Experience the drama, excitement, and oddities of the sports world with an avid sports tourist as your guide Whether your passion is football, tennis, ice hockey, or one of many other sports, this compilation lets you feel the sports experience rather than just observe it. More at home out of the VIP or press box, columnist Bob Latham brings you down among the fans and the athletes to experience the true essence of sports as he rants, riffs, and reflects on the heroism, heartbreak, excitement, and humor in the world of sports. From tips on how to become a professional sports team's number one fan to a recap of Muhammad Ali's seventieth birthday party, from the Super Bowl to Wimbledon to Wrigley Field, you'll feast on a tailgate party's worth of anecdotes. Along the way, learn valuable tips on how to be a sports tourist, whether you're headed to Scotland, Italy, New Zealand, New York City, or a host of other places. Join Bob as he makes a pilgrimage to sports meccas and legendary events around the world. See it all through his vibrant color photographs of the people and places you'll discover, from the cryogenics facility where Ted Williams is stored to the Jigger Inn overlooking the 18th hole at St. Andrews. Wrap up the experience as Bob recounts memories of his favorite Chicago Cubs fan, a tribute to those who love and live the great world of sports. ''Bob Latham is an extreme connoisseur of sports, and his insights into seldom seen parts of many sports are accurate, informative, very well written and above all a joy to read. I highly recommend this book. It covers so many different aspects of various sports that it will be rewarding to any type of reader.'' NANDO PARRADO, author, ''Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home,'' Montevideo, Uruguay. ''When I first met Bob Latham and learned he was a practicing attorney, I thought he'd made a mistake in career choices. He's not only one of the funniest people I've ever met, his humor is imbued with insights that are both intelligent and original. We are lucky that he's shared his passion for sports in a way that leads us to contemplate the very nature of winning and losing.'' TIMOTHY SCHNEIDER, Publisher, SportsTravel Magazine, Los Angeles, USA. ''George Orwell said 'good writing is like a window pane.' In his book, Bob Latham gives us a clear view of the inner workings of sport with wit and humor and educates us in the process.'' JIM SCHERR, former CEO, United States Olympic Committee, Colorado Springs, USA. ''Passion, harmony and joy. We love all three, and they're all here in these great stories. When Rolf Jensen said 'the heroes of the 21st century will be the story tellers,' who'd have thought he had in mind a rugby playing Texas lawyer?'' KEVIN ROBERTS, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, USA. ''The real stories in sports are located somewhere beyond the box scores. This collection of essays enlightens, entertains and spotlights why we care so much about sports: the people involved.'' -- JIM COURIER, U.S. Davis Cup Captain, New York, USA. Depending on the context in which you meet Bob Latham, he is either a sports writer disguised in the body of a trial lawyer, or a trial lawyer masquerading as a raconteur and a walking encyclopedia on sports. Clinically speaking, he is a practicing lawyer based in Texas, who moonlights as a columnist for SportsTravel magazine. Bob has never met a sport he didn't like. He has held a number of positions in the world of sports including Chairman of USA Rugby, member of the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic Committee, and member of the International Rugby Board Executive Committee. Bob's columns in SportsTravel are known for their funny, original, and sometimes poignant perspective on sports. He has examined a curious decision by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, visited Ted Williams's cryogenic resting place, and managed to work Fonzie and Nelson Mandela into the same column. In his day job, Bob has been ranked as a top commercial litigation attorney and has been included in the Best Lawyers in America in multiple disciplines. A graduate of Stanford University and the University of Virginia Law School, he is a sought after speaker on legal issues and matters relating to sports.