I often have questions come to me about information concerning a variety of people. The Library has a wonderful resource called Biography Resource Center. I have found that if the person is even remotely famous, you can find information about him/her in this resource.

The type of information available ranges from short biographical entries to very detailed biographical information.  Biography Resource Center often provides links to magazine articles. If you have a library card with us, you can access this resource 24/7 using your library card and PIN number.  It is located on our Reference Database page under the History and Biography section.

To answer my original question, Brett Favre is a quarterback who has been playing professional football since 1991. He has played for the Atlanta Falcons (drafted),  Green Bay Packers,  New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings. Want to know more about Brett Favre? Check out the Biography Resource Center. Of course, we also have a few biographies about him if you want a more detailed account about his life.

Today is the anniversary of the birth for two famous Georgians.  These two men made an impact in their respective fields. I knew the first one, Ty Cobb, was from Georgia but I was surprised that Ossie Davis was from Georgia.

Ty Cobb made his impact on the baseball world.  He was born in 1886 in Narrows, Georgia. He was known as the “Georgia Peach” and was considered an outstanding offensive player of all time.  He played for Augusta in the minor South Atlantic League. He set many Major League records. Several are still intact today.  Ty Cobb  was the first man elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame which was established in Cooperstown, Ohio in 1936.

Want to learn more about Ty Cobb? Check out these books.

Ty Cobb by Charles C Alexander

Cobb: a biography by Al Stump

Ossie Davis made an impact in films. He was born in Cogdell Georgia in 1917.  He was known as one of the busiest African-American Entertainers in the 1970’s.  In his career he wrote plays and books. He was a director, playwright and producer. He co-starred in a radio program with his wife in the mid-1970’s.

Want to learn more or see some of Ossie Davis’s work? Check out the following.

Black Directors in Hollywood by Melvin Donaldson

Finding Buck McHenry

Miss Ever’s boys

With Ossie Davis and Ruby: in this life together

Just Like Martin by Ossie Davis

Want more information about these gentleman but can’t get into a library? You can use the Library’s electronic resource, Biography Resource Center. This resource along with other electronic resources can be found on our Reference Database page.

It’s hard to believe that in about a month and a half, the year 2009 and the first decade of the New Millennium will be over. The passing decade–and this passing year–have been trying times that have tested many of us in faith and resolve. But for me, at least, it’s been an opportunity to get back to basics and be more creative about things.  Instead of eating out as much, I bring my lunch to work. Instead of going to the movies or paying for Netflix, I borrow DVDs from the Library (…and there’s the pitch).  In a way, as cheesy as it sounds, the economic downturn has helped me get back in touch with the simpler (and less expensive) pleasures of life.

Among the simpler pleasures I’ve been rediscovering is my passion for running, something I’ve enjoyed since I was a high school student. I can’t say that I was the speed demon of the team but I truly enjoyed the freedom of being out in the elements, among my fellow teammates and decked in the school colors off to a cross country meet.  Running taught me a great deal about endurance, discipline and was a great way to relieve stress and tension. Unfortunately, running fell by the wayside as I grew older and a bit more preoccupied.

For now, I’m getting back into the sport slowly but surely, as I haven’t been a serious runner for some time. Thus far, I walk at least twice a week and have been trying to work the jogging back in. It feels really good to rediscover a long lost love. Here’s a couple of books I’ve been checking out:

Running For Dummies by Florence Griffith-Joyner & John Hanc–My heart leaped when I noticed this book at the Decatur branch.  “Flo-Jo!” I exclaimed…in a whisper (I was still in a library). I’m really liking this book so far because, like all For Dummies books, it’s great for the absolute beginner or the lapsed intermediate like myself.  It’s a great reminder of the rewards, the challenges and the simple mechanics of running. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this book was co-authored by one of the greatest (and most glamorous) legends of the sport.

Think Fast: Mental Toughness Training for Running by Joe Henderson– There is no doubt that running requires physical strength and endurance but, as my old cross country coach would remind me, running is as much a mental sport as it is a physical sport. This book offers great wisdom for keeping your focus while running and also gives good advice on pushing yourself to “the next level” of more challenging, demanding workouts. While this particular book is geared more toward competitive and seasoned runners, this book can also be quite to the beginner in need of extra motivation.

We are entering the second half of the college football season. There have been some surprises with some of the teams and some domination by others. The top three teams have stayed on top for the entire year.  To celebrate college football, I thought I would highlight some great football films and books celebrating this great past time. There are three films that I always want to watch when preparing or celebrating this pastime. They are:

Remember the Titans

Rudy

We are Marshall

Here are a few books celebrating college football:

About them Dawgs! Georgia football’s memorable teams and players

Dixieland Delight: a football season on the road in the Southeastern Conference

Bragging rights: a season inside the SEC, football’s toughest conference

Okay, I know it’s only July, but I am ready for some football. I’m an avid football fan. I need to see the pig skin soar gracefully through the air. I need to see grown men crash into each other. I need to see the wonderful strut after a touchdown.

But the NFL and the colleges are going to make me wait.

So the next best thing is watching reruns on the NFL network (if you get it), reading about football, or watching movies about football. Or if you’re athletic you could actually play some football (I’m the opposite of athletic).

The library has a ton of great stuff to check out. I’m personally recommending these:

We are Marshall a movie based on an actual event where the majority of the football team and its supporters die in a plane crash. Great movie. Not kid friendly.

The Longest Yard the library has the 1974 version with Burt Reynolds and the 2005 version with Adam Sandler. Once again, not kid friendly.

To find a list of more football movies try SportsinMovies.com.

300 Pounds of Attitude: the Wildest Stories and Craziest Characters the NFL has Ever Seen by Jonathan Rand. The title says it all.

The Blind Side: The Evolution of the Game written by Michael Lewis.  This biography of Michael Oher is a worthwhile read, even if you don’t like football. Oher is not only an amazing athlete, but also a phenomenal individual.

And for those who know nothing about football, but would like to learn more…

Football for Dummies by Howie Long.  Long is a former player and commentator for FOX.

The Major League Baseball All-Star game was last night, which means the 2008 baseball season is half finished. That means it’s not too late for those of us who still haven’t made it to Turner Field this year to see the Braves play. It’s never too late, however, to sharpen your baseball skills and improve your game. We have several books and dvds for children and coaches on how to be a better baseball player.

Here are some good books to get you started. Play Ball Like the Hall of Famers features tips from baseball greats such as George Brett and Johnny Bench. Derek Jeter, Pedro Martinez and others offer suggestions on how to play the game in Play Ball Like the Pros. The Kids’ Baseball Workout gives ideas for how to start and structure a workout to help improve your game.

For all the parents who coach their kid’s baseball team or those that just want to help their child improve, we have stuff for you, too. Baseball Drills for Young People and Backyard Baseball Drills are worth looking into. And regardless of your skill level, remember to have fun!

My cousin George is not a librarian, but when it comes to sports in general and baseball in particular, he’s always the one educating me about the best websites. One of these is Retrosheet. The folks who manage the website tell us that “Retrosheet was founded in 1989 for the purpose of computerizing play-by-play accounts of as many pre-1984 major league games as possible.” This function alone makes it a great website to visit for the nostalgic fan. The first search I performed let me look up the play-by-play and results of the first major league game I attended with my Grandmother and some of her friends back in 1966 (Pirates 9 Cubs 1). The next let me look at the results of the Pirates vs. Reds game that my Dad took me to the next year. It was Cap Day and we actually got to walk on the perimeter of Forbes Field until we exited the centerfield gate. I still have the cap.

Obviously I have already described my favorite part of this website, but Retrosheet is a gold mine for any baseball trivia wonk or statistics geek. For example, they chronicle every instance of a player losing a home run in a game (due, usually, to umpire mistake, a game being cancelled by weather, or a base running gaffe.) and the homepage tells the reader if a new occurrence has been added. Unheard of franchises are represented here. Did you know that the Cincinnati Porkers won 43 games, lost 57 and tied 2 games in 1891? I KNOW! Neither did I! There is just too much in this website to convey in words but, if you have any curiosity about baseball, Retrosheet.org is the place to visit. You’ll learn about things about the game that you didn’t know even ardent fans paid attention to.

George would not forgive me if I didn’t also mention what is probably his favorite website/blog at Uni Watch. Their slogan is “The Obsessive Study of Athletics Aesthetics.” In other words, if a sports team wears it, Uni Watch knows everything about it. They keep track of any change in any team’s uniforms (or those of the team’s cheerleaders, if they have them) and the writers are not stingy with their opinions, good or bad. One current feature that I like is a preview of all of the changes that fans will be seeing for the 2008 baseball season. Many, many entries discuss the pockets, hosiery, caps, and warm-up outfits and there are fans who write in about things they’ve noticed, like an upside down “i” on a player’s jersey or some other error. All of the major, and a few of the minor, sports are represented. As with Retrosheet, very few fans will be interested in everything offered but there is so much there that the digging around will be part of the fun.

Greg H.

Spring is here and if you like to fish, the lakes are
calling! I used to fish for crappie or pan fish until one fatal day, I caught a bass on a worm. The fight seemed enormous after just a little bitty crappie fish. Now it is bass fishing or bust!

New to fishing?

Do you know the difference between a bait or spinner reel?
What about top water lures, plastic worms or spinner baits? The library
has several books on freshwater fishing, fly rod fishing and other
fishing topics. Fishing Fundamentals by In-Fisherman is a wonderful DVD that the library owns that is great for beginners or those of us who are looking for a new bait to fish with.

Now that we know the basics of fishing, what do we need to fish in Georgia?

Of  course you’ll need the gear, fishing pole, bait, a pair of pliers, etc.
To fish on public waters in Georgia, you also need to have a fishing
license. To obtain a license, check out the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources website .
If it is your first time and you want to try it out, I highly
recommend fishing on one of the Free Fishing Days.  This year they
will be held on  June 6, 2009; June 13, 2009 and September 26, 2009. On
these three dates you can fish any public fishing water without a
license.

Where are some public fishing areas?

There are some great places to fish in the greater Atlanta
area.  The closest Public Fishing Area is  Marbin Farms located in
Jasper and Newton counties east of DeKalb.  There are the big lakes
like Atloona, Lanier, Sinclair, and Oconee, and of course Stone
Mountain has fishing areas. Several of the state parks have fishing
areas. Two of the closest are Sweetwater Creek and Hard Labor Creek.
Many of the surrounding counties have reservoirs that allow fishing. If
you are not a resident of the county, most counties set a nominal fee
usually per boat or car. Some reservoirs in the area are Lake Varner
(Newton County), Henry county has several , and Randy Poynter/Black Shoals Lake (Rockdale County).

Looking for more places or fishing reports? Try these two online sources: Best Fishing in Georgia and Georgia Outdoor News . Have a favorite fishing hole? Please share with us.  Hope to see you on the lakes!!

Lie Bury Ann would be my derby name; and, the number proudly listed below on my jersey would be 796.21, which as your probably guessed is the call number for books on roller skating, roller derby and other wheeled sports.  I would also have the signature move – the shusher.  However, I lack the nerve and gumption to actually play, which is compounded by the fact that I have a hard time walking in 1/2 inch heels and haven’t roller skated in over 20 years.  I do love watching roller derby though!

Lucky for me, I live in a city that has a rockin’ league of women’s flat track derby.  This Saturday, March 8, is the start of the 2008 season!  This year the bouts will be at the Yaarab Shrine Center on Ponce De Leon and will feature double headers, the bizarre bazaar and hopefully better seating.  I am excited to see the rematch between last year’s top teams, the Denim Demons and Toxic Shocks; the second bout is between the Apocalypstix and a team from Asheville, NC.

Check out the Atlanta Roller Girl’s website for a crash course on how the game is played.  It’s a pretty simple game, but the fast pace, speed and agility of the players is truly impressive.

If you’re interested in the seeing the mad skills of derby girls, supporting a local indie sport league or just want to check out what excites a not so typical librarian, come on out on Saturday.  Ready to roll?

–Heather S., a.k.a. “Lie Bury Ann”

I stumbled upon this webpage the other day and thought it was intriguing.  It’s about the first Negro Leagues in the early 20th century and the impact the first black baseball players had on the history of the sport.  Be sure to listen to the sound clips where different players talk about the subject.

For further research, here are a few books you may wish to check out:

The Kansas City Monarchs : champions of Black baseball by Janet Bruce

Negro league baseball : the rise and ruin of a Black institution by Neil Lanctot

Crossing the line : Black major leaguers, 1947-1959 by Larry Moffi and Jonathan Kronstadt

Blackball superstars : legendary players of the Negro baseball leagues by Ace Collins and John Hillman

Black diamond : the story of the Negro baseball leagues by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, Jr.

The forgotten players : the story of black baseball in America by Robert Gardner and Dennis Shortelle

The Negro leagues : the story of Black baseball by Jacob Margolies