useful features in every chapter, such as key terms and review questions, this is an essential text for sport management or coaching degree courses.
Leadership in Sport Governance
by Ian O'Boyle Joshua McLeod Nick TakosThis is a concise introduction to leadership and governance theory and how they are applied in sport. Presenting a series of case studies from around the world, the book offers a detailed guide to best practice in the leadership of sport boards and organisations. Drawing on cutting-edge research, the book sets out the core concepts and principles of good leadership and good governance, explaining their importance in an era in which sport organisations have become increasingly bound by legal frameworks and subject to greater calls for accountability from wider society. The book analyses the key issues related to leadership in sport governance, including leadership styles with a focus on authentic leadership; intra-group dynamics; managing conflict and trust; leading in multi-layered networks; strategic leadership; and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and it considers the differing requirements of sport leadership in different geographical locations, under varying challenges and pressures. Full of illuminating cases, data and examples, this is an invaluable reading for any course in sport business and management and a useful primer for any sport business professional looking to improve their professional knowledge.
Leadership in Sports Coaching: A Social Identity Approach (Routledge Research in Sports Coaching)
by Ian O'Boyle Tony Cassidy Paul CumminsThe professionalisation of sports coaching has demanded higher standards of leadership in order to improve performance and effectiveness. This book focuses on leadership in sports coaching, exploring key concepts and principles underpinned by a presentation of new empirical research. Placing social identity theory at its centre – a theory not previously applied to sports coaching – this book provides students and researchers with a powerful tool for understanding the complex social dynamic that is the coaching process. Its chapters cover all the central aspects of sports coaching, including leadership style, measuring effectiveness, motivation, confidence and team self-esteem. Chapters explore different coaching environments to investigate the extent to which social identity impacts on coaching and leadership. A ground-breaking contribution to this field of research, this book demonstrates the significance of social identity theory in sport for athletes, coaches and leaders. Leadership in Sports Coaching: A social identity approach is an illuminating read for any student or researcher with an interest in coaching theory, coaching practice, sport psychology, sport leadership or sport management.
Leading From The Back: My journey to the top of women's football
by Steph Houghton*One of Waterstones' Best Sport Books of the Year 2024*The inspiring memoir of one of football's greatest players - Steph Houghton - in which she recounts the highs and lows of making it to the top of her game as England Captain, star of the London Olympics, and Man City stalwart, via Sunderland, Leeds and Arsenal. With 121 caps for the Lionesses, Steph has been at the heart of the women's football revolution, inspiring girls and young women around the world but in her own understated way.Leading from the Back is Steph's incredibly honest account of what it takes to make it to the pinnacle of women's football when the odds are well and truly stacked against you.Inside, she shares her dreams of becoming professional as a young girl in Sunderland; how reaching that status has been a long and often difficult journey, with many personal struggles both on and off the pitch. In between, she recounts the amazing highs of playing for her country, making history at the Olympics, lifting cups for her team, and the awe-inspiring people she has encountered along the way. This is not only Steph's personal story, but also the story of women's football in England and internationally. Steph is credited as being one of the greatest influences in growing the women's game to the biggest it has ever been. A remarkable journey of unwavering determination that reveals the grit needed to stay true to yourself, and what it really takes to be a leader; this is the full and incredible story of a sports pioneer, 'Super Steph'.
Leading Out: Women Climbers Reaching for the Top
by Rachel Da SilvaLeading Out is a valuable collection of inspiring essays by the most prominent and impassioned women climbers in recent history. A real tribute to the efforts and dedication of the women who have struggled to pursue their passion for climbing.
Leading with the Heart: Coach K'S Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life
by Mike Krzyzewski Donald T. Phillips Grant HillIn some respects, a top-level college coach is a lot like a manager in any business. He has to turn a group of talented individuals into a smoothly running team, and he has to produce results that please the fans of his team--the shareholders of the athletic program. Thus, in Leading with the Heart, Krzyzewski reviews the lessons he's learned as basketball coach at Duke University, and tries to universalize them so they translate to any leadership position. For example, he writes, "Adjustments are not unusual, they are usual. So a leader's ability to think on his feet ... to do things without instruction ... is of paramount importance." Makes sense, as does this admonition: "When teaching, always remember this simple phrase: 'You hear, you forget. You see, you remember. You do, you understand.'" The book has four sections--"Preseason," "Regular Season," "Postseason," and "All-Season"--and each of those has four chapters. Each chapter begins with three quotes ("Too many rules get in the way of leadership" leads off chapter 1), and ends with bulleted tips summing up the chapter's message. Between the quotes and the bullet points are anecdotes about Duke basketball games and (occasionally) Krzyzewski's life outside basketball. What you come away with is an understanding of why Krzyzewski is a great basketball coach, why former Duke assistants such as Tommy Amaker and Quin Snyder are probably going to become great basketball coaches, and how anyone who's currently a coach can become a better coach. It would be great if other types of managers in other types of businesses could incorporate these lessons in compassionate, focused, highly flexible leadership, but it seems unlikely. Most managers in business rise through the ranks not because of their ability to lead or inspire but because of their knowledge and competence (if not their connections). On the other hand, it would be nice if each of us, just once, could work for someone like Coach K, someone who could push the right buttons and lead us to our own version of the Final Four. Not likely, but a pretty sweet fantasy. --Lou Schuler
Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United
by Michael Moritz Alex FergusonAfter an astonishing career-first in Scotland, and then over 27 years with Manchester United Football Club- Sir Alex Ferguson delivers Leading, in which the greatest soccer coach of all time will analyze the pivotal leadership decisions of his 38 years as a manager and, with his friend and collaborator Sir Michael Moritz, draw out lessons anyone can use in business and life to generate long-term transformational success.From hiring practices to firing decisions, from dealing with transition to teamwork, from mastering the boardroom to responding to failure and adversity, Leading is as inspiring as it is practical, and a go-to reference for any leader in business, sports, and life.
Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager
by Alex Ferguson'One of the World's all-time great leaders'Professor Anita Elberse, Harvard Business SchoolWhat does it take to lead a team to world-class success over a sustained period of time?Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the few leaders who truly knows. In his 38 years in management, Sir Alex won an astonishing 49 trophies and helped grow Manchester United into one of the biggest commercial brands in the world. In this inspirational and straight-talking book, Sir Alex reveals the secrets behind his record-breaking career.LEADING is structured around the key skills that Sir Alex values most highly. It includes subjects we immediately associate with his managerial style: Discipline, Control, Teamwork and Motivation. But it also addresses subjects that are less obvious but no less important when seeking success: Delegation, Data Analysis and Dealing with Failure.Written with the investor Sir Michael Moritz, a longstanding friend of Sir Alex, LEADING is packed with insight, wisdom, humour and honesty. The individual stories inevitably concern themselves with football, and the phenomenal success that came along the way, but the lessons can be applied by anyone. Whether you run a business, teach in a classroom, or work in a small team, LEADING will help you become a better leader.
Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager
by Alex FergusonWhat does it take to lead a team to world-class success over a sustained period of time?Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the few leaders who truly knows. In his 38 years in management, Sir Alex won an astonishing 49 trophies and helped grow Manchester United into one of the biggest commercial brands in the world. In this inspirational and straight-talking new book, Sir Alex reveals the secrets behind his record-breaking career.LEADING is structured around the key skills that Sir Alex values most highly. It includes subjects we immediately associate with his managerial style: Discipline, Control, Teamwork and Motivation. But it also addresses subjects that are less obvious but no less important when seeking success: Delegation, Data Analysis and Dealing with Failure.Written with the investor Sir Michael Moritz, a longstanding friend of Sir Alex, LEADING is packed with insight, wisdom, humour and honesty. The individual stories inevitably concern themselves with football, and the phenomenal success that came along the way, but the lessons can be applied by anyone. Whether you run a business, teach in a classroom, or work in a small team, LEADING will help you become a better leader.(P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton
Leafs '65
by Stephen BruntFrom celebrated author and sports journalist Stephen Brunt comes a beautifully illustrated, elegiac tribute to the Toronto Maple Leafs of yesteryear. In 2006, Lewis Parker, an artist and illustrator, was disposing of some of his belongings from years before in preparation of a move. He and his friend Dennis Patchett were going through boxes, and anything that was deemed not worth saving was relegated to a roaring fire. As Lewis passed him box after box, Dennis would pitch them in the blaze, one after the other. Suddenly, he caught the words on a file folder: "Leafs 1965." Inside were photo negatives and contact sheets. "I think we should keep these," said Dennis. In the fall of 1965, artist Lewis Parker received a call from Maclean's magazine for a possible gig: accompanying a reporter to Peterborough to cover the Toronto Maple Leafs's preseason training camp. Lewis would spend some time with the team, and shoot stills that would run alongside the magazine piece. Though it was a career departure, he agreed, and the result of his time spent with the Stanley Cup-winning team during the training camp before their last Cup win are within these pages: beautiful, visually arresting photography that captures the comraderie and purity of a time in hockey and Canadian history not seen since. With complete, unfettered access to the team -- many of the players from remote farms in the country, and none with agents -- and GM Punch Imlach, Lewis Parker's photos (which, once the piece was cancelled by Maclean's, were never used) reflect a wistful moment in time before the hockey league changed forever. Accompanied by acclaimed writer Stephen Brunt's essay on the '65 training camp -- based on interviews with team members -- Leafs '65 is the ultimate tribute to the Stanley Cup-winning Toronto Maple Leafs, to a forgotten era of hockey, and to a moment in Canadian history that will resonate with any reader.From the Hardcover edition.
Leafs 365: Daily Stories from the Ice (Hockey 365 #3)
by Mike CommitoNow you can cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs every day of the year, even when they’re out of the NHL playoffs.Get your daily Toronto Maple Leafs fix with Leafs 365. From the franchise’s early beginning as the Arenas and the St. Patricks to the incredible four-goal comeback against the Lightning in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Leafs 365 includes 365 short stories about everybody’s favourite hockey team — one for every day of the year — to remind you why you still cheer for the blue and white season after season. Some people say that the Leafs are cursed, but any team that brings you this many moments worth revisiting must be blessed. You may not be old enough to remember the team’s last Stanley Cup, but chances are you can recall Auston Matthews’s four-goal debut or the sense of optimism when the Leafs signed John Tavares. And while there are plenty of stories in this book that might make you question why you still root for the Buds, like the Game 7 meltdown to the Bruins in 2013 or losing to the Hurricanes, who had a Zamboni driver in net in 2020, the lowlights are what make the best times sweeter and worth celebrating. Chances are, if you’re holding this book in your hands, you’re a Leafs fan, and with every turn of the page you’ll fall in love with them all over again.
Leafs AbomiNation: The dismayed fan's handbook to why the Leafs stink and how they can rise again
by Dave Feschuk Michael GrangeLove them or hate them, they're the most successful team in professional hockey ... just not on the scoresheet.The Toronto Maple Leafs are an exception to every law of the sporting jungle. They miss the playoffs and the sellouts keep coming. They haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1967, but the earning power of that blue-and-white maple leaf, no matter the chronic woes of the blue-and-white's power play, never ceases to increase. In this description of failure and prescription for hope, Toronto Star sports columnist Dave Feschuk and Globe and Mail sports reporter Michael Grange draw the illogical roadmap that pinpoints how the once-proud Leafs got lost in the sporting hinterlands, who's to blame for stranding them there, and how they might extract themselves from this historic mire.From the Trade Paperback edition.
League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions, and the Battle for Truth
by Mark Fainaru-Wada Steve Fainaru"PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS DO NOT SUSTAIN FREQUENT REPETITIVE BLOWS TO THE BRAIN ON A REGULAR BASIS." <P><P>So concluded the National Football League in a December 2005 scientific paper on concussions in America's most popular sport. That judgment, implausible even to a casual fan, also contradicted the opinion of a growing cadre of neuroscientists who worked in vain to convince the NFL that it was facing a deadly new scourge: A chronic brain disease that was driving an alarming number of players -- including some of the all-time greats -- to madness. <P><P>League of Denial reveals how the NFL, over a period of nearly two decades, sought to cover up and deny mounting evidence of the connection between football and brain damage. <P><P>Comprehensively, and for the first time, award-winning ESPN investigative reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru tell the story of a public health crisis that emerged from the playing fields of our 21st century pastime. Everyone knew that football is violent and dangerous. But what the players who built the NFL into a $10 billion industry didn't know - and what the league sought to shield from them - is that no amount of padding could protect the human brain from the force generated by modern football; that the very essence of the game could be exposing these players to brain damage. <P><P>In a fast-paced narrative that moves between the NFL trenches, America's research labs and the boardrooms where the NFL went to war against science, League of Denial examines how the league used its power and resources to attack independent scientists and elevate its own flawed research -- a campaign with echoes of Big Tobacco's fight to deny the connection between smoking and lung cancer. <P><P>It chronicles the tragic fates of players like Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was so disturbed at the time of his death he fantasized about shooting NFL executives; and former Chargers great Junior Seau, whose diseased brain became the target of an unseemly scientific battle between researchers and the NFL. <P><P>Based on exclusive interviews, previously undisclosed documents and private emails, this is the story of what the NFL knew and when it knew it - questions at the heart of crisis that threatens football, from the highest levels all the way down to Pop Warner.