Biography & Autobiography : Sports

A new superstar appeared on the American sports landscape in the spring of 2006: Barbaro, a three-year-old racehorse, won the Kentucky Derby by six and a half lengths, the largest margin of victory in sixty years. Barbaro's impressive performance immediately stirred talk of a possible Triple Crown. But in the opening yards of the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, the horse suffered a catastrophic leg injury that ended his undefeated career and left him fighting for his life. Edgar Prado, a native of Peru and one of the world's top jockeys, rode Barbaro to glory and then stood beside him for months as the horse valiantly struggled to survive and millions of fans held their breath. Having ridden in more than twenty-five thousand races over the previous two decades, Prado thought he had been around too long to fall for any one horse, but Barbaro—intelligent, charismatic, and resourceful in sickness as well as in health—stole his heart. In My Guy Barbaro , Prado recounts his own story, a tale of grit and dreams that moves from his impoverished childhood in Lima, Peru, to the winner's circles of the greatest racetracks in the world, and memorably chronicles his emotional time with Barbaro before, during, and after the horse's breakdown. Their bond was special and immeasurable. With Prado still reeling from a wrenching personal loss, Barbaro lifted his spirits by giving him “the ride of a lifetime” in the Derby. When the tables turned and the horse needed support two weeks later, Prado was there, going out of his way to make a succession of visits to the New Bolton Center, the animal hospital in Pennsylvania where Barbaro underwent more than two dozen surgeries and was ultimately put down. Barbaro made worldwide headlines for eight months, and now Prado's poignant, clear-eyed narrative takes us where no reader has gone before—onto Barbaro's back in the heat of a race and into the intensive care suite where Barbaro's more...

Price: $19.95

No Excuses is not only illuminating and insightful, it is an extraordinary look inside one of football's greatest minds who has helped shape today's game. more...

Price: $10.95

Part sports star, part antihero, part hip-hop icon, Allen Iverson has managed to cross over into the mainstream of American culture -- without compromise. Defiantly tattooed, with his hair in cornrows, the six-foot Philadelphia 76ers point guard is one of the most recognizable and controversial stars of the sports world. His meteoric rise from a troubled childhood in the ghetto to NBA superstardom has been marked by five straight playoff appearances, including a finals berth in 2001 and an MVP award. From his rap sheet to his rap album, fans and journalists alike hound his every move. But never before has a biographer presented a full portrait of this complicated and intensely private star -- a man whose loyalty to his family, the streets, and his friends trumps any other concern. Filled with exclusive interview material and unprecedented access to many of Iverson's inner circle, Only the Strong Survive is the first in-depth look at the truth behind this newly minted legend. more...

Price: $9.95

In her autobiography, Olympic ski racer Street gives a solid chronology of her career with her independent ''I'll do what I want'' attitude. Not a typical sports superstar, Street prefers to hang out with her family or old friends. She's also not been a favorite model for magazine covers, since, due to her injuries, her weight has greatly fluctuated. However, it becomes evident that Street cares most about excelling at her sport and when she doesn't perform well, she blames herself and vows to improve for the next competition. Street attributes her atypical traits to her upbringing in Triumph, Idaho a small town near the Sun Valley and Ketchum ski resorts, where she grew up a tomboy and to her parents, who were ''hippies'' feeding the family from homegrown vegetables and providing the bare minimum. As an adolescent, Street's speed was apparent as she beat many more experienced male skiers. more...

Price: $24.95

SHE IS A FASHION ICON WITH A LUST FOR FAME. HE IS POSSIBLY THE MOST FAMOUS ATHLETE ON THE PLANET. Together they are one of the most loved -- and hated -- pairs on Earth. This sensational, highly addictive biography delves beneath the Beckhams' glossy, glamorous facade to expose the real Posh and Becks behind the headlines and the hype. With up-to-date coverage and commentary on all things Beckham, including David's disappointing stint at Real Madrid and the family's relocation to Los Angeles, Posh & Becks lays bare the truth behind the tabloids on this fascinating couple. more...

Price: $7.99