| Abstract |
"What were the iconic sports moments of the last century? In Replays, Rivalries, and Rumbles , a team of sports aficionados climb onto their bar stools to address that never-solved but essential question. Triumphs and turning points, rivalries and record-setters "each chapter tracks down the real story behind the epic moments and legendary careers sports fans love to debate. Topics include Abner Doubleday and the origins of baseball; the era-defining 1979 duel between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson; how Denver and Cleveland relive The Drive; the myths surrounding the Ali-Foreman Rumble in the Jungle; Billie Jean King's schooling of Bobby Riggs; the Miracle on Ice; and ESPN's conquest of the sports world. Filled with eye-opening lore and analysis, Replays, Rivalries, and Rumbles is an entertaining look at what we think we know about sports"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Abstract |
"Every year American sports presents new champions, exciting games and rivalries, record-setting performances, and extraordinary events. In the past century some of these have stood out as exceptionally memorable--moments that continue to be discussed and debated, and serve as high points, turning points, catastrophes, or triumphs of myth-making. In this collection, twenty-four esteemed sports historians return to twenty-four such events in baseball, football, hockey, tennis, wrestling, and boxing: some dealing with legendary careers, some with signal moments that have become iconic. The collection will give sports fans a platform to argue about key events in their favorite sports, and an opportunity to score on other peoples' fields. Events include the final basketball game in the 1972 Olympics, Babe Ruth's "Called Shot," and the Dan Gable-Larry Owing wrestling match of 1970. Chapters discuss the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivalry, the tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, the emergence of ESPN, the "Miracle on Ice" in the Winter Olympics of 1980, the creation of the Negro National League, the migration of major league teams, the Curt Flood case, flag etiquette at the Olympics, the resurrected reputation of Muhammad Ali, and John Elway's famous 98-yard drive in the last 37 seconds of an American Football Conference championship game"-- Provided by publisher. |
