Table of Contents
Series Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xiii
Sports Defined xiv
Criteria for Selection xiv
How to Use This Book xiv
A Note for Librarians xv
Symbols xv
Chapter 1 Character 1
Best of the Best-Great Athletes/Great Writers 1
Outstanding Athletes-Outstanding Autobiographies 3
The Lives of Great Coaches 5
Owners-Titans of the Game 7
One of a Kind-Unique Individuals 9
Sport Families 10
Yer Out!-The Officials 12
These Women Rock 14
Voices of Sport-Announcers 15
Out of the Closet … and into the Spotlight 17
Yo Rocky-Underdogs 19
"I'll Play the Game"-The Sporting Lives of Writers 21
You Are Not Supposed to Be Here-Breakthroughs 23
Politicians and Celebrities 25
Chapter 2 Story 29
Did You See That Game? 29
Greatest Rivalries 32
Game Changers-Reinventing Sport 34
Title IX-Leveling the Playing Field (Almost) 36
Fabulous Firsts and Unbreakable Records 38
Endurance-Highest, Fastest, and Furthest 40
There's a War On (U.S. Wars) 42
Political Underpinnings 44
The Seedier Side of Sports 46
Inside Scoops-Tell-Alls 48
Cheaters Never Win 50
High School Hopes and Dreams 52
Bubble Gum in Every Pack-Collectibles 54
Stay Tuned-Media and Sports 56
The Thrill of Mystery 57
Forgotten, Forlorn, and Misbegotten Teams and Leagues 59
Chapter 3 Setting 63
Fantasy Leagues 63
Off the Beaten Path-Unlikely Pastimes That Pass for Sport 65
It's a Business, Not a Game 67
The Most Dangerous Sports 69
Outdoor Life-Nature and Sport 71
Road Trips-Traveling and Sports 72
Out of This World-Sports in Speculative Fiction 74
The Olympics 75
1936-An Olympic Year 77
Sport amid Chaos 79
Tools of the Trade-Equipment 81
At the Movies-Craig's Favorite Books to Film 83
At the Movies 2-Richard's Favorite Books to Film 85
Chapter 4 Language 89
The Art of the Essay and Article 89
These Guys Are Funny-Humor in Sports 91
Behind the Pen (Keyboard)-Writers' Lives 93
Nonsports Writers Writing about Sports 95
For Literary Enthusiasts-Sports and So Much More 97
Historical Novels of the Game 99
The Fantastic-Novels That Stretch the Imagination 101
Interviews-The Best Questions Asked and Answered 103
Diaries … A Day in the Life 105
The "A" Team-Anthologies 106
Poetry and Other Shorts 108
Playwrights Play Right-Broadway and Sports 110
Chapter 5 Mood 113
Before the Fall 113
…After the Fall 115
Good Advice, Great Coaches 117
Nostalgia-The Good Old Days 118
Fans or Fanatics? 120
Fathers and Sons (and Daughters Too) 122
Remembrance-Lives Cut Short 124
Sports Photography-A Picture Is Worth 126
At What Cost-The Price of Excellence 128
For the Love of the Game (Not the Money) 130
Love and Devotion-Beyond the Games 132
I Can Do Anything You Can Do-Athletes with Disabilities 134
Extraordinary Friendships 135
It's Tebow Time-You Gotta Have Faith 137
The Futility of Being a Cleveland Sports Fan (or How We Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Defeat and Despair) 139
Sources 143
Index-Titles by Sport 145
Name Index 157
