The Lion of Dellwood
"Synopsis
The novel is aimed at those interested in not just football but the human condition. The Lion of Dellwood is a story of resilience and the human spirit.
Dellwood, Derry, Defiance, Dennis, and Dementia are five places life leads Donald Richards.
Richards is a young boy who spends his formative years as a ward of the state, and the guest of an abusive foster family. He's a "payday" and an unpaid laborer for the Bono family. The system labels the orphan a five, a broken boy they describe as physically inept, mentally impaired, and intellectually behind. He believes the message and the reality he observes: he's damaged. The number five is his curse but also his blessing. Throughout his life the five appears as a symbolic reminder he's both broken and exceptional.
He finds solace in books and in sports. Reading takes him places he's never been. He discovers a score of fascinating people and endless possibilities. Sports are his chocolate; he can't imagine his life without them. When he's immersed in a book or playing on an athletic field, he feels like a ten—like anything is possible.
The outward criticism drives Donald to make something of himself. He spends his life pursuing a game that would eventually kill him. Football is his focus, beacon of hope, and plan for a better life. Magically, things start to align in his troubled universe. His escape from Dellwood, Missouri manifests in the form of a comic book, a park, a letter, a fire, then a gym, a failed physical exam, a scholarship, and an opportunity to play professional football. With a boost from a devil named Kapp, he becomes a fixture with the Pennsylvania Lions of the Professional Football League. He thrives but continues to struggle off the field.

Richards' turbulent childhood taught him that people can't be trusted, and that his time is better spent pursuing his passion instead of relationships. He constructs walls at an early age to keep people out but they also isolate him from the rest of the world. Love finds Richards at the worst possible time. He won't trust it, so he deflects it to pursue his goal—football. A decade later Richards stumbles into an unwanted marriage and an unplanned family. As his long and uneventful career grinds to an end he's conflicted and wonders if he'd missed the mark. Does he need the one thing he purposely pushed away—love? He concludes his life is imperfectly perfect. He found his place on a football field, and for now, that's enough as he navigates this uncharted journey called life.
"
"1142810987"
The Lion of Dellwood
"Synopsis
The novel is aimed at those interested in not just football but the human condition. The Lion of Dellwood is a story of resilience and the human spirit.
Dellwood, Derry, Defiance, Dennis, and Dementia are five places life leads Donald Richards.
Richards is a young boy who spends his formative years as a ward of the state, and the guest of an abusive foster family. He's a "payday" and an unpaid laborer for the Bono family. The system labels the orphan a five, a broken boy they describe as physically inept, mentally impaired, and intellectually behind. He believes the message and the reality he observes: he's damaged. The number five is his curse but also his blessing. Throughout his life the five appears as a symbolic reminder he's both broken and exceptional.
He finds solace in books and in sports. Reading takes him places he's never been. He discovers a score of fascinating people and endless possibilities. Sports are his chocolate; he can't imagine his life without them. When he's immersed in a book or playing on an athletic field, he feels like a ten—like anything is possible.
The outward criticism drives Donald to make something of himself. He spends his life pursuing a game that would eventually kill him. Football is his focus, beacon of hope, and plan for a better life. Magically, things start to align in his troubled universe. His escape from Dellwood, Missouri manifests in the form of a comic book, a park, a letter, a fire, then a gym, a failed physical exam, a scholarship, and an opportunity to play professional football. With a boost from a devil named Kapp, he becomes a fixture with the Pennsylvania Lions of the Professional Football League. He thrives but continues to struggle off the field.

Richards' turbulent childhood taught him that people can't be trusted, and that his time is better spent pursuing his passion instead of relationships. He constructs walls at an early age to keep people out but they also isolate him from the rest of the world. Love finds Richards at the worst possible time. He won't trust it, so he deflects it to pursue his goal—football. A decade later Richards stumbles into an unwanted marriage and an unplanned family. As his long and uneventful career grinds to an end he's conflicted and wonders if he'd missed the mark. Does he need the one thing he purposely pushed away—love? He concludes his life is imperfectly perfect. He found his place on a football field, and for now, that's enough as he navigates this uncharted journey called life.
"
15.99 In Stock
The Lion of Dellwood

The Lion of Dellwood

by Don Greco
The Lion of Dellwood

The Lion of Dellwood

by Don Greco

Paperback

$15.99 
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Overview

"Synopsis
The novel is aimed at those interested in not just football but the human condition. The Lion of Dellwood is a story of resilience and the human spirit.
Dellwood, Derry, Defiance, Dennis, and Dementia are five places life leads Donald Richards.
Richards is a young boy who spends his formative years as a ward of the state, and the guest of an abusive foster family. He's a "payday" and an unpaid laborer for the Bono family. The system labels the orphan a five, a broken boy they describe as physically inept, mentally impaired, and intellectually behind. He believes the message and the reality he observes: he's damaged. The number five is his curse but also his blessing. Throughout his life the five appears as a symbolic reminder he's both broken and exceptional.
He finds solace in books and in sports. Reading takes him places he's never been. He discovers a score of fascinating people and endless possibilities. Sports are his chocolate; he can't imagine his life without them. When he's immersed in a book or playing on an athletic field, he feels like a ten—like anything is possible.
The outward criticism drives Donald to make something of himself. He spends his life pursuing a game that would eventually kill him. Football is his focus, beacon of hope, and plan for a better life. Magically, things start to align in his troubled universe. His escape from Dellwood, Missouri manifests in the form of a comic book, a park, a letter, a fire, then a gym, a failed physical exam, a scholarship, and an opportunity to play professional football. With a boost from a devil named Kapp, he becomes a fixture with the Pennsylvania Lions of the Professional Football League. He thrives but continues to struggle off the field.

Richards' turbulent childhood taught him that people can't be trusted, and that his time is better spent pursuing his passion instead of relationships. He constructs walls at an early age to keep people out but they also isolate him from the rest of the world. Love finds Richards at the worst possible time. He won't trust it, so he deflects it to pursue his goal—football. A decade later Richards stumbles into an unwanted marriage and an unplanned family. As his long and uneventful career grinds to an end he's conflicted and wonders if he'd missed the mark. Does he need the one thing he purposely pushed away—love? He concludes his life is imperfectly perfect. He found his place on a football field, and for now, that's enough as he navigates this uncharted journey called life.
"

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781959856603
Publisher: Amazon Pro Hub
Publication date: 12/07/2022
Pages: 224
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

"Don Greco’s unique experiences and insights have helped him imagine the events in his two recent novels. “The Lion of Dellwood,” and “2nd Half- Gridiron Gangsters.” Greco has also authored two successful non-fiction books detailing the history of high school football in the St. Louis ""Metro"" Area. “The Legends of the Gridiron” and “The Legends Playbook” honor 134-years of Arch City’s high school gridiron history with nearly a thousand pages and hundreds of historic photos.

Growing up, Greco’s life revolved around three, not four seasons; basketball, baseball, and football. Little league, junior high, high school, college, and the NFL. He put on the pads at seven and left them on for two decades. After a successful high school career, he accepted a football scholarship to Western Illinois University. Greco was a four-year starter, captain, three-time All-Conference selection, team MVP, and a two-time All-American. He was a third-round pick, and the second offensive guard selected in the ’81 NFL Draft. He wore #72 in college and was the 72nd player selected that year. Greco played five NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions, he started, won an NFC Central Division Championship, and made two playoff appearances.
After his playing days ended, Greco returned home and started coaching high school football in the St. Louis “Metro” area. He led a struggling Pattonville H. S. program to thirteen straight District Titles and an appearance in the Missouri State Championship game. The two-time St. Louis High School “Coach of the Year” remains the winningest coach in school history. He also served as the Defensive Coordinator for the St. Louis Believers of the Indoor Professional Football League. He later became a television analyst for the St. Louis Believer's and Rage of the IPFL

Don Greco was inducted into the Western Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and has been nominated for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was selected to the St. Louis Post Dispatch ""All Millennium Team."" After completing a successful high school coaching career, Greco was welcomed into the St. Louis Coaches Hall of Fame. Don was a teacher and coach for thirty years, and is currently enjoying his second retirement. Please contact Don at .
"
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