A rollicking and ribald first-person account of the 1975 Major League Baseball season—the last year before free agency took over and changed the national pastime forever—for better or for worse! There are baseball books and there are baseball books. But for the baseball cognoscenti, there are just a few "must-have" classics:Ball Four by Jim Bouton. The Long Season by Jim Brosnan. Willie's Time by Charles Einstein. And Seasons In Hell by Mike Shropshire, which was a hilarous first-person account of Mike's travails serving as a daily beat writer covering the hapless 1972 Texas Rangers. Now, in The Last Real Season, Shropshire captures the essence of a different time and different place in baseball, when the average salary for major leaguers was only $27,600...when the ballplayers' drug of choice was alcohol, not steroids...when major leaguers sported tight doubleknit uniforms over their long-hair and Afros...and on July 28th, 1975, the day that famed Detroit resident Jimmy Hoffa went missing, the Detroit Tigers started a losing streak of 19 games in a row. On the day that the Tigers blew a 4-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Shropshire recalls: "I drank three bottles of Stroh's beer in less than a minute and wrote that 'Jimmy Hoffa will show up in the left field stands with Amelia Earhart as his date before the Tigers will win another game.'" And so it goes. Filled with just the kind of wonderful baseball stories that real fans crave, this is the funniest baseball book of the year.
The mysterious death of a journalist pulls Washington fixer Joe DeMarco into a conspiracy of power and politics in “one of the best thrillers of the year” (Booklist). Author of House Witness, 2019 Edgar Award Finalist for Best Novel Days after claiming he had a lead on a story that would make Watergate look like a misdemeanor, a mediocre writer from the Washington Post is found accidentally drowned. But Joe DeMarco’s boss—the Speaker of the House—thinks there’s nothing accidental about it. Mostly because the reporter was on the trail of Senator Paul Morelli. Morelli is all but a shoe-in for the Democratic presidential nomination. But his golden boy public persona hides a monstrous character. Somehow, all of his sinister scandals seem to be cleaned up by a mysterious benefactor who stays just out of sight. Setting up a sting to catch the predatory Morelli, DeMarco thinks his job is done—until those who helped him with the sting start turning up dead. And unless he can uncover the powerful people who are protecting Morelli, DeMarco knows he’s next . . . In this chilling novel of unfettered power and final justice, Mike Lawson proves once again that he “has a true insider’s insight about real-world spinelessness, venality, and corruption that have taken the place of moral courage and true leadership on Capitol Hill” (The Washington Times).
Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the personalities and events that have shaped the Detroit Tigers' recent resurgence, readers will meet the players, coaches, and management and share in their moments of greatness, grief, and quirkiness. Beginning in 2002, when author Mario Impemba arrived in the Tigers' broadcast booth and when the team had consecutive 100-loss seasons, the book details how, in just three shorts years, team president Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland led the Tigers to the American League pennant—a feat the Tigers repeated in 2012. Impemba takes readers into the Comerica Park broadcast booth alongside the legendary Ernie Harwell, onto the team plane during the team's two runs to the World Series, and into the clubhouse as Miguel Cabrera closed in on the 2012 Triple Crown. He shares personal stories about several Tigers stars, including Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder, Curtis Granderson, Ivan Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers, Magglio Ordonez, and more. If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Tigers gives fans a taste of what it's like to be a part of the Tigers storied history from a perspective unlike any other.
The influence on the interplay of technical progress, imagination and functional variety in footbridges are different from those affecting large-scale bridges. This fact has resulted in an exhaustible variety of distinctive design, as is beautifully illustrated by the selection of footbridges shown in this book. Essays clearly explain the technical aspects and the aesthetic potential of different structure designs. Footbridges contains detailed presentations of 90 european bridges, with text, comprehensive and detail plans, and photographs taken especially for the volume. With projects by Arup, Jürg Conzett, Foster and Partners, Happold, Schlaich Bergermann and Partners, Wilkinson Eyre, Jiri Strasky and others. The examples are organized chronologically in thematically focused chapters: lightweight bridges, moving bridges, covered bridges, taut-ribbon suspension bridges, arch bridges, etc. For those whose curiosity is aroused by the insight given into this type of bridge building, a compilation of 120 more footbridges, listed by location, provide a starting point for further investigation. Ursula Baus is an independent architecture critic and the author of numerous books and technical articles. She teaches at Stuttgart University. Mike Schlaich is a professor of massive construction at the Technische Universität (Technical University) in Berlin and a partner of the firm Schlaich Bergermann and Partners. Wilfried Dechau is a photographer – he lives and works in Stuttgart and specializes in architecture, bridges, and portraits.
Sports Tourism: Participants, Policy and Providers is an unparalleled text that explains sports tourism as a social, economic and cultural phenomenon that stems from the unique interaction of activity, people and place. Unlike other texts, it establishes sports tourism as a unique area that produces its own unique issues, concerns and controversies. Extensively revised with cutting edge new material based on the latest research in the field, this edition uses recent international case studies to illustrate how theory is used in practice. The text tackles the complex and distinctive issues this sector faces from three viewpoints: participants: examining the profiles, motivations and behaviour patterns of sports tourists to create a participation model policy: analyzes the response by policy makers to this phenomenon and the problems of achieving integration between two sectors with historically different cultures providers: their motivations, aims, objectives and strategies. Now in its second edition, this book is an essential resource for those studying, teaching or working in sports tourism.
Sports Tourism: participants, policy and providers is an unparalleled text that explains sports tourism as a social, economic and cultural phenomenon that stems from the unique interaction of activity, people and place. Unlike other texts, it seeks to present sports tourism as a unique area that produces its own unique issues, concerns and controversies. The text tackles these issues from three viewpoints: participants: examining the profiles, motivations and behaviour patterns of sports tourists to create a typology of participants policy: analyses the response by policy makers to this phenomenon and the problems of achieving integration between two sectors with historically different cultures providers: their motivations, aims, objectives and strategies Illustrated by international case studies in each chapter, and with four extended case study chapters, Sports Tourism: participants, policy and providers examines this area using real life experiences and concrete evidence.
Some athletes never stop playing. Some rivalries transcend the gridiron. Some games last forever. The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys engaged in a fierce rivalry in the 1966 season, culminating in the Packers defeating the Cowboys to win the NFL championship. The next year, they clashed again, and the result is a game that only needs three words to evoke lasting images from every player, every coach, and every fan who witnessed it: “The Ice Bowl.” The final game of the 1967 season has become one of the most storied contests in NFL history, and sportswriter Mike Shropshire, author of SEASONS IN HELL, brings it all back to life in his panoramic look at the events leading up to the game and how the game influenced both franchises going forward. With photos and insight into the players who battled, as well as those who witnessed, THE ICE BOWL is a must-read for fans of every down.
Chopping Wood is an engaging spiritual guide for everyone that tells the colorful life story of Lawson H. (Mike) Hardwick, III, one of the most well-known businessmen and philanthropists in Nashville, Tennessee and around the country. He tells his story with passion and heart, from growing up as the son of a pastor, who founded a church in Nashville that grew to roughly 8,000 members during his tenure of over sixty years, to building many successful businesses, surviving depression and creating a corporate culture dedicated to serving others. His compelling story is also filled with necessary life lessons on how to find true wealth, and how to live a happy life which he shares in a lively and interesting manner. Readers who want are looking for personal growth will enjoy and learn from his many experiences and reflections as well as his captivating storytelling. This is an inspiring memoir you wouldn’t want to miss!
Historian Mike Cox has been writing about Texas history for four decades, sharing tales that have been overlooked or forgotten through the years. Travel to El Paso during the "Big Blow" of 1895, brave the frontier with Elizabeth Russell Baker, and stare down the infamous killer known as Old Three Toe. From frontier stories and ghost towns to famous folks and accounts of everyday life, this collection of West Texas Tales has it all.
The twelve-time All-Star catcher describes the inspiration he gleaned from his self-made father, his early career with the Dodgers, his memorable 2000 World Series with the Mets, and the controversies that have marked his career.
Mike Puma of the New York Post provides insight into the team's inner sanctum as only he can The New York Mets are one of the most historic teams in Major League Baseball, with superstars over the years including Jacob deGrom, Mike Piazza, David Wright, and Tom Seaver. Aided by dozens of new, exclusive interviews, readers will gain the perspective of players, coaches, and personnel from Mets history in moments of greatness as well as defeat, making for a keepsake no fan will want to miss. Few fan bases display as much rabid devotion to their team as the New York Mets', win or lose. That spirit is celebrated in this colorful collection of stories about the Lovable Losers. The If These Walls Could Talk series is a one-of-a-kind, insider's look into the great moments, the lowlights, and everything in between in your team's history. Other New York titles include: If These Walls Could Talk: New York Giants If These Walls Could Talk: New York Yankees If These Walls Could Talk: New York Jets
“A funny, revealing, Ball Four–like romp through mid-seventies baseball” from the longtime sports columnist and author of The Last Real Season (Booklist). You think your team is bad? In this “disastrously hilarious” work on one of the most tortured franchises in baseball, one reporter discovers that nine innings can feel like an eternity (USA Today). In early 1973, gonzo sportswriter Mike Shropshire agreed to cover the Texas Rangers for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, not realizing that the Rangers were arguably the worst team in baseball history. Seasons in Hell is a riotous, candid, irreverent behind-the-scenes account in the tradition of The Bronx Zoo and Ball Four, following the Texas Rangers from Whitey Herzog’s reign in 1973 through Billy Martin’s tumultuous tenure. Offering wonderful perspectives on dozens of unique (and likely never-to-be-seen-again) baseball personalities, Seasons in Hell recounts some of the most extreme characters ever to play the game and brings to life the no-holds-barred culture of major league baseball in the mid-seventies. “The single funniest sports book I have ever read.”—Don Imus “The locker-room shenanigans of a lousy team of the 1970s.”—Publishers Weekly
Beginning with an explanation of the natural processes governing forest development, the authors present active steps you can take to guide your woodland toward a state of health and beauty and sustainably produce one of the world's greatest renewable resources -- wood."--P. [4] of cover.
Pursued by government agents and angry aliens, Dalen and Gole are in a race against time to save both their own distant world and the fishing community of Port Angus. With seconds to the finish line, Dalen and Gole lead the distant world of Budap's annual Junior-Jet Race. Suddenly they are overtaken. Left behind in a cloud of mysterious purple exhaust, they realize something doesn't add up. Looking for clues, the two friends uncover a tunnel that leads them to Earth. They arrive in Port Angus, once a lively west coast fishing community. The fishing industry is dying, and Dalen and Gole find themselves embroiled in a sinister plot to steal fish and send them to Budap.
The Orangemen-say the name and basketball fans everywhere immediately recognize the team from Syracuse University. For more than one hundred years, they have been playing basketball up on "the Hill." Their history is one of growth and continued success, all of which is documented with rare archival photographs in The Orangemen: Syracuse University Men's Basketball. Syracuse University fielded its first men's basketball team in 1900 and enjoyed many successes in the program's early years. Legendary players highlighted the time: Lewis Castle, the first of Syracuse's thirty-two All-Americans; Vic Hanson, the only player enshrined in both the College Football and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame; and Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, the first African American to play at Syracuse. Longtime coach Jim Boeheim is one of just twenty-five Division I coaches with more than six hundred victories. The Orangemen: Syracuse University Men's Basketball will take fans back to Manley Field House and the days of the zoo. More recent photographs of Carrier Dome favorites such as Pearl Washington, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Lawrence Moten, and John Wallace will complete the picture of one of college basketball's most successful and enduring teams.
Batter up--here comes the most memorable collection of anecdotes about the national pastime ever assembled. Tales from the Dugout brings together never-before-told stories from baseball personalities such as Roger Maris, Ken Griffey Jr., Pete Rose, Phil Rizzuto, and Gaylord Perry in this illustrated, one-of-a-kind compendium.
Mike Anderson explores six key intrinsic motivators essential for teachers and how to build powerful habits so that they can recharge their battery, recover their swagger, rekindle their professional fire, and refresh their spirit to be the best for the students in their care"--
DIVMike Bickle combines biblical balance and passionate faith to draw readers into new spiritual levels of relationship with God. This revised edition discusses Bickles's involvement with the International House of Prayer and TheCall./div
Grinders: Baseball’s Intrepid Infantry tells the tales of the game's unheralded foot soldiers who took the hard knocks road, bouncing between the Show and obscurity, never quite achieving their dreams, all for a chance to play the game they love. On a brutally humid summer night in 1960, a nine-year-old Mike Capps was sitting with his grandfather in the rickety, mosquito-infested Burnett Field across the Trinity River from the twinkling lights of the concrete and steel towers of downtown Dallas. When he glanced at his grandfather’s scoresheet, something caught his attention. His grandfather had made check marks alongside names of six or seven players for both clubs. “I also want you to pay attention to the names I have checked here,” his grandfather said. “These guys will travel back and forth between Dallas and Kansas City and Minneapolis and Boston all summer. You’ll even see their names in the box scores. They aren’t stars, but they are the engine that drives baseball’s bus.” “Drives baseball’s bus, drives baseball’s bus?” The comment buried itself in Capps’ psyche for decades, and, sixty years later, formed the basic idea for this book. What his grandfather called baseball’s “engine” we now call “grinders.” The back-and-forth roller coaster ride between professional baseball’s minor leagues and its nirvana, Major League Baseball, remains perplexingly difficult for a multitude of great players and their families. Players like Deacon Jones, Brian Mazone, and Lorenzo Bundy battled their way to a chance in the big leagues and hung on as long as they could. Some shared the love of the game with their sons, who became Grinders in their own right. Grinders fill every roster at every level, plugging away year after year. Without their grit, determination, and persistence, there would be no stars. These are their stories.
This thought-provoking book examines gang history in the region encompassing West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Northern Chihuahua, Mexico. Known as the El Paso–Juárez borderland region, the area contains more than three million people spanning 130 miles from east to west. From the badlands—the historically notorious eastern Valle de Juárez—to the Puerto Palomas port of entry at Columbus, New Mexico, this area has become more militarized and politicized than ever before. Mike Tapia examines this region by exploring a century of historical developments through a criminological lens and by studying the diverse subcultures on both sides of the law. Tapia looks extensively at the role of history and geography on criminal subculture formation in the binational urban setting of El Paso–Juárez, demonstrating the region’s unique context for criminogenic processes. He provides a poignant case study of Homeland Security and the apparent lack of drug-war spillover in communities on the US-Mexico border.
Highly Commended at 2012 BMA awards in Internal Medicine Category. Recognized worldwide as the standard reference work, Dacie & Lewis Practical Haematology is a must have reference for any haematology laboratory. It covers all of the techniques used in the investigation of patients with blood disorders, including the latest technologies as well as the tried and true manual methods of measurement. It discusses the principles of each test, possible causes of error, the rationale for choosing one method over another and the interpretation, significance and clinical relevance of these findings. Each chapter conforms to a template, providing quick access to key information
In 1960, acclaimed American author John Steinbeck (Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men) embarked on a three-month road trip around the United States with his wife’s gentleman poodle, Charley, in tow. Steinbeck’s aim was to rediscover the country he had last roamed as a young man. Ultimately, the journey would be as much about self-discovery. The resulting book, Travels with Charley, was a bestseller and is now counted among the classic American road novels. In 2003, writer Mike Lauterborn set off by van to follow Steinbeck’s path, to both learn about the author and see how America and Americans had changed in the intervening forty-plus years. Along the way, he hoped to find some of the people and places Steinbeck had encountered while taking in new sights and experiences. Travels with Charley aided Lauterborn during the planning stages of his own trip and prepared him for hardships Steinbeck had also faced, including vehicle troubles, adverse weather, solitude, and health woes. The author’s words would inspire, console, and haunt the young writer. Ultimately, the trail would lead Lauterborn to some of America’s most enduring landmarks, from broad rivers, rugged coastlines, and azure-blue volcanic lakes to barren deserts, quaint small towns, and sprawling cities. He met people from all walks of life and was struck by their common resilience, work ethic, and patriotism. In the end, however, he was most impressed by the formidable scope of the journey the ailing Steinbeck had undertaken. This book is a tribute to the author’s tireless pursuit of the noble quest.
This comprehensive study of class struggle in America asks: Why has there never been a mass working class party in the U.S.? “One of the most uncompromising books about American political economy ever written—brilliant, provocative, and exhaustively researched.” —Village Voice Prisoners of the American Dream is Mike Davis’s brilliant exegesis of a persistent and major analytical problem for Marxist historians and political economists: Why has the world’s most industrially advanced nation never spawned a mass party of the working class? This series of essays surveys the history of the American bourgeois democratic revolution from its Jacksonian beginnings to the rise of the New Right and the re-election of Ronald Reagan, concluding with some bracing thoughts on the prospects for progressive politics in the United States.
Marvin “Bad News” Barnes was considered a future Hall of Fame basketball player before he even graduated from college. A standout at Providence College, where he averaged 20.7 points and 17.9 rebounds per game, he was an All-American with the world at his fingertips. Although Barnes enjoyed two highly successful years in the American Basketball Association with the Spirits of St. Louis (winning Rookie of the Year honors and twice being named an All-Star), his career fizzled in the NBA as he wore out his welcome with the Detroit Pistons, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, and San Diego Clippers in four years. His immaturity, as well as a chronic losing battle with drugs and alcohol, turned a potential superstar into a has-been by 1979. By then, his swagger was gone. So too was his game. Written by Mike Carey, who opened his house to Barnes later in his life, this is the story of a supremely gifted athlete whose self-destructive nature led to him living on the mean streets of East San Diego for three years as a panhandler and pimp. Eventually he would serve a total of five years in prison for various felony charges, including the sale of cocaine. Throughout his life, every time it appeared that “Bad News” had turned the corner, his demons reappeared and succeeded in luring him back into becoming a conniving dope fiend. On September 8, 2014, Barnes finally hit rock bottom, passing away due to acute cocaine and heroin intoxication. He was sixty-two years old. With stories and quotes from Julius Erving, Bill Walton, Larry Brown, Mike D’Antoni, and many others who crossed paths with Barnes, as well as a foreword from former Spirits announcer Bob Costas, “Bad News” is the story of a squandered talent who could never defeat his inner demons.
This is a book about why history matters. It shows how popularized historical images and narratives deeply influence Americans' understanding of their collective past. A leading public historian, Mike Wallace observes that we are a people who think of ourselves as having shed the past but also avid tourists who are on a "heritage binge," flocking by the thousands to Ellis Island, Colonial Williamsburg, or the Vietnam Memorial.Wallace probes into the trivialization of history that pervades American culture as well as the struggles over public memory that provoke stormy controversy. The recent imbroglio surrounding the National Air and Space Museum's proposed Enola Gay exhibit was reported as centering on why the U.S. government decided to use the A-Bomb against Japan. Wallace scrutinizes the actual plans for the exhibit and investigates the ways in which the controversy drew in historians, veterans, the media, and the general public.Whether his subject is multimillion dollar theme parks owned by powerful corporations, urban museums, or television docudramas, Mike Wallace shows how their depictions of history are shaped by assumptions about which pasts are worth saving, whose stories are worth telling, what gets left out, and who is authorized to make the decisions. Author note: Mike Wallace is Professor of History at John Jay College, City University of New York. He is the co-author, with Edwin G. Burrows, of Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898, winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for History.
From the preface: This book looks at virtue as "the power to do good" from the theological, philosophical, and poetic perspective. From a theological perspective: Long ago, Anselm defined theology as "faith seeking understanding," (f. 1) a definition which has endured to the present day. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to try to understand virtue or goodness without looking through some lens of faith....Get Goodness was written, in part, because my own faith was seeking understanding. Second, this book will look at virtue and goodness from a philosophical perspective because the word "philosophy" (from the Greek philos + sophia) means "love of wisdom." (f.2)...As we will find in this book, the virtue of love has been understood by most theologians and philosophers before me to be the essence of each and every virtue. Therefore, we must first love wisdom before we are able to practically discern, distinguish, deliberate and decide prudently in any effort to understand how virtue is the power to do good.... Third, this book will be suffused with poetry....because poetry is a language that goes beyond logic, thought, and reason.... It is a language of the spirit and a language of human life, love, observation, and experience....Any poem is an attempt to try to understand the experience of the world and the universe around us in spiritual terms. None of us should be seeking virtuous perfection in orienting ourselves to the good in this life; we should only be seeking change. The journey is the goal.
Leukaemia Diagnosis Authoritative reference on classifying and diagnosing leukaemia, with practical guidance on using various laboratory techniques included Leukaemia Diagnosis is a practical reference on the principles of leukaemia diagnosis and classification that illustrates and explains in a user-friendly way how different laboratory techniques are used to achieve an accurate interpretation. To aid in reader comprehension, over 300 high quality full colour digital images of abnormal cells in leukaemia and lymphoma are included, supplemented by histological, cytogenetic and immunophenotyping images. This newly revised and updated Sixth Edition includes recent developments, highlights the growing importance of molecular genetics, and incorporates the recent 5th edition of the WHO guidelines and the International Consensus Classification for leukaemia diagnosis and classification throughout the text. Information on cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities in leukaemia is also included, along with characteristic immunophenotypic characteristics of different categories of leukaemia. Written by world-renowned authors in the field, Barbara Bain and Mike Leach, Leukaemia Diagnosis covers sample topics such as: The nature of leukaemia, cytology, cytochemistry, and the morphological classification of acute leukaemia, with an index of commonly used abbreviations Immunophenotyping and cytogenetic/molecular genetic analysis, and integration of morphological, immunophenotypic and genetic information with the WHO classifications Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute leukaemia of ambiguous lineage, and the myelodysplastic syndromes and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms Chronic myeloid leukaemias, lymphoid leukaemias of mature B, T, and natural killer cells, and leukaemia diagnosis in resource-poor countries The Sixth Edition of Leukaemia Diagnosis is a highly valuable resource for trainee haematologists and laboratory scientists in haematology and related disciplines. The text also serves as a useful reference and teaching aid for those who already have expertise in this field.
It is widely, and wrongly, assumed that books are never so valuable as when they lie unopened before us, waiting to be read. Good books bear multiple readings, and not merely because our memories fail us; the desire to repeat a good reading experience can be its own powerful motivation. And for bibliophiles, books can also be works of art, physical objects with an aesthetic value all their own. This guide for the book-loving baseball fan is written by one of the most knowledgeable collectors in the country, author and editor Mike Shannon. Beginning with a history of baseball books and collecting, it also identifies the most sought-after titles and explains how to find them, what to pay, and how to maintain their condition.
Back to the start and behind the scenes on the Longhorns recruiting trail The University of Texas boasts one of the nation's most storied football programs, and the recruiting acumen of coaches like Darrell Royal and Mack Brown plays a major role in that. The Road to Texas is a wild ride into the competitive world of college football recruiting, revealing how Texas's greatest players found their way to Austin. Mike Roach takes fans back to the start and behind the scenes, showing that the path to becoming a Longhorn is not always a straight and narrow one.
The full history of St. Patrick's day is captured here for the first time in The Wearing of the Green. Illustrated with photos, the book spans the medieval origins, steeped in folklore and myth, through its turbulent and troubled times when it acted as fuel for fierce political argument, and tells the fascinating story of how the celebration of 17th March was transformed from a stuffy dinner for Ireland's elite to one of the world's most public festivals. Looking at more general Irish traditions and Irish communities throughout the world, Mike Cronin and Daryl Adair follow the history of this widely celebrated event, examining how the day has been exploited both politically and commercially, and they explore the shared heritage of the Irish through the development of this unique patriotic holiday. Highly informative for students of history, cultural studies and sociology, and an absolute delight for anyone interested in the fascinating and unique culture of Ireland.
Each work, chosen with exquisite care by an expert, is analyzed and summarized. Its greatness as baseball literature, its place in the genre, its peculiarities, weaknesses, strengths, how the critics went for it--all are discussed in such a way, with quotations, that reading or browsing Shannon's book is equivalent to absorbing a rich history of the sport.
There aren't many Americans who didn't feel a lump in their throat watching Cal Ripken, Jr. take a historic jog around the bases on the evening of September 6, 1995—the night he smashed Lou Gehrig's record number of 2,130 consecutively played games. But, as "the hardest working man in baseball" will tell you, he was just doing his job. And now he tells you just how he does it, why he does it, and how it makes him feel. With the candor and grace that have endeared him to fans everywhere, Cal Ripken, Jr. tells the story of his journey to the major leagues: of his early childhood and life with a baseball manager for a father; his stint in the minors, working his way up from the Rookie Leagues to Triple-A; and finally to the permanent call from Baltimore where he began the drive to an All-Star career. Cal talks with warmth of his mentors and teammates, and with honesty of the Orioles' roller-coaster ride from the pennant to a lamentable 0-21 start in the eighties. He reveals his innermost thoughts on the game, and leads us through his strategies at the plate and on the field. Best of all, Cal reveals what makes him tick: his commitment to the game, to his family, to his career, and to the team. In this rich and rewarding memoir, we find out why he's credited with putting the "great" back into America's greatest game: it's the only way he knows.
Describes Mammoth Cave National Park, including its location, history, plants and animals, weather, and activities for visitors. Includes a map activity.
From the bestselling author of The Prince of Providence, a revelatory biography of Rocky Marciano, the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. The son of poor Italian immigrants, with short arms and stubby legs, Rocky Marciano accomplished a feat that eluded legendary heavyweight champions like Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson: He never lost a professional fight. His record was a perfect 49-0. Unbeaten is the story of this remarkable champion who overcame injury, doubt, and the schemes of corrupt promoters to win the title in a bloody and epic battle with Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952. Rocky packed a devastating punch with an innocent nickname, “Suzie Q,” against which there was no defense. As the champ, he came to know presidents and movie stars – and the organized crime figures who dominated the sport, much to his growing disgust. He may have “stood out in boxing like a rose in a garbage dump,” as one sportswriter said, but he also fought his own private demons. In the hands of the award-winning journalist and biographer Mike Stanton, Unbeaten is more than just a boxing story. It’s a classic American tale of immigrant dreams, exceptional talent wedded to exceptional ambitions, compromises in the service of a greater good, astounding success, disillusionment, and a quest to discover what it all meant. Like Suzie Q, it will knock you off your feet.
Publishers Weekly: “ … a story full of convincing period details, fraught with tension and violence, and featuring a strong cast.” In 1587, 117 English colonists landed on Roanoke Island in the New World. A month later, disintegrating conditions forced the governor back to England for additional supplies and colonists. In 1590, he returned to find the colony vanished—America’s greatest unsolved mystery, the Lost Colony of Roanoke. In year 2000, young Allie O’Shay experiences a series of unsettling, lifelike dreams. She deduces she’s witnessing the desperate saga of the Lost Colony through the heart, mind, and tribulations of a young colonist named Emily Colman. The colony battles dwindling supplies, dissension, conspiracy, sickness, and hostile natives; while suitors seek Emily’s favor, and a warrior from a distant tribe stirs her heart. Disastrous circumstances converge, Emily faces terrifying perils that compel an agonizing, life-or-death decision, and Allie O’Shay discovers a dangerous dark side to her dreams and far more to her bond with the Lost Colony than she could ever have imagined. Kirkus Reviews: “ … This dynamic, genre-bending tale … delivers new discoveries and venerable truths.”
In his life and writing, Michael Yankoski walks a tightrope between action and contemplation, and, behold, in ways we can all learn from, he manages to find a sort of essential balance." —Philip Yancey, author of What's So Amazing About Grace "This book is a joy to the soul and a delight to the heart. It is destined to become a classic within the genre of contemporary spiritual and religious writing." —Phyllis Tickle, compiler of The Divine Hours Frustrated and disillusioned with his life as a Christian motivational speaker, Michael Yankoski was determined to stop merely talking about living a life of faith and start experiencing it. The result was a year of focused engagement with spiritual practices—both ancient and modern—that fundamentally reshaped and revived his life. By contemplating apples for an hour before tasting them (attentiveness), eating on just $2.00 a day (simplicity), or writing letters of thanks (gratitude), Michael discovered a whole new vitality and depth through the intentional life. Guided by the voice of Father Solomon—a local monk—Yankoski's Sacred Year slowly transforms his life. Both entertaining and profound, his story will resonate with those who wish to deepen their own committed faith as well as those who are searching—perhaps for the first time—for their own authentic encounter with the Divine.
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