Best Selling Books by Dan Wetzel

A team of award-winning sports reporters takes down the Great Satan of college sports: the Bowl Championship Series. Every college sport picks its champion by a postseason tournament, except for one: Division I-A football. Instead of a tournament, fans are subjected to the Bowl Championship Series, an arcane mix of polling and mathematical rankings that results in just two teams playing for the championship. It is, without a doubt, the most hated institution in all of sports. A recent Sports Illustrated poll found that more than 90 percent of sports fans oppose the BCS, yet this system has remained in place for more than a decade. Built upon top-notch investigative reporting, Death to the BCS at last reveals the truth about this monstrous entity and offers a simple solution for fixing it. Death to the BCS includes findings from interviews with power players, as well as research into federal tax records, Congressional testimony, and private contracts, revealing: ?The truth behind the "Cartel"-the anonymous suits who run the BCS and who profit handsomely by protecting it ?The flawed math and corruption that determine which teams participate in the national championship ?How the system hurts competition by perpetuating "cupcake" schedules ?How "mid-major" teams are systematically denied a chance to play for the championship ?How a comprehensive sixteen-team playoff plan can solve the problem while enhancing profitability The first book to lay out the unseemly inner workings of the BCS in full detail, Death to the BCS is a rousing manifesto for bringing fairness back to one of our most beloved sports.

Explosive and controversial, this expos uncovers the exploitation of college, high school, and even junior high basketball players by the billion-dollar atheltic shoe companies competing for national endorsements. photo insert.

In this uplifting illustrated middle-grade biography, acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel tackles the real-life story of the NFL''s brightest rising star, quarterback Patrick Mahomes! In 2018, Patrick Mahomes stepped onto the gridiron as the new, inexperienced quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Just twenty-two-years old at the time, football fans wondered if this young man could live up to lofty expectations. Little did they know, a star was about to be born. By season''s end, Patrick threw a whopping fifty touchdowns, the youngest to ever do so, and took his team nearly all the way to the Super Bowl. And the next season, he became the youngest quarterback ever to win Super Bowl MVP! With limitless potential, Patrick not only emerged as the NFL''s most dynamic and exciting player, but he''s also become a role model to kids across the country. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations by Marcelo Baez, this inspiring biography tells the story of the new king of pro football. Praise for Epic Athletes: * "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. [A]n unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review “Dan Wetzel has a winning formula in his Epic Athletes series, sure to appeal to young sports fans.” —The Buffalo News

Bestselling author Dan Wetzel delivers an action-packed biography of the legendary quarterback and Super Bowl champ in Epic Athletes: Tom Brady. Featuring comic-style illustrations by Kazimir Lee Iskander! Throughout over two decades, Tom Brady has led his teams to seven Super Bowl championships and earned three Most Valuable Player Awards, arguably cementing his status as the greatest quarterback of all time. From the moment Tom Brady stepped on the NFL gridiron, pro football was forever changed. A star, a legend, a future hall-of-famer was born. Over the years, he mounted comeback after comeback win, finding the open man for a touchdown just when victory seemed out of reach. In this inspirational biography of a living legend, acclaimed sports writer and bestselling author Dan Wetzel chronicles Tom Brady''s rise from a backup quarterback at the University of Michigan to an MVP on the biggest stage in sports--the Super Bowl. This fantastic biography also includes vibrant comic-style interior illustrations. Praise for Epic Athletes * "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry

In the illustrated sports biography, Epic Athletes: Zion Williamson, acclaimed journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspirational story of the greatest basketball prospect of his generation. Following Zion Williamson''s record-breaking season at Duke University and his electric NBA debut, basketball fans are already calling him the NBA''s Crown Prince, drawing comparisons to all-time greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. Now a New Orleans Pelican, he''s set out to prove that he truly deserves to be the new King of Basketball. But for all the expectations and accolades, Zion remains a humble, dedicated teammate, and a terrific role model for young basketball fans across the country. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations by David SanAngelo, this inspiring biography tells the story of a once-in-a-generation basketball superstar.

A basketball coach describes how, in 1966, as coach of Texas Western College, he used a starting lineup of five black players to beat the top-ranked University of Kentucky team, paving the way for desegregation of all Southern college teams.

In Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry, acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring, electrifying story of the NBA superstar, beginning a new series of sports biographies for young readers! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Zeke Peña! When you think of Stephen Curry, one word comes to mind: greatness. From shooting three-pointers with laser precision to his clutch ability to hit buzzer-beaters time and again, he has established himself as one of the best players in pro basketball. But greatness was never a guarantee for Steph. The son of a talented NBA player, he dreamed of one day playing professionally just like his dad. Yet Steph, who was always smaller and weaker than the competition, was told over and over that he would never be talented enough to be a college star or NBA player--let alone the MVP of the entire league. Through tenacity and hard work, he proved them all wrong and went on to dismantle the record books. With the high energy of a TV commentator, and featuring dynamic comic-style illustrations, this engaging biography tells the story of an NBA All-Star and the path he took to achieve his dreams. * "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. . . an unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist (starred review) A Junior Library Guild selection!

Kicking off his new series of sports biographies for young readers, journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring true life story of a US Women''s Soccer star in Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan. Featuring graphic-style illustrations by Cory Thomas! Fierce competitor. World Cup winner. Role model. U.S. Women''s Soccer star Alex Morgan has earned each of these impressive titles throughout her incredible career. As a young girl growing up in Southern California, she dreamed of being a professional soccer player, fighting to compete on the international stage against the world''s greatest athletes. Flash forward to the present and Alex Morgan has emerged as the face of U.S. Women''s soccer, famous for her clutch, late-game goals, and an inspiration to kids across the country. Bestselling author Dan Wetzel details the rise of an American champion in this uplifting biography for young readers, complete with dynamic comic-style illustrations. Praise for Epic Athletes * "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry

With all-new reporting, a completely revised and updated second edition of the bestseller that takes down the Great Satan of college sports: the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Every college sport picks its champion by a postseason tournament, except for one: Divsiion I-A football. Instead of a tournament, fans are subjected to the Bowl Championship Series, an arcane mix of polling and mathematical rankings that results in just two teams playing for the championship. It is, without a doubt, the most hated institution in all of sports. A recent Sports Illustrated poll found that more than 90% of sports fans oppose the BCS, yet this system has remained in place for more than a decade. Building upon top-notch investigative reporting, Wetzel, Peter, and Passan at last reveal the truth about this monstrous entity and offer a simple solution for fixing it. Death to the BCS: Totally Revised and Updated is brought up to date to cover the 2010-2011 season, listing which teams were screwed by the BCS (such as TCU), how much money college football left on the table by not having a playoff (based on 2011 tax filings), and how the calls for the abolition of the BCS grew even louder this past year. The book also includes findings from interviews with power players, as well as research into federal tax records, congressional testimony, and private contracts. The first book to lay out the unseemly inner workings of the BCS in full detail, Death to the BCS is a rousing manifesto for bringing fairness back to one of our most beloved sports.

No matter where his basketball travels took him during his 31 seasons in NCAA Division I college basketball, controversy was never been far behind Jerry Tarkanian. The legendary former coach of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels proved himself to be one of the greatest coaches in the game’s history, however, amassing an incredible overall record of 778–202, more wins than all but a handful of other coaches. His 19 seasons of amazing success and breathtaking teams in Las Vegas are the foundation of Jerry Tarkanian’s revealing and often hilarious autobiography, Runnin’ Rebel, a book poised to reveal the skeletons in the closet of the NCAA and some of the biggest names and programs in college basketball over the past thirty-five years. Runnin'' Rebel is Jerry Tarkanian unplugged, dishing his wildest, most ridiculous, and most hilarious recruiting stories, capers, and tales from a colorful career as college basketball’s ultimate loveable rogue. “Tark the Shark,” as fans affectionately called him, details dirty tricks, recruiting battles, and so much more in this one-of-a-kind memoir. A must-have for any college basketball fan.

Epic Athletes: Serena Williams is an inspiring middle-grade biography of the most celebrated women''s tennis player ever from acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Sloane Leong! Serena Williams is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. From growing up in a tough neighborhood to combatting racism to weathering severe health issues, there is no challenge she can''t defeat, no hurdle that will get in the way of her unwavering desire to be the best tennis player in the world. As a little girl, Serena spent years training at her local court with her father and older sister, Venus, dreaming of one day winning Grand Slam titles and earning the number one ranking in the world. After more than twenty years of dominating the world of tennis, there''s no doubt that Serena has made her dreams come true. In this inspiring biography, bestselling author Dan Wetzel brings to life the story of an athlete and trailblazer who broke records and racial barriers. Featuring action-packed comic-style interior art, this uplifting biography of the most celebrated women''s tennis player of all time is sure to be a hit with young sports fans across the country. Praise for Epic Athletes * "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry

In Epic Athletes: Simone Biles, celebrated sports journalist Dan Wetzel scores a perfect ten with this uplifting young reader''s biography of gold medal gymnast Simone Biles! Featuring comic-style illustrations from Marcelo Baez! At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Simone Biles dazzled gymnastics fans across the globe with each jaw-dropping flip, twist, and dismount. Her record-breaking performance catapulted her to the top of the sport, and she quickly became a hero to young people. But well before Simone faced Olympic trials on the balance beam and rings, she confronted real-life challenges as a kid, as she moved in and out of foster care. With the support and love of her grandparents, plus her unwavering drive to make history on the ultimate stage in sports, she grew into an incredible role model and activist—and one of the greatest athletes of our time. Filled with sports action and bold comic-style illustrations, this inspiring biography recounts the incredible life of a world class gymnast. Praise for Epic Athletes: * "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. . . an unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, STARRED review of Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry

Epic Athletes: LeBron James is an inspiring young readers biography of the best basketball player of the modern era from celebrated sports journalist Dan Wetzel! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Setor Fiadzigbey! Whether you call him King James or simply LeBron, one thing is certain: LeBron James is THE face of the NBA. At just eighteen, and facing sky-high expectations, LeBron headed straight from high school to the pros. Cool under pressure, he went on to shatter the record books and become the most popular athlete in America. Yet nothing was ever handed to LeBron. As a kid, he had to move homes constantly, even separating from his mother for a time. But through all the adversity, he took his natural talent and combined it with hard work to set himself on a path to greatness. Filled with sports action and bold illustrations, this exciting biography tells the story of a living NBA legend. Praise for Epic Athletes * "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry

Renowned sports journalist Dan Wetzel shoots and scores with Epic Athletes: Lionel Messi, an inspiring young readers biography of a soccer great who rose from an underdog to a champion! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Jay Reed! Lionel Messi has taken the soccer world by storm. He scored the most goals in a season. He''s racked up championships. There was even a statue built in his honor. Despite the accolades, he''s still hungry for more goals, more championships, more opportunities to shine on the soccer pitch. Messi''s drive to succeed has motivated him ever since he first stepped on his local, worn down field as a kid. Yet his success didn''t come without bumps in the road. Diagnosed with a career-threatening medical condition at ten, Messi refused to give up on his dream, and went on to amass one of the greatest careers in sports history. Filled with sports action and bold illustrations, this thrilling biography details the rise of a living soccer legend. Praise for Epic Athletes * "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry

In Epic Athletes: Kevin Durant, award-winning sports journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspirational true-life story of an NBA superstar in this thrilling biography for young readers! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Marcelo Baez! In 2016, Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world when he decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Many questioned why one of the league''s best players would join a team that was already stacked with talent—didn''t he want to make a name for himself as the sole leader of a team? Kevin would have the last laugh, winning two championships and putting to rest any questions about his incredible legacy. In choosing to tune out the noise, he instead set his sights on success, maintaining the same winning attitude that has helped him achieve and overcome ever since he was kid. Even after his father abandoned the family when he was a young boy, when he was told he was too skinny to make an impact in the NBA, Kevin ignored the critics and forged his own path to victory. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations, this inspiring biography recaps the life of one of the most talented scorers in NBA history. Praise for Epic Athletes: * "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. . . an unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, STARRED review of Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry

In 2000, Alonzo Mourning was on top of the world: He had a fat new NBA contract, an Olympic gold medal, and a second beautiful child–plus the fame and wealth he had earned playing the game he loved. But in September of that year he was diagnosed with a rare and fatal kidney disease. Over the next couple of years, as his health faltered, he retired, unretired, and retired again–and sought to make sense of what remained of his life. Finally in 2003, after a frantic search for a donor match, Mourning had a new kidney and a new outlook. He vowed to make this second chance count by dedicating his life to others. By sharing his experiences of the chasms and peaks of illness and recovery, Mourning delivers a message of faith and fire, trust and triumph. Resilience is a story of both meaningful everyday lessons and the things, great and small, that truly matter in life.

Join Benny on an adventure into an imaginary world! Benny escapes the doldrums of a rainy day by imagining himself as a variety of different things: From rocket ships to dinosaurs, nothing is off-limits! Brightly colored, playful illustrations guide you through Benny''s adventure. A fresh, original story with humor, depth and a fabulous new cartoon character with heart. An excellent choice for the reluctant reader.

In this inspiring sports biography of Caitlin Clark featuring eye-catching photographs, acclaimed journalist Dan Wetzel tells the incredible true story of one of the greatest women''s college basketball players of all time, who is now a major talent in the WNBA. With her shooting range, swagger, and play-making prowess, the electrifying Caitlin Clark became one of the greatest college basketball players of all time and helped skyrocket women’s basketball to a new level of popularity. Now in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, she’s poised to take professional basketball by storm as well. This inspiring biography recaps Caitlin’s journey from multiple sport star growing up in West Des Moines, Iowa to becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, twice leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship game, and being named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. It’s a story of dedication, hard work, competitiveness, and belief that has made her a barrier-breaking hero to people across America and beyond.

The first six books in the Epic Athletes series by acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel are now available in a beautiful paperback boxed set. Epic Athletes: The Champions Collection Boxed Set of sports biographies for young readers includes: Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry featuring illustrations by Zeke Peña Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan featuring illustrations by Cory Thomas Epic Athletes: Serena Williams featuring illustrations by Sloane Leong Epic Athletes: Tom Brady featuring illustrations by Kazimir Lee Iskander Epic Athletes: LeBron James featuring illustrations by Setor Fiadzigbey Epic Athletes: Lionel Messi featuring illustrations by Jay Reed