| Introduction |
|
ix | |
|
1 How you Can Play International Football |
|
|
3 | (4) |
|
How your nationality can improve your chances of taking on Cristiano Ronaldo |
|
|
|
|
|
7 | (4) |
|
What if you wanted to run marathons like Haile Gebrselassie? |
|
|
|
3 Stronger, Faster, Older |
|
|
11 | (4) |
|
Why the path to sporting stardom is mapped out from the day you were born |
|
|
|
|
|
15 | (6) |
|
What's in a name? Quite a lot if it's your team that's selling it... |
|
|
|
5 Oldest Swingers in Town |
|
|
21 | (6) |
|
Or why sporting life doesn't really begin at 40 |
|
|
|
6 Regional Pride at the Olympic Games |
|
|
27 | (4) |
|
Just who were the real stars of London 2012? |
|
|
|
7 Why Football's Divers Leave Fans Out of Pocket |
|
|
31 | (6) |
|
The real impact of injuries and simulation |
|
|
|
8 Don't Give Up the Day Job |
|
|
37 | (4) |
|
Why Olympic success doesn't always save you from the nine-to-five |
|
|
|
|
|
41 | (6) |
|
Can wearing a specific colour increase your chances of sporting success? |
|
|
|
|
|
47 | (8) |
|
Just how fast can humans hope to run the 100m? |
|
|
|
|
|
55 | (4) |
|
Is Steve Williams really New Zealand's highest-earning Sports Star? |
|
|
|
12 Can Sporting Ineptitude Make Money? |
|
|
59 | (6) |
|
Turning epic sporting failure into financial gain |
|
|
|
|
|
65 | (4) |
|
The costs and rewards of owning a greyhound, racehorse or racing pigeon |
|
|
|
14 What if Fifa was A Country? |
|
|
69 | (8) |
|
It's a huge organisation but what would happen if Fifa became its own state? |
|
|
|
15 What if your Family Car was a Formula 1 Racer? |
|
|
77 | (6) |
|
Guaranteed to get you anywhere in a hurry, but astronomical running costs and very little space to store your shopping |
|
|
|
16 You're Better off in the Commentary Box |
|
|
83 | (6) |
|
Why Alan Hansen is more valuable than the US President |
|
|
|
17 Fastballs and Lightning Strikes |
|
|
89 | (6) |
|
What's the fastest ball sport? |
|
|
|
|
|
95 | (8) |
|
Is football's global marketing machine worth the money? |
|
|
|
|
|
103 | (6) |
|
Does intelligence count for anything in sport? |
|
|
|
20 You are what you Tweet |
|
|
109 | (6) |
|
Do sporting superstars really care about other people? |
|
|
|
21 Is Participation Sport Destined to Die? |
|
|
115 | (6) |
|
Will future generations just watch rather than play sport? |
|
|
|
22 The Shirt on Your Back |
|
|
121 | (10) |
|
A multi-billion industry - why football shirts are a serious bit of kit... |
|
|
|
|
|
131 | (6) |
|
When sport gets its own back and why we all end up on the treatment table |
|
|
|
24 Sporting Cliches Deconstructed |
|
|
137 | (6) |
|
Uttered countless times by coaches, players and commentators, is there any truth to these overused expressions? |
|
|
|
25 The True Value of Winning a Trophy |
|
|
143 | (4) |
|
Nothing beats holding up that famous trophy, but all that glitters is not gold |
|
|
|
26 Music to an Athlete's Ear |
|
|
147 | (6) |
|
Why an athlete's playlist can be the difference between winning and losing |
|
|
|
27 What if we All Ate Like Sumo Wrestlers? |
|
|
153 | (6) |
|
And the impact it would have on society and the global economy |
|
|
|
28 Decisions, Decisions... |
|
|
159 | (6) |
|
Just who would be a referee or an umpire? |
|
|
|
|
|
165 | (4) |
|
When sports memorabilia collecting turns into colossal cash... |
|
|
|
|
|
169 | (8) |
|
We watch sport to see history made but what is the rarest feat in sport? |
|
|
|
|
|
177 | (4) |
|
Why there are relatively few slim darts players... |
|
|
|
|
|
181 | (6) |
|
The long and the short of away fixtures |
|
|
|
|
|
187 | (8) |
|
Do professional footballers really earn that much money? |
|
|
|
|
|
195 | (6) |
|
The economics of spectator snacks and the humble matchday pie |
|
|
|
35 The Sport's the Movie Star |
|
|
201 | (9) |
|
And will snooker be the sports film subject of the future? |
|
|
| Index |
|
210 | |
