Books in Tales from the DEAD series

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 fiery and headstrong Jim Haslett. 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.

With roots that go back to 1953, the Indianapolis Colts are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. But the modern legacy of achievement began in 1984 when the Colts arrived in Indianapolis after a midnight escape from Baltimore. More than thirty years later, the Colts have forged an identity as one of the most dynamic, power-driven teams in football today.Now diehard Colts fans can relive all the struggles, all the passion, and all the glory of Indianapolis football in this newly revised edition of Tales from the Indianapolis Colts Sideline. Indiana sportswriters Mike Chappell and Phil Richards take readers inside the Colts’ Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center; onto the Lucas Oil Stadium sidelines; into the huddle; and inside the decisions, the strategies, the players, and the personalities that have made the Colts one of the NFL’s most exciting teams. They pay homage to Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeney, and all the players who propelled the team to its Super Bowl victory following the 2006 season. And they look ahead as Andrew Luck and company attempt to bring home another title. This is the book for football fans that bleed Colts blue

During an association with the Washington State football program that started in 1977, Jim Walden established a foundation of competitive expectations that helped spur the success of contemporary Cougar teams. Walden’s 1981 Cougars broke a 51-year bowl drought, and with victories in three of his last five Apple Cup games against Washington, Walden finally leveled the field with WSU’s cross-state rivals. Walden’s teams beat every opponent in the Pac-10 Conference at least once, squaring off against powerhouses USC, UCLA, and Washington despite a deficit in resources that he once described as “having to fight battles every Saturday with a really short sword.” He kidded and sparred with coaches like Don James, John Robinson, and Terry Donahue, while ticking off a few others with his outspokenness. He offered his opinions so frequently and frankly that his university president had “The Walden Release” printed and ready as a disclaimer for the press: “The opinions of Coach Walden do not necessarily reflect the stance of the WSU administration.”In Tales from the Washington State Cougars Sideline, the stories cover players and coaches alike, including Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson, the colorful “Lone Star” Dietz, Bill Doba, and many more. Walden reveals the effective strategies and the flubs and tells what really happened on the field and in the locker rooms. He also shares the ways he was able to coax prospects into coming to remote Pullman and what he was really screaming at officials all those times. Walden tells his stories the way he coached—all out and nothing held back, with wit and humor.

Beginning with their founding as the Dallas Texans of the American Football League in 1960, the Kansas City Chiefs have been one of professional football’s most storied franchises. In Tales from the Kansas City Chiefs Sideline, veteran sportswriter Bob Gretz brings the team’s rich history to life.Gretz begins with the Chiefs’ visionary, 27-year-old owner Lamar Hunt, who founded not only a team but an entire league. After the Texans won the AFL championship in 1962, Hunt moved the team out of his hometown to Kansas City. Two Super Bowl appearances as the representative of the AFL culminated in a Chiefs’ championship in 1970, despite being a double-digit underdog to the Minnesota Vikings. It would be the final game featuring an AFL team, as the Chiefs and nine other teams merged with the NFL. Gretz covers the battles leading up to the merger along with the high and low points in team history—the lean years (1972–88); the “Carl and Marty” era, when the team made the play-offs in six consecutive seasons; the “Joe and Marcus” show of 1993; the dismal 2008 season; and the team’s 2013 renewal under Andy Reid and John Dorsey.Tales from the Kansas City Chiefs Sideline is a must-have for any Chiefs fan!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.

J! E! T! S! Jets! Jets! Jets! From Joe Namath and Jets greatest victory in Super Bowl III to the maddening, entertaining, bumbling Jets that have become a way of life for fans, here is the history of the New York 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.

During his 27-year tenure with the San Diego Chargers, 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.This reissue of Tales from the San Diego Chargers Locker Room takes the reader aboard the elevator to B2, the basement of Qualcomm Stadium, where the Chargers locker room is housed. In that basement, the equipment department and trainers, affectionately known as "dungeon rats," ran the Chargers locker room. There, Sid Brooks became caretaker for all who crossed its threshold.In this book, 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 with Fouts, Joiner, and Winslow; the zany pre-game rituals and idiosyncrasies of Russ Washington, Wilbur Young, Pat Curran, Woodrow Lowe, and others; rivalries born not on the playing field, but at the dominoes table; and plenty of pranks and good-natured ribbing.Rarely does a book offer more than a passing glance at what makes a football team a family. But Sid Brooks not only introduces the family here—he also invites the reader over for dinner.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.

Amos Otis, Frank White, George Brett, Hal McRae, Dan Quisenberry, Bret Saberhagen, Paul Splittorff—one mention of any of those names can bring about visions of great baseball, determination, and winning. However, one vision outweighs all others: the boys in blue . . . the Kansas City Royals.The Kansas City Royals, an expansion club in the American League in 1969, struggled during their early existence. It didn’t take long, however, before the Royals established themselves as one of the most successful franchises in baseball. That success culminated with the winning of the 1985 World Series. Since 1969, the Royals have developed great players that have had fun. Along the way, they also have developed a winning tradition. Although the Royals have received the “small-market” tag in recent years, the organization still boasts a proud heritage, and in 2014 they recorded their first playoff victory in almost thirty years en route to a seven-game World Series matchup against the San Francisco Giants. In this reissue of Tales from the Kansas City Royals Dugout, first published in 2004 and updated through the 2014 season, longtime Royals radio broadcaster Denny Matthews relives the club’s great moments and proud tradition.Sit back and enjoy never-before-told anecdotes, including from the team’s great rivalries with the New York Yankees, Oakland A’s, and the remarkable players who have helped form the legend of the Kansas City Royals.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.

The history of Purdue athletics is sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and triumphant, and often pretty amazing—but always uniquely human. Along the way many characters have arisen in over twelve decades of competition and nearly two hundred of these great stories are chronicled in this book, first published in 2003. On the hardwood, readers will learn why Purdue turned down its first opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament, allowing archrival Indiana to win the 1940 title and how the first “Big Dog” in Purdue men’s basketball history wasn’t Glenn Robinson. From the football sidelines, the authors reveal the dramatic incident that almost cost the lives of Rose Bowl heroes Bob Griese and George Catavolos at the 1967 Hula Bowl. Also, readers will find out how long-time New York Yankees’ owner George Steinbrenner became an assistant coach for the Purdue football team and a quarter century later was instrumental in luring the Boilermakers’ NCAA Final Four coach away from Purdue. Included are the stories of Purdue’s national championship teams, including the 1961 golf team, which was led by a player who never lost to golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, and the triumphant story of the 1999 Purdue women’s basketball team surviving three coaching changes en route to a national title. Readers will enjoy stories from some of the colorful characters in the school’s past: Mike Alstott, Lin Dunn, Gene Keady, George King, Ward “Piggy” Lambert, Jack Mollenkopf, Michael “Scooby” Scearce, Moose Skowron, and Joe Tiller—to name a few. And you will travel back to the early days and the origins of Boilermaker sports and continue through the digital age, following the likes of Heisman Trophy hopeful Drew Brees and many more Boilermaker legends.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.

The 1983 American League West champion Chicago White Sox will forever be remembered by their trademark slogan "Winning Ugly." One of the stars of that colorful bunch that rocked old Comiskey Park was an unlikely hero, a twenty-five-year-old rookie from Northwest Indiana. Ron Kittle led the 1983 White Sox with 35 home runs, 100 RBIs, and Rookie of the Year honors. Now Kittle shares the adventures, struggles, and triumphs of his incredible journey. A one-of-a-kind collection of stories, anecdotes, and humor, this newly-updated edition ofTales from the Chicago White Sox Dugout opens a window into the life of more than just one Sox legend. Kittle shares insights about manager Tony La Russa, catcher Carlton Fisk, outfielder Harold Baines, Cy Young winner LaMarr Hoyt, and a host of others. Peppered with stories from on and off the field, Tales from the Chicago White Sox Dugout catalogs more than just stats and facts; Kittle shares inspiring stories of overcoming the physical pain he dealt with every day, as well as his dedication to raising funds for charity, adventures in the dugout, and so much more.

What’s it like to race across the blacktop of the nation’s most famous track? How does it feel to smash into a concrete wall while going over 200 miles per hour? This exciting, humorous, and poignant collection of tales takes readers inside the most thrilling race in America. Newly updated, Tales from the Indianapolis 500 captures horrific collisions and sweet victories from drivers past and present. With the 100th race approaching, the excitement and history of the Indy 500 will be on the mind of every racing fan.Author and renowned broadcaster Jack Arute exposes readers to a fast-paced world of high-speed thrills and unbelievable wipeouts. Beginning with his first encounter at the iconic race, along with stories from racing legends like Ray Harroun, and memorable races stretching up to the present day, Arute captures an entire culture of its own. NASCAR fans, whether young or old, will revel in the chance to experience the Indy 500 from within these pages. There’s no doubt readers will feel like they’re actually there!Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is 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.In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. 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.

Tom Kelly, the legendary signature voice of USC sports for nearly five decades, combines with coauthor Tom Hoffarth of the Daily News of Los Angeles to take Trojan fans on a journey of memories and previously untold anecdotes from and about many of the great coaches, players, teams, and games in USC football history, as well as other sports. His story in Southern California starts with the recommendation of Jack Buck that he be hired as Chick Hearn’s color man on USC football and basketball games in 1961. During Kelly’s forty-plus year run, the Trojans boasted five Heisman Trophy winners, won five national championships, and played in 14 Rose Bowls and 24 overall bowl games. Kelly, who won five Golden Mike Awards and was named California’s Sportscaster of the Year three times, was inducted into USC’s Hall of Fame in 2001. With an introduction that touches on the Trojans’ drive toward a hoped-for twelfth national championship, Tom Kelly’s book includes stories and anecdotes that are sure to become a must-read for all USC fans.

Since their dominance of professional football in the 1960s, the Green Bay Packers have reemerged as one of the elite teams in the NFL, with Super Bowl championships in 1996 and 2010. The victory and legend of Green Bay Packers continues in Chuck Carlson’s Tales from the Green Bay Packers Sideline , now updated through the 2014 season. In this behind-the-scenes look at the NFL’s second oldest franchise, Carlson captures the determination, aggression, and vision that have constantly spurred the Packers to greatness.Through interviews and extensive research, Carlson brings to life stories from Packers legends such as Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Brett Favre, and the stars of today’s Packers like Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, Jr. Tales from the Green Bay Packers Sideline opens a window into the greatest Packers moments both on and off the field. Why was Vince Lombardi against the idea of rededicating the Packers stadium and naming it Lambeau Field? How was Monday Night Football changed forever during a Packers game on October 17, 1983? How did Aaron Rodgers respond to the pressure of Super Bowl XLV? Readers will relive the greatest moments and quirkiest anecdotes from throughout Packers history. This newly updated collection is a must-have for any Green Bay fan.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.