When Nothing Else Matters: Michael Jordan's Last Comeback by Michael Leahy

$22.99 AUD

Category: Sport

For fans of Netflix's The Last Dance, this is the definitive account of Michael Jordan's spectacular and disastrous return to basketball. As one of the greatest, most celebrated athletes in history, Michael Jordan conquered professional basketball as no one before. Powered by a potent mix of charisma, n ear superhuman abilities and a ferocious drive to dominate the game, he achieved every award and accolade conceivable before retiring from the Chicago Bulls and taking an executive post with the Washington Wizards. But retirement didn't suit the man who was once king, and at the advanced age of thirty-eight Michael Jordan decided it was time to reclaim the court that was once his. Having closely followed Jordan's final two seasons, Michael Leahy draws a fascinating portrait of an intensely complex man hampered by injuries and assaulted by younger players eager to usurp his throne. In this enthralling book Jordan emerges as an ambitious, at times deeply unattractive character with, unsurprisingly, a monstrous ego. WHEN NOTHING ELSE MATTERS is an absorbing portrait not only of one athlete's overriding ambition, but also of a society so in thrall to its sports stars that it is blind to all their faults. ...Show more

Top Gear: The Stigtionary by Bbc

$19.99 AUD

Category: Sport

The Top Gear presenters do talk a lot of rubbish. Ever wondered what on earth James May is talking about when he rattles on about engines and physics and stuff? Or what the gibberish coming out of Jeremy's mouth really means? Or how to pronounce Richard Hammond's favourite cars? The Stigtionary will ex plain all those tricky things for you, with hilarious definitions of words and phrases from the BBC show. ...Show more

1989: the Great Grand Final by Tony Wilson

$32.99 AUD

Category: Sport

The 1989 Grand Final between Hawthorn and Geelong is considered one of the greatest of all. Hawthorn, seeking to go back-to-back for the first time was against a Geelong team that had not been in a Grand Final since 1967. The match had everything: unbridled violence, high scoring, Gary Ablett's nine goa ls, and a Geelong fightback that saw it claw back a six-goal deficit at the last change to lose by a goal. At the end of the match, had it been a draw, a dozen players could not have turned out for the rematch. Injuries included broken ribs, multiple concussions, ripped muscles, punctured lungs. In 1989: The Great Grand Final, Tony Wilson takes a look back on one of the most spectacular games in footy history.  ...Show more

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant; Pau Gasol (Foreword by); Phil Jackson (Introduction by); Andrew D. Bernstein (Photographer)

$49.99 AUD

Category: Sport

From basketball superstar Kobe Bryant--a lavish, deep dive inside the mind of one of the most revered athletes of all time. In the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, Kobe "The Black Mamba" Bryant has decided to share his vast knowledge and understanding of the game to take listeners o n an unprecedented journey to the core of the legendary "Mamba mentality." Citing an obligation and an opportunity to teach young players, hardcore fans, and devoted students of the game how to play it "the right way," The Mamba Mentality takes us inside the mind of one of the most intelligent, analytical, and creative basketball players ever. For the first time, and in his own words, Bryant reveals his famously detailed approach and the steps he took to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. Listeners will learn how Bryant studied an opponent, how he channeled his passion for the game, how he played through injuries. They'll also get fascinating granular detail as he breaks down specific plays and match-ups from throughout his career. Bryant's detailed accounts are paired with stunning photographs by the Hall of Fame photographer Andrew D. Bernstein. Bernstein, long the Lakers and NBA official photographer, captured Bryant's very first NBA photo in 1996 and his last in 2016--and hundreds of thousands in between, the record of a unique, twenty-year relationship between one athlete and one photographer. The combination of Bryant's narrative and Bernstein's photos make The Mamba Mentality a unprecedented look behind the curtain at the career of one of the world's most celebrated and fascinating athletes. ...Show more

Australian Cricket Scandals by Ken Piesse

$32.99 AUD

Category: Sport

Australian Cricket Scandals is a crafted collection of Ken Piesse's previously published writings on the ball tampering, bets, bribes and blow ups that have rocked the world of cricket.All the furores, all the scandal: Black Saturday in Cape Town when Steve Smithand David Warner cheated; Shane Warne and the throwing of a Test match; WorldSeries walk-outs; Greg Chappell's five minutes of infamy; Dennis Lillee infamous bet against Australia; A captain flattens his chairman of selectors in a 20-minute Sydney brawl; The Ian Meckiff conspiracy; The mysterious non-selections of Dean Jones and Brad Hodge; Don Bradman on strike and much, much more.Most recently it was Sandpaper Saturday in Cape Town in the autumn of 2018,our adventure in paradise undermined by just one stunning misjudgment, stillreverberating around the cricketing world -- a bigger scandal than the underarm,match fi xing, even Warnie popping the wrong pills. The booing and jeering forAustralia's captain Steve Smith at Newlands as he walked in and out was loud and prolonged. It came from every direction, not only those in the cheap seats. By so flagrantly abusing the spirit of cricket, Smith and the others discredited themselves, the game and 450 other Australian Test players who'd so proudly worn the baggy green cap. ...Show more

The Complete Golf Manual by DK

$34.99 AUD

Category: Sport

Covering every aspect of the game, this is the ultimate self-improvement guide for every player - from the novice to the experienced club golfer. Showing readers exactly what it takes to achieve an effective - and repeatable - golf swing, this book works systematically through every type of shot, from t ee shots, iron play, pitching, and chipping, to coping with bunkers and putting. Each section includes a test to establish your level of ability and provides a series of progressive exercises designed to develop your technique. A section on the ten most common faults that can creep into your game shows you how to fix them quickly and efficiently. The Complete Golf Manualalso shows you routines to help you think more decisively on the course and deal with high-pressure situations. An invaluable reference section advises you on buying equipment, including custom fitting, guides you through all-important golf etiquette, clearly explains golf's most important rules, and defines all the key golfing terms. ...Show more

Finding Steve's Place - The Adventurous Life of a Boy from the Bush and His Search for the Perfect Wave by Liz Harfull

$29.95 AUD

Category: Sport

Steve Woolston would never describe himself as famous, but it's fair to say that he's a legend in certain circles, with extraordinary stories to tell. A gun shearer, who loves horses, dogs and fast cars, his childhood was a boy's own adventure, growing up in the Australian bush.Then in the 1960s, like t housands of other young Australians, he discovered the world of surfing. His search for the perfect, uncrowded wave, took him to the sleepy seaside village of Robe, where he set up the iconic surf shop, Steve's Place, and founded one of the world's oldest continuously held surfing competitions.To mark the 50th anniversary of the first event, best-selling author Liz Harfull brings together the often surprising story of Steve's life, from challenging adventures in the Outback to a surfing accident that almost cost him his life, shared with fascinating bush characters and some of the most famous names in Australian surfing. As one of his mates put it: 'Every day something funny or interesting happened, just because it did!''From dusty outback shearing sheds to the surf breaks at Robe, Harfull tells Steve's story with humour and warmth. Populated with characters such as 'Claw', 'The Mexican', 'Tuna Fish' and 'Jim Jam', Finding Steve's Place delivers a generous serving of laid back country soul alongside Steve Woolston's voyage of discovery through surfing and life.'Kristin Weidenbach, best-selling author, Mailman of the Birdsville Track: the story of Tom Kruse.'A cracking tale about the remarkable life of a gun shearer turned gnarly surfer and so much more.'Leigh Radford, former National Rural Editor, ABC ...Show more

Gridiron Genius: a Master Class in Building Teams and Winning at the Highest Level by Michael Lombardi; Bill Belichick (Foreword by)

$29.99 AUD

Category: Sport

Why do some NFL franchises dominate year after year while others never crack the code of success? For 30 years Michael Lombardi had a front-row seat and full access as three titans-Bill Walsh, Al Davis, and Bill Belichick-reinvented the game, turning it into a national obsession while piling up Super Bo wl trophies. Now, in Gridiron Genius, Lombardi provides the blueprint that makes a successful organization click and win-and the mistakes unsuccessful organizations make that keep them on the losing side time and again. In reality, very few coaches understand the philosophies, attention to detail, and massive commitment that defined NFL juggernauts like the 49ers and the Patriots. The best organizations are not just employing players, they are building something bigger. Gridiron Genius will explain how the best leaders evaluate, acquire, and utilize personnel in ways other professional minds, football and otherwise, won't even contemplate. How do you know when to trade a player? How do you create a positive atmosphere when everyone is out to maximize his own paycheck? And why is the tight end like the knight on a chessboard? To some, game planning consists only of designing an attack for the next opponent. But Lombardi explains how the smartest leaders script everything- from an afternoon's special teams practice to a season's playoff run to a decade-long organizational blueprint. Readers will delight in the Lombardi tour of an NFL weekend, including what really goes on during the game on and off the field and inside the headset. First stop- Belichick's Saturday-night staff meeting, where he announces how the game will go the next day. Spoiler alert- He always nails it. Football dynasties are built through massive attention to detail and unwavering commitment. From how to build a team to how to watch a game to how to understand the essential qualities of great leaders, Gridiron Genius gives football fans the knowledge needed to be the smartest person in the room every Sunday. ...Show more

Makybe Diva (HB) by Trevor Marshallsea

$39.99 AUD

Category: Sport

The story of a once-in-a-lifetime horse who would surpass all the rest.

Church of the Open Sky by Nat Young

$34.99 AUD

Category: Sport | Reading Level: 3 Biography

What makes for a surfing life? With a blaze of groundbreaking performances and a swag of titles claimed from all over the world to his name, Australian world champion surfer Nat Young might know. His seventieth birthday inspired some reflection on exactly that, and on the waves and characters that have marked his remarkable life - Miki Dora and Midget Farrelly to name a few. But surfing for Nat Young - and so many like-minded surfers - has never been about winning, never been about the sport. It's a calling, an endless quest, a philosophy, a religion. Most of all, surfing is a way of life that has underpinned his other identities as board shaper, film producer, writer, raconteur, conservationist, activist, pilot, husband, father. Candid and wryly observed, Church of the Open Sky explores what it means to be a surfer, with a collection of true stories of Nat's surfing life - and the friends, foes and heroes he's met along the way. ...Show more

The Fine Cotton Fiasco by Peter Hoysted Pat Sheil

$34.99 AUD

Category: Sport | Reading Level: 6 Sport

Brisbane, 1984. It all started with a simple plan to secretly swap a mediocre horse with a faster one, and rake in the cash with a few well-placed bets. What could possibly go wrong? In The Fine Cotton Fiasco, Peter Hoysted and Pat Sheil brilliantly tell the scarcely believable tale of how - through a combination of horrendous mismanagement, terrible judgement and comically bad luck - the scheme gradually unravelled. How did a horse with white painted socks dripping onto the turf come to hold the hopes of punters across Australia and beyond? How was a supposedly secret plan so widely advertised that even the Queensland Commissioner of Police placed a bet? And how much of a cover-up ensued in the aftermath of this absolute debacle? The story of Fine Cotton is the stuff of Australian legend. It features hardcore crims, likeable rogues and a supporting cast that ranged from the hapless to the hopeless - with some entirely innocent bystanders thrown in for good measure. Not every crazy scheme cooked up by a couple of inmates in Boggo Road Gaol would culminate in a story that will be told across the nation for the next hundred years. But this one did. ...Show more

AFL Record Season 2019 by Michael Lovett (Editor)

$39.99 AUD

Category: Sport