Scope and coverage - Virtually every athlete and every sport readers might reasonably expect to find can be found here. Although there is an emphasis on sports that are popular in North America, there is considerable coverage on sports and athletes from other parts of the world. Most North Americans have at least some familiarity with such sports as baseball, basketball, football, golf, ice hockey, and tennis. They are likely to have had less exposure to badminton, cycling, and soccer and even less exposure to sports such as cricket, fencing, and Tae Kwon Do. No matter what the sport, however, readers of ""Great Athletes"" will learn that outstanding athletes from all parts of the world and all cultures. Organization and format: Averaging three to four pages in length, articles are written in clear language and presented in a uniform, easily readable format. Each article is divided into four sections that cover the athlete's life and achievements chronologically. 'Early Life' covers the athlete's family background, early education, introduction to sports, and other formative experiences. 'The Road to Excellence' discusses the athlete's first serious involvement in sports and the experiences and influences that propelled the athlete toward greatness. 'The Emerging Champion' section follows the athlete from the threshold of stardom to higher levels, and 'Continuing the Story' tracks the athlete's subsequent athletic career and later life. Finally, each article concludes with a 'Summary' recapitulating the athlete's achievements and legacy. A photograph of the athlete accompanies each essay, and every article is accompanied by at least one table, shadowed for easy reference. With their content varying greatly among different sports, these tables summarize the career statistics, honors and awards, records, and other milestones that set each great athlete apart. At a Glance: This title contains 13 Volumes; 5,000 Pages; 1,470 Essays, 380 new; 1,470 Photos (one per essay); 2,600 Sidebars/Statistic Tables; 60 Appendixes; and Name, Sport Team, Position & Country Indexes.