ESPN: The Mighty Book of Sports Knowledge

In The ESPN Mighty Book of Sports Knowledge, Steve Wulf, acclaimed author and founding editor of ESPN The Magazine, delivers an arena’s worth of sporting wisdom, trivia, best-of lists, curiosities, legendary feats, and sacred objects–from the magic of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech to the lore of hockey’s Stanley Cup to the art of the perfectly thrown Wiffle Ball pitch. Written to remind us all why we love the games, this indispensable reference features contributions from the finest minds at ESPN, as well as guidance from actual professionals. Inside you’ll discover

• twenty-five of the greatest sporting nicknames
• the keys to being a mascot
• what happens during a pit stop
• the five best (worst?) on-field temper tantrums
• a tour of Donovan McNabb’s locker
• how Wayne Gretzky tapes his sticks
• the unbeatable secret of rock-paper-scissors
• how to tape an ankle, fold a paper football, hit a hole in one, whistle with your fingers, throw a knuckleball, jump rope like a champ, and oil a baseball glove
• advice from star athletes–learn to run routes like Jerry Rice, take a penalty kick like Landon Donovan, fake opponents out like Chris Paul, and put on your socks the John Wooden way

The ESPN Mighty Book of Sports Knowledge is the perfect antidote to our video-game culture and an essential gift for any fan who ever dreamed of throwing a tight spiral in a Super Bowl, closing out a World Series game, or lining up a putt to win a major. In other words, it’s a book for the young and the young at heart.

From the Hardcover edition.

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

List Price: $ 25.00
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Pink Sport Neoprene Sleeve Case Cover for Kindle DX By Protec

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The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies

Guys love movies. Especially sports movies, where every underdog has his day, every team achieves glory, and every hero gets his moment of redemption. Next to watching Monday Night Football, there-s nothing more enjoyable than plopping down on the couch with the remote and a bottle of beer and firing up the special-edition DVD of Rocky, Hoosiers, Caddyshack, or any other fan favorite. Now, two nationally renowned sports media personalities take on the task of ranking the top 100 sports movies of all time, including entertaining and informative lists, special features, and contributions from over 75 top sports figures. From drama to comedy to tragedy to documentary, all the greatest sports films are here, brought to life through detailed summaries, fun facts and trivia, behind-the-scenes revelations, plus images from the greatest moments in sports film history. Original comments from some of the top personalities in sports and entertainment-including Peyton and Eli Manning, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, James Gandolfini, Bill Parcells, Dennis Quaid, Arnold Palmer, and many more-provide further insight and marketing punch.

Rating: (out of 8 reviews)

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The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies Reviews

Review by R. Otoole:

I AM TAKEN AWAY BY A GOOD SPORTS MOVIE. AFTER READING THIS BOOK, I WAS TAKEN AWAY WITH THE BOOK. THE AUTHORS, RAY DIDINGER AND GLEN MACNOW PUT THESE MOVIES IN THERE PROPER PRESPECTIVE WITH A GREAT ANALYSIS OF EACH MOVIE. THE SIDE COMMENT FROM WELL KNOWN ACTORS AND SPORTSTARS PROVE TO BE WELL WORTH YOUR TIME.

Review by Midwest Book Review:

The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies features 100 sports films deemed the greatest of all time and adds in fun features, facts, and original contributions from over 100 superstars. The result is a survey that offers not just the top 100 films with movies from every sport in the field to synopsis and sidebars of information. Very highly recommended for any sports or movie general-interest library.

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Forza The Samurai Sword Workout

Readers tired of the same old workout moves can grab a sword (a broomstick and some imagination will do!) and slice, chop, and thrust their way into great shape. In Forza The Samurai Sword Workout, top New York trainer Ilaria Montagnani transforms ancient Japanese sword fighting techniques from kendo and aikijujitsu into a supercharged fitness program. Specially designed to work the whole body, Montagnani’s program teaches precise striking movements that shape the upper and lower body while building strength. Forza The Samurai Sword Workout is also a fantastic cardiovascular workout as various movements are strung together into movie-like, choreographed fighting sequences performed at high speed. The book includes a resource section explaining how and where to purchase various workout swords, including steel, wood, and weighted plastic.

Rating: (out of 26 reviews)

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Forza The Samurai Sword Workout Reviews

Review by L. A. Kane:

Not for serious martial artists but an interesting and generally effective exercise routine nevertheless. Ilaria Montagnani’s Forza has done for kendo what Billy Blanks’ Tai Bo did for karate. It is a fun, relatively easy to learn, aerobic workout routine with a big stick (or bokken if you own one). She begins with a little background and context then jumps right into footwork, warm-up exercises, and basic techniques. You will learn how to hold the weapon and perform high, low, horizontal, and diagonal cuts as well as thrusts. There are a few “advanced” techniques as well, though they are really only variations of the basic stuff.

If you are an experience budoka who has studied kendo, iaido, or a related martial art this book is not for you. If you are a mundane individual who’s got enough space to swing around a big stick and wants an interesting workout routine you ought to give this book a try. The book is a bit light on explanation but the step-by-step photos are clear and easy to follow. It might be better as a DVD but you can get sufficient information out of this format to perform the routines successfully. I recommend reading through it a couple times before getting started though.

I strongly recommend doing the warm-up drills before getting started. Even a few minutes with a lightweight stick can lead to pulled muscles or other injuries if you haven’t done this kind of thing before.

If you really dig this stuff and want a serious workout, you should consider picking up a heavy ironwood bokken. It’ll make you sweat fast. If you want something even heavier, you should probably consider an ironwood suburito (suburi bokken) which is thicker and heaver than a traditional bokken but has the same general shape. The balance, however, is not typically as good. Consequently they are only used for solo training and not for tandem exercises in a traditional dojo (which is exactly what you want here anyway). If you do the footwork/stances properly along with the arm movements you really can work your whole body, not just your arms/shoulders.

The editorial write-up touts that the book tells you how to get a hold of a workout sword yet the text simply suggests building your own and also refers to contacting a local martial arts store or internet site. I’m underwhelmed by that! There is also no warning against doing this with live steel in the book so I’ll give one here: Don’t even think of doing this stuff with a real sword without expert supervision. That’s a serious accident waiting to happen.

In summary, this book is an interesting idea that is clearly communicated and very well illustrated. It’s an aerobic workout not a martial art, but a lot more interesting than most fitness routines. If you’ve got a big enough practice area and a passing interest in swords you ought to give it a try.

Lawrence Kane

Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Review by Michelle Vetter:

First, I am not a regular fitness buff, but I do have an interest in martial arts, and have some experience with swords. I have the natural wood hardwood daito bought from Amazon some time ago, which is a great and very well-balanced practice sword for the price.

This book is aimed at the workout crowd and not the martial artist, but I think that for anyone desiring some basic skills and forms on Japanese sword technique would like this book. The book is split up into basic exercises, more advanced exercies, and some forms, or routines which combine exercises together. The exercises are clearly explained with good pictures, although I could have wished for a little more detail on technique. There is a background explanation for swordwork at the beginning of the book, as well as workout hints and tips to begin a practice of the sword. The author clearly has training in formal martial arts, but does not go over the head of the beginner.

The day I got the book, I tried out the basic and advanced exercises. I only worked out about 10 minutes. I then had to take a few days off as my shoulders were so sore I could hardly lift them, even though I only practiced a few minutes. After having practiced the exercises as well as several of the routines, I am beginning to see a change in my shoulders. I also tend to lose track of the time when I get a hold of that sword and go through the workout.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in martial arts, swords, or simply firming up their arms and shoulders.

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Protec Sony Reader Touch Sport Neoprene Cover (Black)

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The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy

There is only one writer on the planet who possesses enough basketball knowledge and passion to write the definitive book on the NBA.* Bill Simmons, the from-the-womb hoops addict known to millions as ESPN.com’s Sports Guy, is that writer. And The Book of Basketball is that book.

Nowhere in the roundball universe will you find another single volume that covers as much in such depth as this wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining look at the past, present, and future of pro basketball.

From the age-old question of who actually won the rivalry between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to the one about which team was truly the best of all time, Simmons opens–and then closes, once and for all–every major pro basketball debate. Then he takes it further by completely reevaluating not only how NBA Hall of Fame inductees should be chosen but how the institution must be reshaped from the ground up, the result being the Pyramid: Simmons’s one-of-a-kind, five-level shrine to the ninety-six greatest players in the history of pro basketball. And ultimately he takes fans to the heart of it all, as he uses a conversation with one NBA great to uncover that coveted thing: The Secret of Basketball.

Comprehensive, authoritative, controversial, hilarious, and impossible to put down (even for Celtic-haters), The Book of Basketball offers every hardwood fan a courtside seat beside the game’s finest, funniest, and fiercest chronicler.

* More to the point, he’s the only one crazy enough to try to pull it off.

From the Hardcover edition.Amazon Best of the Month, October 2009: The Book of Basketball is a 700-page work of hoops genius that would make Dr. James Naismith beam proudly – and probably blush. Author Bill Simmons, best known as ESPN.com’s “The Sports Guy,” explores the NBA with hilarious insight, brilliant analysis, and a

Rating: (out of 172 reviews)

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Out of Bounds: Love of Sports book 1

Can a sexy nightclub owner convince an all star basketball player to risk it all? Love of Sports Book 1. Professional basketball player Kasey Johnson makes a point of keeping his sexual preference under guard and out of the public eye. Empty, off-season flings are all he can look forward to until he retires. He figures his secret is safe-until he meets Ingram Fletcher, a nightclub owner who ignites a passionate inferno in his body. Gram has lusted after Kasey ever since the long, tall basketball player was traded to Phoenix a year ago. But with Kasey’s twin brother running interference, up until now Gram’s been unsure if it’s safe to make a play. Then some incidental contact in the crowded club leads to a kiss that starts Gram wondering if a relationship is possible—now, and beyond March Madness. A romantic weekend together answers that question. Now the only one remaining is if Kasey is ready make a fast break out of his comfort zone. Warning: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, nekkid man love, creative usage of chocolate, whipped cream and strawberries.

Rating: (out of 10 reviews)

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Out of Bounds: Love of Sports book 1 Reviews

Review by Nigel C:

Trite and repetitive – why do gay novels generally tend to be little more than a series of strung togther sex scenes with little narrative content ad even less literary value. Come on guys we deserve better than this. The theme of issues of being openly gay in sport is raised but the the novel closes before the consequences of being out are seen and the story developed. Mills and Boon for gay men with sex included! An hour’s read at best with little characterisation or story outside the sex scenes.

Review by L. Wilson:

Kasey and Garrett are twins who happen to be both gay and public figures. Garrett is an out gay actor and Kasey a basketball player who isn’t ashamed of his sexuality but is hesitant about comming of for safety reasons.

Gram is an openly gay club owner in the city the twins live in. Garrett frequents the club more often than Kasey does but Gram has a crush on Kasey.

This is Kasey and Gram’s story and it is a good one about find love and working to hold on to it even when it doesn’t fit your ‘ten year plan’ to have it now.

Kasey and Gram find ways to be together without to many problems and Gram is an amazing partner who respects Kasey’s need to not be out to the world.

A very good short story that delivers on many levels with some pretty hot sex scens

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The Everything Giant Book of Sports Word Searches

Love the fast-paced thrill of a high-energy basketball game? Addicted to the quiet intensity of a championship golf tournament? Dig the reckless speed of auto racing?No matter your favorite, this book will satisfy your every sports-related passion. Puzzlemaster Charles Timmerman’s latest collection combines the fun of word searches with the exhilaration of popular sports for the ultimate puzzling experience!This gigantic collection features hundreds of entertaining puzzles based on the world of sports, including:BasketballFootballBaseballMotor sportsHockeyGolfRelive your favorite sports moments while working on these popular and addictive puzzles. With more than 300 major-league word searches, it’s the next best thing to the Superbowl!

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