First hardcover edition by Viking Press (1970), with a jacket design that pairs a painting by LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012) with Thorowgood.
The book was the inspiration for the successful 1971 ABC Movie of the Week, Brian’s Song that explored the relationship between Gale Sayers (b.1943) and Brian Piccolo (1943–1970), a fellow football player stricken with terminal cancer. Billy Dee Williams played Gale Sayers and James Caan played Brian Piccolo.