From an early age, Peyton Manning loved the mental challenge of playing quarterback. He is known for his extraordinary understanding of the game and his tireless work ethic. As the star of the Indianapolis Colts, he is on track to break career records set by history's greatest quarterbacks. Even so, he is a team player, and he achieved his greatest victory when he led the Colts to a Super Bowl championship in 2007. Find out how this football heir...

Although Tony Dungy was passed over in the 1977 NFL draft, Coach Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers recognized his athleticism and understanding of the game and signed him as a free agent. Later, at the age of 25, Dungy began his NFL coaching career with the Steelers. He went on to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then considered retiring from football. Instead, he accepted a coaching job with the Indianapolis Colts and in 2007 became the first...

Born into a racing family, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. This book follows the skyrocketing career of this racing star from his first NASCAR Busch series race and back-to-back Busch championships to his father's sudden death during the 2001 Daytona 500 and his current chase for the Winston Cup championship.

Think you know all there is to know about Josh Gibson? Well, did you know that Gibson made 75 home runs in 1931? Did you know that Gibson's home runs often soared more than 500 feet? In spite of his talent, Gibson never played for a major league baseball team? Josh Gibson is known to many as one of the best baseball players―and possibly the best hitter, of all time. For many years, baseball fans overlooked Gibson's accomplishments because he was...

Yao Ming is a force on the basketball court. The center, born in Shanghai, China, towers over opponents at 7-foot-6. His strength, agility, and hard work have made him one of the most dominant big men in the NBA today. After leading his Chinese team to a championship in 2002, Yao was the top pick of the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. His arrival in the United States has helped to break down cultural barriers and has made Yao one of the most recognized...

Roberto Clemente grew up dreaming of playing professional baseball in the United States. By the time he was out of high school, it looked like his dream might just come true. Clemente was drafted by a major league team and headed north. He had to overcome a language barrier, racism, and segregation along the way. But he didn't let these challenges affect his top-notch performance on the field. His career was cut short when he died in a tragic plane...

Sandy Koufax grew up in Brooklyn, New York, dreaming of playing basketball for the New York Knicks. He played baseball just for fun, but in college his pitching attracted the attention of scouts from across the country. Sandy joined his hometown team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and followed them a few years later to Los Angeles. Along the way, he dazzled batters with his fastball and curveball. Read all about his struggles to overcome injuries and take...

Alex Rodriguez was born in New York City, only a few miles from Yankee Stadium. He grew up in the Dominican Republic and Miami, Florida, playing baseball whenever he could. Since he was drafted in 1993, Alex has played for the Seattle Mariners, the Texas Rangers, and the New York Yankees. He has an amazing combination of offensive and defensive skills, and he is one of baseball's highest-paid players. You won't want to miss his incredible life story!...

A born competitor and natural talent, Michelle Kwan skated her way onto the public figure skating scene more than a decade ago and has dominated it ever since. From public skating rinks in California to the podium at the Olympics, Michelle Kwan's elegance and grace on and off the ice have made her one of figure skating's most spectacular and popular champions.

Think you know all there is to know about Pelé? Well, did you know that Pelé played in his first World Cup tournament at the age of seventeen? Did you know that in 1967, both sides in Nigeria's civil war called a 48-hour cease-fire so Pelé could play an exhibition match in the capital of Lagos? Did you know that Pelé has scored more than 1,200 goals in his professional career? Born into poverty in Três Corações, Brazil, Edson Arantes do Nascimento...