Greg Oliver

Through four decades of entertaining, in the wrestling ring and on the monster truck circuit, Debrah "Madusa" Miceli never could sit still. But her desire to learn, grow, and inspire legions of followers masked deep secrets ... Her upbringing was a lie from the start, and the dark truths of her childhood, revealed here for the first time, are the earliest examples of Debrah's determination to persevere. Professional wrestling may have been an odd choice for a nursing student, but Madusa went all-in, toughening up in Japan before conquering WWE as Alundra Blayze. She held the WWE Women's belt ... until being fired. In the rival WCW, Madusa infamously tossed the WWE belt in the garbage on live TV. Then, in 1999, Madusa changed lanes and revolutionized the monster truck world. At meet-and-greets, girls in pink "Queen of Carnage" t-shirts would wait alongside ogling fanboys. By 2004, she was the world champion in a sport dominated by men. Only one thing has eluded her: motherhood. This is the spellbinding story of how one woman survived child abuse, financial disaster, death-defying injuries, heartbreak, and chaos to emerge triumphant.

A captivating and candid memoir from one of the most beloved and colorful figures in Toronto Blue Jays history Over 11 years and two separate managerial stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, John Gibbons endeared himself to fans with his folksy manner and his frequent battles with umpires: "Here comes Gibby " Winning helped too. Under Gibbons's management, the Jays made the American League Championship Series in 2015, ending a 22-year playoff drought; then they did it again in 2016. Along the way the team defied odds, won over a nation, and with one flip of a bat produced one of the most iconic moments in MLB history. Now, in his memoir, Gibby shares the story: an on-field career that didn't pan out, but a managing career that did ... eventually. Raised in a military family, he played his first competitive baseball in Newfoundland and Labrador, and, with the family now in San Antonio, Texas, Gibby, a catcher, developed into a first-round draft pick of the New York Mets. While Gibbons only played 18 major league games, he did earn a World Series ring as the 1986 Mets bullpen catcher and knew all the characters from that team, including Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra, and Gary Carter. In 1990, Gibby began his journey as a coach and manager. An old teammate, J. P. Ricciardi, hired him to work with the Jays, and he moved his way up the ranks and into the hearts of baseball fans.

The legendary storytellers worthy of a spot in the pro wrestling hall of fame You can't escape pro wrestling today, even if you want to. Its stars are ubiquitous in movies, TV shows, product endorsements, swag, and social media to the point that they are as much celebrities as they are athletes. Pro wrestling has morphed from the fringes of acceptability to a global $1 billion industry that plays an everyday role in 21st-century pop culture. In The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Storytellers (from the Terrible Turk to Twitter), Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson explain how the sport's unique take on storytelling has fueled its remarkable expansion. Based on hundreds of interviews and original accounts, Oliver and Johnson describe the imaginative ways in which wrestlers and promoters have used monkeys, murderers, smelt, and wedding cakes to put butts in seats and encourage clicks, likes, and swipes across countless screens. As they trace the evolution of wrestling storytelling, Oliver and Johnson take readers on a winding journey from the New York City Bowery in the 1890s to a Detroit bar in the 1960s to a North Carolina backyard in 2017, meeting up along the way with all manner of scoundrels, do-gooders, scribes, and alligators. Storytellers is a highly readable, heavily researched book that will leave readers with a new appreciation for the fine (and sometimes not-so-fine) art of storytelling.

Who knew that paperwork could be so fascinating? In "Written in Blue and White," author Greg Oliver explores the fascinating archives of Allan Stitt, one of hockey's leading collectors, unearthing gem after gem that details the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs through the past century. Explore early contracts with players, and how the clauses evolved; read personal correspondence from Leaf players and management; find out what was behind Wally Stanowski's 1945 fine for $100; see receipts from the 1935 Stanley Cup playoffs -- and learn just how much oranges cost. Since documents can't talk, Oliver seeks out the men behind the words, like former general managers Jim Gregory, Gerry McNamara, and Floyd Smith; players such as Ron Ellis, Dick Duff, and Darryl Sittler; and key behind-the-scenes people like trainers, agents, reporters, and publicists.

The good guys of professional wrestling take the spotlight in this comprehensive examination of the memorable characters who inspired fans, providing insight into what makes a great hero. Compiled using firsthand interviews with hundreds of wrestlers, managers, promoters, and historians, these entertaining profiles document wrestling's golden boys from the 1930s to today. It discusses the roles of wrestling superstars that include Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes, and The Rock as well as lesser known figures, including Tiger Jeet Singh and Whitey Caldwell. With more than 100 action-packed photos, this engaging and informative book invites both devoted fans and newcomers to the sport to appreciate the rich history of these esteemed performers.

Put four pro wrestlers in a ring and the opportunity for athleticism, mischief, and pure entertainment is more than doubled. This comprehensive look at one of the most fascinating aspects of the sport of wrestling is an entertaining journey through the world of tag teams, exploring their essential role in wrestling promotions both large and small. With detailed historical and insider information based on hundreds of extensive interviews with well-known wrestlers, promoters, and managers, even casual fans will be anxious to see where their favorite twosome stacks up on the list of top tag teams of all time.