Showing titles in Sports & Recreation

In 2013, New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera announced he would retire after playing 19 seasons in the major leagues. Recruited in 1990 at the age of 20, Mariano racked up many astounding pitching records over the next two decades. In 2011, he closed out a game against the Minnesota Twins for the 602nd save of his career, making him the top closer in history. Follow Mariano's inspiring story from Puerto Caimito, Panama, to the mound at Yankee Stadium.

In Al Horford: The Inspirational Story of One of Basketball's Most Well-Rounded Power Forwards, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier power forwards, Al Horford. When Horford entered the league, he was already a two-time champion as a member of the 2006 and 2007 Florida Gator teams led by Billy Donovan. As the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, Horford entered the league with many setting high expectations for him.

In this book, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's greatest ambassadors, Yao Ming. Yao Ming was the face of the Houston Rockets franchise alongside Tracy McGrady. Throughout the 2000s, the duo led the Rockets in a tough Western Conference. While Yao ultimately was forced to retire early due to injuries, the impact he left on the game at an international level was profound.

In Rob Gronkowski: The Inspiring Story of One of Football's Greatest Tight Ends, you will learn the inspirational story of one of football's premier tight ends, Rob Gronkowski. Often known simply as "Gronk", Gronkowski has left a lasting mark on the New England Patriots franchise since joining the league in 2010. He was the first tight end in league history to lead the league in receiving touchdowns.

In Draymond Green: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Best All-Around Forwards, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier forwards, Draymond Green. Since entering the league as the 35th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, Draymond Green has crafted his way as one of the best in the game on both ends of the floor. With a high degree of skill on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, Draymond played a key role in the Warriors' 2015 championship run.

In Calvin Johnson: The Inspiring Story of One of Football's Greatest Wide Receivers, you will learn the inspirational story of one of football's premier wide receivers, Calvin Johnson. Since joining the NFL as the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Calvin Johnson has solidified his legacy as one of the most impressive wide receivers to ever play the game, holding the Lions' franchise records for most receiving touchdowns in a single season, most receiving touchdowns in an overall career, and most receiving yards in a career.

In Brett Favre: The Inspiring Story of One of Football's Greatest Quarterbacks, you will learn the inspirational story of one of football's greatest quarterbacks, Brett Favre. To this day, Brett Favre remains one of the most popular NFL quarterbacks and with good reason: he left an incredible legacy on the game.

In Kawhi Leonard: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Best All-Around Players, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier small forwards, Kawhi Leonard. Since entering the league in the mid first-round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Kawhi Leonard has quickly emerged as one of the most promising and dominant two-way players in the league today.

In Paul Pierce: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Small Forwards, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier small forwards, Paul Pierce. Since joining the NBA as the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, Paul Pierce has solidified his legacy as one of the most impressive small forwards to ever play the game, having led the Boston Celtics alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to the 2008 NBA Championship.

In this book, you will learn the inspirational story of one of football's premier quarterbacks, Andrew Luck. Andrew Luck entered the league as one of the most promising prospects in recent league history. Some analysts said he was the best prospect they had ever scouted. To date, he has lived up to much of his hype.

In Dwyane Wade: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Shooting Guards, you'll hear about the inspirational story of basketball's star, Dwyane Wade. Dwyane Wade has served as the face of the Miami Heat franchise for over a decade, having led the Heat to an incredible 2006 NBA Championship alongside Shaquille O'Neal.

In Ray Allen: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Shooters, you'll hear about the inspirational story of basketball star Ray Allen. Ray Allen will go down in the history of basketball as one of the sharpest and most talented shooters to ever play the game. With an incredible ability to roll off screens and release the ball with an elite level of accuracy, Ray Allen struck fear in the eyes of hundreds of defenses throughout his NBA career.

In David Robinson: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Centers, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier 90s centers, David Robinson. David Robinson was the face of the San Antonio Spurs franchise before Tim Duncan succeeded him. In that time period, The Admiral was a force to be reckoned with, participating in multiple All-Star appearances, while also leading the Spurs to the 1999 NBA Championship.

As a kid, Jackie Robinson loved sports. And why not? He was a natural at football, basketball, and, of course, baseball. But beyond athletic skill, it was his strength of character that secured his place in sports history. In 1947 Jackie joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the long-time color barrier in major league baseball. It was tough being first - not only did "fans" send hate mail but some of his own teammates refused to accept him.

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., won the world heavyweight championship at the age of 22, the same year he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He would go on to become the first and only three-time (in succession) world heavyweight champion. Nicknamed "The Greatest", Ali was as well known for his unique boxing style, consisting of the Ali Shuffle and the rope-a-dope, as he was for the catchphrase "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee".

With over 110 million viewers every year, the Super Bowl is one of the most watched television events in the United States. The final showdown between the two best football teams in the NFL attracts some of the biggest musicians to perform at the half-time show. But the Super Bowl is more than just a spectacle - it's a high-stakes game to win the championship and claim a place in history. Go back in time, and relive all the magic from years past - from excruciating fumbles to game-winning plays.

In Pete Maravich: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Most Skilled Ball-Handlers, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's greatest point guards, Pete Maravich. While we are blessed in today's game to observe the remarkable play of point guards such as Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, Pistol Pete was one of the first point guards to display many of the key ball-handling skills that we observe on a nightly basis in the game today.

Abby Wambach has always pushed the limits of what is possible. Named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people of 2015, the iconic soccer player captured the nation's heart when she led her team to its recent World Cup championship. Admired for her fearlessness and passion, Abby is a vocal advocate for women's rights and equal opportunity, pushing to translate the success of her team to the real world.

Growing up the youngest of seven children in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente had a talent for baseball. His incredible skill soon got him drafted into the big leagues, where he spent 18 seasons playing right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who Was Roberto Clemente? tells the story of this remarkable athlete: A 12-time All-Star, a World Series MVP, and the first Latin American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

When Derek Jeter was eight years old, he announced that he was going to play baseball for the New York Yankees. Jeter earned the attention of major league scouts in high school and was drafted to the New York Yankees in 1992. Named Rookie of the Year, he helped the Yankees win the World Series five times and became team captain in 2003. With his good looks, easygoing personality, and sense of humor, Derek has always been a fan favorite. Retiring from baseball in 2014, Derek Jeter leaves behind a legacy.