Biography & Autobiography : Sports

Part sports star, part antihero, part hip-hop icon, Allen Iverson has managed to cross over into the mainstream of American culture -- without compromise. Defiantly tattooed, with his hair in cornrows, the six-foot Philadelphia 76ers point guard is one of the most recognizable and controversial stars of the sports world. His meteoric rise from a troubled childhood in the ghetto to NBA superstardom has been marked by five straight playoff appearances, including a finals berth in 2001 and an MVP award. From his rap sheet to his rap album, fans and journalists alike hound his every move. But never before has a biographer presented a full portrait of this complicated and intensely private star -- a man whose loyalty to his family, the streets, and his friends trumps any other concern. Filled with exclusive interview material and unprecedented access to many of Iverson's inner circle, Only the Strong Survive is the first in-depth look at the truth behind this newly minted legend. more...

Price: $9.95

In her autobiography, Olympic ski racer Street gives a solid chronology of her career with her independent ''I'll do what I want'' attitude. Not a typical sports superstar, Street prefers to hang out with her family or old friends. She's also not been a favorite model for magazine covers, since, due to her injuries, her weight has greatly fluctuated. However, it becomes evident that Street cares most about excelling at her sport and when she doesn't perform well, she blames herself and vows to improve for the next competition. Street attributes her atypical traits to her upbringing in Triumph, Idaho a small town near the Sun Valley and Ketchum ski resorts, where she grew up a tomboy and to her parents, who were ''hippies'' feeding the family from homegrown vegetables and providing the bare minimum. As an adolescent, Street's speed was apparent as she beat many more experienced male skiers. more...

Price: $24.95

SHE IS A FASHION ICON WITH A LUST FOR FAME. HE IS POSSIBLY THE MOST FAMOUS ATHLETE ON THE PLANET. Together they are one of the most loved -- and hated -- pairs on Earth. This sensational, highly addictive biography delves beneath the Beckhams' glossy, glamorous facade to expose the real Posh and Becks behind the headlines and the hype. With up-to-date coverage and commentary on all things Beckham, including David's disappointing stint at Real Madrid and the family's relocation to Los Angeles, Posh & Becks lays bare the truth behind the tabloids on this fascinating couple. more...

Price: $7.99

More than a star pitcher and accomplished coach, Mel Stottlemyre has a history that serves as a behind-the-scenes tour of four decades of baseball. From Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, Stottlemyre connected generations of stars during a remarkable career. The fact that he had a complicated, sometimes bitter relationship with George Steinbrenner for thirty years adds a layer of melodrama to the story of one of the classiest men ever to wear pinstripes—for both the Yankees and the Mets. In his long-awaited autobiography, Stottlemyre tells his story in colorful detail, from his days as a rookie sensation on the last of the great Mantle teams to those as trusted pitching coach during the Joe Torre administration. Along the way he takes readers inside the clubhouse of championship ball clubs, describing the defiance of the '86 Mets, from manager Davey Johnson on down, that defined them as champions but then destroyed them prematurely. Stottlemyre also recalls the true grit and selflessness that helped make Torre's Yankees a dynasty from 1996 to 2000. Finally, there are the ups and downs with Steinbrenner, from standing up to the Boss during some hilarious staff meetings to getting caught in the line of fire of Steinbrenner's constant second-guessing. Three times a twenty-game winner before a shoulder injury abruptly ended what could have been a Hall of Fame career, Stottlemyre had the misfortune of pitching during one of the longest championship droughts in Yankees history, but then won five championship rings as pitching coach with the Mets and the Yankees. All told, in coaching the likes of Gooden, David Cone, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and many others, Stottlemyre has perhaps worked with more great pitchers than anyone in baseball history. And he has stories to tell about each of them. Off the field, Stottlemyre lost a young son to leukemia, and speaks openly abou more...

Price: $10.95

NFL running back Warrick Dunn is truly one of the good guys in the world of sports. And in this revealing autobiography, written with New York Times bestselling author Don Yaeger, Dunn tells his incredibly moving, inspirational story of courage and determination in the face of devastating loss, a story that makes his achievements on the football field that much more amazing. Warrick Dunn and his five brothers and sisters all idolized their mother, Baton Rouge police officer Betty Smothers. As the oldest, Dunn was the closest to her, and the man of the house. On January 7, 1993, while the single mother worked a second job as a supermarket security guard, Betty Smothers was ambushed, shot, and killed while making a bank deposit. Dunn—then a high school senior just weeks away from choosing among his college football scholarship offers—was devastated. Dunn was only eighteen when circumstances changed and he had to look after his five siblings, but somehow he managed to enroll at Florida State and, in only his freshman year, help their team quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and roommate Charlie Ward, win the National Championship for the 1993–94 season. And this was just the beginning of Dunn's successful career as a student athlete, which resulted in his selection to the FSU Hall of Fame. Despite his modest size, Dunn's athleticism, incomparable drive, and personality convinced Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy to select Dunn in the first round of the 1997 draft with the twelth overall pick. During his career with the Bucs and, subsequently, the Atlanta Falcons, Dunn amassed five 1,000-yard rushing seasons, was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl three times, and became one of only twenty-three running backs to exceed the 10,000-yard career rushing mark. In 2008, he returned to the Bucs seeking to continue his success. But perhaps his greatest achievement during his time as an NFL player came off the field when he started a foundation called Homes more...

Price: $19.99