The essential guide to world soccerthe history, the players, the fan culturefrom the phenomenally popular duo from NBC Sports.The Men in Blazers are two English-born, soccer-obsessed broadcasters who have savored the dizzying growth of the game along with millions of Americans. Now they immerse fans and novices alike in the history and culture of the worlds game with Encyclopedia Blazertannica. Examining fan culture, from the famous stadium chants to the tactical variations of scarf tying, exploring the complex physics and ethics of both celebratory knee slides and fights between players, reliving the careers of legendary players, classic matches, and colorful World Cup history, and sharing a deep appreciation for the athletic brilliance and ill-judged neck tattoos that dominate the sport, this indispensable tome gives readers a front-row seat to all the action of football madness.A New York Times Bestseller!
One billion Chinese pong fans cant be wrong. With an all-star team of contributing writersincluding Nick Hornby, Will Shortz, Davy Rothbart, Harold Evans, and Jonathan Safran Foerand quirky, fascinating images of table tennis from around the world, editors Eli Horowitz (McSweenys) and Roger Bennet (creator of Bar Mitzvah Disco and Camp Camp) deliver a humorous but heartfelt paean to ping pong, the worlds most popular, yet least appreciated sport. Everything You Know Is Pong is a beautifully designed literary tribute to every aspect of table tennis, the true global pastime.