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Whatever Happened to Billy Parks
by Gareth Roberts2014 JERWOOD FICTION UNCOVERED PRIZE WINNER LONGLISTED FOR THE 2014 GORDON BURN PRIZE
What You Think You Know About Football is Wrong: The Global Game’s Greatest Myths and Untruths
by Kevin MooreOur view of football will never be the same again… Written by a world-respected football historian, this football history/gift title reveals the global game's greatest myths and untruths. Football has been completely mythologized and many of the things football fans think they know about football and its history turn out not to be true. We want to believe the myths, and so they become accepted. So much football writing is not properly researched, and so the myths get repeated … again and again and again. Written by Kevin Moore, the founding director of the National Football Museum (the world's leading football museum), this thoroughly researched and authoritative book will debunk more than 50 of the greatest myths surrounding football. Backed up by the highest level of academic research yet written in an accessible, mass-market style, the book will explore the truth behind many accepted myths. For example, did you know: · The Germans took football to Brazil, not the English· Rugby and not football could quite easily have been the world's leading sport· There are gay professional players ….and always have been! · Goalkeepers should not dive for penalties· Football hooliganism did not begin in England· Shirt colours do make a difference · Cambridge and not Sheffield is the home of the oldest football club in the world· Arsenal should not be in the Premier League… they cheated to be there· The Dynamo Kiev team were not executed after beating a German SS team in 1941· England did not win the World Cup fairly in 1966 … but not in the way you think!
What You Think You Know About Football is Wrong: The Global Game’s Greatest Myths and Untruths
by Kevin MooreOur view of football will never be the same again… Written by a world-respected football historian, this football history/gift title reveals the global game's greatest myths and untruths. Football has been completely mythologized and many of the things football fans think they know about football and its history turn out not to be true. We want to believe the myths, and so they become accepted. So much football writing is not properly researched, and so the myths get repeated … again and again and again. Written by Kevin Moore, the founding director of the National Football Museum (the world's leading football museum), this thoroughly researched and authoritative book will debunk more than 50 of the greatest myths surrounding football. Backed up by the highest level of academic research yet written in an accessible, mass-market style, the book will explore the truth behind many accepted myths. For example, did you know: · The Germans took football to Brazil, not the English· Rugby and not football could quite easily have been the world's leading sport· There are gay professional players ….and always have been! · Goalkeepers should not dive for penalties· Football hooliganism did not begin in England· Shirt colours do make a difference · Cambridge and not Sheffield is the home of the oldest football club in the world· Arsenal should not be in the Premier League… they cheated to be there· The Dynamo Kiev team were not executed after beating a German SS team in 1941· England did not win the World Cup fairly in 1966 … but not in the way you think!
What You Always Wanted: An If Only novel (If Only . . .)
by Kristin RaeEnjoy What You Always Wanted and the other standalone titles in Bloomsbury's contemporary If Only romance line centered around an impossible problem: you always want what you can't have!Maddie Brooks has always had high standards for guys. But she has yet to find one who can live up to the grace and romance of classic Hollywood heartthrobs, especially the dreamy song-and-dance man, Gene Kelly. When Maddie begins to carpool with Jesse Morales, her new neighbor and star pitcher of the high school baseball team, she's immediately struck by his wit, good looks, and love for his family-but a guy so into sports is definitely not her style. Then Maddie discovers that Jesse was raised a dancer and still practices in the community theater dance studio to keep in shape. Perhaps her perfect dream guy exists after all. But when it becomes clear that baseball-not dance-is Jessie's passion, can Maddie find a way to let her dream guy go and appreciate the charms of the amazing guy in front of her?
What Would The Rock Do?
by Pop Press'Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?!' He has yet to encounter an obstacle he couldn't overcome. He's the WWE legend as eight-time champion, he's outlasted being buried up to his neck in a desert (The Scorpion King), battled the giant Tamatoa (Moana), ruthless mercenaries (Jumanji), and murderous racers (the Fast and Furious series) all thanks to his motivation and drive.Do you want to learn how to do the same? Then get inspired with this uplifting collection of quotes from the man himself on success, wrestling, fitness, family and more.What else can we say, except, you're welcome?!
What Would Jurgen Klopp Do?: Life Lessons from a Champion
by Tom VictorTHE PERFECT GIFT FOR FOOTBALL FANS - A HERO FOR DIFFICULT TIMESThere's no one quite like Klopp. Players love him, Liverpool fans love him - even those who should hate him, want a hug from him. He's charismatic, charming, a master tactician and his unrivalled passion for his team and the game has made him one of football's most beloved personalities.So, let's face it, in these uncertain times, we all could do with being a bit more like Klopp. The perfect gift for any football fan in your life; from how to make the perfect dinner-party klopptails to cultivating your Top of the Klopps playlist - this is a celebration of football's greatest manager and a guide to winning in your own life.'All of us have to do whatever we can to protect one another. This should be the case all the time in life, but in this moment I think it matters more than ever.' - Jurgen Klopp
What Would Arnie Do?
by AnonDo you revere the legend that is Arnie? Do you agree that the best activities for your health are pumping and humping?Do you trust that if it bleeds, you can kill it?Then this is the book for you.Be inspired by the no-nonsense life philosophy of Arnold Schwarzenegger, through his best and most ridiculous motivational quotes.And remember: Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer.
What Will Be: The Autobiography
by William Fox-PittThe candid autobiography of one of the world's leading and most popular three-day eventersWilliam Fox-Pitt has been one of the most successful three-day event riders for many years. He began eventing at the age of fifteen and decided to pursue this passion as a career after graduating from university. In 2004, he had a year of extremes, going from winning Badminton to having the agony of seeing his horse get injured during the Olympics, which destroyed his chances of an individual medal and prevented the team from winning gold. The following year, he won Burghley, Gatcombe and Bramham to confirm himself as Britain's top rider.In his eagerly awaited autobiography, he talks about the issues confronting the sport and reveals much about the vital partnerships with team-mates and, above all, the horses that help him to gain such success.
What the River Knows: An Angler in Midstream
by Wayne FieldsAt the age of forty-two, Wayne Fields set upon a sort of pilgrimage when he waded the near twenty-mile stretch of a small river in northern Michigan with fly rod in hand. He emerged with a beautiful and poignant memoir, a meditation on families and aging, and a whimsical response to what time, and streams, and those we care about bring into our lives.
What Sport Tells Us About Life: Bradman's Average, Zidane's Kiss and Other Sporting Lessons
by Ed SmithThere is a huge category of sports fan: people who love a bloody good argument. Sport makes them think, engage and argue. Given that people already take sport so very seriously, and at such an intense level of enquiry, then Ed Smith concludes we should draw out some of sport's intellectual lessons and practical usesWhat Sport Teaches Us About Life gives us a rare glimpse into the world of sport as seen from an extraordinarily keen, and closely-involved observer. In one chapter Smith extols the virtues of amateurism in today's professional world; in another he explains why there'll never be another sportsman as dominant as Don Bradman. He unearths the hidden dimensions of England's 2005 Ashes win, examines the impact of the free market on cricket and football, argues that cheating is not always as clear cut as it might seem.
What It Takes: My Playbook on Life and Leadership
by null Sarina WiegmanWinning strategies of one of football’s most successful coaches As FIFA's most decorated female football manager and a former player, Sarina Wiegman has led both the Netherlands and England women's national teams to historic victories. She stands out as a true pioneer in the game, and her coaching philosophy has earned her a reputation as one of the most successful coaches in football history. This personal account of Sarina's life journey begins with her early passion for football, and covers her key moments on the pitch as well as her ascension to the top of the coaching world. Join Sarina as she talks us through her rollercoaster ride of victories and challenges, the tough decisions she had to make both on and off the pitch, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that saw her rise to become an indomitable figure in the world of sports. And, it’s not just about the game. In a world where football has become more competitive than ever, Sarina's revolutionary approach to leadership, mentorship, and performance management has garnered global attention. In What It Takes we gain invaluable insight into Sarina’s unique philosophy, as she shares how she fostered an environment that values determination, teamwork, and mutual respect. A strong advocate for women in the sport, she outlines a transformative and inclusive future for football where everyone has an equal chance to shine, irrespective of gender.
What is a Loose-head?
by John GriffithsThe laws of the game are made simple – for players, referees, coaches and spectators. This is a book packed full of useful information and advice on how the modern game is played and how it all began.
What is a Googly?: The Mysteries Of Cricket Explained
by Rob EastawayA new edition of Rob Eastaway's classic guide to the rules of cricket.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (Vintage International Series)
by Haruki Murakami Philip GabrielIn 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing. Equal parts travelogue, training log, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and settings ranging from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston.By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, this is a must-read for fans of this masterful yet private writer as well as for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running.
What I Love About Cricket: One Man's Vain Attempt to Explain Cricket to a Teenager who Couldn't Give a Toss
by Sandy BalfourWhat I Love About Cricket is the story of a summer when a 'master' cricket obsessive teaches his novice 'pupil' the wisdom of the game. Sandy Balfour is cast as the supposed master and his sixteen-year-old daughter's new boyfriend - the skateboarding boy wonder - is the reluctant pupil.This beginner's guide to the infuriatingly perverse game of cricket is a love letter addressed both tothose who utterly fail to understand it and to those who need reminding why they fell in love inthe first place. What unfolds is wonderfully observed, very funny and as much about fathersand daughters, love and life, as it is about cricket.
WHAT HORSES SAY: HOW TO HEAR, HELP AND HEAL THEM
by JULIE DICKERThis is a powerful collection of true stories that provide anecdotal evidence of horses' emotions and their ability to reason.'As an equine veterinary surgeon whose cynicism was swept to one side after working with Julie Dicker; I know that for anyone associated with horses this truly remarkable book will open their mind to an alternative approach to equine management, disease treatment and welfare.' --Judith Webster, BVetMed, MRCVS
What Happened to Serie A: The Rise, Fall and Signs of Revival
by Steven G. MandisIn the 1980s and 1990s, Serie A was known as ‘Il campionato più bello del mondo’ - the most beautiful championship in the world - and had the highest match attendances in Europe. The stadiums were not only full of people, but full of colour, flags, songs and rituals. Italy hosted World Cup 1990 and the stadia and stars on show in Serie A became iconic. Across a ten year period from 1989 to 1999 a remarkable 10 different Serie A clubs occupied nearly half the places in the finals of the Champions League and Europa Cup. They were dominant.But then in the 2000s they began to fall behind and despite the Azzurri winning the World Cup in 2006 and Inter Milan winning the Champions League in 2010, Italian football was on a downwards trajectory that saw the national team fail to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, their first absence from the tournament since 1958.What happened and why? In this extraordinary book, Steven G. Mandis investigates. Given unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Italian clubs and key decision makers and players, Mandis is the first outside researcher to rigorously analyse both the on-the-pitch and business aspects of a club and league. What he learns is completely unexpected and challenges popular explanations and conventional wisdom.
What Goes Around: A London Cycle Courier's Story
by Emily ChappellEmily Chappell was never meant to be a cycle courier. She planned to earn her living using her mind rather than her legs. She thought it'd be a useful stopgap while searching for a 'real' job. Today, six years on, she's still pedalling. 'It's my most enduring love affair; the career that's shaped my life, made me what I am, and entirely derailed any hope of a normal existence.'As she flies through the streets of the capital, dancing with the traffic, Chappell records the pain and pleasure-both mental and physical-of life on wheels: the hurtling, dangerous missions; the ebb and flow of seasonal work; the moments of fear and freedom, anger and exhaustion; the camaraderie of the courier tribe and its idiosyncratic characters; the conflict and harmony between bicycle and road, body and mind.At the same time it is a hymn to London; its changing skyline, its chaos and interconnectedness: 'the unlikeliest street corners will have some tattered threads of memory fluttering from them like a flag...It's almost as if the memories have overflowed from my head and scattered themselves about the city. Some parts of my life I can recall simply by thinking of them; others I think I'd remember better if I went back to a certain part of London and plucked them up from the tree I'd hung them from, or retraced them from the park bench I'd scratched them on, or snatched them up as they blew around in circles in an alleyway like a discarded carrier bag'. This is a book about discovery and belonging, connection and memory, choosing life's uncharted course and the delicious sensation of just riding.
What Every Horse Should Know: A Training Guide to Developing a Confident and Safe Horse
by Cherry HillRenowned horse expert Cherry Hill explains how horses learn and guides you through how to handle a horse without fear.
What Doesn't Kill You...: My Life in Motor Racing
by Johnny HerbertJohnny Herbert was one of the most brilliant natural talents to emerge in motor racing, but for all his bravery and prowess, he's lucky to be alive. After becoming British Junior Karting Champion (losing part of a finger in the process), then the Formula 3 title for Eddie Jordan in 1987, he was all set for a glittering debut season in Formula 1 when he was caught in a mass pile-up at Brands Hatch. That horrific crash threatened to end his career, but Herbert made a miraculous recovery, was a hugely popular winner of the British Grand Prix in 1995, and enjoyed 25 years of competitive motorsport, becoming the only British driver to win the 24 hours of Le Mans followed by a Grand Prix. And all that despite driving every pace in extreme pain; in fact, as the first and only disabled driver in F1 history.While chronicling an extraordinary life behind the wheel with cheer and his trademark cheeky humour, What Doesn't Kill You... contains a wealth of stories from the hard end of Formula 1: on Johnny's team-mate Michael Schumacher, legends like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, his fellow British adversaries Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Nigel Mansell, and of course all those gruesome accidents. With an encyclopaedic knowledge and love of the sport, Johnny Herbert's autobiography, much like the man himself, delivers brilliance from the back of the grid.
WHAT Did You Say Stopped Play?: 25 Years of the Wisden Chronicle
by Mr Nick Newman Mr Matthew EngelIt's normal for rain to stop play in cricket. But that's not all: flying objects, passing dictators, animals of all kinds including a very improbable tiger – they have all had the same effect. But even when the game keeps going, cricket is a magnet for the weird and wonderful.For the past quarter-century the Chronicle section of Wisden has been collecting the most remarkable events in the game: the eccentric, the extraordinary and the excruciatingly funny.This is the cricket that reference books would normally ignore, from the village greens of England to the back alleys of Asia. This selection is about Tendulkar-worshippers and angry neighbours; about scoring a thousand and being all out for nought. There are politicians and protesters; celebs and streakers; judges and jobsworths ... and batsmen who really do murder the bowlers.
What Baseball Means To Me: A Celebration Of Our National Pastime
by Curt SmithFunny, moving, and each one a diamond in the rough of the American consciousness, the essays in this book are the ultimate baseball conversation that pays homage to the perfect sport, in this perfect companion for all our personal baseball journeys. For some people baseball means a memory-of a certain dusty ball field on a certain summer day, or the first time they walked into a major league park and saw the perfect emerald playing field. For some, baseball means one heartbreaking or heroic moment. And for others, it means a father, a friend, or an old flame who shared a game for a day or for a lifetime. To create this marvelous book, more than 150 writers, athletes, celebrities, politicians, presidents, and pundits were asked what baseball means to them. The answers came back with richness, wonder, insight, and poetry. A fascinating portrait of baseball's beautiful nuances, What Baseball means to me marks the greatest collection of original essays ever written about the game. Accompanied by more than 200 classic baseball photographs, the voices in this book bring alive the game in all its venues-in the past and present, in wartime and hard times, in Cuba, in Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium. We meet players in a different light: including Paul Molitor returning a baseball to a trusting boy named Dan Jansen, Derek Jeter as depicted by his dad, the Toledo Mud Hens as seen through the eyes of Christine Brennan, and Pedro Martinez talking about baseball as a way of life in his native Dominican Republic. Most of all, we meet ordinary Americans, like the kids Rudy Giuliani grew up with in Brooklyn, or the man in Philadelphia who transforms himself for every home game from mild-mannered Tom Burgoyne to the Phillie Phanatic.
What Are the Olympics For?
by Jules Boykoff‘Athletes first’ is a slogan the International Olympic Committee often touts, but the reality is very different, as pre-eminent Olympics expert Jules Boykoff shows in this book. While the world’s attention is riveted by the triumphs and tribulations on their screens, there is much that goes on behind the scenes that is deeply troubling: athletes are increasingly voicing concerns over physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and they are collectively expressing grievances around equity and human rights. Outside the stadiums, problems range from the democratic deficit and corruption surrounding the awarding of the Games, to displacement of people and gentrification of neighbourhoods to make way for Olympic venues, to the environmental damage that Olympic construction inflicts and then tries to greenwash away. Boykoff tells us that radical steps are required if the Games are to be fixed and only then will they be truly ‘athletes first’.
What Are the Olympics For?
by Jules Boykoff‘Athletes first’ is a slogan the International Olympic Committee often touts, but the reality is very different, as pre-eminent Olympics expert Jules Boykoff shows in this book. While the world’s attention is riveted by the triumphs and tribulations on their screens, there is much that goes on behind the scenes that is deeply troubling: athletes are increasingly voicing concerns over physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and they are collectively expressing grievances around equity and human rights. Outside the stadiums, problems range from the democratic deficit and corruption surrounding the awarding of the Games, to displacement of people and gentrification of neighbourhoods to make way for Olympic venues, to the environmental damage that Olympic construction inflicts and then tries to greenwash away. Boykoff tells us that radical steps are required if the Games are to be fixed and only then will they be truly ‘athletes first’.
What a Flanker
by James Haskell‘Hilarious, and straight talking but also articulate and insightful – I am just hugely fond of this guy’ –Eddie Jones