Author: Jack McCallum
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345520505
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 393
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Acclaimed sports journalist Jack McCallum delivers the untold story of the greatest team ever assembled: the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. As a writer for Sports Illustrated, McCallum enjoyed a courtside seat for the most exciting basketball spectacle on earth, covering the Dream Team from its inception to the gold medal ceremony in Barcelona. Drawing on fresh interviews with the players, McCallum provides the definitive account of the Dream Team phenomenon. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the controversial selection process. He takes us inside the team’s Olympic suites for late-night card games and bull sessions where superstars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird debated the finer points of basketball. And he narrates a riveting account of the legendary intrasquad scrimmage that pitted the Dream Teamers against one another in what may have been the greatest pickup game in history. In the twenty years since the Dream Team first captivated the world, its mystique has only grown. Dream Team vividly re-creates the moment when a once-in-a-millennium group of athletes came together and changed the future of sports—one perfectly executed fast break at a time. With a new Afterword by the author. “The absolute definitive work on the subject, a perfectly wonderful once-you-pick-it-up-you-won’t-be-able-to-put-it-down book.”—The Boston Globe “An Olympic hoops dream.”—Newsday “What makes this volume a must-read for nostalgic hoopsters are the robust portraits of the outsize personalities of the participants, all of whom were remarkably open with McCallum, both then and now.”—Booklist (starred review)
Dream Team
Author: Jack McCallum
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345520505
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 393
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Acclaimed sports journalist Jack McCallum delivers the untold story of the greatest team ever assembled: the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. As a writer for Sports Illustrated, McCallum enjoyed a courtside seat for the most exciting basketball spectacle on earth, covering the Dream Team from its inception to the gold medal ceremony in Barcelona. Drawing on fresh interviews with the players, McCallum provides the definitive account of the Dream Team phenomenon. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the controversial selection process. He takes us inside the team’s Olympic suites for late-night card games and bull sessions where superstars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird debated the finer points of basketball. And he narrates a riveting account of the legendary intrasquad scrimmage that pitted the Dream Teamers against one another in what may have been the greatest pickup game in history. In the twenty years since the Dream Team first captivated the world, its mystique has only grown. Dream Team vividly re-creates the moment when a once-in-a-millennium group of athletes came together and changed the future of sports—one perfectly executed fast break at a time. With a new Afterword by the author. “The absolute definitive work on the subject, a perfectly wonderful once-you-pick-it-up-you-won’t-be-able-to-put-it-down book.”—The Boston Globe “An Olympic hoops dream.”—Newsday “What makes this volume a must-read for nostalgic hoopsters are the robust portraits of the outsize personalities of the participants, all of whom were remarkably open with McCallum, both then and now.”—Booklist (starred review)
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345520505
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 393
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Acclaimed sports journalist Jack McCallum delivers the untold story of the greatest team ever assembled: the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. As a writer for Sports Illustrated, McCallum enjoyed a courtside seat for the most exciting basketball spectacle on earth, covering the Dream Team from its inception to the gold medal ceremony in Barcelona. Drawing on fresh interviews with the players, McCallum provides the definitive account of the Dream Team phenomenon. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the controversial selection process. He takes us inside the team’s Olympic suites for late-night card games and bull sessions where superstars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird debated the finer points of basketball. And he narrates a riveting account of the legendary intrasquad scrimmage that pitted the Dream Teamers against one another in what may have been the greatest pickup game in history. In the twenty years since the Dream Team first captivated the world, its mystique has only grown. Dream Team vividly re-creates the moment when a once-in-a-millennium group of athletes came together and changed the future of sports—one perfectly executed fast break at a time. With a new Afterword by the author. “The absolute definitive work on the subject, a perfectly wonderful once-you-pick-it-up-you-won’t-be-able-to-put-it-down book.”—The Boston Globe “An Olympic hoops dream.”—Newsday “What makes this volume a must-read for nostalgic hoopsters are the robust portraits of the outsize personalities of the participants, all of whom were remarkably open with McCallum, both then and now.”—Booklist (starred review)
Love Lost Forever
Author: Mykala
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1434399710
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 190
Book Description
The book Democratic Imperialism serves as an educated, moderate Muslim's response to the West, particularly to the United States in the ways it attempts to impose its brand of democracy on the Muslim people. Many Americans have never been exposed to this perspective, either through the news media or in personal conversations. This book poses and clearly answers a compelling question: Are Americans qualified to export or impose their brand of democracy in the Middle East? Middle Easterners were once upon a time the pioneers of knowledge, science, justice, and education in their own history and civilization. Islam even helped pave the way for the Renaissance in Europe. Farid Younos, as a scholar of not only social sciences, but also the culture of the Middle East, namely Islam, argues that democracy in the land of Islam is not functional. The deeply rooted value system and way of life of Islam calls for a different system, especially when western democracy has its own problems and has failed to bring justice for all at home. Liberal democracy as a secular system negates the role of faith in the political system of the Middle East, and this negation is the main concern for many Muslims worldwide. The question arises as to why the United States of America tries to impose its brand of political system in the Middle East while knowing that it is not a workable idea. Democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq proved to be fatal. The first objective of any political system should be to bring peace for its people. Unfortunately not only is peace in these countries an elusive idea, but also the needs of the underprivileged, the destitute and the poor are not met. This study provides an alternative approach for Muslim countries: an Islamic political system from a fresh view point. An Islamic system could be an ideal system for Muslim countries if Muslims would make an effort to not only meet the needs of their people, but also meet the needs of the international community. The purpose, presumably, of all parties, is peace in the region, and that peace is not possible if Islamic economic, social and political ideas are ignored and replaced by a manifesto of globalization.
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1434399710
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 190
Book Description
The book Democratic Imperialism serves as an educated, moderate Muslim's response to the West, particularly to the United States in the ways it attempts to impose its brand of democracy on the Muslim people. Many Americans have never been exposed to this perspective, either through the news media or in personal conversations. This book poses and clearly answers a compelling question: Are Americans qualified to export or impose their brand of democracy in the Middle East? Middle Easterners were once upon a time the pioneers of knowledge, science, justice, and education in their own history and civilization. Islam even helped pave the way for the Renaissance in Europe. Farid Younos, as a scholar of not only social sciences, but also the culture of the Middle East, namely Islam, argues that democracy in the land of Islam is not functional. The deeply rooted value system and way of life of Islam calls for a different system, especially when western democracy has its own problems and has failed to bring justice for all at home. Liberal democracy as a secular system negates the role of faith in the political system of the Middle East, and this negation is the main concern for many Muslims worldwide. The question arises as to why the United States of America tries to impose its brand of political system in the Middle East while knowing that it is not a workable idea. Democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq proved to be fatal. The first objective of any political system should be to bring peace for its people. Unfortunately not only is peace in these countries an elusive idea, but also the needs of the underprivileged, the destitute and the poor are not met. This study provides an alternative approach for Muslim countries: an Islamic political system from a fresh view point. An Islamic system could be an ideal system for Muslim countries if Muslims would make an effort to not only meet the needs of their people, but also meet the needs of the international community. The purpose, presumably, of all parties, is peace in the region, and that peace is not possible if Islamic economic, social and political ideas are ignored and replaced by a manifesto of globalization.
GameFace
Author: Erica Boeke
Publisher: Virgin Books Limited
ISBN: 9780753513286
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 356
Book Description
Here at last is a book for women who love professional sports that is at once smart and saucy, deep and dishy. It's not a book for women who want to impress their husbands or boyfriends. It's not a book that gets all worked up over Title IX or Mia Hamm or the virtues of the WNBA. And it's not a book with a pink cover.In short, the joy and passion of following pro sports is too often eclipsed by an emphasis on factoids and statistics, and here, finally, is the antidote. GameFace: The Kick-Ass Guide for Women Who Love Pro Sports by Erica Boeke and Chris De Benedetti captures the action and drama of pro sports -- both on the field and off -- from scandals to tailgating and from thugs to heroes.GameFace is also packed with never-seen-before lists and tips including: *How to get into the pit at a NASCAR race*Sports Wives & Girlfriends Hall of Fame & Shame*Best & Worst Performances of The Star Spangled Banner*Best Ballpark Eats*Best Sports Movies & TV Shows*Athletes & Teams That Give Us HopeGameFace will inspire female fans everywhere to regale stat-spewing guys at water coolers and sports bars with mesmerizing tales of thrilling victories, agonizing defeats, and the magical (and sometimes hilarious) moments that only pro sports can deliver.
Publisher: Virgin Books Limited
ISBN: 9780753513286
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 356
Book Description
Here at last is a book for women who love professional sports that is at once smart and saucy, deep and dishy. It's not a book for women who want to impress their husbands or boyfriends. It's not a book that gets all worked up over Title IX or Mia Hamm or the virtues of the WNBA. And it's not a book with a pink cover.In short, the joy and passion of following pro sports is too often eclipsed by an emphasis on factoids and statistics, and here, finally, is the antidote. GameFace: The Kick-Ass Guide for Women Who Love Pro Sports by Erica Boeke and Chris De Benedetti captures the action and drama of pro sports -- both on the field and off -- from scandals to tailgating and from thugs to heroes.GameFace is also packed with never-seen-before lists and tips including: *How to get into the pit at a NASCAR race*Sports Wives & Girlfriends Hall of Fame & Shame*Best & Worst Performances of The Star Spangled Banner*Best Ballpark Eats*Best Sports Movies & TV Shows*Athletes & Teams That Give Us HopeGameFace will inspire female fans everywhere to regale stat-spewing guys at water coolers and sports bars with mesmerizing tales of thrilling victories, agonizing defeats, and the magical (and sometimes hilarious) moments that only pro sports can deliver.
Love and Basketball
Author: Nicole Jackson
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1524562874
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 110
Book Description
She was determined to keep him out. Nyesha had a simple rule that always kept her heart protectedbasketball over boys, especially the player types. Making basketball her life had been the easy part, but when Dustin Watts, the biggest player of them all, suddenly wants more than just friendship, Nyesha has to try to keep him away before he sneaks his way into her heart. He was determined to keep her close. Dustin had absolutely no interest in getting to know the boring Nyesha Jenkins, whom he had grown up with, but when the opportunity to get her to finally let loose came up, he just had to take it. From crazy exes to houses burning down and dont forget basketball, join these two as they make their last year of high school something to remember. But one question remains. Can Nyesha really have love and basketball?
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1524562874
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 110
Book Description
She was determined to keep him out. Nyesha had a simple rule that always kept her heart protectedbasketball over boys, especially the player types. Making basketball her life had been the easy part, but when Dustin Watts, the biggest player of them all, suddenly wants more than just friendship, Nyesha has to try to keep him away before he sneaks his way into her heart. He was determined to keep her close. Dustin had absolutely no interest in getting to know the boring Nyesha Jenkins, whom he had grown up with, but when the opportunity to get her to finally let loose came up, he just had to take it. From crazy exes to houses burning down and dont forget basketball, join these two as they make their last year of high school something to remember. But one question remains. Can Nyesha really have love and basketball?
Emmy in the Key of Code
Author: Aimee Lucido
Publisher: Versify
ISBN: 0358040825
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 417
Book Description
Sixth-grader Emmy tries to find her place in a new school and to figure out how she can create her own kind of music using a computer.
Publisher: Versify
ISBN: 0358040825
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 417
Book Description
Sixth-grader Emmy tries to find her place in a new school and to figure out how she can create her own kind of music using a computer.
Letters to a Young Athlete
Author: Chris Bosh
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1984881795
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 256
Book Description
A legendary NBA player shares his remarkable story, infused with hard-earned wisdom about the journey to self-mastery from a life at the highest level of professional sports Chris Bosh, NBA Hall of Famer, eleven-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, and the league’s Global Ambassador, had his playing days cut short at their prime by a freak medical condition. His extraordinary career ended “in a doctor’s office in the middle of the afternoon.” Forced to reckon with moving forward, he found himself looking back over the course he'd taken, to the pinnacle of the NBA and beyond. Reflecting on all he had learned from a long list of basketball legends, from LeBron and Kobe to Pat Riley and Coach K, he saw that his important lessons weren’t about basketball so much as the inner game of success—right attitude, right commitment, right flow within a team. Now he shares that journey, giving us a view from the inside of what greatness feels like and what it takes. Letters to a Young Athlete offers a proven path for taming your inner voice and making it your ally, through the challenges of failure and success alike.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1984881795
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 256
Book Description
A legendary NBA player shares his remarkable story, infused with hard-earned wisdom about the journey to self-mastery from a life at the highest level of professional sports Chris Bosh, NBA Hall of Famer, eleven-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, and the league’s Global Ambassador, had his playing days cut short at their prime by a freak medical condition. His extraordinary career ended “in a doctor’s office in the middle of the afternoon.” Forced to reckon with moving forward, he found himself looking back over the course he'd taken, to the pinnacle of the NBA and beyond. Reflecting on all he had learned from a long list of basketball legends, from LeBron and Kobe to Pat Riley and Coach K, he saw that his important lessons weren’t about basketball so much as the inner game of success—right attitude, right commitment, right flow within a team. Now he shares that journey, giving us a view from the inside of what greatness feels like and what it takes. Letters to a Young Athlete offers a proven path for taming your inner voice and making it your ally, through the challenges of failure and success alike.
The Hoops Whisperer
Author: Idan Ravin
Publisher: Avery
ISBN: 1592409377
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 258
Book Description
Basketball’s most unlikely—and most sought-after—training guru offers an inside look at his career, his methods, and the all-star players whose games he’s helped transform. Where do the best basketball players in the world turn when they want to improve their game? Whom does a future NBA Hall of Famer thank at his press conference when he’s named Rookie of the Year? Who is it that Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, and Men’s Journal all call the "Hoops Whisperer" because of his ability to engage, inspire, and challenge the players he trains? The answer to all of these questions is Idan Ravin. Ravin never played or coached in college or the pros, yet a virtual NBA All-Star team relies on him to better their game and reach their full potential. A soft-spoken former lawyer, Ravin has become professional basketball’s hottest trainer. In The Hoops Whisperer, Ravin shares the fascinating story of how he transformed a passion for the game into working with iconic basketball stars such as Chris Paul, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Dwight Howard, and many more. He offers a rare unguarded glimpse inside the lives of these great athletes, drawn from his intimate connection with them that is the basis of his success. Showcasing his unorthodox drills and improvisational techniques in action, Ravin reveals how faith, effort, dedication, and passion can make a player into a superstar—and anyone into a success. Combined with his own inspiring journey, Ravin’s insights make The Hoops Whisperer a must-read for anyone who loves the game.
Publisher: Avery
ISBN: 1592409377
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 258
Book Description
Basketball’s most unlikely—and most sought-after—training guru offers an inside look at his career, his methods, and the all-star players whose games he’s helped transform. Where do the best basketball players in the world turn when they want to improve their game? Whom does a future NBA Hall of Famer thank at his press conference when he’s named Rookie of the Year? Who is it that Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, and Men’s Journal all call the "Hoops Whisperer" because of his ability to engage, inspire, and challenge the players he trains? The answer to all of these questions is Idan Ravin. Ravin never played or coached in college or the pros, yet a virtual NBA All-Star team relies on him to better their game and reach their full potential. A soft-spoken former lawyer, Ravin has become professional basketball’s hottest trainer. In The Hoops Whisperer, Ravin shares the fascinating story of how he transformed a passion for the game into working with iconic basketball stars such as Chris Paul, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Dwight Howard, and many more. He offers a rare unguarded glimpse inside the lives of these great athletes, drawn from his intimate connection with them that is the basis of his success. Showcasing his unorthodox drills and improvisational techniques in action, Ravin reveals how faith, effort, dedication, and passion can make a player into a superstar—and anyone into a success. Combined with his own inspiring journey, Ravin’s insights make The Hoops Whisperer a must-read for anyone who loves the game.
Return to Forever
Author: Mark Salvatore Pitifer
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475999909
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 723
Book Description
"Once you complete this journey your eyes will be open FOREVER!" - MIA CALABRESE "The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary, and even humble individual" -M.Scott Peck.... Nino Jones, an elderly homeless man from New York City, agrees to join a group of Heavenly mercenaries who are risking their eternities to pull off one of the most heroic challenges of all time. The target is Satan himself, and the future of the entire civilized world hangs in the balance. Follow Nino as he tours the magnificant Kingdom of Forever, the devastation of the Outerdarkness, and the absolute horrors of Hell. Listen as he learns about the origins of the cosmos and the meaning of human existence from such characters as Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Pontius Pilate, King Solomon, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Malcolm X, Virgin Mary, and many others. Flee with Nino through the streets of Manhattan as he is pursued by demons who are trying to prevent him from delivering his holy message, the truth about who we are, where we come from, and why we must RETURN TO FOREVER!
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475999909
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 723
Book Description
"Once you complete this journey your eyes will be open FOREVER!" - MIA CALABRESE "The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary, and even humble individual" -M.Scott Peck.... Nino Jones, an elderly homeless man from New York City, agrees to join a group of Heavenly mercenaries who are risking their eternities to pull off one of the most heroic challenges of all time. The target is Satan himself, and the future of the entire civilized world hangs in the balance. Follow Nino as he tours the magnificant Kingdom of Forever, the devastation of the Outerdarkness, and the absolute horrors of Hell. Listen as he learns about the origins of the cosmos and the meaning of human existence from such characters as Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Pontius Pilate, King Solomon, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Malcolm X, Virgin Mary, and many others. Flee with Nino through the streets of Manhattan as he is pursued by demons who are trying to prevent him from delivering his holy message, the truth about who we are, where we come from, and why we must RETURN TO FOREVER!
Sixty-One
Author: Chris Paul
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 1250276721
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 197
Book Description
Instant New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller! A powerful and unexpected memoir of family, faith, tragedy, and life's most important lessons. The day after future NBA superstar Chris Paul signed his letter of intent to play college basketball for Wake Forest, he received a world-shattering phone call. His grandfather, Nathaniel "Papa" Jones, a pillar of the Winston-Salem community where he owned and operated the first Black-owned service station in North Carolina, was mugged and ultimately died from a heart attack resulting from the assault. His funeral filled the largest church in the county, which held over one thousand people. He was sixty-one years old. The day after burying his grandfather, Chris was coping the best way he knew how: by playing basketball for his high school team. After pouring in shot after shot, his last attempt was an airball purposely flung out of bounds from the foul line before Chris exited the game. The next day, local news headlines declared that he fell six points shy of the statewide single game high school scoring record. But he accomplished exactly what he set out to do: scoring sixty-one points, one for each year of life lived by his grandfather. In Sixty-One, Chris opens up about life beyond basketball and the role his grandfather played in molding him into the man and father he is today. He’ll speak about the foundation of faith and family he built his life upon, what it means to be a positive light within your community and beyond, and the importance of setting the proper example for future generations. Most importantly, Chris will talk about his home, Winston-Salem, and the close-knit family and village that raised him to become one of the most respected leaders in all of sports.
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 1250276721
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 197
Book Description
Instant New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller! A powerful and unexpected memoir of family, faith, tragedy, and life's most important lessons. The day after future NBA superstar Chris Paul signed his letter of intent to play college basketball for Wake Forest, he received a world-shattering phone call. His grandfather, Nathaniel "Papa" Jones, a pillar of the Winston-Salem community where he owned and operated the first Black-owned service station in North Carolina, was mugged and ultimately died from a heart attack resulting from the assault. His funeral filled the largest church in the county, which held over one thousand people. He was sixty-one years old. The day after burying his grandfather, Chris was coping the best way he knew how: by playing basketball for his high school team. After pouring in shot after shot, his last attempt was an airball purposely flung out of bounds from the foul line before Chris exited the game. The next day, local news headlines declared that he fell six points shy of the statewide single game high school scoring record. But he accomplished exactly what he set out to do: scoring sixty-one points, one for each year of life lived by his grandfather. In Sixty-One, Chris opens up about life beyond basketball and the role his grandfather played in molding him into the man and father he is today. He’ll speak about the foundation of faith and family he built his life upon, what it means to be a positive light within your community and beyond, and the importance of setting the proper example for future generations. Most importantly, Chris will talk about his home, Winston-Salem, and the close-knit family and village that raised him to become one of the most respected leaders in all of sports.
One Shot at Forever
Author: Chris Ballard
Publisher: Hachette Books
ISBN: 140130432X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 247
Book Description
"One Shot at Forever is powerful, inspirational. . . This isn't merely a book about baseball. It's a book about heart." -- Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author of Boys Will Be Boys and The Bad Guys Won In 1971, a small-town high school baseball team from rural Illinois, playing with hand-me-down uniforms and peace signs on their hats, defied convention and the odds. Led by an English teacher with no coaching experience, the Macon Ironmen emerged from a field of 370 teams to represent the smallest school in Illinois history to make the state final, a distinction that still stands. There the Ironmen would play against a Chicago powerhouse in a dramatic game that would change their lives forever. In this gripping, cinematic narrative, Chris Ballard tells the story of the team and its coach, Lynn Sweet: a hippie, dreamer, and intellectual who arrived in Macon in 1966, bringing progressive ideas to a town stuck in the Eisenhower era. Beloved by students but not administration, Sweet reluctantly took over the ragtag team, intent on teaching the boys as much about life as baseball. Together they embarked on an improbable postseason run that buoyed a small town in desperate need of something to celebrate. Engaging and poignant, One Shot at Forever is a testament to the power of high school sports to shape the lives of those who play them, and it reminds us that there are few bonds more sacred than that among a coach, a team, and a town. "Macon's run at the title reminds us why sports matter and why sportswriting has such great power to inspire. . . [It's] one hell of a good story, and Ballard has written one hell of a good book." -- Jonathan Eig, Chicago Tribune
Publisher: Hachette Books
ISBN: 140130432X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 247
Book Description
"One Shot at Forever is powerful, inspirational. . . This isn't merely a book about baseball. It's a book about heart." -- Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author of Boys Will Be Boys and The Bad Guys Won In 1971, a small-town high school baseball team from rural Illinois, playing with hand-me-down uniforms and peace signs on their hats, defied convention and the odds. Led by an English teacher with no coaching experience, the Macon Ironmen emerged from a field of 370 teams to represent the smallest school in Illinois history to make the state final, a distinction that still stands. There the Ironmen would play against a Chicago powerhouse in a dramatic game that would change their lives forever. In this gripping, cinematic narrative, Chris Ballard tells the story of the team and its coach, Lynn Sweet: a hippie, dreamer, and intellectual who arrived in Macon in 1966, bringing progressive ideas to a town stuck in the Eisenhower era. Beloved by students but not administration, Sweet reluctantly took over the ragtag team, intent on teaching the boys as much about life as baseball. Together they embarked on an improbable postseason run that buoyed a small town in desperate need of something to celebrate. Engaging and poignant, One Shot at Forever is a testament to the power of high school sports to shape the lives of those who play them, and it reminds us that there are few bonds more sacred than that among a coach, a team, and a town. "Macon's run at the title reminds us why sports matter and why sportswriting has such great power to inspire. . . [It's] one hell of a good story, and Ballard has written one hell of a good book." -- Jonathan Eig, Chicago Tribune