Fever Pitch is not a typical memoir--there are no chapters, just a series of match reports falling into three time frames (childhood, young adulthood, manhood). While watching the May 2, 1972, Reading v. Arsenal match, it became embarrassingly obvious to the then 15-year-old that his white, suburban, middle-class roots made him a wimp with no sense of identity: "Yorkshire men, Lancastrians, Scots, the Irish, blacks, the rich, the poor, even Americans and Australians have something they can sit in pubs and bars and weep about." But a boy from Maidenhead could only dream of coming from a place with "its own tube station and West Indian community and terrible, insoluble social problems."

Fever Pitch reveals the very special intricacies of British football, which readers new to the game will find astonishing, and which Hornby presents with remarkable humor and honesty--the "unique" chants sung at matches, the cold rain-soaked terraces, giant cans of warm beer, the trains known as football specials carrying fans to and from matches in prisonlike conditions, bottles smashing on the tracks, thousands of policemen waiting in anticipation for the cargo of hooligans. The sport and one team in particular have crept into every aspect of Hornby's life--making him see the world through Arsenal-tinted spectacles. --Naomi Gesinger
Price=$14.00
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:10 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/fever-pitch.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/fever-pitch.htm
By the author of the bestselling Moneyball: in football, as in life, the value we place on people changes with the rules of the games they play.

The young man at the center of this extraordinary and moving story will one day be among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or any of the things a child might learn in school—such as, say, how to read or write. Nor has he ever touched a football.

What changes? He takes up football, and school, after a rich, Evangelical, Republican family plucks him from the mean streets. Their love is the first great force that alters the world's perception of the boy, whom they adopt. The second force is the evolution of professional football itself into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist turns out to be the priceless combination of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side.
Price=$24.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:11 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-blind-side.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-blind-side.htm
They have names like Barmy Bernie, Daft Donald, and Steamin' Sammy. They like lager (in huge quantities), the Queen, football clubs (especially Manchester United), and themselves. Their dislike encompasses the rest of the known universe, and England's soccer thugs express it in ways that range from mere vandalism to riots that terrorize entire cities. Now Bill Buford, editor of the prestigious journal Granta, enters this alternate society and records both its savageries and its sinister allure with the social imagination of a George Orwell and the raw personal engagement of a Hunter Thompson.
Price=$15.00
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:11 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/among-the.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/among-the.htm

Price=$4.99
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:12 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/mia-hamm-on.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/mia-hamm-on.htm
Perfect for book reports or summer reading, the newest titles in DK's acclaimed Biography series celebrates two stars who always hit the mark: Annie Oakley and Pele.
Price=$4.99
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:12 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/pele-dk.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/pele-dk.htm
Part diary and part reportage, The Soccer War is a remarkable chronicle of war in the late twentieth century. Between 1958 and 1980, working primarily for the Polish Press Agency, Kapuscinski covered twenty-seven revolutions and coups in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Here, with characteristic cogency and emotional immediacy, he recounts the stories behind his official press dispatches—searing firsthand accounts of the frightening, grotesque, and comically absurd aspects of life during war. The Soccer War is a singular work of journalism.
Price=$13.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:13 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-soccer-war.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-soccer-war.htm

The Last Word on David Beckham

There is only one David Beckham -- and it's not always the one you read about in the newspapers and magazines or see in the movies. From humble East End London beginnings, the boy with prodigious soccer skills grew up to be one of the most gifted athletes of his generation as well as a sex symbol and fashion icon. Along the way he married Spice Girl Victoria "Posh" Adams, and together they inhabit a celebrity whirlwind of Diana-esque proportions. In Both Feet on the Ground, David talks candidly about the perils of fame (his wife and son were the targets of a notorious kidnapping plot and he is the subject of almost daily tabloid rumors); the struggle to balance his roles as a devoted husband and besotted father with his globetrotting existence as an international soccer star; the behind-the-scenes stories of his most memorable and heartbreaking (if only he could retake that infamous penalty kick against Portugal in Euro 2004) career moments; the controversy surrounding his first year at Real Madrid after his $41 million transfer from Manchester United, the storied English team he joined as a teenager and led for more than a decade; and, finally, his love of America, where he plans to start a soccer school and perhaps, one day, even play professionally.

Both Feet on the Ground is David Beckham's own extraordinary story, told by the man who knows him best -- David Beckham.

One of the most talked about stars in the world of soccer, Wayne Rooney now talks about . . . Wayne Rooney—no-holds-barred.

Wayne Rooney is barely twenty-two years old, and he's already one of the finest soccer players in the world. Colorful and controversial, he plays—and lives—with an intensity that's unmatched on and off the field. With remarkable candor, he now tells the true story of his life.

From his working-class upbringing on the back streets of Liverpool and his Premiership debut as a sixteen-year-old phenom to his ebullient entrance on the international scene in the 2004 European tournament and the raw drama of the 2006 World Cup, Wayne Rooney: My Story is an honest and inspiring account of a prodigiously gifted youngster and his meteoric rise to fame and fortune. It is a riveting tale of adversity and triumph, of champions and championships, of a private life that never could escape the headlines . . . and of a remarkable athlete whose destiny was forever altered when Manchester United came calling in the summer of 2004.

Coaches, teammates, and opponents recognize that Reyna's value on the field and to a squad extends far beyond the goal-scoring situations he creates. More Than Goals captures the consummate leader and captain's passion and knowledge for the game. You'll gain both an appreciation of what it takes to excel in the sport and insights on how to play it.

Author Claudio Reyna has been a champion performer from youth club through professional levels. The following are among his accomplishments:

· Two-time state champion and two-time Parade magazine High School Player of the Year at St. Benedict's Prep (New Jersey)

· Three-time national champion and All-American, two-time Player of the Year, and College Player of the Century at the University of Virginia

· Three-time World Cup competitor and World Cup all-star team selection in 2002

· Captain of teams in top professional leagues in Germany, Scotland, and England

Reyna is currently with Manchester City of the English Premier League and is also the U.S. national team captain.
Price=$17.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:28 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/more-than.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/more-than.htm

Price=$15.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:29 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/a-season-on.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/a-season-on.htm

Price=$14.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:29 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/good-afternoon.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/good-afternoon.htm
The first in-depth biography of the colourful Brazilian soccer star — one of the most famous and iconic sportsmen of the last decade.

Author James Mosley has been given exclusive access to the footballer’s close management and advisers who have shared with him their experiences with the player over the last ten years. They reveal the inside story of how Ronaldo made his way back to the top of the football world following a horrific knee injury in 1998 which threatened to prematurely end his playing career.

After making a remarkable recovery, Ronaldo has since returned to his prolific goal-scoring ways for his team, Real Madrid, making him Spain’s leading scorer in 2003. Ronaldo continues to be a genuine icon of world football, matched only by David Beckham for fame, recognition and marketability. He has been named FIFA World Player of the Year three times, European Player of the Year twice, and is close to breaking the record for scoring the most international goals.

Ronaldo: The Journey of a Genius reveals how the player rose from humble beginnings in Rio de Janeiro to become a football phenomenon. His wealth has been massively boosted by countless advertising and sponsorship deals, which have in turn enhanced his status as an idol around the world. This exhaustive biography also takes us off the field to unearth aspects of Ronaldo’s private life, including the circumstances behind the failure of his first marriage and his long-awaited second marriage to Spanish model Daniela Cicarelli.
Price=$15.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:32 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/ronaldo-the.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/ronaldo-the.htm
Hit a home run with these biographies! The sports heroes featured have gone through both setbacks and successes, pereservering because of their drive and determination. Make kids the #1 fans of reading with these books!
Price=$7.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:33 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/mia-hamm-2.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/mia-hamm-2.htm

U.S. Women's Team coach Tony DiCicco calls Akers "the best women who's ever played the game." Her fellow 1999 Women's World Cup champions describe her as "a true warrior" and "the heart and soul of this team." In The Game and the Glory, Akers tells the story of her life both on and off the field, and the faith and determination that keep her going--despite a troubled home life, countless injuries, and her battle against CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome). Akers's candor is refreshing; she doesn't paint herself as an angel or take a holier-than-thou attitude. Her Christian faith, simply put, is what allows her to succeed. An inspirational book. --Sunny Delaney
Price=$19.98
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:49 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-game-and.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-game-and.htm

Price=$25.00
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:26:53 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/mia-hamm-3.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/mia-hamm-3.htm

In The Girls of Summer, Jere Longman tells the story of the women's team, their rise to world dominance, and their struggle with the United States Soccer Federation (U.S.S.F.) for the support, respect, and salary they deserve. Drawing on extensive personal interviews recorded before, during, and after the World Cup, Longman offers up portraits of all the players on the team--Akers, Hamm, Chastain, Milbrett, Overbeck, and the rest. Longman also addresses some of the issues surrounding the team and the Women's World Cup--how U.S.S.F. and the national media seriously underestimated the level of interest the tournament would generate; the questions of race and sexuality; and the positive role models these women provided to a nation of young girls--showing them that they, too, could achieve their dreams.

Some of Longman's statements ring false--millions of Europeans would be appalled to hear soccer described as a "Third World sport"--but overall, Girls of Summer is a fine tribute to the world champions. --M. Stein
Price=$14.00
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:27:01 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-girls-of.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/the-girls-of.htm

Price=$29.27
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:27:02 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/david-beckham-2.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/david-beckham-2.htm

In the summer of 1950, a most unlikely group was assembled to represent its country in the first soccer World Cup since World War II. The Americans were outsiders to the sport, the underdogs of the event, a 500-to-1 long shot. But they were also proud and loyal men -- to one another, to their communities, and certainly to their country. Facing almost no time to prepare, opponents with superior training, and skepticism from the rest of the world, this ragtag group of unknowns was inspired to a stunning victory over England and one of the most thrilling upsets in the history of sports.

Written by critically acclaimed author Geoffrey Douglas, and now a film directed by David Anspaugh (Hoosiers), The Game of Their Lives takes us back to a time before million-dollar contracts and commercial endorsements, and introduces us to the athletes -- the Americans -- who showed the world just how far a long shot could really go.

Drawing on anecdotes from her own storied career as well as those of her coaches and celebrated teammates (Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, and others), Chastain tackles the thorny issues of sportsmanship, gamesmanship, and parental involvement gone too far. She teaches young athletes how to develop leadership skills, find (and become) role models, and give something back to their team and community. Her timely message is about rediscovering our respect for the game, for teammates and adversaries, for coaches and refs, and, especially, for the players themselves, because without these values "the game breaks down and the joys of competition are lost."

From her struggle to rebound from consecutive knee surgeries to excruciating losses in NCAA, World Cup, and Olympic competition to her recent battle to make the team she loves, Chastain discloses both the good and bad ways she's personally dealt with adversity and reminds us what it truly means to be a "class act" on and off the field.

Whether it's Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, or, especially, top-flight youth soccer, Chastain offers a blueprint for kids and parents alike on how to play fair, win (and lose) with grace, and, above all, how to have a good time doing it. It's Not About the Bra is a mandatory addition to the shelf of a competitive athlete -- or anyone who coaches or loves them.
Price=$21.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:27:16 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/it-s-not-about.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/it-s-not-about.htm

As Rolf's fame as a kicker grew to the point where he had converted 34 of his last 38 kicks, his condition worsened. But with support from his coaching staff and the public, he continued to play. Finally, during a return flight to San Diego fresh from a loss to the New England Patriots, Rolf collapsed.

Rushed from the plane to the hospital, Rolf began the series of tests and treatments that led to the correct diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and to the four surgeries which saved his life. October 18, 1979. Two surgeries later, at 124 pounds, Rolf returned to Charger Stadium to the cheers of his teammates and a standing ovation by 52,000 Charger fans, to co-captain a game with Louie Kelcher. Uncertain of whether or not he could make it to mid-field for the coin toss, Rolf was reassured by Kelcher, "...if you can't make it, I'll carry you!" Kelcher didn't have to carry him, but he did hold Rolf's hand. September 7, 1980, less than a year after Rolf almost died from inflammatory bowel disease, the Chargers opened a new season in Seattle. Wearing two ostomy devices, Rolf joined them, returning to professional football. He went public with his disorder thus bringing about a greater understanding and acceptance of the disease with which he was afflicted. And he set the example for other ostomy patients, playing seven more seasons in the NFL and becoming one of the best and most respected kickers in NFL history.

Well known for his generosity of spirit, Rolf began the Kicks for Critters program to support the San Diego Zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, he has worked tirelessly for the United Way, and he is a great supporter of the annual San Diego Chargers Blood Drive begun originally in support of him. Marriage, the birth of his daughter, adoption of two brothers from Russia, and a successful business career followed Rolf's years with the NFL. He created the Great Comebacks program which each year honors a person who has faced down inflamatory bowel disease and gone on to make a difference. And finally, he has written this book.

Alive & Kicking is a story of faith, courage, family, friends, determination, and survival. Originally written by Rolf to encourage others with inflamatory bowel disease, it is also an inspirational story for anyone who has ever faced or who is facing the vissicitudes of life. In plain yet eloquent language, Mike Yorkey and Rolf Benirschke use Rolf's story to inspire each of us to perservere, to overcome, to succeed. And to take the lessons we learn during the process to make the most of the life with which we are gifted.
Price=$16.95
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:27:21 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/alive-kicking.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/alive-kicking.htm

All-American Girls

Join the winning team

Score the winning goal with superstar Mia Hamm. Chart the plays and take to the field with co-captain Julie Foudy. Go for the gold with the champs -- Michelle Akers, Carla Overbook, Kristine Lilly, and the rest of the stellar 1999 World Cup team! Read all about our favorite players in the first authorized book on the members of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team.

Find the latest stats, action-packed photos, bios, and advice from the hottest stars in professional sports today. Follow these all-American girls from their earlest days in soccer to their record-breaking careers, with Q&As, and personal info you won't find anyplace else. It's all here, in the book that's a must-have for every soccer fan!
Price=$4.99
Buy ]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:27:23 -0500 http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/all-american.htm http://www.hat-trick.org/store/products/books/all-american.htm

This extraordinary book charts David Beckham's rise to celebrity during his years in Manchester.

At the age of 3 David Beckham's parents gave him a Manchester United shirt as a Christmas present, beginning a relationship with the club that was to last a quarter of a century. He signed schoolboy terms in May 1988, eventually joining United as a trainee in July 1991 and moving up to Manchester to begin what was to become an extraordinary story.

From relatively early days, right up to his departure for Real Madrid, Eamonn and James Clarke, the Manchester paparrazi, have recorded his unofficial story-even before he came to prominence as a player and well before his meteoric rise to iconic status.

They were there when he was a young player finding his feet at the club, there to see him out and about with girlfriends or team colleagues, there when "Posh Spice" arrived on the scene, and there to see him becoming a proud father and family man.

And they were the first to photograph him, with the cut above his eye, walking in Manchester after the boot-kicking incident with Sir Alex Ferguson, when it began to dawn on everyone that David Beckham's time at Manchester United was almost over.

In an introductory text, and through extended captions, Eamonn and James Clarke describe their work and encounters with David Beckham. The two brothers have worked as the Manchester paparrazi for the last 10 years. Their images appear regularly on the front pages of the press in the UK as well as internationally in magazines.