“Pat Toomay has mixed fact and fiction to produce a story that will make every armchair quarterback laugh and wince—and worry at his exposition of “the game’s” most insidious reality: the prospect — on any given Sunday—of a fix.” —John Seigenthaler, USA Today “Toomay, for many years a lineman with the Cowboys and the Raiders, gives a sinister turn to the old saw that ‘on any given Sunday, one team can beat another’. . . . He writes knowledgeably about football: its strategy, the pain, the respect and hatred between the men in the trenches.” —Publishers Weekly
An authoritative 100-year history of America's National Football League from its founding. The NFL has become the most lucrative sports league in the world, yet it has not always been a roaring success story. It is a rocky road filled with detours and wrong turns; with heroes and villains; and, most importantly, with thousands of games. Any Given Sunday recounts twenty of the biggest of those, starting with the first contest ever played in 1920 and working through to key fixtures in the recent past. Each chapter is complemented by interviews with some of the game's true stars; first-hand accounts from games, including multiple Super Bowls; and, finally, full access to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Matthew Sherry, founder of Gridiron, the UK's only NFL magazine, takes readers from the boardroom to the field, into the locker-room and inside the journeys of legends, providing a full snapshot of the NFL's epic first century.
Bert Bell, a native of Philadelphia, has been called the most powerful executive figure in the history of professional football. He was responsible for helping to transform the game from a circus sideshow into what has become the most popular spectator sport in America. In On Any Given Sunday, the first biography of this important sports figure, historian Robert Lyons recounts the remarkable story of how de Benneville “Bert” Bell rejected the gentility of a high society lifestyle in favor of the tougher gridiron, and rose to become the founder of the Philadelphia Eagles and Commissioner of the National Football League. Bell, who arguably saved the league from bankruptcy by conceiving the idea for the annual player draft, later made the historic decision to introduce “sudden death” overtime—a move that propelled professional football into the national consciousness. He coined the phrase “on any given sunday” and negotiated the league’s first national TV contract. Lyons also describes in fascinating detail Bell’s relationships with leading figures ranging from such Philadelphia icons as Walter Annenberg and John B. Kelly to national celebrities and U.S. Presidents. He also provides insight into Bell’s colorful personal life—including his hell-raising early years and his secret marriage to Frances Upton, a golden name in show business. On Any Given Sunday is being published on the 50th anniversary of Bell’s death.
The child who is born on the Sabbath day, is bonny and blithe and good and gay. Sean Collins is happy working at the family pub and sharing a house with the woman of his dreams. He and Lauren are equals in every way, including in bed, where they burn the sheets. Life is good. Even if he must hide a couple of secrets to keep it that way. Lauren is madly in love with Sean. They share everything-almost. She can't deny sensing...something. A certain feeling when she, Sean and their friend Chad are all together. But she doesn't press. How can she when she's not being completely forthright herself? Chad is feeling pretty miserable, and renting a room in Sean and Lauren's home has only made it worse. In a house filled with secrets, Chad's are doozies. When an opportunity arises to explore their deep desires, the trio plunges into a sex-filled, emotionally charged menage. Long-buried feelings are revealed, changing their lives irrevocably. Whether for better or worse, only Sean, Chad and Lauren can decide.
An intimate memoir by the controversial and outspoken Oscar-winning director and screenwriter about his complicated New York childhood, volunteering for combat, and his struggles and triumphs making such films as Platoon, Midnight Express, and Scarface. Before the international success of Platoon in 1986, Oliver Stone had been wounded as an infantryman in Vietnam, and spent years writing unproduced scripts while driving taxis in New York, finally venturing westward to Los Angeles and a new life. Stone, now 73, recounts those formative years with in-the-moment details of the high and low moments: We see meetings with Al Pacino over Stone's scripts for Scarface, Platoon, and Born on the Fourth of July; the harrowing demon of cocaine addiction following the failure of his first feature, The Hand (starring Michael Caine); his risky on-the-ground research of Miami drug cartels for Scarface; his stormy relationship with The Deer Hunter director Michael Cimino; the breathless hustles to finance the acclaimed and divisive Salvador; and tensions behind the scenes of his first Academy Award-winning film, Midnight Express. Chasing the Light is a true insider's look at Hollywood's years of upheaval in the 1970s and '80s.
On any given Sunday the Christian approaches Christ who is present in Word and Meal. The songs, movements, and prayers that surround this Word and Meal are called the Divine Service. It is God's (divine) service to us and our proclamation of Christ' s life, death, and resurrection to ourselves and anybody that enters the church on that Sunday. One way to appreciate the traditional divine service is to see the life of Christ on display. The major events in the life of Christ are hinted at or explicitly mentioned in the classic order of service. We rightly plead for God' s mercy when we enter his presence. God' s answer is Christ. Traditionally Christians have sung the Christmas song "Gloria to God in the highest" after pleading, “ Lord, have mercy!” With this reminder of Christ' s birth we begin the story of Christ. Soon we wave our palm branches and sing “ Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday. We cry the Good Friday prayer, “ Lamb of God” . We eat with our resurrected Lord as did the Emmaus disciples, and we receive a blessing as we enter the same crazy world the disciples did after Jesus blessed them as he ascended into heaven. This volume aims to teach the Divine Service to both the lifelong worshipper who was never taught why the church does the things the church does on Sunday mornings and the curious observer of this ancient tradition. It is divided into two parts. Part One: A Story of the Divine Service is a story of a young married couple encountering Christ' s forgiveness at a church service and finding the ability to forgive each other. Part Two: The Life of Christ in Poetry and Prose explains the life of Christ as told in the classic Divine Service. It is the hope that this book helps teach this beautiful but under-appreciated jewel of our Christian heritage.
The triumphant story of beloved golfer Phil Mickelson and the years of grit and tireless work that lead to his success, packed with personal insights and never-before-seen photos. Every year, he came so close only to fall short. Every year, the dream grew larger, only to fade away. Yet every year, his gallery of fans grew in support of his quest. Then, on April 11, 2004, for the most beloved golfer of the decade, everything changed. It is a moment ingrained in the hearts and minds of millions, a moment of epic triumph and destiny fulfilled that will be remembered for the ages. But for Phil Mickelson, winning the 2004 Masters was merely another step in an odyssey that began many years ago. Born into a sporting family, with a putter drawn on his birth announcement, Phil knew early on that golf would always be his passion. His parents embraced and nurtured that dream, but they taught him that winning isn't everything. In One Magical Sunday, Phil Mickelson takes us on a magical journey inside a life few have seen up close, but a life whose lessons can be cherished forever. As we travel hole-by-hole through that triumphant Sunday at the Masters, Phil looks back at the influences that made him the man he is today: his mom and dad, who mentored him on the balance between family and golf; his wife, Amy, who has given him so much happiness and fulfillment; and their three children, who remain their top priority. With personal insights from Phil's family and never-before-seen photos of his most treasured moments, One Magical Sunday is a book not only for Phil's millions of fans, but for everyone who finds inspiration in reading about a champion on and off the course.
Step into the locker rooms and living rooms of NFL players and their families to see how a close relationship with God guides football's biggest stars. In a behind-the-scenes, off-the-field glimpse into one of America's most beloved sports, Men of Sunday reveals how Sunday's greatest rely on God to face issues such as drug abuse, family crisis, injuries, and temptations resulting from fame and fortune. Compiled from dozens of interviews, Men of Sunday marks the intersection of two Sunday traditions: faith and football. Inspired by the league's "systemic shift" toward embracing Christianity, Bloomberg writer Curtis Eichelberger shows how God is a source of comfort when facing the unique challenges of life in the NFL and the everyday challenges of maintaining strong families and building character. Featured personalities include Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers Former Chicago Bears middle linebacker Mike Singletary Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy San Diego Chargers pastor Shawn Mitchell Danisha Rolle, wife of former Tennessee and Baltimore defensive back Samari Rolle And many more Men of Sunday is a must-have for any football fan, teaching the invaluable lesson of trusting in the Lord—both on and off the field.
What does the Bible say about periods? The average woman has 500 periods in her lifetime. And whether yours are mildly annoying, utterly debilitating or emotionally complicated, most of us have at one time or another asked: Why?! This warm, light-hearted, real, honest and at times surprising book gives a biblical perspective on menstruation, as well as a whole lot more. Beginning with periods, Rachel Jones takes readers on an adventure in theology, weaving together wide-ranging reflections on the nature of our bodies, the passing of time, the purpose of pain, and the meaning of life. One thing is for sure: you’ve never read a Christian book quite like this one. Whether you’re in need of hope and help, or are just downright curious, you’ll be refreshed and encouraged by this book. As Rachel puts it, “Whoever you are, my aim is that you reach the end of this book celebrating who God has made you, how God has saved you, and the fact that he speaks liberating and positive truth into all of life’s experiences (even periods)”.
One day the doctors told Joe Martin how long he had to live. Joe told himself: Just live.So he has, beyond anyone's expectations but his own. And in living his life, Joe Martin has changed countless other lives.This is the story of a man who was successful by every measure -- a pillar of his church and community, a top executive of his company, the father of three children. In 1994, Joe was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease. The doctors told him his life would be over in twenty months or less. After a brush with despair and terror, Joe decided with his family and friends that he would recover, if not from the disease, then from the diagnosis. No doctor could predict what might be accomplished on any given day.Using the resources at hand, Joe fashioned a credo combining the words of the psalmist and of baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr. This is the day the Lord has made. Get up, go to the ballpark and do your very best. Joe Martin's best has been nothing short of spectacular.Having built a career as the acknowledged conscience of Bank of America, Joe took on the sponsorship of a program to organize low-income neighborhoods for greater political and economic clout, a year after his death sentence. He helped start one of the Southeast's leading centers for ALS research and treatment. In Charlotte, North Carolina, he played a leading role in overturning a county government that threatened to rip apart his community along a religious fault line. Acting on his own, Joe began a movement of racial reconciliation that has inspired people to build friendships across ethnic barriers. Unable even to work a keyboard or speak, Joe is seeminglypowerless. Yet he has found the power to change his world.Unlike Tuesdays with Morrie, a book about a man dying with ALS, On Any Given Day is a book about a man living with the disease. This is both an inspiration story and a how-to book about contributing to life as a full human being, even when most of the basic tools of humanity are taken away. This is a book for anyone who's been tempted to stop hoping, a book on recovering hope and discovering possibilities. It is a blueprint for making the best out of every day, one day at a time.It's a book, too, about and for caregivers. Joe's wife, Joan, leads a strong supportive cast. Family, friends and young assistants learn to redefine caregiving through commitment, to sustain dignity through love. And for those who imagine American business to be an impersonal profit machine, On Any Given Day will be a stunning wake-up; Joe's company demonstrates that, no matter how severe one's disability, it is the value of the individual that powers corporate success.
