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Ballpark Mysteries #7: The San Francisco Splash
by David A. Kelly Mark MeyersTime for a seventh-inning stretch! The San Francisco Splash is book #7 in our early chapter book mystery series, where each book is set in a different American ballpark! Splash! A hit soars over the walls of the San Francisco ballpark on the bay and drops into the water. But then Mike and Kate hear another, much larger splash nearby . . . and this time it's not a baseball. It's a man overboard! And when he's pulled from the water, the old-time ballplayer discovers his World Series ring is gone! Is it at the bottom of the bay? Or was it somehow stolen by a long-ago rival? The San Francisco Splash includes several pages of "Dugout Notes," fun facts about San Francisco's recently built ballpark.Cross Ron Roy's A to Z Mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein's fans.
Ballpark Mysteries #8: The Missing Marlin
by David A. Kelly Mark MeyersIt's the eighth inning! The Missing Marlin is book #8 in our early chapter book mystery series, where each book is set in a different American ballpark!Mike and Kate are in Miami visiting Kate's Uncle Oliver--and the Miami Marlins ballpark, of course! Uncle Oliver is in charge of keeping the new fish tanks at the ballpark fully stocked, but strange things keep happening. Kate swears she saw an endangered sea turtle in one of the tanks. Then some of Uncle Oliver's rare fish go missing, including his favorite, Marlin. Something fishy is going on in Miami!The Missing Marlin includes several pages of "Dugout Notes," fun facts about Miami's recently built ballpark with its homerun statue, fish tanks, and swimming pool.Cross Ron Roy's A to Z Mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein fans.
Ballpark Mysteries #9: The Philly Fake
by David A. Kelly Mark MeyersIt's the ninth inning! The Philly Fake is book #9 in our early chapter book mystery series, where each book is set in a different American ballpark!What better city to spend the Fourth of July than Philadelphia? For Mike and Kate, the holiday is all about hot dogs, history, and baseball! But the Phillies are in no mood to celebrate. They keep losing, and some people blame the lovable Phillie Phanatic! Can Mike and Kate help the Phanatic clear his name?The Philly Fake includes several pages of "Dugout Notes," fun facts about Philly's ballpark.Cross Ron Roy's A to Z Mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein fans.
Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #1: The World Series Curse
by Mark Meyers David A. KellyIt's the BIGGEST baseball mystery yet--at the WORLD SERIES! Red Sox versus Cubs. Game five. It looks like Mike and Kate are about to watch the Cubs win it all. But then someone starts messing with the team--ruining equipment, getting Cubs players in trouble, and even stirring up an old baseball curse. Now the Red Sox are coming back! Who will win the ultimate baseball trophy? And can Mike and Kate make sure it's won fair and square? Ballpark Mysteries are the all-star matchup of fun sleuthing and baseball action, perfect for readers of Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries and Matt Christopher's sports books, and younger siblings of Mike Lupica fans. Each Ballpark Mystery also features Dugout Notes, with amazing baseball facts.
Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #2: Christmas in Cooperstown
by David A. Kelly Mark MeyersMike and Kate get the BEST Christmas present ever—a mystery at the Baseball Hall of Fame! After volunteering to wrap presents for charity, Mike and Kate get a special thank-you: a sleepover at the Baseball Hall of Fame! But when they’re sneaking around the museum late at night, their flashlight reveals that one of the famous baseball cards on display is a fake! Can they find the real card, catch the crook, and get the presents to the charity’s Christmas party on time? It’s up to Mike and Kate to turn this Christmas mess into a Christmas miracle! Ballpark Mysteries are the all-star matchup of fun sleuthing and baseball action, perfect for readers of Ron Roy’s A to Z Mysteries and Matt Christopher’s sports books, and younger siblings of Mike Lupica fans. Each Ballpark Mystery also features Dugout Notes, with amazing baseball facts.
Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #3: Subway Series Surprise (Ballpark Mysteries #3)
by Mark Meyers David A. KellyBatter up! It's an NYC-themed Super Special! Ballpark Mysteries are fun, accessible early chapter books that cross baseball action with puzzling whodunits!Catch a baseball mystery--in New York City! Mike and Kate are in for an extra special treat! Two hometown baseball teams in one city! A Subway Series is when the New York Mets play the New York Yankees, and Mike and Kate can't wait to watch all the action! But someone is playing pranks at both ballparks! And when Mike and Kate hear mysterious mumblings at the famous Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal, they just might be able to catch the culprit before the series ends. A longer story, plus bonus backmatter with activities and NYC trivia, makes Subway Series Surprise a truly Super Special addition to the Ballpark Mysteries.
Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #4: The World Series Kids (Ballpark Mysteries)
by David A. KellyBatter up! Get ready to watch the kids' baseball team from Cooperstown compete in this Super Special edition of the Ballpark Mysteries--fun, accessible early chapter books that cross baseball action with puzzling whodunits! Catch a baseball mystery with the World Series Kids! The kids of Cooperstown made it to the World Series! Technically, Mike and Kate are just there to support their friend Colin and his teammates as they play for the championship. But the competition gets tricky when someone starts trying to sabotage Cooperstown's team--they punch holes in the tires of their bus, and the team's equipment goes missing! Can Mike and Kate find the trickster before it's too late? Or will these shenanigans cost Cooperstown the series?A longer story, plus bonus back matter with amazing baseball facts, make The World Series Kids a truly Super Special addition to the Ballpark Mysteries.
Ballplayer
by Bobby Cox Carroll Rogers Walton Chipper JonesAtlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones—one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history—shares his remarkable story, while capturing the magic nostalgia that sets baseball apart from every other sport. Before Chipper Jones became an eight-time All-Star who amassed Hall of Fame–worthy statistics during a nineteen-year career with the Atlanta Braves, he was just a country kid from small town Pierson, Florida. A kid who grew up playing baseball in the backyard with his dad dreaming that one day he’d be a major league ballplayer. With his trademark candor and astonishing recall, Chipper Jones tells the story of his rise to the MLB ranks and what it took to stay with one organization his entire career in an era of booming free agency. His journey begins with learning the art of switch-hitting and takes off after the Braves made him the number one overall pick in the 1990 draft, setting him on course to become the linchpin of their lineup at the height of their fourteen-straight division-title run. Ballplayer takes readers into the clubhouse of the Braves’ extraordinary dynasty, from the climax of the World Series championship in 1995 to the last-gasp division win by the 2005 “Baby Braves”; all the while sharing pitch-by-pitch dissections of clashes at the plate with some of the all-time great starters, such as Clemens and Johnson, as well as closers such as Wagner and Papelbon. He delves into his relationships with Bobby Cox and his famous Braves brothers—Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, among them—and opponents from Cal Ripken Jr. to Barry Bonds. The National League MVP also opens up about his overnight rise to superstardom and the personal pitfalls that came with fame; his spirited rivalry with the New York Mets; his reflections on baseball in the modern era—outrageous money, steroids, and all—and his special last season in 2012. Ballplayer immerses us in the best of baseball, as if we’re sitting next to Chipper in the dugout on an endless spring day.
Balls on the Lawn
by Jeremy Stein Brooks Butler HaysThe serious leisure aficionado knows that it doesn't take much to transform a ho-hum afternoon into a truly memorable one--just a few balls, some mallets, maybe a horseshoe or two. The transformative nature of lawn sports takes center stage in Balls on the Lawn, an ode to classic outdoor activities, from the common (bocce) to the obscure (Kan-Jam). Including the history and complete rules of 10 iconic games, plus appropriate accompanying cocktails (serious leisure requires serious sustenance), Balls on the Lawn will revolutionize Saturday afternoons through the long-held traditions, robust competition, and abundant camaraderie of lawn sports.
Baltimore Baseball & Barbecue with Boog Powell: Stories from the Orioles' Smokey Slugger (American Palate)
by Boog Powell Rob KasperSince he started smacking long balls for the Baltimore Orioles, John "Boog" Powell has enjoyed the gustatory delights of his adopted hometown. A four-time All-Star and a fixture in two World Series, Boog also knows how to make one heck of a pit beef sandwich. Backyard barbecues at Boog's Baltimore row house were once a post-game tradition for the team. After hanging up his spikes, the former MVP set up his now iconic barbecue operation at Camden Yards. Baltimore author Rob Kasper takes a behind-the-scenes look at the life of this smoky slugger from his Florida boyhood through his rise to major-league glory and beyond. Told in Boog's colorful style, this rollicking journey is spiced with recipes and topped off with interviews from former teammates like Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer.
Baltimore Orioles: Where Have You Gone? (Where Have You Gone?)
by Jeff SeidelBaltimore Orioles: Where Have You Gone? is a unique look at what a number of former Orioles personalities have gone on to do in life since their playing careers ended. Author Jeff Seidel spoke with a wide-ranging number of former Baltimore players, from stars like Cal Ripken Jr. and Brooks Robinson, to those who had only their "15 minutes" of fame, like Dave Criscione and John Stefero. A common thread seems to be how many of the former Orioles stayed in baseball in some form, like Ripken, who started his own minor league team in Aberdeen, Maryland, something that's clearly close to his heart; or former catcher Andy Etchebarren, a longtime minor league manager and coach.Baltimore Orioles: Where Have You Gone? features men like Mike Flanagan, the Cy Young Award-winning lefty who anchored the Orioles pitching staff in the late '70s and early '80s, finally becoming the team's pitching coach and co-general manager. The book also includes a chapter on Tommy Davis, the team's first designated hitter, who tells how he came up with a key base hit after nearly missing his at-bat because he was talking on the clubhouse telephone; Doug DeCinces, faced with the cruel task of taking over for Brooks Robinson at third base, talking about the huge pressure he faced and how he truly appreciated playing for the Orioles; and finally the legendary Robinson himself, still a fan favorite over 35 years after retiring, telling how he told the Chicago White Sox thanks, but no thanks, when they asked him about managing. It's all here; perfect for any Orioles fan!
Baltimore Orioles: Where Have You Gone? Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Other Orioles Greats (Where Have You Gone?)
by Jeff SeidelBaltimore Orioles: Where Have You Gone? is a unique look at what a number of former Orioles personalities have gone on to do in life since their playing careers ended. Author Jeff Seidel spoke with a wide-ranging selection of former Baltimore players, from stars like Cal Ripken Jr. and Brooks Robinson to those who had only their “fifteen minutes” of fame, like Dave Criscione and John Stefero. A common thread seems to be how many of the former Orioles stayed in baseball in some form, like Ripken, who started his own minor league team in Aberdeen, Maryland, something that’s clearly close to his heart; or former catcher Andy Etchebarren, a longtime minor league manager and coach.Baltimore Orioles: Where Have You Gone?, first published in 2006 and newly updated through the 2016 season, features men like Mike Flanagan, the Cy Young Award–winning lefty who anchored the Orioles pitching staff in the late ’70s and early ’80s, finally becoming the team’s pitching coach and co–general manager. The book also includes a chapter on Tommy Davis, the team’s first designated hitter, who tells how he came up with a key base hit after nearly missing his at-bat because he was talking on the clubhouse telephone; Doug DeCinces, faced with the cruel task of taking over for Brooks Robinson at third base, talking about the huge pressure he faced and how he truly appreciated playing for the Orioles; and finally the legendary Robinson himself, still a fan favorite over 35 years after retiring, telling how he told the Chicago White Sox thanks, but no thanks, when they asked him about managing. It’s all here; perfect for any Orioles fan!
Baltimore Trails: A Guide for Hikers and Mountain Bikers
by Bryan MacKayBaltimore Trails is a comprehensive and detailed guide to trails on public lands in and around Baltimore. Discover Hemlock Gorge, a small slice of Appalachia transported into northern Baltimore County, with its timeless peace and ancient gnarled hemlocks; or Black Marsh, where birds skulk among the vegetation of pristine freshwater wetlands; or the unique landscape of Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, which shelters more than 38 rare plant species. Baltimore Trails answers the needs of hikers and mountain bikers, offering accurate maps, up-to-date access information, and reliable trail descriptions.Bryan MacKay, a lifelong Baltimore resident and avid naturalist, walked, cycled, and explored nearly 80 trails in local state, county, and city parks, as well as area watersheds. He provides a detailed description, topographic map, and the length, location, and degree of difficulty for each trail. Some trails offer an easy afternoon stroll, while others provide a day of rugged hiking or biking. Thumbnail essays offer scenic highlights and discuss typical plants, animals, and local ecology.Every trail was field-checked in 2007 for the second edition. Miles of new trails are included, as is updated information on recent trail reroutes.
The Bambino and Me
by Zachary HymanA picture book that perfectly conjures 1920s New York for fans of baseball and Babe Ruth. This is baseball's The Hockey Sweater (by Roch Carrier) for the US market. George Henry Alexander is a huge fan of baseball. His favorite team is the New York Yankees and his favorite player is Babe Ruth. George plays baseball during his free time and he listens to the games on the radio with his dad. Everywhere he goes, he carries his Babe Ruth baseball card. On his birthday, George's parents surprise him with two tickets to watch the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees--his first real game! But his presents don't stop there. Uncle Alvin has sent him a baseball jersey and cap, but it's for the Boston Red Sox! Filled with horror, George tosses them aside, but his mother will not have any of that. He will wear them to the baseball game with his dad! What will happen at the game? Will George get to meet Babe Ruth while wearing the opposing team's jersey?
Bamboozled
by Joe Biel Joey TorreyIn this introspective exploration of former boxer Joey Torrey's life, his past, his murder conviction, and his more than 30-year incarceration in a California state prison are each fine-tooth combed. Nearly five years after his original memoir, this new edition is re-written as a biography and delves deeper into circumstances surrounding Torrey's alleged murder of his boxing coach, the lengthy prison sentence handed down, his undercover collaboration with the FBI on "Operation Matchbook" in support of John McCain's proposed Professional Boxing Amendments Act, and the inner workings of the prison system in general. From his days as a Compton gang leader and an Olympic boxing hopeful to being tried as an adult rather than a 17-year-old minor, this compelling narrative reflects on his life as a parable as well as examining the strategies used in his conviction, such as establishing the motive as robbery despite a lack of evidence linking the opening of safe to the murderer. And after more than three decades as a model prisoner-and saving the life of a prison guard-Torrey has prolifically written hundreds of letters to Joe Biel, who finds himself in the unlikely situation to share this story.
Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas
by Jesse ColeThe Savannah Bananas have peeled back the game of baseball and made it fun again. This is their story. For his entire childhood, Jesse Cole dreamed of pitching in the Majors. Now, he has a life in baseball that he could have only imagined: he met the love of his life in the industry; they shaped Savannah, Georgia&’s professional team into the league champion Savannah Bananas; and now the Bananas have restyled baseball itself into something all their own: Banana Ball. Fast, fun, and outrageously entertaining, Banana Ball brings fans right into the game. The Bananas throw out a first banana rather than a ball. Their first-base coach dances to "Thriller" or Britney between innings. Players run into the crowd to hand out roses. And the rules themselves are bananas: if a fan catches a foul ball it&’s an out; and players might go to bat on stilts or wearing a banana costume. And their fans absolutely love it. But the reason this team is on the forefront of a movement is less about the play on the field and more about the atmosphere that the team culture creates. For the first time in this book, Jesse reveals the ideas and experiences that allowed him to reimagine America&’s oldest sport by creating a phenomenon that is helping fans fall in love with the game all over again. This is a story that&’s bigger than baseball and bigger than the yellow tuxedo Jesse wears as the &“ringmaster&” of every game. And to understand the movement, you have to understand the story at its core. In Jesse&’s telling, it takes heart, innovation, and joy (and a bit of tropical fruit) to make something wholly original out of one of America&’s great traditions. His story is part Moneyball, part Field of Dreams, part The Greatest Showman. It is a personal story, a creativity story, and the story of a business scrapping for every success. And it has several distinct love stories—love stories like Jesse and his father, Jesse and his wife, the team and the sport of baseball, the team and the fans. This is Jesse calling his dad from the outfield after each Bananas game, and putting unending creativity into a team with the ultimate goal of bringing the Bananas to the professional ballparks he himself never got to play in. This is his story of baseball, love, leadership, and going just a bit bananas for all.
Banana Bats and Ding-Dong Balls: A Century of Unique Baseball Inventions
by Dan GutmanAnecdotes describing various baseball inventions.
Banana Blade (Fountas & Pinnell Classroom, Guided Reading)
by Will LipsettNIMAC-sourced textbook. A BROKEN STICK. What would you do if your hockey stick broke just as you skated onto the ice to play? Stan Mikita, a pro hockey player, decided to use his broken stick anyway. His decision changed the game of hockey forever.
Bang the Drum Slowly
by Mark HarrisBang the Drum Slowly is the second in a series of four novels written by Mark Harris that chronicles the career of baseball player Henry W. Wiggen. This series is among the finest novels ever written to use baseball as a theme. Published in 1956, the book is a simple, moving testament to the immutable power of friendship. The title page in the novel reads; "by Henry W. Wiggen / Certain of His Enthusiasms Restrained by Mark Harris", the author's personal touch that tells us (the reader) that we are about to enter a genial, conversational first-person story. Wiggen is a gifted pitcher in the major leagues, playing for a team that includes a mediocre catcher named Bruce Pearson--a slow-talking Georgia boy who tries the patience of the team. Pearson has a secret; he has been diagnosed with Hodgkins' disease which threatens not only his life but also the baseball career that he so desperately wants. When Wiggen learns of Pearson's illness, their casual acquaintanceship deepens into a profound friendship. Wiggen fights heroically to keep Pearson on the team, saving his friend from being sent down to the minors, and he also rallies other teammates to help his friend. The miracle is that Pearson is transformed into a better ballplayer... but the miracle is brief for the man's time has already run out. In lesser hands, this story could be cloying or overly sentimental, but Harris writes with a gentle, unassuming dignity. Wiggen is an engaging character and his observations are lucid and refreshing. It may be that what makes Bang the Drum Slowly a great novel is that it is not entirely a sports novel but also a warm human comedy set in the familiar, magical world of American baseball. Bang the Drum Slowly is #14 on the Sports Illustrated Greatest 100 Sports books. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Harris (1922) wrote novels for more than fifty years. He is best known for four novels about the life of major-league baseball player Henry W. Wiggen, including The Southpaw (1953) and Bang the Drum Slowly(1956) He also wrote the screenplay for the film version of Bang the Drum Slowly. In 1946, Harris made a splash with his first novel, Trumpet to the World, a book about a young black soldier who married a white woman. Many of Harris's other novels have dealt with academic life, and yet more of his novels are highly informed by autobiographical experience. Harris has also published a collection of his articles entitled Short Work of It, as well as the play Friedman and Son and a unique biography of Saul Bellow. SERIES DESCRIPTIONS From classic book to classic film, RosettaBooks has gathered some of most memorable books into film available. The selection is broad ranging and far reaching, with books from classic genre to cult classic to science fiction and horror and a blend of the two creating whole new genres like Richard Matheson's The Shrinking Man. Classic works from Vonnegut, one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, meet with E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India. Whether the work is centered in the here and now, in the past, or in some distant and almost unimaginable future, each work is lasting and memorable and award-winning.
Banjo
by Graham SalisburyIn the spirit of of Where the Red Fern Grows and Because of Winn Dixie, this is a contemporary classic in the making about a boy and his dog, and a choice that will test their loyalty and trust.Danny Mack is a rising rodeo star in rural Oregon. He lives on a ranch with his older brother, their dad, and his faithful border collie, Banjo.Late one night, Danny is awakened by gunshots. Banjo has been wounded. The neighbors claim he was going after their livestock, which gives them the right to shoot the dog or have him put down. Dad reluctantly agrees. They must obey the law. Danny knows Banjo is innocent, and comes up with a desperate plan to save him--but something goes terribly wrong.Days later, on a distant ranch, Meg Harris finds a frightened dog alone in the woods. Banjo. She takes him home and searches for the dog's owner, furious that he was abandoned. She's not going to give Banjo up easily.Told by Danny and by Meg, this fast-paced, heartrending novel explores the deep connection between humans and animals, and reminds readers that you can't judge an animal--or a person--before you know their story.
Bank Shot (Lorimer Sports Stories)
by Valerie Pankratz FroeseThis girls' basketball story deals with the conflict between family caregiving responsibilities and extra-curricular sports that some kids, particularly girls, often face. Jo loves playing basketball in gym class and she is surprised when she makes the school team. Because she has to babysit her younger brother, she's afraid her mom will make her give up her place on the team, so instead, Jo hatches a plan to have a neighbor secretly babysit so she can play. While Jo shows initiative and problem-solving skills both on and off the court, will her mom see it that way when she's found out? Distributed in the U.S by Lerner Publishing Group.
Banned: Baseball's Blacklist of All-Stars and Also-Rans
by Hal Bock The Associated PressAward-winning Associated Press sports writer Hal Bock brings us a fascinating history of the players, coaches and more barred from baseball's ranks, from Shoeless Joe Jackson to Jenrry Mejia. "Banned: Baseball's Blacklist of All-Stars and Also-Rans" weaves together tales of lesser-known characters from baseball's early years with infamous outlaws who have endured throughout the decades. Featuring stories of players like Eddie "The Only" Nolan, Cozy Dolan, Leo Durocher, and Pete Rose who have been expelled or suspended from the sport, Bock's chronicle delves deep into baseball's colorful history. For those who follow the current corporate era of businessmen players and billionaire owners, this book serves as a reminder that America's Pastime evolved from the days when gamblers filled the stands and influenced poorly paid scoundrels on the diamond.In his over 40-year career, Hal Bock has covered every major event on the sports calendar, including 30 World Series, 30 Super Bowls and 11 Olympic Games, making him the perfect storyteller for this retrospective. Featuring an introduction by John Thorn, the Official Historian of Major League Baseball, and more than 25 photographs from the Associated Press archives, "Banned" is a must-read for any fan of the game.
Banned: A Social Media Trial
by Boria MajumdarA social media trial can break you. There were 100,000 tweets of abuse for days on end, all premised on a set of untruths pushed by someone hugely powerful because he had played for the national team. Against the entitled, I never stood a chance. The online trial forced me and the family to draw on every last bit of inner strength, and yet left permanent scars. Having served the ban, I wanted closure in the form of this book. But no one knows better that there will never be a full stop. I will not get back the two years of opportunities that I lost, or the days and evenings when I was almost a stranger to my daughter. For two years, my wife and I never had a quiet dinner where we could just relax. There was not one evening when we didn&’t discuss the issue and the book. Which outsider can quantify the impact it had on the mental health of my family? On my wife, my mother, my sister and my daughter? I became cynical about a number of things, and it will be tough to change that. Writing this book and putting the truth out there has drained and exhausted me. The truth is that the falsehoods piled up against me, ratified by all-knowing social media trolls, changed my life and that of my family. There is no going back to what we were. This was our Long Covid.
Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption
by Michael Ray Richardson Jacob UittiMichael Ray Richardson was a star in the making. After a stellar collegiate career at the University of Montana, where he was voted first team All-Big Sky Conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior, the future seemed bright. Taken fourth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, Richardson was billed as &“the next Walt Frazier.&” In just his second professional season, he became the third player in NBA history to lead the league in both assists and steals—both Knicks team records. Richardson would also notch four All-Star appearances and twice being named to the All-Defensive team over eight seasons between the Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets. But during that time, his time off the court was having a bigger impact on his career than what he was doing on the court. On February 25, 1986, after three violations of the league&’s drug policy, NBA commissioner David Stern would ban Richardson from continuing his professional career. His struggles with drugs and alcohol were well documented, and someone considered the next big thing became the first player in league history to be receive a lifetime ban. For most people, this would be the end to their story—one in which their substance abuse would take over and their downfall inevitable. However, that was not in the cards for Michael Ray Richardson. In Banned, Richardson opens up about his life both on and off the basketball court, discussing all the highs and lows that made him both a hero and a villain. Though being reinstated to the NBA in 1988, he would instead have stints in the United States Basketball League and CBA before taking his talents to Europe. With stints in Italy, Croatia, and France, he would lead his teams to numerous championships in his decade-plus overseas. Now back in the states and running youth basketball clinics, Banned is Richardson&’s first opportunity to open up about his life, showing that though you may get knocked down—even from self-inflicted actions—the only person that can count you out is yourself. With forewords from Hall of Famers George &“The Iceman&” Gervin and Nancy Lieberman, this is the story of the Michael Ray Richardson as only he can tell it.
Bantamweight (Hallow Brothers #5)
by Tricia AndersenAbraham Hallow would do just about anything to get out from under his oldest brother, Josiah’s, thumb. That includes performing as the Luchador in the local semi-professional wrestling circuit. He gets more than he bargained for when he hooks up with a woman with multicolored hair. The draw to her is undeniable. He wakes up the following morning with the ancient mark of his ancestors, mating him to the mystery woman he met the night before. It was a simple mission—find the infamous Hallow brothers, kill them, and bring back the amulet. Kai’s plans get derailed after one night of hot, crazy sex with a mask wrestler. When she finds out the wrestler was none other than Abraham Hallow, the youngest of the Hallow brothers, she is exiled from the mermaid kingdom. Yet the orders from her king still stand. Can she deny her ever-growing love for Abraham, or will she fulfill her duties of killing him?