Mick Johnson started playing football with his father, Mike Johnson, when he was four years old. His position is running back. By the time he is in eighth grade, he has a shot to make the varsity team at Shilshole high the following year. He does but is disappointed to learn that the coach does not start freshmen. Mick is relegated to the second string and the special teams, but when the starting running back and quarterback are suspended, he gets his chance to start. During a pivotal game with Foothill High, Mick has a chance to score the winning touchdown, but he is stopped a foot outside of the end zone by a stronger player. Afterwards, his father gets him a gym membership at a gym called Popeye’s. Under the tutelage of a trainer named Peter, Mick begins using oral steroids, then progresses to the stronger injectable steroids. His strength and speed increase and he begins to break league football records. However, as side effects—acne, rage, suicidal depression—begin to mount, and a coach and teammate both begin to suspect that he is using steroids, Mick’s future in both football and life is in jeopardy.