SOUTH CAROLINA BASEBALL SKIPPER RAY TANNER BELIEVES…THAT EVERYBODY DESERVES A MIRACLE!
In time for the reigning World Series Champion Carolina Gamecocks to attempt to be the first team with back-to-back World Series wins, Black Swan Productions Group is releasing the critically acclaimed book
“CAROLINA BASEBALL: PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS -- THE OFFICIAL AUTHORIZED HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPION GAMECOCKS"
100% of Coach Ray Tanner’s proceeds are going to the building of the Miracle Field for disabled children
(COLUMBIA, South Carolina, June 15, 2011) – Reigning National Champion Head Coach Ray Tanner of the South Carolina Gamecocks baseball program believes in miracles. Not only from his team’s late-inning heroics, but also for every kid who ever dreamed of playing America’s past-time, regardless of any physical handicap they might have.
This is precisely why Tanner teamed with award-winning author J. David Miller, and his co-author Ron Kule, to write Carolina Baseball: Pressure Makes Diamonds, a limited edition, leather-bound book wherein the coach is donating 100 percent of his proceeds to build a “Miracle League Field” in Columbia.
"It’s hardly just the wins and the losses, the struggles or victories of what we’ve done here in Columbia,” Tanner says. “It’s about children that we believe deserve to have an opportunity to enjoy the pastime that has changed all of our lives. Enter the miracle-league field concept. If we do this correctly and do this together, we can put up a playing field that will allow physically challenged children of different ages to play our sport. I’m determined to make this happen. The book has become a vehicle in which to do so, and something we’re very excited about.”
Tanner wrote the foreword to Carolina Baseball: Pressure Makes Diamonds himself. The book has already received critical acclaim, and is a comprehensive, university-authorized journey through the Gamecocks’ storied 118-year baseball history, culminating with their 2010 national championship. Hundreds of full-color photos preserve Carolina’s revered memories and bring the game to life. Currently the Gamecocks are in the Super Regional’s for the second year in a row, as the #1 seed with an outstanding opportunity to repeat in the College World Series.
“Not since first reading The Mighty Casey at Bat at age 10 have I been as visually transformed into a literary sports battleground,” says award-winning producer Derek Britt, who reviewed the book . “J. David Miller and Ron Kule captured me from the first line of the book. I loved every word.”
There are thousands of children with disabilities who live within driving distance of Columbia, most not being able to participate in team sports. That is the driving force behind Tanner’s goal to build a unique baseball complex for these special children. Tanner’s objective is to build the complex as close to the sparkling new Carolina Stadium as possible. Tanner’s vision will become one of numerous Miracle League Fields around the nation, and the only one of its kind in the entire state of South Carolina.
The complex will include a custom-designed field with a cushioned rubberized surface to help prevent injuries, wheelchair accessible dugouts, and a completely flat surface to eliminate any barriers to wheelchair-bound or visually impaired players. The design also includes three grass fields, which could be converted to the synthetic rubber surface as the league grows. In addition, it will feature accessible restrooms, a concession stand, and picnic pavilion.
The success of the Miracle League has been chronicled on NBC, ABC, Connecting With Kids and FOX, and in July 2001, the league was profiled on a segment of HBO’s Real Sports. Presently there are 240 Miracle League Organizations across the country, as well as Puerto Rico, Canada and Australia. The Miracle League now serves over 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities.
Miller is the author of 12 books, including collaborations with former NFL head coaches Jerry Glanville and Hank Stram. The former pro football editor of SPORT magazine, Miller earned the New York Newspaper Guild Page One Award for investigative journalism, and his last book, Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope and Redemption, sold in five countries. He also wrote the Sports Illustrated popular Super Book of Football for Kids. Ron Kule is an accomplished writer of short stories and poetry whose work has appeared in the International Library of Poetry.
For more information on the book, the authors, The Miracle League Field, or to help Coach Tanner reach his goal of building Miracle field, please visit
www.PressureMakesDiamondsBook.Com
This one of a kind, leather bound edition won’t last long as supplies are limited.
For more information or to request an interview with J. David Miller, please contact:
Steve Beeman, Falco Ink – stevenmbeeman@falcoink.com. (212) 445-7100
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