Sports & Recreation Audiobooks

Did Not Finish: Misadventures in Running, Cycling and Swimming

Is running a marathon with your partner a wise idea? What about taking part in a triathlon together? George is about to find out as he and his wife Rachel put their marriage to the test. Now settled into life in Devon with their three children, they try to encourage a more active family lifestyle with camping holidays, family bike rides, hill-walking, and canoe trips. But things rarely go smoothly. Meanwhile, George continues to set himself ridiculous challenges. Having been a complete novice swimmer only a year earlier, he decides to confront his incompetence head-on. By signing up for a 10km swim. How hard can it be? Anyone reading George’s books hoping for useful training tips for their own adventures and challenges might be disappointed. His training methods and pre-race preparations are unconventional and perhaps not recommended, but there might be some nuggets of unintentional wisdom amongst the chaos. Did Not Finish is a series of books about George and his family’s adventures in running, cycling, and swimming. From ultramarathons to triathlons, 10k swims to European cycling adventures, George promises fun and laughter every step, pedal, and paddle of the way.

George Mahood (Author), Nathaniel Priestley (Narrator)

Audiobook

L'avvocato del DIOS

Ho creduto di essere io il suo avvocato, quando invece è stato probabilmente il contrario: era lui l'avvocato di noi tutti, ha difeso i deboli e ha incitato a fare delle nostre vite un capolavoro, nel bene e nel male'. Le accuse che il mondo ha lanciato a Diego Armando Maradona sono tutte qui: la droga, i rapporti con le donne, i guai con il fisco e la politica. E poi, fu una vera colpa aver segnato con la mano agli inglesi? Fu suo il gol più bello di sempre? E, soprattutto, era davvero più forte di Pelè? Dieci capi di imputazione per dieci ragionamenti difensivi. Dieci, come il numero che ha incarnato. A condurre l'arringa in difesa del campione è il suo avvocato di fiducia, Angelo Pisani, che il calciatore aveva ribattezzato 'Angelone'; l'uomo che ha tutelato la sua immagine e la sua figura dalle grandi persecuzioni subite: dai nemici del campo a quelli dei palazzi, dalla stampa ai finti amici, fino a quella più grande, la persecuzione dell'uomo sul giocatore. Maradona contro Diego. La sentenza, ora che il tribunale che affronta il suo giudizio si è espanso fino a diventare celeste, sarà clamorosa. Sarà anche l'occasione per ripercorrere i passaggi salienti di una carriera e una vita uniche, vissute sempre al massimo, continuamente in prima pagina. Aneddoti personali inseguono i momenti in campo, mentre l'eco di un'esistenza da rockstar raggiunge ogni punto del pianeta. Di questa micidiale macchina mediatica Maradona sarà a volte vittima a volte burattinaio. Puntualmente, comunque, controvento, dribblando ogni ostacolo e nascondendo la palla al destino, mentre gli avversari di ogni grado continuano a inseguirlo, invano.

Angelo Pisani (Author), Dario Agrillo (Narrator)

Audiobook

Best Seat in the House

Racer and broadcaster Neil Crompton has had the best seat in the house for the last 40 years of Australian motorsport, an amazing lifetime upgrade to a first-hand, front row seat to see the biggest names, machines and events of this high-speed, high-octane sport. A kid from Ballarat in country Victoria obsessed by speed with an undying passion to pursue a career in the sport, Neil ended up finding his way to lining up on the grid at the biggest race in Australia, the Bathurst 1000, driving for a team run by his childhood hero, Peter Brock. Since then he's raced wheel-to-wheel with some of the biggest stars the sport has ever seen in this country and experienced first-hand the thrilling success, heartbreaking disappointment and emotional trauma that is a life spent in motorsport and the relentless pursuit of the ultimate success. Uniquely, Neil has spent his entire career either driving a race car, a microphone or sometimes both. As the trusted and respected modern-day voice and face of Supercars racing on television in Australia, he's added the audio soundtrack from the commentary box to some of the biggest spine-tingling moments in the sport and is well qualified to offer his account of the who, what and where of Aussie motorsport. From navigating for Dame Edna Everage at the Adelaide Grand Prix to driving some of the fastest race cars in the world and everything in between, he has been there and seen it all. Best Seat In The House is Neil's account of an amazing period of the sport from a viewing position like no other.

Neil Crompton (Author), James Saunders (Narrator)

Audiobook

Breathe: A Life in Flow

From legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA master Rickson Gracie comes a riveting, insightful memoir that weaves together the story of Gracie’s stunning career with the larger history of the Gracie family dynasty, showing how the connection between mind and body can be harnessed for success both inside and outside the ring. Undefeated from the late 1970s through his final fight in the Tokyo Dome in 2000, Rickson Gracie amassed hundreds of victories in the street, on the mat, at the beach, and in the ring. He has joined the pantheon that includes Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Jackie Chan as one of the most famous martial artists of the twentieth century. Jiu-Jitsu, the fighting style developed and pioneered by his family, has become one of the world’s most prominent martial arts, and Vale Tudo, the “anything goes” style of Brazilian street fighting over which the Gracies had a monopoly, was an early precursor to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Simply put, without the Gracie family, there would be no sport of ‘MMA’, no 4-billion-dollar UFC empire, and no ‘Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’ at strip malls all across America. In Breathe, for the first time, Rickson will share the full story of how his father and uncles came to develop Jiu-Jitsu, what it was like to grow up among several generations of world-renowned fighters from the Gracie clan, and the principles and skills that guided him to his undefeated record. From learning to assert himself on the streets of Rio to gaining fame and honour in Japan and emerging through heartbreaking tragedy, the martial arts master shares tales of overcoming challenges, extolling universal virtues and showing readers how pride and ego are the enemies of success. With never-before-seen photos and profound insights into the sport and way of life that only a studied legend can provide, Breathe is an entertaining and magnified view of an enduring legacy as well as an inspiring tale of weathering life’s complexities and overcoming them with style and grace.

Rickson Gracie (Author), Fred Sanders (Narrator)

Audiobook

Too Many Reasons to Live

The inspirational memoir from rugby league legend Rob Burrow on his extraordinary career and his battle with motor neurone disease. ‘A pocket rocket of a player and a giant of a character . . . He is one in a million and his story is truly inspirational’ – Clare Balding ‘I’m not giving in until my last breath’ – Rob Burrow Rob Burrow is one of the greatest rugby league players of all time. And the most inspirational. As a boy, Rob was told he was too small to play the sport. Even when he made his debut for Leeds Rhinos, people wrote him off as a novelty. But Rob never stopped proving people wrong. During his time at Leeds, for whom he played almost 500 games, he won eight Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and three World Club Challenges. He also played for his country in two World Cups. In December 2019, Rob was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a rare degenerative condition, and given a couple of years to live. He was only 37, not long retired and had three young children. When he went public with the devastating news, the outpouring of affection and support was extraordinary. When it became clear that Rob was going to fight it all the way, sympathy turned to awe. This is the story of a tiny kid who adored rugby league but never should have made it – and ended up in the Leeds hall of fame. It's the story of a man who resolved to turn a terrible predicament into something positive – when he could have thrown the towel in. It's about the power of love, between Rob and his childhood sweetheart Lindsey; and of friendship, between Rob and his faithful team mates. Far more than a sports memoir, Too Many Reasons to Live is a story of boundless courage and infinite kindness.

Rob Burrow (Author), Matthew Lewis, Rachel Shenton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Spudd: The Mark Carroll story

IN the brutal world of rugby league, Mark 'Spudd' Carroll is one of the most fearsome players to ever lace on a boot. An enforcer who would do everything in his power to ensure victory for his team - including a pre-game ritual of eating 16 potatoes, hence the nickname. Spudd is from a rugged era where, even if concussed, players climbed to their feet and threw themselves back into the fray. In stints with the Panthers, Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles, his search-and-destroy missions each weekend made his matches compulsory viewing. In particular, his brutal encounters with Newcastle rival Paul 'Chief' Harragon are legendary and have been viewed across the globe. In SPUDD, both men lift the lid on their volatile relationship, including the day they refused to room with each other when selected for the NSW State of Origin team. Carroll's career at the elite level spanned over a decade, between 1987 and 1999, and included more than 200 games. He played in three grand finals, tasting premiership success with Manly in 1996 under his mentor and Rugby League Immortal Bob Fulton. He played seven State of Origin matches for NSW, winning a series in 1997. He played 12 Test matches for Australia and was part of the team that won the World Cup at London's famous Wembley Stadium in 1995. Carroll's tough reputation is matched only by his honesty. Spudd calls it as he sees it and doesn't care who he upsets in the process. These qualities caught the eye of actor Russell Crowe, who hired Carroll as his trainer for more than eight years. Spudd's job was to whip the Oscar-winner into shape for upcoming movie roles. The duo was famous for their heated backyard footy battles, which once left Crowe with a serious leg injury. They remain firm friends.

Adam Hawse, Mark Carroll (Author), Mark Carroll, Monique Carroll, Wayne Blair (Narrator)

Audiobook

Across the River: Life, Death, and Football in an American City

On the west bank of the Mississippi lies the New Orleans neighborhood of Algiers. Short on hope but big on dreams, its mostly poor and marginalized residents find joy on Friday nights when the Cougars of Edna Karr High School take the field. For years, this football program has brought glory to Algiers, winning three consecutive state championships and sending dozens of young men to college on football scholarships. Although he is preparing for a fourth title, head coach Brice Brown is focused on something else: keeping his players alive. An epidemic of gun violence plagues New Orleans and its surrounding communities and has claimed many innocent lives, including Brown’s former star quarterback, Tollette “Tonka” George, shot near a local gas station. In Across the River, award-winning sports journalist Kent Babb follows the Karr football team through its 2019 season as Brown and his team—perhaps the scrappiest and most rebellious group in the program’s history—vie to again succeed on and off the field. What is sure to be a classic work of sports journalism, Across the River is a necessary investigation into the serious realities of young athletes in struggling neighborhoods: gentrification, eviction, mental health issues, the drug trade, and gun violence. It offers a rich and unflinching portrait of a coach, his players, and the West Bank, a community where it’s difficult—but not impossible—to rise above the chaos, discover purpose, and find a way out. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Kent Babb (Author), Kent Babb, Ryan Vincent Anderson (Narrator)

Audiobook

High-Impact Life: A Sports Agent’s Secrets to Finding and Fulfilling a Purpose You Can’t Lose

Who do you want to become? What kind of impact do you want to make―at work, in your community, in the world at large? What is the legacy you want to leave? These are the questions sports agent Kelli Masters asks each one of her players before their professional sports career begins. The first woman ever to represent a Top 5 pick in the NFL Draft, career success is a priority for Kelli―but even more, her agency was founded on helping her clients discover who God really called them to be, finding their true purpose in life beyond the field. Now, in High-Impact Life, Kelli brings that same passion to your life, helping you discover what you really need to succeed. Through her own personal story of becoming an agent in a male-dominated field, as well as through practical tips and tools, you'll discover how to see who you truly are, live with significance, and find fulfillment and purpose in your everyday life, starting right where you are now. You are the first, last, and only you to ever exist. God gives each of us special skills, talents, and passions―and our job is to find a way to use them, not just for our own enjoyment but also to serve others, and in doing so, we serve God. High-Impact Life will equip you with what you need to turn your passions into a purpose-filled calling.

Kelli Masters (Author), Kelli Masters (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hard Driving: The Wendell Scott Story

The only book-length account of the life of Wendell Scott, the one-time moonshine runner who broke the color barrier in stock-car racing in 1952 and, against all odds, competed for more than 20 years in a sport dominated by Southern whites. Hard Driving is the story of one man's determination to live the life he loved, and to compete at the highest level of his sport. When Wendell Scott became NASCAR's version of Jackie Robinson in the segregated 1950s, some speedways refused to let him race. Scott appealed directly to the sport's founder, NASCAR czar Bill France Sr., who promised that NASCAR would treat him without prejudice. For the next two decades, Scott chased a dream whose fulfillment depended on France backing up that promise. France reneged on his pledge, but Scott did receive inspiring support from white drivers who admired his skill and tenacity, such as NASCAR champions Ned Jarrett and Richard Petty.

Brian Donovan (Author), Kiff Vandenheuvel (Narrator)

Audiobook

Vuelta Skelter: Riding the Remarkable 1941 Tour of Spain

Brought to you by Penguin. Tim Moore completes his epic (and ill-advised) trilogy of cycling's Grand Tours. Julian Berrendero's victory in the 1941 Vuelta a Espana was an extraordinary exercise in sporting redemption: the Spanish cyclist had just spent 18 months in Franco's concentration camps, punishment for expressing Republican sympathies during the civil war. Seventy nine years later, perennially over-ambitious cyclo-adventurer Tim Moore developed a fascination with Berrendero's story, and having borrowed an old road bike with the great man's name plastered all over it, set off to retrace the 4,409km route of his 1941 triumph - in the midst of a global pandemic. What follows is a tale of brutal heat and lonely roads, of glory, humiliation, and then a bit more humiliation. Along the way Tim recounts the civil war's still-vivid tragedies, and finds the gregarious but impressively responsible locals torn between welcoming their nation's only foreign visitor, and bundling him and his filthy bike into a vat of antiviral gel. © Tim Moore 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Tim Moore (Author), Tim Moore (Narrator)

Audiobook

Memories from the Microphone: A Century of Baseball Broadcasting

In this second in a series of Baseball Hall of Fame books, celebrate the larger-than-life role played by radio and TV announcers in enhancing the pleasure of our national pastime. Commemorate the 100th anniversary of baseball broadcasting. The first baseball game ever broadcast on radio was on August 5, 1921, by Harold Wampler Arlin, a part-time announcer on Pittsburgh's KDKA, America's first commercially licensed radio station. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 8-5. An insider's view of baseball. Now listen to Memories from the Microphone and experience baseball from author Curt Smith. He has spent much of his life covering baseball radio and TV, and previously authored baseball books, including the classic Voices of The Game. Relive baseball's storied past through the eyes of famed broadcasters. Organized chronologically, Memories from the Microphone charts the history of baseball broadcasting. Enjoy celebrated stories and personalities that have shaped the game-from Mel Allen to Harry Caray, Vin Scully to Joe Morgan, Ernie Harwell to Red Barber.

Curt Smith (Author), Barry Abrams (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Open Question: Ben Hogan and Golf's Most Enduring Controversy

In 1942, the United States Golf Association (USGA) cancelled its four golf tournaments for the duration of World War II. But then it did something different in only that year-it sponsored the Hale-America National Open on the same weekend as the cancelled US Open. The great Ben Hogan won that tournament and went to his grave believing he had therefore won a record five US Open titles. In The Open Question, Peter May turns his attention to this controversial, colorful Hale-America National Open of 1942. While providing an in-depth look at the tournament itself, May champions Hogan's claim to five US Open titles and debunks some questionable assertions that the tournament was not worthy of a US Open. Set against the backdrop of World War II, May also tells the stories of other professional golfers in the tournament and the impact of the war on all their lives. The USGA has never recognized the Hale-America Tournament as an official US Open and remains firm in its stance. It was a decision that bothered Ben Hogan for the rest of his life. The Open Question shows how dominant Ben Hogan was against some of the biggest names in golf, and reveals why he deserves to be recognized as a five-time US Open winner.

Peter May (Author), Adam Barr (Narrator)

Audiobook