An essential and improbable football story that crosses continents, cultures, and sports Christian Okoye never dreamed of playing football. He passed hours playing soccer each day in Enugu, Nigeria, until he outgrew the sport—physically. His focus shifted to track and field, honing an elite talent for discus throw that brought him to Azuza Pacific University in California. Only when those Olympic dreams were inexplicably dashed did he pick up a football for the first time at age 23. By 1987, Okoye was one of the NFL's most beguiling draft prospects, a 260-pound running back who was...