The crack of the bat on the radio is ingrained in the American mind as baseball takes center stage each summer. Radio has brought the sounds of baseball into homes for almost one hundred years, helping baseball emerge from the 1919 Black Sox scandal into the glorious World Series of the 1920s. The medium gave fans around the country aural access to the first All-Star Game, Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech, and Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ’Round the World.” Red Barber, Vin Scully, Harry Caray, Ernie Harwell, Bob Uecker, and dozens of other beloved announcers helped cement the love affair between radio and the national pastime. Crack of the Bat takes readers from the 1920s to the present, examining the role of baseball in the development of the radio industry and the complex coevolution of their relationship. James R. Walker provides a balanced, nuanced, and carefully documented look at radio and baseball over the past century, focusing on the interaction between team owners, local and national media, and government and business interests, with extensive coverage of the television and Internet ages, when baseball on the radio had to make critical adjustments to stay viable. Despite cable television’s ubiquity, live video streaming, and social media, radio remains an important medium through which fans engage with their teams. The evolving relationship between baseball and radio intersects with topics as varied as the twenty-year battle among owners to control radio, the development of sports as a valuable media product, and the impact of competing technologies on the broadcast medium. Amid these changes, the familiar sounds of the ball hitting the glove and the satisfying crack of the bat stay the same. Purchase the audio edition.
Spiritually uplifting and knee-slapping funny, Pat G'Orge-Walker's Sister Betty and her fellow parishioners discover what matters most on bumpy road trip to Baltimore. . . Sister Betty barely has a minute to sit and fan herself before she's off on another "Mission from God." Her friend Mother Eternal Ann Everlastin' has dropped dead on her seventy-first birthday from an overdose of York Peppermint Pattie, and it's up to Sister Betty to see to her final wishes, namely, traveling to a Baltimore religious conference to deliver three one-million dollar checks to three different mega-church pastors. When the Reverend Knott Enuff Money hears that Sister Betty is about to give away a substantial amount of Mother's riches, he wants in. But finagling the money out of Sister Betty right under the noses of three genuine men of God is going to be the biggest challenge the Reverend has ever faced. . .one that just might set him on the path to reclaiming the true spirit of faith. . . "Christian comedy fiction at its best." —Library Journal "This novel is the best of its kind, and it's easy to see how G'Orge-Walker has carved out a comfortable niche for herself as the queen of gospel comedy literature." —QBR
Many people are so preoccupied with the stumbling blocks in their path that they have little time for the building blocks necessary to construct an exemplary life. Pat Williams believes it's time to clear the road and get on with the business of living a more fulfilling life. The culmination of twenty-five years of research and a lifetime of experience, this book challenges readers to get off the bench and throw themselves into living to their greatest potential. Williams is cofounder of the Orlando Magic, host of a radio show, father of nineteen children including fourteen he and his wife adopted, and an avid collector of stories and quotes. Williams delivers a rallying cry to anyone ready to become the champion God intended.
Fear and terror grip a small Southern town when a cheerleader goes missing. Ginny Westbrook, a budding journalist, seeks out the killer even as she searches for her own identity. Digging too deeply and stumbling upon a string of missing girls, she clashes with a serial killer who harbors a hate of interracial relationships and has a passion for nursery rhymes. Are the strange occurrences those of the occult or just coincidence? Or could it be an unknown mother, an earlier victim, back from the grave to save her daughter from a similar fate.
Pro wrestling is big business in North America, as millions of fans tune in every week on cable and network television. But in 2001, the business took a turn for the worse, and two of the three major wrestling promotions went out of business.Critically acclaimed wrestling columnist Pat McNeill of Pro Wrestling Torch was there for all the great (and not-so-great) wrestling moments of the year. This collection of McNeill's best work is pithy, insightful, tragic and comic. And that's not a bad thing, that's a good thing.
It's hard to coach a team when your players don't show up. Mafi muscula. Hard to make air flights without reservations. Mafi muscula. Can't tape ankles without tape. Hey! Why isn't Darrin here from the States yet? Mafi Muscula. Can't understand these Hungarian menu forms...we could starve. Mafi muscula. We're almost out of tea. Muscula! In Arabic, mafi muscula means "no problem." But a better definition is probably: "no problem for ME, big problem for YOU." Saudi Arabia is where mafi musculas start, but they don't end there. From Saudi it's on to a training camp near Budapest then onward to Beruit for the basketball championships of the Eighth Pan Arab Games. Some funny things happen along the way. And there, too. These are recounted through the eyes of an American coach. They sometimes happen on the court., but more often off. Some are pretty peculiar and that's the kind of questions they raise. For example: —Was Bruce Springsteen born in Saudi Arabia? —Do you know how to properly kiss your players? —Why are Homer's underpants radioactive? —Is Martin as dead as he thinks? —Is Adel as dead as Coach tells his mom he is? —How to get a lunatic asylum airborne? —When must camels kill you? And more.
To leave or stay was the question for the Irish in the nineteenth century. In Ireland, people suffered persecution, poverty and famine. America offered freedom and opportunity. For those who left and came to Michigan, the land's abundant natural resources encouraged them to become loggers, miners, fishermen, traders and farmers. Others became rail workers, merchants, lawyers, soldiers, doctors and teachers. Governor Frank Murphy advocated for civil rights. Sister Agnes Gonzaga Ryan administered schools and hospitals. Charlie O'Malley provided generously to suffering Irish people. Lighthouse keeper James Donohue never let physical disability deter him. Prospector Richard Langford discovered iron ore and then left others to mine its wealth. Authors Pat Commins and Elizabeth Rice share one story from each Michigan county about Irish immigrants or their descendants.
The book you are holding is the result of an extraordinary exchange of love. It often showed up as hilarious laughter, enormous tomfoolery, good times, practical jokes, furious frustration expressed at outcomes of sporting events, and other events and noises that some people might misinterpret as not being very loving. It was all love: a love for life, a love for winning, a love for other people. Frieda Sellers said so well, “He had an infinite capacity for love.” But it is not just the love that Tommy Hicks gave to so many who crossed his path. He inspired so many to love him, to be inspired by him, to put aside their own petty complaints and do their best in the face of life’s frustrations. “Tommy Hicks gave much of his life to supporting Duke basketball. He was an unapologetic fan, the kind of fan that creates so much of our success. I’m sorry he is no longer with us, but this book will keep his memory alive and be a great source of joy to so many of his friends and family. When I think of the number of times he rolled his wheelchair into an arena hosting the ACC tournament, it inspires me to keep coaching winning teams at Duke.” Mike Krzyzewski, the winningest coach in the history of Division I College basketball “I have read the early drafts and can tell you that this is an Amazin’ book! Buy it and be ready to laugh and cry harder than you may have in a long time!!” Dr. Tim Luckadoo, retired Vice Provost, N.C. State University Any time I try to tell someone what my friendship with Tommy Hicks was about, I get a lump in my throat. With his journalistic style, keen wit, and close observation, Pat Jobe has undertaken a labor of love for us all: to be our words about Tommy, for whom some of us still seek breath to share his name. Collectively, this memoir shares what we all want to express, we knew Tommy. A man who loved us all so well that we each thought that we were unique, and one who taught us by his every example, to live each day to the fullest and without complaint. Thank you, Pat Jobe, for seeking us out and weaving together our individual journeys and stories. Reading your work is a treasure and a roadmap that connects us, each one to the other, and to life with its ever present challenge and promise, and to a universe where there is memory and love and hope that someday we may talk and laugh again with Tommy Hicks, our beloved with whom we were exceptionally graced to call “friend.” I once asked Tommy, “If you could be an animal, what would you be?” Without hesitation, he responded, “A colt!” I close my eyes now and see him leaping free and high across some wide open space. T.A. Price, poet and author of Bent, 31 Poems
The four books comprising this novel, each covering a decade in South Africa's history, are interlinked with the developing stories of its characters. The book tells the real story of who saved South Africa from itself in the final turbulent decades of the last century, revealing Rupertheimer, the political mover and shaker behind the scenes who secretly and single-handedly steered his country to an embryonic democracy. Picturesque and provocative, brash and funny, this book does for South Africa what Catch-22 did for World War II.
“Ellen Datlow is the queen of anthology editors in America.”—Peter Straub With original stories by Jeffrey Ford, Pat Cadigan, Elizabeth Bear, Margo Lanagan, and others From Del Rey Books and award-winning editor Ellen Datlow, two of the most respected names in science fiction and fantasy, comes a collection of fifteen all-new short stories, plus a science fiction novella, that could count as a virtual “best of the year” anthology. Here you will find slyly twisted alternate histories, fractured fairy tales, topical science fiction, and edgy urban fantasy. In “Daltharee,” World Fantasy Award–winning author Jeffrey Ford spins a chilling tale of a city in a bottle—and the demented genius who put it there. In “Sonny Liston Takes the Fall,” John W. Campbell Award–winning author Elizabeth Bear pens a poignant and eerie requiem for the heavyweight forever associated with his controversial loss to Cassius Clay. From hot new writer Margo Lanagan comes “The Goosle,” a dark, astonishing take on Hansel and Gretel. In the novella “Prisoners of the Action,” Paul McAuley and Kim Newman take a trip down a rabbit hole that leads to a Guantanamo-like prison whose inmates are not just illegal but extraterrestrial. Many of the writers you’ll recognize. Others you may not. But one thing is certain: These stars of today and tomorrow demonstrate that the field of speculative fiction is not only alive and well—it’s better than ever. PLUS TWELVE MORE STORIES “The Elephant Ironclads” by Jason Stoddard “Ardent Clouds” by Lucy Sussex “Gather” by Christopher Rowe “North American Lake Monsters” by Nathan Ballingrud “All Washed Up While Looking for a Better World” by Carol Emshwiller “Special Economics” by Maureen F. McHugh “Aka St. Mark’s Place” by Richard Bowes “Shira” by Lavie Tidhar “The Passion of Azazel” by Barry N. Malzberg “The Lagerstätte” by Laird Barron “Gladiolus Exposed” by Anna Tambour “Jimmy” by Pat Cadigan
In this life-changing resource about suffering, participants are guided to look to Jesus to understand who God is in the midst of their own suffering and the suffering of others. Each session is guided by Joni Eareckson Tada's robust view of God's presence in the midst of suffering. The Gospel in Hard Times by Joni and Friends illustrates ...
Mastering one specific skill set might have been the key to success 20 years ago . . . but being the best at a single thing just doesn't cut it in today's global economy. Think about those people who somehow manage to be amazing at everything they do—the multimillionaire CEO with the bodybuilder physique or the rock star with legions of adoring fans. How do they manage to be so great at life? By acquiring and applying multiple skills to make themselves more valuable to others, they've become generalists, able to "stack" their varied skills for a unique competitive edge. In How to Be Better at Almost Everything, bestselling author, fitness expert, entrepreneur, and professional business coach Pat Flynn shares the secrets to learning (almost) every skill, from marketing and music to relationships and martial arts, teaching how to combine interests to achieve greatness in any field. Discover how to: • Learn any skill with only an hour of practice a day through repetition and resistance • Package all your passions into a single tool kit for success with skill stacking • Turn those passions into paychecks by transforming yourself into a person of interest To really get ahead in today's fast-paced, constantly evolving world, you need a diverse portfolio of hidden talents you can pull from your back pocket at a moment's notice. The good news? You don't need to be a genius or a prodigy to get there—you just have to be willing to learn. How to Be Better at Almost Everything will teach you how to make your personal and professional goals a reality, starting today.
A straight-shooting, hilarious and off-beat guide from the author of the Globe's most highly trafficked column in the Life section. This is Ann Landers with tattoos, beer shooters, and just a bit of swearing. David Eddie is so infamous for sticking his foot in his mouth that he's dubbed himself "Faux Pas-Varotti". Every social outing seems to result in some form of mortification for all concerned. Having screwed up countless times and come through it all with dignity intact, a loving family, a lovely wife, and an excellent career, he's the perfect guy to give advice on learning from, and making the best of, a seemingly devastating screw-up. Building on his enormously popular advice column in the Globe and Mail's Life section, Eddie provides simple rules for recovery, applicable to your latest office gaffe or party blunder. Reading Damage Control is like meeting a good, old friend for a drink when you have a problem — a friend you sought out because in all likelihood he has screwed up worse than you and has a great story about it, and because he'll give you honest feedback and practical suggestions. And because he makes you laugh harder than anyone else you know.
While more and more football fans are watching the NFL each week, many of them don't know exactly what they should be watching. What does the offense's formation tell you about the play that's about to be run? When a quarterback throws a pass toward the sideline and the wide receiver cuts inside, which player is to blame? Why does a defensive end look like a Hall of Famer one week and a candidate for the practice squad the next? Now Pat Kirwan, popular analyst for NFL.com and Sirius NFL Radio and a veteran front office executive, and co-author David Seigerman present Take Your Eye Off the Ball, a book that takes you inside a coach's mind as he builds a roster or constructs a game plan, to the line of scrimmage with the quarterback, and deep into the perpetual chess match between offense and defense.
What do Dizzy Dean, Catfish Metkovich, John Boccabella, Bill Buckner, Mark Prior, and Kevin Hart all have in common? They all wore number 22 for the Chicago Cubs, even though seven decades have passed between the last time Dizzy Dean buttoned up a Cubs uniform with that number and the first time reliever Kevin Hart performed the same routine. Since the Chicago Cubs first adopted uniform numbers in 1932, the team has handed out only 71 numbers to more than 1,100 players. That's a lot of overlap. It also makes for a lot of good stories. Cubs by the Numbers tells those stories for every Cub since '32, from 1930s outfielder Ethan Allen to current ace Carlos Zambrano. This book lists the players alphabetically and by number, but the biographies help trace the history of baseball's most beloved team in a new way. For Cubs fans, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs by the Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.
A fascinating history of one of the hottest wrestling territories of all time Montreal was the proving ground for some of the biggest names in wrestling, including Andre the Giant, Abdullah the Butcher, and the infamous Mad Dog Vachon; it was the site of the first midget battle ever; and made famous worldwide for the infamous Survivor Series screw job that saw Vince McMahon, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels, and Bret Hart create the "attitude" that reshaped the business. Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs is the ultimate guide to Montreal's legendary place in professional wrestling history. Get the lowdown on all the major wrestlers who made their name in the territory, from Yvon Robert, the Rougeaus, and Gino Brito to edouard Carpentier. With a detailed account of the promotional war between the Rougeaus' AllStar Wrestling and the Vachons' Grand Prix, a complete history of how wrestling developed on Montreal TV, and an investigation of the murder of Dino Bravo, this book demonstrates how much of what has happened in wrestling, just may have happened first in Montreal.
Guiding you to the best of everything in Vermont for over 30 years! Back in its fifteenth edition, Explorer’s Guide Vermont endures as the most comprehensive and up- to- date guide to this popular New England state. With it in hand, experience the many natural and cultural wonders that make Vermont such a timeless, year- round vacation destination. Although Explorer’s Guide Vermont covers the entire Green Mountain State, the authors pride themselves on their detailed coverage of the less- traveled areas, especially the Northeast Kingdom. You’ll also find in- depth descriptions of major Vermont destinations like Burlington, Brattleboro, Manchester, and Woodstock. They highlight the most interesting and rewarding places to visit, whether on back roads or in bigger cities— artists’ studios, family farms, and historic sites among them. This guide provides great recommendations for every activity—biking; hiking and swimming; skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding; horseback riding, fishing, and paddling— and many more, both on and off the beaten track.
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