Sports Illustrated, the most respected voice in sports journalism, has covered the National Football League for over seven decades, documenting its heroes, villains, great characters, and iconic moments. A wide-ranging portrait of America's game, this anthology features the best pro football writing from the SI archives by nationally renowned journalists including George Plimpton, Frank Deford, Rick Reilly, and Paul Zimmerman.
The Black Bruins chronicles the inspirational lives of five African American athletes who faced racial discrimination as teammates at UCLA in the late 1930s. Best known among them was Jackie Robinson, a four‐star athlete for the Bruins who went on to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball and become a leader in the civil rights movement after his retirement. Joining him were Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Ray Bartlett, and Tom Bradley—the four played starring roles in an era when fewer than a dozen major colleges had black players on their rosters. This rejection of the “gentleman’s agreement,” which kept teams from fielding black players against all-white teams, inspired black Angelinos and the African American press to adopt the teammates as their own. Kenny Washington became the first African American player to sign with an NFL team in the post–World War II era and later became a Los Angeles police officer and actor. Woody Strode, a Bruins football and track star, broke into the NFL with Washington in 1946 as a Los Angeles Ram and went on to act in at least fifty‐seven full-length feature films. Ray Bartlett, a football, basketball, baseball, and track athlete, became the second African American to join the Pasadena Police Department, later donating his time to civic affairs and charity. Tom Bradley, a runner for the Bruins’ track team, spent twenty years fighting racial discrimination in the Los Angeles Police Department before being elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles.
UCLA: The First Century is an extensively illustrated hardcover book which follows a chronological historical narrative with in-depth sections on campus traditions and the history of Bruin athletics.Since the UCLA History Project was launched in 2004, UCLA have been chronicling a full account of their alma mater, from humble beginnings to their current standing as one of the world's most prestigious public research universities. The research and editorial team for this publication delved into the untold number of historical documents and photographs preserved in UCLA's archives and beyond, interviewed numerous members of the UCLA community, and searched for materials and anecdotes that were on the verge of becoming permanently lost or forgotten.'100 years of UCLA on your coffee table.' Los Angeles Times"I wanted to create an authentic, historical account of our university. Every day I am inspired by the story of UCLA and I see its history as a collective, living legacy that we all share." Marina Dundjerski '94, Author'The book is indeed beautiful. Thank you so much for all the work that went into it.' Rhea Turtletaub, Vice Chancellor, UCLA External Affairs
The history of UCLA football is a continuous story of highs and lows, ups and downs. Every year from 1919 to today, UCLA has fielded a team, and though the expectations have changed through the years, the goals have not. The single greatest goal in sports is to win your next game. When a team strings enough wins together, a magical season is born. In the UCLA Football Encyclopedia, Stueve doesn’t miss a beat in his coverage of all the magical seasons, as well as the not-so-magical seasons, from the inaugural one through 2017. He covers the UCLA coaches, as well as the players who have left a lasting legacy. Along the way, he captures all the details about the wins, the losses, the individual and team records, the assistant coaches, and the players that built the foundation of the program. The story of UCLA football is often a story of "almost," and in this book, readers will relive the times UCLA simply refused to settle for "almost." These tales feature legends Fred Cozens, Red Sanders, Tommy Prothro, Jim Mora, and countless other Bruins stars, past and present. Stueve also recounts the upbringing of Donn Moomaw and that of Maurice Jones-Drew. Complete with dozens of historical photographs, this is the most extensive book ever written on UCLA football and a must-read for every UCLA football fan nationwide. “My experience working with Skyhorse is always a positive collaboration. The editors are first-rate professionals, and my books receive top-shelf treatment. I truly appreciate our working relationship and hope it continues for years to come.” –David Fischer, author
The band blares “Rocky Top” and the crowd roars as the University of Tennessee football team storms out of the tunnel and onto the field through the giant “T,” their beloved mascot Smokey leading the way. The iconic Bluetick Coonhound has been part of the pageantry and tradition at the University of Tennessee since 1953, delighting fans both young and old. For this entertaining and enlightening book, UT sports historian Thomas J. Mattingly has teamed up with longtime Smokey owner Earl C. Hudson to tell the stories of the nine hounds that have been top dog on campus for more than half a century. It was the Rev. Bill Brooks, Hudson’s brother-in-law, whose prize-winning dog “Brooks’ Blue Smokey,” became the first mascot by winning a student body-led contest at a home football game in 1953. The Coonhound breed was selected because it was native to the state, and several (no one remembers exactly how many) were brought onto the field at halftime to compete. But Smokey stole the show when he threw back his head and howled. The crowd cheered, and Smokey howled again. The raucous applause and barking built to a frenzy. The enthusiastic hound won the hearts of the Volunteer faithful that day, and he and the dogs that followed have remained among the University of Tennessee’s most popular symbols ever since. The authors have interviewed Smokey’s former handlers, university archivists, sports journalists, and local historians as well as legions of longtime fans. Their recollections provide not only the background of the mascot but a history of UT athletics as well. Vol fans will enjoy reading about Smokey’s adventures throughout the years, from his kidnapping in 1955 by mischievous Kentucky students to his confrontation with the Baylor Bear at the 1957 Sugar Bowl to the time he suffered heat exhaustion at the 1991 UCLA game and was listed on the Vols’ injury report until his return later in the season. Filled with photographs and memorabilia, including vintage game programs, football schedules, letters, cartoons, and more, this book brings to life the magic of UT football and the endearing canines that have become such an indispensable part of the experience. THOMAS J. MATTINGLY is the author of Tennessee Football: The Peyton Manning Years, The University of Tennessee Football Vault: The Story of the Tennessee Volunteers, 1891-2006, The University of Tennessee All-Access Football Vault and The University of Tennessee Trivia Book. He writes about Vol history on his Knoxville News Sentinel blog, “The Vol Historian.” EARL C. HUDSON’s family have cared for the Smokeys since 1994.
Highly acclaimed UCLA Women's gymnastics coach of 7 NCAA championships Valorie Kondos Field shares insights on how to use uniqueness and authenticity to achieve success. Former professional ballerina Valorie Kondos Field--or Miss Val, as she's affectionately known--has never tumbled, flipped, or even played any type of organized sports, and yet she has been able to craft a legendary coaching career through curiosity, creativity, attention to detail, and unwavering care for the overall well-being of her athletes. For Miss Val, it's not about winning and losing, it's about choreographing your life and owning the choices you make. Miss Val has shaped her UCLA Gymnastics program as a life skills class and now she's sharing those lessons with you, whether you're an athlete, business leader, or simply someone who wants to own their destiny. Miss Val's philosophies are timeless. Her coaching style is unorthodox. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance is a thought-provoking, fun journey through the anecdotes of the 35-year career of a dancer/choreographer turned athletic coach. The book includes unforgettable stories of the Olympians and athletes with whom she's worked-including the inspirational journey of Katelyn Ohashi, whose joyful transformation under the tutelage of Miss Val was evident to the world when her perfect 10 floor routine went viral -- reaching over 100 million viewers. Other triumphs include Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, who found her confidence at UCLA and learned the tools to combat her previous abuse; and sensation Christine Peng Peng Lee, who helped the Bruins clinch the 2018 NCAA championship with back-to-back 10's. Miss Val also shares her favorite memories of her mentor, legendary basketball coach John Wooden, as well as her thoughts on Larry Nassar and the gymnastics sexual abuse scandal. Miss Val reveals how her coaching journey had a rocky start before she found her own best approach. In time she realized that her dance background wasn't a detriment, it was a gift. When she embraced this, Miss Val led the Bruins to victory. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance is packed with great advice for anyone on a quest for success, delivered in Miss Val's reassuring and inspirational tone. She took the same approach to her breast cancer diagnosis, explaining how she made that struggle into one of the best years of her life. For Miss Val, it's all about attitude. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance is a powerful book that shows you how to make the leap of faith in choosing your own path to greatness.
Whether you're a pole vaulter chasing personal records or a coach trying to coach them, The Pole Vault Toolbox is the blueprint. Shawn is a highly sought-after pole vault coach andeducator. In this book, he shares the tools that have helped thousands of coaches and their athletes vault personal records, break state records, win state medals, and received college scholarships. He breaks down his Master's Degree research on the pole vault and explains how he uses it today. Finally, he reveals the tricks he figured out as a professional pole vaulter, including how to overcome the fear of moving up to bigger poles or what to do if you struggle running through. Filled with his trademark humor, The Pole Vault Toolbox is invaluable for veterans in the sport as well as those who just picked up a pole for the first time. Often drawing from Shawn's personal and often humbling experiences.
For more than 120 years, the University of Southern California Trojans have maintained a tradition of football excellence that has placed the team among the perennial elite in the collegiate ranks. Eleven national championships, 38 conference titles, 150 All-Americans, and seven Heisman Trophy winners all stand as testaments to the greatness of the Cardinal and Gold. This definitive reference chronicles the history of USC football from its first-ever game on November 14, 1888--a 16-0 victory over the Alliance Athletic Club--through 2012. Synopses of each season include game-by-game summaries, final records, ultimate poll rankings, and team leaders in major statistical categories. Biographies of head coaches and all-time USC greats, a roster of every player to don a Trojan uniform, a look at USC football traditions, and a catalog of honors received by both players and coaches through the years complete this essential encyclopedia for the Trojan faithful.
This book sheds light on experiences relatively underrepresented in academic and non-academic sport history. It examines how Asian and Pacific Islander peoples used American football to maintain a sense of community while encountering racial exclusion, labor exploitation, and colonialism. Through their participation and spectatorship in American football, Asian and Pacific Islander people crossed treacherous cultural frontiers to construct what sociologist Elijah Anderson has called a cosmopolitan canopy under which Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and people of diverse racial and ethnic identities interacted with at least a semblance of respect and equity. And perhaps a surprising number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have excelled in college and even professional football before the 1960s. Finally, acknowledging the impressive influx of elite Pacific Islander gridders who surfaced in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, it is vital to note as well the racialized nativism shadowing the lives of these athletes.
