The Sports & Outdoors category has 1,991 audiobooks on Listento.it, with an average listener rating of 4.5★ across 11,712 ratings. The most-rated is Burke's Law.
Court Confidential: Inside the World of Tennis
Summary
There has never been a period in history where tennis has been so rich in iconic personalities, and recent times have seen more astonishing, history-making stories than ever before. Small wonder, then, that Neil Harman, who this season celebrates a decade at the helm of The Times tennis coverage, should want to share the tales he has lived through in a book that drips personality, excitement, drama and intrigue from first page to last. Court Confidential gets right to the heart of what makes the game tick with frank, in-depth interviews with all the leading players, their coaching staff, their agents and managers, with fresh insights and the strong personal views for which Harman is known. Court Confidential will appeal to tennis aficionados everywhere, from the casual observer to the ultra knowledgeable. Fast-paced, high entertainment, controversial, informative, this is all that a really good sporting book should be.
©2013 AudioGO Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
The Gipper
Summary
Win one for The Gipper. Has there ever been a better-known and widely-used exhortative phrase in sports? Not likely. But who was the "Gipper", this mythical-like sports figure whose nickname has aroused, in turn, awe, wonderment, curiosity, and amusement since the second decade of the 20th century, and why is his story important? Answering those questions is the formidable task taken on here by veteran sportswriter Jack Cavanaugh, whose Pulitzer Prize-nominated biography of boxing legend Gene Tunney was referred to as "impressively researched and richly detailed" by Sports Illustrated. More than eight decades after his death, George Gipp is still regarded by football historians as Notre Dame's best all-around player. And it was Gipp and his legendary coach, Knute Rockne, who were largely responsible for putting the small Midwestern all-male school on the map. Like Cavanaugh's other critically acclaimed books, The Gipper is also a period piece, with a considerable focus on the era before, during, and immediately after WWI. It details the changes that the country underwent during that time, including the onset of Prohibition and the gangs that it spawned in the Midwest such as those active in the South Bend area and in nearby Chicago, headed by the notorious Al Capone.
©2012 Jack Cavanaugh (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Blood and Smoke
Summary
Hear the heart-pounding, engine-revving true story of the first Indy 500 - America’s most celebrated automobile race. In 1911, thousands of spectators gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch 40 cars compete in the first annual Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Better known as the Indy 500, the event was a celebration of the controversial new sport of automobile racing. Dangerous and deadly, auto racing was drawing attention from across the country with its thrilling premise: No windshields, no helmets, no seatbelts - just speed. Fans would flock to race tracks to watch gutsy young men go up to 75 miles per hour in open cockpits. But with fame came complications. Seven people were killed when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway first opened. Racers’ wives became widows in the blink of an eye. Drivers encountered exploding tires, bursts of smoke, oily surfaces and pieces of asphalt flying at their faces - not to mention the wrenches and bolts thrown by unruly opponents gunning for the lead. And, while Marmon Wasp driver Ray Harroun was officially declared the winner of the first Indy 500, the decision is disputed to this day by fans and officials of the sport. Listen to Blood and Smoke and go back to when America was first falling in love with automobile racing. Take the driver’s seat on this audio-venture and experience the early days of the Indy 500, the controversies that shaped this iconic race, and the young drivers who risked everything for fame, fortune, and first place.
©2011 Charles Leerhsen. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
The Ultimate Road Trip
Summary
“If you like hockey and travel, you’ll love this book.” (Rick Vaive, Leafs captain and three-time 50-goal scorer) The Ultimate Leafs Fan attended every Toronto Maple Leafs contest of the 2018-19 NHL season and in this lively account makes it his mission to figure out what makes fans bleed blue Through 89 games, from October to April, Mike Wilson, a retired Bay Street trader, traveled to 31 rinks to document stories of Leafs love. Mike took every conceivable mode of transport, stayed in team hotels and on the couches of family and friends, then went into the cheap seats, private suites, the streets, sports bars, hotel lobbies, and many other unique locations where Leafs Nation gets together, to gather tales both hilarious and heart-wrenching. Media personalities, former players, and NHL celebrities gave Wilson their thoughts on what fuels the Leafs passion. With a foreword from club president Brendan Shanahan and colourful souvenir photos, The Ultimate Road Trip allows fans to vicariously experience the journey of a lifetime, and explores the passion of the sign-waving, fully costumed diehards who fill arenas from Alberta to Anaheim.
©2020 Mike Wilson and Lance Hornby (P)2020 ECW Press
Neutral Buoyancy
Summary
In Neutral Buoyancy, journalist and diver Tim Ecott takes you on a guided tour of the history of undersea exploration and the emergence of diving culture. He tells the extraordinary story of man's attempts to breathe underwater, from the sponge divers described by Aristotle, to the development of 16th-century diving bells, to the invention of modern scuba equipment. Along the way, Ecott intersperses the story with his own thrilling adventures, from the waters of the South Pacific to the remote islands of the Seychelles, from explorations in the clear, flowing tides of Sardinia to a near-death experience in the cold gray depths of the English Channel. Filled with engaging stories of humanity's conquest of the undersea world - and heart-pounding action that will leave you breathless - Neutral Buoyancy is a compelling blend of history and adventure, an exciting overview of the world of undersea diving.
©2001 Tim Ecott. Recorded by arrangement with Grove/Atlantic, Inc. (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Through My Eyes
Summary
Over the course of the last five years, Tim Tebow has established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of college football and a top prospect in the NFL. During that time, he amassed an unparalleled resume - winning two BCS national championships; becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman trophy; and in the face of massive public scrutiny, being drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Now, in Through My Eyes, Tebow brings listeners everywhere an inspirational memoir about life as he chose to live it, revealing how his faith and family values, combined with his relentless will to succeed, have molded him into the person that he is today. As the son of Christian missionaries, Tebow has a unique story to tell - from the circumstances of his birth, to his home-schooled roots, to his record-setting collegiate football career with the Florida Gators and everything else that took place in between. At every step, Tebow's life has defied convention and expectation. While aspects of his life have been well-documented, the stories have always been filtered through the opinions and words of others. Through My Eyes is his passionate, firsthand, never-before-told account of how it all really happened.
©2011 Timothy R. Tebow (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers
Fighting the Good Fight
Summary
A veteran hockey writer takes on hockey culture and the NHL, addressing the game's most controversial issue. Whether it's on-ice fist fights or head shots into the glass, hockey has become a nightly news spectacle with players pummeling and bashing each other across the ice like drunken gladiators. And while the NHL may actually condone on-ice violence as a ticket draw, diehard hockey fan and expert Adam Proteau argues against hockey's transformation into a thuggish blood sport. In Fighting the Good Fight, Proteau sheds light on the many perspectives of those in and around the game, with interviews of current and former NHL stars, coaches, general managers, and league executives, as well as medical experts. One of the most well-known media figures on the hockey scene today, famous for his funny, feisty observations as a writer for the Toronto Star and The Hockey News and commentator on CBC radio and TV, Adam Proteau is also one of the few mainstream media voices who is vehemently anti-fighting in hockey. Not only is his book a plea to the game's gatekeepers to finally clamp down on the runaway violence that permeates the sport even at its highest level, he offers realistic suggestions on ways to finally clean the game up.Includes interviews with medical experts on head injuries and concussions, as well as with other members of the mediaThe author not only wages an attack on the value of fighting in hockey, but also on the establishment hockey culture Covering the most polarizing issue in hockey today, Fighting the Good Fight gives hockey fans and sports lovers everywhere a reason to stamp their feet and whistle at a rare display of eloquence and common sense.
©2011 Adam Proteau (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Falcon
Summary
Before best-selling author Helen Macdonald told the story of the goshawk in H Is for Hawk, she told the story of the falcon, in a cultural history of the masterful creature that can "cut the sky in two" with the "perfectly aerodynamic profile of a raindrop", as she so incisively puts it. In talon-sharp prose she explores the spell the falcon has had over her and, by extension, all of us, whether we've seen them "through binoculars, framed on gallery walls, versified by poets, flown as hunting birds, through Manhattan windows, sewn on flags, stamped on badges, or winnowing through the clouds over abandoned arctic radar stations." Macdonald dives through centuries and careens around the globe to tell the story of the falcon as it has flown in the wild skies of the natural world and those of our imagination. Mixing history, myth, and legend, she explores the long history of the sport of falconry in many human cultures - from Japan to Abu Dhabi to Oxford; she analyzes the falcon's talismanic power as a symbol in art, politics, and business; and she addresses the ways we have both endangered and protected it. Along the way we discover how falcons were mobilized in secret military projects; their links with espionage, the Third Reich, the Holy Roman Empire, and space programs; and how they have figured in countless stories of heroism and, of course, the erotic. Best of all, Macdonald has given us something fresh: a new introduction that draws on all her experience to even further invigorate her cherished subject. The result is a deeply informed book written with the same astonishing lyrical grace that has captivated listeners and had everyone talking about this writer-cum-falconer.
©2006 Helen Macdonald (P)2018 Recorded Books
Game of Shadows
Summary
This audiobook is the window into the underground world of cheating at the highest levels, which set off a frenzy of activity and hand-wringing in the offices of Major League Baseball and Congress. Through the authors' pursuit of sources and documents, they were able to open for public view a world in which elite athletes trade money and risk their health for the edge that will allow them to run faster, hit harder, and compete longer, and then cash in on the fame and wealth that comes only to those at the very top of their games. What the compelling newspaper articles weren't able to provide is the kind of narrative and inside-baseball look at BALCO that only a book or audiobook could explore. This is the definitive account of the sports story of our times, as written by the journalists who blew it open.
©2006 Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.
Amazing Tales from the Boston Red Sox Dugout
Summary
A huge treasury to delight Red Sox Nation. Founded in 1901, the Boston Red Sox have been making history for over a century. The passion of the players, the tragedy and triumph of the “Bambino’s Curse” - the Boston spirit comes alive in this collection of stories and anecdotes from Fenway Park. Any baseball fan will find this book irresistible.
©2002, 2012 Jim Prime and Bill Nowlin (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Beast
Summary
Mixed martial arts is America's fastest-growing sport - around the country, new gyms open their doors as enthusiastic viewers tune in to UFC matches. Although some dismiss it as brutal combat, its fighters are among the most dedicated athletes in any arena. But MMA also takes a heavy toll on the body, and it's a rare fighter who can earn a living in the sport's top ranks. Beast follows four high-level fighters at one of the sport's elite gyms, Florida's American Top Team. Doug Merlino had unprecedented access, training alongside the men for two years, traveling to their matches, and eating in their homes. Mirsad Bektic, a young Bosnian refugee who started in karate as a boy in Nebraska, dreams of stardom. Jeff Monson, a battered veteran at 41, is an outspoken, tattooed anarchist enjoying a bizarre burst of celebrity in Russia. Steve Mocco is a newcomer - a former Olympic wrestler from a close-knit, intellectual family. Finally there's Daniel Straus, who, from a life short on opportunity, fights his way up to title contention. All will experience electrifying highs and career lows, and Merlino takes us along every step of the way while also examining the history, culture, business, and meaning of professional cage fighting. An audiobook for both the uninitiated and the hardcore fan, Beast offers a fascinating journey into an often misunderstood world.
©2015 Doug Merlino (P)2015 Audible, Inc.
Pushing the Boundaries: Cricket in the Eighties
Summary
The '80s was a colourful period in English cricket. As a member of the most successful team in Essex's history and an England side capable of extraordinary highs and lows, Derek Pringle was lucky enough to be in the thick of it. Now, with the perspective of more than 20 years as a journalist, he lays bare the realities of life as a professional cricketer in a decade when the game was dominated by a cast of unforgettable characters whose exploits became front-page news. Picked for the Test side while still an ear stud-wearing student at Cambridge, he was as surprised as anybody to find himself playing alongside the likes of David Gower, Allan Lamb and Phil Edmonds. He also had to contend with being hailed as the new Ian Botham, even though the old one was still going strong - and playing in the same team. For England, it was a time of mixed fortunes, as Ashes victories alternated with humiliation by a dominant West Indies. The chop-and-change policy of the selectors - culminating in the summer of four captains in 1988 - made cricket such an insecure profession that some players chose to go on rebel tours of South Africa while others relished every opportunity the game provided - on and off the field. The hard slog of domestic cricket, meanwhile, had never seen so much talent, with counties boasting overseas players like Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall and Javed Miandad. A coach-free zone, it was left in the hands of canny old pros such as Keith Fletcher and John Lever, who guided Essex to multiple Championship and one-day successes. But cricket was changing, and not necessarily for the better. By the end of the decade, as the new coaching culture established itself, it became clear that the days of the maverick cricketer were numbered. Few players ended the '80s wealthy, but as Derek Pringle's eye-opening memoir reveals, all left rich in experience, with enough stories to last a lifetime.
©2018 Derek Pringle (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Last Stand of Payne Stewart
Summary
From award-winning sports writer Kevin Robbins, discover the story of legendary golfer Payne Stewart, focusing on his last year in the PGA Tour in 1999, which tragically culminated in a fatal air disaster that transpired publicly on televisions across the country. Forever remembered as one of the most dramatic storylines in the history of golf, Payne Stewart's legendary career was bookended by a dramatic comeback and a shocking, tragic end. Here, Robbins brings Stewart's story vividly to life. Written off as a pompous showman past the prime of his career, Stewart emerged from a long slump in the unforgettable season of 1999 to capture the US Open and play on the victorious US Ryder Cup team. He appeared to be a new man that summer: wiser, deeper, and on the verge of a new level of greatness. Then his journey to redemption ended in October, when his chartered Learjet flew aimlessly for more than a thousand miles, ran out of fuel, and fell to earth in a prairie in South Dakota. His death marked the end of an era, one made up of "shotmakers" who played the game with artistry, guile, finesse, and heart. Behind them were Tiger Woods, David Duval, Phil Mickelson, and other young players whose power and strength changed the PGA Tour forever. With exclusive access to Stewart's friends, family, and one-time colleagues, Kevin Robbins provides a long-overdue portrait of one of golf's greats in one of golf's greatest seasons. Winner of the USGA Herbert Warren Wind Book Award PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2019 Kevin Robbins (P)2019 Hachette Audio
How to Be Better at Basketball in 21 Days: The Ultimate Guide to Drastically Improving Your Basketball Shooting, Passing and Dribbling Skills
Summary
Want to learn the exact basketball skills, strategies, and techniques the pros use? Discover a 21-day fast-track program to break through your basketball barriers. Struggling to nail that winning shot? Can’t seem to pull off the spectacular passes and incredible crossovers you see on TV? James Wilson is a 30-year veteran of basketball coaching with experience gained in 20 countries. Wilson’s genius, laser-focused 21-day program is designed to improve your game no matter your current skill level. How to Be Better At Basketball in 21 Days: The Ultimate Guide to Drastically Improving Your Basketball Shooting, Passing and Dribbling Skills, teaches you using precision drills and specific exercises to stack skill after skill. Using Wilson’s special core philosophy, this thorough system will improve your form, develop new skills, and help you challenge even the most advanced players. In How to Be Better At Basketball in 21 Days, you’ll discover: Expert techniques to dramatically increase your basketball shooting accuracy How to crush your crossovers and handle the ball like a boss How to toughen your mental state and play with courage, confidence, and control How to challenge those more advanced players and succeed while doing it How to be that go-to player who takes the winning shot and much, much more How to Be Better At Basketball in 21 Days is the definitive manual for any basketball player from amateur to pro. If you like learning practical, step-by-step, no-nonsense techniques straight from an expert, then you’ll love Wilson's easy-to-follow guide. Buy How to Be Better At Basketball in 21 Days to slam dunk the competition today! PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2012 James Wilson (P)2018 James Wilson
Hogan
Summary
Ben Hogan was the hero no one knew. No one knew what drove him to practice until his hands bled. No one knew what private demons built the high walls that surrounded him. No one was even sure how he hit a golf ball with such godlike precision. He built a legend and a mystique that captivates golfers still. The components of this mystique were easy to see: a silent, almost eerie concentration that intimidated his opponents, a presence any politician or actor would envy, and an ability to hit a ball so squarely it sizzled as it left his club. Accomplishment was another part of his aura. Ben Hogan won four U.S. Opens in six years, three of them after a near-fatal head-on automobile collision with a bus. His injuries limited him to six tournaments in 1953, but he won five of them, three of them majors. It was arguably the greatest year ever in the history of professional golf. Magazines placed his face on their covers, New York City gave him a ticker-tape parade, and Hollywood made a movie of his life. Yet even in the midst of all this acclaim, myth distorted and obscured Ben Hogan. Here at last is the Hogan no reader has ever encountered. From the poverty and suicidal death of his father that scarred him as a youth, to the failure and conflict that stalked him into middle age, Hogan is the rare sports book that transcends the genre. Combining interviews with Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, and scores of other golf professionals, as well as insights from Hogan¿s friends and business associates, Hogan traces the life of an amazing man and tells an unforgettable story.
©1996 Curt Sampson (P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks
Up from Adams Street
Summary
Up from Adams Street recounts a boy's coming of age in a whistle-stop town in Illinois. He is the favorite, of whom much is expected, naive to a fault, decked out in high school football gear, dreaming of glory, all 120 pounds of him, perched on the roof of a freight car hurtling toward a bridge over the Mississippi, and into jail for a night. He falls for a girl, becomes the inevitable star-crossed lover, and discovers that the life he wants to live is the life he's living. Isn't it?
©2019 Larry Crane (P)2021 Larry Crane
Kobe Bryant
Summary
Do you want to learn more about Kobe Bryant's life while being inspired? If the answer is yes, then let me invite you in a beautiful journey. Welcome to the life of Kobe Bryant! Kobe lives and breathes basketball. While other basketball legends faded into obscurity after retirement, Kobe is out there pursuing new endeavors and building a business empire. It’s a testament to his relentless thirst for knowledge and never-ending quest to be better. This book is a front row ticket to Kobe’s journey through life as he reveals how he used the "mamba mentality" as a blueprint to his success, whether on-court or off-court. It offers an insight into how his mind works and provides an opportunity to replicate his success and achievements. The book teaches about the value of hard work and commitment to the craft. Kobe’s rise to greatness is an inspiration to a new generation of young people who dream of making it big in their chosen fields. Here's a sneak preview of the chapters you find this audiobook: Laying the Groundwork Work Ethic Mamba Mentality Basketball Muses Feuds and Controversies The Storyteller Kobe, Inc. The Future Life-Changing Lessons from the Black Mamba Buy the audiobook today and be inspired now!
©2019 Patrick Thompson (P)2020 Patrick Thompson
Essential BushCraft & Emergency BushCraft
Summary
Some say it's survival of the fittest. What it should be is survival of the prepared, and here's why... Are you tired of living in a world where humans have lost all kinds of consideration to mother nature, having become infinitely indulged in the concepts of profit and greed? Do you find attractive the idea of living on the edge with only the bare minimum, wanting to experience the ultimate satisfaction that comes from being creative and resourceful in the wild? But while you’re marveling at the beauty of Mother Nature, she is plotting your demise. Approximately 140 people die in US national parks every year from drowning, falls, heat or cold exposure, and wildlife. Mother Nature is ruthless just as much as she is beautiful, and she doesn’t forgive mistakes. A nice camping or hiking trip can turn deadly in seconds. So much can go wrong when you venture outdoors, and it doesn’t take a lot for you to be thrown into a life-threatening situation Essential Bushcraft & Emergency BushCraft is the only survival guide that will equip you with both: Skills to survive any outdoor emergency, and mental strength that will help you stay calm and poised during life-threatening situations. Inside, here’s just a fraction of what you’ll discover: Why bushcraft is the answer you've been searching for to become completely independent and easily survive on your own in the wilderness Exactly how to begin your preparations to survive in nature, even if you've never been outside the city in your life Step-by-step guidance on how to acquire all the essentials with nothing but your wit and your hands What exactly your relationship to nature could be if you take the time to understand its endless secrets and hidden gems Straightforward techniques to build your own tools and finally become the engineer of your own life The empowering skills you will get once you master the knowledge and mysteries of all the wealth of the earth Simple mental reprogramming exercises the Navy SEALs use to fully control their minds and emotions in emergencies Techniques used by various special forces units that develop observational skills A detailed list of personal protective equipment (PPE) you should always carry to survive in the wilderness A guide on how to perform a physical examination of injuries on yourself or someone else for worst-case scenarios Techniques for treating all types of mental and physical injuries, from cuts and fractures to strokes and seizures Expert advice on how to deal with emergencies caused by predators, insects, and plants Bonus: How to survive 5 life-threatening scenarios that can happen anywhere, such as a car accident Bushcraft is not just about surviving in nature; it is about adopting a new way of thinking.
©2020 Elijah Sarge (P)2020 Elijah Sarge
Boston Celtics
Summary
In Boston Celtics: Where Have You Gone? fans can catch up with their favorite players from past and present.
©2012 Mike Carey and Michael D. McClellan (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Mad Ducks and Bears
Summary
George Plimpton's follow-up to Paper Lion, one of his personal favorites among his classics - now recorded and including a foreword from Steve Almond. In Mad Ducks and Bears, George Plimpton's engaging companion to Paper Lion, Plimpton focuses on two of the most entertaining and roguish linemen and former teammates: Alex Karras ("Mad Ducks") and John Gordy ("Bears"), both of whom went on to achieve brilliant post-football success. A more reflective, less madcap audiobook than Plimpton's other work, Mad Ducks and Bears is no less truthful and searching. In this fond exploration of football's values and follies, Plimpton rejoins his two teammates to discuss their careers in this brutal but captivating game. The result is an astute exploration into the fascinating lives and motivations of the players at home, in the locker room, and on the field.
©2016 George Plimpton (P)2016 Hachette Audio