Book excerpt: Get Your Balls, Bats, and Sticks on Route 66! Immortalized in countless books, songs, and movies, Route 66 is a timeless icon of American culture. Until now, however, no guide to this historic byway has focused on another beloved part of American culture: sports. That all changes with RoadTrip America A Sports Fan's Guide to Route 66. In this groundbreaking new book, sports writer and lifelong sports fan Ron Clements goes beyond nostalgic buildings and classic cars to highlight historic sports venues, storied sports professionals, and current sports events along the Mother Road. Rolling west from Chicago to Santa Monica, the author shares inside information about the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB teams who are based in the cites and towns that around on Route 66. In addition, enjoy anecdotes gathered from auto and horse racing tracks, rodeo areanas, golf links, and the magnificent lineup of high school and collegiate sports programs to check out along the way. The book has more than 300 photos and maps showing the various attractions in each of the eights states covered: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. And because no book about the Mother Road would be complete without it, there's plenty of info about the iconic roadside attractions that have entertained and enthralled travelers for the past century. -- Ron Clements