From the Outhouse to the Penthouse and Somewhere in Between: The Story of One Free Agent's Trip Through the Ranks of Pro Football

Many red-blooded American boys growing up in the '60's would dream of becoming a professional athlete, but which of them had enough stamina and determination to tackle the obstacles that blocked the way to securing a career as a pro-football player? The odds were one in a million against their fulfilling that dream- unless, of course, that boy was someone like Parker Thomas!From the first day that the protagonist is introduced to football, his strength, agility, speed and spirit are assets to his team. His choice to secure an Ivy League education rather than to attend a 'football factory' aids his accomplishing goals after his career in the pros ends, but also hampers his burning desire to play pro football. Only after months of training following his attending Redskins free-agent camp and being rejected the first time around does he finally secure a contract offer to play in the pros. Following an injury and his subsequent release from the team, he heals, retrains, and reaffirms his dream by gaining a spot with the Giants in the NFL. For Parker Thomas, it had to be all or nothing.A burst appendix cuts short his Giants' playing days, but not one to be deterred, he heads north to the Canadian Football League after being recruited by the Montreal Alouets. He becomes a major force in the team's successful season, but finishes his first year of play in a game that turns out to be a heart-breaking loss for the Grey Cup.The third section of the book follows his A.F.L. years with the Tampa Bay Bandits and his subsequent trade to the San Antonio Gunslingers. The novel ends with the Supreme Court decision of the NFL Anti- Trust case finishing his pro-football career, but not breaking his spirit. His off-season employment in the securities industry and steady planning for the days he would no longer be able to play payoff for him.