by David L. Hudson, Jr (2009)
From the Publisher: Fistic combat represents the greatest human drama in all of sport. Roman gladiators thrilled citizens and emperors alike when they entered the octagon to face an intense, life-threatening experience. Boxing, the sport of kings, also has its roots in the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Banned in 500 A.D. by the Emperor Theodoric, it resurfaced twelve centuries later in England. John Milton praised it as a noble art for building character in young men, and sports writer A.J. Leibling dubbed it the Sweet Science. Many of its major protagonists - men such as Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali - have become transcendent, near-mythic heroes. But boxing is not the only combat sport, and mixed martial arts, in all their ferocious beauty, represent the fastest growing sports genre in the world. Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) has joined boxing in paying seven figures to some of its champions, and draws millions in its pay-per-view events. This book details leading figures in boxing, sumo wrestling, kickboxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, and mixed martial arts (including organizations such as Ultimate Fighting, PRIDE, K-1, Total Combat, and SportFighting). Over 150 entries cover champions, contenders, and other famous combatants from all over the world, as well as legendary promoters, managers, trainers, and events. Also included in this encyclopedia are sidebars on controversies, highlights, brief bios, and other noteworthy events, along with a general timeline.
Duncan Fletcher with Steve James
The biggest sporting story of 2005 represented a personal triumph for one of the most private yet effective people in British sport. In this book, England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher reveals the story of England's amazing summer.
Alec Guinness
Over the last few years Sir Alec Guinness has been keeping a diary, small portions of which have been appearing in the "Spectator". The diary is the basis of this book, though Guinness has taken the opportunity to go back and expand and revise his entries.
Michael Sandler
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning ran out on the field and looked up at the scoreboard. His team was losing, 14-10, to the mighty New England Patriots. With less than three minutes left in Super Bowl XLII, it was up to Eli to guide the Giants down the field to score a touchdown. Could Eli lead his team to a Super Bowl victory? In Eli Manning and the New York Giants, young sports fans will follow Eli’s journey from his childhood growing up in a football family all the way to his MVP performance in Super Bowl XLII. Large, full-color action photos and engaging narrative text will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they cheer on Eli and the Giants.
David Millar
"A vivid portrait of life as a professional cyclist by international champion David Millar, this arrestingly candid memoir follows his rise as a young racing star, his fall to the pervasive influence of performance-enhancing drugs--and his subsequent redemption"--