Biography Sports Greats

Proudly presenting The Great Book of Basketball, full of trivia questions that deal with six decades of stories that will make for fun listening and maybe create a couple of bar bets or two. And hopefully, maybe settle one or two in your favor. This is sure to be one of the best NBA basketball books out there, whether you’re in the mood to learn about how Julius Erving shifted the landscape of the ABA or digging in on the Celtics dynasties of the 1950 and 1960s. This audiobook has a little bit of everything and goes beyond the surface of simply what was popular.

The Last Blue Mountain is the heart-rending true story of the 1957 expedition to Mount Haramosh in the Karakoram range in Pakistan. With the summit beyond reach, four young climbers are about to return to camp. Their brief pause to enjoy the view and take photographs is interrupted by an avalanche which sweeps Bernard Jillott and John Emery hundreds of feet down the mountain into a snow basin. Rae Culbert and Tony Streather risk their own lives to rescue their friends, only to become stranded alongside them.

In most sports the pinnacle is Wheaties-box notoriety. But in the world of pool, notoriety is the last thing a hustler desires. Such is the dilemma that faces one Danny Basavich, an affable, generously proportioned Jewish kid from Jersey, who flounders through high school until he discovers the one thing he excels at - the felt - and hits the road.

In these 65 original stories, we hear of the explosive introduction of World Series Cricket in 1977, which turned a genteel endeavour into a high-octane contest, and the clash of the titans as Packer and Murdoch squared off over the Super League war. We see Rugby Union become a battleground for race and the Olympics an arena for sublime acts of courage and achievement.

In Surviving the Shark, Jonathan Kathrein describes his incredible shark attack experience. The book covers all aspects of Kathrein’s survival, beginning with the eerie moments just before the attack, when something smashes into Kathrein’s hand as he paddles on his board, waiting for a wave off Stinson Beach in northern California. Realizing it is probably shark, and possibly a great white, Kathrein tries to paddle away, furiously trying to make it toward shore, where he sees some of his friends on the beach.

David Falkner, noted author of five previous books about baseball, deftly portrays the rise to stardom of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play on a major-league team in baseball’s modern era. As Falkner traces the development of Robinson’s natural skill and tireless dedication, he focuses on the strengths that earned Robinson a unique place on the diamond and in the struggle for civil rights. This compelling biography illuminates a critical intersection of sports and cultural history.

Record-breaking England cricketer, wartime RAF hero, Tottenham Hotspur footballer, and husband to five wives... this is the captivating life of one of England's most remarkable yet often overlooked cricketing heroes. A history of cricket victories, explosive controversies, wartime glory and a life lived to the fullest, this compelling biography reveals the story of one of cricketing’s greatest characters.

There is no position in pro sports more important than an NFL quarterback. But quarterbacking was the exclusive domain of white players for many years, and when Doug Williams and Vince Evans arrived in the league in the late 1970s, they got death threats, faced racist questions, and knew that a single mistake could end their careers. The Great Black Hope tells the twin stories of Vince Evans, an electrifying dual-threat quarterback ahead of his time, and of Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to become a champion.

Boxing has given Australian sport some of our most inspiring champions and captivating tales. Stories of underdogs overcoming heartbreaks and hurdles, of endless courage and dedication, triumph and tragedy. From the first brawls in old Sydney Town, the travelling boxing tents across the country and the first black world heavyweight champion to today's most celebrated fighters, Australia's pre-eminent boxing journalist and former assistant trainer to some of the ring's most talented champions presents our nation's greatest boxing stories.

"All die Stunden in der Halle, die Niederlagen und Siege, all die Geschichten und Gedanken - es braucht einen Autor wie Thomas Pletzinger, um die richtigen Worte für meine Welt und mein Spiel zu finden. Ich hätte mir keinen besseren wünschen können." Dirk Nowitzki. Wenn man über Dirk Nowitzki spricht, kommt man an Superlativen nicht vorbei. Er gehört zu den Legenden seiner Sportart, ist ein globaler Superstar - und als Mensch zugleich nahbar und schwer zu fassen. Thomas Pletzinger hat den Ausnahmesportler über viele Jahre begleitet, er wurde Teil von dessen Kosmos.

Travel to Greece and watch Cynisca, a Spartan princess, become the first ever woman to win at the ancient Olympic Games. Or touch the heavens with Junko Tabei as she carves her path through history and mountain ranges with little applause but a lot of bravery. In this book Kate Pankhurst, descendant of Emmeline Pankhurst, tells the fascinating stories of some of history's most talented female sports stars.

These are the unabridged works of baseball great Christy Mathewson during the time he was Manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Christy Mathewson (with the help of John N. Wheeler) was the first professional athlete to put his name to articles in newspapers and magazines. This collection completes a trio of volumes (Pitching in a Pinch, Batting in a Break, Managing in a Moment) that collect Matty's articles, interviews, observations, and writings into audiobook form.

The biggest annual sports event in the world is the Tour de France. In the wake of its overwhelming popularity, it’s easy to forget that there is much more to cycling than whoever gets to wear the yellow jersey. Cycling is rich with legends and pioneers, and it is their stories which light up this compelling account of the sport. This is the story of British cycling as told through the lives of the people who built it. From the first recorded race in a Paris park in 1868 to the present day, Great British Cycling Legends profiles the true originals.

At fifteen, Willie Horton received his first contract offer to become a professional baseball player. At twenty, he smacked his first major-league home run. At twenty-four, Horton stood in full uniform on the hood of his car, in the midst of burning homes and overturned vehicles, and pleaded for an end to the violence of the 1967 Detroit riots. In this new autobiography, Horton shares the fascinating story of his life and career, from growing up in Detroit's Jeffries Projects as the youngest of twenty-one children to winning a World Series with his hometown Tigers in 1968.

Wenn man über Dirk Nowitzki spricht, kommt man an Superlativen nicht vorbei. Er gehört zu den Legenden seiner Sportart, ist ein globaler Superstar - und als Mensch zugleich nahbar und schwer zu fassen. Thomas Pletzinger hat den Ausnahmesportler über viele Jahre begleitet, er wurde Teil von dessen Kosmos. In "The Great Nowitzki" zeigt er uns das Universum eines Sportstars und die ungesehene Welt jenseits des Scheinwerferlichts - zwischen Flughäfen, Turnhallen und Nowitzkis Haus in Dallas.

From the turbulent life of the late Shane Warne to the skill, mentality and character behind Pat Cummins' new-look captaincy, and through the decades to the wit, wisdom and genius of Sir Donald Bradman, Great Australian Cricket Achievers and Characters examines the career highs and lows of many of the game's big names.

As a columnist for Time magazine, among many other publications, Tom Callahan witnessed an extraordinary number of defining moments in American sport across four decades. He takes us from Roberto Clemente clinching his 3,000th, and final, regular-season hit in Pittsburgh; to ringside for the Muhammad Ali - George Foreman fight in Zaire; and to Arthur Ashe announcing, at a news conference, that he'd tested positive for HIV.

Through one-on-one interviews, this evocative collection of life stories explores the bittersweet tales of some of the NFL's most famous men, including, Mike Ditka, Hollywood Henderson, Ron Jaworski, Ronnie Lott, Dan Reeves, Rocky Bleier, and Pat Summerall. Co-creator Cynthia Zordich, wife of former pro safety Michael Zordich, had the presence of mind to dive into a world yet traveled and ask questions of those who had already left the game.

Drew Brees grew up in a family of athletes and overcame injuries and setbacks to become one of today's best quarterbacks. This comprehensive biography shows how Drew Brees went from being a flag football player to Super Bowl MVP and modern legend and is sure to appeal to legions of football fans.

This entry in a brand new line of sports biographies from Matt Christopher takes listeners onto the court with an all-star who reaches for new heights. Blake Griffin is known for being a number one draft pick, Rookie of the Year, Slam Dunk Contest winner, and one of the best power forwards playing today. But he had to fight to make it onto the NBA court at all after sitting out his first pro season with a devastating knee injury. Learn more about the perennial all-star in this comprehensive biography, complete with photos and fun infographics.