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Athletics has become Britain's most successful sport, and this work investigates the human cost of that success. It charts the trials and tribulations of the Olympic Games' principal sport which have included the achievements of Coe, Ovett, Thompson, Christie and Gunnell. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If the author is this wrong about Hitler.....
... then do I trust she does justice to the life of Jesse Owens?
On pg 24-25 the author statesthe German Olympic team was "all white and all Christian." Hitler "hated others because they were not Christian." Realizing that a children's book can't explain the intricacies of Naziism, it still shouldn't attempt to make Hitler's war into a "Christians-bad-guys" kind of juvenile story. The truth is, Hitler was no spokesman for Christianity, and many of the people he persecuted (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, Maximillian Kolbe) were far better examples of Christian charity than Hitler. Why let a child read a book that leaves a distaste for Christianity in his mouth, as well as obscuring the truth in an effort to simplify the horrible story of Hitler for children. The truth is, Hitler was no friend of Christianity and, like many politicians, paid lip service to Jesus when it furthered his political goals. Why can't the book just say Hitler thought the Germans were a superior race and admired their pagan past, hoping to recreate it in the third reich?

Hooray for Jesse Owens, but boo to Gabi Mezger whose book's stereotypes Christians. ... Read more

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Tells the remarkable story of one of Ireland's greatest yet neglected sporting heroes, Peter O'Connor, 1906 Olympic gold medallist, long jump world record holder and Irish nationalist. This book brings to life a forgotten era of Irish athletic achievement and provides a fascinating social commentary of the life of a young man of ambition in late Victorian Ireland and the early years of the twentieth century. It also describes the frustration of many Irish nationalist athletes of the time who had to compete for Britain on the international stage. ... Read more

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American male decathletes have enjoyed tremendous success over the course of the past century, winning 10 Olympic medals and setting 22 world decathlon records. From Dennis Adama, a world-class high jumper while at Indiana State University, to Matt Zuber, who won 8 out of his 41 career decathlons, this work summarizes the career records of 319 of the most important American decathletes of the 20th Century, including Jim Thorpe, Dan O' Brien, Bob Mathias, Rafer Johnson, and Bruce Jenner. Among these athletes are all Olympians, international team members, national and collegiate champions, and members of the United States National team. Each entry describes the individual athlete's accomplishments and provides a statistical record of his entire decathlon career. A section on decathlon coaches and a comprehensive list of all world and United States decathlon rankings are provided. ... Read more

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Throughout most of human history, running was necessary for survival. In present times, it has become an ever-popular way to promote physical fitness. This work takes a close look at the history of running from the era when running was a survival skill to the contemporary age, when people run for enjoyment. Questions such as why the Greeks considered swiftness of foot the most highly prized quality and why we run counterclockwise around a track are answered in this in-depth history that also includes anecdotes and legends about the history and lore of running. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Highly Recommend For any Sports Fan!!
Breaks running down into 7 time periods from I. Running by Pre-and Early Humans (5,000,000-200,000 BC) all the way to VII The Modern Superstars (1950-2000). Covers the history of running spicing in some great biographies within the stories. Learn about the famous 20th century stars like Carl Lewis, Emil Zatopek and Haile Gebresilasie as well as obscure 19th century runners like George Seward, Harry Hutchens and Amy Howard.
Details how running began, the ancient Olympics, running naked, improvements in time keeping, all sorts of things that most runners never even think of. Running Through the Ages has great illustrations and excellent writing style. Ed Sears has really done his research. Whether you are a runner or simply a sports fan, I highly recommend this book. Not just track fans but all "serious" sports fans should pick up a copy of this great work!

An Inspiring and Exciting History of Running
Running Through the Ages is the most absorbing historical account of running and runners I have read. Its scope is wider than anything previously attempted, ranging from prehistory to the end of the twentieth century, and taking in professional running for men and women as well as the more familiar amateur era that dominated the last century. It is supported by hundreds of rare illustrations, most of which will be new, even to historians of the sport. There is a six-page bibliography and a comprehensive index. Edward Sears is a runner himself, and he wrotes with insight and enthusiasm as well as the skill of a storyteller. His section on George Seward, "The American Wonder", is a revelation. There are superb assessments of athletes as varied as Deerfoot, Arthur Duffey, Paavo Nurmi, Helen Stephens, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Bill Rodgers, Buddy Edelen and Haile Gerbrselassie, for this author has the deep knowledge of the sport to give credit to great and lesser names. All the great races are vividly described and the dramas of the Olympic arena expertly chronicled. This is a fine, inspiring and articulate book. I don't merely recommend it to anyone interested in the sport; I urge you to read it. ... Read more

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Who was Jim Thorpe?Did he really deceive the world in the 1912 Stockholm Summer Olympic Games?Was the evidence against him really strong enough to justify stripping away his legendary accomplishments and erasing his Olympic record?

Author Michael Sheaffer tackles these and other thorny questions of ethics, honor, and sportsmanship in his new and thoroughly entertaining novel A Hearing for Jim Thorpe: An Exercise in Frustration. A sports reporter named Bud Murphy arrives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on a hot, dry July 1915, afternoon. He’s there to cover a special and unprecedented event; a hearing at the Cumberland County Courthouse regarding the case, details, and final disposition of Carlisle native son, Jim Thorpe.

Thorpe was the hero of the 1912 Stockholm Summer Olympics where he won back-to-back Pentathlon and Decathlon gold.However, it all came crashing down when the Amateur Athletic Union presented evidence that Thorpe had competed in the games after having already played professional baseball before the start of the games. Dishonored, but still having popular support, Jim Thorpe was stripped of all his glory, medals, and reputation.

Murphy witnesses the crowded courtroom as experts, witnesses, and history itself testifies to the greatness and the infamy of Thorpe and the controversy that grew up around him. A Hearing for Jim Thorpe offers up a riveting tale of passion that celebrates the life of a true American sports hero and speculates on what could have been.

Written with a touch of humor and told as an intimate and revealing narrative, A Hearing for Jim Thorpe: An Exercise in Frustration is a book that casts a bright light into a dark corner of sports history.In the spirit of great courtroom dramas like Inherit the Wind, author Sheaffer sets the record straight, while telling a masterful drama that is both bold and uplifting.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Outstanding Book
Just finished reading one of the best books I've read in years, the story of a hearing held in Carlisle, PA during the early 1900's about whether Jim Thorpe's medals, awards, and trophies should be returned to him.They were taken away from him seven days after competing in the 1912 Olympic Games held in Stockholm, Sweden, where he won the gold for both the Pentathlon and Decathlon.Fans of courtroom drama and investigative reporting will find this to be a captivating as well as informative read regarding the events, characters, and places of this early American period.The author has thoroughly researched and written a fictional account of a non-fictional event that grips the reader and then surprisingly builds into a resounding climax.Sports enthusiasts and fans of journalism will also enjoy reading this book. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from American Decades: Primary Sources, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 1816 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.American Decades Primary Sources provides fresh insight into the decade's most important events, people, and issues. Entries representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author and further resources. American Decades Primary Sources includes chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports. Included to provide unique perspectives and a wealth of understanding are first hand accounts that include oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, TV, play and movie scripts, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoonsand recipes. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from American Decades: Primary Sources, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 702 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.American Decades Primary Sources provides fresh insight into the decade's most important events, people, and issues. Entries representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author and further resources. American Decades Primary Sources includes chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports. Included to provide unique perspectives and a wealth of understanding are first hand accounts that include oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, TV, play and movie scripts, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoonsand recipes. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of the Great Depression, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 628 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Provides a comprehensive overview of the Great Depression, this wide-ranging, multidisciplinary encyclopedia features entries on Depression-era politics, government, business, economics, literature, the arts, society, and culture. ... Read more

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Presenting a survey of sports in ancient Greece, this work describes ancient sporting events and games. It considers the role of women and amateurs in ancient athletics, and explores the impact of these games on art, literature and politics. ... Read more