In the span of a few months, sports became the market-savvy, sensationalized entertainment we know today. Taking us back to 1984, L. Jon Wertheim shows us Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe in their prime, and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's rivalry raging—even as Michael Jordan grew from college basketball player to world-class star. In the same summer that saw ESPN's rise to media dominance and Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon making pro wrestling a big business, Wertheim points out, Donald Trump made his failed foray into being a pro football team owner.

"We talk about key moments in sports; but the summer of 1984 was a key moment for sports. [Wertheim's] book is nostalgic, informative, and most of all, a lot of fun."—Chris Evert