The essential collection of activities and experiences for all Wildcats fanatics Even the most die-hard Wildcats fans haven't done everything there is to experience in and around Lexington. From ordering the infamous breadstick at Joe Bologna's Restaurant to visiting the Joe Craft Center, this book provides ideas, recommendations, and insider tips for must-see places and can't-miss activities near campus. But not every experience requires a trip to Lexington; long-distance Wildcats fans can cross some items off their list from the comfort of their own homes. Whether you're attending every home game or supporting the Wildcats from afar, there's something for every fan to do in The Kentucky Wildcat Fans' Bucket List.

The University of Kentucky men's basketball program is the winningest in the history of the sport, and this lively guide explores those victories along with the personalities, events, and facts that any and every Wildcats fan should know. Influential players from more than a century of success are highlighted, including Louie Dampier, Jamal Mashburn, John Wall, Anthony Davis, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The team's colorful coaches are also profiled. Covering important dates, behind-the-scenes tales, memorable moments, and must-do activities, this is the ultimate resource guide for all Kentucky faithful.

Every Indiana Hoosiers fan has a bucket list of activities to take part in at some point in their lives. But even the most die-hard fans haven't done everything there is to experience in and around Bloomington, Indiana. From visiting the campus to copying Keith Smart's jump shot to win the 1987 national championship, author Terry Hutchens and Bill Murphy provide ideas, recommendations, and insider tips for must-see places and can't-miss activities near the Assembly Hall. But not every experience requires a trip to campus; long-distance Hoosiers fans can cross some items off their list from the comfort of their own homes. Whether you're attending every home game or supporting the Hoosiers from afar, there's something for every fan to do in The Indiana Hoosiers Fans' Bucket List.

Every Georgia Bulldogs fan has a bucket list of activities to take part in at some point in their lives. But even the most die-hard fans haven't done everything there is to experience in and around Athens, Georgia. From taking part in the Dawg Walk to meeting Uga, author Jason Butt provides ideas, recommendations, and insider tips for must-see places and can't-miss activities near Sanford Stadium. But not every experience requires a trip to campus; long-distance Dawgs fans can cross some items off their list from the comfort of their own homes. Whether you're attending every home game or supporting from afar, there's something for every fan to do in The Georgia Bulldogs Fans' Bucket List.

The rich, poignant tales of major league baseball’s most hard-luck fraternity—the pitchers of its Almost-Perfect Games From 1908 to 2015, there have been thirteen pitchers who have begun Major League Baseball games by retiring the first twenty-six opposing batters, but then, one out from completing a perfect game, somehow faltering (or having perfection stolen from them). Three other pitchers did successfully retire twenty-seven batters in a row, but are still not credited with perfect games. While stories of pitching the perfect game have been told and retold, Almost Perfect looks at how baseball, at its core, is about heartbreak, and these sixteen men are closer to what baseball really is, and why we remain invested in the sport. Author Joe Cox visits this notion through a century of baseball and through these sixteen pitchers—recounting their games in thrilling fashion, telling the personal stories of the fascinating (and very human) baseball figures involved, and exploring the historical American and baseball backdrops of each flawed gem. From George “Hooks” Wiltse's nearly perfect game in 1908 to “Hard Luck” Harvey Haddix’s 12-inning, 36-consecutive-outs performance on May 26, 1959 (the most astounding single-game pitching performance in baseball history) to Max Scherzer’s near miss in 2015, Joe Cox’s book captures the action, the humanity, and the history of the national pastime’s greatest “almosts.”

No sports fans are more in touch with the history and ephemera of their game than baseball fans. Hitting the sweet spot of our national pastime, The Baseball Fans Bucket List presents a list of 162 absolute must things to do, see, get, and experience before you kick the bucket. Entries range from visiting Elysian Fields in Hoboken, NJ (site of the first pro baseball game), to starting a baseball card collection; experiencing Opening Day; attending your favorite teams Fantasy Camp; reading classic books like Ball Four, and much more! Each entry includes interesting facts, entertaining trivia, and practical information about the activity, item, or travel destination. Also included is a complete checklist so the reader can keep a running tally of their Bucket-List achievements. With todays tabloid stories of steroid abuse and off-the-field shenanigans encroaching on baseballs idyllic charm, this unique guidebook encourages readers to celebrate all thats good about being a fan.

More than a just a trivia book, So You Think You’re A Kentucky Basketball Fan challenges your knowledge of Wildcats basketball with stories behind each question and answer that brings the history of this legendary team to life. This book, part of a new sports trivia series, is divided into four parts, with progressively more difficult questions in each new section. The Benchwarmer section contains the most basic questions. Next are the Starter and All-American sections, followed by the biggest challenge: the Hall of Fame. Learn more about the great UK players and coaches of the past and present, including Adolph Rupp, Alex Groza, Cliff Hagan, Pat Riley, Dan Issel, Kenny Walker, Jamal Mashburn, Rick Pitino, and John Wall. Some of the many questions that this book answers include: • Who was the youngest Wildcat to earn All-America recognition? • What two ex-Cats are the all-time leading scorers in the old American Basketball Association? • Who broke Dan Issel’s record (53) for most points in a game? • Who are the only three Wildcats to make All-SEC first team and All-SEC Tournament first team four straight years? This book makes the perfect gift for any fan of the Big Blue! 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 Kentucky Wildcats are the winningest program ever in the history of college basketball, and The University of Kentucky Basketball Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive book ever assembled on the history of the team. Written in a unique, easy-to-read style that brings to life the exploits of Wildcat teams and players, the book includes details about The Fabulous Five, The Fiddlin? Five, Rupp?s Runts, The Unforgettables, Jamal Mashburn, Rex Chapman, Melvin Turpin, Kenny Walker, John Wall, and more. Coaching greats Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari are also featured, as are each of their seven NCAA championships. This is a must read for all Kentucky basketball fans.

A brand new, fast-paced, fully illustrated history of basketball through its flashpoints, innovations, and innovators The third book in the Lyons Press Game Changers sports series answers the questions: What were the 50 most revolutionary personalities, rules, strategies, rivalries, controversies, organizational changes, radio and television advancements, and more in the history of basketball—college and the pros? And how, exactly, did they forever change the game? Basketball’s Game Changers offers fascinating, detailed explanations along with a ranking system from 1 to 50 that is sure to inspire debate among professional and college basketball aficionados. Ranging from the game’s beginnings to today and tackling on-the-court and off-the-court developments, Basketball’s Game Changers offers a history of hoops through its turning-points and innovations. Sportswriter Brendan Prunty breaks down the Bird-Magic rivalry, the 3-point shot, the creation of the NCAA tournament, Air Jordans, Allen Iverson, the WNBA, and even the video game NBA Jam and more! Full-color, and including photos, pull-outs, and sidebars throughout, books within the Game Changers series are important and entertaining additions to every sports fan’s library.

Forget what people might say at Duke or North Carolina, UCLA or Kansas. Nobody loves their college basketball program like Kentucky fans -- nobody. Where else but Kentucky would a charity auction see a book signed by former President Jimmy Carter go for $70 ... and a basketball signed by Joe B. Hall go for $300? That happened in 2003, a good twenty years after both men had done their best work. You'll find Hall in this book, by the way. Kentucky fans sell out Rupp Arena for home games and invade opposing gyms for road games, earning the nickname The Blue Mist. Kentucky fans loved their basketball players, and that love doesn't fade over time. Years and even decades after their playing careers are finished, Kentucky basketball players routinely win whatever political office they seek in their home state. The 2003 election for state agriculture commissioner came down to one former Kentucky guard (Richie Farmer) against the wife of another former Kentucky guard (Scotty) Baesler). You'll find Farmer and Baesler in this book, by the way. This book is for you, Wildcat Nation. Catch up with more than 50 of your former heroes, guys who went on to become politicians and pastors, artists and dentists, convicts and coaches. Catch up with two former victims of Duke villain Christian Laettner -- Aminu Timberlake (The Stomp) and Deron Feldhaus (The Shot). Learn the heart-warming tale of Dirk Minniefield, who overcame his drug addiction to become a drug cunselor for the NBA. Learn the heartbreak of Tom Payne, who broke Kentucky's color barrier in 1970 in his only season with the Wildcats but has spent most of his adult life in prison. Whatever happened to perhaps the greatest Wildcat of all time, Bill Spivey? It's in this book. How about Tubby Smith's son and point guard, Saul Smith? He's in here, too. Mike Casey? Gimel Martinez? Lou Tsioropoulos? In here, in here, in here. You don't have to be Bob Wiggins, who once saw 615 consecutive UK game and remains the most intense Kentucky fan alive, to enjoy this book. Whatever happened to Wiggins? We checked--he's still attending games. This book is for Wiggins and the rest of the Blue Mist, and for anyone else who has ever wondered, Where have you gone, Linville Puckett?