"Sportscaster and sports historian Jim Gray gives the reader a coveted all-access pass as he reviews the best interviews, the best athletes, and the best games in modern sports history. It's like a personal introduction to the characters and careers of these heroes and villains we've known since childhood. He examines how money, celebrity, the media, and power interact, and how sports ... has led to ... transformations in American society."--

Television documentary series about sports and culture, featuring a variety of individuals and stories from inside and outside the world of sports. Kings ransom: "On August 9, 1988, the NHL was forever changed with the single stroke of a pen when the Edmonton Oilers sent Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings. Acclaimed director Peter Berg (Friday night lights, The kingdom) presents the captivating story of the trade that knocked the wind out of...

A thought-provoking look at athletes whose legacies have been reduced to defining moments of defeat explains what their experiences can impart about competition, life and the human spirit, tracing the inspirational underdog stories of forgotten heroes ranging from Mary Decker to Bill Buckner.

"In this book, Martin Gitlin has ranked the 100 greatest American athletes across all sports, from football and baseball to the decathlon and skateboarding. Taken into consideration are the athletes' achievements, mental toughness, versatility, athleticism, and overall impact on their sport. Each entry contains biographical sketches of the athletes, recaps of their greatest moments, and quotes from their peers, media members, and sport historians....

"Faster! Higher! Stronger! Stranger! A glorious tapestry of legendary characters, forgotten records, crazy accomplishments, unbelievable feats, wacky contests, and controversial moments, Total Olympics is pure pleasure for anyone who loves the world's greatest sporting event. Discover how the modern Games began, in an out-of-the-way Victorian English town named Much Wenlock. Long-discontinued Olympic sports like tug of war, firefighting, live pigeon...

"From the moment Chris Nikic was born, his parents knew he could achieve anything he set his mind to do. So when he became involved in triathlons with the Special Olympics, his dad, Nik, took on the role of coach and encouraged Chris to aim even higher. Together, they set their sights on making history--Chris becoming the first person with Down syndrome to complete an IRONMAN® triathlon."--Publisher.

The two Escobars: A gripping drama about the intersection of crime, sports and nationalism in 1990's Columbia. At a time when drug money fueled the sport known in the underworld as "narco-soccer", the fates of Andres Escobar, the inspirational captain of Nacional, and Pablo Escobar, the notorious leader of the Medellin cartel, were permanently linked. When Andre was murdered 10 days after scoring an own goal against the US in the first round of the...

Presents profiles of ten athletes in various sports--including Bill Buckner, Jose Canseco, Roberto DeVicenzo, Tonya Harding, Jim Marshall, Dan O'Brien, Willie Shoemaker, Mike Tyson, Chris Webber and Garo Yepremian--who each made a big mistake.

"Featuring traditions, records, and lore, this lively, detailed book explores the personalities, events, and facts every Purdue fan should know. Whether you're a Ross-Ade Stadium or Mackey Arena regular or a more recent supporter, these are the 100 things every fan needs to know and do in their lifetime. Longtime Purdue Athletics publicist Tom Schott and former beat reporter Nathan Baird have collected every essential piece of Boilermakers knowledge...