"What a joy to read Stan Bunger's book. Bunger captures a complex John Madden who is, of course, hilarious, but also poignant and introspective. For 18 years at 8:15 a.m. on KCBS, Bunger was the perfect straight man teeing up Madden. You can hear Madden on the pages of "Mornings with Madden,'' unspooling one engaging tale after another. He was a truly gifted storyteller. And so, as I've learned, is Stan Bunger. I challenge anyone who picks up this book to stop turning the pages."An intimate and freewheeling portrait of John Madden through the NFL legend's own words" - Joan Ryan, author of "Intangibles: Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry"  John Madden is synonymous with football. He was the television face and voice of the nation's most popular sport, the namesake of its best-selling sports video game, and the man with the highest career winning percentage of any NFL coach. Despite his international fame, there was a side of Madden known only to those who listened to morning radio broadcasts in the San Francisco Bay Area. That's where Madden grew up, lived, and died. It's where for decades he found joy in a daily chat with his hometown radio station: a chance to unwind, tell stories, and impart his own brand of wit and wisdom. In Mornings With Madden, Stan Bunger-the man most often on the other side of the mic-illuminates this larger-than-life figure, drawing upon memories of more than fifteen years of daily broadcasts, backed up by thousands of recordings of those conversations. Readers who adored Madden's football acumen and quirky personality on NFL broadcasts will get to know the father, husband, bad golfer, dog owner, lover of roadside diners, and philosopher whose personality dominated our radio chats. Featuring moving reflections alongside Madden's own words, this is a treasure trove of wry observations, self-deprecating humor, clear-eyed thinking about sports and society, and the "Maddenisms" that endeared the legendary coach to millions.

When Kenny Albert was growing up, family gatherings sounded a lot like a dispatch from the first all-sports radio station. There was his father, Marv, whose voice shaped the sound of modern basketball, and there too were his uncles Al and Steve-a trio of professional play-by-play men with a listenership that spanned the country.It was only a matter of time before Kenny, armed with a toy tape recorder, yearned to follow in their footsteps.Some 3,000 broadcasts later, Kenny Albert has amassed countless stories from the world of sports and media. A Mic for All Seasons is his chronicle of a charmed yet unlikely journey, from a youth spent calling games in his bedroom for a fictitious audience to ten-hour bus rides with a minor-league hockey team, plus the time he worked five different sports in one chaotic, 19-day stretch.The only play-by-play broadcaster who currently calls all four major sports in North America, Albert details the stand-out moments from his three-decade career, including the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, Jose Bautista's bat flip in the 2015 ALCS, and the U.S. women's hockey Olympic gold-medal winning shootout in Pyeongchang in 2018.Part memoir, part behind-the-scenes look at the world of broadcast media, A Mic for All Seasons also features stories about life in the booth, game preparation, travel hijinks, marquee events, meetings with star athletes and coaches, and much more.

The first installment of American Sports Story is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery. The 10-episode limited series charts the rise and fall of NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez and explores the disparate strands of his identity, his family, his career, his suicide and their legacy in sports and American culture.Starring as Aaron Hernandez is Josh Rivera, who recently starred in the hit film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Prior to that, Rivera made an impact as “Chino” in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Storywhich received rave reviews from critics. A seasoned stage actor, Rivera also performed in the first national tour of the smash hit musical Hamilton. 

This is the book NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre DOES NOT want you to read. Shad White is the Mississippi state auditor who exposed Favre for his involvement in the diversion of millions of dollars in TANF money- money meant to aid the poorest people in the nation's poorest state-in order to build a deluxe volleyball facility at his college alma mater. But Favre was only part of a much larger coverup. Now, in MISSISSIPPI SWINDLE: Brett Favre and the Welfare Scandal that Shocked America (Steerforth Press; August 6, 2024), White tells the riveting story of how a small group of powerbrokers enriched themselves by misdirecting nearly $100 million in federal money, and how White led a scrappy team of investigators and auditors to bring the culprits to justice. White's office unmasks a sprawling conspiracy that stretches from Mississippi to Malibu and involves famous athletes, media personalities, and public officials. -more- Born and raised in Mississippi, White won a Rhodes Scholarship and earned a JD from Harvard. He returned to Mississippi and became the youngest state auditor in the country. Eleven months after his appointment, he received a tip that would lead his team to uncover the largest public fraud case in Mississippi history. At the scheme's heart was John Davis, the head of the state's Department of Human Services. Through the agency, Davis provided tens of millions of dollars of funding, meant to provide services for the state's poor, to organizations run by a woman named Nancy New. White discovered that Davis, New, and a cadre of family and friends collected that money to fund their lavish lifestyles that included a home, vacations, and luxury cars. White and his team also discovered the New family had spread money so widely around the community that it was in plenty of people's best interest to not question it. Charity after charity received TANF funds-from local high school bands and beauty pageants, to the Junior League of Jackson and sports booster clubs, to the millions of dollars for the volleyball facility, via Brett Favre's influence. MISSISSIPPI SWINDLE is a story of how power is acquired and maintained. For White, some of those in power sought to maintain it by pressuring him to "handle the case quietly." Favre himself dug in, issuing denial after denial, and later using his celebrity bullhorn and an army of lawyers in an unsuccessful bid to intimidate White and his family. It's also the story of the corrosive nature of fraud that's at the heart of Americans' loss of faith in their institutions. White offers the good news that the remedy resides with the people who can put a stop to that fraud and convince everyday Americans they are being treated fairly and their money is being protected.

Vance Walker, a 19-year-old competitor from Tampa, Fla., was crowned the first back-to-back winner of NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" tonight, taking home the Season 16 title and $1 million prize.In the 16-season history of "American Ninja Warrior," this is only the fourth time the $1 million has been awarded and the first time won in consecutive seasons. To win the grand prize, ninjas must advance through all four stages of the national finals, culminating in a 75-foot rope climb up Mount Midoriyama. The winner must complete the climb in less than 30 seconds and be the fastest to do so.More than 200 ninjas competed this season, with five reaching stage four of the finals. In tonight's exciting finale, Walker climbed the rope in an incredible 27.6 seconds, a second faster than runner-up Caleb Bergstrom. The close race proved how fierce, remarkable and tough the competition continues to get."I'm forever grateful to have the opportunity to be out on these courses at all, let alone being the first to win it twice," Walker said. "Once again, in the words of Post Malone, 'They said I wouldn't be nothing, now they always say congratulations.'"Originally from Texas, Walker was diagnosed at 18 months old with a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia in his legs and had to wear leg braces throughout his childhood. At a young age, his parents were told he may never walk without the braces. Walker still participates in regular physical therapy and stretching to manage this condition.In his season 16 qualifying round, Walker completed all six obstacles and hit the buzzer, putting him at the top of the leaderboard. He was able to fly through the course and became one of four competitors in the round to hit a buzzer. Throughout the remaining rounds of the season, Walker sailed through flawlessly as he capped every course off with a buzzer.On tonight's finale, Walker took on the final stage alongside four other athletes - Caleb Bergstrom, Nacssa Garemore, Kai Beckstrand and Noah Meunier. Chasing a target of 30 seconds or less on the Mount Midoriyama rope climb, Walker set himself in the top position by hitting the buzzer in 27.6 seconds. Poised to win another $1 million, he watched as the last two ninjas climbed. His historic victory was secured when they failed to beat his record time.

UFC, WWE, and Olympic superstar, multi-ESPY Award-winner, and Hollywood actress Ronda Rousey has stepped out of the ring and into the world of comics. Artists Writers and Artisans (AWA), the independent developer of bold, original stories from the world's most outstanding creators, announced today the upcoming Kickstarter campaign for Rousey's graphic novel debut, EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Penned by Rousey and edited by Axel Alonso, AWA Chief Creative Officer and former Editor-and-Chief at Marvel, with art by Eisner and Ringo Award-winning comic book artist Mike Deodato, Jr. (BAD MOTHER, WONDER WOMAN), the graphic novel draws on Rousey's incredible career in the ring and pairs it with Deodato's martial arts background to create the most accurate and action-packed fight scenes in comics! Her codename: "Mom." With a fake baby bump filled with guns, she's built a reputation as one of the deadliest hitwomen on the planet. But on the verge of her big break in the criminal underworld, Mom makes a fateful decision: sleeping with a potential target (who just so happens to be a top-ranked assassin himself). A few weeks later, Mom finds that her codename is about to become a whole lot more literal. What follows is a wild mashup of action, adventure, comedy, and romance as a newly pregnant Mom with a bounty on her head fights off wave after wave of assassins, falls in love with her baby daddy, and decides how to face her personal and professional predicament. EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED sets a new bar for the authenticity of fight scenes through a unique creative process developed by Rousey, Deodato, and AWA. "I felt like I had to tell this story, because EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED pulls from the most important parts of my life: motherhood, my career as a fighter, and fun action movies," said Ronda Rousey. "I knew I needed an artist who understood how to translate my fighting from real life to graphic novel artwork, so it's been truly gratifying watching Mike Deodato bring this story to life. I'm so excited to work with AWA and share my very first graphic novel with the world and I hope comic fans will enjoy this adventure." Through Kickstarter, AWA allows fans to support its most ambitious limited-edition projects. This new graphic novel will feature Kickstarter exclusives and include premium, tiered rewards for the biggest Ronda Rousey fans. The EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Kickstarter will launch on July 25 and those interested in learning more about the campaign and its reward offerings should sign up here to be notified when the campaign is live. Throughout her career as a global superstar, Rousey has built a huge fan base around the world and Kickstarter allows fans to support this debut in more than 200 countries worldwide. Chief Creative Officer of AWA Axel Alonso added, "Ronda has brought the same level of ferocity, discipline, and craft to her original script that made her a champion in Judo, UFC, and WWE. A potent blend of dark comedy, romance, and over-the-top action, EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED delivers a knockout punch on every level. You'll laugh, you'll wince, you'll cry, and you'll thrill at the action scenes - meticulously choreographed by Ronda and executed with precision by comic book maestro and martial arts black belt Mike Deodato, Jr. - that literally leap off the page."For more information on the EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Kickstarter and other content, visit AWA Studios on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and AWAStudios.com.

Pod Crashing episode 338 with Gregg Rosenthal from the podcast NFL Daily. Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite co-hosts including Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and more get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends (formerly known as Around the NFL   Episodes available here:   Https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1157-nfl-daily-with-gregg-rose-29915968/    

Pod Crashing episode 337 with Andrew Reynolds from the podcast Searching For Hobey Baker ESPN 30 for 30’s new podcast, Searching for Hobey Baker, tells the story of Hobey Baker who is widely considered the first ice hockey star in America. The podcast is narrated by David Duchovny who, like Baker, is an alumnus of Princeton University.Every hockey fan knows the name Hobey Baker - collegiate hockey’s most prestigious trophy is named after him - but very few know the real story of this all-time great athlete. Using an archive of personal letters and source materials provided by the Mudd Library at Princeton University, as well as original research, the series charts Hobey’s glory days as the best collegiate hockey and football player in the nation, his post-grad ennui in Gilded Age New York City, and his exploits as a WWI fighter pilot, which ended tragically in a mysterious crash in 1918. Beyond Hobey’s adventures on the ice and in the air, this podcast also re-contextualizes the hockey legend through the lens of his lesser-known struggles as a queer man in the early 20th century.To discuss the podcast and the amazing story of Hobey Baker – during the final days of Pride Month -- is Andrew Reynolds, Executive Producer of Searching for Hobey Baker, and an LGBT+ scholar who authored several books including The Children of Harvey Milk: How LGBTQ Politicians Changed the World and Designing Democracy in a Dangerous World.  

A thrilling sports story, Men in White is the tale of the young athletes who defied the doomsayers and rescued Penn State's football program from the horrors of the Jerry Sandusky scandal-told by the players themselves. On November 5, 2011, the news that Jerry Sandusky had been charged with forty counts of child molestation rocked Penn State's leafy campus, unseating the university president, the athletic director, and head coach Joe Paterno-devastating the football program he had erected and diligently maintained over half a century. Men in White recounts the saga of the student athletes who elected to stay and rebuild the program in the face of crippling NCAA sanctions, blistering heat from the outraged media, and radio silence from the adults in the school's administration. With the once proud program in free fall and their personal fortunes in peril, these young men refused to back down, toiling for five long seasons to rehabilitate the program and its ideals, culminating in the stirring come-from-behind defeat of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. Their story echoes that of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, a cast of young men-colossal underdogs-who boldly accepted the challenge of a lifetime, achieving success while shouldering the weight of a bruising political drama. 

Author and award-winning journalist Steve Wiegand is a lifelong baseball fan even though his own prowess in the game peaked at age 11, when he hit a real over-the-fence home run. It was the only homer of his career and probably an accident. His new book, The Uncommon Life of Danny O'Connell, explores the life of a player often overlooked in the annals of baseball history due to his status as a "common" baseball card in the collecting world. In actuality, O'Connell's story a tale of the human spirit, embodying dreams, disappointments, and the unnoticed grandeur of an ordinary life.

Macho Man: The Untamed, Unbelievable Life of Randy Savage is the sensational, definitive biography of the WrestleMania headlining, Spider-Man fighting, Slim Jim snapping, minor league baseball playing American original: Randy Savage. Savage, a WWE wrestling hall of famer, was an A-list celebrity who sat atop the entertainment universe for much of the '80s and '90s. His outfits were as flamboyant as anything worn by Liberace, Elton John, or Prince. His charisma surpassed Hulk Hogan's and is rivaled only by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock. His millions of fans are more loyal than followers of any sports team. Macho Man starred in cartoons, was featured on lunchboxes, sold a slew of action figures and toys, was in multiple video games, guest starred on Baywatch, Mad About You, and Walker, Texas Ranger, and made multiple appearances on iconic '90s talk shows. He supported a myriad of kids' charities, emceed Christmas events at hospitals for George Steinbrenner, played minor league baseball with Pete Rose, was the Harvard Lampoon's "Real Man of the Year," and held his family's wrestling legacy above all else.With catchphrases and a voice still imitated by millions to this day, and with his GIFs reaching hundreds of millions of views on social media, the Macho Man is a transcendent figure who led an extraordinary life. Macho Man is now available as an audiobook from Audible!

The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras will feature 40 legendary competitors from the series’ 26-year history representing their “Challenge Era” in an epic battle for the ages where legends will collide as they strive to immortalize their names as Challenge 40 Champions and earn their share of the one million dollar prize.In the monumental 40th Season, The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras, the path to glory is far from easy, as they must first compete at the Era Invitational and eliminate the weakest links from within their own Challenge Era for only the best will earn a coveted spot on their team. With relentless, new challenges and twists, these seasoned Veterans are perpetually kept on their toes in the game they thought they had mastered.This season’s stacked roster features the most Challenge champions ever including 7x winner Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio, 5x winner CT Tamburello, 4x winners Darrell Taylor and Jordan Wiseley, 3x winner Derrick Kosinski, 2x winners Mark Long, Jonna Mannion, Rachel Robinson, Cara Maria Sorbello, Laurel Stucky, and Jodi Weatherton, and 1x winners Kaycee Clark, Nehemiah Clark, Katie Cooley, Tori Deal, Brad Fiorenza, Aviv Melmed, Emily Schromm, Devin Walker, and Jenny West.

The "Black Widow", Jeanette Lee, achieved legendary billiards status when she became the top-ranked female pool player in the world during the 1990s, winning over 30 national and international titles. Lee, dressed in black from head-to-toe when she decimated her prey in that span, later had her career be a focus of an ESPN 30-for-30 documentary. In her new book Black Widow: A Memoir (Triumph Books, 8.13.24), Lee looks back at her illustrious career, lifelong struggle with scoliosis, and a public battle with Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Jeanette was 18 years old when she walked into a New York City pool hall and became enamored by the elegant geometry of the game. Before long, she was an unmistakable figure on the international competition circuit, dressed head-to-toe in black, stalking the billiards table and gazing down her cue as if tracking her prey. In this new memoir, the woman nicknamed 'The Black Widow' opens up about her legendary career and the rich, unpredictable life she's woven around it. Lee details her upbringing in a Korean-American household in Brooklyn, her single-minded drive to reach the pinnacle of her sport, and her unlikely entry into the realm of mainstream celebrity in an era where female athletes rarely got their share of the limelight. Lee also reflects on her lifelong struggle with scoliosis, which necessitated over twenty operations during her playing career; her public battle with Stage 4 ovarian cancer; and the communities that gave her strength throughout. Written with warmth and candor, this is the definitive story of a true icon.

The story of one man's quest to become the first person to play each of America's 100 greatest golf courses in a single year, an odyssey that brings him face to face with the gulf between his impoverished childhood in the Jim Crow South and the successful executive he became. When he set out to play each of Golf Digest's America's 100 greatest golf courses in one year, Jimmie James knew he was attempting the impossible. But then again, he'd spent his entire life defying the odds. James was born invisible. His birth certificate, long since filed away in some clerk's office in East Texas, recorded facts about him that were deemed most relevant in the late 1950s: "colored" and "illegitimate." His great-great-grandmother was enslaved, and his early life was confined by the privation and segregation of the late Jim Crow-era South.Four decades later-having put himself through an HBCU and determinedly risen through the executive ranks at ExxonMobil-he embarked on his journey to play the 100 greatest golf courses in the United States. In a single year. From the first tee at Augusta National, the distance between the world he grew up in and the world of extreme privilege to which he'd now managed to gain access was impossible to ignore. Playing from the Rough is a remarkable memoir of race, class, family, and the power of perseverance, as James braids his love of golf with reflections on the path that took him from childhood poverty to the most exclusive and opulent golf courses in America.

Season 16 of "American Ninja Warrior" returns with the most elite athletes in the country competing on the world's most difficult obstacle courses. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, along with co-host Zuri Hall, are back to call the action as the ninjas make their way through the qualifying and semifinal rounds in Los Angeles before moving to the national finals in Las Vegas. Continuing with the major changes from last season, the semis will challenge the ninjas to race side-by-side and head-to-head across a high-stakes course with a spot in the national finals on the line. All four stages in Vegas return, including the Stage 4 rope climb for $1 Million. Episodes air Monday nights at 8/7c. They will be paused for two weeks during the Olympics (7/29 and 8/5) and during this time Matt will be doing live coverage of the Games on Peacock.

At age thirty-three, Maurice Ashley became the first Black chess Grandmaster. From his time as an immigrant kid playing matches in Brooklyn parks to the highest levels of competition, he has brought his love of the game to a wide audience as an educator, innovator, and motivational speaker. Using both personal examples and anecdotes from other notable chess players, MOVE BY MOVE guides readers through the essential lessons that chess has taught Ashley about life including: - Seeing from the other person's viewpoint- Balancing sacrifices and risks- Embracing chaos- Learning from imperfections In short chapters with practical takeaways, this book reaches from the fundamental to the counterintuitive on subjects ranging from self-knowledge to strategic thinking to the importance of failure. This little book of wisdom is the perfect gift for anyone interested in understanding how lessons from the most famous and long-lasting game of strategy can help you reach your personal and professional goals. 

Executive produced by LeBron James and narrated by Grammy award-winning actor Don Cheadle, and directed by two-time Emmy nominee Andre Gaines, the new HISTORY Channel documentary will showcase Jesse Owens’ historic triumph over Nazi Germany during the 1936 Berlin Olympics.Set during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, and just three-years before the start of WWII, African American track and field athlete Jesse Owens took the world stage and launched into international fame by making Olympic history after winning four gold medals in the 100-meter dash, long jump, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter dash. This feat made him arguably one of the greatest and most impactful athletes of all time. “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics” will explore the dramatic tale of Owen’s athletic dedication, perseverance, and triumph over Hitler’s Aryan supremacy agenda and his resilience against racism both abroad and at home in the U.S. 

American Gladiators will once again see a team of Gladiators compete against a brave set of Contenders in the ultimate test of speed and strength. The new show will include classics like “Gauntlet”, “Hang Tough”, and the ultimate challenge “The Eliminator,” as well as some brand new challenges.MGM Alternative is currently conducting a nationwide search for Contenders. Those who believe that they have what it takes and are ready to prove that they have what it takes to beat some of the greatest athletes in the world, should apply at [email protected] Gladiators first premiered in the United States in 1989 and ran for seven successful seasons until 1996. Originally hosted by Joe Theismann and Mike Adamle, the series featured more than 30 Gladiators during its original run in the U.S. and since then, there have been over 300 superhumans who have donned the coveted Gladiator uniform in franchises around the world including the UK, Australia, Japan, Denmark, South Africa, and more. The original American Gladiators series was created by Johnny C. Ferraro and Dan Carr and developed by Johnny C. Ferraro who is an executive producer on the revival.Johnny is the leading force behind the American Gladiators brand. The American Gladiators program was syndicated in approximately 215 U.S. markets and aired in over 90 countries. American Gladiators aired for seven years in first run syndication with format shows in over 7 countries. Along with his credits Johnny also created “G2000” TV series the children’s TV series developed with the American Gladiators theme and keeping with Mind, Body and Spirit as it's intended goal hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Johnny was also the Executive Producer of the American Gladiators music CD and was responsible for the creating and touring of the American Gladiators “Monster Truck” national arena tour.

ESPN introduces its newest 30 for 30 documentary film, False Positive, premiering Tuesday, June 11, at 7:00pm ET on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+.Butch Reynolds was one of the biggest track and field stars in the world, a talent in his prime on top of his sport. But when he took a drug test in Monaco in the summer of 1990, his career was upended, and his life was forever changed. Yet then and now, the facts of the case shed more than considerable doubt on what happened – instead revealing the tale of a man falsely accused and still compelled in many ways to fight to clear his name all these years later. False Positive tells Reynolds’ story in full, beginning with his childhood in Akron, Ohio, to global fame, to his subsequent suspension by the IAAF. It would take years for him to put his life back together, and to this day, the ban continues to shadow his legacy. False Positive delves into Reynolds’ relentless battle to clear his name, revealing systemic flaws within sports governance and the enduring impact of false accusations on an athlete’s legacy. As the documentary makes clear, when it comes to a story like his, the real truth is found beyond the headlines. And it’s that truth that ultimately defines who a person really is.

Thank you for being part of the conversation.  This is Play It Forward.  Real people.  Real stories.  The struggle to Play It Forward.  Episode 629 is with author Shaunie Henderson.  Her book is Undefeated Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms Shaunie Henderson (1.8 million followers on Instagram) left her marriage to Shaquille O'Neal with nothing more than her five young kids and her car and became a trailblazing media mogul, philanthropist, and creator of the hit TV franchise Basketball Wives. In her debut book, UNDEFEATED: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms, Shaunie Henderson-wife, mother, entrepreneur, producer -- opens up about finding love, offers advice for raising strong, smart, grounded Black children in today's world, and reveals how to define your career and personal life by your own terms in this inspirational memoir.

ESPN introduces its newest 30 for 30 documentary film, I’m Just Here for the Riot, premiering Tuesday, June 4, at 7:30pm ET on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+.On June 15, 2011, the Canucks’ Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Boston Bruins sparks a massive riot in downtown Vancouver. Police cars are overturned and burned, windows are shattered, stores are looted, and waves of young people are caught up in the mayhem. I’m Just Here For The Riot chronicles the aftermath of an event captured on hundreds of cell phone cameras; the rioters are outed, shamed, and see their lives altered forever. From the mob mentality in the streets to similar vengeance in the online hunting of those responsible, it is a dark moment in the city’s history – one that raises deeper questions about fandom, violence, and the shocking power of an angry crowd.I’m Just Here for the Riot was directed by Vancouver-based filmmakers Kathleen Jayme and Asia Youngman, who were in the city during the infamous riot. Kathleen and Asia began working on this documentary to gain an understanding of how this shocking event came to be.

Former World Series Champion Steve Sax is available to discuss his illustrious baseball career, as well as the foundation established in his son's memory. Tragically, on June 8, 2022, Steve's son, Captain John J. Sax, USMC, died in a training accident in the Southern California desert. In loving memory of his boundless passion for flying, Steve and his family established the Captain John J. Sax Family Foundation and to help fund the foundation and provide scholarships and grants to aspiring aviators, Steve has helped to create a limited-edition digital asset from an original painting Babe and The Kids by Opie Otterstad (NFT). You can see an example of the artwork for charity at: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/world-series-champ-steve-sax-digitizes-babe-ruth-art-raise-money-foundation-honor-late-marine-son A former major league baseball player and coach whose infamous career spanned a remarkable 14-years and symbolized excellence on and off the playing field, Steve is a five-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger Award Winner, and two-time World Series Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In addition to his celebrated sports career, Steve has left an impression on the entertainment landscape, making notable appearances on popular television programs such as Good Morning America, Howard Stern, Hannity's Great America, The Simpsons, Who's The Boss, Hollywood Squares and Late Night with David Letterman, among others. His thought-provoking article on personal responsibility and self-reliance, published in the Wall Street Journal, garnered recognition from several elites for its poignant reflections on character development in youth, including former President Bill Clinton. A published author, his book Shift serves as a beacon of motivation, offering actionable steps to transform mindsets and achieve success.

Live to Ride: Finding Joy and Meaning on a Bicycle is an illustrated guide written for every type of cyclist—from mountain bikers, tourers and triathletes, beach cruisers, bikepackers, messengers, wheelie kids, and vintage bike collectors. Organized by theme, each one exploring what Flax believes are the shared reasons that people ride: Adventure, Speed, Utility, Nature, Competition, and Self-Expression. Within each chapter are interviews and profiles with a diverse list of famed riders, both legendary and contemporary.

Full Court Press – a new original series streaming on ESPN+ beginning May 11 -- chronicles the ongoing journeys of senior Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, senior South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso and sophomore UCLA guard Kiki Rice. From Iowa’s historic preseason game that broke attendance records all the way through the WNBA draft in April, the series uses unparalleled access, exclusive interviews, and unique game footage to transport audiences into the lives of these exceptional athletes. Full Court Press follows them as they steer their celebrated programs towards a national championship, all while navigating the pressures that come with representing the game during a pivotal era in women’s basketball.Full Court Press followed these three players throughout this record-breaking season, capturing Kamilla Cardoso’s game-winning three-pointer to send South Carolina to the SEC Championship; Kiki Rice’s experiences as the first college athlete to have an NIL deal with Jordan brand; and Caitlin Clark becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball and the all-time leading scorer in NCAA collegiate basketball history. The show takes audiences from Paris to Brazil, from sold-out arenas in Baton Rouge to Iowa City for the biggest matchups, offering a window into this unique moment in the history of the sport.Emmy Award-winning director Kristen Lappas (daughter of Steve Lappas, former basketball coach at both Villanova and Manhattan College and current CBS Sports analyst) produced eight installments of ESPN’s acclaimed 30 for 30 series and directed the 30 for 30 multi-part series Dream On about the 1996 gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s basketball team. She won Emmys for her short sports docs Blackfeet Boxing: Not Invisible, A Mountain to Climb and her short film Arthur was adapted into a movie starring Mark Wahlberg and premieres in 2024.

Pod Crashing episode 311 with Davis Miller from the podcast The Tao Of Muhammad Ali The Tao of Muhammad Ali from iHeartPodcasts and Imagine Audio is a riveting eight-episode series adapted from Davis Miller's best-selling book by the same name and explores the remarkable tale of an unexpected friendship, giving listeners profound insights into the life of the legendary Muhammad Ali beyond the boxing ring. The limited series podcast features exclusive firsthand stories from individuals who shared intimate, life-changing connections with "The Champ," including his daughter Rasheda Ali, renowned activist Reverend Al Sharpton and distinguished author and podcast narrator Davis Miller, who credits Ali for saving, transforming and enlarging his life. The Tao of Muhammad Ali will offer a unique perspective on Ali's enduring spirit as a global humanitarian and role model for millions. Throughout this deeply immersive audio journey, listeners will experience previously untold stories with unparalleled depth, exploring Ali's post-boxing experiences and the transformative power of one man's legacy.  

HOOP ATLAS examines how a handful of superstars have reshaped the sport over the past three decades and charted the course to the future of the NBA. Every few years, a special talent emerges and completely shakes up our understanding of how the NBA is supposed to operate. Whether it's their scoring ability, playmaking skills, or shooting prowess, these players and their tactics fundamentally challenge the traditional norms of the game and redefine what it means to be great on the court. For a period of time, these players each become an "Atlas" for the league, carrying the weight of the NBA on their shoulders while also paving the way for the future of the sport. Together, they map out the modern NBA's creation. HOOP ATLAS showcases the "Atlas" players whose influence has revolutionized the league and reframed greatness, from Michael Jordan to LeBron James to Nikola Jokic, with stops along the way for Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Steph Curry. As Goldsberry writes, "NBA superstars don't just dominate the league; some of them bend it to their will and transform aspects of gameplay." Revealing the ways in which these players have dramatically impacted the game, Goldsberry does a deep dive into the dominant trends of the modern NBA, including: · an unprecedented increase in offensive efficiency with shooting percentages now higher than ever· the corner 3 revolution which has changed the geography of the court· the rise in talent from abroad and how international stars have imported new moves and elevated gameplay· the recalibration of the center position by hyper-skilled playmaking big men who can do it all 

New from award-winning book publisher Octane Press, Trophies and Scars is the profoundly personal and remarkably revealing story of the life and times of NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham, as told to New York Times bestselling author Joe Garner. With forewords by motorsport legends Jeff Gordon, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske, the book launched in March. Trophies and Scars traces all the twists and turns of Ray Evernham's fascinating life. A son of the Jersey Shore, he was dedicated to fulfilling his boyhood dream of becoming a professional race car driver, and by age eighteen, he was banging fenders with good success on the Northeast short track circuit. When his dreams of becoming an Indy car sensation literally crashed and burned, he turned to Roger Penske's International Race of Champions (IROC), before another brutal crash forced him to give up his Indy dream for good. It was time to change careers. As a technical crew leader rather than driver, he developed new skills and strategies critical to building successful racing organizations. A brief, ill-fated, and downright volatile stint on Alan Kulwicki's crew, turned into a "right place at the right time" scenario, sparking a seminal partnership with racing phenomenon Jeff Gordon. They would prove to be one of the most potent racing duos in history. Evernham shares previously untold tales of how the pair led the No. 24 team to three championships in four seasons (1995, 1997, 1998) and an astounding forty-seven wins in just 216 starts, revealing in candid detail how and why their storied relationship came to an end. 

This compelling and deeply personal memoir from WWE superstar Rebecca Quin-a.k.a. The Man, a.k.a. Becky Lynch-delves into her earliest wrestling days, her scrappy beginnings, and her meteoric rise to fame. By age seven, Rebecca Quin, now known in the ring as Becky Lynch, was already defying what the world expected of her. Raised in Dublin, Ireland in a devoutly Catholic family, Rebecca constantly invented new ways to make her mother worry-roughhousing with the neighborhood kids, hosting secret parties while her parents were away, enrolling in a warehouse wrestling school, nearly breaking her neck and almost kneecapping a WWE star before her own wrestling career even began-and she was always in search of a thrilling escape from the ordinary. Rebecca's deep love of wrestling as a child set her on an unlikely path. With few female wrestlers to look to for guidance, Rebecca pursued a wrestling career hoping to change the culture and move away from the antiquated disrespect so often directed at the elite female athletes that grace the ring. Even as a teenager, she knew that she would stop at nothing to earn a space among the greatest wrestlers of our time, and to pave a new path for female fighters. Culled from decades of journal entries, Rebecca's memoir offers a raw, personal, and honest depiction of the complex woman behind the character Rebecca Quin plays on TV.

Filled with custom vehicle builds and challenging mud courses, the series dives into the complex social dynamics, deep-rooted rivalries, and wild social party scene of mud racing. Ride along with a loud and talented group of racers who are disrupting the hierarchy, challenging the status quo and bringing viewers on one hell of a wild ride.This dangerous, intense, and dirty, motorsport is filled with unforgettable personalities including a divisive and highly successful racer, a chiropractor turned Mudder, a self-proclaimed “tomboy” and one of the best female mud racers on the circuit; a racer out to prove herself after recovering from a horrifying accident, a family man willing to do what it takes to provide for his daughters, and an up-and-coming racer who is trying to stay out of trouble after his rocky past.

From the bestselling author of The Wax Pack, comes another eye‑opening road trip adventure into a pocket of iconic pop culture-professional wrestling-starring the Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, Tito Santana, and many more larger‑than‑life characters of the WWF of the 1980s. In 2005, Brad Balukjian left his position as a magazine fact-checker to pursue a dream job: partner with his childhood hero, The Iron Sheik (whose real name was Khosrow Vaziri), to write his biography. Things quickly went south, culminating in the Sheik threatening Balukjian's life. Now seventeen years later, Balukjian returns to the road in search of not only a reunion with the Sheik, but something much bigger: truth in a world built on illusion. Balukjian seeks out six of the Sheik's contemporaries, fellow witnesses to the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) explosion in the mid-'80s, to unearth their true identities. As Balukjian drives 12,525 miles around the country, we revisit the heady days when these avatars of strength, villainy, and heroism first found fame and see where their journeys took them. From working out with Tony Atlas (Tony White) to visiting Hulk Hogan's (Terry Bollea) karaoke bar, we see where these men are now and how they have navigated the cliffs of fame. The Six Pack combines the spirit of a fan with the rigor of an investigative reporter, tracking down former WWF employees, childhood friends, and mutually curious archivists. Wrestling is perceived as a subculture without a cultural home, somewhere between sport and theater-often dismissed as silly and low‑brow. But what makes this book so compelling is the humanity beneath each wrestler. The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, and the rest of the cast were not characters in a comic book movie. They were real people, with families and feelings and bodies that could break. Most of them did, in fact, break; some have been repaired, but none of them will ever be the same.

The 2019 Masters golf tournament became the defining moment of just what a comeback is - both in sports and in life. Over two-and-a-half decades ago the sports world in general, and the golf establishment in particular, was struck by a bolt of lightning, the likes of which they never dreamed. Twenty-one-year-old wunderkind Tiger Woods won the most prestigious golf tournament in the world, The Masters, by a record twelve strokes and breaking the course record.in his first time playing the tournament.and in his first appearance in a major tournament. He was the youngest golfer to win The Masters, and the first African-American or Asian-American player to win a major. As Bob Harig reports in his new book, DRIVE: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods (St. Martin's Press, on sale date March 26, 2024; $30), history wasn't just made that day, rather, it was only just beginning. Over the next 15+ years Woods transformed the game, setting course records and winning majors at a record pace. What he was doing, though, was more than just winning on the golf course. He was winning fans over like no one had ever done before in golf. In doing so, ratings were never higher, marketing the game was never more so successful. He is tied for the most wins in PGA history, second in major tournament victories, and according to Forbes magazine, he is a billionaire who amassed over $110 million dollars in tour winnings along with over a billion dollars in endorsement money. Winnings and notoriety aside, as Harig points out, Woods is a complicated figure, and has been throughout his entire career in the spotlight.

On the fourth season of THE CHALLENGE: ALL STARS, old-school legends, modern power players, redemption-seekers and ex-lovers reunite in Cape Town, South Africa to compete for $300,000. In this game, anyone can win, relationships matter, and only one All Star will claim the title champion. 

Featuring Field of Dreams, The Bad News Bears, A League of Their Own and more: a probing and entertaining work at the intersection of pop culture and sportsBaseball has always been a symbol as much as a sport. With a blend of individual confrontation and team play, a luxurious pace, and an immaculate urban parkland setting, it offers a sunny rendering of the American Dream, both the hard work that underpins it and the rewards it promises. Film, America's other national pastime, which magnifies and mythologizes all it touches, has long been the ideal medium to canonize this aspirational idea.Baseball: The Movie is the first definitive history of this film genre that was born in 1915 and remains artistically and culturally vital more than a century later. Writer and critic Noah Gittell sheds light on well-known classics and overlooked gems, exploring how baseball cinema creates a stage upon which the American ideal is born, performed, and repeatedly redefined. Traversing history and mythmaking, cynicism and nostalgia, this thoroughly researched book takes readers on a multifaceted tour of baseball on film.

Some of the most influential women in sports tell their stories of courage, adversity, and triumph to trailblazer Bonnie-Jill Laflin, the first and only female NBA scout with the Los Angeles Lakers, in her new book, In A League of Her Own: Celebrating Female Firsts in Sports. A half-century after Title IX legislation leveled the playing field for women and girls, the time has come to celebrate the lives and careers of some of the most notable groundbreaking women in sports, while also encouraging future generations to make history of their own. In a League of Her Own: Celebrating Female Firsts in Sports shares the stories of nineteen impactful women, including Billie Jean King, Rachel Balkovec, Danica Patrick, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Laila Ali, Jeanie Buss, and Mary Lou Retton and gives them a voice to share their experiences across the sports industry. These iconic women open up to Bonnie-Jill Laflin, herself a trailblazer as the first and only female NBA scout, about the sobering realities females face in the sports world and the many obstacles they had to overcome. But they also celebrate the amazing support they received from colleagues, friends, family, and the women who came before them, and impart their own desires to inspire young women through their stories. They discuss such issues as the pressures of social media, the sexism that still exists in boardrooms and locker rooms, and their hopes for closer equality in the sports space. Their journeys are each unique, but together, they have changed the face of sports and culture forever. She is also the founder of Hounds and Heroes and Horses, a non-profit that pairs rescue dogs as service and therapy dogs with wounded warriors and veterans, as well as rescue horses as equine therapy for our recuperating service members. Working to improve the lives of veterans, she has traveled to military bases across the country and abroad on 19 USO tours, including visits to bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A recent installment of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, “The Minister of Defense” (now streaming on ESPN+), chronicled the extraordinary career, complicated life, and profound spiritual journey of NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion Reggie White. Now, ESPN introduces a new podcast – Through the Flames: Reggie’s Church – which focuses on one unfortunate in White’s life – the mysterious 1996 burning of his church in Knoxville, Tennessee.In the midst of a rash of mid-1990s church burnings across the United States, White’s Inner City Church boasts a growing interracial congregation, and after the building is firebombed and reduced to ashes, White believes the attack is the work of racists. The NFL legend and pastor uses his platform to maintain public pressure on the investigation, even as the sensitive nature of the crime causes government officials to tread carefully. As the story unfolds, questions are raised about the church’s financial status, along with the possibility of arson. The podcast brings the story to life through the voices of those involved with the church and the investigation – and in the process, draws a powerful parallel between these ugly incidents and the deeper challenges the nation still faces.A three-time Emmy Award winner, Courtland Bragg is a Director and Producer at NFL Films, the film/television production company of the National Football League. In addition to co-directing the ESPN 30 for 30 “The Minister of Defense” and producing /hosting the Through the Flames podcast, Courtland was a director on multiple seasons of Hard Knocks for HBO, All or Nothing for Amazon and A Football Life for NFL Network.

Prime Video introduces the new documentary Giannis: The Marvelous Journey, the definitive first-person account of NBA mega-star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s odyssey from an impoverished childhood in Greece as the son of Nigerian immigrants to the very top of the basketball world.Before becoming one of the NBA’s most dominating performers (a two-time league MVP who led the Milwaukee Bucks to a championship in 2021), Giannis’ path began on the streets of Athens, where he was raised on the margins of society, by parents who immigrated from Nigeria in search of a better life. After finding images of NBA stars in an Internet café, Giannis picked up a basketball. From there unfolded an epic journey, ultimately landing him in his adopted home of Milwaukee, where he emerged as “The Greek Freak,” a superstar who transformed the game with his athleticism and versatility, all the while striving to use the memory of the loss he endured along the way to spearhead an impact far beyond the court. Giannis: The Marvelous Journey features interviews with Giannis and his entire family as well as basketball luminaries Jason Kidd, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Kenny Smith, Vin Baker Ernie Johnson and more. It marks the first time the family has given first-person accounts on their collective journey.Of Greek descent herself, Emmy Award-winning director Kristen Lappas visited Greece many times in the making of this film, getting back to her own family roots. The daughter of Steve Lappas (former basketball coach at both Villanova and Manhattan College, and now an analyst for CBS Sports in New York), Kristen produced eight installments of ESPN’s acclaimed 30 for 30 series, and directed the 30 for 30 multi-part series Dream On about the 1996 gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s basketball team. She won Emmys for her short sports docs Blackfeet Boxing: Not Invisible and A Mountain to Climb and her short film Arthur was adapted into a movie starring Mark Wahlberg and premieres in 2024.

While Eric Cogorno is best known for the golf lessons he gives to more than 400,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and Instagram, he’s actually spent nearly 20 years building a reputation as a highly respected Performance Golf Coach. He intuitively combines the art and science of golf to teach to each individual student (seemingly) simple strategies that lead to cutting handicaps in half and significantly improving performance for golfers of all levels. Since 2018, Eric Cogorno has taken his business from $80K a year teaching one-on-one lessons by the hour in Bethlehem, PA, to a multimillion dollar, global golf instruction brand using these same skills and strategies. In the process, he was able to also transform his entire professional and personal lifestyle as well as the golf of hundreds of thousands of people. As a successful entrepreneur and personal development enthusiast, Eric is on a mission to help people understand the profound value of goal setting, help them get clear about their goals and provide tactical strategies for them to achieve those goals.

Soccer has always been the pride and passion of everyday people. So when a small-time corporate raider with no connection to soccer somehow acquired Manchester United, only to raise prices and make billions, it affected the sport in unexpected ways. In the new book, THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CASH MACHINE (Pan Macmillan, January 23, 2024), Chris Blackhurst tells the riveting story of how the Glazer family bought Manchester United, and everything that followed. Meticulously researched, Blackhurst uses rich details to tell share how the Glazer family seized ownership of the Premier League’s jewel, and propelled its value to more than 5 billion pounds.

The official sportsbook of ESPN, ESPN BET, delivers the ultimate betting experience with live in-game wagering, cross-sport parlays, moneylines, futures, teasers and plenty of prop bets. Just in time for the Super Bowl, Tyler Fulghum - one of ESPN’s resident sports betting experts - lays it all on the line with his predictions, tips, fun prop bet ideas and more.

In ESPN’s short film Black Girls Play (which won Best Short Doc at the Tribeca Festival), filmmakers Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster chronicle the origins of the hand games that young Black girls have played for generations, and their influence on music, dance, and community all across the American creative landscape. Tracing the beginnings of the games all the way back to the slavery era, the film’s collection of illuminating voices — including musicians, music educators and ethnomusicologists — trace a fascinating cultural history that explains the significance of hand games, particularly in the evolution of popular music from jazz all the way to hip hop. The film also explores hand games’ influence on style and individualism everywhere from the playground to TikTok videos today.Filmmaker, artist and author, Michèle Stephenson, pulls from her Haitian and Panamanian roots and experience as a social justice lawyer to think radically about storytelling and disrupt the imaginary in non-fiction spaces. She tells emotionally driven, personal narratives of resistance and identity that center the lived experiences of communities of color in the Americas and the Black diaspora.In 2023, Michèle’s feature documentary Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and premiered on MAX. Previously, her feature documentary American Promise was nominated for three Emmys and won the Jury Prize at Sundance. Along with her writing partners, Joe Brewster and Hilary Beard, Michèle won an NAACP Image Award for Excellence in a Literary Work for their book, Promises Kept. Currently, she is in post-production on a feature on the death of Freddie Gray and a program for the CBC on the Black Power movement in Canada.

Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez is a fun, exciting peek into the personal lives of WWE’s hottest couple. Bianca Belair and Montez Ford’s road to WrestleMania is a wild ride, as Montez continues his ascent and Bianca fights to hold on to her title. With the support of their tight knit group of friends, family and fellow superstars, the dynamic duo somehow always manages to pull off the impossible.

"You can if you will." A phrase uttered to a young Jerry Kramer by his line coach at Sandpoint High School in tiny Sandpoint, Idaho, that would go on to push him to a celebrated NFL career with the Green Bay Packers and a sentiment that he would repeat to close his speech at his long awaited enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame almost seven decades later in 2018. In the spirit of Jerry Kramer's unforgettable and bestselling collaborations with the great Dick Schaap, his first book about his life and career in over two decades, Run to Win will serve as Kramer's definitive statement about a remarkable life and career of perseverance, teamwork, and gridiron greatness. Spanning the beginning of the legendary Vince Lombardi era through Kramer's confoundingly long wait to receive his bust in Canton, Kramer tells his amazing story as one of the most memorable and toughest Packers in franchise history. Including insightful commentary about the eminently intriguing Lombardi, as well as fellow Hall of Fame teammates Jim Taylor, Forrest Gregg, Willie Davis, Bart Starr, Emlen Tunnell, and many more, Run to Win is a must read for all true Packers fans from one of the legends who helped lay the foundation for one of the most identifiable and successful franchises in the history of professional sports.

For over three decades, Angelo Cataldi was the on-air voice of Philadelphia sports fans, leading the charge with unabashed zeal and infectious energy. He was the maestro of the mania, the conductor of the symphony of vitriol that blared through car radios every morning in the most misunderstood yet passionate sports city in America. It made him his share of enemies, but he walked away from the microphone with enough stories for several lifetimes-or one jam-packed, lively memoir. LOUD is an exuberant chronicle of Cataldi's life, from his childhood as a self-described "king nerd" to the traditional newspaper career he left behind, and his eventual rise to the top of the Philadelphia sports radio scene on WIP. Through it all, Cataldi remained dedicated to his mission of talking about what the city was talking about, in the same tone. And that tone was loud, passionate, and unapologetically real. Full of encounters with athletes, personalities, and power brokers as well as candid reflections, LOUD is a must-read for the die-hard sports fan and anyone who appreciates a good story.

It’s time to get off the bench and take charge of your life.Girl with a Game Plan is an empowering and action oriented book that will transform your life from being a bystander to becoming the superstar you were meant to be. Heather Gidusko will share with your listeners the ways to succeed and live a life with purpose, meaning, and passion.

Get your pedals turning with this ultimate guide to the 100 greatest bike routes around the world. Beautifully illustrated with National Geographic photography and divided by region, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S 100 BIKE RIDES OF A LIFETIME takes you across six continents to the most epic bike rides on the planet. Geared to everyone from expert riders to casual enthusiasts, this vibrant book offers a route for every type of biker, from quick jaunts in your own neighborhood to multi-week challenge. You’ll also find essential information—the best time to ride, the best spots to refuel, cultural highlights along each route, where to stay, and how to relax post-ride.

Season two of the Prime Video hit docuseries Coach Prime transports fans inside the locker room and onto the field of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) football program for the 2023 season. This year, Coach Prime and the Buffs have shaken up the college football landscape yet again, placing CU Boulder at the center of the sports world. The six-episode series documents Sanders’ first full season at CU Boulder as he embarks on a journey of building success and works to transform the program in a short amount of time. Sons Shilo and Shedeur Sanders join their father in Colorado along with their former Jackson State University teammate Travis Hunter for a new season that features never-before-seen footage, taking viewers behind the scenes of the most exciting story in college sports this year.

Bye Bye Barry, the definitive, firsthand account of Barry Sanders’ remarkable life story and career, premieres November 21 exclusively on Prime Video. One of the giants of the sport, Sanders displayed a style and flair that has never been replicated in football. His record-breaking career at both Oklahoma State - where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1988 - and with the Detroit Lions created a standard that will be celebrated forever.Ten years into his Hall-of-Fame career, it was only a matter of time before he broke Walter Payton’s record for most career rushing yards. But at the peak of his game, Sanders did the unthinkable. At age 31, he walked away from the game, never to return. Few retirements have ever been so shocking.Twenty-four years after the decision to walk away from the sport, Bye Bye Barry tackles one of the greatest mysteries in sports history: Why did he retire when he did? Fans across the NFL landscape have waited a long time for closure. Now, they’ll finally get the conclusive account on why Barry Sanders said “bye bye” to the NFL.

When Kenny Albert was growing up, family gatherings sounded a lot like a dispatch from the first all-sports radio station. There was his father, Marv, whose voice shaped the sound of modern basketball, and there too were his uncles Al and Steve-a trio of professional play-by-play men with a listenership that spanned the country. It was only a matter of time before Kenny, armed with a toy tape recorder, yearned to follow in their footsteps. Some 3,000 broadcasts later, Kenny Albert has amassed countless stories from the world of sports and media. A Mic for All Seasons is his chronicle of a charmed yet unlikely journey, from a youth spent calling games in his bedroom for a fictitious audience to ten-hour bus rides with a minor-league hockey team, plus the time he worked five different sports in one chaotic, 19-day stretch. The only play-by-play broadcaster who currently calls all four major sports in North America, Albert details the stand-out moments from his three-decade career, including the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, Jose Bautista's bat flip in the 2015 ALCS, and the U.S. women's hockey Olympic gold-medal winning shootout in Pyeongchang in 2018. Part memoir, part behind-the-scenes look at the world of broadcast media, A Mic for All Seasons also features stories about life in the booth, game preparation, travel hijinks, marquee events, meetings with star athletes and coaches, and much more.

One man's search to answer the ultimate question in sports: Why is hockey so incredibly awesome? Dave Hill--author, actor, rock musician and stand-up comedian--is a truly outstanding American. For one thing, he's part Canadian (an advantage he explored in his previous book Parking the Moose). For another, and maybe this has something to do with his Canadian heritage, he's a totally obsessive fan of hockey. That makes him a minority within a minority: apparently only five percent of the US population admit to liking hockey more than any other sport. In his latest opus, Dave--who's from Cleveland, which hasn't had an NHL team since 1978--tackles this hockey conundrum with full force, drilling down into what makes hockey so damn important in so many parts of the world, despite the average American not recognizing the sport's preeminent greatness. His search for the very soul of hockey has taken him across the globe, from Poland to LA to Kenya, and brought him into contact with many of the sport's great and good. Humorous but heartfelt, Bill Bryson-like but hipper, this is arguably the greatest book ever written about hockey and definitely the one to be asking for at Christmas.

In Killing the Image, Ward shares the gripping narrative of his unforgettable career, his rock-solid faith, and why boxing was never the biggest fight of his life. Ward was the undefeated light heavyweight boxing champion of the world when he walked away from the ring and did not look back. Now that he has taken off his gloves for the final time, the Olympic gold medalist is ready to share the heartbreaking and uplifting stories of his formative years and unprecedented boxing career.The book is described as a motivational, faith-building, and utterly compelling memoir which offers not only an inspiring story of overcoming a broken childhood but also insight into breaking destructive generational bonds, forgiving those who have hurt us, and moving toward hope. Along the way he shares a behind-the-scenes look at the drama from his epic championship bouts, complicated relationships with managers and promoters, and his shocking decision to retire at the top of his game.Andre Ward is married to his high school sweetheart, Tiffiney. Together with their five children, they live in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a retired world champion and Hall of Fame boxer, as well as a licensed minister and youth pastor at his church, The Well Christian Community in Livermore, California.

Buddies Blake Shelton and Carson Daly star in and executive produce the fun-filled celebrity game show where everyone lets loose and anything goes. Television personality and Wresting Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia brings the heat as host. The superstar trio goes all in on a good time as they head to Nashville and invite the audience into Blake’s bar, Ole Red, for a front row seat as their celebrity friends compete in over-the-top bar games.A naturally competitive spirit who once dominated the wrestling ring, Nikki sets the stakes as celebrity friends go head-to-head in a series of classic bar games with a fun twist, including returning favorites Air Cannon Cornhole, Keg Curling, Drunken Axe Hole, Sharts (“Shelton Darts”) and more. A new set of outrageous bar games thrown into the mix include Fool's Ball, Tic Tac Throwdown and Talk Derby to Me. With Carson behind the bar and Blake taking the stage with his house band for live music sing-alongs, these icons and celebrity favorites show a new side to themselves in this anything but ordinary game show where everyone is invited to the party. This season’s celebrity competitors include Kelly Clarkson, Jelly Roll, Gwen Stefani, Boyz II Men, and many more!

With two Olympic gold medals, one silver medal, six World Championships victories, 31 World Cup victories and a staggering 59 career World Cup podiums, five-time Olympian Lindsey Jacobellis, is the most decorated snowboard cross athlete of all time. But, for the better part of her career, she was known for one of the most epic unforced errors in Olympic history, which not only cost her a gold medal but cast her into a storm of media ridicule and stifling self-doubt. In her deeply personal memoir, UNFORGIVING (Harper; Publication Date: October 17, 2023), Jacobellis chronicles her career from crushing early failure, to self-growth and love, to finally conquering her goal almost two decades later. Honest, intimate, and inspiring, UNFORGIVING is both an unprecedented look at what it's like to be a young female athlete under the spotlight and a manifesto for triumphing over failure, believing in yourself, and achieving at the highest level. On February 16th, 2006, twenty-year old American snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis was poised to win the first gold medal in women's snowboard cross. Jacobellis, the top snowboard cross racer in the world and one of the most celebrated and decorated winter sports champions of all time, had a seemingly insurmountable lead in her race until she decided, in the home stretch, to celebrate midair and it all came crashing down. She lost her balance and fell. It was a mistake that would go down as one of the biggest unforced errors in sports. Jacobellis endured the criticism and second-guessing of Olympic commentators, sportswriters, and detractors. She was dropped by sponsors, ridiculed in the press, and grilled by interviewers. But Jacobellis refused to let her fall define her. It took her sixteen years of perseverance, training, and life coaching before, at the age of 36, Jacobellis reached the podium and became the oldest US female athlete to capture gold in Winter Olympic History.

It is a question that has bedeviled football fans for generations: Who's the best? Of the more than 25,000 men who have suited up during the NFL's century of existence, which ones stood head and shoulders above all others?At The Athletic, home to unrivaled reporting on the most important happenings in sports, this question would become a labor of love for dozens of the best football writers on the planet, including Mike Sando and Dan Pompei. Over the course of 100 riveting profiles-each drawing upon unparalleled access and superlative storytelling to offer intimate perspective on what made the greatest players tick-these writers reveal their findings. In the process, they also uncover the history of football.In the early days of the NFL, the game bore little resemblance to the product we see today. Points were scarce, the forward pass was an exotic strategic curiosity, and most players played all 60 minutes-both sides of the ball. It was on the shoulders of the many greats who starred in the League over the last century that the game of football blossomed. Each profile in THE FOOTBALL 100 uses the vivid narrative storytelling for which The Athletic is known to bring to life extraordinary athletic talents, tactical geniuses who changed the way the game is played, and legendary, outsized personalities. Based on many hundreds of interviews with players, coaches, broadcasters, and others, this is a penetrating look at the greatest players to ever don cleats and pads, as well as a view from the trenches of the harsh realities of a brutal game. 100 photographs throughout the text offer testament to both the glory and the physical toll of football.

A riveting memoir by the first MMA double champion and two-time Olympic wrestler who cut a polarizing path as a firebrand figure and went on to become a legend. "Dan Henderson is a savage. He came from a pure, wrestling background with very little striking training, and he went and became one of the most dangerous, one-punch knockout artists in the history of the sport." -Joe Rogan Dan "Hendo" Henderson was the first fighter in MMA history to become a double champion, winning championships in PRIDE Fighting Championships and Strikeforce. He faced the biggest names in MMA, on his unparalleled run through the early days of MMA through its remarkable rise in popularity, squaring off against the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Michael Bisping, Vitor Belfort, and Renzo Gracie. Henderson's first fight against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in 2011 is considered one of the greatest fights in UFC history. In this no-holds-barred look back on his life, Henderson provides context and insight into the biggest fights of his career, while reflecting on the wholly unique upbringing that shaped him into the warrior he needed to be to win. With his trademark humor, he sheds light on his two trips to the Olympics, his transformative time training in Europe and Russia, and his up-and-down relationship with Dana White. Hendo: The American Athlete is a thrilling window into the life and mind of a true legend. There will never be another fighter like Hendo.

Thank you for being part of the conversation. This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward Episode 595 With Sports Writer David Kindred My Home Team The legendary sports journalist writes about the team that changed his life: the Morton High School Lady Potters basketball team. Dave Kindred has covered dozens of Super Bowls and written about stars like Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan. But a high-school girls basketball team-the Lady Potters of Morton, Illinois-stands apart from the rest. In this moving and intimate story, Kindred writes about his rise to professional success and the changes that brought him back to his hometown late in life. As he dealt with personal hardship, his urge to write sustained him. For years, he has recapped the games of the Lady Potters, including their many runs to state championships. He attended game after game, sitting in the stands and making notes, paid nothing but Milk Duds. And the team and their community were there for him as he lost a grandson to addiction and his wife to long-term illness. Tender and honest, Kindred's story reminds readers what sports are really about. He trades in the exhausting spectacle of Super Bowl Sunday for the joy of togetherness, the fire of competition, and the inexhaustible hope for victory tomorrow.

Kelce, a feature-length documentary that follows Philadelphia Eagles team captain and All-Pro center Jason Kelce throughout the 2022-23 season, will premiere September 12 exclusively on Prime Video, just ahead of the return of Thursday Night Football, which kicks off exclusively on Prime Video with the Minnesota Vikings visiting Kelce's Eagles on Thursday, September 14. Kelce is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in the U.S. enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership. Kelce is an intimate and emotional feature-length documentary that chronicles Philadelphia Eagles team captain and All-Pro center Jason Kelce's 2022-23 season, which began with him confronting one of the most challenging decisions any professional athlete will ever face-is now the time to hang it up? After deciding to return for his 12th NFL season, Kelce embarked on a remarkable journey, highlighted by the arrival of his third daughter; the debut of his chart-topping podcast New Heights, which he co-hosts with brother, Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis; and a history-making Super Bowl appearance that placed the entire Kelce family at the center of the sports world.

Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky, whose alumni include Brock Lesnar, The Miz, John Cena, Dave Bautista and Randy Orton. was once a proud finishing school for young wrestlers who hoped for a chance at a career in big time, but times have changed. Acclaimed wrestler Al Snow clings to an old school wrestling philosophy with a heavy emphasis on storytelling, but in spite of the love of a few diehard fans, the gym struggles week to week to stay relevant enough to keep its doors open. Things have become so dire financially that Al has to sell a majority stake to a group of local businessmen including Matt Jones, the most popular radio personality in the state of Kentucky. Matt and the new ownership group have infused the struggling gym with much-needed cash but it still operates at a staggering loss.With new owners in the picture, once-famous pro wrestler Al Snow has been given the summer to turn OVW's dire financial situation around. Wrestlers tells the story of a handful of eccentric misfits who attempt to come together to help Al save this historic gym while achieving their own wild dreams of wrestling professionally.

Renowned athlete and American Ninja Warrior sensation Daniel Gil is set to captivate audiences with his new book, Kingdom Ninja, a compelling memoir detailing his remarkable journey from childhood dreams to becoming a world-class competitor. Kingdom Ninja (Ten Peaks Press, August 2023) invites readers to embark on an inspiring adventure through the life of Daniel Gil, chronicling his triumphs, trials, and unwavering faith. Gil's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the pursuit of greatness, resonating with individuals from all walks of life. The book delves into Gil's humble beginnings in Houston, Texas, where he first discovered his passion for athletic excellence. From an early age, he exhibited a tenacious spirit and a commitment to pushing his limits, ultimately leading him to excel in various sports, including basketball, soccer, roller hockey, tennis, baseball, parkour, and free running. However, it was when Gil encountered the exhilarating world of American Ninja Warrior that he discovered his true calling. Through heart-stopping obstacles, formidable challenges, and fierce competition, Gil rose to become one of the show's most beloved and accomplished athletes. With his electrifying performances, he captured the hearts of millions and earned the title of Kingdom Ninja. Kingdom Ninja not only unveils the gripping behind-the-scenes stories from the American Ninja Warrior set but also delves into the deeply personal moments that shaped Gil's character and propelled him forward. From overcoming self-doubt to navigating setbacks and injuries, he shares his invaluable insights on perseverance and faith, offering readers a blueprint for achieving their own goals. Divided into three sections, Gil favors a holistic approach to his health-physical, mental, and spiritual-and fosters a mindset of overcoming life's obstacles. Gil's story transcends the boundaries of sport and speaks to the universal human experience. His firm commitment to living a purpose-driven life serves as an inspiration to individuals across generations, encouraging them to pursue their dreams with untiring determination and unwavering faith.

Season 15 of "American Ninja Warrior" returns with the most elite athletes in the country competing on the world's most difficult obstacle courses. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, along with co-host Zuri Hall, are back to call the action as the ninjas make their way through the qualifying and semifinal rounds in Los Angeles before moving to the national finals in Las Vegas. With the biggest changes in show history, Season 15 will challenge the ninjas to race side-by-side and head-to-head across a high-stakes course with a spot in the national finals on the line. At stake is a top prize of $1 million for the fastest ninja who can conquer all four stages at the national finals. There is a 1 Million Dollar winner this season. In the past 14 seasons, this has only happened twice. The fastest ninja at the final stage always wins prize money, but if they are faster than the rest of the competitors AND reach the top in under 30 seconds, the prize becomes $1M. The show airs 2-hour episodes Monday nights at 8/7c on NBC with the finale on Sept 11th.

God. Family. Football. follows former pro football player, legendary high school football coach, and pastor Denny Duron, as he comes out of a 30-year retirement from head coaching to lead the football program he founded at Evangel Christian Academy back to national prominence.God. Family. Football. features the rich, diverse personal stories of Evangel’s players, coaching staff, and the broader Shreveport community, set against the dramatic backdrop of the 2022 Louisiana high school football season. With the perennial high school football powerhouse—14 state championships in the last 20 years—coming off their worst season in school history, redemption is everyone’s goal. Pastor Denny Duron has returned to the head coaching position to lead this talented group of kids, with dreams of playing in college and the NFL, into prominence on the field, while molding them into future leaders off of it. As the team faces struggle and triumph on and off the field, they are united by coach Duron’s formula for success: “God first, family second, and football third.”God. Family. Football. was created and executive produced by Aaron Benward. Jared Goetz, and NFL quarterback Russell Wilson.

WrestleMania is a two-day event that features the top superstars in the WWE. The event comprises several matches, some of which are between bitter rivals and others that are for championship belts. Ticket pre-registration for the two-day event is now available at https://www.wwe.com/wm40-presale. Prior to the general ticket on-sale on August 18, WWE has exclusive ticket packages available now for WrestleMania 40 via On Location. WrestleMania 40 Priority Passes offer fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment, including premium seating, pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and more. In less than one week, On Location’s WWE Priority Pass packages for WrestleMania 40 have surpassed WWE records. Limited packages remain available ahead of the general ticket on-sale event on August 18.Bianca Belair is the strongEST, the toughEST, the roughEST, the quickEST, the greatEST, and the bravEST. She truly is “The EST of WWE.” A decorated athlete since her youth, this award-winning University of Tennessee track star smashed every record in sight at the WWE Performance Center and became one of the first Black women to main event WrestleMania. Bianca is as quick on the mic as she is in the ring, just as likely to overwhelm her opponents with her sharp tongue as she is with her overwhelming athleticism. In her WWE career she was the 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble Match winner, SmackDown Women’s Champion, and Raw Women’s Champion.

The biggest event this summer just got bigger as WWE SummerSlam® is headed to Ford Field in Detroit August 5th, marking the first WWE event to be held at Ford Field since WrestleMania in 2007 and the first SummerSlam to take place in the state of Michigan since 1993.The premium live event will stream exclusively on Peacock.WWE Superstar, LA Knight brought a little bit of star power to the world of NXT with a mixture of outspoken charisma and unrelenting toughness. Eventually, Knight would arrive on SmackDown where he reinvented himself as Max Dupri, the visionary behind Maximum Male Models. Before long, however, he grew tired with his fashionable clients, ma.cé and mån.sôör, and their inability to score the big win when it counted. As a result, he aggressively shed his faction and that persona and once again declared that his name was LA Knight!​Now back on his own, Knight looks to take the fight to the blue brand

The uncensored inside story of ECW's founder Tod Gordon's journey from jewelry store owner to one of the three most powerful promoters in pro wrestling. "An incredible, entertaining and insightful story of one of the most important-and also underappreciated-promoters in wrestling history. A must-read for any wrestling fan, promoter, executive or any of the boys looking to laugh and learn." -Alfred Boima Konuwa III, Forbes Extreme Championship Wrestling was the revolutionary, industry-redefining wrestling federation of the '90s, and founder and owner Tod Gordon is telling his story for the first time. Gordon went from local Philadelphia businessman to the third most influential man in wrestling as ECW became the fiery challenger to WWE and WCW. ECW's young roster featured inventive risk-taking talent that both major federations sought to emulate but could never duplicate. Chants of "E-C-W!" rang out in wrestling arenas across all federations for decades.

"American Ninja Warrior" has returned with some of the most elite athletes in the country competing on the world's most difficult obstacle courses. Hosts Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbajabiamila and Zuri Hall are back to call the early-round action in San Antonio and Los Angeles with the National Finals in Las Vegas. The new season will mark the return of the lowered age requirement, which opens the door to a new era of competitors as young as 15 years old. Each season, the obstacle courses continue to evolve and become even more challenging for competitors of all ages, while the sport itself simultaneously grows rapidly across the country with kids embracing it in record numbers. A top prize of $1 million will go to the winner who can conquer all four stages at the National Finals in Las Vegas. To get there, competitors will need to make it through the qualifying rounds and Semifinals.

Thank you for being part of the conversation. This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward Episode 578 With Thunder Rosa And Powerhouse Will Hobbs From AEW TNT launches a second night of professional wrestling with a new tentpole series, “AEW: Collision” on Saturday, June 17. This live, two-hour, in-ring show will air every Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. ET and feature more wrestlers, more stories and more action to super-serve fans. “AEW: Collision” will feature headliners including CM Punk, Thunder Rosa, Powerhouse Hobbs, Samoa Joe, and Andrade El Idolo.

The Ride – premiering May 30 on Prime Video -- is a new docuseries surrounding the world of Professional Bull Riders (PBR). The Ride gives viewers a first-of-its-kind, behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s fastest-growing – and most dangerous – sports (bull-riding has an even higher risk of catastrophic injuries than the NFL), and follows the lives of its biggest stars, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before. The Ride follows an ensemble cast of bull-riders and coaches throughout the PBR Team Series as they navigate the league’s inaugural 2022 season, budding rivalries, exhilarating highs, and challenging lows. Ezekiel (Zeke) Mitchell is one of the top-ranked bull-riders in the world. He’s also captured nationwide media attention as one of the only Black bull-riders in the hunt for a title at the professional level of his sport. (There’s been just one Black champion in the history of pro bull-riding, Charlie Sampson, crowned in 1982.). One of 11 siblings, Zeke, who spent his childhood near Houston, always considered himself a cowboy, and loved watching PBR on TV from an early age. When he was a teenager, his parents begrudgingly allowed him to compete in a steer-riding competition at his church and he was hooked. Today, Zeke is following his dream of becoming a bull-riding champion, avoiding the dangers of the sport (his close friend Mason Lowe died at a PBR event in 2019 after a bull stomped on him), and pursuing superstardom in a sport not known for its diversity.

A groundbreaking memoir from professional NFL player, writer, and advocate R.K. Russell, who made history by becoming the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual. In 2019, R.K. Russell broke the mold when he came out as bisexual in an essay for ESPN that ignited the sports world. Now, in his powerful memoir, The Yards Between Us (Andscape Books; May 16, 2023; $26.99 U.S.; ISBN: 9781368081368; hardcover; 304 pages), he shares his story and explores his love of football, men and women, walking the devastating tightrope of keeping his sexuality secret, the tension between his private and public lives, and the importance of crashing through barriers. Told through the people and moments that have shaped him, The Yards Between Us traces the highs and lows of his life in and out of football, from his early life as a shy kid struggling with the expectations on a Black boy and the pull between his quiet nature and his athletic ability, to being drafted by his hometown team the Dallas Cowboys, and then on to seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills. Through being cut, injured, and frustrating setbacks, Russell's confidence lags as the secret of his sexuality weighs heavier and heavier. And when that frustration is combined with the devastating loss of his best friend and sole confidant, the darkness that follows also brings a deep understanding that perhaps it's time to make a change. In Th

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is one of baseball's all-time greatest superstars. He amassed 10 World Series rings, three American League MVP awards and 18 All-Star Game appearances. He caught the only perfect game in World Series history in 1956. Yet for many observers his prolific accomplishments on the diamond were overshadowed by his remarkable and unique appeal as a pop culture personality. Long before athletes endorsing products became commonplace, Yogi was starring in TV commercials and connecting with fans from every demographic. His groundbreaking TV commercial appearances and unforgettable "Yogi-isms," which initially appeared to be head-scratching philosophical nuggets, became fashionable catch-phrases that made him a national treasure and an endearing figure on the American pop culture landscape. In telling the complete story of his extraordinary journey, It Ain't Over chronicles Berra's life as a savvy, commanding, bad-ball-hitting-catcher with a squat frame but also a D-Day Navy veteran, coach and manager, loving husband and father and, yes, product endorser and originator (mostly) of his own brand of proverbs now ingrained into everyday life. First person accounts include granddaughter Lindsay Berra, Yogi's three sons (Tim, Larry, and Dale), plus a legion of former Yankee greats, including Derek Jeter, Joe Torre, Mariano Rivera, Willie Randolph, Don Mattingly, Tony Kubek and Ron Guidry. Also featured are Billy Crystal, Bob Costas and Vin Scully, plus photos and eye-opening archival footage on and off the diamond. Berra famously said, "I'd be pretty dumb if I started being something I'm not," and It Ain't Over lovingly makes clear he stayed who he was for the benefit of baseball and everyone else. Berra was born on May 12th, 1925 in St Louis, Missouri in a neighborhood known as "The Hill." He spent his entire professional career playing in New York with the Yankees and briefly with the Mets, before retiring in 1965. Montclair, New Jersey was home for Yogi and his wife, Carmen. In 1972 he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. That same year his iconic uniform No. 8 was retired by the Yankees. In 1988, the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center opened its doors on the campus of Montclair State University. He passed away at the age of 90 in 2015

The MLB Sunday Leadoff package began in 2022 with 18 exclusive Sunday morning games on Peacock, continuing NBC Sports’ storied baseball tradition. The first Major League Baseball television broadcast was a 1939 Cincinnati Reds-Brooklyn Dodgers doubleheader on W2XBS (the precursor to WNBC-TV) in New York.NBC Sports was a home to the first World Series broadcast in 1947, the first All-Star Game nationally broadcast in 1952, and has televised 39 World Series – more than any other network. Additionally, from 1957-2000, NBC Sports was home to a wealth of baseball programming, including Game of the Week and Monday Night Baseball telecasts, more than 30 All-Star Games, and countless Postseason moments.

Pod Crashing Episode 218 With Wright Thompson From The Cost Of Their Dreams From one of America's most beloved sportswriters, a collection of true stories about the dream of greatness and its cost in the world of sports. There is only one Wright Thompson. His work includes some of the most read articles in the history of sports journalism. But to say his pieces are about sports barely scratches the surface. Wright Thompson shows us the humanity behind the legendary. Whether it be Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods or Ted Williams, he strips away the self-serving myths and fantasies to fully reveal his characters, and what drives them, in a way that few others can. This podcast adapts Wright's catalog of articles, profiles, and dispatches into original audio pieces. It is an anthology of one of the most unique voices in sports. In it, you'll hear Wright share his process and thoughts on his work, archival footage from the events unfolding in front of him, and original scoring. It features 8 episodes ranging from sports profiles to personal tales of loss and growth.

Set to premiere Wednesday, March 29, immediately following AEW: Dynamite, the new one-hour docuseries AEW: All Access follows the biggest stars of All Elite Wrestling as they step out of the ring and into their lives. Featuring Adam Cole, Dr. Britt Baker, Sammy Guevara, Tay Melo, The Young Bucks, Saraya, Wardlow, Eddie Kingston and AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan, the highly anticipated series is the ultimate behind-the-scenes experience for wrestling fans.AEW: All Access will showcase AEW’s top stars as they navigate the challenges to remain at the top and will track the rivalries between talent as they vie for fans’ attention. Over the course of the series, viewers will get the chance to follow the contentious lead-up to AEW’s major wrestling events and matches. AEW: All Access will complement TBS and TNT’s portfolio of top-rated wrestling content, including AEW: Dynamite and AEW: Rampage respectively.

Down and Back tells broadcaster Justin Bourne's story of following his Hall-of-Fame father not only to the NHL, but also into rehab. Bob Bourne was everything a son wants to emulate-an NHL All-Star, a Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year," a Stanley Cup champion. Justin Bourne followed in those huge footsteps, leading his teams in scoring year after year, and finally garnering an invitation to the New York Islanders' training camp-the same team his father had played for. But Bourne was also following his father down a darker path. Though he hadn't begun drinking until he was 21, by 36 his drinking had nearly swamped his career and his marriage. In an act of brutal self-honesty-which may not have been possible if not for his understanding of how lying spurred by alcoholism can cause a family pain-Bourne got help, got sober, and confronted what his father and the game mean to him. Down and Back is a frank and unflinching appraisal of the game and Bourne's relationship with it: the violence and danger, the booze and drugs, the consequences of fame. But it is also an honest look at what is redeeming about the sport, through the eyes of someone who grew up in NHL dressing rooms, who has skated on NHL ice as both a player and a coach, and who inherited the game from a man he's grown to better understand by looking more closely at himself. "Justin does a deft job using his own career timeline to examine a number of hockey's cultural touchpoints, and their impact on his own life. It may just be one player's story, but there are lessons we can all relate to, even if we've never played a single shift. You can't help but root for him along the way. An important, endlessly compelling read."- James Duthie, TSN sportscaster and bestselling author of The Guy on the Left

In one of the most iconic scenes in movie history, Kevin Costner, playing Ray Kinsella, is in a Dyersville, Iowa cornfield and as the credits roll he is finally, finally having that long-delayed soul-satisfying catch with his dad as "Field of Dreams" concludes. And now, exactly 35 years after filming started on this beloved classic, as a thank you to the townspeople of Dyersville, Iowa who continue to mean so much to him-- actor Dwier Brown--who played Kevin Costner's dad--John Kinsella--is welcoming one and all to his Baseball Hall of Dreams and The Baseball Building--which Dwier has created in Dyersville. This small town in Iowa meant so much to a young actor that Dwier never forgot their kindness. Dwier's affection is fueled in part by the fact that just before he arrived in town to shoot the film he had unexpectedly lost his own dad. Not only has he returned to the town many times over the years, but he is now offering his own unique thank you to the people of Dyersville--and the many visitors who, because Dwier built it, they will now come

Reggie, an intimate and revealing new documentary that examines the career and legacy of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and activist Reggie Jackson, premieres exclusively on Prime Video on March 24. The film is the definitive, firsthand account of five-time World Series Champion, beloved New York icon, and one of baseball’s most influential superstars as he contemplates his legacy as a trailblazing Black athlete fighting for dignity, respect, and a seat at the table. Over the course of his life and barrier-breaking career, Jackson witnessed a dramatic shift in race relations across America: Starting his career in Birmingham at the height of the civil rights movement, moving to Oakland during the rise of the Black Panther Party, and landing in New York City as the highest-paid player in baseball as the Bronx was burning. Now, against the backdrop of today’s increasingly divided world, he sits down with fellow legends Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Hank Aaron, Derek Jeter, and more to discuss their own experiences, how far we’ve really come, and the leagues they want to leave behind for future generations.Reggie is directed by Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Stapleton. Alex’s credits include Showtime’s Shut Up and Dribble, which looked at the changing role of NBA athletes in our changing political and cultural environment, and Netflix’s The Playbook, which profiled legendary coaches as they shared their secrets for success in sports and life.

In WARRIOR, Guerrero shares remarkable stories from her life and career, revealing how she: . Suffered a miscarriage on the sidelines of an NFL game . Sued Patriots owner Robert Kraft - and won . Was the first reporter to ask Barry Bonds on camera if he'd ever used steroids . Made Dennis Rodman cry . Launched an Inside Edition investigation that led to the conviction of a child murderer the police had given up searching for... . and so much more. Ultimately, Lisa writes, "empathy is what makes me brave." From her childhood as the daughter of a Chilean immigrant and a social worker, to her experiences of harassment and abuse as a cheerleader and sports journalist, Guerrero knows what it is to feel powerless - and she knows how to reclaim power. With WARRIOR, she hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Smithsonian Channel™ premieres the new two-hour documentary Cassius X: Becoming Aliwhich examines the transformation of Cassius Clay into international boxing icon and activist, Muhammad Ali, as he risks everything for his new religion while approaching the biggest fight of his life.The revealing documentary begins in 1959 when the young boxer, Cassius Clay, begins his journey towards achieving his lifelong dream of becoming World Heavyweight Champion while, at the same time, embarking on a secret spiritual journey. The film explores the next five years in which Clay evolves as both a boxer and a global star while also risking everything – his career, public persona, family and the love of his pop-star girlfriend – for both a new religion and new name.

Major League Wrestling (MLW) is the fastest growing wrestling league in the world, and now MLW comes to REELZ with a brand-new weekly primetime series MLW Underground Wrestling airing Tuesday nights at 10pm ET/7pm PT. Ushering in a new era of wrestling for a new generation of fans, MLW features some of the most electrifying competitors in the industry – including MLW World Champion Alex Hammerstone, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Jacob Fatu, Real1 (formerly Enzo), Taya Valkyrie, Lio Rush, Savio Vega, Yoshihiro Tajiri and many more.One of MLW’s top stars is none other than John Hennigan (previously known as John Morrison in WWE). Call him the Mayor of Slamtown, the Monday Night Delight or the Shaman of Sexy, John has performed under a variety of monikers, but you can always call him “champ” as he’s earned championship gold in every major wrestling promotion.

Jonathan was only 16 when he was arrested for a crime he did not commit. Maya Moore’s family met Jonathan through a prison ministry program in 1999 and over time developed a close bond with him. Maya met Jonathan in 2007, shortly before her freshman year at the University of Connecticut, where she became one of the most heralded women’s basketball players in collegiate history. She visited him often throughout the years, as well as sending him letters and books as he fought for his freedom; ultimately, she became a strong voice for prosecutorial changes. She stunned the sports world when she announced in February 2019 that she would step away from her career in women’s basketball, in part so she could help Jonathan in what they hoped would be his final appeal. In March 2020, his conviction was overturned by a state judge in Jefferson City, MO. In this inspiring memoir, the couple explores their unwavering faith, their deep connection and how Maya stepped away from basketball to pursue justice both to prove Jonathan’s innocence and inspire activism in others.

Former NBA All-Star and Miami Heat assistant coach Caron Butler and acclaimed author Justin A. Reynolds tip off the first book in a new middle grade series about a young boy trying to make his mark on an AAU basketball team coached by a former NBA star. In Shot Clock, Tony loves basketball. But the game changed recently when his best friend, Dante, a hoops phenom, was killed by a police officer. Tony hopes he can carry on Dante’s legacy by making the Sabres, the AAU basketball team Dante took to two national championships. With his community reeling and the team just finding its footing on the court, can Tony find a path to healing while helping to bring the Sabres a championship?

VH1 introduced viewers to one of the most iconic and notorious series in all of reality television, The Surreal Life, by bringing together the biggest names in pop culture under one roof and creating unforgettable moments in reality TV. Now, The Surreal Life is back for a new generation of audiences as eight wildly different celebrities will live together for a once in a lifetime surreal experience. Temperaments and vulnerabilities will be put to the test, pushing these stars to unmask themselves in the most unfiltered and unpredictable ways.

The World Cup. Soccer! To know the game is to know the history. In walks Nando Via.

An exceptional athlete all her life, Belair earned All-SEC and All-American honors in track-and-field at the University of Tennessee. Unsurprisingly, Belair’s competitive nature has carried over into the ring. Though she relies on rugged power, Belair can be creatively merciless, using her long braid to whip opponents to shreds. After winning the 2021 Royal Rumble match, she made history at WrestleMania 37 alongside Sasha Banks as the first Black women to main event WrestleMania. Bianca is also a strong supporter of several charitable endeavors such as the Special Olympics. She also created the website, Culture Connection, alongside her husband WWE Superstar Montez Ford to assist those who want to take action to support and advocate for Black people and social justice.

Mariner Books is proud to publish THE LAST FOLK HERO: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson by acclaimed sportswriter Jeff Pearlman. Hailed as a "master storyteller" (NPR.org), Pearlman is the New York Times bestselling author of nine previous books on iconic subjects, including the '80s Los Angeles Lakers (Showtime, the basis for the hit 2022 HBO series Winning Time, directed by Adam McKay), the 1986 New York Mets (The Bad Guys Won), the '90s Dallas Cowboys (Boys Will Be Boys), and NFL legend Walter Payton (Sweetness). Now, Pearlman turns his remarkable talents to a figure he considers to be in a class of his own, indeed the greatest athlete of all time, who forever redefined the modern sports superstar. The first person to simultaneously star in two major professional sports-and the only one to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football-Bo Jackson was a Heisman Trophy winner and a pop culture phenomenon. His strength, power, and speed were the stuff of legend, among fans and fellow athletes alike. From the mid-'80s until the early '90s, when injuries forced him into early retirement, he seemed to be everywhere, splashed across our television screens and magazine covers in those pre-internet days, as both a stellar athlete and the ubiquitous "Bo Knows" Nike spokesman.And yet what makes Jackson truly unique and immortal, Pearlman says, is the mythology that surrounds him. Pearlman calls him "the last folk hero" because Jackson is the last legendary athlete to do the multitude of impossible-to-conceive feats attributed to him before the age of YouTube and Twitter, when everything that happens in the world can be found online seconds later. In decades past, Pearlman reminds us, some of the most fabled deeds in the history of sports had an element of mystery to them. Did Babe Ruth really point into the distance before homering at Wrigley Field in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series? Did Earl Manigault really grab a quarter off the top of a backboard before dunking a basketball? "We don't know," Pearlman writes. "But the beauty is in the mystery. It's in the debate; in the descriptive adjectives; in having a cousin whose uncle's brother's sister's nephew's wife's maid of honor (from her second wedding, not her third) was at the game, and swears to God it happened."

“The Almighty” Bobby Lashley has a list of credentials few can boast as a former MMA fighter, 3-time wrestling National Champion, 4-time wrestling All-American, 2-time Armed Forces Champion, Silver Medalist in the 2002 CISM World Championships, and multi-time WWE and Intercontinental Champion. He’s as comfortable striking down his opponents with the full force of his 6’3 frame as he is striking an Adonis-like pose with his dazzling smile. He is both brazen and brave, taking on the biggest and best within WWE. The son of a former U.S. Army Drill Sergeant, Bobby spent three years in the U.S. Army and is passionate about supporting the military. He’s also an advocate for WWE Community’s partnerships with Connor’s Cure, supporting pediatric cancer research and treatment and Make-A-Wish, granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

With every throw, tackle, and kick, numbers are being calculated on the football field. National Geographic Kids and ESPN teamed up to create It’s a Numbers Game! Football to teach kids the way that digits and math factor into football, from the countless statistics used to measure an individual player’s performance to the numbers used in defensive formations. NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes wrote the foreword for this new book, explaining how he uses time, numbers, and math to win football games. Kids will read about the most amazing moments in football history and learn about the crazy calculations behind winning plays. They will discover which NFL team defenses have allowed the fewest points and check out cool graphics that show the angles in different pass patterns. Young readers will enjoy learning about the greatest players in the game’s history and finding out fascinating facts, like the price of a Super Bowl commercial. Players and enthusiasts of all levels will enjoy reading about their favorite football stars and learning how numbers are used to enhance the game, such as the math behind the perfect punt. The book also provides lessons for players to practice their skills based on the strategies provided. There are specific “Try This” activities at the end of each chapter to get kids actively learning. Jam-packed with infographics, statistics, fun facts, sports history, and tips and activities to improve their own game, this book will help kids become a number-crunching football pro.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward Episode 508 With NFL Great And Author R.K. RussellA groundbreaking memoir from professional NFL player, writer, and advocate R.K. Russell, who made history by becoming the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual. In 2019, R.K. Russell broke the mold when he came out as bisexual in an essay for ESPN that ignited the sports world. Now, in his powerful memoir, The Yards Between Us he shares his story and explores his love of football, men and women, walking the devastating tightrope of keeping his sexuality secret, the tension between his private and public lives, and the importance of crashing through barriers.

A memoir of hard lessons learned in the racially segregated and sometimes outright racist NBA of the early '60s by celebrated NBA player and first Black Coach of the Year, Ray Scott.Ray Scott was part of the early wave of Black NBA players like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain who literally changed how the game of professional basketball is played, leading to the tremendously popular financial blockbuster the NBA is today. Scott was a successful 6'9" forward/center after being chosen by the Detroit Pistons as the #4 pick of the 1961 NBA draft, and then again after he was named head coach of the Pistons in 1972, winning Coach of the Year in the spring of 1974-the first Black man ever to capture that honor.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward Episode 497 With Jason Reid Creator Of The Rise Of The Black QuarterbackIt Means for America by NFL journalist Jason Reid, chronicles the history of the treatment of Black Players in the NFL, and the breakout careers of a thrilling new generation of Black quarterbacks. Reid delves deeply into the culture war ignited by Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful protest that shone a light of systemic oppression and police brutality. Intimate portraits of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray feature prominently in the book as well as the career and legacy of beloved NFL players such as Doug Williams and trailblazing pioneers Marlin Briscoe and Eldridge Dickey.

The gritty blight of New York City in the '80s revealed a cultural resilience, one that ultimately birthed East Coast hip-hop and inspired a style of play on the basketball court that endures today. The elegance of the city's elite point guards, molded by the packed streetball courts, unwritten rules of bruising pickup games, and the perseverance required to survive everyday life, has come to define an era of basketball and American culture. Their transcendent style is etched in the consciousness of all who have witnessed these prodigies. The New York City point gods' lasting impact on the game of basketball can be seen around the world, in virtually every league.The film features a who's who of point guard deities: Rafer Alston, Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury, God Shammgod, Kenny Smith, Rod Strickland and Dwayne "Pearl" Washington. They brought theatrics, dizzying ball control, stylish misdirection, and a shake-and-bake game from the asphalt to the city's hallowed high school gyms and to the NBA, orchestrating successful offenses at every level. NYC POINT GODS explores not just how the city shaped these distinct players, but how these wunderkinds shaped and advanced the game under their watch, and whose impact continues to shape the game today.

RICKEY: The Life and Legend of an American Original by Howard Bryant-acclaimed sports journalist and three-time nominee for the National Magazine Award. Bryant is also the author of nine previous books, including The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron, The Heritage: Black Athletes, A Divided America and the Politics of Patriotism, and Juicing the Game: Drugs, Power, and the Fight for the Soul of Major League Baseball. Now, he offers the definitive biography of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, baseball's epic leadoff hitter and base-stealer who dazzled fans over four electric decades in the game. Few names in baseball history evoke the excellence, dynamism, and curiosity of Rickey Henderson. The panther-like strides off first base. The fingers wiggling, a sign of imminent threat-and then Rickey was gone: the powerful headfirst slide into second base in an eyeblink. On and off the field, Rickey was explosive, unique, electric, and the most polarizing and enigmatic player in baseball. In the hands of critically acclaimed sportswriter and culture critic Howard Bryant, RICKEY is one of baseball's greatest and most original superstars finally getting his due. Bryant draws on scores of interviews with many of baseball's top players, managers, and professionals, as well as conversations with Rickey himself and his longtime wife, Pamela Henderson. The result is the first and only book to comprehensively cover the baseball legend's life and full career.

On April 15, 1947, a young Jackie Robinson started at first base with the Brooklyn Dodgers, marking the first time a Black man was allowed to play in the modern Major Leagues. Robinson’s incredible accomplishments on the field are even more remarkable when combined with the enormous obstacles he was faced with while achieving them – fighting against segregation, racial discrimination and standing up for the rights of African Americans everywhere. However, when the Hall of Famer retired to continue his efforts off the field, there was still much work to be done in baseball and players including Bill White, Curt Flood, and future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson picked up where Jackie left off. The relentless efforts and sacrifices of these brave men would eventually advance the status of Black players on and off the field, send the league toward greater roster integration, and force the sport of baseball, and the country, to change for the better.Andre Gaines is an award-wining Los Angeles-based producer, writer and director. Through his company Cinemation Studios, Gaines has produced or financed an extensive number of documentary and narrative films including, Spike Lee’s Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, the acclaimed Netflix documentary Bill Nye: Science Guy, the remake of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn, the award-winning animated feature The Immortal Warrior starring Rodrigo Santoro for Amazon, and Buzzed starring Jeremy Renner and Keira Knightley.

Merl Code, the former college basketball player and Nike and Adidas shoe rep who infamously became the fall guy in the 2017-2018 college basketball corruption scandal. In his explosive new book BLACK MARKET: An Insider's Journey into the High-Stakes World of College Basketball (3/1/22; Hanover Square), Code will tell his side of the story and expose the seedy underbelly of college hoops, and a system that disproportionally affects young athletes of color. Merl's sentencing appeal was recently denied by the Supreme Court in the FBI's investigation into the recruiting scandal. Merl has been sentenced to 6 months, and was to report to prison in February.BLACK MARKETS is an unprecedented insider account of the profit-driven college basketball programs and the storied coaches who lead them. Code details how NCAA amateurism rules can be used to take advantage of young athletes who are prohibited by the NCAA's bylaws from receiving compensation until they go pro. He shares stories of the families and students and what's at stake for them, and pulls back the curtain on the systemic problem of using players for financial gain in college athletics.

Matt Kunitz launched his career as producer and showrunner for MTV’s landmark reality show The Real World. He was also the driving force behind all seven seasons of Fear Factor, which broke decade-old network ratings records for NBC. In addition to Wipeout, Matt is the executive producer of Kicking & Screaming on FOX, Candy Crush on CBS and Kevin Hart: What the Fit, airing on E!, Peacock and YouTube.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward Episode 408 is with baseball’s biggest and greatest fan Zack Hample. Zack Hample has snagged more baseballs in the stands at major league stadiums than anyone, including Mike Trout's 1st career home run and Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th hit. He's been to 61 different Major League stadiumsHample is a full-time YouTuber with more than a million followers across social media and has made countless appearances on national TV, most notably "The Tonight Show" with both Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien. With his own Topps Baseball Card and a dedicated file of articles about him in the Hall of Fame research archives, he is more recognizable than many players and regularly gets approached by fans seeking selfies and autographs. He has also written three books

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 392 with pro wrestler Drew McIntyre. In this thrilling, no-holds-barred memoir that shows why he is "an inspiration to millions of WWE fans around the world" (Triple H), WWE Champion Drew McIntyre tells the incredible roller-coaster story of his life, from a small village in Ayrshire, Scotland, to the bright lights of WWE.From a young age, Drew McIntyre dreamed of becoming a WWE Champion and following in the footsteps of his heroes "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Undertaker. With his parents' support, he trained and paid his dues, proving himself to tiny crowds in the UK's Butlin circuit. At age twenty-two, McIntyre made his WWE debut and was touted by none other than WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as "The Chosen One" who would lead WWE into the future. With his destiny in the palms of his hands, Drew watched it all slip through his fingers.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 388 with Tony Khan from AEW All Elite Wrestling. Under Khan’s leadership, AEW has defied expectations with its meteoric rise, record high ratings, world-class roster, pop culture infiltration, and a highly entertaining product that’s taken the world by storm. A thought leader in the world of sports analytics and insights, Khan is also the Chief Football Strategy Officer and co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, GM/Sporting Director of Fulham F.C., owner of TruMedia Networks, a partner in Activist Artists Management, and a board member of Black News Channel.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 362 with Dr. Britt Baker from All Elite Wrestling.Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. is the reigning AEW Women’s World Champion, and is the only fully licensed and practicing dentist in the professional wrestling industry. She made her professional in-ring debut in 2015 while enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine. In January 2019, Britt became one of the first women signed to AEW and has since become one of the most recognizable and popular faces of the AEW Women’s Division. Dr. Britt Baker became AEW Women’s World Champion on May 30, 2021, at the Double or Nothing event in Jacksonville, FL, when she defeated Hikaru Shida by submission, putting an end to Shida’s historic 372-day reign as champion.

FOX Sports shares the gift of John Madden for all who love football, with its original documentary ALL MADDEN. The tribute, premiering Saturday, Dec. 25 at 2:00 PM ET on FOX, leads into the network’s marquee matchup from Lambeau Field where the Green Bay Packers will host the Cleveland Browns (4:30 PM ET on FOX).ALL MADDEN is a look into one of the enduring icons of football: John Madden. Centered largely on the 30 years after his Hall of Fame coaching career, the FOX Sports documentary explores Madden’s extraordinary impact on America’s most popular sport, the indelible mark he made on broadcast television and how he revolutionized the video game industry.ALL MADDEN features candid interviews with a roster of football legends, including Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Bill Belichick, Andy Reid, Lawrence Taylor, Lamar Jackson, Bill Parcells, and Roger Goodell. Conversations with Madden’s wife, Virginia, and their sons, Joe and Mike, reveal the man behind the microphone. The documentary also includes the first extensive on-camera interview with Madden in more than a decade and features never before seen footage of his Hall of Fame career.Tom Rinaldi is the executive producer and co-director of the documentary. He joined FOX Sports in January 2021, contributing across the network’s world-class portfolio of live events. Throughout his career, Rinaldi has covered many of the biggest events in sports, from the sidelines of the College Football Playoff National Championship to the Masters, Wimbledon, the Olympics, NBA and more.In addition to his duties on live events, Rinaldi has become known for his original storytelling, which ran on a variety of shows. Among his stories, “Carry On,” chronicling the relationship between two high school wrestlers from Cleveland and the television producer who made a pivotal difference in their lives, won the national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Overall, Rinaldi has won 17 national Sports Emmy Awards and seven national Edward R. Murrow Awards. He has been nominated in five separate Emmy Awards categories, including writing, reporting and feature storytelling, more than 40 times in total. Rinaldi authored the New York Times bestseller “The Red Bandanna: A Life, A Choice, A Legacy,” which chronicles the heroic acts and tragic death of former Boston College lacrosse player, volunteer fighter and equities trader Welles Crowther, who lost his life while saving others in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

New ring. New rules. No holding back. The future of combat sports has arrived with a revolutionary new team sport known as Triad Combat which incorporates boxing and MMA rules in an aggressive, action-packed and fast-paced format. In Triad Combat, professional boxers compete against professional mixed martial arts fighters in a specially designed triangular ring over two-minute rounds. Designed to level the playing ground between boxing and MMA, fighters use crossover gloves and are allowed to hold each other in a clinch and continue to exchange blows (instead of being separated by the referee per boxing rules). Triad Combat makes its debut at Globe Life Stadium in Dallas on November 27 and will also feature a performance from international rock icons Metallica as well as other special guest performances. Among the fighters featured on the debut of Triad Combat include Two-Time UFC Heavyweight World Champion Frank Mir, Two-Time Boxing Heavyweight World Title Challenger Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev and former UFC Superstar ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry. The unique broadcast is expected to shatter all existing Pay-Per-View records and will include special surprises throughout.The producer of Triad Combat is the award-winning visionary and creative force behind American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance (where he also serves as on-screen judge), Nigel Lythgoe. Nigel Lythgoe can let combat sports fans know what they can expect from the premiere of Triad Combat, how it uniquely bridges the gap between boxing and MMA, and how its faster-paced format and musical performances will appeal to a wide variety of fans.

“Rhodes to the Top” will go inside the lives of Cody and Brandi Rhodes as they navigate their growing family while helping to build AEW’s global wrestling empire. Each episode will take viewers behind-the-scenes as the powerhouse couple manage their ever-busier lives inside and outside the ring, all the while surrounded by a colorful and often hilarious motley crew of wrestlers, family and friends who both support and test them at every turn. Married in 2013, Cody and Brandi have been on an unprecedented path to wrestling greatness – but will now face their newest and possibly biggest challenge yet – becoming parents.Brandi Rhodes is one of the few AEW talents to hold an executive role in the company serving as Chief Brand Officer and is the first African American woman to hold an executive position in a major North American wrestling promotion. Before making her way into wrestling, Brandi worked as a TV news reporter and anchor, but broke into entertainment by modeling in national brand campaigns. Prior to that, she figure-skated competitively for 17 years.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 304 with Cody and Brandi Rhodes From Rhodes To The Top on TNT.“Rhodes to the Top” will go inside the lives of Cody and Brandi Rhodes as they navigate their growing family while helping to build AEW’s global wrestling empire. Each episode will take viewers behind-the-scenes as the powerhouse couple manage their ever-busier lives inside and outside the ring, all the while surrounded by a colorful and often hilarious motley crew of wrestlers, family and friends who both support and test them at every turn. Married in 2013, Cody and Brandi have been on an unprecedented path to wrestling greatness – but will now face their newest and possibly biggest challenge yet – becoming parents.Cody started his wrestling career at age 12 and during his time as amateur wrestler, he won the Georgia State Tournament twice (2003/2004). His mother is of Cuban descent and his father is iconic pro-wrestling legend, Dusty Rhodes, who is a WWE Hall of Famer. Both Cody and Dusty won NWA World Heavyweight Championship titles making them the first father/son to win the title. Cody helped launch AEW where he stars as a top wrestler and serves as Executive Vice President for the organization. He was the inaugural title holder of the AEW TNT Championship in 2020.Brandi Rhodes is one of the few AEW talents to hold an executive role in the company serving as Chief Brand Officer and is the first African American woman to hold an executive position in a major North American wrestling promotion. Before making her way into wrestling, Brandi worked as a TV news reporter and anchor, but broke into entertainment by modeling in national brand campaigns. Prior to that, she figure skated competitively for 17 years.

With the flagship series, AEW: Dynamite, dominating Wednesday nights, ALL Elite Wrestling is expanding to Fridays with AEW: Rampage. The electrifying, new featured the hottest stars of today and tomorrow showcasing their athleticism, charisma, and creativity on the fastest rising stage in all of professional wrestling. The gripping one-hour show brings new content, matchups, and personalities to fans every Friday night. Filmed in front of a live audience each week, AEW: Rampage headliners include Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Dr. Britt Baker, Nyla Rose, Sting, Christian Cage, Jon Moxley, Paul Wight, Darby Allin, Hangman Page, Sammy Guevara, Jungle Boy, MJF, Andrade El Idolo, Malakai Black, Orange Cassidy, Brian Pillman Jr., and many more.Now, joining the AEW commentary table for “AEW: Rampage” is none other than “The World’s Strongest Man,” Mark Henry. Henry burst onto the scene at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where he competed in weightlifting in the super-heavyweight division. Three years later at the Pan American Games, Henry captured a gold, silver and bronze medal. Henry’s intimidating size and weightlifting prowess earned the attention of WWE, where he debuted in 1996 and cemented himself as a top star for two decades before ultimately being inducted into the Hall of Fame.He also won first prize in the 2002 "World's Strongest Man" competition at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic and holds the incredible distinction of having been a World’s Champion in three sports: Powerlifting, Strongman and Wrestling.

Ater timing out on the Stage Four rope climb, 15-year-old Kaden Lebsack is the American Ninja Warrior season 13 Last Ninja Standing.During the finale episode, Kaden performed sheer art on Stage Three. He gracefully and stoically swooped through all seven of the seemingly impossible obstacles. Kaden was the only of the final four competitors to reach the buzzer. Austin Gray was the season's runner-up with his time to Eyeglass Alley.Kaden has impressed us all season long. Ahead of his run in the Qualifiers, Kaden's dad told us something that turned out to be a warning in regards to what Kaden was capable of: "I don't think many people in the world have a drive like Kaden does. When he finds something he wants, he pushes it really hard until he gets it."Right after that, Kaden put up the fastest course completion of the night.In the Semifinals, Kaden tore through the course again, taking the third spot on the leaderboard.After a run on Stage One of the National Finals that left him in the fourth spot on the leaderboard, Kaden faced Stage Two. Here's where we all really started to understand the level of talent we were dealing with. Of the 27 Ninjas who took on Stage Two, only four stayed dry. And Kaden came out with the fastest time to the buzzer."It was crazy watching Stage Two," Kaden told us. "All of these insane athletes not being able to finish. I definitely think the cold had a big part to play. It was super hard to warm up. I ran non-stop for 10 minutes before my run and I was still freezing. It was very cold and I think that played a huge part in people not having the performances they would have liked."The make-or-break moment of Stage Two was the blind grab of the Falling Shelves. The move took out competitors like Jake Murray, Sean Bryan, and Adam Rayl. Kaden, a rookie, had a different approach that got him through."My strategy was to not get a huge backswing on it. Just kind of relax on the swing I was releasing off of. I saw a lot of strong Ninjas get a huge swing and I think that messed them up."The smart strategy moved Kaden to the buzzer, a big enough moment in and of itself."I could not believe I hit the Stage Two buzzer. It was crazy. I'm still in shock. I have no words for it. It's absolutely mind-blowing," Kaden said just hours before he'd stand at the bottom of Stage Four."I was definitely nervous (prior to Stage Three). I tried not to think about it too much until they brought us over to do rules. Stage Three looked brutal the first time I saw it. Everyone who was with me on Stage Three was capable of clearing. I thought all of them could. Seeing all of them go down was shocking to me. It was absolutely crazy to be a part of it as well."But Kaden, in a testament to his maturity as a competitor, didn't let those falls get into his head. As he put it, "You gotta go out there and do your own thing."The Stage Three obstacles slid by him in a blur, but Kaden recalls one standout moment, "I remember the last Flying Bar cradle. Thinking about how long I've been wanting this. It's finally coming true. I couldn't believe it."We spoke to Kaden ahead of his Stage Four climb, but at this point, we all knew he was the Last Ninja Standing for season 13. That's a massive accomplishment for anyone, let alone a rookie."There are so many emotions," Kaden said. "I can't believe I cleared Stage Three. It's been a dream of mine forever. To actually do it, it's awesome. I really can't believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet. I'm so shocked to be the Last Ninja Standing. Hopefully, I can be the ANW season 13 champion."The $1 million prize was just beyond Kaden's reach as he timed out on the rope climb. But that outcome only gives him a goal for the future. And he still earned $100,000 for his trouble. He might even share the riches with his fellow teen Ninja Warriors."I owe Max Feinberg a trip to Disneyland. He bought me a smoothie once and I said if I won ANW, I would take him to Disney.To close out our season, we asked Kaden to share his "Oscars moment speech." Who does he want to thank for this year?"I'd thank my coach John Maul. I've trained with him every single day forever. For the past five years. I couldn't ask for a better coach and training partner. This season is more than I could ever ask for. I've been working so hard for this. And for it to start paying off, it's crazy."Kaden Lebsack, a 15-year-old rookie, accomplished almost everything there is to accomplish on American Ninja Warrior in just one season. What could that mean for future seasons of the show? It means fans better buckle up.

There are two New Orleans: the glamorous party city that tourists see and the day-to-day reality of the heavily segregated Black neighborhoods outside the French Quarter. That more real New Orleans is defined by economic inequality, street violence, drugs, and institutional racism. For the young people born and raised there, it is the land of no opportunity—indeed, many struggle just to survive to adulthood. One of the few paths to success for teenage boys is football, which offers a way out with the promise of college scholarships and the possibility of a lucrative pro career. But it is too easy for even the most talented high school players to get off track when faced with the fraught daily reality of life. It takes a special person to guide these young men away from preordained failure and toward success—and even to keep them alive. In Algiers, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, that person is Edna Karr High School coach Brice Brown. Award-winning sportswriter Kent Babb first told the inspiring story of Brice Brown in the Washington Post. Now, in ACROSS THE RIVER: Life, Death, and Football in an American City (HarperOne; August 10, 2021; $27.99), Babb goes deeper, widening the narrative with intimate portraits of Brown’s players, staff, and surroundings in an ever-tested community. Blending aspects of such disparate classics as Friday Night Lights, The Yellow House, and Ghettoside, Babb’s accomplished multi-character narrative illuminates many lives and captures the pulse of New Orleans in all its turbulence, complexity, and defiance. Thirty-four-year-old Brice Brown found high school coaching after his own college football career. As Babb’s intensive time spent with him begins, Brown has already led Karr’s team to three consecutive state championships in Louisiana’s ultra-competitive Class 4A division, and he and everyone in the tight-knit program are primed for a historic fourth win. “Communities such as Algiers rely on the sport as an important incentive and a vehicle to teach life skills and teamwork,” Babb observes. “Brown, for his part, uses the game to teach players that they can, and should, leave the West Bank forever. But first they must survive.” To this end, the brainy and idiosyncratic coach is like a foul-mouthed version of a community preacher. Even after practices, he keeps close tabs on his players via cell phone, patrolling their neighborhoods, often giving them (and even their parents) cash from his own pocket for daily essentials. He rides them hard when he sees their attention flagging because of the outside demands their tough existences place on them. Hanging over Brown, and the program, is the death of Karr’s former star quarterback, Tollette “Tonka” George, whose shooting near a local gas station remains unsolved. It haunts the community, not least of all the young man’s mother and the minor-celebrity NOPD homicide detective assigned to investigate Tonka’s murder. Brown is determined to protect the young men on his team from a similar fate. One, who never knew his father and lives on his own while his mother is in prison, is a brooding natural athlete with the weight of the world on his young shoulders. The quarterback pushes against his father’s expectations and ambitions, and a wide receiver squanders his middle-class advantages and gets into trouble with the law. One younger teammate manages to win Brown’s outwardly hardened heart with his irreverent energy and humor, gaining the fatherly affection of a coach who’s usually all-in on football, which often comes at the expense of his own personal life. More often than not, Brown also quietly takes care of his staff, assuming their financial worries or life crises as his own. As the team makes its way through the season and reaches the playoffs, Brown also jockeys behind the scenes to secure places and scholarships for his players at colleges, showing them a path to the future of which they might otherwise be unaware. Meanwhile, Brown repeatedly puts his own future on hold, refusing to pursue career opportunities that would reward his singular talents and passions. As Kent Babb takes readers inside the lives of Brown and his players, he paints an unforgettable portrait of a community mired by relentless violence and pain, but also dedication and love. Featuring eight pages of full-color photos, ACROSS THE RIVER is an arresting testament to the turbulent and tough roots of America’s game and its indelible place as a pathway of hope in the lives of so many.

Nick Newell will have his life story told in a new film due out on Aug. 6 with former "Teen Wolf" star Cody Christian playing the Bellator veteran and former World Series of Fighting title contender."Notorious Nick" stars Christian alongside Barry Livingston, Kevin Pollack and Elisabeth Rohm in a film that will document Newell's rise up from the wrestling room until eventually becoming a mixed martial artist after he was born with congenital amputation on his left arm.The new trailer just released on Tuesday gives a look at what to expect in the upcoming film with Newell taking center stage in the dramatization about his real life.Here's the synopsis for "Notorious Nick," which will be released by Lionsgate:"Even though he was born with a partial left arm, Nick Newell (Cody Christian) dreams of being a fighter. After wrestling in high school, Nick becomes a fierce competitor when his best friend, Abi, introduces him to mixed martial arts. Suddenly, a tragedy provides Nick with an unexpected opportunity, but to succeed he must commit to becoming the fighter he always hoped to be. Elisabeth Röhm (American Hustle) and Kevin Pollak (The Usual Suspects) also star in this thrilling underdog tale based on an inspiring true story." The film will be released on demand starting on Aug. 6 with DVD release following on Aug. 17."I just hope that it's something that people can relate to," Newell told MMA Fighting in 2016 about the film. "I know that might not make sense, but if you really look deep into it - me, I've never made a big deal out of having one hand. It's never been, like, 'look at me, I have one hand. Look at me, I'm doing this. I'm going to show this and prove this.' I'm a human and I have my difficulties or flaws, if you want to call it that. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but you know, I have my problems. But everyone has problems and everyone has obstacles that they face."I'm talking about any dream that you have. There's always something that makes it more difficult for you than others to do things, and there's a lot of people who are in situations similar to me. Maybe they have different goals, but they're facing challenges and you can't always see them. So I feel like it's going to be something that a lot of people can relate to. I look at myself as being a normal person and just an everyday guy, who, there was nothing special about me. I just had a dream to be the best at what I loved, to be the best version of myself and see how far it could go. And it went pretty far."

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 287 with professional wrestler Paul Wight from All Elite Wrestling.

PROMISELAND – a new six-episode docuseries on Crackle -- shines the spotlight on the evolution of Ja Morant, as he attempts to navigate his way to NBA super-stardom amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic and widespread social unrest and renewed player activism. A true underdog story, Morant went from an unheralded high schooler to NBA Rookie of the Year, thanks in part to a chance encounter in an auxiliary gym. The story unfolds in real time and includes exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage from Morant’s rookie season, some of it even shot by Morant and his family during the pandemic shutdown of the 2020 NBA season.A small-town kid, working hard to achieve his dreams of basketball superstardom, Ja Morant comes of age during his rookie season in the NBA, all while the unprecedented twists and turns of the 2019-2020 season come into focus. PROMISELAND follows Morant’s journey as he defies the odds to win Rookie of the Year. Along the way, he becomes, not only an inspiration for NBA fans, but for people all over the world, as he becomes a sports celebrity and an example of what a young superstar athlete can be.PROMISELAND was created and directed by Dexton Deboree. Dexton wrote, directed and produced the award-winning feature film Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 about the Air Jordan 1 shoes which ultimately changed the game of basketball. Next up, Dexton will produce and showrun Best Shape of My Life, a YouTube original series following Will Smith’s attempt to improve his fitness.

She may be the daughter of 16-time World Champion Ric Flair, but Charlotte Flair is carving out a path of greatness all her own.Displaying a level of athleticism that few Superstars in history can match, Charlotte first captured the attention of the WWE Universe with the type of statement victory that's rarely been seen before or since. With her father watching on, Charlotte defeated Natalya at NXT TakeOver to win an eight-woman tournament on May 29, 2014, becoming the new NXT Women's Champion in the process. In the months that followed, the self-proclaimed "genetically superior athlete" turned back one challenger after another, helping cement the Women's division as one of the most competitive in all of sports-entertainment.Soon, Charlotte made her long-awaited debut on Raw, helping to usher in a genuine women's evolution in WWE. Charlotte was the first of the new arrivals to win the Divas Title and the first athlete to win the Raw Women's Championship, a title she would go on to hold on multiple occasions. The Queen continued to blaze trails in the ring, going undefeated over 16 pay-per-views and becoming one of the first women to main event a pay-per-view event, defeating Sasha Banks in a Hell in a Cell Match.All told, Charlotte has won more Women's Titles than any other Superstar in WWE history. She also became the first female Superstar in WWE history to main event in a singles match on Raw, SmackDown and a pay-per-view. To add to that, she ended Asuka's undefeated streak on The Grandest Stage of Them All at WrestleMania 34. One year later, she main-evented WrestleMania 35 in a Winner Take All Match against Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch.Flair didn't stay down for long, however, and she made history at WWE Hell in a Cell 2019 when she defeated SmackDown Women's Champion Bayely to capture her unprecedented 10th Women's Title. At Royal Rumble 2020, Charlotte won her first Women's Royal Rumble Match and later defeated Rhea Ripley to win the NXT Women's Title at WrestleMania.More challengers are bound to surface; they always do. Yet, come what may, Charlotte Flair will continue competing the only way she knows how . with flair!

Hey it’s Arroe. This is Play It Forward. A look at the unexpected changes endured by entertainers, writers, camera people and all others affected but not infected by the global invasion of the Coronavirus. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 259 with Kareem Abdul JabbarThat’s Play It Forward. You can listen to the full conversations with these artists on three different podcasts. Like Its Live, Unplugged and Totally Uncut and View from the Writing Instrument found on all digital platforms.

"Through the years, I've seen firsthand the hard work that Drew McIntyre puts forth both in and out of the ring to be the best. His determination is what gives him the ability to overcome any adversity, and it is what makes him an inspiration to millions of WWE fans around the world."-Triple H"I've followed Drew's career for many years. He has had an incredible journey, and now he is on top of the world, kicking ass."-"Stone Cold" Steve Austin"WWE is a nonstop climb, with every type of pitfall, obstacle, and barrier imaginable on your way to the top. No one was built for the challenge like Drew McIntyre." -Shawn Michaels"Drew is a Goliath with the heart of a David. I'm thrilled to see what he has achieved but more excited for the greatness that lies ahead."-Bret Hart"With Drew, it isn't just the mountains climbed and the roads travelled. It's the way he has gone about his business: with humility, passion and true fire."-Billy Corgan of Smashing PumpkinsIn A CHOSEN DESTINY: My Story (Gallery Books; Hardcover; on-sale May 4, 2021), WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre tells the incredible story of his life journey from a small village in Scotland to the global spotlight of WWE. From a young age, McIntyre dreamed of becoming WWE Champion. With his parents' support, he trained and paid his dues, proving himself to the small crowds on the UK's Butlin circuit. At age 22, McIntyre made his WWE debut and was touted by WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon as "The Chosen One" to lead WWE into the future. With his destiny in the palm of his hands, he watched as it all slipped through his fingers.Through a series of ill-advised choices and family tragedy, Drew's life and career spiraled. As a surefire champion, he struggled under the pressure of expectations and was eventually released from the company. Facing a crossroads, the powerful Scotsman set a course to show the world the real Drew McIntyre.Buoyed by the support of his wife and the memory of his beloved mother, Drew embarked on a mission to recharge, reinvent and revitalize himself to fulfill his destiny. A CHOSEN DESTINY is a story of grit, courage, and determination as a fallen Superstar discovers who he truly is and storms back to reclaim his dream.

Considering their play on the field in their first steps as a franchise in 1962, it remains astounding that the New York Mets won the 1969 World Series over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles and became known as "The Miracle Mets." Those early seasons since their inception were some of the worst in baseball history. Their play was laughable at best, and that's being charitable. But their strategy of putting together as many young players as possible led to a cohesion that would pay off in ways none believed before 1969.Ron Swoboda was a fine player in his day. Never a superstar, he was the epitome of the working class player, the "Every Man" on the field. But his passion for the game, and that of his teammates as well, is what made this team grow up, grow together, and startle the sports world. In a delightfully self-deprecating style, Mr. Swoboda recaptures the moments and memories in his new book, HERE'S THE CATCH: A Memoir of the Miracle Mets and More (St. Martin's Press Griffin / on sale date Tuesday March 23, 2021, $17.99).From the beginning of Ron Swoboda's first season with the Mets in 1965, any "miracle" would have simply been a winning streak of more than three games. The team averaged 100+ losses per season in their first six years. However, things changed in 1968 when legendary Brooklyn Dodger Gil Hodges took over as manager. Wins became more frequent, and the confidence of the young team grew.At the start of the 1969 season, the young core of the team -Tom Seaver, Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, Ed Kranepool, Jerry Koosman, and Ron Swoboda - began to see in themselves a team that could surprise the experts. Mr. Swoboda takes the reader on a memorable journey, day-by-day and game-by-game. He introduces us to some of the more colorful characters the game has known, and builds the drama of that incredible season through all the peaks and valleys. To the reader, it almost feels as if you are in the dugout with the team.For younger or even casual fans, the stories will be an eye-opener. Players didn't make $20-30 million per season 50+ years ago. $100,000 was a huge headline-grabbing salary. The life of a ball player Mr. Swoboda talks about is that of a generation when some of the players had to work second jobs in the off season. Teams really were more of a family back then, with players' wives and kids helping each other with daily life events. And as Mr. Swoboda relates, a real underdog like the Mets reflected the psyche of America in the late 1960s. Between the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, and the violent street protests in the U.S. against the Vietnam War, the country really was looking for some type of feel-good story, and underdog to rally the cause.And then came the magical moment in October 1969 at Shea Stadium: The Mets were about to clinch the World Series win. Mr. Swoboda - who had endured ups and downs as a player for the previous two seasons, could finally feel a sense of great pride: his RBI (run-batted-in) was the clincher in the deciding game, and the previous day he made the greatest catch in the field in Mets history. For a moment, the "Every Man" was "Superman." The importance of that moment was so unique to that franchise that today a steel silhouette of Mr. Swoboda's amazing catch greets visitors at the right field entrance at the Mets' new stadium, Citi Field.Smart, funny and insightful, HERE'S THE CATCH will have all fans giving a rousing standing ovation.

We are in a historic era for the home run. In 2019, MLB saw the most home runs ever in a single season- 6,776, to be exact-obliterating a record set just two years before. Each of the last four years ranks among the top five most home run-friendly seasons in baseball's 150-year history, far surpassing even the totals of the Steroid Era of the late 1990s. This home run boom has transformed the game, contributing to more strikeouts, longer games, and what feels like the logical conclusion of the analytics era. SWING KINGS: The Inside Story of Baseball's Home Run Revolution (William Morrow; Trade Paperback; 9780062872111; on sale March 23, 2021) by Jared Diamond, the Wall Street Journal's national baseball writer, tells the story of this remarkable shift.In a fascinating, character-driven account, Diamond reveals that the primary driving force behind this unprecedented home run phenomenon isn't steroids or the stitching on the ball, but rather the most elemental explanation of all: the swing. Diamond follows four of baseball's biggest names who remade their swings and soon saw their stats soar: Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox, Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Josh Donaldson of the Minnesota Twins. As skilled as these players are, to think they perfected their swing on their own would ignore the real heroes behind this home run revolution: their coaches. But not the hitting coaches employed by their teams- rather, an unusual group of baseball washouts and oddballs who preached a new way to swing, one that ran counter to generations of hitting instruction.For years one of the game's best-kept secrets, these coaches are now moving from baseball's margins to its center of power and changing the way hitting is taught to players of all ages. SWING KINGS tells the story of Craig Wallenbrock, the movement's seminal figure, who draws his inspiration for the baseball swing from surfing and Japanese samurai. It follows Bobby Tewksbary, who never quite made it as a player, but reached the game's pinnacle as a hitting coach, only to watch it all fall apart. And then there's Richard Schenck, a middle-aged dad with no serious baseball qualifications, who went from tinkering in his basement to reshaping Aaron Judge's swing.Through Diamond's masterful storytelling, this wild cast of characters comes alive. And Diamond, whose own baseball career ended in high school, also trains with them himself. Taking a page out of the George Plimpton playbook, he enlists their tutelage with an eye toward starring in the "World Series of Journalism," the annual Boston - New York media game at Yankee Stadium. In the process, he answers the ultimate armchair slugger's question of nature vs. nurture: "I may not be as strong or as coordinated as the pros, but if I had cutting edge instruction, and worked at my game, how good could I be?"For fans of the game, old and young, in SWING KINGS, Diamond turns an elemental facet of baseball into a page-turning narrative exploration of our nation's pastime at a crossroads. At the same time, he explores the science, technology, and shifting strategies and economics that are changing the way the game is played.

VH1’s Basketball Wives follows the daily lives that unfold between the wives, ex-wives and girlfriends of professional basketball players. This season the wives’ sisterhood is tested like never before as they adjust to the pandemic while balancing life’s ups and downs, unresolved relationships and the fight against social injustices.Liza Morales is the ex-girlfriend of former Los Angeles player Lamar Odom. As his high school sweetheart and the mother of his three children, Liza's spent most of her life revolved around her ex's controversial, and often public, battles with fame. Now, Liza is ready to start fresh with a new chapter in L.A. -- but can she fully close the book on her past?

All it takes is one hit on the football field, and suddenly Ash’s life doesn’t look quite the way he remembers it. Impossible though it seems, he’s been hit into another dimension—and keeps on bouncing through worlds that are almost-but-not-really his own.The changes start small, but they quickly spiral out of control as Ash slides into universes where he has everything he’s ever wanted, universes where society is stuck in the past…universes where he finds himself looking at life through entirely different eyes. And if he isn’t careful, the world he’s learning to see more clearly could blink out of existence…Game Changer, the high-concept novel from the National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe series tackles the most urgent themes of our time, making this a must-read for those who are starting to ask big questions about their own role in the universe.Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author ofChallenger Deep, which won the National Book Award; Scythe, a Michael L. Printz Honor title; Dry; Bruiser, which was on twelve state lists; The Schwa Was Here; and the UnWind series, among many other books.

The epic robot-fighting series BattleBots is back for a brand-new season as the world’s biggest, baddest, strongest, and fastest next-generation robots duke it out for robot fighting supremacy. Sixty teams from across the globe including unproven rookies, up-and-coming stars and legends in the game will throw their fearsome fighting machines into the BattleBox for a chance to walk away with the preeminent prize in robotic sport: The Giant Nut. This season’s action-packed tournament includes former champion Tombstone, and formidable foes such as Whiplash, SawBlaze, Captain Shrederator, Lock-Jaw and Bloodsport.Each episode highlights the design and build of the competing robots and profiles the teams behind them. Competitors come from all types of backgrounds – from families to university students and everything in between. Every machine is homemade and constructed from a variety of materials with custom-built weaponry to destroy the competition. The youngest competitor is just 11 years old and this season’s lineup includes the first ever 500lb walking robot.Calling all the action is UFC Legend Kenny Florian and sportscaster Chris Rose. Kenny Florian is the only UFC fighter to compete in four divisions (Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight and Middleweight). He fought for three UFC titles in two weight classes and earned Fight of the Night accolades on three different occasions. A third degree blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kenny holds the record for the highest submission percentage in the UFC and is tied for the most submission victories in modern UFC history. Kenny was also the host of the weekly Fox Sports series UFC Tonight and provided commentary for several UFC on Fox events.

Perdita Felicien is a two-time Olympian and two-time world champion hurdler. She retired from competing in 2013 and is now an author, television host, public speaker and sports broadcaster. Perdita has covered multiple international sports events for the CBC, including the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, 2016 Summer Olympics and 2015 Pan American Games. One of Canada’s most decorated track and field athletes, she has been named Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year, and was given the keys to her hometown of Pickering, Ontario.

For generations, dodgeball was a game of fun or fear depending on where you stood in the middle school pecking order. Now, Discovery transforms the game into an epic sporting adventure where everyday people become heroes. On an isolated 13.8-acre specially constructed site, the classic game of dodgeball is reimagined as Dodgeball Thunderdome where winners are not determined simply by their strength and the losers aren’t always picked last. Here, contestants have a chance to claim glory in extraordinary challenges where strength matters but so does strategy, quick thinking, and the willingness to leave everything on the field. This summer, pop culture phenom David Dobrik hosts this all-new competition series along with co-hosts Erin Lim and Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins. The competitors are ready to hit the playing field not just for the glory, but for redemption from the days of being picked last. Competitors range from professional athletes to those who’ve never played a sport in their life. But they all have one thing in common – a drive to win. It all culminates with a tournament of champions who will compete for a $25,000 cash prize.Andrew Hawkins is the co-host of Dodgeball Thunderdome. “Hawk” is a former NFL wide receiver, sports executive, Shorty Award winning personality, 2x Emmy Award nominated host for Sportscenter on Snapchat, and Executive Producer of an Oscar-winning film. He played six seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, and is currently a personality and host with NFL Media.

Hey it’s Arroe. This is Play It Forward. A look at the unexpected changes endured by entertainers, writers, camera people and all others affected but not infected by the global invasion of the Coronavirus. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 133 with Professional Wrestler Nyla RoseSince its launch, AEW has featured a dynamic set of world-class male and female wrestlers who have injected new life into the business with their extraordinary athleticism and larger-than-life personalities. Its growing roster includes some of the industry’s biggest stars such as Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley.Nyla Rose is a proud Native American who possesses a unique blend of speed, agility, power and destruction. She’s truly established herself as a powerhouse within AEW.That’s Play It Forward. You can listen to the full conversations with these artists on three different podcasts. Like Its Live, Unplugged and Totally Uncut and View from the Writing Instrument found on all digital platforms.

Charles David "Chuck" Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight Champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. During his prime, Liddell was known for his knockout power, iron chin, excellent counter striking and for his sprawl-and-brawl technique, which made him one of the most difficult fighters to takedown. He is one of the most dominant champions that ever competed in the UFC. He has the second most knockouts in UFC history, only behind Anderson Silva. Liddell had 23 fights in the UFC, and along with Randy Couture, is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts into the mainstream of American sports and entertainment. On July 10, 2009, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Since his retirement in late 2010, Liddell has also made several film and television appearances, including a number of appearances before he retired. He appeared as himself in the movie Bachelor Party Vegas, He appeared as "Graft" in the pilot episode of the TV series Blade: The Series and had a guest cameo in the first season of Inked on A&E. He was featured in the film Kick-Ass 2 and also appeared in the TV shows Entourage, Hawaii-Five-O, Criminal Minds, Blue Mountain State, Bones and Celebrity Big Brother, among others.

There are elite athletes in every sport -- people who possess tangible and intangible qualities that allow them to overcome daunting odds, spot opportunity in the midst of adversity, and turn defeat into victory. No position embodies this dynamic more than football quarterbacks, and nothing is a greater test of performance than the NFL.The tangibles -- metrics, stats, ratings, bowl games, championships -- are critical to evaluation. But they're not enough. Every year, highly rated college quarterbacks are analyzed, critiqued, hyped up and/or doubted, and those who manage to survive the scrutiny are drafted early. Some of those early picks make it to the top, some end up journeymen, and some just wash out. Why? What separates the elites from the pack?In THE Q FACTOR, former NFL coach Brian Billick takes the highly promising 2018 NFL quarterback Draft class -- the most touted class since 2004 (Manning, Roethlisberger, Rivers) and 1983 (Elway, Kelly, Marino) -- and measures the top five quarterback picks to gauge how, why, and if they succeed. They are all first rounders, all with sterling college credentials, all talented athletes, all taken by teams betting their futures. One or maybe two could go on to greatness. But which ones, and why? Could the prediction process be better? Are the "experts" looking at the wrong factors? How do we find the best of the best?That's what THE Q FACTOR explores...and finally explains.

Liz Loza is one of the industry’s leading fantasy sports experts. She writes about fantasy sports for Yahoo Sports and is also part of the award-winning Fantasy Football LIVE, Yahoo Sports’ live Sunday show offering last-minute lineup related advice, in-depth commentary and insights about players, matchups and news of the day.Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @LizLoza_FF.Liz can take your questions about the season, discuss the news of the day and new offerings from Yahoo Sports that will enhance the fan experience this season.Yahoo Sports is the mobile home for sports fans, offering the most robust access to live, local and primetime NFL games, an award-winning fantasy platform, comprehensive news, original series, scores, standings and more. With real-time, personalized content and immersive mobile experiences, Yahoo Sports is innovating for the next generation of sports fans. Download the Yahoo Sports app on iOS and Google Play and download the Yahoo Fantasy app on iOS and Google Play to sign-up and play with Yahoo Fantasy Sports. Yahoo Sports is part of Verizon Media.

Soccer star and Olympic gold medalist Christie Pearce Rampone and sports neuropsychologist Dr. Kristine Keane share the best practices that athletes, parents, and coaches can use to turn the lessons learned through sports into lifelong skills.Sports offer a vital path for children to get healthy, self-confident, and social. In Be All In, three-time Olympic gold medalist, World Cup Champion, and US team captain Christie Pearce Rampone and sports neuropsychologist and brain health expert Dr. Kristine Keane offer practical, real world advice on how to handle the pressures felt by youth athletes, parents, and coaches today and provide kids with their best shot at reaching their dreams.In contrast to outdated adages like "no pain, no gain," the ethos of "be all in" is about being authentically present in everything you do, on and off the field. Through a unique blend of neuroscience, parenting strategies, and wisdom gleaned from the extraordinary experiences of a world-class athlete, this transformative book explains how to create realistic expectations for kids, help them succeed in all aspects of their life, improve game day performance, and reduce the stress of dealing with their coaches, ambitions and losses.With invaluable insight into parenting behaviors that may derail children's performance despite best intentions, and concrete strategies for teaching accountability, confidence, self-efficacy, and resiliency, this fundamental guide has tips to support athletes of any age, sport, or level of competition.

Derrick Barnes delivers an engagingly written, packed with humor, illustrated sports book. WHO GOT GAME?: Baseball: Amazing True Stories! celebrates the unheralded, unrecognized, and forgotten (but no less remarkable!) people and stories that are integral to the history of the game.We all know major league legends like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Jackie Robinson, but what about Roberto Clemente, the first Latinx Baseball player to have exactly 3,000 hits; Andrew “Rube” Foster, father of the National Negro League; or Jackie Mitchell, the seventeen-year-old girl who struck out heavy hitters Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. Along with introducing these unsung greats, Barnes highlights iconic moments in baseball history like:· The agonizing thirty-three inning game at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1981 between the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings that went on for eight hours and twenty-five minutes in weather so cold players-built fires with discarded baseball bats for heat.· The demise of the spitball in 1920 after Yankees pitcher Carl Mays’ slobbery pitch fatally wounded Cleveland Indians Ray Chapman with a ferocious hit to the head.· Willie Mays’s incredible over-the-shoulder running catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series.

The North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is one of the most valuable fish in the world with prices reaching as high as $20,000 for a single catch. This also means a tight quota to avoid overfishing and encourage sustainability. To win big, fishermen must reel in the biggest tuna as fast as possible -- but each boat is allowed one catch per day and must reel them in by hand, resulting in a backbreaking battle that can last for hours (these monster tuna can weigh more than 1,000 lbs.) With the livelihood of their families on the line and generations of tradition behind them, these families of fishermen will rely on each other and work together towards a shared goal. In Discovery’s new series All on the Line, two crews in the fishing town of Gloucester, Mass., are fighting to land monster tuna and keep their family businesses going through the winter. As the weather worsens, the fish get bigger and the stakes get higher. It’s the ultimate battle of man versus beast as these fishermen risk everything to bring home a monster payday. All on the Line spotlights the dynamic between these two groups as they band together in an industry that otherwise demands fierce, sometimes cutthroat, competition.A former Grateful Dead road crew member, the legendary, loud and larger-than-life fisherman, Johnny Johnson, assembled a tight-knit crew in his hunt for record tuna. Touring with the band in the early 80s, Johnny saw the world before ending up in Hawaii where he discovered yellowfin tuna fishing. Chasing the biggest and best is in his blood as his Dad holds the world record for the biggest catfish. More mythical force of nature than man, Johnson has his sights set on catching the biggest bluefin tuna the world has ever seen.

Tucked between Lake Okeechobee and Florida’s vast Everglades, the towns of Pahokee and Belle Glade are known as “Muck City” because of the dark soil that fuels one of the largest sugarcane crops on the planet. Muck City is home to one of the greatest rivalries in football – between Pahokee and Glades Central High Schools. These two powerhouses produce more professional football players per capita than anywhere else, including NFL stars Anquan Boldin, Santonio Holmes, Andre Waters, Rickey Jackson, Fred Taylor, Jimmy Spencer and Jessie Hester.Filmed at both schools in 2019, CuriosityStream’s first original docu-series 4th and Forever: Muck City documents the emotional roller coaster behind this ongoing rivalry – from the hopeful days of training camp to the high stakes of the annual “Muck Bowl,” one of the most intense match-ups in high school sports. The eight-part series takes viewers beyond the gridiron, presenting an inspiring portrait of an American community united in its goal to help their youth succeed despite daunting challenges.Inspired by faith, family and football, DJ Boldin, a Pahokee alumnus and brother of NFL star Anquan Boldin, uses his life experiences and personal beliefs to coach his beloved Blue Devils of Pahokee. Before returning to Pahokee, Boldin was an Offensive Assistant in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers and played for the Detroit Lions and in the Canadian Football League. Coach Boldin can discuss the new series, why this region has become famous for creating NFL stars, and his community’s commitment to help young people achieve a better life.

Super Soccer Stars Proves It Can Be Done!Keeping your Children Active and Engaged During "Safe at Home" with Online Video Classes and Coaching for your Youth Soccer PlayerYou have been spending more time at home with your children and your family, working from home, home schooling and staying safe in our time of COVID-19 crisis. It's tough to keep young children happy, safe, active and engaged - they miss their friends, they are away from a regular routine, and everyone indoors begins to get "buggy."The team at Super Soccer Stars, which since 2000 has developed the largest corporately run youth soccer program in the country, knows your pain. They implemented their new online streaming video coaching services in February of this year, realizing that the COVID-19 crisis would impact their physical playing centers. They were well ahead of the national curve - realizing that youth sports are going to change forever, Super Soccer Stars from on-field instruction to digital "online" learning with the launch of their virtual classrooms and live-streaming services, including Soccer Stars @HOME and Skills & Drills Powered by Famer.Super Soccer Stars virtual classrooms and live streaming curriculum is now available online at SoccerStars.com.Parents, initially skeptical, have been "blown away" by what they have seen. Tapping in to their network of top youth soccer coaches and officials, the Super Soccer Stars live-streaming and online video sessions have enabled the organization to re-engage the youth soccer communities it has served since their founding 20 years ago.One parent, Stacy I., wrote that "as a long time "soccer mom" of my son going to Super Soccer Stars, I was so thankful and impressed that Super Soccer Stars quickly refocused their business model to offer virtual classes for my son in our home with outstanding instructors making it fun in these trying times for our children. As a mom of a five-and-a-half year old, I'm dealing with online home schooling and tons of virtual classes which already is a challenge with so much on-screen time, but Super Soccer Stars made me feel a lightness for my son that I am so grateful for. I have seen a lot of classes in the past 20-plus days, and I highly recommend Super Soccer Stars to still bring the ethos of who they are to our home."At the beginning of March, parent Marina Lewin wrote to the team at Super Soccer Stars, "My son, Thomas Richardson, is enrolled in the spring class. He is two years old and I am not sure how online classes would benefit him. Will you guys be considering refunds or credit towards future classes? Seems very unfair to those parents who pre-paid. We will definitely be discouraged from doing it in the future."A day later, Lewin wrote "please disregard my previous e-mail. I wanted to follow up on my email and say that we did our first online live class today and my son was very happy to see his favorite teacher Alex. It was really wonderful to see my son so happy. We are fine with doing it this way. I would like to pass a special thank you to coach Alex in our class and really appreciate that the administration is doing this."Another parent, Danielle S., wrote to Super Soccer Stars, "A huge thank you. I haven't been able to find on-line exercise that has been engaging for my five-and-a-half-year-old. His first live Soccer Stars was on Friday and he was totally engaged. Did the drills himself and practiced for about 20 minutes after. Thank you! ""Super Soccer Stars at home was awesome! My son enjoyed practicing his skills and had so much fun," said Venus L. "He can't wait until the next class.""We're so happy to see Coach Michael's face! My son is usually distracted within three minutes of an activity but not for the @ HOME virtual classes. He loved it and so did I! For the rest of the week I'll be hearing "I'm Coach Michael" and then will be told to go sit against the wall! We are already looking forward to seeing you again next week," wrote-Kara H.According to Adam Geisler, Chief Executive Officer of Super Soccer Stars, "Parents initially reacted with a great deal of skepticism, but once they see the classes and the level of coaching and interaction, they are totally blown away by it. We are not doing what other organizations are doing with pre-taped sessions and little individual attention, we are providing live, interactive sessions with the children and keeping them engaged and connected.The coaches with Super Soccer Stars share a passion for soccer and a passion for working with children. Experienced coaches, teachers and players, the diversity of the Super Soccer Stars coaches allows each coach to bring a unique patience, energy, and creative flair to every class.Launched in response to the Coronavirus COVID-19 crisis and the resulting "social distancing" efforts that have closed schools and recreation programs across the United States, the Super Soccer Stars digital curriculum was developed to keep children's bodies and minds active while at the same time incorporating socialization with coaches, classmates and teammates to encourage safe, social interaction.The online offerings now available from Super Soccer Stars include Soccer Stars @ HOME, which offers fully interactive 30 to 45-minute virtual classes, once a week through Zoom, where children can see their teammates and work directly with their coach through screen sharing. The lessons are designed to play in small spaces - a five-foot by five-foot area. No equipment is needed. Coaches suggest items to use that are easily found around the house. It is a small group setting, up to 15 kids, and children have the ability to ask your coach questions, get individual tips, and have one-on-one attention. There are assigned activities to keep the fun going after the class, like building your own soccer goal box, and beat the coach challenges.There is also Soccer Stars Live Stream, with live sessions available 7-days a week, as children follow along with coaches as they lead a fun and engaging, interactive 20-minute session. Each session is age-specific, with daily themes and early childhood learning concepts. You also have access to all archived videos, available to watch at your convenienceAlso available is Soccer Stars Skills & Drills, which gives you and your child access to a full 14-week curriculum of age-specific content with over 450 training videos setup as 30-minute weekly assignments. The sessions are set up as age-specific drills with progression goals in each video to keep kids engaged, with videos available for ages 2-10.Additional information about Super Soccer Stars virtual classrooms and live streaming curriculum is available at SoccerStars.com.

In this groundbreaking book, Keith Law, baseball writer for The Athletic and author of the acclaimed Smart Baseball, offers an era-spanning dissection of some of the best and worst decisions in modern baseball, explaining what motivated them, what can be learned from them, and how their legacy has shaped the game.For years, Daniel Kahneman's iconic work of behavioral scienceThinking Fast and Slow has been required reading in front offices across Major League Baseball. In this smart, incisive, and eye-opening book, Keith Law applies Kahneman's ideas about decision making to the game itself.Baseball is a sport of decisions. Some are so small and routine they become the building blocks of the game itself-what pitch to throw or when to swing away. Others are so huge they dictate the future of franchises-when to make a strategic trade for a chance to win now, or when to offer a millions and a multi-year contract for a twenty-eight-year-old star. These decisions have long shaped the behavior of players, managers, and entire franchises. But as those choices have become more complex and data-driven, knowing what's behind them has become key to understanding the sport. This fascinating, revelatory work explores as never before the essential question: What were they thinking?Combining behavioral science and interviews with executives, managers, and players, Keith Law analyzes baseball's biggest decision making successes and failures, looking at how gambles and calculated risks of all sizes and scales have shaped the sport, and how the game's ongoing data revolution is rewriting decades of accepted decision making. In the process, he explores questions that have long been debated, from whether throwing harder really increases a player's risk of serious injury to whether teams actually "overvalue" trade prospects.Bringing his analytical and combative style to some of baseball's longest running debates, Law deepens our knowledge of the sport in this entertaining work that is both fun and deeply informative.

As the son of the legendary “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, and brother to Dustin Rhodes, Cody has been at the epicenter of wrestling royalty since birth. After more than 13 years of successfully wrestling and earning titles around the world, Cody helped launch AEW and continues to serve as Executive Vice President in addition to being an in-ring competitor. Don’t let the suit fool you, however. When it comes to competing, Cody is all business and has his sights firmly set on the TNT Championship gold.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) – the hot new wrestling promotion featuring some of the industry’s biggest stars such as Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes and Kenny Omega – can be seen each week on TNT’s AEW: Dynamite. The current AEW champion is none other than Jon Moxley, who has a passionate fan base of supporters all around the world. In addition to his exploits in the ring, Moxley made his acting debut as the star of the 2015 action film 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown. Moxley’s newest film, Cagefighter: Worlds Collide, premieres internationally in May 2020, and will be released in the U.S. in the fall.Jon can discuss AEW’s highly anticipated signature event, “Double or Nothing,” at which he’ll defend his AEW World Championship against the villainous Brodie Lee of The Dark Order on May 23. He can also let fans know what they can expect to see on the flagship series, AEW: Dynamite, Wednesday nights on TNT. “Double or Nothing” will also serve as the crowning event for the first-ever TNT Champion.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) – the hot new wrestling promotion featuring some of the industry’s biggest stars such as Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes and Jon Moxley – can be seen every Wednesday night on TNT’s AEW: Dynamite. Recently, AEW surprised fans when one of the biggest names in wrestling, Matt Hardy, appeared and set his sights on the dastardly Chris Jericho.Matt Hardy burst on to the scene at age 19, when he revolutionized tag team wrestling with his brother Jeff. More than 20 years later, Matt is still flying high and making waves throughout the wrestling business. At AEW’s highly anticipated signature event, “Double or Nothing,” Matt will take part in the first-ever Stadium Stampede match when he joins The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Page and the Young Bucks) as they battle Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle (Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) throughout an empty football stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.Matt can discuss his plans for AEW domination in upcoming episodes of TNT’s flagship series, AEW Dynamite, and what fans can expect from the first-ever Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing

In the fall of 1997, an NBA Entertainment film crew followed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls throughout the season. The result would be a remarkable portrait of an iconic player and a celebrated team – revealed, more than two decades later, in The Last Dance, the highly anticipated ten-part series premiering on ESPN on April 19.The series takes viewers back to Jordan’s childhood roots, the Bulls’ dire circumstances before his arrival and how the team was built after drafting him in 1984, to the struggles that eventually led to the team’s first NBA championship. Throughout the Bulls’ first five championships, viewers will experience the off-court challenges, struggles and triumphs that were a part of the culture-shifting phenomenon created by Jordan and the Bulls.Featuring in-depth profiles of Jordan’s key teammates including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Steve Kerr, and head coach Phil Jackson, plus dozens of current-day interviews with rivals and luminaries from basketball and beyond, the result is one of the most fascinating sports documentary series ever produced – a series viewers won’t want to miss.The Last Dance director Jason Hehir – the Emmy Award-winning sports filmmaker behind popular ESPN 30 for 30 installments such as The ’85 Bears, Bernie & Ernie and Down in the Valley and HBO’s recent Andre the Giant – can preview the new series and share his experiences creating this unique series.

Best known for his graphic novels and cartoons exploring issues of assimilation and racism, Gene Luen Yang has created his first non-fiction graphic novel. It’s about a high-school basketball team that he followed for a season. Gene understands stories—comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins. But Gene doesn’t get sports. As a kid, his friends called him “Stick” and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men’s varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that’s been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships. Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he’s seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn’t know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons’ lives, but his own life as well.

As co-owner and general manager of JR Motorsports, Kelley Earnhardt Miller knows what hard work, dedication, and thriving in a "man's world" looks like. Born into racing royalty, growing up on the racetrack surrounded by and competing with NASCAR's greatest, Earnhardt Miller learned how to stand on her own merit with a clear understanding that it was going to take a lot to keep up with the family legacy.Now, she is sharing some of those hard-earned lessons with the world in her new book, Drive: 9 Lessons to Win in Business and in Life, releasing April 7, 2020 via Thomas Nelson and is available now for preorder."As the daughter of a NASCAR superstar, my name has always had the power to open doors for me," says Earnhardt Miller. "Though I have long had a personal passion for the sport and working in the industry was a natural fit, I never wanted to ride through my career in the passenger seat of my father's legacy. I wanted to work hard and earn every position I ever held. That's the way my dad always wanted it. These nine lessons have changed the way I lead in business and the way I live my personal life. They're lessons I wish someone had shared with me before I learned them the hard way, which is why I now gladly pass them along."In her highly anticipated book, Earnhardt Miller shares the most important lessons she's learned over the course of her life that have impacted her incredible success: - Being authentic and approachable - Letting go to move forward- Customizing your communication- Aiming for the win-win- Managing your emotions,p> - Balancing your work with your lifeAccording to Earnhardt Miller, these lessons aren't a blueprint for success; they are the values and principles that have personally shaped her, not only as a high-profile executive but as a daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She firmly believes that leading a life of passion and integrity outside of the office is just as important as reaching the top of the corporate ladder.

Professional stock car driver Corey LaJoie competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 32 Ford Mustang for Go Fas Racing. A third generation driver, he is the son of two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie. His grandfather, Don LaJoie, is also a member of the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame.Corey continues to build an impressive racing resume that includes six wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, three wins in the ARCA Series, and several top 10’s in NASCAR’s national series. Corey grew up working on the go-karts and cars he raced. He picked up the nickname “SuperShoe” racing against his friends on the go-kart track behind their shop. The name stuck and he teamed up with the charity Samaritans Feet to be part of their mission to put shoes on the feet of millions of people in the world in need. Corey’s passion for charitable work helped raise $210,000 for samaritansfeet.org during the 2019 season by utilizing his NASCAR platform.Corey and his wife are expecting a new baby this April.NASCAR All In: Battle For Daytona concludes March 9th on the MotorTrend App,the only subscription streaming service dedicated entirely to the motoring world. The series is an all-access pass to the emotional behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows of real-life NASCAR racing for drivers and their families, including drivers Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick and Corey LaJoie, their families and teams as they gear up for the biggest race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series™ season: the DAYTONA 500®.

Universal Kids’ “American Ninja Warrior Junior” returns for season two with hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, and new co-host Paralympian Gold Medalist Victoria Arlen as the next generation of Ninja fans compete on the iconic course with dedication, determination and skill.“American Ninja Warrior Junior” celebrates real kid athletes as more than 140 boys and girls from across the U.S., face off on head-to-head courses in three age brackets: 9 & 10, 11 & 12, and 13 & 14 year-olds. The junior ninjas will compete alongside the reigning champions and a few fan favorites from season one. New to the course for season two are 10 iconic American Ninja Warrior obstacles including the Shrinking and Floating Steps, the Little Dipper, Spider Walls, Double Tilt Ladders, Crazy Cliffhanger, the Block Run, Flying Squirrel, Wingnuts and Skyhooks. Each age group will be coached by All-Star Ninja mentors. In an exciting new twist this season, there will be four wildcard races per age bracket, where the two fastest Ninjas eliminated from the previous qualifiers will have another chance to move into the quarterfinals. Three final winners (one per age bracket) will ultimately be crowned “American Ninja Warrior Junior” Champions.Victoria Arlen is a current television personality for ESPN as well as an actress, speaker, model, and former American Paralympian swimmer. At the age of eleven she developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. Victoria lost the ability to speak, eat, walk and move. She slipped into a vegetative state in which doctors had written her off as a lost cause. In 2010 after almost four years she began the nearly impossible fight back to life. Learning how to speak, eat and move all over again. Victoria went on to exceedingly defy the odds and not only recovered but has since become an accomplished Motivational Speaker, Actress, Model, Television host and Swimmer. Her swimming resume includes three Silvers and a Gold medal from the London 2012 Paralympic Games as well as multiple World, American and Pan American Records. She also learned to dance as a contestant on Season 25 of Dancing with the Stars. Victoria’s book titled Locked In hit stores worldwide in August of 2018 and in April of 2018 ESPN Films debuted a 30 for 30 titled “Locked In” based on Victoria’s story at the Tribeca Film Festival. Victoria was a contributing producer for the film.

Often forgotten in history, many people don’t know that African Americans played an integral role in the fight for our county’s independence. Anchored by sit down interviews with Abdul-Jabbar as well as numerous esteemed historians and supported with archival material, “Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution” will cover both sides of the fight, highlighting black heroes of the American Revolution who stood up against British rule to help establish the United States of America, and, conversely, black loyalists who fought for the Crown – and the promise of freedom. The documentary will also present Abdul-Jabbar’s personal journey, revealing his own unique discovery of important historical figures like Crispus Attucks and others and how they helped change the perception of his own heritage.

Everyone loves Animal Planet’s annual adoption extravaganza, The Puppy Bowl, which will once again air before Super Bowl on February 2, and now, back for its third year, comes The Dog Bowl – the one-hour competition for adult and senior dogs living in rescues and shelters airing Saturday, February 1st at at 8PM ET/PT. While these loving dogs may have a few years under their collars and they’re frequently overlooked for puppies, Dog Bowl audiences will see the amazing spirit and love these players can bring to any loving family. This year, the game features more dogs than ever before (65) as two team rosters – Team Goldies and Team Oldies – will compete to score touchdowns to win the CHEWY Lombarky trophy. To date, 100% of the dogs that have participated in The Dog Bowl have been adopted to loving families. In addition, past Dog Bowl players will return for the very first ‘Dog Bowl Hall of Fame,’ updating viewers on where these debonair dogs ended up and the families that brought them home. Returning as host of The Dog Bowl is TV personality and animal advocate Jill Rappaport. Jill spent more than 20 years covering entertainment and animal welfare on NBC’s TODAY, where she received the Genesis Award, the Oscars of the animal world, for her reporting on animal issues. She is the best-selling author of People We Know, Horses they Love, Jack & Jill: The Miracle Dog with a Happy Tail to Tell, and 500 Cats. Jill has received numerous awards and honors for her work with animals, and even developed a women and pets clothing line for Pendleton, which benefits the Jack and Jill Fund for animal cancer.

There will be 96 puppies from 61 shelters representing over 25 states across the country making this PUPPY BOWL bigger and better than ever before. Five furry players have special needs including one three-legged puppy, two hearing impaired puppies, one blind and hearing impaired puppy, and a puppy with a cleft palate. There are also more international puppies than ever from Cartagena, Colombia, Toronto, Canada, and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.The puppies are competing for the famed and fan-voted title of BISSELL® MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) as well as the coveted CHEWY Lombarky Trophy. But don’t forget that there is also the fan-favorite, Underdog Award as well! Additionally, Puppy Bowl XVI welcomes new and improved team colors for Team Ruff and Team Fluff from yellow and green to ‘Bark Blue’ and ‘Tail Mary Tangerine’. For first time ever, viewers can tune-in to the GEICO Puppy Bowl Draft, to get an early look and the top picks for TEAM RUFF and TEAM FLUFF. Crowds can flock to the Animal Planet and PUPPY BOWL Facebook pages while also following the action from players in real time on Animal Planet’s Twitter and Instagram feeds. Also, tune-in to Animal Planet on Saturday, February 1st for PUPPY BOWL PRESENTS: THE DOG BOWL III, returning with more than 60 adoptable dogs ranging between the ages of 3-14 years old.After 9 years as the only human on a field of adorable adoptable animals, being the PUPPYBOWL Ref has become a full-time job for Dan Schachner. A longtime advocate for dog fostering, Dan continues to provide a stop for pups who are crowded out of the shelters but still in need of a forever home. Using social media to get the word out, he is happy to report 100% adoption rate for all of his former fosters.

Liz Loza is one of the industry's leading fantasy sports experts. A mainstay in the Fantasy Sports community, Liz is an analyst for Yahoo Sports and a cast member of the award-winning original series "Fantasy Football LIVE." She's also co-hosts the Yahoo Fantasy Football Podcast, and is an active member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. Featured by influential news sources like the New York Times and CNN, Liz frequently appears on broadcast and radio shows nationwide. A graduate of Brown University, she currently resides in Los Angeles

A&E Network's ultimate K9 competition series "America's Top Dog," from MGM's Big Fish Entertainment will premiere Wednesday, January 8 at 9PM ET/PT. The series brings together top K9 cops and civilian dogs alongside their handlers as they compete nose-to-nose on the ultimate K9 obstacle course. The series is hosted by veteran sports broadcaster Curt Menefee alongside expert dog trainer Nick White and sideline reporting by seasoned sports reporter and animal rescue ambassador Jamie Little.In each one-hour episode, four police K9 teams, including fan-favorites from the hit series "Live PD," and one civilian team will face off for the title of "Top Dog" in three rounds of high velocity, furry competition. The skilled teams will be tested on their speed, agility, scenting ability and teamwork by completing a series of expert tasks on a massive obstacle course including navigating a complex maze for scented items and apprehending and taking down a suspect in a bite suit, among a variety of other challenges. Each week's winning team will receive $10,000 and an additional $5,000 to donate to the animal charity of their choice. In the final week of competition, top competitors will return to the finale course to battle for the title of "America's Top Dog" and an additional $25,000 cash prize.Series host Curt Menefee is an award-winning veteran studio and game broadcaster who currently co-hosts "Fox NFL Sunday" in addition to wrap-up show "The OT." Alongside Menefee, expert trainer Nick White is a former US Marine and former member of the Secret Service with years of experience working with K9s as well as the owner of a dog training company with locations across the country. Menefee and White watch the action unfold on the course each week and provide in-depth explanation on the competition rounds. Jamie Little is a seasoned motor sports reporter covering the pit road for FOX NASCAR, as well as an animal rescue ambassador who served as a reporter at the 2019 Westminster Kennel Club Show. Little acts as sideline reporter on the course speaking with the teams as they make their way through the competition.

Rebound at Futures is an experiential and adventure-based addiction treatment program based on a model developed by NBA All-Star and recovery advocate Jayson Williams.When it comes to treating addiction, one size does not fit all. Addiction is a complex disease that affects people differently. Tailoring treatment programs to the needs and preferences of patients can help them feel more engaged in care and improve outcomes.The Rebound at Futures Program is modeled upon the experiences of Jayson Williams, NBA All-Star, author, and recovery advocate. Williams played for the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets before suffering a career-ending injury and struggling with addiction and incarceration. With the support of NBA colleagues and friends, he entered recovery and dedicated his life to helping others. Williams created a treatment program modeled on his own path to recovery -one centered on deep personal empowerment, perseverance, motivational support, and learning. Taking lessons from his elite athletic training, Williams designed a program of intense physical exercise, inspirational leadership, and immersive adventure activities to help people surpass their perceived limitations to find inner power, resilience, and insight.In the summer of 2019, Williams and the Rebound staff became part of Futures Recovery Healthcare. Joining Futures realizes William's goal of offering clients exceptional medical and clinical care and allows Futures to offer experiential and adventure-based therapies to clients in all of its programs. Rebound at Futures clients must be medically cleared to participate and must complete detoxification and stabilization, if necessary, at Futures Recovery Healthcare.Rebound at Futures emphasizes experiential and adventure-based programming to help clients get outside of their comfort zone. Rebound clients take part in fishing, paddle boarding, scuba diving, skydiving, wave running, and other outdoor activities. Mindful participation in new and challenging activities can yield clinical insights and teachable moments. Paying close attention to the ways in which we respond to stressful situations and interpersonal interactions can identify issues like negative self-image, mistrust, competitiveness, and others that can be addressed in real-time, and during therapy sessions. Rebound is a high-intensity program incorporating rigorous physical fitness, outdoor adventures, and team activities. Exercise, physical exertion, and skill-building develop physical and mental health. A healthy body promotes positive self-image. Rigorous fitness and activity restore and improve many aspects of physical health from organ function, blood pressure, sleep health, executive function, and more. Clinical programming is an essential component of the Rebound Program. Some curriculum topics include relapse prevention, coping skills, behavioral analysis, guilt and shame, cognitive restructuring, planning for success, dealing with fears, and more. Rebound clients take part in group and individual therapy sessions. Active Rebound clients reside at the Futures Recovery Healthcare campus. This 9-acre gated facility located in Tequesta, Florida is designed to make a full complement of therapies and wellness services easily accessible. The Futures campus is a private and tranquil environment that is continuously staffed with support staff and medical professionals. Rebound clients will take meals and participate in select activities on-campus. Provided transportation will take Rebound clients to and from experiential and adventure-based activity locations. Group and individual therapy will be provided at the nearby Futures Outpatient center. Swimming pool, daily meditation sessions, a well-equipped fitness center, volleyball courts, basketball courts, and other amenities are available. Rebound at Futures develops the ethos and attitude to overcome obstacles. Here, Williams and a team of motivational coaches inspire clients to find within themselves the will and reasons to strive toward sobriety and lasting recovery. Rebound focuses on helping individuals tap their inner strength and spiritual aspect as a source of the resilience required to sustain recovery and good mental and physical health. Rebound is a powerfully positive program committed to an environment that fosters personal growth, respect of self and others, the elimination of perceived boundaries, and discovering the unyielding power we each possess. "Getting ourselves to a place where we can truly feel the sun and hear the spirit takes help and hard work. Rebound was designed to help us understand how and why to do that work. By living together, enjoying nature together, learning together, inspiring one another, and pushing ourselves past our limits, we find our inner power and purpose. We also find our strongest allies and supporters".- Jayson WilliamsCamaraderie and teamwork are central aspects of the Rebound Program and the friendships forged here become life-long supporters. Rebound alumni form an especially close and supportive community. Alumni from around the country regularly communicate and check one another's recovery progress and well-being.

Faith grew up in southern California blazing a trail of glory in the worlds of music and martial arts. The Lioness never strives for anything less than greatness in her life, whether it's earning her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, going on a music tour or stepping into the ring to become the newest Women of Wrestling Superhero. From the arroe.net studio we are Unplugged and Totally Uncut!!!

From teenage gang member to $40 million star of the New England Patriots, from All-American college player to drug addict, murderer, dead by suicide in his jail cell at age twenty-seven . . . you think you know the Aaron Hernandez story? You don't.For the first time, Aaron Hernandez's Killing Fields will reveal the real, hitherto unknown motive for the killing of Odin Lloyd-the only crime for which Hernandez was ever convicted and a revelation so shocking it will shake the foundations of the NFL itself. It will also unpick a pattern of violence and brutality stretching back to his time as a teenager at the University of Florida, revealing further shooting victims, evidence of his involvement in the double murder of Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado in 2012, and, in a world exclusive, a compelling case for a fourth murder victim, shot just eleven days before the slaying of Odin Lloyd.Featuring new interviews with serving police investigators, prosecutors, psychologists, attorneys-as well as key witnesses including Hernandez's drug dealer, a male stripper he hired days before the killing of Lloyd-plus extensive testimony from relatives of Hernandez's victims, Killing Fields is the exhaustive, definitive account of the rise and fall of a man undone by his own appetite for violence, gangsterism, power, drugs, and self-destruction.This is the real Aaron Hernandez story-and perhaps just the beginning of a whole new murder investigation.

Patrick Hodges (Ryan Hansen), a former small-town high school quarterback—now a high-powered Chicago businessman engaged to a politician’s daughter—hasn’t returned to his tiny Midwestern town in years. But his old friends have lured him back for Thanksgiving to force him to finish the legendary Turkey Bowl—a football game that was snowed out 15 years ago. Patrick must risk his future to lead his ragtag team against their bitter crosstown rivals lead by Ronnie Best (Ritchson), ultimately realizing how much he misses the simpler life and the girl that got away.An accomplished actor, Alan Ritchson stars opposite Megan Fox and Jim Gaffigan in the upcoming Shadow Girl. He recently starred in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesreboot, its sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. In the television space, Ritchson stars opposite Minka Kelly in the upcoming live-action series Titans. He has become known for his portrayals of the superhero Aquaman on The CW’s Smallville and “Thad Castle” on Spike TV’s Blue Mountain State.

Being surrounded by the Amazon’s vibrant yet cruel ecosystem taught this wrestler the law of the Jungle: “Kill or be killed.” As an adult, Jungle Grrrl from WOW Women Of Wrestling took the lessons she learned in the Amazon and translated them into the ring. Jungle Grrl won the World Championship in 2013 in Las Vegas. Outside the ring, she became a wife, a mother, and a businesswoman. From the arroe.net studio we are Unplugged and Totally Uncut!!!

On June 1, 2019, boxing fans witnessed one of the most shocking upsets the sport has ever seen when then-undefeated heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua suffered a seventh-round TKO from Andy Ruiz Jr. in the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. Now, a new documentary series One Night: Joshua vs. Ruiz tells the story of the historic “real-life Rocky” moment that saw Ruiz become the first-ever Mexican-American heavyweight champion and how it almost never happened. The events leading up to the unforgettable evening and its aftermath will be discussed by those who lived it, including Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr; the last two fighters involved in a shocking upset of this magnitude, Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas; boxing movie icons Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren; and some of the biggest names in the sport including Evander Holyfield, Sugar Ray Leonard and Gerry Cooney.One Night: Joshua vs. Ruiz was directed by Emmy-winning sports documentary filmmaker Deirdre Fenton. Deirdre, new director of original programming at DAZN, produced the highly acclaimed and Academy Award-winning documentary O.J.: Made in America, and more than 50 installments of ESPN’s wildly popular 30 for 30 film series.

Growing up half-starved on the mean streets of Los Angeles, Razor spent her childhood fighting for everything she has. Her short stature made her an easy target for the neighborhood thugs, but that only made her fight twice as hard—taking out all her rage and aggression, as she destroyed them with her carefully honed street-fighting skills. The scrappy child has since grown into a cold and emotionless adult, cutting through her opponents and doing whatever it takes to survive. In need of an ally in this cutthroat world, Razor enlisted the unhinged Fury to fight by her side, forming the intimidating twosome The Psycho Sisters.

Bursting pipes, rotting walls, and unidentifiable slime were not what Don Koch (WWE legend Phil "CM Punk" Brooks) expected when he convinced his wife, Liz (Trieste Kelly Dunn), that he could rehab their new Victorian home himself. In over his head, under duress, and tempted by his old weaknesses, Don soon discovers that the house has its own dark, sordid history and won't be so easy to renovate after all....#GirlOnTheThirdFloorHere's the trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGXg3-eo8yE&feature=youtu.beDirected by: Travis StevensWritten by: Travis StevensProduced by: Greg Newman and Travis StevensCast: Phil "C.M. Punk" Brooks, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Sarah Brooks, Elissa Dowling, Travis DelgadoGenre: HorrorDistributor: Queensbury Pictures

Sophia Lopez comes from humble beginnings in Mexico, and gained her reputation as “the greatest attorney in the world” by defending celebrities who got into trouble in Las Vegas. WOW fans first came to know this amazing advocate after her masterful maneuvering with Caged Heat, as she got their criminal record expunged, allowing the team to become the WOW Tag Team Champions legend. Sophia continues to have her hands I several important moments at WOW. She is an advocate and a facilitator for justice anywhere she sees it, and with her increasingly international world of influence, only time will tell if there is some as yet unknown larger plan in her impressive mind.

Stephy Slays hails from Dallas, Texas. She may look sweet on the outside, but make no mistake: nobody hustles harder than she does. At just 22 years of age, she works three jobs, two side hustles, studies as a full-time college student, manages a blossoming Instagram account, and still finds time to bake the perfect Pinterest Pizza Bites for weekly movie nights with the girls. This multi-tasking millennial can truly do it all! Her carefully selected photo filters highlight a crafty fighter with speedy skills, who slays her opponents and then Snapchats about it. Stephy means business, and she’s just getting started.

NXT launched in 2010 as WWE’s third global brand alongside Raw and SmackDown, hosting nearly 200 live events around the world each year. Wildly popular with fans, NXT has been WWE Network’s #1 weekly series. Now, NXT moves to USA Network with live, two-hour action-packed episodes every Wednesday night beginning October 2.At the top of the NXT mountain is NXT Champion Adam Cole. Once described by WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as “hellacious” inside the ring and on the microphone, Cole first made waves on the independent wrestling circuit. He competed around the globe for nearly 10 years, winning championships in almost every organization he competed and building a reputation for his meticulous in-ring attack, not to mention his exclamatory (and infectious) means of introducing himself: “Adam Cole, Bay-Bay!”

WOW-Women Of Wrestling, the leading women’s professional wrestling organization, is owned by Jeanie Buss in partnership with David McLane. It is the premier organization and content provider for live events and programming featuring women's professional wrestling. WOW’s empowered women come from all different backgrounds and professions and are marketed as WOW Superheroes, the main attraction of every WOW presentation. WOW's current digital ecosystem, also known as “WOW World,” consists of its website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel, with broadcast on AXS TV. For more information about the WOW Superheroes, its villains, and its over-the-top characters, visit www.wowe.com.

Executively Produced by: James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic, Chris Paul Starring: Seven-time Mr. Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger, five-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, The Ultimate Fighter winner James Wilks, Olympic silver medal-winning cyclist Dotsie Bausch, world record-holding strongman Patrik Baboumian, ultramarathon legend Scott Jurek, two-time female Australian 400m champion Morgan Mitchell, American-record holding Olympic weightlifter Kendrick Farris, plus a dozen members of the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.The Game Changers is a new film executive produced by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan that documents the explosive rise of plant-based eating in professional sports, mixing real-time, groundbreaking science with cinematic stories of struggle and triumph. The film features some of the strongest, fastest and toughest athletes on the planet - and it's backed by them too - with additional EPs including Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic, and nine-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul.

Blink of an Eye chronicles the star-crossed relationship between Michael Waltrip, a perennial underdog, and Dale Earnhardt, the most feared & iconic driver in NASCAR history. On the fateful running of the Daytona 500 at the inception of the 2001 season, Michael Waltrip broke his 462-race losing streak in epic, but heart-breaking fashion, in what is considered the Super Bowl of motorsports. Triumph becomes tragedy, as Michael's best friend and team owner, Dale Earnhardt, crashes in the final lap - creating a shocking debt that is paid back in spectacular and dramatic fashion on Waltrip's emotionally-charged return to Daytona, and a race to the finish with Dale's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Lars Anderson has spent over 20 years covering college football for both Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report and has years of experience writing about the dynastic football program at the University of Alabama. During his tenure, Lars has developed a unique access into the Bama football program, and along the way grown close with the diehard fanbase, the players, and the man who helped forge the dynasty, Nick Saban. Both Bear Bryant and Nick Saban are undeniable kings of college football, two coaches at Alabama who have each won more national championships - six apiece - than anyone else in the history of the game. In his upcoming book, CHASING THE BEAR: How Bear Bryant and Nick Saban Made Alabama the Greatest College Football Program of All Time (Grand Central Publishing; Hardcover; September 3, 2019; ISBN: 9781538716489), Anderson examines how these two legendary coaches built an empire. Along the way, it reveals their similarities in style, background, football philosophy, and recruiting methods, while providing readers with a rare inside look at two of the greatest leaders in the history of sports.Bear Bryant and Nick Saban never met, but they have more in common than either of them realize. Both grew up in small towns - Bryant in Moro Bottom, Arkansas, a dot on the map, and Saban from Monongah, West Virginia, population five hundred. As a child, Saban pumped gas at his father's service station, washing and waxing cars and doing anything he could to help the business. Bryant's father suffered from multiple physical ailments, which forced Bryant to work to keep the family farm going. Both men knew the value of hard work from the time they were young boys, and both understood that there were no shortcuts to success. But both dreamed of escaping their hometowns, and both used football as the means to do so.Separated by two generations, Bear Bryant and Nick Saban are mythic figures linked by a school, a town, and a barroom debate centering on one question: Which is the greatest college coach of all time?

Jack Brewer was born on January 8, 1979, in Ft. Worth, TX and raised in Grapevine, TX by Rosa and Eddie Brewer. His teenage years were unfortunately faced with racial tension, however Brewer rose above adversity and used that as motivation to start his advocacy for racial inclusion, equality and the rights of the poor. He attended Grapevine High School where he was a top student graduating with a 3.9 GPA, All-State athlete and record setter in football and track. After leading his high school to its first State title in its 90-year history as well as setting State track and field records, Brewer went on as the first person in his family to graduate from college, starting at Southern Methodist University (SMU) where he was a freshman All-American Candidate in football and a Disney World Classic Record Holder in track. Transitioning off the National Football League (NFL) playing field in 2006, Brewer pursued a career on Wall Street as an Investment Advisor with Merrill Lynch's Private Client Group where he raised over $20mm in assets under management (AUM) in his first year as an investment advisor, ranking in the top one percentile in his class across the firm. Following that role, Brewer went on to serve as the Managing Director at Paramount Bio Capital, one of the United States' largest private biotech-focused investment banks, from 2009-2011 where he helped close two NASDAQ public offerings in his first year as an investment banker. During that time, he also helped launch Opus Point Partners, a healthcare-focused hedge fund, where he raised the seed capital at the fund's inception, consistently producing double digit returns throughout the fund's history.Since 2002, Brewer has been regularly involved with the production of numerous documentaries, television, digital media and radio broadcasts domestically and internationally, as well as continues to have an ongoing presence in print media. Brewer serves as a regular contributor and writer on many major media networks including Yahoo Finance, CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, CNN, News Max and the American City Business Journals where he provides his expert analysis and opinion on a range of topics from finance and global development to sports, education and politics.Additionally, he produces various symposiums, art exhibitions, documentaries and publications highlighting global development issues including his roles as Associate Producer of "Resilient Hearts", a documentary on the history of Haiti leading up to 2010 Earthquake (2014), Executive Producer of "We Are What We Eat", the United Nations first-ever art exhibit highlighting global food security (2016) and a featured author in the "UN Chronicle magazine of the United Nations "Sport Aims for the Goals" Volume (2016) and is currently Executive Producing "Tackling Recidivism" a deep, non bias dive into the private and public prison system from the eyes of socially conscious NFL legends who have dedicated their lives to finding solutions to criminal justice issues, to name a few.Brewer transferred to the University of Minnesota where he continued to excel both academically and athletically, earning several honors including: Academic All-Big Ten, Carl Eller Defensive MVP Award, Paul Giel Award, First Team All-Big Ten by Media, All-Big Ten in Track and Field, was team captain on the football team and earned his Master's degree in Sport Management at the age of 22. An entrepreneur by nature, Brewer successfully balanced his full academic load and college sports with running his own marketing and event management business which he started at the age of 19 years old. He has four children, Jared, Laesha, Jackson and Zayah.Brewer earned his Bachelor of Science (2001) and his Masters in Sport Management (2002) from the University of Minnesota, all while playing Division I football. Additionally, he has completed Executive Business Programs at Harvard School of Business (2005) and the Wharton School of Business (2006), and is currently pursuing his Masters in International Affairs from Colombia University. Brewer recently completed the Executive MBA program at the University of Miami (2016) where he is spearheading the Brewer Sports International education program to be the largest post-secondary degree program in professional sports, having graduated over 50 current and former professional athletes with their Executive Masters of Business Administration degrees. Currently Brewer serves as a professor at the Gabelli Business School at Fordham University where he leads the newly launch Executive MBA Program for Athletes and Artist (2019).In 2011, Brewer turned his business focus solely to his company The Brewer Group, Inc. (TBG) (www.thebrewergroup.com), a boutique impact investment and consulting firm, and active member of the United Nations Global Compact, specializing in investing and advisory for small growth companies making a positive impact around the world. Brewer continues to work tirelessly to build and leverage his vast network of established relationships with key international decision makers and influencers spanning government development agencies, financial institutions, multinational corporations, NGOs and numerous leaders in sports and entertainment.In his current role as CEO and Portfolio Manager, Brewer manages TBG's portfolio which has included over 200 completed transactions totaling over $150mm through its various business lines and a number of private and public holdings spanning a variety of industry sectors. For over a decade, Brewer has been continuously originating, structuring and facilitating comprehensive strategic investments and partnerships, and leads numerous multinational companies to become leading advocates at the forefront of some of the world's most pressing issues. Surrounded by a team of dedicated professionals, Brewer spearheads and executes ongoing global economic development and social awareness initiatives to help multiple clients gain access to emerging and frontier markets domestically and internationally, including throughout Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Brewer has held FINRA Series 7, 66, and 79 securities licenses as well as various state insurance licenses.In addition to his international business endeavors, Brewer is also a passionate humanitarian whom has been dedicated to fulfilling his mission of "Empowering from Within" since his childhood, including over two decades of advocacy work in the U.S. focused on underserved African-American youth. He is the Founder and Executive Director of The Jack Brewer Foundation (JBF Worldwide https://thejackbrewerfoundation.com), a 501(c)(3) which since 2006 has been using its various programs and global initiatives to offer educational opportunities and economic development to underprivileged individuals around the world, using sport as a catalyst. To date, JBF Worldwide has delivered over $70 million in medical aid, supports over 35 orphan care centers, has helped deliver sports equipment to over one million underserved children and helps bring medical care to over 10,000 women and children annually around the world.

Women Of Wrestling returns for its second season on a new night and time, premiering Saturday, September 7 at 8pE only on AXS TV. The expanded upcoming 24-episode season finds the trailblazing promotion back with a vengeance as a slate of new Superheroes and returning superstars vie to pry WOW’s coveted crown from reigning champion Tessa Blanchard. WOW innovator David McLane and Steven Dickey will be on hand to provide analysis and commentary. Fans can relive all the hard-hitting action and blockbuster drama of season one in a special encore event featuring each complete episode from WOW’s inaugural campaign—airing every Saturday at 8pE, leading up to the highly anticipated season two premiere.

A passion for baseball. A bucket list to visit every Major League park in America. That moment when life opens a door and you step through. With you a new layer of experiences evolves into a bigger deeper purpose. Helping to bring peace love and light to foster children across a nation that so easily forgets. Ron Clements has released Home Run On Wheels. What it's like to jump in an RV and hit the road on a journey blessed with podcasting experiences and moment by moment face to face decisions that invite new beginnings for young adults set aside by society.

ESPN 30 for 30 Podcasts, with The Undefeated, presents The Sterling Affairs, a multipart series examining Clippers owner Donald Sterling – including his rags-to-riches rise, his unlikely role as owner of the NBA’s least successful franchise, and his ultimate downfall, when his racist comments, secretly taped by his mistress V. Stiviano, were made public and he was forced by the NBA to sell his team. This is also the story about how a domestic drama boiled over, putting the NBA in crisis. Donald’s wife Shelly Sterling had abided by his infidelity and shameful business dealings, but it was her lawsuit against V. that finally exposed Donald Sterling for all to see.The Sterling Affairs paints a picture of a city and a league in transition – from the dark days of Sterling’s reign to the team’s reversal into winners -- and the moment when NBA players and a new league commissioner found their voice and ushered in a new era.Ramona Shelburne – an NBA Insider, senior writer for ESPN, national radio host and ESPN TV contributor – can preview this “almost too strange to believe” story from the 30 for 30 Podcast

Liz Loza is one of the industry's leading fantasy sports experts. A mainstay in the Fantasy Sports community, Liz is an analyst for Yahoo Sports and a cast member of the award-winning original series "Fantasy Football LIVE." She also co-hosts the Yahoo Fantasy Football Podcast, and is an active member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. Liz frequently appears on national television and radio, and has been featured by influential news sources such as the New York Times and CNN. She is a graduate of Brown University and currently resides in Los Angeles.

No one knows better what it's like for a woman to break into a traditionally male sport than Andra Douglas.Douglas, the quarterback and owner of the New York Sharks professional woman's football team, fought for the opportunity to play football from her earliest days growing up in Central Florida. Her new book, BLACK & BLUE, is loosely based on her own story. Douglas can talk about how she overcame countless personal and financial sacrifices to achieve her dream of playing football. She can address: . What it was like growing up in a traditional Southern town as a girl who shunned "girlish" pursuits in favor of football and hunting . How she came to New York - and found the women who became her teammates on the New York Sharks. The beginnings of women's professional tackle football, and the challenges the athletes of this new sport faced . How she became the owner of the New York Sharks, and what that experience was like. Why she wrote a novel based on her experiences . What it takes to stick to a dream in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds . Her perspective on women's sports today

Hyperdrive “looks like the best new car show in decades,” according to The Drive. The series is filmed in Rochester, New York, on a crazy obstacle course that competitors must navigate while driving modified cars. But it’s not just about the cars and obstacles, it’s about the people behind the wheel.Fielding Shredder (yes - his real name) is a driving instructor at Rally School in Austin, TX.Brittany Williams is from Lewisville, TX, and is currently one of the top female drifters in the Lone Star state. She’s even getting married at a drifting competition.Aaron Parker of Quartz Hill, CA, currently works works three jobs to support his family: a Dodger Stadium employee, a mechanic for Formula Drift and sells car parts on the side. He was raised by a single mom who fostered 38 babies over the years and adopted 5 special needs infants.Faruk Kugay is a part time pizza deliveryman in San Francisco who earned his Pro1 license last year, who has worked a multitude of odd jobs to support his racing dream.

Racing Wives follows the lives of NASCAR’s most prominent wives and women. The new series follows the personal and professional lives of driver Amber Balcaen, Samantha Busch, Ashley Bush, Whitney Ward Dillon and others in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina, where the who’s who of stock car racing live. Racing Wives offers a glimpse into the sport watched by millions each week, but focuses on relatable issues such as family, friendship, careers and work-balance.Amber Balcaen is from Winnipeg, Canada. She started racing when she was 10, mostly on dirt track. She joined the cast of Racing Wives as an opportunity to share her story. She doesn’t come from money, and she is a Canadian woman in a very American, male-centric sport. Through hard work and dedication she hopes to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional NASCAR driver.

CMT’s Racing Wives not only follows the lives of racing’s most prominent wives, offering a glimpse into the sport watched by millions each week, but focuses on relatable issues such as family, friendship, careers and work-balance.Samantha Busch is a lifestyle blogger and co-owner of a professional race team. She is married to Kyle Busch, team owner and driver, who is one of the most winning NASCAR racers of all time.Ashley Busch is a world-class polo player and model, who is married to NASCAR champ Kurt Busch.Racing Wives follows the daily lives of sisters-in-law Samantha and Ashley Busch, driver Amber Balcaen, Whitney Ward Dillon and others, just a stone’s throw from the high-octane tracks where racing legends rise and fall, and where the who’s who of stock car racing live. The series goes inside the personal and professional lives of the women as they support their husbands, friends and one another, both on and off the raceway.Racing Wives proves you dont need to be behind the wheel to bring drama to the track!

Get ready for more fireworks after the Fourth of July! The HISTORY network is kicking off its third annual Car Week with the unprecedented three-hour live television event Evel Live 2. Jaws will once again drop as two motorcycle daredevils attempt to cheat death and make history on HISTORY!In Evel Live 2, viewers will watch as Vicki Golden aims to shatter the motorcycle firewall record where she will speed through a series of flaming wooden boards. Golden will be the first female to attempt to break the current record of 12 which was set back in 2006.Next fans will witness as Axell Hodges goes airborne and attempts to soar more than 200 feet over 25 semi-trucks to break Evel Knievel’s 1971 attempt and Evel’s son Robbie’s 2003 record. The television event will culminate with a stunt so daring few would even think of trying. Hodges will put his life on the line by attempting to jump farther than anyone ever has on a motorcycle, a distance that was set in 2011 at 378 feet and 9 inches by Robbie Maddison.Inspired by the legendary stunts of daredevil Evel Knievel, Evel Live 2 will broadcast live from the San Bernardino International Airport in California. Professional motorsports icon Travis Pastrana will co-host with Matt Iseman (America Ninja Warrior.) More than 3.5 million viewers witnessed history in the making as Pastrana honored legendary daredevil Evel Knievel in HISTORY's Evel Live in July 2018.Fans who want to witness the stunts in person at the San Bernardino International Airport in California can purchase tickets on NitroCircus.com.A week-long line up of new programming during the third annual Car Week on HISTORY kicks off after Evel Live 2. Click here for info on Car Week

Considering their play on the field in their first steps as a franchise in 1962, it remains astounding that the New York Mets won the 1969 World Series over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles and became known as "The Miracle Mets." Those early seasons since their inception were some of the worst in baseball history. Their play was laughable at best, and that's being charitable. But their strategy of putting together as many young players as possible led to a cohesion that would pay off in ways none believed before 1969.Ron Swoboda was a fine player in his day. Never a superstar, he was the epitome of the working class player, the "Every Man" on the field. But his passion for the game, and that of his teammates as well, is what made this team grow up, grow together, and startle the sports world. In a delightfully self-deprecating style, Mr. Swoboda recaptures the moments and memories in his new book, HERE'S THE CATCH: A Memoir of the Miracle Mets and More (Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin's Press, on sale date Tuesday June 11, 2019, $27.99).From the beginning of Ron Swoboda's first season with the Mets in 1965, any "miracle" would have simply been a winning streak of more than three games. The team averaged 100+ losses per season in their first six years. However, things changed in 1968 when legendary Brooklyn Dodger Gil Hodges took over as manager. Wins became more frequent, and the confidence of the young team grew. At the start of the 1969 season, the young core of the team -Tom Seaver, Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, Ed Kranepool, Jerry Koosman, and Ron Swoboda - began to see in themselves a team that could surprise the experts. Mr. Swoboda takes the reader on a memorable journey, day-by-day and game-by-game. He introduces us to some of the more colorful characters the game has known, and builds the drama of that incredible season through all the peaks and valleys. To the reader, it almost feels as if you are in the dugout with the team.For younger or even casual fans, the stories will be an eye-opener. Players didn't make $20-30 million per season 50 years ago. $100,000 was a huge headline-grabbing salary. The life of a ball player Mr. Swoboda talks about is that of a generation when some of the players had to work second jobs in the off season. Teams really were more of a family back then, with players' wives and kids helping each other with daily life events. And as Mr. Swoboda relates, a real underdog like the Mets reflected the psyche of America in the late 1960s. Between the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, and the violent street protests in the U.S. against the Vietnam War, the country really was looking for some type of feel-good story, and underdog to rally the cause.And then came the magical moment in October 1969 at Shea Stadium: The Mets were about to clinch the World Series win. Mr. Swoboda - who had endured ups and downs as a player for the previous two seasons, could finally feel a sense of great pride: his RBI (run-batted-in) was the clincher in the deciding game, and the previous day he made the greatest catch in the field in Mets history. For a moment, the "Every Man" was "Superman." The importance of that moment was so unique to that franchise that today a steel silhouette of Mr. Swoboda's amazing catch greets visitors at the right field entrance at the Mets' new stadium, Citi Field.

The Award-Winning Story of Illegal Drugs and Famous Baseball Stars On DVD and Digital Platforms on June 4, 2019"Another masterpiece of wild and woolly Floridiana from Florida's documentarian laureate." - Vincent Mancini, FILMDRUNKSome of the biggest U.S. sports stars come under harsh scrutiny in the eye-opening - and queasily funny - SCREWBALL , which reveals the real story behind baseball's notorious drug scandal. The film, by award-winning documentarian Billy Corben, will be released on Greenwich Entertainment DVD and digital platforms on June 4, 2019.Recounting the high-profile doping scandal that rocked Major League Baseball, director Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys, Magic City Hustle) takes us into the surreal Miami underworld that provided performance-enhancing drugs to Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and other star players.They say South Florida is a sunny place for shady people and this is certainly true of steroid peddler Anthony Bosch and his most notorious client, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. While Bosch's medical credentials may be lacking, his storytelling skills are first-rate as he hilariously details the rise and fall of his "health clinic," including mob connections, financial chicanery, his cocaine habit and Rodriguez's eccentric behavior.The documentary plays like a madcap Floridian crime comedy in the vein of Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen and the Coen Brothers while it raises serious questions about the ethics of professional sports. Powerful interests would be happy to let this story slip from memory, but SCREWBALL makes it unforgettable.SCREWBALL won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2018 Key West Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2019 Miami Film Festival. It was also an Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival."SCREWBALL energetically rounds the bases," wrote Michael Rechtshaffen of the Los Angeles Times. The film is "fascinating as an examination of how carefully one needs to choose their allies, especially when they're committing crimes," said Brian Tallerico at RogerEbert.com.

The Diesel Brothers are no strangers to pushing the limits with impossible builds and gravity-defying stunts that leave viewers on the edge of their seats. But this Memorial Day, the crew kicks things into high gear as they prepare for one of the most epic, high-flying and jam-packed live events in Diesel Brothers history. It will be held at the historic decommissioned WWII military base, Wendover Airfield.Throughout this season of Diesel Brothers, fans have watched as Heavy D and the DieselSellerz crew have planned for a stunt of epic proportions – jumping a diesel-powered Monster Jam® truck (the BroDozer) over a flying airplane. After exhaustive preparation and training, Heavy D, in front of military members and residents of the Hill Airforce Base, will attempt the record-breaking jump with the BroDozer that’s been months in the making. Tune in on Memorial Day to see if he can pull it off.Dave Sparks is an American entrepreneur, custom vehicle builder, and social media personality from Salt Lake City, Utah. He goes by the name Heavy D. Since he was little, Dave has been fascinated by anything with an engine or wheels. From his first motorcycle, a 1976 Yamaha YZ80 to his most famous creation, the Mega Ram Runner, he has always pushed the mechanical limits of vehicles.Diesel Dave is an American entrepreneur as well as custom vehicle builder. He came into scenes and limelight after the first episode of Diesel Brothers named "Free Willy's" on January 4, 2016. Dave is one one of the co-owner of DieselSellerz which is an oasis for diesel fanatics everywhere.

About Epic Athletes: Stephen CurryWhen you think of Stephen Curry, one word comes to mind: greatness. From shooting three-pointers with laser precision to his clutch ability to hit buzzer-beaters time and again, he has established himself as one of the best players in pro basketball. But greatness was never a guarantee for Steph. The son of a talented NBA player, he dreamed of one day playing professionally just like his dad. Yet Steph, who wasalways smaller and weaker than the competition, was told over and over that he would never be talented enough to be a college star or NBA player—let alone the MVP of the entire league. Through tenacity and hard work, he proved them all wrong and went on to dismantle the record books. With the high energy of a TV commentator, and featuring dynamic comic-style illustrations, this engaging biography tells the story of an NBA All-Star and the path he took to achieve his dreams.About Epic Athletes: Alex MorganU.S. Women's Soccer star Alex Morgan has earned each of these impressive titles throughout her incredible career. As a young girl growing up in Southern California, she dreamed of being a professional soccer player, fighting to compete on the international stage against the world's greatest athletes. Flash forward to the present and Alex Morgan has emerged as the face of U.S. Women's soccer, famous for her clutch, late-game goals, and an inspiration to kids across the country.

AKBAR believes, "Everyone Can Be A Ninja".The high-energy, embullient host of the 5x Emmy-nominated competition series "American Ninja Warrior" (ANW) and former NFL player is proof positive. Born one of seven children to Nigerian immigrant parents, Akbar grew up on the hardscrabble streets of South Central LA. Refusing to settle with his given circumstances, Akbar got to work - earning his way to the top of not one, but two of the world's most competitive fields. In his debut book EVERYONE CAN BE A NINJA: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams (Gallery Books; a division of Simon & Schuster, May 7, 2019), Akbar outlines, through his own stories and parallels to top athletes, Ninjas and influential individuals, HOW to reach your goals and offers a game plan to overcome any obstacle. The latter includes how to:. Overcome obstacles both big and small.. Embrace being the underdog using it to positively change your circumstance. Trust the Process while seeking your God given purposeAkbar's Credos:. Purpose defeats fear.. Dreams are where you want to go, vision is why you want to get there.. Look up, stand up, and don't ever give up.. Fulfillment can only come when our life is aligned with our purpose.. We never reach our purpose; we live it.Praise for "Everyone Can Be A Ninja":"Akbar's enormous heart and honesty shine through on every page of this book. He not only reminds us that anything is possible with hard work and a positive attitude - he goes one step further to show how it's done. This is a book to inspire the warrior inside all of us." - Michael J. Fox "Fans will enjoy finding that Gbajabiamila's enthusiasm and witty storytelling work well on the page, and everyone will be moved by how he shares the limelight with contestants who tell their inspiring tales and by his axiom, 'Impossible is just an opinion, and opinions mean nothing."

Met and Yankee All-Star pitcher David Cone shares lessons from the World Series and beyond in this essential memoir for baseball fans everywhere."There was a sense about him and an aura about him. Even when he was in trouble, he carried himself like a pitcher who said, 'I'm the man out here.' And he usually was." --Andy Pettitte on David Cone.To any baseball fan, David Cone was a bold and brilliant pitcher. During his 17-year career, he became a master of the mechanics and mental toughness a pitcher needs to succeed in the major leagues. A five-time All-Star and five-time World Champion now gives his full count -- balls and strikes, errors and outs -- of his colorful life in baseball.From the pitchers he studied to the hitters who infuriated him, Full Count takes readers inside the mind of a thoughtful pitcher, detailing Cone's passion, composure and strategies. The book is also filled with never-before-told stories from the memorable teams Cone played on -- ranging from the infamous late '80s Mets to the Yankee dynasty of the '90s.And, along the way, Full Count offers the lessons baseball taught Cone -- from his mistakes as a young and naive pitcher to outwitting the best hitters in the world -- one pitch at a time.

Long before Junior Seau hung up his NFL spikes, he was a legend. Seau had everything an athlete could ever want: the adoration of millions, the admiration of his peers, the love of a beautiful family, and a sense of purpose beyond the playing field. And yet, on May 2nd, 2012, at age 43, Seau, alone in his bedroom, shot himself in the heart. He left no suicide note, offering no clear answers to why he'd take his own life. Now, ESPN’s 30 for 30 film Seau seeks those answers, exploring his remarkable path out of an immigrant Samoan family to NFL stardom, and the many complications that ensued through two decades of playing a brutal and unforgiving game.Documentary filmmaker Kirby Bradley – who co-created HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel series – had done a lot of reporting on concussions and CTE syndrome as the showrunner of Real Sports. After learning that Junior Seau’s brain revealed CTE, he felt compelled to tell his story. Kirby can discuss the new film, the incredible life and career of Junior Seau, what we’ve learned from his story, and ultimately where the responsibilities lie.

Titled after the nickname Fredette has earned from his sizeable fanbase in China, The Lonely Master, is an intimate 75-minute film that shadows him throughout his astronomical 2017-2018 season with the Shanghai Sharks. It also traces the beginnings of his childhood dream to play in the NBA, and the highs and lows of Fredette’s career, from high school basketball star to record shattering NCAA National Player of the Year to the unexpected end of his five years in the NBA and his deep desire to return. It explores the universal theme of what it takes to make a dream come true, what you do when it seems like it won’t, and the choice to never give up. The Lonely Master also offers an intimate peek into his upbringing and personal life, including his childhood home, with a contract signed by Jimmer and older brother TJ in 2007 outlining his dream of playing in the NBA, hanging above his bed. The backyard court he grew up playing on, the church building they used to train on weekends and his high school gym are also showcased. Contemporary footage of Jimmer as a new dad weaves throughout his story. Jimmer Fredette is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. Fredette was the 2011 National Player of the Year in college basketball after ranking as the leading scorer in all of NCAA Division I during his senior season for the BYU Cougars. He was subsequently selected with the tenth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, but only played limited minutes across four teams over five NBA seasons. He spent the majority of the 2015–16 season in the NBA Development League, during which he won the All-Star Game MVP. In 2016, he joined the CBA's Shanghai Sharks, and during the 2016–17 CBA season, he led the league in scoring, at 37.6 points per game, counting all phases of the season, and won the CBA International MVP award.

Stephy may look sweet on the outside, but make no mistake: nobody hustles harder than she does. At just 22 years of age, she works three jobs, two side-gigs, studies as a full-time college student, manages a blossoming Instagram account, and still finds time to bake the perfect Pinterest Pizza Bites for weekly movie nights with the girls. This multi-tasking millennial can truly do it all! Her carefully selected photo filters bely a crafty fighter with speedy skills, who slays her opponents and then Snapchats about it. Stephy means business, and she’s just getting started. Try to keep up.Birthplace: Dallas, TexasFighting Style: Speed mixed with High-Flying Aerial Assaults.Signature Moves: #DYA -- Delete Your Account, #TheSponsoredSnap, #DoItForTheGIFSurprise Facts: Began wrestling during her senior year of high school.

Selina Majors grew up hearing that wrestling was a man’s sport—women were just the warm-up act, and never the main event. Joining up with a few other talented women with a penchant for professional wrestling, Selina set out to change that perception. Putting her Southern Pride on the line, Selina earned respect with her superior skills, vowing to never let any man or woman get the best of her in the ring. Selina quickly asserted herself as a true fan favorite, climbing up the global ranks in unforgettable matches that have since become the stuff of legend. Her rivalry with fellow Georgia wrestler, Thug, in particular, has gone down as the greatest feud in the history of WOW. When she’s not serving up Southern disComfort in the ring, Selina serves as a trainer for up-and-coming wrestlers. Using her vast experience to teach them the ways of the ring, and the meaning of respect… sometimes by force. Selina is joined by her kinfolk, the talented Jessie Jones, whom the veteran has taken under her wing as both a protégé and an ally. Together, the two aim to teach the Superheroes of WOW what Southern Pride is all about!

McLane, the beloved ring commentator and impresario behind the iconic ‘80s TV series GLOW “Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling” brings his trademark voice to each event, providing insightful ringside commentary. Blanchard was born for the business and is a third-generation professional wrestler. A global wrestling presence, she has held the championship title in the U.S., Mexico and Japan.They will kick off an that season with a spotlight on the legendary WOW Superheroes. Each event features intense matches that blend hard-hitting action with the theatrical flair that has come to define the promotion over the years. WOW’s roster boasts over 30 highly skilled wrestlers—each with their own unique personalities and backstories inspired by the women behind the Superheroes—competing to win the coveted WOW World Championship. WOW Superheroes include reigning WOW Champion Santana Garrett; as well as The Beast, Stephy Slays, Jungle Grrrl, and original WOW favorite the Fabulous Lana Star; joined by talented WOW newcomers Faith The Lioness, Fire, and Princess Aussie. Wrestling royalty Shaul Guerrero will serve as ring announcer for each event.WOW is fueled by Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss; wrestling icon and the creator of GLOW, David McLane; television trailblazer Mark Burnett, President of MGM Television and Digital Group; and Mark Cuban’s AXS TV.

Born in College Station, Texas, Abilene Maverick knows a thing or two about pride, showmanship, tradition and family. Raised on sports and competition, Abilene had to vie against her siblings to earn her father’s attention—ultimately emerging victorious to take her place as the apple of the powerful patriarch’s eye. When her father passed away during her final year of college, Abilene was left devastated. It wasn’t until her mother—herself a cunning woman with a long career in the competitive political scene—suggested she pursue a career in wrestling, as a tribute to her father, that the young girl’s life began to take on a greater meaning. Proudly bearing the title of ‘The Governor’s Daughter’, Abilene came to WOW Abilene, bringing a southern sweetness that quickly endeared her to her fellow Superheroes. But underneath the perfectly put together façade lurks a ruthless determination, driving her to do everything in her power to be the absolute best, no matter the cost.They will kick off an that season with a spotlight on the legendary WOW Superheroes. Each event features intense matches that blend hard-hitting action with the theatrical flair that has come to define the promotion over the years. WOW’s roster boasts over 30 highly skilled wrestlers—each with their own unique personalities and backstories inspired by the women behind the Superheroes—competing to win the coveted WOW World Championship.WOW is fueled by Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss; wrestling icon and the creator of GLOW, David McLane; television trailblazer Mark Burnett, President of MGM Television and Digital Group; and Mark Cuban’s AXS TV.

The XFL will reimagine football for the 21st century when it kicks off in early 2020.In a major press event at Metlife Stadium on Wednesday, December 5, XFL Commissioner and CEO Oliver Luck will announce the inaugural eight markets new XFL teams will call home in season-one.On December 6, Luck – a former NFL and NCAA executive, quarterback for the Houston Oilers, and father of Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck – can discuss the new XFL, the eight cities and venues that were selected as team homes, and what fans can expect from the exciting new league. Football is America’s favorite sport boasting over 85 million fans but the traditional season is just too short. To fill that void, Vince McMahon, XFL Founder and Chairman, announced the new league which he is building with the same commitment that launched the WWE into a global media and sports entertainment powerhouse. Delivering authentic, high energy football for the whole family, the XFL will offer fast-paced games with fewer play stoppages and simpler rules. The XFL will also embrace the latest on and off-field technology, providing live game coverage, content and real-time engagement across multiple platforms, giving fans greater access than ever before.

Cinedigm has acquired North American distribution rights to Silencer, an action thriller starring Johnny Messner and Danny Trejo and longtime MMA rivals Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. A September 4 on-demand and VOD release is planned.Timothy Woodward Jr.'s pic centers on a retired hitman (Messner) who must resurrect all of his deadly skills and fight a one-man war against his former employer who has kidnapped his step-daughter. Sean Mick penned the script, which pits Messner's and Ortiz's characters against Trejo's and Liddell's characters.Woodward produced with Lauren de Normandie and Johnny Cleveland via their Status Media & Entertainment along with Terence Sims. Executive producers include Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Joe Listhaus, Patrick DePeters, Kirk Shaw, Drew Ryce and James Shavick."Status Media delivers another potent picture - Silencer is an explosive actioner with strong production values, high dramatic stakes and the added bonus of pitting legendary MMA rivals, Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, against one another," said Yolanda Macias, Cinedigm's EVP Acquisitions. "Timothy and his team are excellent partners, and we are thrilled to be working with them on Silencer."Liddell beat Ortiz twice - in 2004 and 2006 - in two of the most high-profile fights in UFC history.

Jody Avirgan is the host & producer of ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcast series. As an extension of the acclaimed documentary films, ESPN 30 for 30 Podcasts offer captivating presentations of some of the world’s greatest sports stories. Among those featured this season – an in-depth look at Jose Canseco’s tell-all memoir “Juiced” that gave names of players taking performance-enhancing drugs and its impact on baseball; Rickey Henderson’s refusal to retire after registering his 3000th hit, ultimately joining the Independent Golden Baseball League at age 46; and the amazing behind-the-scenes story of Hideo Nomo’s jump to the MLB and how it risked not only his career but the future of every Japanese baseball star.

The 2018 League of Legends World Championship is in South Korea with 24 teams from the 14 professional leagues from around the world competing. It began in Seoul on October 1st. The finals to take place at Incheon Munhak stadium on November 3rd. Last year, 57.6 million unique viewers watched the 2017 League of Legends World Championship from a packed Beijing National Stadium in China. League of Legends is the most-played PC game in the world, with over 100 million monthly active players and draws players and fans from across the globe. League of Legends Esports (LoL Esports) is a premiere global sport with 14 professional leagues worldwide. The regional leagues are overseen and operated by Riot Games.

ESPN’s groundbreaking 20-hour, 10-part documentary series Basketball: A Love Story consists of more than 60 interconnected stories that explore the complex nature of love as it relates to the game of basketball. A labor of love from Peabody Award-winning director Dan Klores, the series features 165 exclusive interviews with basketball’s most prominent figures, from Bob Cousy, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dr. J, Yao Ming, Stephen Curry and Diana Taurasi, to Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant. The episodes will feature different narrators such as Chadwick Boseman, Julianne Moore, Chris Cuomo, Ashley Judd, Robin Quivers and Fisher Stevens.

VH1’s Basketball Wives follows the daily lives, drama-filled parties and outrageous fights that unfold between the wives, ex-wives and girlfriends of professional basketball players.With a cast that includes Shaunie O'Neal, Tami Roman, Evelyn Lozada, Jackie Christie, Malaysia Pargo and Jennifer Williams, there's never a dull moment on the home court. This season on Basketball Wives, family ties will be tested, emotions will explode louder than ever before, and friendships that once seemed rock solid will be shaken to the core. Season seven has everything from unexpected wedding proposals to risqué business ventures and some new cast members that will give the OG women a run for their money. L.A has never been hotter than this. Jackie Christie, wife of retired Los Angeles player Doug Christie, is famous for her outlandish antics and over-the-top meltdowns. Jackie is still picking up the pieces of her life after a feud with her eldest daughter hit a fever pitch last year. She still harbors residual upset toward Evelyn for getting involved in the drama with her daughter.

Sixteen fighters will be facing off with one another this fall for the championship belt on the revival of Mark Burnett’s boxing franchise series The Contender. The 16 Contenders come from a wide variety of professional boxing backgrounds and stations in life, bringing their unique stories, personalities, strengths and motivations to the series.Each fighter will be vying to be declared the new 160-pound middleweight champion of The Contender and take home the winner’s six-figure purse — a prize, which, for all the fighters, represents a better life for their families and loved ones who have been there with them through all the ups and downs of their journeys. Says Burnett: “The Contender takes unscripted TV to its grittiest. It has incredible professional fighters and real professional fights. The edge of your seat drama and true stories sets a tone that our audiences will be expecting and I love it.”The Contender is hosted by undefeated boxing champion and HBO expert commentator Andre "Son of God” Ward. The San Francisco Bay-Area native has a boxing record of 32-0 with 16 knock outs. He is a 2004 Olympic Gold medalist and 2011 Fighter of the Year. He retired from boxing in 2017. He recently appeared in the movie Creed.The original Contender series ran for four seasons (2005-2009) and launched multiple fighters into contention for world titles, including title winners Sergio Mora, Cornelius Bundrage, Sakio Bika, and Sam Soliman.

AKBAR GBAJABIAMILA - Host, "American Ninja Warrior" and "American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja"Akbar Gbajabiamila is host of NBC's two-time Emmy Award-nominated hit competition series "American Ninja Warrior," which begins its 10th season this summer. He is also the host of the show's spinoff, USA Network's "American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja," which will air new episodes in spring.Gbajabiamila is a former NFL star who also currently hosts one of NFL Network's highest-rated shows, "NFL Fantasy Live." He recently made headlines being parodied on "Saturday Night Live" by Drake, as well as hailed in the media as a hero for chasing down a hit-and-run suspect who sideswiped a Los Angeles motorcycle cop. The L.A. native grew up in the Crenshaw district with his mother and father, both of whom were born and raised in Nigeria, and six siblings. Gbajabiamila is one of seven children of Nigerian immigrants. His first name means "great" in Arabic and his last name means "big man come save me," which derives from his paternal great-great-grandfather - an impressive man who stood 7-feet tall and was the moderator in the village in which he lived. Born to be an athlete, his first passion was playing basketball. He was part of the basketball team at Crenshaw High School during the dynasty era coached by none other than Willie E. West. He also started playing football, pressured by coaches because his older brother was a powerhouse on the team. When it came time for college he played football at San Diego State University, where he graduated with a degree in communication and new media studies before completing a certified entrepreneurship program at the Wharton School of Business in 2005. The Southern California native played five years in the NFL as a linebacker and defensive end with the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2008. While playing for the Chargers, Gbajabiamila contributed to KSWB, an NBC radio affiliate in San Diego, and co-hosted "Football Night in San Diego" from 2006-08. He went on to serve as an analyst for the Mountain Network and CBS Sports before joining the NFL Network in 2012. The multihyphenate made his feature acting debut in the 2015 short film "The Sac Fly" and previously co-starred in a Funny or Die skit "Internet Cops with Nnamdi Asomugha." He was also a fan favorite on the 2009 ABC adventure series "Expedition Impossible," where he was selected by producer Mark Burnett to compete in challenges across the globe. More recently, Gbajabiamila made his debut on NBC's "The Night Shift," as well as hosted NBC's 2017 "Red Nose Day Special" and "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular."Gbajabiamila has a long history of volunteering and social consciousness. He currently serves as a board member for the Asomugha Foundation, an organization aimed at creating better educational opportunities for impoverished communities. He also serves on the board of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. As a collegiate undergrad, Gbajabiamila joined Athletes for Education, a youth education program where he was able to promote financial literacy for youth in the San Diego community.He and his wife, along with their four children, currently reside in Redondo Beach with their beloved dog.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional wresting featuring interviews and photographs with legendary wrestlers and rare in-ring footage! Starring former world champions Bret Hart and Billy Graham, it is a true look behind the curtains at the grueling life they led on the road 350 days a year and the effect that lifestyle had on their marriages, family, physical and mental health.Featuring Greg Valentine, Tito Santana, Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff, Abdullah The Butcher, Wendi Richter, Bill Eadie, Nikolai Volkoff, Stan Hansen, Angelo Mosca, Lex Luger, and more, the event also includes some of the last interviews ever done with George "The Animal" Steele, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Ox Baker, The Wolfman, Don Fargo, and 99-year-old Angelo Savoldi.This one-night event will also feature an exclusive introduction and interview with JJ Dillon (manager of The Four Horsemen) to discuss the impact of the film and the current state of professional wrestling.

Is there a river anywhere in the world Jeremy Wade fears? Once you've seen Wild Rivers on Animal Planet you'll be convinced he's ready to scan the universe for his next challenge. From the LAproductions.us studio we are Unplugged and Totally Uncut!!!https://www.spreaker.com/user/arroe/jeremy-wade-s-wild-rivers-on-animal-plan

Ron Guidry, known as Gator and Louisiana Lightning to his teammates, quickly rose in 1977 to become the ace of the Yankees' stellar pitching staff, helping the team regarded as the most famous and notorious in Yankee history win the World Series. In 1978, he went 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA and won the Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in baseball, helping to bring home the Yankees' second straight World Series championship. A four-time All Star and five-time Golden Glove winner, he played from 1976 to 1988, served as the Yankees' captain in the 1980s, and remains one of the greatest pitchers in Yankee history. In Gator, Guidry takes us inside the clubhouse to tell us what it was like to play amidst the chaos and almost daily confrontations between Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner, Martin's altercations with star slugger Reggie "the straw that stirs the drink" Jackson. He talks poignantly about the death of Thurman Munson in 1979, and the impact that had on Ron and on the club. He tells stories about players like Lou Pinella, Willie Randolph, Bucky Dent, Catfish Hunter, Chris Chambliss, and Mickey Rivers, and coach Yogi Berra (who in 1984 became the Yankees' manager) and Elston Howard.

Please stop destroying our trombones.And with that, we're off and running. The book is vibrant and bursting with color on every page - just like the New Day! There are graphs and graphics breaking down New Day's 483-day tag title reign - which the book focuses heavily on - as well as getting-to-know-you Q and A sessions with all three members, infographics, New Day quizzes, and a bunch more. To be honest, this book more closely resembles a book-sized and book-length version of the dear, departed WWE Magazine than any book you've ever read before. Except that it's entirely about the New Day.All of those are good things, of course. The whole thing is undeniably as close as possible to being in the voice of Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods. Woods breaks down his favorite hairstyles, Kofi lists his favorite pairs of shoes, and Big E even gives you step-by-step instructions on how to perfect your hip gyrations.Peppered throughout are little two-page entries that tell the story of the New Day, from Woods recruiting them, to their gospel era, to the crowds coming around on them through sheer force of will. These passages are pretty honest, and a good dose of reality in between by-the-numbers spreads and getting to know New Day's various animal mascots.If you have a younger fan in your life who loves the New Day, this book would make a perfect gift, or if you miss that WWE Magazine aesthetic or love the New Day aesthetic, you should probably check it out. If you plunked down money for a box of Booty-O's . you should probably pick this up as well.My hope is that someday, one of these three men will actually sit down and write a for-real autobiography, but that just wouldn't make sense as a stand-alone New Day product. The Book of Booty does. And then some.

It was a beautiful fall day in Connecticut when Colleen Alexander, a lifelong competitive athlete, rode her bike home from work, having just learned her job with the nonprofit PeaceJam was secure. She had survived a diagnosis of lupus and brain surgery that almost took her life, and was married at last to the love of her life, Sean. Life was good as she met the eyes of a truck driver rolling up to the stop sign beside her. He didn't stop.The truck hit Colleen, running over her lower body with front and back tires and dragging her across the pavement. As she bled out in the street, nearby strangers surrounded. A former EMT herself, Colleen knew she had to stay awake. "I've just been reconnected with my soulmate," she told the medic. "We want to have a baby. I can't die now. Please don't let me die." Colleen spent five weeks in a coma and had 29 surgeries. But she survived, and despite losing her job and suffering from PTSD, she began to focus on all the heroes who saved her life. Determined to find a way to make something positive from her pain, she decided she'd run again. She would dedicate her race medals to her heroes, including the multitude of medical staff that aided in her survival.Since the trauma, Colleen has run 50 races and completed 40 triathlons, including 4 half-Ironman events (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1-mile run). She is now a spokesperson for the Red Cross, and shares her incredible inspirational story to encourage others to take that first step forward.Colleen Kelly Alexander is a lifelong athlete and motivational speaker. With her indomitable spirit and amazing story of survival, Colleen teaches others how to aim higher, be stronger, and use adversity as a catalyst to make themselves and the world better. She was the executive director of the Common Ground Youth Center in Vermont for eight years, and a regional program manager for PeaceJam, where Nobel Peace Prize laureates mentor youth. She has also worked for, volunteered for, and is heavily involved with the Red Cross. She lives in a New England coastal town with her husband and their three dogs and cat. Find out more at Colleenkellyalexander.com, Facebook/ColleenKellyA or on Twitter @ColleenKellyAl.

Every sports fan recalls with amazing accuracy a pivotal winning moment involving a favorite team or player-Henry Aaron hitting his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth; Christian Laettner's famous buzzer beating shot in the NCAA tournament for Duke. Yet rarely does the focus on the losing side of these moments extend beyond the post-game interview-lost are the stories of the people who experienced not the thrill of victory but the agony of defeat. For decades, the brightest moments in sports history have been written by the victors-until now.In LOSING ISN'T EVERYTHING, famed sportscaster and FOX NFL Sunday host Curt Menefee, joined by bestselling writer Michael Arkush, examines some of the most pivotal moments in sports history and turns them on their heads. Interviewing the subject at the heart of each loss, Menefee uncovers what it means-months, years, or decades later-to be associated with failure. Full of never before told stories from the losing locker rooms, including why Rodney Harrison thinks that failing to block David Tyree's infamous "Helmet Catch" in the 2007 Super Bowl ultimately helped him thrive in broadcasting; Craig Ehlo on how his upbringing affected his ability to handle forever being regarded as "that guy who gave up 'The Shot' to Jordan" in the NBA Finals; how the Red Sox loss in the 1986 World Series might not have been all Bill Buckner's fault; Pete Carroll's answer to the barrage of criticism for deciding to throw the ball in the final moments of Super Bowl XLIX against the Patriots; and many more, LOSING ISN'T EVERYTHING gives voice to over a dozen key voices across all sports. With unprecedented access to the players involved, Menefee reveals stories spanning substance abuse, career derailment, strained relationships, hope, success, and profound growth. Far more than a sports book, LOSING ISN'T EVERYTHING is at its heart a case study in human resilience and a unique lens through which to examine these iconic moments, offering invaluable lessons about overcoming adversity that can help us look at our lives and ourselves in a profound new way.

An actor, director, and comedian, Michael Rapaport stars in "Atypical," just renewed by Netflix. Up next is "White Famous" on Showtime. He has also appeared on TV shows such as Friends, Justified, The War at Home, and Prison Break, and in films such as True Romance and Mighty Aphrodite. Rapaport also directed the award-winning 2011 documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest and the ESPN 30 for 30 film When the Garden Was Eden, which premiered in 2014.Michael is a sports fanatic who hilariously and passionately covers topics such as why LeBron James will never be like Mike, how Tiger Woods can get his game back, and why the Knicks are overdue to win a championship. But a wider variety of issues are also addressed in the book and can be discussed in an interview, including:*From Bieber and Leo to Kanye and Clooney, which celebs think they're good at basketball-and which are dead wrong*Why Michael has a love/hate relationship with yoga*Michael's fascination, nay obsession, with the Real Housewives franchise*Michael's teenage crush on Mary Lou Retton and the mortifying end to their "relationship"*Thoughts about Caitlyn Jenner voting for Trump, and much more.Michael's "I Am Rapaport" podcast (which has 2 million monthly listeners and is regularly in the iTunes top 50) tackles everything from politics to pop culture.

The 2017 Major League Baseball season ends in just under a month on October 1. The postseason begins 2 days later on October 3. And the 2017 World Series is set to begin October 24.                And just in time for all this baseball excitement comes the new book ELECTRIC OCTOBER. And you don't have to be a baseball fan to pick up the book and enjoy it!                KEVIN COOK - author of the award-winning Tommy’s Honor (now a feature film) - says: "I think of ELECTRIC OCTOBER as the best baseball story you never heard. A true story of momentary fame, friendship, teamwork, memory, and life’s biggest challenge: how we deal with the cards that fate deals us."                The 1947 World Series was “the most exciting ever” in the words of Joe DiMaggio, with a decade’s worth of drama packed into seven games between the mighty New York Yankees and the underdog Brooklyn Dodgers. Red Barber, the radio voice of the game’s golden age, swore he’d never witnessed such unlikely highs and lows. It was the first integrated Series, featuring a rookie Jackie Robinson, who broke the color line that year, and it was also the first televised World Series.                 But it was also the setting for several unlikely stories of how baseball bestows instant fame – and infamy.                Amid all the star power on display, Cook explores the story of a half dozen men who are remembered by the game’s historians and trivia buffs if remembered at all.                 Kevin Cook’s new book, ELECTRIC OCTOBER: Seven World Series Games, Six Lives, Five Minutes of Fame That Lasted Forever [Henry Holt and Company] gets its title from the moniker given to the Series by sportswriters at the time.                                ELECTRIC OCTOBER spotlights six men who found themselves plucked from obscurity to shine on the sport’s greatest stage: sore-armed Bill Bevens, a journeyman who knocked on the door of pitching immortality; Al Gionfriddo and Cookie Lavagetto, who came off the bench to play key roles for the Dodgers; Snuffy Stirnweiss, a wartime batting champ who never got any respect; and managers Bucky Harris and Burt Shotton, each an unlikely choice to run his team. For some of these men, the ’47 Series was a memory to hold on to. For others, it would haunt them to the end of their days. And for us, Kevin Cook offers insights—at once heartbreaking and uplifting—into what fame and heroism truly mean.                Small-town boys, most of them, each one a hometown hero, they spent a week in the national spotlight and then faded away, forgotten. Yet Cook’s deep reporting and lively narrative goes beyond baseball history to explore how an encounter with greatness can change a man’s life forever. These six lives combine to tell a great American story of fame, friendship, teamwork, memory, and life’s biggest challenge: how we deal with the cards that fate deals us.

Derek Fisher spent his entire pre-NBA life in Little Rock, Arkansas. His work ethic and determination were evident even from a young age, but basketball was always what drove him. A stand-out guard in high school, he starred for Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High. Even as a teenager, his leadership qualities were on display for all those who encountered him.In 1996 he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and went on to play more than 18 seasons in the NBA, a majority with the Lakers, with whom he won 5 NBA Championships. Fisher is the all-time NBA record holder in playoff games played. While playing for the Lakers, he hit a buzzer beater with 0.4 second left in game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, which the NBA lists as the 18th-greatest playoff moment of all time. Fisher also served as president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), while playing.In 2014 he was hired by the New York Knicks to be the team's head coach and became one of the only players to get a head coaching job in the NBA directly from playing. In 2016 he moved back to Los Angeles and began to work professionally as a broadcaster, making appearances on TNT, NBA TV and Spectrum SportsNet. Fisher made multiple appearances on TNT's Inside the NBA and was on TNT's new Player's Only coverage, where former NBA players provided color commentary on games. He worked alongside with Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Hill and Brent Barry, among others. At the start of the 2016-17 NBA season, Fisher joined Spectrum SportsNet as an in-studio analyst for the Los Angeles Lakers.Fisher's passion for impacting the lives of young people motivated him to create a camp experience for children and teens of all skill levels. In 2009 he started the Derek Fisher Basketball Academy, which is dedicated and focused on developing the basketball, leadership and life skills of each camper.He currently resides in Los Angeles with his family.Derek Fisher is partnered with Pro Sharna Burgess.

When Jen Welter became a linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, she was the first woman to ever break the glass sideline of the NFL. In Play Big, Welter reveals the grit that it took to be a trailblazer in the ultimate boys' club.Pre-NFL, Welter was an undersized, underestimated athlete who made sacrifice after sacrifice to achieve her football dreams--rising to the top of women's football leagues and eventually daring to play against men twice her size. Play Big lays out how she succeeded despite the odds, through force of will and determination, revealing the wisdom Welter gained over countless setbacks and challenges. With vivid wit and candor, Play Big will coach you to do the same--whatever your obstacles might be--while translating Welter's hard-earned advice for cultivating true perseverance and toughness.JEN WELTER BIODr. Jen Welter is the first female to coach in the NFL. In summer 2015, she served as a linebackers' coach for the Arizona Cardinals. She appears regularly as an NFL and sports analyst on NBC, ESPN, and the NFL Network and in national newspapers and other publications. Welter has become a regular empowerment and sports speaker, asked to stump for Hillary Clinton on the election trail in 2016, and sharing the stage at events with sports and political giants like Serena Williams and Condoleeza Rice at events across the country. ESPNW just named her one of the 25 most influential women in sport in 2015. Welter holds a doctorate degree in Psychology, a Master's in Sport Psychology, and a bachelor's degree from Boston College. She has 18 years of experience in fitness and as a professional athlete. Welter is a native of Vero Beach, Florida.

As a beloved, record-setting wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and Dancing with the Stars champion, Donald Driver has long understood the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and disciplined fitness regimen. But following his retirement from professional sports, Donald took a break from his intense daily workouts and found himself sluggish and struggling to maintain his athletic frame. Determined to get back on track, Donald dedicated himself to a dynamic fitness regimen and nutrition plan-and along the way became the go-to guy for anyone looking to develop a lean, powerful, functional physique. Now, 42 years old and looking better than ever, he's here to share what he's learned with THE 3D BODY REVOLUTION: The Ultimate Workout + Nutrition Blueprint to Get Healthy and Lean (Harmony Books; $28.00; on sale September 19, 2017). Featuring 25 customized clean-eating recipes, 36 easy-to-follow exercises, and more than 100 photos of Donald demonstrating his custom workouts, this book is designed to propel you forward to a healthier, fuller life.A groundbreaking fitness and diet program guaranteed to get you in the best shape of your life from Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer and New York Times bestselling author "My friend Donald's life is one of commitment: commitment to family, faith, health, and well-being. And this book is evidence of that commitment, offering a path anyone can follow to better health and fitness." -Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers quarterback, 1992-2007As a former elite athlete, Donald understands that the path to physical and mental fitness is meant to be challenging. Lasting health demands more than a simple thirty-day fitness shortcut and a careless, unsustainable nutrition plan with impractical guarantees. Donald's three-part scalable fitness program, developed alongside top trainers from his Velocity and Driven Elite Fitness gyms in Dallas, aims to give you the strength and confidence in body and mind for a lasting lifestyle change. Interspersed with personal anecdotes from Donald's time on and off the field and full of his trademark motivational energy and enthusiasm, THE 3D BODY REVOLUTION provides crucial insight into achieving:

National Geo's Wicked Tuna has hit the Outer Banks with a surge of raw energy. Captain Charlie Griffin is a man on a mission. To keep his wide range of experiences ahead of all other fisherman. He truly believes southern boats have a serious edge over the northern competition. Wicked Tuna on National Geographic 10/9c. From the rBeatz Radio Studio at rBeatz.com we are Unplugged and Totally Uncut. http://www.rbeatz.com/podcasts/captain-charlie-from-wicked-tuna/

An acclaimed bow hunter who defies the stereotype that hunting is a man's game, Eva Shockey is a TV and social media phenomenon at the forefront of a new wave of women and girls who are passionate about outdoor sports.Eva Shockey grew up expecting to be a dancer like her glamorous mother. But something about spending family vacations RV-ing across North America and going on hunts with her dad sparked in her an enduring passion for a different way of life.In Taking Aim: Daring to Be Different, Happier, and Healthier in the Great Outdoors, Eva tells a very personal story of choosing the less-traveled path to a rewarding life in outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing. For her, as her millions of fans can attest, that has meant hunting as a way of harvesting food, caring deeply about conservation, sustainability and healthy eating, and getting closer to God in nature.In this riveting memoir for the adventurer in all of us, Eva takes readers along as she hunts caribou on the rugged Aleutian Islands, tracks a 1,500-pound bull moose across the unforgiving Yukon, and meets many other challenges of a life in the wild.Along the way we learn that hunting is about so much more than pulling a trigger. "My story is about discovering your dream," writes Eva. "It's about following your passion, mastering your skills, taking aim no matter who thinks you're crazy.and then letting the arrow fly. If you've done all you can, I can tell you that you're almost certain to hit your mark."Whether you're a lifelong hunter or a city dweller who has never set foot in the wilderness, Eva's story delivers an empowering message about rejecting stereotypes and expectations, believing in yourself, and finding the courage to pursue what you care about most.

Gerry V's opening break. His first appearance on Charlotte radio in 14 years. He brings with him that award winning edge. One that's kicked off with the Carolina Panther's firing a major piece of the puzzle. Not everybody gets a brilliant first day come back like this!!! The V Man Is BACK!!!!

Johnny Mundo, formerly known as John Morrison in the WWE, began his wrestling career after winning the WWE reality series, Tough Enough. In a short time, he became one of the WWE's most popular stars, known for his parkour moves and high-flying abilities. With tag team partners such as The Miz and Joey Mercury, he was a multiple-time Tag Team Champion, two-time Intercontinental Champion and former ECW World Champion.Now, in Lucha Underground -- which returns to El Rey on Wednesday, May 31 -- Johnny Mundo, the reigning World Champion, continues to amaze audiences with his high-flying, explosive Lucha Libre moves. In the mid-season premiere on May 31, Johnny will face The Mack in a grueling 60-minute match.In addition, Johnny also stars in the new action-packed movie, Boone: The Bounty Hunter, a send-up of 80s-style action films. A passion project for John (he also co-wrote the script and served as executive producer), the film features John as Boone, America's favorite reality show bounty hunter, and co-stars Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Corbin Bernsen, Lorenzo Lamas and Kevin Sorbo.

Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the United States, with approximately 10 percent of those cases categorized as severe. While there is no cure, it can be managed and treated, allowing most people to live their lives. However, asthma threatened to put Richard Jefferson on the sidelines. The veteran professional basketball player & 2016 World Champion struggled with severe asthma for more than 25 years. Like so many asthma patients, Richard tried a variety of medications and treatments without the relief he wanted that would allow him to compete at the level he wanted.  So, Richard went on the offensive… opting to take control of his asthma with Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT)— a minimally invasive procedure for people 18 years and older with severe asthma. Today, he describes it as the breath of fresh air that enabled him to extend his basketball career and enjoy even more activities off the court.  Now Richard is partnering with[1] Boston Scientific to help educate people living with severe asthma who aren’t getting the relief they need with medication alone. He is available LIVE from Cleveland to discuss: ·         His asthma diagnosis & the obstacles it presented; professionally and personally·         His decision to try Bronchial Thermoplasty and how it has helped him·         How treatment has enabled him to continue with the game he has played—and loved—his whole life

This week! Royal Rumble predictions. Winners, surprise entrants and what we think is in store for Wrestle Mania season.

This week the guys paid respect to WWE Hall Of Famer Jimmy Snuka. Kurt Angle has become the first person to be inducted into the Hall. And what's this that he's coming back to the ring? They covered other big stories about the legends: Bret Hart, Diamond David, Jake the Snake and others. With an inside look at the addictions that have darkened the sport.

Curtis Keene is one of the best mountain bikers in the world. He won the Enduro North American Championship the very first year be competed on the circuit! In 2014, Curtis became one of the first Americans to get on the podium. He is working harder than ever to become the first American to win a world Enduro event. Curtis will explain to your audience the thrill he gets from this sport, why it is growing so much as well and what he does for fun in his downtime including, a new video series that he is staring in!Curtis is a biking champ you don’t want to miss talking with

What do you have to do to get your car ready for old man winter’s coming chill? From your engine, to your tires, and everything in between, NASCAR legend Larry McReynolds is available via satellite to share tips for getting your viewers’ cars winter ready. Driving in cold weather can be hazardous and wreak havoc on vehicles, but a few simple tips from Larry in partnership with The Home Depot, will keep cars running smoothly and safely. Larry McReynolds won 23 races as crew chief in the sport’s top division including two Daytona 500 wins. His career spans the last 39 years, during which time he has guided a number of the sport’s top drivers to the pinnacle of racing, as well as having served as a world-wide ambassador to motorsports through his work as a television commentator, motivational speaker and philanthropist. Since his first win at Watkins Glenn in 1988 with Ricky Rudd, Larry’s ability to develop, motivate and lead teams to success at the sport’s highest level has set him apart.

Sports’ #1 Mascot Shows How the Power of Love Can Lift You and Your Organization to the Top of the Standings!In this world of fast-paced change, businesses everywhere are searching for the critical levers to ensure their continued growth and sustainability. When competitors can easily match you on price and imitate your product, what advantage do you have? There is an answer that has been hiding from all of us in plain sight. It is a solution that is rarely, if ever, associated with business. It is a powerful and pragmatic force that is an incredible driver of results — it is…wait for it…LOVE. How is that possible? How can love be a differentiating factor for your business? And what the heck does the Phillie Phanatic have to do with all of this?Pheel the Love! will open your eyes to the following:* How the Phillie Phanatic inspires fierce loyalty from his fans.* How to understand the business case for love — and why companies who know how to create loyal, loving fans outperform those that don’t by almost 2-1.* See the ways in which Phanatic inspired principles like “The Big Smooch” and “Avoid the Whammy” are already being applied by successful companies such as Vanguard, WAWA and Wegmans.* Discover the Love-15 – fifteen questions that will build a blueprint for fostering love in your organization.As an added bonus, you’ll also be privy to some back-stage Phanatic stories that are, all at once, funny, touching and prescriptive. These lessons and insights are oh-so-easy to digest as they are presented as a conversation between Tom Burgoyne (aka the Phillie Phanatic) and Evan Marcus. Pheel the Love! is a great read for business folks and Phillie Phanatic fans alike. Mixing business and with a little pleasure – who says those two things don’t go together?“Everyone knows that the Phillie Phanatic is the Babe Ruth of mascots. This book is proof that the Phanatic is also the Michael Jordon of leadership philosophy!” – Pat Williams, Senior Vice President, Orlando Magic, Author of “Leadership Excellence”“Why do I love the Phillie Phanatic? He makes me laugh. Behind that green fur is the best mascot in sports and a helluva businessman.” – Kevin Negandhi, SportsCenter Anchor, ESPN“With all the challenges we face today in the world, maybe it’s time to embrace the approach that is within us all – the power of love. Taught through the real life experiences of the Phillie Phanatic and leadership guru, Evan Marcus, Pheel the Love! shows how love can energize customers, engage employees and elevate our lives.” – Daryl Brewster, President of Nabisco, CEO of Krispy Kreme, CEO of CECP

Tommy Dreamer is one of the most respected figures in professional wrestling. One of the ECW originals, the legendary wrestling promotion that changed the industry introducing a “hardcore” style of wrestling in the late 90s wrestling boom, Dreamer went on to wrestle in the WWE for years wining two titles in the process.Today, “The Innovator of Violence” is the married father of two twin girls and still actively wrestling, having started his own rapidly expanding wrestling promotional company, House of Hardcore, which has shows scheduled throughout the east coast this fall including stops in Philadelphia, New York and Cleveland.Dreamer, alongside fellow wrestling royalty, Jake The Snake Roberts, Diamond Dallas Page and the late Roddy Piper, is in the new comedy film, The Bet, portraying the film’s confused softball umpire who has to navigate the movie’s wild final game of the season. It's a firing role as Dreamer is a walking baseball and football encyclopedia and can hands out fantasy baseball and football advice on several sports shows.ABOUT THE BET, AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AND VIA ITUNES NOW AND ON DVD AUGUST 23RDNew comedy THE BET out July 26 stars Dallas Page, Jake Roberts and Roddy Piper in his final film appearance.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a six-time NBA champion. He is also one of a handful of influential and respected black men in America who has a national platform as a regular contributing columnist for the Washington Post and Time Magazine where he shares his thoughts on some of the most socially relevant and politically controversial topics facing our nation today. After 50 years as an athlete, activist, and New York Times bestselling author, he offers his perspectives on how we can work together to solve some of these issues as a nationally recognized speaker who appears regularly on the lecture circuit. His new political book, Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White will be released August, 2016 by Time Books and offersmhis personal perspectives on political issues facing America today. In 2012, Kareem was appointed to be the U.S. Cultural Ambassador by then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Currently he serves as the chairman of his Skyhook Foundation whose mission is to “Give Kids a Shot That Can’t be Blocked” by bringing educational opportunities to under-served communities through innovative outdoor environmental learning. Kareem’s most recent projects include the HBO Sports documentary, Kareem: Minority of One, which debuted in early November, 2015 as HBO’s most watched and highest rated sports documentary. His debut novel Mycroft Holmes—a mystery novel and the first of an action/mystery series based on Sherlock Holmes’s savvy older brother—was released by Titan Publishing in September 2015. Following the success of his novel, the comic, Mycroft Holmes & the Apocalypse Handbook was released during Comic-Con in San Diego this past July 2016. In 2016, he was nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. www.kareemabduljabbar.com

From dream to dreamboat: How did “Deadliest Catch” (Discovery Chanel) castmate Nick Tokman (www.NickTokman.com) go from being a college graduate to staying in a homeless shelter then spending four seasons as a fisherman on this Emmy-winning show and risking his life daily for crab by doing one of the world’s most dangerous jobs? And why is he leaving the show, and a six-figure corporate offer, to pursue a new dream as a motivational speaker? Would you like an inspiring interview to get the answers?

Rugby is making its return to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1924. Kelly Griffin and Jillion Potter will compete as a part of the U.S. rugby sevens team, a variant of rugby in which teams are made up of seven players playing seven-minute halves, instead of the usual 15 players playing 40-minute halves. In her first Olympic Games, Kelly Griffin was voted captain of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Rugby Team. She was named most valuable player of the 2011 Women’s Club Sevens National Championship team, and won the Women’s All-Star National Championship and Women’s Premier League Championship that same year. Kelly also won bronze with the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens. In addition to her athletic commitments, Kelly is a student at DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management, pursuing an MBA with concentrations in sustainability management and marketing. Jillion Potter’s personal fight to compete in her first Olympics is unlike any other. Six years after breaking her neck in a friendly match and less than two years after her battle with Stage III cancer, Jillion is one of 12 players named to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Rugby Team. Jillion won bronze with the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens and was previously a captain of U.S. rugby team for the women’s sevens and has been a part of the team since 2007. She is also a student at DeVry’s Keller Graduate School of Management, pursuing an MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship. DeVry University is an official education provider of Team USA, providing the athletes with the opportunity and resources to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees while pursuing their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.

Shannon Miller, Hershey’s brand ambassador, is the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history. She was part of the magnificent seven in Atlanta back in ’96 and has SEVEN Olympic medals including TWO golds to her name. Shannon is ready to discuss the women’s gymnastics competition the day before the women’s all-around competition takes place and National S’mores Day on August 10th! How does the think Team USA will do? Who are the standouts and who will be our toughest competition? Shannon is available LIVE FROM RIO. She’s also ready to tell your viewers how they can watch the women’s final and have some great family fun at the same time. Wednesday, August 10th is National S’mores Day and who doesn’t love this All-American treat?

LIVE from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, U.S Olympian Chaunte Lowe and her track & field mentee, 15 year-old and 2020 U.S. Olympic Hopeful, Tia Jones are available to discuss the Games the morning of the Opening Ceremony. Lowe, also a five-time USA Outdoor champion, is always a crowd favorite with her impossibly defined abs, dramatic dance moves and, even, the occasional backflip. Jones, who, at age 12, set national and Junior Olympic records in the 100m & 200m hurdles, is looking forward to experiencing the Games firsthand without the pressure of competing.Lowe, a TD Ameritrade sponsored athlete and long-time client, describes herself as a trader and true student of the financial markets. She believes everyone should have a plan and prepare for the future – no matter how young you are. In addition to being an athlete mentor to Jones, who has her sights set on competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Lowe is passing along important advice for staying focused and setting long-term goals off-the-track. Lowe and Jones are available to discuss: Training and preparing for upcoming competitionsTheir journey to Rio and excitement about the Opening CeremonyHow the USA Track & Field team looks going into the Games

ABOUT THE UN #STAND2PROTECT PEACE SUMMITConcept Paper: #Stand2Protect Peace Summit Tuesday, August 2nd, 3pm-6pm at United Nations Headquarters, ECOSOC ChamberHosted by the United Federation for Peacekeeping & Sustainable Development (USFMEP), COPsync, Trust2Protect, Blue Alert FoundationIn light of the recent violence across America, the goal of the United Nations #Stand2Protect Peace Summit is to bring together community and global leaders, law enforcement, politicians and influencers to discuss real solutions to end the growing divide between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.Trust 2 Protect Call 2 Action: National Police Protocol1. We will advocate the federal government to consider all crimes committed by officers AND crimes against officers as "Federal Offenses" in order to eliminate the perception and reality of bias.2. We will advocate for Capitol Hill to modernize federal excessive force laws - encouraging the utilization of Tasers over the use of deadly force.3. We will gather resources and partner with organizations to equip law enforcement officers with affordable 21st century information sharing technologies versus an increase in weapons.The Trust 2 Protect (T2P) campaign, founded and spearheaded by United Nations Ambassador for Peace & Sport and former National Football League (NFL) player, Jack Brewer, unites influencers to help bridge the trust gap between law enforcement and the community. We need T2P’s immediate solutions to resolve the current crisis and bring LOVE back to our communities. Please join and support us by signing our petition at www.stand2protect.org.The #Stand2Protect Peace Summit will aim to achieve the following objectives: 1. Raise awareness for the 3 goals of the #Stand2Protect Campaign and encourage more people to sign the #Stand2Protect petition.2. Bring together community leaders, law enforcement, politicians and influencers to discuss real solutions to end the ongoing violence and racism affecting the United States.ABOUT JACK BREWERAmbassador Jack Brewer was born on January 8, 1979, in Ft. Worth, TX and raised in Grapevine, TX by Rosa and Eddie Brewer. He attended Grapevine High School where he was a top student, All-State athlete and record setter in football and track. Following high school, Amb. Brewer went on to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU) where he was a freshman All-American Candidate in football and a Disney World Classic Record Holder in track. Amb. Brewer transferred to the University of Minnesota and continued to excel both academically and athletically, earning several honors including Academic All-Big Ten, Carl Eller Defensive MVP Award, Paul Giel Award, First Team All-Big Ten by Media, All-Big Ten in Track and Field and was team captain on the football team. He has three children, Jared, Laesha and Jackson.

Can the USA once again top the Rio 2016 medal count?What should Americans expect from Michael Phelps and Jordan Spieth?Is 2016 set to be a record year for female athletes?Which country is ripe for the biggest medal letdown? Using performance data from thousands of events and an extensive Olympic database dating back more than 100 years, Simon Gleave, Head of Analysis at Gracenote Sports, is forecasting the most likely gold, silver and bronze medal winners by country. About Simon GleaveGracenote Sports offers rich data on 4,500 of the world’s most popular leagues and competitions as well as a deep trove of historical Olympics information going back to the very first modern games in 1896.

t all started when a listener of their daily baseball podcast, EFFECTIVELY WILD, turned out to be an executive of the Sonoma Stompers, a team in the independent Pacific Association. He invited Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller out to a game, to see what indy ball was all about. Miller took him up on this offer and was entranced by the experience; before long, Lindbergh and Miller had volunteered their services to run the team’s baseball operations. To their amazement, the Stompers said yes. Enjoy the Cracker Jack as you watch Lindbergh and Miller apply their number-crunching insights to all aspects of assembling and running a team, always hewing to the one cardinal rule for judging each innovation they try: IT HAS TO WORK. Lindbergh and Miller partnered with baseball technology companies to collect data that had never been available at this level. The project offered them the chance to attempt many of the advanced analytical prescriptions that they and other bloggers had promoted for years. More than that, though, it challenged them to convince the players and coaches to trust the numbers and the wisdom of “nerds” with no high-level playing experience themselves. Filled with larger-than-life characters and hilarious absurdities, Lindbergh and Miller put their statistical theories to the ultimate test, in order to discover if sabermetrics will bring the Stompers a championship. You’ll have to read the book to find out if they succeed. About the authors: BEN LINDBERGH is a staff writer for FiveThirtyEight and, with Sam Miller, the cohost of Effectively Wild, the daily Baseball Prospectus podcast. He is a former staff writer for Grantland and a former editor in chief of Baseball Prospectus. He lives in New York City. SAM MILLER is the editor in chief of Baseball Prospectus, the coeditor of Baseball Prospectus’s annual guidebook, and a contributing writer at ESPN The Magazine. He lives on the San Francisco peninsula with his wife and daughter.

In HOUSE OF NAILS: A Memoir of Life on the Edge (William Morrow, on sale June 28, 2016, ISBN: 9780062407368, $27.99), former All Star centerfielder, world champion, multimillionaire entrepreneur, and imprisoned felon, Lenny Dykstra opens up, for the first time, about his outrageous rise and spectacular fall—a tale that The Daily Show'sJon Stewart once declared was "the greatest story that I have ever seen in my lifetime."Nicknamed “Nails” for his hustle and grit, Lenny Dykstra approached the game of baseball—and life—with mythic intensity. During his decade in the majors, a legendary member of the 1980s Mets and ‘90s Phillies, he was named to three All-Star teams and played in two of the most memorable World Series of modern the era (1986 and 1993). Known for his clutch hits, high on-base percentage, and aggressive defense, Lenny was later identified by his former minor league roommate Billy Beane as a prototypical “Moneyball” player in Michael Lewis’s bestseller. Tobacco-stained, steroid-powered, and booze-and-drug-fueled, “Nails” also defined a notorious era of excess in baseball.Then came a second act no novelist could plausibly conjure: After retiring, Dykstra threw his energies into several lucrative businesses, was touted as “one of the great ones” by Jim Cramer, called “baseball’s most improbable post-career success story” by the New Yorker, and purchased a $17.5mm mansion. But when the real estate bubble burst in 2008, Lenny lost everything, eventually serving two-and-a-half harrowing years in prison for bankruptcy fraud. Now Lenny opens up, for the first time, about his tumultuous career.

In HOUSE OF NAILS: A Memoir of Life on the Edge (William Morrow, on sale June 28, 2016, ISBN: 9780062407368, $27.99), former All Star centerfielder, world champion, multimillionaire entrepreneur, and imprisoned felon, Lenny Dykstra opens up, for the first time, about his outrageous rise and spectacular fall—a tale that The Daily Show'sJon Stewart once declared was "the greatest story that I have ever seen in my lifetime."Nicknamed “Nails” for his hustle and grit, Lenny Dykstra approached the game of baseball—and life—with mythic intensity. During his decade in the majors, a legendary member of the 1980s Mets and ‘90s Phillies, he was named to three All-Star teams and played in two of the most memorable World Series of modern the era (1986 and 1993). Known for his clutch hits, high on-base percentage, and aggressive defense, Lenny was later identified by his former minor league roommate Billy Beane as a prototypical “Moneyball” player in Michael Lewis’s bestseller. Tobacco-stained, steroid-powered, and booze-and-drug-fueled, “Nails” also defined a notorious era of excess in baseball.Then came a second act no novelist could plausibly conjure: After retiring, Dykstra threw his energies into several lucrative businesses, was touted as “one of the great ones” by Jim Cramer, called “baseball’s most improbable post-career success story” by the New Yorker, and purchased a $17.5mm mansion. But when the real estate bubble burst in 2008, Lenny lost everything, eventually serving two-and-a-half harrowing years in prison for bankruptcy fraud. Now Lenny opens up, for the first time, about his tumultuous career.

Justin Kutcher is a play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports, calling a variety of sports for the network including college football, college basketball, Major League Baseball, NFL and soccer. He partnered with former U.S. Women’s National team player and two-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Wagner to call games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada during the summer of 2015. Before joining FOX Sports in August 2012 for the network’s coverage of college football and MLB, he spent four years at ESPN, working as a play-by-play announcer for several sports including football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, hockey and soccer. He also worked as an ESPN studio anchor and host for several different events.During his time at the network, Kutcher called everything from high school football and basketball to the BIG EAST Basketball Tournament and NBA regular-season games. He also was one of the primary voices for ESPN’s college baseball coverage, broadcasting the Regionals and Super Regionals, as well as the softball Super Regionals for three years. In addition, he was the voice of the Under Armour High School All-America Football Game for three years and called the NCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championships.Kutcher previously worked for Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network (formerly CBS College Sports) and NCAA Productions as both a play-by-play announcer and studio host. Additionally, he was a regular contributor on MLB.com, where he hosted “Daily Rewind,” a nightly highlight show. At the same time, he served as the primary anchor for MLB.com’s “Post Season Live” program during the 2008 Postseason. In August 2008, Kutcher hosted a nightly nationally syndicated Olympic recap show for Westwood One Radio.The versatile broadcaster spent three years broadcasting minor league baseball at the Double-A and Triple-A levels before he was hired on-air at CSTV in 2006. He also called the World Softball Championships (an Olympic qualifying event) in 2006 from Beijing, China, for the International Softball Federation. From 2000 to 2006, he freelanced as a statistician for FOX Sports, working the playoffs and World Series as a special assistant to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, and spent time broadcasting Minor League Soccer for the Portland Timbers. He held an internship for MSG Network in New York during the summer of 2000.

Lancaster’s BBQ Presents the Jr Southern Rodeo at Rockin K RanchDATE: FRIDAY, MAY 20, and SATURDAY, MAY 21TIME: 8:00 PM each night* Kerry Earnhardt-Former NASCAR driver in all elite divisions. (Refer to bio)Currently -Jr SRA Vice President where his daughter, Kayla, has competed for 5 years -Along with his wife Rene’ has carried their passion for the outdoors into award winning custom home designs and furnishings. Together, they co-founded the Earnhardt Collection, a family home lifestyle brand inspired by the beauty and strength of nature. -Radio host for Earnhardt Outdoors. A podcast on his brother, Dale Jr’s, Dirty Mo Radio channel *Jr SRA History- (Refer to sheet for event details) -One of the largest youth rodeo associations in the United States-Oldest Jr Rodeo Association East of Mississippi-Over 140 members-Promoter of 13 rodeo competitions a season in 3 different states VA, SC and NC -501 (c) (3) organization -Volunteers comprised of parents, grandparents, friends and competitors -Compared to a standard youth sport, each rodeo production takes months of preparation and hours of hauling livestock, bucking chutes, holding pens, etc. There’s not just one athlete in the sport of rodeo, we have bulls, horses, goats, calves, steers, sheep and then comes the rider that all need to stay healthy and ready for the show. *Presenting sponsor- Lancasters BBQ 2 locations- Mooresville, NC and Huntersville, NC (2 min from arena)*Rockin K Ranch-Established in 1959 by the Kidd family -Built for the family’s active rodeo lifestyle-Had first open public rodeo in 1961-Professional Rodeo personalities such as JB Mauney and Jerome Davis have competed here.-Filmed a shoot for “Young Guns” with NASCAR celebrities Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte -TV and Radio personality, Fred Kirby’s famous horse “Calico” called Rockin K Ranch home for many years

What’s it like to live through the longest season in sports, the 162-game Major League Baseball schedule? Washington Post staff writer Barry Svrluga’s THE GRIND, now out in paperback, captures the frustration, impermanence, and glory felt by the players, the staff, and their families from the start of spring training to the final game of the year – and into the offseason, when the preparations start again. So much about baseball is known: the distance between the bases (90 feet), the batting average of a good hitter (.300), the velocity of a hard fastball (95 mph). THE GRIND shows us what we don’t know. No sport is as unrelenting as Major League Baseball; enduring the 162 games squeezed into 185 days (plus spring training and postseason) is shared, in different ways, by every facet of a franchise. Join Barry Svrluga on Thursday, April 14th, as he zooms in on the 2014 Washington Nationals: not just the star players, but also on the typically invisible supporting cast who each have their own sacrifices to make and schedules to keep, including: • The Wife, who acts as a full-time mom, part-time real estate agent, occasional father, and all-hours dog walker• The 26th Man, a minor leaguer on the cusp of job security who gets called up to the majors only to be sent back down the very next week• The Reliever, one of the most mentally taxing, precarious, and terribly exposed positions on any pro squad• Many more players, scouts, equipment managers, and even travel schedulers that create the fabric of Svrluga’s intimate and unusual book.Barry Svrluga offers an unforgettably raw, inside look at the wear and tear, the glory and impermanence, of America’s pastime. About the AuthorBarry Svrluga has worked at the Washington Post since 2003 and is currently the national baseball writer. He previously reported on and blogged about the Washington Nationals and is the author of National Pastime, which details the franchise's relocation from Montreal and its first season in the nation's capital. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and daughter.

EVENT SCHEDULE (CENTRAL TIME)Friday, April 29:•8:30 AM – 4:25 AM Practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the ARCA Series•2:30 PM ARCA Series Presented by Menards Group Qualifying •5:00 PM General Tire 200 – ARCA Series Presented by Menards(76Laps, 202.16 Miles); Blake Jones defending champ•7:30 PM “Big One On The Blvd” Driver Parade & Fan CompetitionsSaturday, April 30:•9:30 AM– 1:00 PM Qualifying for NXS & NSCS •2:00 PM Sparks Energy 300 Race – NXS Event (113 Laps, 300.58 Miles); Joey Logano defending champ•7:30 PM Saturday Night Infield Concert – Big & Rich featuring Cowboy TroySunday, May 1:•12:00 PM GEICO 500 Race – NSCS Event (188 Laps, 500.08 Miles); Dale Earnhardt Jr. defending champTALLADEGA INFORMATION•Winner of the GEICO 500 is all but guaranteed a spot in NASCAR’s 10-race season-ending Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is the defending champion of the GEICO 500.•The victor of the Sparks Energy 300 is all but guaranteed a spot in the 7-race Chase grid for the NXS.•NASCAR’s biggest and baddest track features 3- and 4-wide, 200-mph racing on the mammoth 2.66-mile, 33-degree banked venue. NASCAR’s most competitive track has an astounding record of 88 lead changes (twice) in a 188-lap race. •Talladega is NASCAR’s party capital where fans of all ages can have a great time. The “Big One on the BLVD” is the ultimate party for both drivers and fans alike, and takes place on Friday night. The Infamous Saturday Night Infield Concert is back as well with Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy.•Four large permanent Video Boards (5 total) line Talladega’s frontstretch for fan convenience.SAVE AT TALLADEGA•Talladega Superspeedway offers exclusive savings for members of the military to both the GEICO 500 and Sparks Energy 300 ($25 Lower-Level ticket for Sunday’s race or a 2-day Tri-oval Tower ticket for $85. A $30 pre-race pit pass is also offered (available by telephone only). UP to 60% savings•An Array of Ticket Upgrades are available for TSS race Weekend including, The Sunday VIP Experience with Glenn Jarrett, the Unrestricted VIP Package, Pre-Race Pit Passes, Premium Box Seating, Fan Suites and much more. For more ticket upgrade information, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com•FREE SATURDAY NIGHT INFIELD CONCERT – Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy - FOR ALL SUNDAY GEICO 500 TICKET HOLDERS, ALLOWING FREE ACCESS TO INFIELD AFTER TRACK ACTIVITIES HAVE CONCLUDED•$25 College Ticket gives college students access to GEICO 500 race, “Big one On The Blvd” party and Saturday Night Infield Concert •Kids 12 and under receive $50 off all regular adult ticket pricing throughout the lower grandstands and towers for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race •Talladega Superspeedway continues to offer over 15,000 FREE campsites in three conveniently located parks (overnight)•All day parking on Talladega Superspeedway property remains freeWHERE TO STAY:•Through the website DEGARooms.com fans can find hotel rooms at great prices in and around the Birmingham areaWHAT TO TAKE HOME:•Official Talladega Superspeedway Souvenir program, and track/driver merchandise from the new Fanatics NASCAR Trackside Superstore that will be located in the Fan Zone. Tickets at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or 1-877-Go2-DEGA

The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) brings its one-of-a-kind drag racing to Rockingham Dragway April 7-9 for the Spring Nationals. The baddest doorslammers on the planet will battle it out, going from 0 to 230 MPH in just 660 feet and less than 4 seconds. Blown, nitrous-oxide assisted, naturally aspirated and turbo cars will all take on the legendary eighth-mile to see who will be crowned kings -or queens- of “The Rock.”“The Blazing Angel” and “The Beast” Jet Cars will be going head to head in a unique jet car match race. The PDRA is also thrilled to feature Danny O’Day’s ATI Wheel Stander, the world’s quickest wheel stander. Rockingham Dragway has a longstanding history of professional eighth-mile racing, often providing a massive turnout and record breaking runs. In NAS Racing Pro Extreme local legends Todd Tutterow and Terry Leggett will hope to dominate the quickest and fastest class of the PDRA. The 2014 and 2015 Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by MoTeC Systems Champions Jason Harris and Rickie Smith, along with rising favorites Jay Cox and Travis Harvey, all North Carolina boys, will fight to keep the trophy close to home. But if Mooresville native Lizzy Musi has anything to say, it’ll be a lady taking home the honors. The action will heat up first in qualifying with the Flatout Gaskets Nitrous Wars where top dog in qualifying will take home the coveted Nitrous Wars trophy. In GALOT Motorsports Park Pro Boost GALOT Motorsports driver Kevin Rivenbark is on a mission to grab the number one this year, barely missing last year’s Pro Boost Championship. Fellow local hero Jeremy Ray, along with a host of others, will be making that a difficult feat for Rivenbark. “The Rock” is home to some of the most daring motorcycle racers in the country. Watch Drag965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle riders at speeds over 175 MPH, covering the eighth-mile in just over 4 seconds on two wheels.Returning this year - Extreme Pro Stock! The quickest naturally aspirated machines in drag racing will return to The Rock this year. After a year's absence from PDRA completion, records are ready to be smashed!The bad boys of Pro Extreme, the fire breathing Pro Nitrous machines, the side by side thrill of Pro Boost, the “Mountain Motors” of Extreme Pro Stock, and the wild rides of Pro Extreme Motorcycle will excite fans with ground-shaking horsepower and mind-blowing performance. The semi-pro classes of MagnaFuel Top Sportsman and Lucas Oil Products Top Dragster will also be on show for the weekend, as well as the young guns of MegaCorp Pro and Talbert Top Junior Dragster. New this year, the PDRA offers a Bracket Bash to local competitors. There’s $3000 on the line for all competitors running 4.99 or quicker in this event.Andy McCoy Race Cars will present “Ask the Pros” segment, beginning at the Spring Nationals. Andy McCoy will offer an expert look at anything from chassis function to turbo performance. McCoy will choose one fan question to answer on the Live Feed. Fans can submit questions directly through a button available on the PDRA home page or by posting on the Official PDRA Facebook Page and members of the champion Pro Boost Pee Dee Fleet team including Russell Miller, Mike Kopchick and more will answer questions in-depth from the pits for the ultimate fan interaction.“Rockingham is where the boys and men will be separated! This will be one for the record books. Rockingham has always been known for being a fast track. Don't miss it,” PN competitor Jay Cox said with excitement.Military who present their ID will get in free to all nine PDRA events in 2016. In recognition of their service local military bases are invited as special guests at the PDRA Spring Nationals. The PDRA is committed to giving back and expressing appreciation to servicemen and women. Open testing held on Thursday, April 7. Qualifying begins Friday. One final qualifying session will be held Saturday morning with eliminations to follow. Thursday tickets are just $10. Discount tickets for Friday and Saturday are available at www.pdra660.com. Kids 12 and under and military with a valid ID are free. ABOUT THE PDRABased in Pittsboro, North Carolina, the Professional Drag Racers Association is the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Pro Boost, and Pro Extreme Motorcycle along with Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Pro Jr. Dragster, and Top Jr. Dragster. The 2016 PDRA schedule consists of nine national events. For more on the world’s premier eighth mile drag racing organization visit www.pdra660.com. Follow the PDRA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.

The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) gets underway March 23 and 24 during media days at the Jacob Javits Center. Marking the show’s 116th anniversary, more than 1,000 vehicles and new technologies will be on display. Brand new debuts, sneak peeks, concept vehicles, along with interactive exhibits featuring simulators and ride along courses, will be available to the public March 25 through April 3 in New York City. Momentum at Chevrolet is gaining speed: In 2015, the brand celebrated its best retail sales in nearly a decade and debuted five all-new cars; in the first month of 2016, Now Chevrolet is focusing on its performance line-up! Revealed in Chicago last month, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE brings additional performance capabilities to the all-new, sixth-generation Camaro. Now, the 2017 Camaro ZL1 is poised to challenge the most advanced sports coupes in the world in any measure – with unprecedented levels of technology, refinement, track capability and straight-line acceleration. Acceleration for the ZL1 is delivered with a new supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine estimated at 640 hp (477 kW), and either asix-speed manual transmission with active rev matching or an all-new 10-speed automatic. The Camaro ZL1 goes on sale later this year. The Chevrolet brand is in the midst of a significant product and business transformation in the U.S. and around the globe. Every one of the brand’s new products will offer consumers expressive designs, world-class safety and performance, and advanced technologies such as Teen Driver, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which will be available in 14 new Chevrolet models.

Rey Mysterio Puts His Skills to the Test in Lucha Underground -- TV's Most Dramatic, Action-Packed, High-Flying Professional Wrestling Show -- Now in its Second Season on El Rey Considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Rey Mysterio has helped revolutionize pro-wrestling with his rapid-fire moves and high-flying style. A 25-year ring veteran, Mysterio made his professional debut at the age of 14, and would go on to win 21 titles (between WWE and WCW), giving him icon status among his fellow athletes and fans. Having already beaten the best everywhere else, Mysterio joined Lucha Underground to climb to the top and add another world title to his incredible resume.Ancient tradition, extraordinary athleticism, and a flare for theatrics combine in El Rey Network’s wrestling series, Lucha Underground. The riveting original introduces American audiences to the high-flying aerial maneuvers, slingshot moves, dramatic masks, intricate, rapid-fire combinations and distinctive wrestling techniques of lucha libre, one of Mexico’s most popular sports. Fans have a ringside seat as masked villains and heroes face off to battle for wrestling supremacy. Lucha Underground focuses on the artistry, originality, intense action and over-the-top characters that have come to define this phenomenal fan-favorite.

Mike Wallace joined a short list of veteran racers during the 2008 season when he started his 600th career NASCAR race. With that many starts and the success he's had, it's no wonder that Wallace has accumulated more than $17 million in winnings. Of course, this doesn't shock anyone who's familiar with the Wallace racing family. His brothers, Rusty and Kenny have also gained fame in the world of NASCAR.Wallace's long and illustrious career began in 1990 with a race in the NASCAR Nationwide series. He placed sixth and never looked back. His first win came four years later in the same series. It was a season that brought him two more wins for a total of three. He also had six top five finishes and nine top 10 finishes that year. In 2001, Wallace started 37 races and racked up a whopping $2,189,935 in winnings.Wallace has always had success at superspeedways. In fact, in 2003 at Daytona, he recorded three top 10 finishes in three days in three different Series and with three different manufacturers. The first was a sixth-place finish in the Fede­rated Auto Parts Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, the second was a fourth-place finish in the GEICO Pontiac in the NASCAR Busch Series race, and the third was a ninth-place finish in the Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts Dodge in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.Wallace may be best known for his July 2, 2004 victory in the Winn-Dixie 250. Not only did he go from fifth to first on the final lap of the race, but he handed GEICO its first NASCAR Busch Series victory.2009 marked 26 consecutive seasons at least one of the Wallace brothers has taken the green flag at the Daytona 500. Mike drove the #01 Fishburn Military Academy Chevrolet for JD Motorsports where he qualified 19th. Mike continued driving the 01 for JD Motorsports for the 2010-2013 NASACAR Nationwide Series finishing 12th in points in the 2012 season. Mike is switching teams for the 2014 season where he will drive the #28 Dodge for the newly formed JGL Racing team, and its owners Gregg Mixon and James Whitner. All of us at mikewallace.com wish Mike and the #28 team, best of luck for this years campaign.

March Madness fans are ready to spend some serious money! A recent survey from RetailMeNot, and conducted by Kelton Global, found that Americans who are willing to spend money on March Madness–related expenses said they would spend on average $211, up $20 from last year. On average, men are willing to spend almost $100 more than women ($248 vs. $155). Brackets may be one of the biggest expenses. Fans who say they would be willing to spend money on bracket entries say they would spend on average $90, with more than a third (35%) spending $100 or more*. Money isn’t the only thing basketball fans are willing to put on the line. Bosses beware! Dedicated fans are willing to ditch work to watch the Big Dance:•More than 1 in 5 (21%) have watched the tournament while at work•Over 1 in 10 (11%) have planned a vacation day just to watch the games•Close to 1 in 10 (8%) have gone as far as calling in sick to work Watching the games is almost as important as the food served. The most requested snacks at March Madness parties are pizza (67%), followed by chips and dip (63%), nachos (49%) and Buffalo wings (47%)*. Winning doesn’t necessarily mean splurgingForty-three percent of bracket winners plan to put their earnings into their savings account. However, not all winners are as conscientious: More than 1 in 4 (27%) are planning to treat themselves to a nice dinner, followed by taking a trip (20%) and purchasing an electronic device (16%). Want in on the action, but basketball isn’t your thing? Don’t worry! Almost 1 in 6 (16%) consumers have pretended to know about the games, while close to 1 in 10 (8%) have gotten a friend to fill out their bracket, followed by automating their bracket online (7%).Can’t decide on a team to root for? Americans prefer to pick a team based on its location (34%), followed by their alma mater (16%), a specific player on the team (10%) and uniform colors (9%).*Clendon Ross spends his days keeping RetailMeNot's community of coupon contributors happy and the rest of his time following college sports. A sports commentator in his spare time, he's always ready to offer an opinion. His desk is a frequent stop for those who want to discuss the latest sports news, particularly when it’s about his beloved Texas Longhorns, Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees or U.S. National Soccer Team. He owns InsideTexas.com, an online publication that covers University of Texas athletics. He frequently appears on TV to talk about the Longhorns and college sports in general. ABOUT RETAILMENOT, INC.RetailMeNot, Inc. (http://www.retailmenot.com/corp/) is a leading digital savings destination connecting consumers with retailers, restaurants and brands, both online and in-store. The company enables consumers across the globe to find hundreds of thousands of digital offers to save money while they shop or dine out. During the 12 months ended December 31, 2015, RetailMeNot, Inc. experienced over 718 million visits to its websites. It also averaged 23.2 million mobile unique visitors per month during the three months ended December 31, 2015. RetailMeNot, Inc. estimates that approximately $4.8 billion in retailer sales were attributable to consumer transactions from paid digital offers in its marketplace in 2015, more than $600 million of which were attributable to its in-store solution. The RetailMeNot, Inc. portfolio of websites and mobile applications includes RetailMeNot.com in the United States; RetailMeNot.ca in Canada; VoucherCodes.co.uk in the United Kingdom; retailmenot.de in Germany; Actiepagina.nl in the Netherlands; ma-reduc.com and Poulpeo.com in France; and Deals2Buy.com in North America. RetailMeNot, Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol "SALE." Investors interested in learning more about the company can visit http://investor.retailmenot.com.Be sure to "like" RetailMeNot, Inc. on Facebook and follow the company via Twitter @retailmenotinc.

Geoff Schwartz#74 G6' 6", 340 lbsNew York GiantsBornJul 11, 1986 in Los Angeles, CA (Age: 29)Drafted 2008: 7th Rnd, 241st by CARExperience7th seasonCollegeOregon

General Motors will display a wide range of vehicles with something for everyone at the 2015 Charlotte Auto Show from segments including performance, luxury, utility and crossovers. GM’s Fred Ligouri will be available from the 2015 Charlotte Auto Show at the Charlotte Convention Center for LIVE/taped radio interviews on Thursday, November 19. The show is open to the public Thursday, November 19 and runs through Sunday, November 22. Adult tickets are available for just $8 and children 12 and under are free. On display in Charlotte from General Motors, the quintessential midsize sedan, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu with Teen Driver and Apple CarPlay, boldly steps into the future with an all-new 2016 model that is completely restyled and engineered to offer more efficiency, connectivity and advanced safety features than ever.On the performance car front, the sixth-generation 2016 Chevrolet Camaro offers higher levels of performance, technology and refinement and is designed to maintain the sporty car segment leadership earned over the past five years. If it’s utility or towing you’re looking for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 full-size truck offers a new look, enhanced technologies and an expanded lineup. For the luxury buyer, the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V is the third generation of the acclaimed luxury sports sedan that launched the elite V-Series a decade ago – and redefined Cadillac for a new generation of drivers.GMC will showcase the award-winning 2016 Canyon Diesel, the segment’s only midsize truck, raising the bar for everything from horsepower and efficiency to refinement. In addition to new vehicles, many GM models offer the latest in connectivity and infotainment including OnStar’s remoteLink app allowing drivers to access many vehicle functions like locking doors, checking fuel, oil and tire pressure levels from a tablet or Smartphone. Some of the latest advanced safety features include radar – that contributes to 360 degrees of crash avoidance and occupant protection. Standard and available features include forward collision alert, front park assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.GM’s Fred Ligouri will be available from the floor of the Auto Show in Charlotte to take listeners on a tour of all the latest offerings and technology from GM’s Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac brands.