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Sports and recreation

  • Author:
    Ohno, Apolo
    Summary:

    "Zero regrets. It's a philosophy not just about sport but about life . There has to be a vision, a dream, a plan. Then you chase that with everything you've got." Over three consecutive Olympic games, Apolo Ohno has come to symbolize the very best of the competitive spirit. In Zero Regrets, he shares the inspiring personal story behind his remarkable success, as well as the hard won truths and strategies he has discovered in good times and bad. Raised by his single father, an immigrant from Japan who often worked twelve hour days, the young Apolo found it difficult to balance his enormous natural gifts as an athlete with an admittedly wild, rebellious streak. His career was almost over before it began when his lack of preparation caused him to finish last at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1998. At the age of fifteen, he recommitted himself to his training and at the 1999 World Junior Championships won first place overall-one of the most remarkable turnarounds in sports history. From that moment on, the world of speed skating had a new champion and Apolo was on his way to legendary status. Zero Regrets is a compelling portrait of a father-and-son relationship that deepened over time and was based on respect, love, and unshakable faith in each other. For the first time, Apolo reveals what he knows about his long-absent mother; he makes us feel what it is like to face the best competitors on the planet with the eyes of millions of fans upon you; and he shares his secrets for achieving total focus and mental toughness. We learn the details of the intense workout and diet that he endured while training for the 2010 Winter Olympics, a regime that literally reshaped his body and led to some of his most thrilling victories. While Apolo's own journey may be unique, the insights he has gleaned along the way have the power to help us all feel like champions every day.

  • Author:
    Stout, Glenn
    Summary:

    In 1926, before skirt lengths inched above the knee and before anyone was ready to accept that a woman could test herself physically, a plucky American teenager named Trudy Ederle captured the imagination of the world when she became the first woman to swim the English Channel. It was, and still is, a feat more incredible and uncommon than scaling Mount Everest. Upon her return to the United States, "Trudy of America" became the most famous woman in the world. And just as quickly, she disappeared from the public eye. A Set against the backdrop of the roaring 1920s, Young Woman and the Sea is the dramatic and inspiring story of Ederleas pursuit of a goal no one believed possible, and the price she paid. The moment Trudy set foot on land, triumphant, she had shattered centuries of stereotypes and opened doors for generations of women to come. A truly magnetic and often misunderstood character whose story is largely forgotten, Trudy Ederle comes alive in these pages through Glenn Stoutas exhaustive new research.

  • Author:
    Jackson, Matt
    Summary:

    A memoir co-written by The Young Bucks, the most electric and daring tag team in all of wrestling, highlighting their inspirational coming-of-age story as two undersized, ambitious amateur wrestlers in Southern California to becoming one of the most popular showcases in popular sports.

  • Author:
    Baptiste, Sherri, Scott, Megan
    Summary:

    Yoga with weights is the latest breakthrough in mind-body exercise, integrating the mindfulness of yoga with the physical culture of body-building. Building on the strengths of both disciplines, this friendly guide shows readers how to safely combine yoga postures while simultaneously working out with lightweight hand-held free weights. It features customizable exercises that target specific areas of the body, each illustrated with multiple photos and provides guidelines for combining healthy eating with workouts. Sherri Baptiste (Marin County, CA) is the founder of Baptiste Power of Yoga, a nationally recognized method of yoga offered throughout the United States. She teaches yoga classes throughout the United States and hosts retreats around the world.

  • Author:
    Oliver, Greg
    Summary:

    Hockey history like you've never seen it before. Who knew that paperwork could be so fascinating? In Written in Blue and White, author Greg Oliver explores the fascinating archives of Allan Stitt, one of hockey's leading collectors, unearthing gem after gem that details the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs through the past century. Explore early contracts with players, and how the clauses evolved; read personal correspondence from Leaf players and management; find out what was behind Wally Stanowski's 1945 fine for $100; see receipts from the 1935 Stanley Cup playoffs — and learn just how much oranges cost. Since documents can’t talk, Oliver seeks out the men behind the words, like former general managers Jim Gregory, Gerry McNamara, and Floyd Smith; players such as Ron Ellis, Dick Duff, and Darryl Sittler; and key behind-the-scenes people like trainers, agents, reporters, and publicists.

    The documents that breathe life into Written in Blue and White are complemented by a wide variety of stunning and rare photos from the Hockey Hall of Fame archives, as well as sample contracts and historical pieces from the collection of Allan Stitt.

  • Author:
    Abdou, Angie, 1969-, Dopp, Jamie, 1957-
    Summary:

    Sport literature is never just about sport. The genre's potential to explore the human condition, including aspects of violence, gender, and the body, has sparked the interest of writers, readers, and scholars. Over the last decade, a proliferation of sport literature courses across the continent is evidence of the sophisticated and evolving body of work developing in this area. Writing the Body in Motion offers introductory essays on the most commonly taught Canadian sport literature texts. The contributions sketch the state of current scholarship, highlight recurring themes and patterns, and offer close readings of key works. Organized chronologically by source text, ranging from Shoeless Joe (1982) to Indian Horse (2012), the essays offer a variety of ways to read, consider, teach, and write about sport literature.

  • Author:
    Rickard, Mike
    Summary:

    Every fan of professional wrestling remembers the moment that captured their heart forever and hooked them for life. Whether it was Ric Flair regaining the NWA Championship from Harley Race at Starcade, the Freebirds turning heel on Kerry Von Erich, Mick Foley flying off the cage at King of the Ring, Jake Roberts DDT-ing Ricky Steamboat on the concrete, Samoa Joe’s epic trilogy with CM Punk in Ring of Honor, or the premiere of WCW’s Nitro: these are the matches and moments that thrilled, terrified, or outraged – overwhelming you with real emotion.

    Mike Rickard’s Wrestling’s Greatest Moments brings you all the most memorable and controversial moments from modern wrestling history. It’s an insightful and essential compendium of thirty years’ worth of groundbreaking matches, angles and interviews. From Hulkamania to the Montreal “screwjob,” from the NWA to the nWo, you’ll rediscover what really occurred in arenas and on the air worldwide, and learn all the backstage and behind-the-scenes secrets that made these highlight-reel moments possible from the men and women who were there.

    Whether you watched Stone Cold Steve Austin point a gun at WWE honcho Vince McMahon’s head, or stood outside the building as D-Generation X “invaded” WCW; whether you look back with nostalgia to “The King” slapping Andy Kaufman silly on Letterman or believe wrestling was better when Bruno sold out Shea; whether you were one of the Philadelphia “bingo hall” faithful who made ECW “extreme” or a casual observer of the Monday Night Wars; whether you’re reliving these moments or discovering them for the first time, Wrestling’s Greatest Moments will enthrall you with the exploits and extravagance, the tragedies and triumphs of the sport of kings.

  • Author:
    Kanyon, Chris, Clark, Ryan
    Summary:

    A rare glimpse not only into the life of a professional wrestler, but the life of a gay man in a straight world, this tragic memoir is told in Chris Kanyon’s own words, with the help of journalist Ryan Clark.

    One of the most popular wrestlers of the late 1990s, Kanyon kept his personal life private from his fans until finally revealing his biggest secret in 2004: he was gay. Going through the various roles that Kanyon played, both in the ring and out of it, as well as his battle with manic depression, this book explores the factors that led to his suicide in 2010.

    In his voice and the way he wanted it told, these are Kanyon’s last words about his experience rising through the ranks to the top of the professional wrestling world while keeping his sexuality hidden.

  • Author:
    Muchnick, Irvin
    Summary:

    Irvin Muchnick — a widely published writer and nephew of the late, legendary St. Louis wrestling promoter Sam Muchnick — has produced a book unlike any other on the astonishing growth of professional wrestling and its profound impact on mainstream sports and society. In Wrestling Babylon, he traces the demise of wrestling’s old Mafia-like territories and the rise of a national marketing base thanks to cable television, deregulation and a culture-wide nervous breakdown. Naturally, the figure of WWE’s Vince McMahon lurks throughout, but equally evident is the public’s late-empire lust for bread, circuses, and blood. As this book demonstrates, the more cartoonishly unreal wrestling got, the more chillingly real it became.

    What truly distinguishes Wrestling Babylon, however, is Muchnick’s ability to show how professional wrestling has become the ur-carnival for a culture that feeds on escapist displays of humiliation, revenge, fantasy characters, and sex. His People magazine article on Hulk Hogan blew the lid off the drug abuse of the sport’s signature superstar. His award-winning Penthouse profile of the ill-starred Von Erich clan was the first to connect the dots between wrestling, televangelism, and MTV-style production values. His never-before-published investigation of the death of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka’s girlfriend suggests the cover-up of a murder. The book’s appendix — a comprehensive listing of the dozens of wrestlers who died prematurely over the last generation, with little or no attention — is both a valuable resource for wrestling historians and a shocking document of the ruthless way sports entertainment eats its own.

  • Author:
    Baer, Randy, Reynolds, R.D.
    Summary:

    WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Professional Wrestling examines some of the ridiculously horrible characters and storylines that pro wrestling promoters have subjected their fans to over the past twenty years. Why would any sane person think that having two grown men fight over a turkey was actually a reasonable idea? Was George Ringo, the Wrestling Beatle, really the best gimmick that a major promotional organization could come up with? And who would charge fans to watch a wrestler named the Gobbeldy Gooker emerge from an egg?

    In an attempt to answer such questions and figure out just what the promoters were thinking, authors Randy Baer and R.D. Reynolds go beyond what wrestling fans saw on the screen and delve into the mindset of those in the production booth. In some instances, the motivations driving the spectacle prove even more laughable than what was actually seen in the ring.

    Covering such entertainment catastrophes as an evil one-eyed midget and a wrestler from the mystical land of Oz, not to mention the utterly comprehensible Turkey-on-a-Pole match (a gimmick which AWA fans might recall), WrestleCrap is hysterically merciless in its evaluation of such organizations as the WCW and the WWF. This retrospective look at the wrestling world’s misguided attempts to attract viewers will leave wrestling fans and critics alike in stitches.

  • Author:
    Guttman, James
    Summary:

    In an industry where nothing is real and no one actually wins or loses, the possibilities for manipulation are endless. World Wrestling Insanity sets out to expose the nepotism, backwards logic, and power plays that have made World Wrestling Entertainment go round. Alongside many well known names in wrestling, author James Guttman uses sarcasm, humour, and facts to break down the secrets of Vince McMahon’s company and analyze the reasoning behind many of the decisions made. Never before has WWE, the McMahon Family, Triple H, and others been held up to the light and examined so closely. Why are some of the shows written as they are? Who has the company’s best interests at heart? Who has their own best interests at heart? Could the WWE’s errors be nothing more than accidents or are they the product of cold and calculated manipulation?

    In his trademark style, James Guttman analyzes the insanity and breaks down the McMahonifaction of pro wrestling. You better get your copy soon. Something tells us that there’s a family in Connecticut who would like to make sure that James’s first book is his last...

  • Author:
    Guttman, James
    Summary:

    In the latest offering from the best-selling author of World Wrestling Insanity, James Guttman tells the real story behind contacting, cajoling, convincing, interviewing, and learning from more than 100 of professional wrestling’s most beloved stars. From former World Champions to Playboy models, from grizzled veterans to slick promoters, Radio Free Insanity, Guttman’s popular and groundbreaking weekly web broadcast has featured an environment that fosters discussion and leads to countless memorable tales.

    In Shoot First… Ask Questions Later you’ll journey with Guttman through the business of sports entertainment, making startling discoveries about the way the industry truly works. For the first time ever, Guttman offers keen insight into the true personalities of wrestling’s stars.

    Who’s the nicest guest off-air? And who was the most abrasive? Who was the funniest? And who was the worst interview in the history of interviews? What’s the bizarre story behind speaking with Scott Steiner, and why was Guttman worried? Why was Corporal Kirschner answering JG’s phone? What’s the inside scoop on the now infamous Ole Anderson shoot? What were crazy pre-interview conversations with people like Jerry Lawler, Diamond Dallas Page, Juvi “The Juice” Guerrera, and others really like? Discover all this and more from James Guttman’s two years behind the curtain and inside the work/shoot world of professional wrestling.

    Shoot First … Ask Questions Later, with over 100 names you’ve come to know and love and sometimes hate, comes from the outsider who makes it his mission to find out what makes them tick.

  • Author:
    Carabetta, Michael
    Summary:

    Notable luminaries throughout history have been inspired and humbled by the simple joy of riding a bicycle. For centuries, this powerful connection between people and bikes has driven humans forward as inventors, travelers, and thinkers. From Susan B. Anthony and Mark Twain to Eddy Merckx and Greg LeMond, collected here are entertaining, inspiring, and philosophical thoughts about cycling from writers (and riders) reflecting on the pleasures, power, and freedom of the bicycle. With beautiful black-and-white photos and illustrations on every spread, this elegant collection of quotations is sure to motivate anyone to get on their bike and enjoy the ride.

  • Author:
    Sparkman, Richard
    Summary:

    A recreational canoeman in his native Texas, Rick Sparkman thought he knew all about the sport when he moved to Nova Scotia in 1981. The swift, cold rivers and streams of his new home adjusted his thinking in the most personal way: he got dumped. That’s when he started learning to paddle in earnest. Woodlands Canoeing explains the fundamentals of recreational canoeing in the woods of the Maritimes, New England, and anywhere else where the waterways are small, the water is swift and at times shallow, and canoeing varies with the seasons. It’s a guide to safe, comfortable recreation for those who already canoe a little and want to know more, as well as for people experienced in canoeing on lakes or on the more predictable rivers described in other canoeing books. Woodlands Canoeing outlines the advantages of various kinds of equipment and describes canoeing and camping techniques in words, photos, and drawings, mixing practical information with anecdotes drawn from Sparkman’s years of family canoeing. Throughout, Sparkman concentrates on having fun, even when the expected summer shower becomes the tail of a hurricane or the canoe has to be inched over rocky shallows where only a few days earlier there was plenty of water. Keeping warm, dry, and well fed are crucial to Sparkman’s pleasure, and Woodlands Canoeing contains hints for packing, instructions for making camp, and recipes for delicious and satisfying meals. Because of the region’s volatile climate and variable water conditions, Sparkman has learned how to canoe delightfully in all weathers, and in Woodlands Canoeing he passes his hard-won knowledge along. An enthusiastic winter canoeist, he even explains how to achieve this feat safely and — believe it or not — in comfort.

  • Author:
    Johnson, Steven
    Summary:

    From the New York Times-bestselling author of How We Got to Now and Where Good Ideas Come From, a look at the world-changing innovations we made while keeping ourselves entertained. This lushly illustrated history of popular entertainment takes a long-zoom approach, contending that the pursuit of novelty and wonder is a powerful driver of world-shaping technological change. Steven Johnson argues that, throughout history, the cutting edge of innovation lies wherever people are working the hardest to keep themselves and others amused. Johnson's storytelling is just as delightful as the inventions he describes, full of surprising stops along the journey from simple concepts to complex modern systems. He introduces us to the colorful innovators of leisure: the explorers, proprietors, showmen, and artists who changed the trajectory of history with their luxurious wares, exotic meals, taverns, gambling tables, and magic shows. Johnson compellingly argues that observers of technological and social trends should be looking for clues in novel amusements. You'll find the future wherever people are having the most fun.

  • Author:
    Norton, Wayne
    Summary:

    Women on Ice is the first book to focus upon the vibrant world of women's ice hockey in western Canada during the First World War and through the 1920s. The Vancouver Amazons were one of the most important teams during this perod. Their championship laurels and their association with hockey's famous Patrick brothers distinguish the Amazons from other women's hockey teams of the era. They were one of several teams that met during the annual Banff winter carnivals to compete for what was sometimes officially (and sometimes unofficially) regarded as the women's ice hockey championship of western Canada. With the support of more than three dozen photographs, many of which are published here for the first time, Women on Ice< follows the fortunes of the Vancouver women as they encountered teams that deserve to be legendary, but are now largely forgotten. Also profiled are teams from what was the geographic heart of women's hockey in British Columbia until the First World War; the Kootenays; as well as some of the dominant teams of the post-war years from Alberta. As is the case with so much in Canadian history, the western hockey story differs radically from the experience of Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The curious decline of women's hockey in the 1930s consigned to obscurity the history of these and of all women's teams in western Canada. Women on Ice attempts to rescue some of that fascinating history and will appeal to anyone interested in the past, present or future of women's ice hockey.

  • Author:
    Ignotofsky, Rachel
    Summary:

    Women in Sports highlights the achievements and stories of fifty notable women athletes from the 1800s to today, including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than forty sports. The athletes featured include well-known figures like tennis player Billie Jean King and gymnast Simone Biles, as well as lesser-known champions like Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball in a professional men's league, and skateboarding pioneer Patti McGee. The book also contains information on topics that sporty women want to know about such as muscle anatomy, a timeline of women's participation in sports, pay and media statistics for female athletes, and influential women's teams. Women in Sports celebrates the success of the tough, bold, and fearless women who paved the way for today's athletes.

  • Author:
    Rosen, Katrina
    Summary:

    After many years together Katrina and Mike's marriage has unravelled. In a quest to mend their relationship they embark on a year long, 13,000 kilometre cycling tour with the hope of strengthening their commitment to one another. Katrina is an adventure athlete who craves the wild; her husband, Mike, watches sports with his buddies. Like many couples, after 11 years in a relationship they've grown apart and have become mere acquaintances, as opposed to husband and wife. When they hit rock bottom they realize it's time for a change and they make the dramatic decision to travel the world by bike. The couple ride through barren landscapes, scorching fires, and humid jungles. From backcountry roads in New Zealand, sharing a picnic with a man and his multiple wives in Malaysia, or camping at an orphanage in Cambodia; at every turn, they are touched by locals who feed them stories and laughter. Together they repair 54 flat tires, navigate heat exhaustion in Vietnam, altitude sickness in Tibet, and two robberies before they face the last hard climb to the world's tallest mountain. With You By Bike is honest and raw, describing Katrina's search for forgiveness, acceptance, and change. It's about rediscovering choice from the seat of a bicycle, exploring the world, and finding love by veering off the beaten path.

  • Author:
    Summary:

    Wisdom River: Meditations on Fly Fishing and Life Midstream is a collection of stories, poetry, photos, art, recipes, and jokes that celebrate the wonders of fly fishing and the wisdom that can be gained from spending time on the river. Writers from Montana and Alberta each bring a unique perspective and voice as they share adventures and memories from times they have spent riverside and midstream. Story authors are Larry Kapustka, Chad Okrusch, Jim McLennan, Kaitlyn Okrusch, Pat Munday, Kayla Lappin, Jerry Kustich, Paul Vang, Greg Allard, David McCumber, Chris Pibus, Rayelynn Brandl, and John McKee. Poets are Doris Daley, Al (Doc) Mehl, Larry Kapustka, and Chad Okrusch. Photographers and artists are Tim Foster, Mike Forbister, Rich Thřoux, & Tyler Rock.

  • Author:
    Mortillaro, Nicole
    Summary:

    Documents the life of Willie O'Ree, the first Black player to skate in the NHL.

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