Recently in Sports Category

The Paul Smith Library of Southern York County will collect new and used paperback books during November for shipment to American troops overseas.

The library is one of several collection points for the Sertoma Club's book drive for Operation Paperback, a Pennsylvania non-profit that has shipped nearly one million books to troops over the last decade. Other local drop-off sites include the YMCA Southern Branch and the Mason-Dixon Public Library.

Donations should be marked for Operation Paperback and dropped off during normal library hours.

The Paul Smith Library is at 80 Constitution Ave. in Shrewsbury.

Spring Garden Township resident David Salter has written "Final Four Leadership," which gives five secrets successful female leaders use.

The book profiles the coaches of elite women's basketball teams and discusses their leadership and how others can learn from them.

The book sells for $13.99 with a portion of proceeds donated to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

It is available at www.davidfsalter.com.

Hanover YWCA is accepting used books for its annual used book sale Nov. 6, 7 and 8. Books can be brought to the YW at 23 W. Chestnut St. and placed in the "book box" located in front of the building. Please no encyclopedias, Readers Digest condensed books or magazines. Books should be in good condition and placed in bags or boxes.

MIchael Phelps in the Santa Clara International swim meet June 12.

Michael Phelps, children's book author?
Yes, the 14-time Olympic gold medalist has a new book in stores titled "How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals."
It features illustrations by Ward Jenkins of Phelps, his bulldog Herman and his coach Bob Bowman.
In the book Phelps describes his training regimen in terms relatable to kids. For example, during six years of training, he swam 12,480 miles. He points out that's the same as swimming "from my hometown of Baltimore to the North Pole and back, and doing it all over again!"
"It's a fun way for kids to learn and for me to get a lot of different messages out there," Phelps said Sunday at a swim meet in Santa Clara. "Having Bob and Herman in the book is cool."

John D. Fair's work covers the storied growth of York Barbell.

Steroids use is back in the news with allegations that superstar Alex Rodriguez used the illegal drug as a member of the New York Yankees.

In "Muscletown U.S.A.," John D. Fair comprehensively covers Bob Hoffman and his company, York Barbell, and all they meant in the world of bodybuilding and weightlifting. He also writes about the York and York Barbell connection to early steroid use in sports. The Rodriguez controversy comes on the 10th anniversary of the publication of Fair's Penn State Press book.

For details about Fair's work and a York Daily Record/Sunday News story on the local steroids story, click here.

The William Penn Senior High School boys ....

... and York Catholic's state title runs are detailed in forthcoming York Daily Record/Sunday News' books.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News will publish 56-page books with accompanying DVDs on the state championship bids by two accomplished York County high school teams.

For details, click here.

These works come on the heels of a book profiling the West York Bulldog's football season: "Friday Night Bulldogs."

A new book tells about the West York High School's district champs.

A 56-page book about the West York High School varsity football team's District 3 championship season is being published this month by the York Daily Record/Sunday News and its high school sports Web site, GameTimePA.com.

For details, see:The dogs got out.

and that definitely applies to book lovers.

The following Web sites offer used books for purchase or exchange, some for as little as the postage to ship them.

Check them out, and if you know of any others, please let us know.

www.bookmooch.com

www.bookins.com

www.swaptree.com

www.paperbackswap.com

"The Natural" is a 1952 novel by Bernard Malamud that was turned into a movie starring Robert Redford.

I've never seen the movie, but recently read the book, which was a quick, interesting read.

It's the story of Roy Hobbs, a baseball player whose promising chance for a major league career is abruptly halted when he's wounded by a serial killer who stalks pro athletes.

However, about 15 years later, Hobbs finally gets his chance as the newest member of the fictional New York Knights baseball team. His time with the club is rocky from the start, as the team has been on a long losing streak and morale is low.

Just in from the Associated Press:

An unauthorized and highly anticipated book about Alex Rodriguez is coming out a month sooner than planned.

From the Associated Press:

NEW YORK -- Michelle Obama's brother is working on a book, part tribute to his family and part inspirational guide.

"I've been privileged to know some extraordinary people in my life," Craig Robinson, whose "A Game of Character" will be published next year by Gotham Books, said in a statement issued Thursday. "I've watched as my sister Michelle, a rock of a mother, became a leader in her own right. My brother-in law, President Barack Obama, who I knew from the first time I met him had something special, continues to inspire all of us."

Robinson, who coaches men's basketball at Oregon State University, introduced his sister last summer at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Gotham is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA).

that books make great gifts, but now we can listen to famous authors tell us why.

This just in from Associated Press:

Olympic superstar Michael Phelps will write a book telling the story behind his historic eight gold medal swims just in time for the holiday season, Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, announced today.

Local author John Coulson will sign copies of his new book, "Hanover Raiders: Minor League Baseball in Hanover, Pennsylvania," from 6 to 8 p.m. July 31 at Guthrie Memorial Library-Hanover's Public Library, 2 Library Place.

To read more about his book, click here: http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2008/07/hanover.php .