Wilmeth Sidat-Singh is the greatest athlete you’ve never heard of—and so much more. A rocket-armed passer on the football field, an ankle-breaking playmaker on the basketball court, he was also a scholar, civil rights pioneer, patriot, and one other thing—forgotten.
In this historical novel based on Sidat-Singh’s life, sportswriter Breanna Shelton stumbles upon the riveting story of the former Syracuse University star who was forced to hide his identity in order to take the field, leading to climactic moments when race and sports collided. As a young Black woman making her way in a profession not ready to fully accept her, Shelton immerses herself in the research, determined to resurrect an inspirational man who time left behind. Along the way, she finds courage and perseverance to transform herself and her career.
Post–civil rights era society still grapples with dispiriting obstacles that Sidat-Singh faced more than a half century earlier, when he was “passing” to play; serving as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II; and interacting with luminaries such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Grantland Rice, Sam Lacy, and Joe Louis.
This fictionalized account, as timely now as ever, honors an American hero whose life was cut short while serving a country that didn’t recognize him as a full-fledged citizen because of the color of his skin. After you read it, Sidat-Singh will be invisible no more.
Scott Pitoniak is a nationally honored journalist and bestselling author of more than thirty books. The Syracuse University graduate has worked as a sports columnist for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, USA Today, and Gannett News Service (150 newspapers nationwide), and has written scores of magazine and website articles, often focusing on the human side of sports. He also has been an on-air NFL analyst for CBS television stations, cohosted an ESPN-affiliated radio talk show, and authored scripts for the Great Courses educational series. Scott is a member of six Halls of Fame. The Associated Press Sports Editors and the Professional Football Writers of America named him one of the nation’s top columnists. He was chosen as an honorary torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The former college professor’s nonsports books include Juke Box Hero, a collaboration with rock ‘n’ roll legend Lou Gramm.
Rick Burton is the David B. Falk Professor of Sport Management at Syracuse University and chief operating officer for Playbk Sports. Burton is a frequent contributor to publications such as Sports Business Journal and Sportico, and coauthor of numerous books, including Business the NHL Way; Forever Orange: The Story of Syracuse University; 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes; and Sports Business Unplugged. His latest World War II historical thriller, Into the Gorge, was published by Subplot in June 2023.
