Joseph Romanos

They excite and inspire us, frustrate and disappoint us — when great sporting rivals meet, we live each moment with them as their fortunes fluctuate. During the past few decades, we have witnessed many superbly matched opponents, in a wide range of sports. Who can forget the marathon matches played by John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, the nail-biting fights between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, the generational clash of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, the ice-queen encounters between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan? Or the classic rivalries between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, Margaret Court and Billie Jean King, or the most enduring competitors of all: the Celtic and Rangers football clubs? These are just a few of the great rivalries featured in this fascinating book.

Whether they occur on the field, in the ring, on the track or on the court, it is the great matches that we remember best, when opponents of equal skill but often contrasting styles compete at the top level. Joseph Romanos recalls some of the most famous moments in sporting history in a selection that has both excitement and variety. Along the way he offers many surprising insights into the lives and minds of the sportsmen and women involved. Great Sporting Rivals will be enjoyed by anyone who remembers these sporting heroes and wants to relive the thrill of their extraordinary encounters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joseph Romanos is a sports writer, columnist and broadcaster with almost thirty years’ journalism experience in the United Kingdom, Australia and his native New Zealand. He has met and interviewed many of the people profiled in this book and has covered many major international events, including four Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games, four world track and field championships and international cricket, rugby, rugby league, boxing, golf and tennis. His thirty previous books on sport range from coaching manuals to novels, and include titles on rugby, cricket, tennis, basketball, netball, softball and athletics.

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Reviews

‘Romanos delivers interesting background details and knowledgeable insights along with the meat-and-potatoes statistics. And it’s a great excuse to relive some of these legendary stoushes.’ The Australian Way

‘Romanos, one of New Zealand’s most respected sports writers and columnists, has come up with a winner with this collection ... This is a book sports fans will enjoy.’ Southland Times

‘Romanos has picked a real winner with great sporting rivals and his selection of combatants is top notch. Great value, great read.’ Wairarapa Times-Age

‘This is an easy book to read. Each chapter tells a different story, written in Romanos’ no-frills, news style, of battles to be the very best. My advice, sports fans ... get yourself a copy.’ Marlborough Express

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SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 234 x 153mm
Format: Paperback with flaps
Extent: 200 pages
Colour photos
Weight: 550 gms
First published: August 2004
ISBN: 978-0-908988-40-2