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Team America

by Franco E. Scanloni

322 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #00-0057; ISBN 1-55212-393-6; US$27.50, C$27.50, EUR18.64, £12.36

Team America is the story of one of the greatest confrontations in all of sports history, the battle between the United States of America and Russia for the world championship in football. It is a story that will remain in the minds of sports fans long after they have turned the last page.

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about the book      excerpts      catalogue info

About the book Team America begins when President Derevenko of Russia declares that the American Superbowl Champions are not the champions of the world, only North America, and that the Russian National Team is better. He challenges America to a match to determine who the true champions of the world are. Although sceptical at first, America accepts the challenge and proceeds to build a super team of all-stars, the very best in America, to meet the challenge. When the words, "Russia vs. America," flash across the television sets throughout America and around the world, sports fans, no matter what their background may be, are taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions that will change their lives forever. Also by Franco E. Scanloni: The Last Comeback The Last Comeback - The Play Loose Ends Racist

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Excerpts from the book

"Derevenko has challenged us. He says we are not the best in the world in football, that Russia is better. I say he's wrong. He says let's prove it down on the field where it counts. I say that's a challenge we can't ignore. What do you think?"

-President Jack MacMillan

"At first the people were sceptical. It was so bloody ridiculous, America playing the Russians for the championship of the world in football. Bizzare! Who the hell did the Ruskies think they were anyways. They were nobody. Nobody had ever heard of them before. What chance did they have of winning. None. And playing them in the summer, who's brilliant idea was that. Football's not summer. Baseball's summer. The fall is football. And what about the prices they were looking to charge. Two and three times regular season prices. Highway robbery. And for what! A mess. A bloody travesty. The biggest goddam debacle of all time."

-The American People

"You Americans, you're unbelievable. I've never seen such arrogance in my life. Just because you're Americans, you think you've got some preordained right to be the best in whatever field of endeavour you choose. You think just because you invented the game of football you're bound to be better than anyone else. Well that's just not true. I've seen the Russians play and they're excellent and I've seen you Americans play and you're just not as good. Believe me, you people are in for a rude awakening. Let me make a prediction right now. Not only will the Russians beat you, they'll beat you easily. Mark my words, if this thing turns into a slaughter it'll be you people on the receiving end, and you know what, it'll look good on you."

-European Sportsman, Bunny O'Reilly

"Is Team America a great team? I think not. It takes more than great players to make a great team. The pieces have got to fit together. There has to be a certain chemistry that brings the players together and binds them into a cohesive force. Whether Team America has the pieces that fit and the necessary chemistry to be great remains to be seen."

-Reporter, Frank Carrington

"Nonsense! Let me state unequivocally, Team America will decimate the Russians. The defense will annihilate the Russian offense. By the end of the first half there will be Ruskie arms and legs strewn all over the field, along with a couple of heads. The offense will rip the Ruskie defense to shreds. There is no way they are going to be able to stop our power, even slow it down. We will be scoring points every time we get the ball and we will be getting it whenever we feel like it. Make no mistake about it, this is a great team. These people are winners, the cream of the crop. There is no way they can lose to anybody, especially the Russians. So if somebody suggests to you they might, tell him to put his money where his mouth is. Team America is a team we can be proud of, so enjoy and let nobody spoil your fun. Shortly, the carnage will begin and then there will be no doubt about it. Team America will truly be the champions of the world."

-Reporter, Horace Silver

"It wasn't the Russians Sonen was worried about, it was Team America. What if on Sunday they weren't up for the game, the spark not there? It happens to the best of teams. On certain days nothing works, they're vulnerable, they can be had, even by the last place team. Or maybe they're up so high for the game they play stupid. Sonen had seen that happen before, a team up so high for a big game it loses its poise, forgets the things it did so well to get it there in the first place.

"This was more than just another big game, more than a superbowl. In a superbowl you were playing for your city, your state, and no matter who won, America won. This was bigger than that. This was playing for your country and if you lost, America lost. Just thinking about losing gave Sonen the shudders. If ever there was a time to crack under pressure this was it.

"Yet some people had the nerve to say, so what, it's only a game. Like hell it's only a game. If it was only a game there wouldn't be a billion people watching."

-Coach Henry Sonen

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Catalogue Information

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