Books: "The Strenuous Life" On Teddy Roosevelt's Influence On Sports

The Strenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete
By Ryan Swanson
Diversion Books; hardcover, 320 pages; $26.99

Ryan Swanson is an Associate Professor of History at the University of New Mexico's Honors College. He earned his Ph.D. in history from Georgetown in 2008 and has been studying and researching Theodore Roosevelt and his role in athletics in the United States for the past decade.

Mets Sign Veteran Starter Michael Wacha

Michael Wacha.

The Mets today announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha to a one-year deal. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Chris Mazza has been designated for assignment.

Books: Biographies Of Baseball Legends Banks, Tiant & Edgar

Photo by Jason Schott.

The baseball offseason is underway, and with that, a time to take a step back and read about the history of the game. There are new biographies on three of baseball's most legendary figures, Let's Play Two: The Life and Times of Ernie Banks, by Doug Wilson; Son of Havana: A Baseball Journey from Cuba to the Big Leagues and Back, by Luis Tiant, with Saul Wisnia; and Edgar: An Autobiography, by Edgar Martinez, with Larry Stone.

National Football Foundation Awards Dinner; Mark Harmon Honored

Mark Harmon. Provided by the NFF.

The New York Hilton Midtown's Grand Ballroom played host to an all-star cast of history's greatest football legends and the sport's most promising student-athletes during tonight's 62nd National Football Foundation (NFF) Annual Awards Dinner Presented by ETT.

Pinstripe Bowl Battle Between Michigan State & Wake Forest

The scene at last year's Pinstripe Bowl. Photo by Jason Schott.

The 10th installment of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl will feature a matchup between the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons of the ACC at Yankee Stadium on Friday, December 27, with kickoff scheduled for 3:20 p.m. 

Books: "Country" By Michael Hughes

Country: A Novel
By Michael Hughes
Custom House; hardcover, $26.99

Michael Hughes grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland, graduated from Oxford, and trained in theatre at the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris. He has worked for many years as an actor under the professional name Michael Colgan, and he also teaches creative writing.

Books: "Sprawlball" on the evolution of the NBA

Sprawlball: A Visual Tour of the New Era of the NBA
By Kirl Goldsberry
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; hardcover, $25.00

Kirk Goldsberry is an NBA analyst at ESPN and a professor at the University of Texas. He has worked as the vice president of strategic research for the San Antonio Spurs and the senior analyst for Team USA Basketball.