While a work of fiction, the novel is loosely based on a true story. The novel includes a character named Jerry Conway who is a high school principal and a professional sports agent. While the character based on Rickert is minor component of the book, the author clearly attempted to use Rickert's name to create interest in the book. He also took several liberties in the creation of the character based on Rickert, including descriptions of interactions and meetings that were fabricated and sensationalized. Rickert has come under scrutiny for running a multimillion-dollar sports agency while working full-time as the principal of Niskayuna High School, a job where he earned a salary of $141,444 per year in 2014. In the end, under Rickert's leadership, Niskayuna High School is rated as the best high school in the area and among the best in the country (Newsweek 2014). There is no state law or district regulation that precludes him from pursuing both careers. On May 26, 2015, the Niskayuna Central School District announced that there was no conflict of interest for Rickert to serve as a sports agent. References External links The Official Site of Agent JR Rickert Inside Pro Football, Fox Sports 980 1970 births American sports agents Holy Cross Academy (New Jersey) alumni Living people Sportspeople from Albany, New York People from Woodbury, New Jersey St. John Fisher Cardinals football players