The Telegraph Book of Champions

The Telegraph Book of Champions
Author: The Telegraph
Publisher: Aurum
Total Pages: 423
Release: 2014-09-04
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1781313865

How do you achieve sporting immortality? How do you develop a winning mentality? What seprates the best from the rest? While sporting greatness is for the few, there is much that the rest of us can learn from them. From the era-defining brilliance of Muhammad Ali to the tactical genius of Sir Alex Ferguson, gathered together here for the first time are the rare insights into what made some of the best sports men and women from the past century. Drawn from the Telegraph archives, this collection of interviews, contemporary accounts and first-person articles covering everyone from Michael Phelps to Dame Ellen MacArthur, Roger Federer to Michael Schumacher, Sir Steve Redgrave to Nicole Cooke, give a rare glimpse of how these individuals conquered the world. Through the snow, mud, ice and sun of the sporting calendar, TheTelegraph Book of Champions features one hundred champions from thirty-one sports. Side by side, in this unique collection, they line up as a reminder of what it takes to be the best, why success at the very top is only for the few, and what the rest of us mere mortals can learn from them.

Anyone for Tennis?

Anyone for Tennis?
Author: Martin Smith
Publisher:
Total Pages: 434
Release: 2010
Genre: Tennis
ISBN: 9781845135430

Wimbledon has progressed from vicarage tea-party pastime to the greatest tennis tournament in the world. It is the one Grand Slam event that today’s multi-millionaire players yearn to win above all others. The only one still played in whites and fought on grass, and one of the few surviving bastions of true sportsmanship. The names of Perry, Lenglen, Wills Moody, Tilden, Budge, Laver, Borg, McEnroe, Navratilova, Sampras, Graf, Federer and the Williams sisters – etched among the immortals on the All-England Club’s honours board – will be remembered more for their exploits in SW19 than at any other tournament. Through the expert analysis and reporting of tennis correspondents such as A. Myers Wallis, John Olliff, Lance Tingay and John Parsons, the Daily Telegraph has chronicled the skill, artistry and courage of the game’s greatest exponents since the Championships first began in 1877. In over 130 years there has hardly been a cross-court winner, backhand down the line, overhead smash or double-fault that has passed unnoticed or uncommented. But Wimbledon is so much more than a tennis tournament. The Fortnight is a cornerstone of the mid-summer social season, as renowned for its gargantuan consumption of Champagne, smoked salmon and the ubiquitous strawberries and cream as for its controversies, tantrums and umbrellas on court. It is the only sporting event of the year that bursts off the sports pages and invades such diverse sections as fashion, cookery, television and property. Not to mention the front page, leader page and letters column – as The Daily Telegraph Book of Wimbledon now delightfully demonstrates. Over the years the Telegraph has attracted such notable writers as Michael Parkinson, Sebastian Faulks, Russell Davies and Taki to enthuse about Wimbledon, as well as providing a platform for insightful comment from great players of the past like John McEnroe, Fred Perry, Chris Evert and Billie-Jean King. Now we collect the very best of that writing to present the complete history of England’s greatest sporting institution. So kick back with that Pimms spritzer, and read on! Martin Smith was for many years Assistant Sports Editor of The Daily Telegraph.

The Telegraph Book of the Ashes 2013

The Telegraph Book of the Ashes 2013
Author: The Daily Telegraph
Publisher: Aurum
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2013-09-26
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1781312168

This summer's Ashes was another unforgettable instalment in the oldest and greatest rivalry in international sport. From the thrilling denouement at Trent Bridge, when Australia came within 19 runs of an incredible victory, to the stunning spell of hostile fast bowling from Stuart Broad in Durham and England's frantic run-chase in the gloom at the Oval in pursuit of an historic 4-0 series victory, the series was never less than engrossing. And - as always in an Ashes summer - there was as much intrigue off the field. David Warner made himself the English public's favourite pantomime villain by taking a swing at Joe Root before a ball was bowled, controversy raged over the standards of umpiring and the use of the Decision Review System while Darren Lehmann stoked the fires ahead of the return series Down Under with his infamous radio rant at Broad. The Daily and Sunday Telegraph's unbeatable team of cricket writers were present through the 2013 series to deliver the definitive account of events. Derek Pringle, Paul Hayward, Scyld Berry, Simon Hughes, Jim White, Steve James and Nick Hoult dissected events with forensic detail, and former captains Michael Vaughan and Geoffrey Boycott, together with Australian spinning legend Shane Warne, set the agenda with their hard-hitting columns. So, as you tick off the days to the first Test in Brisbane, relive the splendour of Ian Bell's three centuries, Ashton Agar's record-breaking debut, Root's stunning innings at Lord's and the spectacular bowling of Graeme Swann and James Anderson, as chronicled in the pages of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph.

Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask
Author: Tyson Fury
Publisher: Random House
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2019-11-14
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1473577691

** TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR ** DOUBLE WINNER: BEST AUTOBIOGRAPHY & BEST OVERALL SPORTS BOOK OF 2020 INCLUDES A NEW CHAPTER ON WILDER VS FURY 2 ________________________________ 'Incredible stories... you don't have to be a boxing fan to enjoy it' SCOTT MILLS, BBC RADIO 1 'One of sport's most heart-warming stories' SUNDAY TIMES, SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A must-read for any boxing fan.' WORLD BOXING NEWS 'If you know someone who is a fan of the People's Champion then they'll love this.' TALKSPORT XMAS GIFT GUIDE The extraordinary story of the rise and fall and rise again of Tyson Fury... THE GYPSY KING. A Manchester lad from Irish Traveller stock, born three months premature and weighing just a pound at birth, Tyson (named after his father's boxing hero) grew up to become one of the most unlikely heavyweight champions in history. This 'dream come true' soon turned to nightmare, however, as alcohol and cocaine abuse took hold and Tyson was stripped of his titles. What followed was the darkest moment of his life - detailed in this book for the first time - in which he came within seconds of ending everything. THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION. Like all the greatest stories, though, there is redemption and Tyson defies all the odds and literally drags himself to his feet. 10 million people around the globe watched Fury fight Wilder in the biggest fight of the boxing calendar. Speaking candidly about his struggles with mental health, this is Tyson Fury as you have never seen him before. A BRITISH ICON. ________________________________ Behind the Mask is an unflinching autobiography from the greatest boxer of our time and a man who has demonstrated strength of a very different kind by conquering his demons. ________________________________ 'It's a great book, if I could read, I'd buy it' BILLY JOE SAUNDERS, WBO World Super-Middleweight Champion 'I didn't believe boxers could be role models, but Tyson Fury has changed my mind... This 30-year-old Mancunian has made us all think twice about the possibilities of redemption.' SIMON KELNER, INDEPENDENT 'Tyson Fury has become Britain's most unlikely inspirational figure... the sight of a broken Fury caught a mood with the public. Never was the epithet "People's Champion" more apt' RON LEWIS, THE TIMES 'Tyson Fury is an amazing real-life champion' SYLVESTER STALLONE, star of Rocky 'You may not have any interest in boxing at all and you will find this story about Tyson's life fascinating' BBC RADIO 5 LIVE 'An unusual, heartening story, nicely told. There is much to amaze and admire' SUNDAY TIMES

The Secret Scripture

The Secret Scripture
Author: Sebastian Barry
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2008-06-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101202920

Now a major motion picture starring Rooney Mara An epic story of family, love, and unavoidable tragedy from the two-time Booker Prize finalist and author of Old God's Time Sebastian Barry's novels have been hugely admired by readers and critics, and in 2005 his novel A Long Long Way was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In The Secret Scripture, Barry revisits County Sligo, Ireland, the setting for his previous three books, to tell the unforgettable story of Roseanne McNulty. Once one of the most beguiling women in Sligo, she is now a resident of Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her hundredth year. Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an engrossing tale of one woman's life, and a poignant story of the cruelties of civil war and corrupted power. The Secret Scripture is now a film starring Rooney Mara, Eric Bana, and Vanessa Redgrave.

Andy Murray Wimbledon Champion

Andy Murray Wimbledon Champion
Author: Mark Hodgkinson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2013-08-15
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1471132757

The most revealing and in-depth biography of Andy Murray yet published. When Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal both exited in the first few days of Wimbledon 2013, the level of expectation on Andy Murray to become the first British champion of the men's competition since 1936 rose to new heights. Two sets down in the quarter-final, he recovered to keep alive the hopes of a nation. Then, on a boiling hot Sunday afternoon, Murray faced up to the world's best player, Novak Djokovic, with the title almost within his grasp. After three hours of tension, drama and sheer brilliance, Murray was Wimbledon champion and 17.3 million viewers, glued to the action, celebrated with him after his straight-sets victory. But how had the man from Dunblane, Scotland, a country once characterised as the worst tennis nation in the world, risen to the top? In this fascinating and revealing biography, Mark Hodgkinson, who first interviewed Murray when he was just 17, looks into the people who have influenced the Scot's career - his family, his coaches and his girlfriend among them - and assesses how he has won over a dubious and critical public. Murray's story is extraordinary, and this book gets to the heart of that remarkable drama.

Magic Spanner

Magic Spanner
Author: Carlton Kirby
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2019-06-13
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 147295985X

***SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2020 – CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR*** Prepare to be entertained as legendary Eurosport cycling commentator Carlton Kirby shares his tales from the road, taking you behind the scenes of the world's greatest cycle races. 'A genuine one-off with a ready wit and a killer anecdote to hand at all times' Ian Cleverly, Rouleur 'Carlton Kirby is no ordinary cycling commentator, so it is not surprising that this very entertaining book is no ordinary Grand Tour on a bicycle. A very enjoyable journey for everyone' Phil Liggett MBE, NBC Tour de France commentator 'Carlton Kirby's infectious enthusiasm, wine tips and Shakespearean joy for inventing words makes every stage of a bike race a must-watch event' Matt Butler, i newspaper With a candid authority that comes from over 25 years commentating on the world's biggest cycling races, legendary Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby isn't afraid to tell it like it really is. Witty, outrageous and often outspoken, Magic Spanner is an insider's view of life on cycling's Grand Tours, including the Tour de France, Giro D'Italia, Vuelta a España and the classics, all delivered in the inimitable style for which Carlton has become globally famous. Peppered with hilarious anecdotes of life on the road with Tour legend Sean Kelly, Carlton gives us an expert, behind-the-scenes view – one that the average fan rarely gets to see or hear about. As well as sharing his various bugbears (including crazy spectators in mankinis to the more serious issues of rider safety), Carlton also lifts the lid on team strategies, and delves into some of cycling's more questionable ethics. Delivering a mix of expert opinion and trademark wit, Carlton covers the funny, the serious and the more bizarre moments on the professional cycling caravan. This edition also includes Carlton's guide to watching bike racing - live at the roadside.