Lunardi delves into the early days of Bracketology, details its growth, and dispels the myths of the processThe NCAA Tournament has become one of the most popular sports events in the country, consuming fans for weeks with the run to the Final Four and ultimately the crowning of the champion of college hoops.  Each March, millions of Americans fill out their bracket in the hopes of correctly predicting the future.Yet, there is no true Madness without the of...

It’s the mom-and-pop store that has become a national franchise. The most renowned player in school history grew up three blocks from the cozy campus, yet the program has grown into a perennial top 25 power with a coast-to-coast following-even if those casual fans still mangle the name. It’s Gonzaga University-"Gon-zag-a"-as in "Zags," the endearment that has overtaken "Bulldogs" as the school’s athletic ID. There are many Bulldogs, but only a few Zags. There are many Zags stories, however...

In The First Star, acclaimed sports writer Lars Anderson recounts the thrilling story of Harold "Red" Grange, the Galloping Ghost of the gridiron, and the wild barnstorming tour that earned professional football a place in the American sporting firmament.Red Grange's on-field exploits at the University of Illinois, so vividly depicted in print by the likes of Grantland Rice and Damon Runyan, had already earned him a stature equal to that of Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey,...

Celebrate two decades of historical martial arts development with the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Swordsman's Companion by Guy Windsor. This seminal guide has transformed the lives of thousands of swordsmanship enthusiasts worldwide, becoming a timeless classic in historical martial arts literature.This special edition retains the original's practical approach with detailed instructions, illustrations, and drills, which were state-of-the-art in 2004. The field ...

An accessible beginner's guide to the popular Chinese martial art Wing Chun featuring over 400 photos, from a bestselling author and certified instructorAn Approach to Ip Man Style Wing Chun is a practical beginner's guide to Wing Chun by a certified instructor in the Ip Man lineage. Pan American Triple Gold Medalist Wayne Belonoha provides the fundamentals of the art as a comprehensive mind/body training program. Written in accessible language and includi...

The real basketball deal–the inside story of Harlem’s legendary tournament and the pros and playground legends who have made it world famous.Earl “The Goat” Manigault. Herman “Helicopter” Knowings. Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond. Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland. These and dozens of other colorfully nicknamed men are the “Asphalt Gods,” whose astounding exploits in the Rucker Tournament, often against multimillionaire NBA superstars, have made them playground divinity. Firs...

**Joe DiMaggio . . . Ted Williams . . . Joe Louis . . . Billy Conn . . . WhirlawayAgainst the backdrop of a war that threatened to consume the world, these athletes transformed 1941 into one of the most thrilling years in sports history.**In the summer of 1941, America paid attention to sports with an intensity that had never been seen before. World War II was raging in Europe and headlines grew worse by the day; even the most optimistic people began to accept the inevitabi...

A best selling book on my top 25 picks on what’s Best About Sports wouldn’t be complete without a complementary book on my top 25 choices on what’s Worst About Sports.As I penned in my previous book - Best About Sports - the subject of sports always triggers debate.Pick a player, celebrate a team or remember a championship moment, regardless of the sport, and I guarantee that a lively discussion will quickly follow.In a relative’s living r...

The bestselling author of Dream Team tells the interconnected stories of the twenty-first-century Golden State Warriors and the early-1970s Los Angeles Lakers, two extraordinary teams playing in extraordinary times and linked by one extraordinary man: Jerry West.“Full of juicy anecdotes and wagging fun . . . [Jack] McCallum holds legitimate claim for being the greatest NBA writer of all time.”—The Wall Street Journal

A refreshing and thought-provoking look at athletes whose legacies have been reduced to one defining moment of defeat—those on the flip side of an epic triumph—and what their experiences can teach us about competition, life, and the human spirit.Every sports fan recalls with amazing accuracy a pivotal winning moment involving a favorite team or player—Henry Aaron hitting his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth; Christian Laettner's famous buzzer beating shot in the NCAA tournament for...

The Round is not only a history of the Bob Graham Round, but also an exploration of the what, why and how of this classic fell endurance challenge. After covering the genesis of the BGR in detail, it documents its development from a more-or-less idle challenge to its present status as a rite of passage for endurance runners. Interspersed with this detail of the round are extensive profiles of many of the event's most significant individuals: innovators, record setters, recorders and suppor...

BRISTOL ROVERS: THE OFFICIAL HISTORY is an up-to-date and definitive historical record of Bristol Rovers Football Club, relating the story of the club from its origins in 1883, through the glory years and tougher times, to where it is today. Emphasis is placed on why the club started, who the figureheads of the club were at various points in its long history, how two World Wars were survived and how the club lived through exile in Bath to return to its home patch. No football club simply s...