This unique and humorous look at life with the Dolphins brings fans onto the field and into the locker room through the eyes of Garo Yepremian, one of Miami’s most recognizable figures. From kicking in his first professional football game to being named “Kicker of the Decade,” Yepremian relives the Dolphins epic 1972 season and so much more.

University of Miami football is more than national championships, thirty-game winning streaks, and being a pipeline to the NFL. It’s the Gator Flop, defeating Tulane on a fifth down, and playing three games in eight days. It’s converting third and 44 against Notre Dame, Michael Irvin talking smack with Florida State’s Deion Sanders, and Vinny Testaverde being sacked by hamburgers. It’s the Jet Lag Kids playing seven road games in one season, including one in Tokyo, and it’s the Ibis mascot being arrested on the field in Tallahassee and being nicked by a bullet on Bourbon Street. Tales from the Miami Hurricanes Sideline is a collection of the greatest anecdotes and stories ever told about ’Canes football. In this newly updated edition, Jim Martz, who has covered the team for more than three decades, chronicles the ups, downs, and sideways of this spirited program that has produced five national championship teams under four different coaches since 1983. They have won under charismatic coaches and under low-key coaches. More than anything, they have won with colorful players. In an age of parity and just a few years removed from the program nearly being dropped, the Hurricanes have defied the odds and become a dynasty of modern college football.

During his 27-year tenure with the Chargers, beloved equipment manager Sid Brooks kept more than 5,000 football players from appearing naked before their cheering fans. The first African American to hold the job of equipment manager in the NFL, Brooks was tasked with seeing that each player left the locker room in uniform. But the means to that end was far more complicated—and outrageous—than one would believe. In Tales from the Chargers Locker Room, Sid recounts stories unique to a life spent working behind the scenes in the Chargers locker room. He features stories about Chargers greats like Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow, Louie Kelcher, John Jefferson, Rodney Harrison, and Junior Seau. With an eye for detail, he recounts tales of spies sent out to capture the opposing team’s playbooks; the night the lights went out on Don Shula; wild cab rides; the zany pregame rituals and idiosyncrasies; rivalries born not on the playing field, but at the dominoes table; and plenty of pranks and good-natured ribbing. Brimming with hilarity, insight, and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, Tales from the Chargers Locker Room is a must-read for every Chargers devotee.

Plenty of sports franchises have stories that flow from hopelessness to prosperity. That was the backdrop when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became world champions, but how many others had to perform with an accompanying laugh track? How many used the number one overall draft pick on a player (Bo Jackson) who surveyed the scene, shrugged his shoulders, and decided to play baseball? How many essentially gave away their battered and star-crossed quarterback (Steve Young), suddenly jump-starting his route to the Hall of Fame? How many had a coach (John McKay), who, when asked what he thought of his team's execution, wryly replied, I'm in favor of it? How many work in an antiquated training facility (One Buc Place) that hosts exterminators more often than the owners? For nearly a generation, they were the Yucks. Then they transformed themselves from frogs into princes. Tales from the Bucs Sideline is their story, warts and all. From winless wonders to world champions, from hapless players too embarrassed to show their faces in public to superstars who are constantly in your face. One and off the field, this is the story of how a franchise can transform from woeful to wonderful, complete with all the unforgettable (and forgettable) moments and characters.

Ideal for fans of the Mark of a Lion series and Bill Parcells Pro football chronicle of the New York Jets Covers the successes and losses of the Jets For over 55 seasons, the New York Jets have not enjoyed large doses of pride and glory. Yes, Joe Namath led them to a stunning Super Bowl III upset victory in 1968. But since then, the Jets have gone back and forth between maddening and entertaining, bumbling and embarrassing, and constantly teasing their fierce fan base. At this point, rather sadistically, the rollercoaster of rooting for the Jets has become a way of life. In Tales from the New York Jets Sideline, author Mark Cannizzaro brings his readers on a journey. Readers and author travel through Cannizzaro’s eyes and the eyes of the subjects he has covered, throughout the maze of musings, controversial coincidences, and the occasional brilliance that the Jets have displayed during the years the author has followed the franchise. This includes their consecutive AFC Championship Game losses in 2009 and 2010 and the following struggles, adding to the former angst and teases Jets fans have felt since Joe Willie’s memorable triumph. 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.

Take a journey from the infant stages of football in Minnesota up through the Vikings’ four Super Bowl appearances in Bill Williamson and Eric Thompson’s Tales from the Minnesota Vikings Sideline. For more than fifty years the Vikings have established themselves as one of the premier teams in the NFL. Perhaps the most successful team to never win a Super Bowl, the Vikings have nevertheless harbored a rich tradition of winning football. Now fans of this Midwest powerhouse will relive all the history, all the passion, and all the tantalizingly glory of Vikings football within these pages. Remember the bone-chilling days of old Metropolitan Stadium? Or the no-nonsense, in-your-face coaching style of Bud Grant? From Cris Carter to Fran Tarkenton, Randy Moss, Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Teddy Bridgewater and more, this newly revised edition of Tales from the Minnesota Vikings Sideline has it all!

More than just a football team, the Chicago Bears are a vital part of Chicago culture. After close to a century of play, the Bears have won more regular season games than any other NFL franchise. With twenty-seven players in the Hall of Fame and fourteen retired jerseys, it’s no wonder the Bears are a beloved, storied franchise. But the Bears, like Chicago, are not just people: they are true personalities. In Amazing Tales From the Chicago Bears Sideline, Bears fans can read about the men who have made the Bears one of the greatest teams in pro football—George Halas, Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka, Jay Culter, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, and many others. Former Bears star Steve McMichael takes a front row seat in this collection of stories. Readers get an opportunity to relive the glory years of a charter NFL franchise—as seen through the eyes of a legendary player. McMichael covers it all, from training camp misadventures in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Platteville, Wisconsin, and Ditka’s locker room tirades to nights on the town with teammates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of historic moments. From first kick-off to overtime play, Amazing Tales from the Chicago Bears Sideline covers some of the franchise’s greatest moments, and is a must-have for any true Bears fan.

Relive the Greatest Moments in Saints Football—Newly Updated! The New Orleans Saints own a rich history that reflects the unique character of their hometown—always colorful, sometimes sinful, and utterly unpredictable. In recent years, the Saints have shaken off their reputation as the NFL’s lovable Fleur de Losers and have risen to become a dangerous gridiron competitor once again. Despite the struggles of their early years, the Saints are adored and worshipped by their fans like few other teams in the league. Their diehard followers are resilient, passionate, and eternally optimistic. In this newly revised edition of Tales from the New Orleans Saints Sideline, author Jeff Duncan chronicles the flamboyant history of the franchise, its highs and lows, the great coaches and players, and the colorful characters that have made it one of the most interesting clubs in NFL history. Tales from the New Orleans Saints Sideline details the franchise’s journey from the bumbling early years under freewheeling owner John Mecom, through the misguided and madcap three seasons under Coach Mike Ditka, and the return to respectability under the wise Sean Payton. Primed and ready to achieve the glory that has thus far eluded them, the New Orleans Saints have hundreds of stories to be told, and thousands of moments to share. Now fans will relive all the greatest triumphs and most devastating defeats, and get the inside story from former Saints greats like Mora, Archie Manning, Morten Andersen, Pat Swilling, Drew Brees, and more. Without a doubt, Tales from the New Orleans Saints Sideline is a must-have for any football fan.

A de facto American national holiday and phenomenon, the Super Bowl claims a spot as one of the most significant sporting events in the world and the most widely celebrated, feasted and feasting event of the year— with $14+ billion at stake, commercials costing $7 million for a 30-second spot, record-setting broadcast ratings, and 113+ million viewers. More avocados (105 million pounds) are consumed, and more beer is drunk (325 million gallons) on the single day of Superbowl Sunday. But there is much more at play than partying at our annual sports extravaganza, as this scholarly researched yet readable volume demonstrates: Here you will read a historical perspective that includes discussions of the meta-event’s economics (stakeholders, host cities, advertising, gambling, and media), fandom, ratings, halftime entertainment, the roles of mythic spectacle and religion, football’s sexist, militaristic language, gender issues like cheerleaders and sex trafficking, the Puppy Bowl, medical concerns like concussions and violence, tailgating and foodie ideas—all along with tidbits about your favorite team(s) and player(s). Touchdown!

Ohio coaching legend Paul Brown said he wanted to create "the New York Yankees of pro football" when he assembled the Cleveland Browns from scratch in 1946. Despite his ambition, not even the future Hall of Fame coach could have foreseen ten league championship appearances and seven titles in the team's first ten years. Since their first game, the Cleveland Browns have come to symbolize power, excellence, and gridiron dominance. Now fans of one of the NFL’s most storied teams will recapture all the excitement and glory of Browns football in this newly revised edition of Tales from the Cleveland Browns Sideline. Cleveland native and veteran football writer Tony Grossi recalls the personalities that sowed one of the NFL's proudest traditions and the characters who have continued to grow it. Fans will discover the unlikely origin of the Marion Motley trap play, the scout's inside story behind "the mad dog in the meat market,” the insult that launched Brian Sipe's rise from a thirteenth-round draft pick to the league's Most Valuable Player, and so much more. From Jim Brown to Bernie Kosar and up through the modern era, this book captures the colorful characters who wore the plain white uniforms and blank orange helmets like never before.