Biography & Autobiography : Sports

This revised edition of a landmark biography follows the life of basketball star Isiah Thomas from his childhood on Chicago's South Side to his current position as president of the New York Knicks. His entire professional and athletic career is covered, including his successful collegiate career with Indiana University and his role in turning the Detroit Pistons' squad from one of the league's laughingstocks to an NBA powerhouse. All aspects of Thomas's contributions are examined to reveal how he revolutionized the game with his energy and skill, introduced professional basketball to Canada, and transitioned to his controversial roles off the court as coach and executive. more...

Price: $10.95

Terry Bradshaw has probably held more jobs than any other football Hall of Famer: pipeline worker, youth minister, professional singer, actor, talk show host... and winning quarterback in four Super Bowls! This honest, unexpected, and downright hysterical memoir proves there's life before and after football. more...

Price: $7.99

When Jeff Gordon won his fourth Winston Cup in 2001, he equalled the achievements of two other legends of the stock car world, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty. Most notably, Gordon did all this by the tender age of 30, an age when most drivers are gearing up for their first championship. The future is bright for the greatest living NASCAR driver -- but at one point, it didn't look that way. After his win in 1998, things seemed to go south for Gordon. Having won three championships in five years, he split with Ray Evernham, his longtime crewchief -- think personal coach in the golf world -- and his Hendricks team couldn't get a break. The one-time golden child of NASCAR was struggling, and critics lined up to blame him for Evernham's departure. But by 2001, the team had clicked once again, and Gordon went on to dominate the season, winning his fourth championship, albeit against the backdrop of the tremendous loss of Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Daytona. But what this tragic death signalled was that NASCAR had become one of the major sports in America. Gone were the days of NASCAR being a southern boys weekend pursuit; the terrible accident at Daytona just happened to occur during the first race of a multi-million dollar deal between NASCAR and Fox TV. Since that time, NASCAR has captured the imaginations of millions of Americans who don't necessarily live in the south or have any affinity with motor sports. The NASCAR organization has heavily marketed itself across the country, with the result being that someone like Jeff Gordon is considered ahead of Britney Spears in Pepsi's ranking of its celebrity endorsers. And as of next season, they're also jettisoning their sponsorship with Winston and going with Nextel, so bringing a less controversial backing to the sport. This book chronicles not only Gordon's extraordinary career, but also takes readers right inside what it's like to drive a car at 200 mph, 39 times a year. One only more...

Price: $11.99

In The Last Commissioner: A Baseball Valentine, Vincent takes us along for the ultimate fan's fantasy camp. As commissioner, he got to talk baseball with the likes of Yogi Berra, Larry Doby, Warren Spahn, Ernie Banks, Eddie Lopat, Whitey Ford, and Henry Aaron. He brought his legal training to bear on the delicate issue of whether Roger Clemens uttered the magic word that would justify his being tossed out of a playoff game (and it's not the word you think). Through it all, Vincent's deep love of baseball shines through. His most remarkable accomplishment as commissioner may have been to emerge from the office with his fandom intact. The Last Commissioner is truly a valentine to the game, written with the insight and vision that comes from the lofty perch of the ultimate front-row seat. more...

Price: $17.99

LeBron James is simultaneously on the cutting edge of basketball greatness and a cultural icon. Some see him as the second coming of Michael Jordan as both an exceptional talent and a marketing marvel. This biography offers a well-rounded portrait of James unprecedented rise to basketball superstardom in a dizzying short span of time. more...

Price: $38.50