The long-standing rivalry between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals is one of the most heated in college basketball. Facing off against each other on the court for over a century, the intrastate rivalry became red-hot over thirty years ago when the two faced each other in 1983 NCAA tournament, and Louisville narrowly edged out the Wildcats to advance to the Elite Eight. The heat hasn’t died down since ’83; in fact, the animosity between the two has only gotten stronger, with numerous face-offs—both on and off the court. In Fightin’ Words, Joe Cox and Ryan Clark expertly narrate the blow-by-blows of all the most important moments in the history of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry. Fightin’ Words, first published in 2014 and now newly updated in paperback, covers the hundred-plus year span of the feud. From the twelve games played prior to the fated 1983 meeting, to the Wildcat-Cardinal meet-up in the Final Four round of 2014 NCAA tournament, and every game in between through the 2014-15 season, all the games covered include insightful pregame evaluation, commentary on the games’ most important plays, and expert postgame analysis, along with interviews from key players. From off the court, read how Louisville coach Denny Crum craftily out-recruited Kentucky coach Joe Hall or the athletes in inner-city Louisville; discover a blow-by-blow of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino’s move from the Wildcats to the Cardinals; and learn how John Calipari transformed a losing Kentucky team into NCAA Champions. With individual chapters chronicling every meet-up, Fightin’ Words is a must-have for every true fan of college basketball. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

One of the oldest and most celebrated franchises in baseball history, the Cincinnati Reds have left an indelible mark on the national pastime. Perhaps the most compelling but overlooked period in Reds history is the 1940 championship season, during which the team won 100 games and earned the world title while overcoming an in-season tragedy faced by no other team in baseball history. Four attempted suicides, three of which were successful, by individuals connected to the team dealt a tragic and unprecedented setback to what was ultimately a successful season. This book addresses both the 1940 Cincinnati Reds as a collective group and, to a greater degree, the individual players who comprised that championship squad. The book begins with the story of Willard Hershberger, the 1940 reserve catcher for the Reds and the only player ever to commit suicide during a major league season. Later chapters tell the stories of Bill McKechnie and Warren Giles, the managers who together led the Reds to victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1940, and the stories of the players on the pennant-winning team: Frank McCormick, Lonnie Frey, Billy Myers, Billy Werber, Eddie Joost, Paul Derringer, William "Bucky" Walters, Johnny Vander Meer, Gene Thompson, Jim Turner, Joseph Beggs, Jimmy Ripple, and Ernie Lombardi. The crucial games, important performances, and personal tragedies of the 1940 season, culminating in the drama of a seven-game World Series, are chronicled in this book.

In Game of My Life Texas Longhorns, prominent Texas players of the past and coach Darrell Royal share their fondest experiences and game-day memories of the games they remember the most, largely in their own words, with authors Michael Pearle and Bill Frisbie. Longhorn greats take the reader on a journey back to some of the greatest games in Texas history. How did Earl Campbell prove that he was worthy of the Heisman? How did a Snickers bar help convince Ricky Williams to return to Texas for his senior year? What was Vince Young really thinking just before the 2006 Rose Bowl? In Game of My Life Texas Longhorns, fans will find the answers to these questions and many more as more than twenty of the greatest players relive the moment that shaped their college football career. Within these pages, Texas fans will finally get the chance to step into the game and onto the grass with their favorite Longhorns legends. UT grads Michael Pearle and Bill Frisbie walk readers down memory lane to capture some of the most exciting, poignant, and fulfilling games ever played by the Horns. A must-have for any Horns fan.

Kyle Van Noy played college football for Brigham Young University from 2010-13. He quickly became a key contributor on defense as an outside linebacker. By his sophomore season he was the centerpiece of the defense and team MVP. As a junior in 2012, he was the catalyst of a unit that became the best defense in school history. What made Van Noy such a special player was his knack for making game-changing plays. Van Noy was a fan favorite, but not only for his play on the field. He had an inspiring story away from the field. Van Noy had some problems in high school that almost kept him from attending BYU. Once he was enrolled at BYU, the special environment of the school gave Van Noy life changing experiences that has made him a role model for many. Kyle Van Noy: The Game Changer looks at both sides of the Van Noy legacy. Each of his game changing plays is documented and discussed. Many of the life changing lessons he learned are also discussed by his coaches, friends, and teammates.

How did Earl Campbell prove that he was worthy of the Heisman? How did a Snickers bar help convince Ricky Williams to return to Texas for his senior year? What was Vince Young really thinking just before the 2006 Rose Bowl? In Game of My Life Texas Longhorns, fans will find the answers to these questions and many more as twenty of the greatest players relive the moment that shaped their college football career. Within these pages, Texas fans will finally get the chance to step into the game and onto the grass with their favorite Longhorns legends from past and present. Texas natives Michael Pearle and Bill Frisbie walk readers down memory lane to capture some of the most exciting, poignant, and fulfilling games ever played by the Horns. A must-have for any Horns fan.

Perhaps even more than the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots are the team of the entire northeast from Rhode Island to Canada. Here, sports historian Robert W. Cohen ranks the 50 best players to ever take the field for the Patriots. Who can forget Wes Welker, Troy Brown, Jim Nance, Ted Bruschi, and Tom Brady. They're all here in this fascinating collection of bios, stats, quotes from opposing players and former teammates, photographs, and recaps of memorable performances and seasons. This book is a must-read not only for Patriots fans, but for all fans of professional football.

This book carefully examines the careers of the 50 men who made the greatest impact on one of the most successful franchises in the history of professional sports. Features of The 50 Greatest Players in New York Yankees History include quotes from opposing players and former teammates, summaries of each player s best season, recaps of their most memorable performances, and listings of their notable achievements.