Sports Books for USC fans from Amazon.com

Football for Dummies Usually ships in 24 hours Howie Long, et al / Paperback / Published 1998 Amazon Price: $15.99 ~ You Save: $4.00 (20%)

Amazon.com Review At last, the Dummies series is tackling football. Former Raider all-pro defensive end and current Fox TV analyst Howie Long calls the signals, and if he doesn't always go deep--he's got a lot of ground to cover--at least he connects. With all its X's and O's, football is a complicated sport, and Long works hard to smooth the way: "Once you break through that initial fear of being overwhelmed by football and what you don't understand," he counsels, "I know everything else about the game, like dominoes, will fall into place." In his role as guide, Long plays those dominoes, from peewees to the pros to the fantasy leagues, explaining positions, analyzing offenses and defenses, and detailing strategies. As with all Dummies guides, the fun part is the "Part of Tens," the series of top-10 lists that dig in for the final chapter. He scores big with his inclusions of John Hannah and Hugh McElhenny among the greatest offensive players ever, but should be penalized for overemphasizing tight ends and forgetting the electricity that wide receivers bring to the game. This, of course, reflects a defensive end's natural bias; since they muck it up more with the hulkier tight ends, they simply let the speedballs fly by.

Basketball for Dummies (1st Ed) Usually ships in 24 hours Richard "Digger" Phelps, et al / Paperback / Published 1997 Amazon Price: $15.99 ~ You Save: $4.00 (20%)

Book Description With nonstop action and all-time-great players like Michael Jordan, it's no wonder that basketball is a favorite sport for participants and spectators alike. Now, with Basketball For Dummies, long-time hoops lovers can discover the finer points of the game, and newcomers can get even more enjoyment while watching what happens on the hardwood. Full of insider's tips and b-ball lore, Basketball For Dummies covers all the essential topics, including Rules and statistics Shooting, offense and defense, rebounding, and plays and strategies All the different levels --from pickup games and high school basketball to college, professional, and international basketball. How to be a good coach (with special tips on coaching kids) Getting in shape Great games and players in basketball history Where to find the best basketball coverage on the World Wide Web Best of all, Basketball For Dummies features the inimitable humor and wisdom of its author, renowned basketball coach Richard "Digger" Phelps.

Baseball for Dummies (For Dummies) Usually ships in 24 hours Joe Morgan, et al / Paperback / Published 1998 Amazon Price: $15.99 ~ You Save: $4.00 (20%)

Synopsis This fun and friendly guide to baseball is perfect for fans, players, coaches, parents--anyone who is interested in this popular sport. Covering baseball from Little Leagues to the Majors, the book features tips on understanding baseball lingo, coaching strategies, safety, and more. Hundreds of illustrations and photos demonstrate the basics of the game--from hitting to base running to fielding fundamentals .

Golf for Dummies Usually ships in 24 hours Gary McCord, et al / Paperback / Published 1999 Amazon Price: $15.99 ~ You Save: $4.00 (20%)

Book Description Basically simple in principle -- hit the ball into the hole by using as few strokes as possible -- golf is one big sand trap of mysterious terminology. If you're a rabbit or a duffer, you need to know your spade-mashie from your mashie-niblick and your brassie from your jigger -- or you just might foozle on the fairway. Of course, golf is also much more. In Golf For Dummies, author Gary McCord, colorful CBS golf commentator, along with John Huggan, former Golf Digest senior writer, share their expertise on technique, courses, rules, etiquette, and equipment. Whether you're new to the game or a pro, you'll enjoy hearing about the history and personalities of this beloved sport.

Hockey for Dummies Usually ships in 24 hours John Davidson, John Steinbreder (Contributor) / Paperback / Published 1997 Amazon Price: $15.99 ~ You Save: $4.00 (20%)

Book Description Whether you love playing hockey or simply love watching it -- or you just want to know why your child or grandchild is so nuts about smacking a puck around the ice with a wooden stick --Hockey For Dummies is for you. In this comprehensive, easy-to-understand reference, former New York Rangers goalie John Davidson and sportswriter John Steinbreder explain the basics of hockey and delve into the fine points of the game, so that you can play it better and watch it more enjoyably. Hockey For Dummies covers all the important topics, including The origins of the sport, how its rules have changed, and how it grew to be a sport popular the world over What goes on out there on the ice -- and why so much hitting and intimidation takes place Understanding the National Hockey League and its rules What goes on in the minors and other hockey leagues How to find the best hockey coverage on TV, in newspapers and magazines, and over the Internet Plus, Hockey For Dummies has a whole section full of insider tips -- such as Wayne Gretsky's secrets of passing and Mark Messier's strategies for winning at face-offs.

Tennis for Dummies Usually ships in 24 hours Patrick McEnroe, et al / Paperback / Published 1998 Amazon Price: $15.99 ~ You Save: $4.00 (20%)

Amazon.com Review Written for tennis newcomers but with enough detail to satisfy seasoned players, Tennis for Dummies offers practical, substantive, and perceptive advice on a subject that the United States Tennis Association describes as a "sport for a lifetime." Patrick McEnroe--little brother of John McEnroe--collaborates with Peter Bodo to provide a wealth of tennis tips, such as the difference between a ball's pace on slick grass courts and the slow, high bounce experienced on clay courts. Useful advice includes such things as how to find a good coach, which Web sites offer the most comprehensive tennis news, and how to respond when your opponent questions a close call: "I'm sorry, but I never had a moment of doubt. That ball was clearly out." Sprinkled throughout the book are interesting anecdotes about McEnroe's career, including an amusing exchange with his fiancee during a match, in which she eagerly and innocently advised him to just "get it over the net, Pat!" Those keen to take up a new hobby or to simply learn more about the sport they already love will appreciate everything this book has to offer--game, set, and match.