“We have watched your plants for millennia.” The creature that spoke was barely three feet tall, with wrinkled gray skin and monstrous eyes . . . “Yours is a war of children. Only children would slaughter each other out of ignorance and fear. Only children would fail again and again to learn the lessons of their foolishness.” It was true. The underground people of Earth were united in terror and desperation against what they considered a frightful threat from the skies. They had sent a mighty armada into space, rushing in lethal orbit toward Mars. The Spacers - still really Earthmen themselves - were poised for the counter-blow. The great fleet at Asteroid Central had sufficient warheads to reduce earth to a cinder. “But we also know the greatness of your spirit, the precious spark which we cannont allow you to extinguish.” Now Ben Trefon understood that in the Black Belt of Power bequeathed to him by his father rested the final hope of the human race!

Since 2001 the Patriots have played in eight Super Bowl championships and won five, a run of excellence unparalleled in all of professional sports. In a league designed to ensure that no one franchise can dominate over time, New England won for over a decade and a half. A dynasty that began with an improbable run to a championship in 2001 has rebuilt, rebooted, and retooled several times over, winning most recently in 2017. But during those years, no other franchise reached the same level of controversy, drama, and turmoil - or even came close. Jerry Thornton, bestselling author of From Darkness to Dynasty, provides an all-access pass to the Patriots' years of unparalleled greatness from the unique perspective of an observant, obsessive, utterly dedicated fan.

War Stories: Fighting, Competing, Imagining, Leading advances a leadership model for business that takes Americans beyond combat and competition as the default setting for our daily enterprise. The book draws on feature and documentary films, TV, social science, and journalism to show that, in the 21st century, the United States is reaping the fruit of a long-standing and deep-rooted faith in one take on business practice. Rooted in the history of World War II and the Vietnam era, War Stories traces an arc of military American self-perception on the screen, the printed page, and in public conversation over the past 20 years. It juxtaposes to that arc a different, potentially more liberating and productive story, linking personal and professional commitments to organizational culture and, finally, systems thinking. Ethical, sustainable business practice depends on leaders who can tell that story of business in society, integrating public, private, and civil sector imperatives for an audience eager to engage them.

Bill Block's Trojans 1972: An Immortal Team ofMortal Men captures the story of 47- USC footballplayers, beyond their glory days on campusand into their everyday lives as men. The 1972Trojans are considered one of the greatest teamsin the history of college football. They defeatedOhio State 42-17 in the 1973 Rose Bowl tocomplete an undefeated 12-0 season and werecrowned national champions. Each chapter isa mini biography told through the eyes of each player. Each and everyplayer from that '72 team whether as powerful as fullback Sam "Bam"Cunningham, as intellectually gifted as defensive back Marvin Cobb, or asmassive as offensive lineman Pete Adams, eventually became one of us. Amortal. You'll fi nd humor; you'll fi nd sorrow; and you'll fi nd football. Most of all you'll fi nd lessons about being mortal.

Oakland Raiders: A Season of Excellence tells the complete story of the Oakland Raiders' successful season through articles, columns, and photos that first appeared in the pages of the The San Jose Mercury News. This tribute to the Raiders will prove to be a cherished keepsake for all fans of the team who will be celebrating their season well into the year.

The Bay Area is home to multiple popular franchises in all four major sports - the 49ers and Raiders (NFL), Giants and A's (MLB), Kings and Warriors (NBA), and Sharks (NHL). With such diversity in rooting interest, area fans have much to debate all year long, and prominent Bay Area sports-radio host Damon Bruce is just the man to get the debate going with this entertaining book of original sports and entertainment lists. Bruce also enlists the help of such notable local stars to contribute their own lists, including Orlando Cepeda, Brent Jones, Gary Radnich, Drew Remeda, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, and more.

This is the definitive reference work on the NFL's Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Part I is a season-by-season review, covering each game and player from every campaign. Part II includes a complete all-time roster of players and coaches, with biographical information, along with information on all draft picks, schedules, and individual awards and honors. Part III covers the characters, from executives to cheerleaders, who made the Raiders one of the most colorful organizations in professional sports, and details the franchise's historic stadiums and uniforms.