Branch, John

". . . tales of climbers and hunters, runners and racers, winners and losers . . . gathers the best of Branch's work for the first time, including classic pieces like 'Snow Fall,' about skiers caught in an avalanche in Washington State, and 'Dawn Wall,' about rock climbers trying to scale Yosemite's famed El Capitan. In other articles, Branch introduces people whose dedication and decency transcend their sporting lives, including a revered football coach rebuilding his tornado-devastated town in Iowa and a girls' basketball team in Tennessee who play on, despite never winning a game. The book culminates with his moving personal pieces, including 'The Girl in the No. 8 Jersey,' about a mother killed in the Las Vegas shooting whose daughter happens to play on Branch's daughter's soccer team"--Provided by publisher.

". . . tales of climbers and hunters, runners and racers, winners and losers . . . gathers the best of Branch's work for the first time, including classic pieces like 'Snow Fall,' about skiers caught in an avalanche in Washington State, and 'Dawn Wall,' about rock climbers trying to scale Yosemite's famed El Capitan. In other articles, Branch introduces people whose dedication and decency transcend their sporting lives, including a revered football coach rebuilding his tornado-devastated town in Iowa and a girls' basketball team in Tennessee who play on, despite never winning a game. The book culminates with his moving personal pieces, including 'The Girl in the No. 8 Jersey,' about a mother killed in the Las Vegas shooting whose daughter happens to play on Branch's daughter's soccer team"--Provided by publisher.

The tragic death of hockey star Derek Boogaard at twenty-eight was front-page news across the country in 2011 and helped shatter the silence about violence and concussions in professional sports. Now, in a gripping work of narrative nonfiction, acclaimed reporter John Branch tells the shocking story of Boogaard's life and heartbreaking death.