All-time NBA scoring champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was at the ESPN Zone at L.A. Live yesterday for a book signing of his latest book release: What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors. The book offers profiles on a line-up of little known African-American inventors, paying tribute to the people and inventions that have made our world “safer, better, and brighter.”

The book, co-authored by Raymond Obstfeld, is Abdul-Jabbar’s eighth published book.

Photo: Steve Solis / PR Photos

Hank Haney, Tiger Woods‘ former swing coach, wrote a book that is set to be released just before the 2012 Masters Tournament. It will chronicle Haney’s 6 years with the former top golfer. While Haney was coaching Woods, he won 6 majors and 31 PGA tournaments. Of course, after his marital issues, Woods’ only win was this past December at the Chevron World Challenge. Woods is now being coached by Sean Foley.

In a phone interview with ESPN’s Bob Haring, Tiger Woods sounded off on the book, saying,

“I think it’s unprofessional and very disappointing, especially because it’s someone I worked with and trusted as a friend. There have been other one-sided books about me, and I think people understand that this book is about money. I’m not going to waste my time reading it.”

The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods hits bookshelves this March.

Left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw and his wife Ellen held a press conference yesterday at Dodger Stadium to launch their book, Arise. The book chronicles the couples trip to Zambia where Clayton and Ellen along with the organization, Arise Africa are building an orphanage.

“Look where we are now. We’re at Dodger Stadium talking about a book,” Clayton said at the presee conference. “There’s something to be said for that. I think that’s a platform for us. Ellen and I were talking about how awesome it is to have baseball for other things. That’s sort of the whole purpose.”

Like another very popular athlete right now, Clayton and Ellen are devout Christians and share their experiences with faith and giving to others in the new book. You can order the book here.

Photo: PR Photos

Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West, aka The Logo, was at the ESPN Zone in Los Angeles yesterday signing books for fans. His book, West by West: My Charmed Tormented Life, is an autobiography which details everything from his battles with depression to his relationship with Phil Jackson.

West’s last year with the Lakers was coach Phil Jackson‘s first year. He says in the book, “Phil and I had no relationship,” West writes. “None. He didn’t want me around and had absolutely no respect for me–of that, I have no doubt.”

On Kobe and Shaq’s relationship, West says in the book, “It pained me to see how much of a struggle it was for them,” West writes, “how unwilling Kobe was to defer to Shaq in any way.”

The book sounds compelling, and is definitely a must read for any Lakers fan. You can purchase it here.

Photo: Steve Solis / PR Photos

In his new autobiography, Shaq Uncut: My Story, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal talks about the very public war of words he and former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant had at one point. Some may remember an interview Kobe did with ESPN’s Jim Gray which sparked one of many battles between O’Neal and Bryant.

O’Neal supposedly got so upset with Bryant making public statements about him being out of shape and faking an injury, that he threatened to murder him. An excerpt from the book details an argument the two had when Kobe was having legal problems in Colorado. The excerpt reads,

“Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, ‘You always said you’re my big brother, you’d do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me.’ I did call him. … So here we are now, and we find out he really was hurt that we didn’t stand behind him. That was something new. I didn’t think he gave a rat’s ass about us either way. ‘Well, I thought you’d publicly support me, at least,’ Kobe said. ‘You’re supposed to be my friend.’

Brian Shaw chimed in with ‘Kobe, why would you think that? Shaq had all these parties and you never showed up for any of them. We invited you to dinner on the road and you didn’t come. Shaq invited you to his wedding and you weren’t there. Then you got married and didn’t invite any of us. And now you are in the middle of this problem, this sensitive situation, and now you want all of us to step up for you. We don’t even know you.’ … Everyone was starting to calm down when I told Kobe, ‘If you ever say anything like what you said to Jim Gray ever again, I will kill you.’

Kobe shrugged and said, ‘Whatever.’

The book is due out Nov. 15. We look forward to reading more never-before-heard stories from the Big Threatener.

Photo: Claudio Uema / PR Photos

With a title like “The Whore of Akron,” it’s clear author Scott Raab is no LeBron James fan. But his dislike for James goes beyond  any other displays of “haterdom” we’ve seen directed at James. He wrote a whole book, which he calls “a memoir about his torrid, turbulent affair with LeBron James.”

Born and raised in in Cleveland, now living in New Jersey, Raab had been embedded with the Cavaliers for a year right before James was traded to the Heat. He was waiting and hoping for a victory Cleveland sports fans never got to experience.

The excerpt describes his experience at American Airlines Arena, and is as much of a diss on Miami as it is on James. Just to make it clear how deep his hatred runs, he says at one point, “For as long as I’ve been a fan, I’ve rooted hard against certain teams and players, but never have I hoped to see a career-ending injury — until tonight.”

Raab has written for Esquire since 1997. You can read the whole excerpt here.

Kendra Wilkinson, wife of former NFL player Hank Baskett, has penned her second book and it just hit bookshelves this week. Titled “Being Kendra: Cribs, Cocktails, and Getting My Sexy Back,” her follow-up memoir focuses on the ups and downs she has faced being a mother and wife in the spotlight. Her first book, “Sliding Into Home,” came out last summer.

Wilkinson is currently on tour promoting her book and doing book signings on the East Coast. She’ll be making her way to the West Coast on October 1st when she will be signing books in her home town of San Diego. Check out her schedule here.

Photo: KendraWilkinson.com

One of our favorite soccer players, Arsenal and English national team forward Theo Walcott was at Emirate Stadium in London last week signing copies of his auto-biography, “Theo: Growing Up Fast“. The book was released this month and has already cause quite a stir because of Theo’s criticism of England manager Fabio Capello, whom he labels “cold and clinical”.

Theo has already published four children’s books, “T.J. and the Hat-Trick“, “T.J. and the Penalty“, “T.J. and the Winning Goal” and “T.J. and the Cup Run“.

Photo: PR Photos

Former Los Angeles Dodger Shawn Green was at ESPN Zone on Wednesday greeting fans and autographing copies of his new book, The Way Of Baseball: Finding Stillness At 95 MPH.

The two-time All-Star shares the lessons the game taught him about being present and attaining inner stillness—no matter what life throws at you. Described as partt sports memoir, part philosophical study, and part spiritual journey, the book sheds light on Shawn’s unique approach to living mindfully. It’s an intimate look at the life of a professional ballplayer, and a thoughtful exploration of what it means to let go and live in the moment.

Baseball was more than a sport to Shawn, and The Way Of Baseball is more than a sports book. Full of personal anecdotes and ballpark wisdom, it acts as a guidebook for a meaningful, well-balanced life. In today’s busy world of networking and multitasking, Shawn’s focused, centered, one-moment-at-a-time approach is truly inspiring. Looking at life through the lens of baseball, he shows us that everything’s easier with a clear mind and a calm attitude—whether it’s fly balls or fatherhood.

Photo: Jeff Freedman

Former New York Yankees player Bernie Williams was at a White Plains, NY Barnes & Noble yesterday autographing copies of his latest book, Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance.

Bernie grew up playing the classical guitar while also pursuing baseball. Bernie plays and composes music with influences that include jazz, classical, pop, Brazilian, and Latin sounds. Following his career with the Yankees, he studied guitar and composition for a year at the State University of New York at Purchase in preparation for his album, “Moving Forward”. He is signed to Paul McCartney’s publishing company, MPL Communications.

In September 2009, Bernie was nominated for a Latin Grammy for his “Moving Forward” album. In 2010 Bernie went on a World Rhythms tour with Basia and performed at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games opening ceremony.

Click here to order Bernie’s book!

Photo: PR Photos