Kevin Cook – författare

The definitive account of golf’s founding father and son, Old and Young Tom Morris. For the first time, the two are portrayed as men of flesh and blood – heroic but also ambitious, loving but sometimes confused and angry. Two men from one household, with ambitions that made them devoted partners as well as ardent foes.Tommy's Honour is a compelling story of the two Tom Morrises, father and son, both supremely talented golfers but utterly different, constituting a record-breaking golfing dynasty that has never been known before or since.Father, Old Tom Morris, grew up a stone's throw away from golf's ancestral home at St Andrews, a whisky-fuelled caddie, a wonderful 19th century character who became an Open Champion three times before running the Royal & Ancient, then sole governing body of the game. His son, Young Tom, arguably an even more prodigious talent than his father, was a golfing genius, the Tiger Woods of his era, who at 17 became the youngest player, to this day, to win the Open Championship. He then went on to win it four times in a row, an unprecedented achievement. On one occasion, father and son fought it out at the last hole of the Championship before the son finally triumphed.But then came the pivotal day that would change their lives forever, the death of Young Tom’s wife and unborn child. The cataclysmic events of that day eventually lead to Young Tom’s tragic death, aged 24, with his father living on for another 20 years in deep remorse.So on the one hand, you have the story of one of the most influential figures in the history of golf, a pioneer in the birth of the modern game and of Scottish and Open Championship golf. And on the other hand – you have an extraordinary father-and-son story. It’s for every son who ever competed with his father, and every father who has guided his son towards manhood, then found it hard to let go.

Titanic Thompson is the rollicking true story of one of the most charismatic characters in twentieth-century America. Travelling only with his golf clubs, a .45 revolver, and a suitcase full of cash, this is the legendary tale of a man who was married five times to five different girls, all teenagers on their wedding day. He killed five men, though he’d say ‘they’d all agree they had it coming to them’. He won and lost millions in a time when being a millionaire still really meant something.Filled with fascinating facts and famous faces – Harry Houdini, Al Capone, Lee Trevino, Arnold Rothstein and Jean Harlow all make appearances – this is a brilliant and compelling snapshot of life on the road in freewheelin’ America.

This "raucous retelling of the life of a consummate gambler, grifter and quintessential American character" (Kirkus Reviews) introduces Alvin "Titanic" Thompson (1892-1974), who traveled with golf clubs, a .45 revolver, and a suitcase full of cash. A terrific read for anyone who has ever laid a bet, Titanic Thompson recaptures the colorful times of a singular figure.

In 1964 a woman was stabbed to death in front of her home in New York, a murder The New York Times called "a frozen moment of dramatic, disturbing social change". The victim, Catherine "Kitty" Genovese, became an urban martyr, butchered in sight of thirty-eight neighbours who "didn’t want to get involved". Her sensational case provoked an outcry and launched a sociological theory known as the "Bystander Effect".On the fiftieth anniversary of her murder, Kevin Cook presents the real Genovese. "Gripping" (The New York Times) and "Provocative" (The Wall Street Journal), Kitty Genovese evokes the gay and lesbian underground of Greenwich Village with feeling and detail. Cook reconstructs the crime, and drawing on lost documents and new interviews, explores the legacy of the case. His account of what happened is the most accurate and chilling to date.

Baseball honors legacies—from cheering the home team to breaking in an old glove handed down from father to son. In The Dad Report, award-winning sportswriter Kevin Cook weaves a tapestry of uplifting stories in which fathers and sons—from the sport's superstars to Cook and his own ball-playing father—share the game.Almost two hundred father-son pairs have played in the big leagues. Cook takes us inside the clubhouses, homes, and lives of many of the greats. Aaron Boone follows grandfather Bob, father Ray, and brother Bret to the majors—three generations of All-Stars. Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr. strive to outdo their famous dads. Michael Jordan walks away from basketball to play minor-league baseball—to fulfill his father's dream.In visiting these legendary families, Cook discovers that ball-playing families are a lot like our own. Dan Haren regrets the long road trips that keep him from his kids. Ike Davis and his father, a former Yankee, debate whether Ike should pitch or play first base. Buddy Bell leads a generation of big-leaguers determined to open their workplace—the clubhouse—to their kids.Framing The Dad Report is the story of Kevin Cook's own father, Art Cook, a minor-league pitcher, a loveable rogue with a wicked screwball. In Art's later years, Kevin phoned him almost every night to talk baseball. They called those nightly conversations "the Dad Report." In time, Kevin came to see that these conversations were about much more than the game. That's what this book is about: the way fathers and sons talk baseball as a way of talking about everything—courage, fear, fun, family, morality, mortality, and how it's not whether you win or lose that counts, it's how you share the game.

The stories and accounts of Kentucky basketball's players, iconic coaches and epic games have been told and retold, but lesser known are the stories of the arenas and venues that have been home to the Wildcats – buildings that have witnessed the sights, sounds, and shared spirit of the Big Blue Nation for over a century.   In House of Champions author Kevin Cook combines archival research and numerous interviews with players and coaches to reveal the rich history and colorful details of the structures that have hosted UK basketball. A number of fascinating backstories are uncovered, including the excitement of Alumni Gym's opening night in 1925; the problematic acquisition of a Black community for Memorial Coliseum; and the moving account of the displays of nearly ten thousand names of Kentucky's WWII and Korean War heroes on the Coliseum's pedestrian ramps. The account concludes with a compelling overview of the development of historic Rupp Arena: its inner workings, the prominent figures involved – and how the initial conversation to build it began over a slice of Jerry's pie in 1968. This insightful and entertaining history reveals how the impact of these sporting facilities extended far beyond the courts' sidelines to directly shape and influence the social, economic, and political landscapes of Lexington and Central Kentucky. House of Champions also faithfully recreates the full game day experience of fans in the stands for several key games in UK's storied past. It ultimately offers an even greater appreciation of the history of the Wildcats and what the famed indoor stadiums have brought to the program – a must for any true Big Blue Basketball fan.

Get more enjoyment out of the game and avoid golf gaffes with this updated guide In the second edition of Golf Rules & Etiquette For Dummies, renowned sportswriter Kevin Cook and co-author John Steinbreder bring you up to speed on all the major and minor rules, customs, norms, and etiquette that will govern your next day out on the links. Cook and Steinbreder provide easy-to-follow guidance for how to conduct yourself on the course that takes into account the seismic shifts that have defined golf’s last two decades. You’ll learn all about what’s different, what’s timeless, and how to know when you might be getting close to breaking a written or unwritten rule. This book covers all the essential rule changes from the last twenty years, explains correct course behavior in the smartphone age, and helps you understand controversial rulings that even experienced players debate. You'll also discover when it's appropriate to use your devices on the course, how to handle new rules, what to wear in today's more relaxed dress code environment, and how to keep pace without stressing yourself out. Inside the book: Updated coverage of all major rule changes since 2001, including modifications for players with disabilities and new relief proceduresClear guidance on technology etiquette, from using new apps to understanding when phones are and aren't appropriateExplanations of modern golf formats and venues, including Topgolf and other innovations transforming the driving-range experienceThe unwritten rules that separate knowledgeable players from beginners, including when to stay silent and how to maintain course safetyHistorical context that helps you understand why certain rules exist and how they've evolvedEssential for everyone new to the game, Golf Rules & Etiquette For Dummies is also a can’t-miss resource for experienced players, coaches building school golf programs, and anyone who wants to fit in on a business golf outing.

WINNER OF THE CHARLES TYRWHITT SPORTS BOOK AWARD GOLF BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025Twenty-five years ago, Tiger Woods achieved the greatest feat in golf history: the ‘Tiger Slam’. Now, for the first time, the award-winning author of Tommy’s Honor delivers a riveting account of Tiger at his most brilliant - dominating the game in a way we will never see again.In 1997 Tiger Woods wins the Masters by the largest margin in history, becoming the first Black player to win a major championship. Four years later, the world watches with breathless anticipation as he returns to Augusta National, aiming for a milestone no other golfer has ever achieved: four professional Grand Slam triumphs in a row.In The Tiger Slam, Kevin Cook delivers a gripping, inside-the-ropes account of an astonishing streak of victories. Readers will hear from many of golf’s biggest names—Tiger’s caddie, his coach, his opponents, his idols and others, all offering fresh insight into the electrifying highs of his triumphs and the obstacles on and off the course that threatened his relentless pursuit of perfection.The Tiger Slam is the epitome of greatness in sport, a feat as exhilarating today as it was twenty-five years ago. Kevin Cook invites us to close our eyes and see a young champion at the peak of his powers: unmatched raw strength, single-minded focus, strategic genius, and utter fearlessness. The Tiger Slam takes readers behind the scenes in the thrilling months when Tiger Woods took an ancient game to new heights.

Twenty-five years ago, Tiger Woods achieved the greatest feat in golf history: the ‘Tiger Slam’. Now, for the first time, the award-winning author of Tommy’s Honor delivers a riveting account of Tiger at his most brilliant - dominating the game in a way we will never see again.In 1997 Tiger Woods wins the Masters by the largest margin in history, becoming the first Black player to win a major championship. Four years later, the world watches with breathless anticipation as he returns to Augusta National, aiming for a milestone no other golfer has ever achieved: four professional Grand Slam triumphs in a row.In The Tiger Slam, Kevin Cook delivers a gripping, inside-the-ropes account of an astonishing streak of victories. Readers will hear from many of golf’s biggest names—Tiger’s caddie, his coach, his opponents, his idols and others, all offering fresh insight into the electrifying highs of his triumphs and the obstacles on and off the course that threatened his relentless pursuit of perfection.The Tiger Slam is the epitome of greatness in sport, a feat as exhilarating today as it was twenty-five years ago. Kevin Cook invites us to close our eyes and see a young champion at the peak of his powers: unmatched raw strength, single-minded focus, strategic genius, and utter fearlessness. The Tiger Slam takes readers behind the scenes in the thrilling months when Tiger Woods took an ancient game to new heights.

Baseball honors legacies—from cheering the home team to breaking in an old glove handed down from father to son. In The Dad Report, award-winning sportswriter Kevin Cook weaves a tapestry of uplifting stories in which fathers and sons—from the sport's superstars to Cook and his own ball-playing father—share the game.Almost two hundred father-son pairs have played in the big leagues. Cook takes us inside the clubhouses, homes, and lives of many of the greats. Aaron Boone follows grandfather Bob, father Ray, and brother Bret to the majors—three generations of All-Stars. Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr. strive to outdo their famous dads. Michael Jordan walks away from basketball to play minor-league baseball—to fulfill his father's dream.In visiting these legendary families, Cook discovers that ball-playing families are a lot like our own. Dan Haren regrets the long road trips that keep him from his kids. Ike Davis and his father, a former Yankee, debate whether Ike should pitch or play first base. Buddy Bell leads a generation of big-leaguers determined to open their workplace—the clubhouse—to their kids.Framing The Dad Report is the story of Kevin Cook's own father, Art Cook, a minor-league pitcher, a loveable rogue with a wicked screwball. In Art's later years, Kevin phoned him almost every night to talk baseball. They called those nightly conversations "the Dad Report." In time, Kevin came to see that these conversations were about much more than the game. That's what this book is about: the way fathers and sons talk baseball as a way of talking about everything—courage, fear, fun, family, morality, mortality, and how it's not whether you win or lose that counts, it's how you share the game.

Between the Immaculate Reception in 1972 and The Catch in 1982, pro football grew up. In 1972, Steelers star Franco Harris hitchhiked to practice. NFL teams roomed in skanky motels. They played on guts, painkillers, legal steroids, fury, and camaraderie. A decade later, Joe Montana’s gleamingly efficient 49ers ushered in a new era: the corporate, scripted, multibillion-dollar NFL we watch today. Kevin Cook’s rollicking chronicle of this pivotal decade draws on interviews with legendary players—Harris, Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Ken “Snake” Stabler—to re-create their heroics and off-field carousing. He shows coaches John Madden and Bill Walsh outsmarting rivals as Monday Night Football redefined sports’ place in American life. Celebrating the game while lamenting the physical toll it took on football’s greatest generation, Cook diagrams the NFL’s transformation from second-tier sport into national obsession.