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Face-Off
by Matt ChristopherFACE-OFF A jealous teammate can lead to danger on the ice.... When it comes to skating, Scott Harrison can't be beat. Still, he can't believe it when he's asked to play for the Golden Bears hockey team. But soon his excitement turns to doubt, then fear, when a resentful teammate ruins his confidence. Scott must confront his nemesis or give up his dream of playing hockey forever.
Face-Off at the Alamo
by Roy MacgregorThe Screech Owls have come to the southern city of San Antonio, Texas, a surprising hotbed of American ice hockey. They are here to compete in the San Antonio Peewee Invitational, and between games can explore the fascinating canals that twist and turn through a maze of shops and restaurants in the city's downtown.The tournament has been set up to include guided tours of the Alamo, the world's most famous fort, and for one night the championship team will even get to camp out in the historic site. The Screech Owls discover that the Alamo is America's greatest symbol of courage and freedom, and when Travis and his friends uncover a plot to destroy it, they must call upon all the courage of the fort's original defenders.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Fachdidaktik Sport: Grundlagen und Modelle (Basiswissen Lernen im Sport)
by Nils NeuberDer Band gibt eine Übersicht über fachdidaktische Grundlagen und Modelle im Sport. Ausgehend von soziokulturellen Rahmenbedingungen und pädagogischen Grundlagen von Bewegungs-, Spiel- und Sportangeboten für Kinder und Jugendliche werden sportdidaktische Modelle und Konzepte vorgestellt. Es folgen Überlegungen zu Methoden im Sportunterricht sowie zur Individuellen Förderung im Sport als einem integrativen Konzept. Insgesamt zielt das Lehrbuch auf allgemeine Voraussetzungen des Sportunterrichts.
Fachdidaktische Konzepte Sport II: Themenfelder und Perspektiven (Basiswissen Lernen im Sport)
by Nils NeuberDas Lehrbuch gibt eine Übersicht über fachdidaktische Konzepte im Bereich der Entscheidungsfelder von Bewegungs-, Spiel- und Sportangeboten für Kinder und Jugendliche. Einleitend wird ein Überblick über allgemeine fachdidaktische Konzepte gegeben. Den Schwerpunkt bilden spezielle Konzepte zu Themenfeldern und Perspektiven des Sportunterrichts. Der Aufbau orientiert sich an den sechs Pädagogischen Perspektiven Eindruck, Ausdruck, Wagnis, Leistung, Soziales und Gesundheit.
Fachdidaktische Konzepte Sport: Zielgruppen und Voraussetzungen (Basiswissen Lernen im Sport)
by Nils NeuberDer Band gibt eine Übersicht über fachdidaktische Konzepte im Bereich der Voraussetzungen von Bewegungs-, Spiel- und Sportangeboten für Kinder und Jugendliche. Einleitend wird ein Überblick über allgemeine fachdidaktische Konzepte gegeben. Den Schwerpunkt bilden spezielle Konzepte zu den Voraussetzungen von Schülerinnen und Schülern, die in vier Kapiteln vorgestellt werden: Kinder, Jugendliche, Mädchen und Jungen sowie Heterogene Zielgruppen. Hinzu kommen die Voraussetzungen von Lehrkräften sowie von Bewegung, Spiel und Sport in der Schulentwicklung.
Facility Planning and Design for Health, Physical Activity, Recreation, and Sport
by Thomas H. SawyerAs the cost of construction for sports and health related facilities skyrockets, it becomes paramount for those who plan, design, construct, and use these facilities to have access to a comprehensive facilities guide. The 14th edition of Facility Planning and Design for Health, Physical Activity, Recreation, and Sport is a tool for all professionals involved in facility planning and construction use. The 21st century is a time of increased interest in health, fitness, recreation, physical activity, and sport. A synopsis of the historical development of this text is important. In 1945, at the board of directors meeting of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) in Washington, D.C., support was given to a proposal submitted by Caswell M. Miles, AAHPERD vice president for recreation, to prepare a grant to finance a national workshop on facilities. Subsequently, a request for $10,000 was submitted to and approved by Theodore P. Bank, president of the Athletic Institute, to finance the first workshop. The December 1946 workshop at Jackson s Mill, West Virginia, resulted in the publication of the premiere edition of the Guide for Planning Facilities for Athletics, Recreation, Physical and Health Education. The 1956 edition of the guide was a product of the second facilities workshop, held May 5-12, 1956, at the Kellogg Institute, and was held again January 15-24, 1965, at the Biddle Continuing Education Center, Indiana University in Bloomington. Two years later, April 29-May 8, 1967, another workshop was held at Indiana University. Among those invited were a number of outstanding college and technical personnel engaged in planning and administering programs of athletics, recreation, outdoor education, physical education, and health education. Other planning authorities and specialists receiving invitations included city planners, architects, landscape architects, engineers, and schoolhouse construction consultants. The 1974 guide was reconstructed in such a way that it would serve as a more practical tool for school administrators, physical education heads, architects, planning consultants, and all others interested in planning new areas and facilities or checking the adequacy of those already in use. The Athletic Institute and AAHPERD Council on Facilities, Equipment, and Supplies initiated the 1979 revision of the guide. A blue-ribbon steering committee was appointed by the Council. Edward Coates from Ohio State University and Richard B. Flynn from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, were appointed as co-editors and contributing authors. Professionals well known for their expertise in facility planning, design, and construction were invited to assist in a complete re-write, which resulted in Planning Facilities for Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation.
Facing America's Team: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Dallas Cowboys (Facing)
by John McfarlandThe Dallas Cowboys were dubbed America’s Team nearly forty years ago, and the label has stuck in the minds and hearts of football fans to this day. Facing America’s Team takes you onto the field to see what it was like to take on Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and the other legends who captured five Super Bowl titles while building the legacy of America’s Team. Eighty noted Dallas foes share their stories about the Cowboys’ greatest rivals, biggest games, and most memorable plays. You will hear from Hall of Famers and rivals, including: * Jerry Rice * "Mean Joe” Greene * Jack Youngblood * Joe Theismann * Randall Cunningham * Aeneas Williams * Paul Warfield * Ken Houston * Jackie Smith * Conrad Dobler * And many more! With eight Super Bowl appearances under their belt and a thirty-year run of success unmatched by any NFL team, the Cowboys are one of the best-known franchises worldwide--and for good reason. This book is the perfect gift for fans of one of the most successful organizations in sports history.
Facing Kobe Bryant: Players, Coaches, and Broadcasters Recall the Greatest Basketball Player of His Generation (Facing)
by Jerry West Sean DeveneyWhen he entered the NBA in 1996 as a high-school star from Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, Kobe Bryant faced enormous expectations. No one can deny that he rose to the challenge. Nineteen years later, Bryant’s status as a Hall of Fame player is assured. During his stellar career, Bryant won five NBA championships; was a seventeen-time All-Star, NBA MVP, and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He led the league in scoring in 2006 and 2007.Now for the first time, hear stories from opponents, teammates, and players about what it was like to go against Kobe in Facing Kobe Bryant. Contributors include: Charles Barkley Grant Hill Reggie Miller And many more!Kobe Bryant was the greatest basketball player of his generation-a former schoolboy prodigy whose moves are now imitated in gyms and playgrounds around the world. Facing Kobe Bryant provides an unprecedented glimpse into what it was like to play against one of the best of all time.
Facing Mariano Rivera: Players Recall the Greatest Relief Pitcher Who Ever Lived (Facing)
by David Fischer Dave AndersonThe all-time career leader is saves, with 633, 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, Rivera saved thirty 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.
Facing Michael Jordan: Players Recall the Greatest Basketball Player Who Ever Lived (Facing)
by Sean Deveney Kent McdillRelive the magic of the greatest player to ever step on the court."Air Jordan," "His Airness," "MJ."Whatever you call him, Michael Jeffrey Jordan can be considered one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. During his career, Jordan won six NBA championships and was a 14-time All-Star, five-time NBA MVP, and six-time NBA Finals MVP. To say Jordan was dominant during his career would be a severe understatement.Now for the first time ever, hear stories from opponents, teammates, and coaches about what it was like to go against MJ in Facing Michael Jordan. You will hear stories from such All-Stars as:Charles BarkleyDennis RodmanRobert ParishTerry PorterAnd many more!From the moment Jordan stepped onto the court, he dominated the game of basketball. No matter who comes around today or tomorrow, Jordan's name and the number 23 will resonate with basketball fans for all eternity.
Facing Ted Williams
by Dave Heller Wade Boggs Bob Wolff"The Splendid Splinter," Teddy Ballgame," The Kid"--no matter the nickname, Ted Williams was one of the most accomplished hitters in baseball history. He was the last man to hit .400 in a single season, a 19-time All-Star, a two-time American League MVP, a two-time winner of the Triple Crown, and an inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966 . . . all while serving his country in World War II and the Korean War. Far from a conventional biography, Facing Ted Williams aims to offer a different perspective with testimonials from teammates and opponents alike, on how Williams was regarded among his peers. See Ted Williams through the eyes of pitchers struggling to put a fastball past his bat, the infielders and outfielders adjusting their positions in the hopes that they can fill the hole where a frozen rope might land, and the catchers strategizing a Williams at-bat, pitch-by-pitch. Facing Ted Williams provides riveting insights from many baseball legends, including Hall of Famer Bob Feller; 1956 World Series MVP Don Larsen; and 1952 American League MVP Bobby Shantz; as well as many others.Whether you're a Red Sox fanatic, a casual baseball fan, or perhaps just an admirer of the fabled war hero and slugger, this book is sure to be a fresh and compelling look at this classic baseball icon. Much like Williams himself, Facing Ted Williams is sure to be a home run for all walks of baseball fandom.
Facing Ted Williams: Players from the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived (Facing)
by Dave Heller"The Splendid Splinter,” "Teddy Ballgame,” "The Kid”--no matter the nickname, Ted Williams was one of the most accomplished hitters in baseball history. He was the last man to hit . 400 in a single season, a nineteen-time All-Star, a two-time MVP and Triple Crown award winner, and an inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966 . . . all while serving his country in World War II and the Korean War. Far from a conventional biography, Facing Ted Williams aims to offer a different perspective with testimonials from teammates and opponents alike on how Williams was regarded among his peers. See Ted Williams through the eyes of pitchers struggling to put a fastball past his bat, the infielders and outfielders adjusting their positions in the hopes that they can fill the hole where a frozen rope might land, and the catchers as they strategize a Williams at-bat, pitch-by-pitch. Facing Ted Williams provides riveting insights from many baseball legends, including: Bob Feller Mudcat Grant Bobby Richardson Don Larsen Bob Friend And many more! Whether you’re a Red Sox fanatic, a casual baseball fan, or perhaps just an admirer of the fabled war hero and slugger, this book is sure to be a fresh and compelling look at this classic baseball icon. Much like Williams himself, Facing Ted Williams is sure to be a home run for all walks of baseball fandom, so don’t swing and miss!
Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected
by Rory MillerThis book stands alone as an introduction to the context of self-defense. There are seven elements that must be addressed to bring self-defense training to something approaching 'complete.' Training that dismisses any of these areas leaves you vulnerable: Legal and ethical implications. To learn self-defense, you must learn force law. The consequence is prison. Side by side with the legal rules, everyone must explore his or her own ethical limitations. Most people don't really know where this ethical line lies within them. Violence dynamics. Self-defense must teach how attacks happen. You must be able to recognize an attack before it happens and know what kind you are facing. Avoidance. You need to learn and practice not-fighting. Learning includes escape and evasion, verbal de-escalation, and also pure not-be-there avoidance. Counter-ambush. If you didn't see the precursors or couldn't successfully avoid the encounter, you will need a handful of actions, trained to reflex level, to deal with a sudden violent attack. Breaking the freeze. Freezing is almost universal in a sudden attack. You must learn to recognize a freeze and break out of one. The fight itself. Most martial arts and self-defense instructors concentrate their time on the fight. It just needs to be in line with how violence really happens in the world. The aftermath. There are potential legal, psychological, and medical effects of engaging in violence no matter how justified. Advanced preparation is critical.
Facing Wayne Gretzky: Players Recall the Greatest Hockey Player Who Ever Lived (Facing)
by Brian KennedyWayne Gretzky holds the records for the most goals, assists, and points scored in a career, in addition to about 60 other records. These feats, in tandem with his exceptional on-ice performances, earned him the nickname "The Great One" as well as the immediate retirement of his number (99) across the NHL at the end of his playing days. During his 10-year career with the Edmonton Oilers, Gretzky led the team to five Stanley Cup Finals appearances and four wins. After moving on to Los Angeles, he also led the Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals. Gretzky ended his career with the New York Rangers in 1999.Far from a conventional biography, Facing Wayne Gretzky offers perspectives and testimonials from opponents and teammates alike, including Denis Potvin, Kelly Hrudey, Rob Blake, and many more.Never has another hockey player achieved what "The Great One" did on the ice, and it is unlikely that one will soon. This book details what it's like to face the best player who ever skated, illuminating his passing ability, his deceptively effective shot, and his inventiveness both with the puck and without.
Facing the Extreme: One Woman's Story of True Courage and Death-Defying Survival in the Eye of Mt. McKinley's Worst Storm Ever
by Michael Hodgson Ruth Anne KocourRuth Anne Kocour's Facing the Extreme charts her remarkable journey of survival climbing Mount McKinley.She stepped into a death zone. The climbers on Alaska's Mt. McKinley called her "the woman." Ruth Anne Kocour, a world-class mountaineer, wasn't bothered. It was part of the challenge she faced as she joined an all-male team to conquer North America's highest peak...the mountain the Indians called Denali, or God.Faced the extreme. But nine days into this ascent, a forty-fifth birthday present to herself, the most violent weather on record slammed into the mountain. Ruth Anne and her group would be trapped on an ice shelf at 14,000 feet for the deadliest two weeks in Denali history. Pinned down by blinding snows, unable to help other teams dying around her, and her own feet freezing solid, Ruth Anne tells of a wind chill of minus 150 degrees, deadly hidden crevasses, and being trapped in a place so violent and unforgiving that it threatened to push her over the edge and into a place of no return. And yet, in prose as crystalline as the ice around her, she tells, too, of beauty, courage, and the spirit that drives true mountaineers higher, as she risks all to go for the summit...and perhaps, for a transcendent moment, touch heaven.And lived to tell about it ..
Facing the Giants
by Eric Wilson Stephen Kendrick Alex KendrickFrom the makers of Overcomer and Fireproof comes the inspirational novelization of the runaway hit movie Facing the Giants. It&’s been six years without a winning season, and Coach Grant Taylor&’s job is on the line. Unless the Shiloh Christian Eagles turn things around—and fast—he&’s history. Unfortunately, their leading scorer has just left for a rival school and the team has lost its drive. The pressure is on, and the stakes are high.On the home front, things aren&’t much better for Grant. His house is falling apart. His old clunker of a car keeps dying, and the coach and his wife have been unsuccessful in their attempts to start a family.But God is on the move—in many ways.When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team. When faced with unbelievable odds, Grant and his Shiloh Eagles must rise above their fear and step up to their greatest test of strength and courage. Full-length inspirational contemporary readNovelization of the Kendrick brothers&’ film Facing the GiantsIncludes bonus materials and letters from the Kendrick brothers
Facing the Green Bay Packers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Team from Titletown, USA
by Ron Wolf Chuck CarlsonOver the course of nearly one hundred years, just a handful of NFL teams have enjoyed success across multiple decades. There’s absolutely no doubt which franchise the fans in Wisconsin would put at the top of the list.Most Packers fans are familiar with the greatest players, games, and moments in team history. But what they don’t know is just what it was like to go up against their favorite team. When opposing clubs prepared to play Vince Lombardi’s squad, how did they contend with the one play they knew was coming: the green and gold’s formidable power sweep? When the Vikings, Lions, 49ers, and other teams played against the Brett Favre-led Packers, how did they fare against the three-time league MVP? After Favre departed the stage at Lambeau, how did opponents contend with another MVP quarterback, Aaron Rodgers?In Facing the Green Bay Packers, veteran sportswriter Chuck Carlson takes Packers fans inside the locker rooms, onto the sidelines, and out on the field with opposing players and coaches. Carlson interviews some of the biggest names in the game to get their perspectives on playing against the best teams in Packers history. He covers the most dramatic moments, most intense rivalries, and most unforgettable games from Green Bay’s pro football lore-from the other side of the line of scrimmage.Vince Lombardi famously said that "teamwork is what the Green Bay Packers is all about.” The result was unqualified excellence. This book describes what it was like to play against his Packers teams and others, in the words of players who did just that.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports-books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Facing the Hunter
by David Adams RichardsDavid Adams Richards takes us behind his gun and into the Canadian forest for his most powerful work of non-fiction yet.In his brilliant non-fiction, David Adams Richards - first and foremost one of Canada's greatest and best-beloved novelists - has been writing a kind of memoir by other means. Like his previous titles Lines On Water, about his pursuit of angling, and Hockey Dreams, about the game his disabled body prevented him from playing, Facing the Hunter explores the meaning of a sport and the way in which it touches lives, not least that of the author. And as with God Is, his recent book about his faith, it is also an impassioned defence of a set of values and a way of life that Richards believes are under attack.Lovers of David Adams Richards' novels will be fascinated and enlightened to note the interplay between his former life as a keen hunter - he hunts less and less these days, as he explains - and the narratives and characters of his fiction. But this is also a perfect stating point for anyone coming new to Richards. The storytelling in this book, the evocation of the Canadian wild and those who venture into it, the sheer power of the prose, show a great writer at the height of his powers.From the Hardcover edition.
Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Black and Gold
by Sean DeveneyEven die-hard fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers can only imagine what it was like to play against the premier teams and players in the black and gold’s history. Just how hard did Jack Lambert hit? How did opponents plan for Franco Harris’s combination of speed and power? What was it like trying to block Joe Greene and Dwight White? What was the feeling seeing a Ben Roethlisberger pass soaring downfield toward Hines Ward, or Troy Polamalu taking a bead on a receiver cutting over the middle?In Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, John McFarland takes Steelers fans inside the locker rooms, onto the sidelines, and out on the field with opposing players. McFarland interviews some of the biggest names in the game to get their perspectives on playing against the best teams in Steelers history. He covers the most dramatic moments, most intense rivalries, and most memorable games from Pittsburgh’s pro football lore-from the other side of the line of scrimmage.It’s been said that seeing is believing. With Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh fans can go beyond seeing to hear what it was like to play against the greatest Steelers teams, in the words of players who did just that.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports-books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Failed Olympic Bids and the Transformation of Urban Space
by Robert Oliver John LauermannThis book evaluates why cities choose to bid for the Olympics, why Olympic bids fail, and whether cities can benefit from failed bids. Attention is shifted away from host cities (or winners), to consider the impact of the bidding process on urban development in losing cities. Oliver and Lauermann show that bidding is often a politically strategic exercise, as planning ideas are recycled from one bid project to the next. As Olympic bids become more deeply embedded in urban development and bid teams engage in legacy planning, Oliver and Lauermann demonstrate that bid failure is rarely definitive and is often a desirable result. This volume adds a new and innovative perspective to Olympic Studies and mega-events more broadly, with appeal to a variety of other disciplines including geography, urban planning, spatial politics and sport and civic policy.
Failproof Tactics for Whitetail Bowhunting: Tips and Techniques to Help You Take a Trophy This Season (Bowhungting Preservation Alliance Ser.)
by Bob McnallyFail-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! Failproof 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.
Fair And Foul: Beyond The Myths
by D. Stanley EitzenFair and Foul explores our love of sport, just as it reveals sport's darker side-the influence of big business, corruption, price gouging, political maneuvering, gender bias, media grandstanding, and more. The sixth edition features a new chapter on mass media and sport, a revised introduction that lays out the two themes of the book with fresh examples, and a significantly revised chapter on college sport that asks whether or not big-time college sports are compatible with higher education. This edition also features new material throughout, such as the rising costs and increasing injuries in youth sports, fantasy sports, homophobia in sport, "one and done," and more. Fair and Foul draws on examples ranging from youth to pro sports to give us a deeper understanding of how sports shape our everyday world. Ideal for sparking classroom discussion, Fair and Foul is an excellent book for students of sports and society, American culture, and other courses
Fair Ball
by Bob CostasFrom his perspective as a journalist and a true fan, Bob Costas, NBC's award-winning broadcaster, shares his views on the forces that are diminishing the appeal of Major League Baseball and proposes realistic changes that can be made to protect and promote the game's best interests. In this cogent--and provocative--book, Costas examines the growing financial disparities that have resulted in nearly two-thirds of the teams in Major League Baseball having virtually no chance of contending for the World Series. He argues that those who run baseball have missed the crucial difference between mere change and real progress. And he presents a withering critique of the positions of both the owners and players while providing insights on the wild-card system, the designated-hitter rule, and interleague play. Costas answers each problem he cites with an achievable strategy for restoring genuine competition and rescuing fans from the forces that have diluted the sheer joy of the game. Balanced by Costas's unbridled appreciation for what he calls the "moments of authenticity" that can still make baseball inspiring, Fair Ball offers a vision of our national pastime as it can be, a game that retains its traditional appeal while initiating meaningful changes that will allow it to thrive into the next century. From the Hardcover edition.
Fair Ball
by Paul Mantell Derek JeterInspired by Derek Jeter’s own life, Fair Ball is the fourth middle grade novel in the New York Times bestselling Jeter Publishing Program and focuses on the theme “the world isn’t always fair.”Life isn’t always fair. You can’t control that, but you can control how you think and act when things don’t go your way. You have to hang in there and keep after it, not get down and give up. Derek has a lot to look forward to. School is almost out, his baseball team is competing in the Westwood Little League Playoffs, and then he’ll head to his grandparents’ house for the summer. Sure, there are finals to study for first, but Derek doesn’t mind. Maybe this year he’ll get better grades than Gary. But when his best friend Dave starts to act strangely, ignoring Derek and canceling their plans, his summer isn’t looking quite so fun. What’s going on? Doesn’t he want to be Derek’s friend anymore? Derek is so distracted by his problems with Dave that he makes a mistake in the outfield during a key play—and his team loses the game. It’s so unfair! With the championship at stake and finals looming, Derek needs to stay focused or risk everything.
Fair Catch (Players of LA)
by Leigh CarmanA Players of LA NovelTwo men. One night of passion. They never expected to see each other again. They were wrong. Tobias Bennett is a quiet and unassuming man who teaches yoga and enjoys parkour. Though he is proud to be gay, an abusive relationship with a domineering man has left Tobias wary of romance, and he keeps to himself in his tidy Los Angeles apartment. Pro football player Sullivan Archer is Tobias’s complete opposite: loud, brash, fond of the spotlight… and deep in the closet. When a hamstring injury sends Van to Tobias as part of his therapy, neither of them is expecting to come face-to-face with his one-night stand. Now they’re stuck together throughout Van’s healing process, and the close proximity will force them to deal with some hard truths. For Tobias, it’s realizing his hookup is a celebrity. For Van, it means accepting that he likes Tobias more than he wanted. They’ll both have to acknowledge that if they choose to pursue a relationship, their lives will change in big ways.