Sports Audiobooks | Biography & Memoir

Johan Cruyff: Always on the Attack Audiobook

"'This terrific biography...well-researched, well written' David Winner 'Deeply researched...nicely written, and manages to get inside Cruyff's very bizarre head' Simon Kuper Argumentative, brilliant, arrogant, visionary. Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest footballers of all time, a worldwide phenomenon and arguably the most famous Dutchman of the twentieth century. Both on the pitch and from the sidelines as a coach, with his brand of Total Football he changed how the game was played and left a lasting legacy. Although Cruyff led a large part of his illustrious career and life in the spotlight, in many ways Cruyff the man and sportsman is still a complete mystery. Based on years of extensive research, this biography the first to cover all aspects of Cruyff's life and work, from his key influence in the great Ajax and Netherlands sides of the 1970s to his role in creating the modern footballing phenomenon that is Barcelona. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with friends from his childhood and school, coaches, teammates, on-pitch opponents, business associates and family members, Auke Kok has written the definitive biography of the skinny impish street footballer that became the genius player, inspirational manager, football philosopher and commercial pioneer that was Johan Cruyff. "

Auke Kok (Author), Chris Harper (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was

"Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was is the first biography of Jan Ullrich, arguably the most naturally talented cyclist of his generation, and also one of the most controversial champions of the Tour de France. In 1997, Jan Ullrich announced himself to the world by obliterating his rivals in the first mountain stage of the Tour de France. So awesome was his display that it sent shockwaves throughout the world of cycling and invited headlines such as L’Équipe’s ‘The New Giant’. He went on to become Germany’s first ever Tour winner, storming to victory in that edition by almost ten minutes, a result that was greeted as an era-defining changing of the guard. Everyone agreed: Jan Ullrich was the future of cycling. He was soon also voted Germany’s most popular sportsperson of all time, and his rivalry with Lance Armstrong defined the most controversial years of the Tour de France. Now, Daniel Friebe – who has covered twenty-one editions of the Tour de France – has gone in search of the man who was said in 1997 would go on to dominate his sport for a generation, but never quite managed it. Just what did happen to the best who never was? This is a gripping account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, the effects of a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual – Lance Armstrong – can conspire to reroute destiny. Daniel Friebe takes us from the legacy of East Germany’s drugs programme to the pinnacle of pro cycling and asks: what price can you give sporting immortality?"

Daniel Friebe (Author), Mark Meadows (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original

"From the author of The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron comes the definitive biography of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, baseball’s epic leadoff hitter and base-stealer who also stole America’s heart over nearly five electric decades in the game. Few names in the history of baseball evoke the excellence and dynamism that Rickey Henderson’s does. He holds the record for the most stolen bases in a single game, and he’s scored more runs than any player ever. “If you cut Rickey Henderson in half, you’d have two Hall of Famers,” the baseball historian Bill James once said. But perhaps even more than his prowess on the field, Rickey Henderson’s is a story of Oakland, California, the town that gave rise to so many legendary athletes like him. And it’s a story of a sea change in sports, when athletes gained celebrity status and Black players finally earned equitable salaries. Henderson embraced this shift with his trademark style, playing for nine different teams throughout his decades-long career and sculpting a brash, larger-than-life persona that stole the nation’s heart. Now, in the hands of critically acclaimed sportswriter and culture critic Howard Bryant, one of baseball’s greatest and most original stars finally gets his due. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook."

Howard Bryant (Author), Jd Jackson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Be Careful What You Wish For

"Brought to you by Penguin. Read this explosive insight into the previously unseen world of football club ownership by one of the game's most-recognisable figures. Multimillionaire at 32 Youngest Premier League football club owner at 36 His club and a fortune lost at 42 Owning your childhood club - that's the dream, isn't it? Simon Jordan made his fortune building a mobile phone company from scratch. When he sold it for £75 million, he bought Crystal Palace FC, the club he'd supported as a boy, and led them into the Premier League. Ten years later Palace was in administration and Jordan had lost nigh on everything. Be Careful What You Wish For lifts the lid on being the owner of a football club and how the game really works. Hopes and dreams sit alongside greed, self-interest, dodgy transfers, boardroom fights and dressing room dressing downs. Throughout no one is spared, least of all Jordan himself. **A finalist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year** **Shortlisted for the British Sports Book Award for best autobiography* © Simon Jordan 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Simon Jordan (Author), Simon Jordan (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sho-Time: The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Played

"Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is playing baseball like no other since the legendary Babe Ruth. Ohtani’s dominance as a two-way player, one that pitches and bats effectively, has taken the Major League by storm. Since entering the league, he won the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, competed in the 2021 Home Run Derby, started in the 2021 All Star Game as both a pitcher and hitter (the first player to ever do so), won the 2021 Most Valuable Player award, and was named to Time 100’s list of most influential people of 2021. The question on everyone’s mind is this: How is this Japanese phenom doing this, and how far can he go? As the next generation of baseball superstars cement themselves, Ohtani, who can pitch a 100mph fastball and was a Top 3 home run leader at the end of the season, stands out amongst them all. Major League Baseball has found the new face of the sport. In Sho-time, Jeff Fletcher examines the player’s path from his early days in Japan, his transition to the MLB, and a start-to-finish inside look at his historic 2021 MVP season. Along the way, Fletcher details other players who have crossed over from Japan to the major leagues, how Ohtani brought his phenomenal talent to the game at a time when technology is exploding as a means toward maximizing performance, and the role that Ohtani and his otherworldly teammate Mike Trout are playing in helping to lead baseball into the next generation."

Jeff Fletcher (Author), Kyle Tait (Narrator)

Audiobook

My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goalkeeper

"A deeply moving and painfully honest memoir from the trailblazing, World Cup–winning, Olympic gold medalist, and US Women’s soccer goalie Briana Scurry Briana Scurry was a pioneer on the US Women’s National Team. She won gold in Atlanta in 1996, the first time women’s soccer was ever played in the Olympics. She was a key part of the fabled “99ers,” making an epic save in the decisive penalty-kick shootout in the final. Scurry captured her second Olympic gold in 2004, cementing her status as one of the premier players in the world. She was the only Black player on the team, and she was also the first player to be openly gay. It was a singularly amazing ride, one that Scurry handled with her trademark generosity and class—qualities that made her one of the most popular players ever to wear a US jersey. But Scurry’s storybook career ended in 2010 when a knee to the head left her with severe head trauma. She was labeled “temporarily totally disabled,” and the reality was even worse. She spiraled into depression, debt, and endured such pain that she closed out her closest friends and soccer soulmates. She pawned her gold medals. She walked to the edge of a waterfall and contemplated suicide. It seemed like the only way out until Scurry made her greatest save of all. A memoir of startling candor, My Greatest Save is a story of triumph, tragedy, and redemption from a woman who has broken through barriers her entire life."

Briana Scurry, Wayne Coffey (Author), Briana Scurry (Narrator)

Audiobook

MOX

"A vivid trip through the mind of the top professional wrestler in the business—a nobody from nowhere who achieved his ambitions and walked away with the gold and the girl of his dreams. Ride alongside Jon Moxley as he retraces some of the highways traveled on his remarkable journey. Revel in the never-before-told stories about his early life in Cincinnati, Ohio; the gritty independent wrestling scene where he cut his teeth; the complicated corporate landscape of the WWE where he bucked against authority; and the rebellious upstart AEW, where he won the championship in 2020 and was finally free to achieve the vision of the wrestler he'd always wanted to be. With plenty of pitstops and revelatory insights, including grisly ultraviolent encounters, crazy characters who became lifelong friends, and his unforgettable matches in Japan, MOX is the riveting account of the life of a brawler. It is a tale written in blood and soaked in debauchery, with a good dose of wisdom accumulated along the way. More than a backstage pass into the arena, MOX is a ticket into the ring. Once inside, you’ll never look at pro wrestling the same again."

Jon Moxley (Author), Jon Moxley (Narrator)

Audiobook

So You Want to Be a Fighter: Profiles in Fortitude, Resilience & Acceptance—Inside and Outside the R

"'I hated every minute of training, but I said: 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'' - Muhammad Ali Behind every goal accomplished is a journey filled with confidence, success, and admiration but also challenges, disappointments, and moments of despair. But even when there are hardships, unseen struggles, dark times of indecision, injuries, and financial problems, there are also moments of motivation, self-awareness, and coping strategies to help you push through the negative to reach the positive. Everyone has a story of success. Everyone has a story of failure or missed opportunities. So You Want to Be a Fighter? collects these kinds of stories in one place-told by well-known (and not-so-well-known) trainers, boxers, and MMA fighters, including Chris Algieri, former junior welterweight boxing champion and undefeated kickboxer. You'll hear about accomplishments, mishaps, tears of joy and pain, moments of utter frustration but also jubilation, and stories about what might have been if things had gone a little bit differently. If you've ever wondered what boxers and MMA fighters endure behind the scenes-maybe you yearn to join them? - this is the audiobook that will bring you all the different aspects to competing in a fight sport. © 2022 Chris Algieri © 2022 DK Audio"

Chris Algieri (Author), Chris Algieri (Narrator)

Audiobook

In the Middle Are the Horsemen

"In 2008, 26–year–old Tik Maynard faced a crossroads not unlike that of other young adults. A university graduate and modern pentathlete, he suffered both a career–ending injury and a painful breakup, leaving him suddenly adrift. The son of prominent Canadian equestrians, Maynard decided to spend the next year as a 'working student.' In the horse industry, working students aspire to become professional riders or trainers, and willingly trade labor for hands–on education. Here Maynard chronicles his experiences–good and bad–and we follow along as one year becomes three, what began as a casual adventure gradually transforms, and a life's purpose comes sharply into focus. Over time, Maynard evolved under the critical eyes of Olympians, medal winners, and world–renowned figures in the horse world, including Anne Kursinski, Johann Hinnemann, Ingrid Klimke, David and Karen O'Connor, Bruce Logan, and Ian Millar. He was ignored, degraded, encouraged, and praised. He was hired and fired, told he had the 'wrong body type to ride' and that he had found his 'destiny.' He got married and lost loved ones. Through it all he studied the horse, and human nature, and how the two can find balance. And in that journey, he may have found himself."

Tik Maynard (Author), Tik Maynard (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - El otro Fangio

"El otro Fangio es una biografía del cinco veces campeón de Fórmula 1 escrita por Eduardo Gesumaría, avezado periodista que fuera su amigo durante tres décadas. El libro aborda algunas de las facetas y anécdotas más impactantes de este hombre consagrado al volante: su vida en Balcarce, sus amores y renuncias, sus accidentes, el particular secuestro que sufrió en Cuba a fines de los ´50 y muchos detalles de las artes que lo convirtieron en uno de los mejores corredores de todos los tiempos (si no el mejor). - Eduardo Gesumaría (Córdoba, Argentina, 1936 - 2020), también conocido como 'Sprinter', fue un periodista argentino especializado en automovilismo. Trabajó en las radios LV2, LV3, Radio Universidad de su provincia. En sus últimos años conducía su programa Autodinámica –ya un clásico de la radiofonía dedicada al deporte– en Radio Mitre. Escribió artículos para los diarios Meridiano, Orientación, Los Principios y La voz del Interior, y en las revistas Automundo, Corsa y Campeones. Publicó los libros La historia del automovilismo de Córdoba; Oscar Cabalén, el ídolo; Apuntes de la radio y televisión de Córdoba; Pirín Gradassi; Las 200 carreras de Fangio y El otro Fangio. En 1960 Gesumaría estuvo al frente del primer programa de automovilismo en la televisión argentina."

Eduardo Gesumaría Sprinter (Author), Gabriel Saint Genez (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - Sin defensa

"Las explosivas memorias del seis veces campeón de la NBA, dos veces medallista de oro olímpico y miembro del Salón de la Fama, que revelan cómo Scottie Pippen, el menor de doce hermanos, superó dos tragedias familiares y el desprecio universal de los cazatalentos universitarios para convertirse en un componente esencial de la mayor dinastía de baloncesto de los últimos cincuenta años. Scottie Pippen ha sido llamado uno de los mejores jugadores de la NBA por una buena razón. En pocas palabras, sin Pippen, no habría carteles de campeonatos, y mucho menos seis, colgando de las vigas del United Center. No habría documental El ÚLTIMO BAILE. No habría un Michael Jordan tal y como lo conocemos. Los Chicago Bulls de la década de 1990 no existirían como los conocemos. ¿Cómo pasó el menor de doce hermanos de crecer en la pobreza en la pequeña ciudad de Hamburgo, Arkansas, pasando por dos tragedias familiares en el camino, a convertirse en una leyenda reverenciada de la NBA? ¿Cómo es que el escuálido adolescente, pasado por alto por todos los programas universitarios importantes de baloncesto, se convirtió en la quinta selección general en el Draft de la NBA de 1987? Y, quizás lo más convincente, ¿cómo Pippen dejó de lado su ego para que los Bulls se convirtieran en la dinastía de baloncesto más dominante del último medio siglo? En Sin defensa, el seis veces campeón y dos veces medallista de oro olímpico finalmente se abre para ofrecer momentos claros y transparentes sobre Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson y Dennis Rodman, entre otros. Pippen detalla cómo se avergonzó al ser etiquetado como el compañero de Jordan, y comenta cómo pudo (y debería haber) recibido más respeto por parte de los propietarios de los Bulls y los medios de comunicación. Pippen revela historias nunca antes contadas sobre algunos de los partidos más famosos en la historia de la liga, incluido el partido de playoffs de 1994 contra los New York Knicks cuando fue expulsado a falta de 1,8 segundos para el final. Pippen explica cómo fue lidiar con Jordan en el día a día, mientras se desempeñaba como facilitador de la ofensiva y ancla para la defensa del equipo. Después de 30 años del primer campeonato de los Bulls, Pippen finalmente está dando a millones de fanáticos del baloncesto lo que anhelan; una mirada cruda y sin adornos a su vida y su papel dentro de uno de los equipos más grandes y populares de todos los tiempos. Este audiolibro está narrado en castellano. - Scottie Pippen jugó diecisiete temporadas en la NBA, ganando seis campeonatos y dos medallas de oro olímpicas. Fue honrado como uno de los 50 mejores jugadores de la historia de la NBA en 1996. Pippen es la única persona que ha ganado un campeonato de la NBA y una medalla de oro olímpica dos veces en el mismo año. Fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama del Baloncesto en 2010. Vive en el área de Los Ángeles y puedes seguirlo en Facebook, Instagram y Twitter @ScottiePippen. Michael Arkush ha escrito o coescrito quince libros, incluidos los bestsellers del New York Times, From the Outside con Ray Allen y The Big Fight con Sugar Ray Leonard. Arkush se desempeñó anteriormente como redactor de plantilla en Los Angeles Times. Vive con su esposa, Pauletta Walsh, en Oak View, California."

Michael Arkush, Scottie Pippen (Author), Pablo Ibañez Durán (Narrator)

Audiobook

The King and I

"Cantona the legend. Cantona the enigma. Cantona the King. Eric Cantona was at Manchester United for just five years, yet his legacy and influence endure. Over that period, he became the first foreigner to be voted best player by sports journalists, was crowned player of the century by the team's supporters, and voted the most emblematic player in the Premier League during its opening decade. The Frenchman fascinated both fans of the game and those who knew nothing about football - a hugely popular player who showed mercurial talent on the pitch, but one who remains almost unknown away from it. Claude Boli met Cantona at the very beginning of his playing career in France, when he was a teammate to Boli's brothers. They shared an apartment, passions for music, literature, art and, of course, football. In 1992 Cantona moved to Manchester, where Boli was studying at the university. They spent virtually all their free time together and Boli attended almost every match Cantona played at Old Trafford, rubbing shoulders with Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, David Beckham, Roy Keane and others. Boli was there for the aftermath of the infamous kung-fu kick and then the court hearing, to hear Cantona's thoughts on his fellow players, how the club was run, his relationship with the manager, his hopes and fears. They walked the streets of Manchester together, enjoyed 1990s music and culture together, even learnt the trumpet together and remain close friends to this day. In The King and I Boli gives us unparalleled insight into Cantona the footballer, Cantona the friend, and Cantona the man. "

Claude Boli (Author), David Doma (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sports Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir