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Offsides
When the Soviet Union challenged the Super Bowl champions, the real game was life or death.
Offsides is a Cold War sports thriller that transforms the football field into a geopolitical battleground. Humiliated by their loss to the American hockey team in the 1980 Olympics, the Soviets hatch an audacious plan to restore national challenge the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos to a football game, and win!
The man tasked with this impossible mission is Valery Medved, the brilliant coach who forged the USSR's hockey dynasty. With the entire Soviet sports empire at his disposal and Mikhail Gorbachev presenting the game as a gesture of goodwill, Medved works his magic.
In Denver, Mike Larsen—a former Raiders quarterback turned sportswriter—is assigned to cover the historic match. But he and his girlfriend stumble onto a conspiracy that threatens to plunge the world back into the depths of the Cold War where the stakes are nothing less than world peace.
Blending meticulous historical detail with pulse-pounding action, Offsides builds to a climactic showdown where every play could determine the fate of nations. More than just a sports thriller, its Cold War themes resonate as powerfully today as they did then.
Sports Fiction • Thriller • Historical Fiction • Cold War
Offsides is a Cold War sports thriller that transforms the football field into a geopolitical battleground. Humiliated by their loss to the American hockey team in the 1980 Olympics, the Soviets hatch an audacious plan to restore national challenge the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos to a football game, and win!
The man tasked with this impossible mission is Valery Medved, the brilliant coach who forged the USSR's hockey dynasty. With the entire Soviet sports empire at his disposal and Mikhail Gorbachev presenting the game as a gesture of goodwill, Medved works his magic.
In Denver, Mike Larsen—a former Raiders quarterback turned sportswriter—is assigned to cover the historic match. But he and his girlfriend stumble onto a conspiracy that threatens to plunge the world back into the depths of the Cold War where the stakes are nothing less than world peace.
Blending meticulous historical detail with pulse-pounding action, Offsides builds to a climactic showdown where every play could determine the fate of nations. More than just a sports thriller, its Cold War themes resonate as powerfully today as they did then.
Sports Fiction • Thriller • Historical Fiction • Cold War
254 pages, Paperback
Published January 9, 2026
About the author
Paul Gorman
35 books24 followersPaul Gorman is a multi-award-winning author and documentary filmmaker whose work spans engineering, storytelling, and the art of taking risks.
Before writing memoirs and thrillers, Gorman spent years as a design manager in engineering—a background that shows in his meticulous research and attention to detail. A graduate of the University of Washington Extension College's Advanced Filmmaking Program, his documentaries have screened at film festivals across North America and Europe, while his memoirs Into Trouble and Running Down a Dream have earned acclaim for their unflinching honesty and vivid prose.
Into Trouble chronicles his 1969 incarceration in Franco's Spain as a draft dodger, while Running Down a Dream documents the journey of creating his documentary Ride the Sky. His debut thriller Offsides began as a 1987 screenplay and explores the fragile hope of glasnost-era peace.
Gorman splits his time between the Seattle area and Palm Springs, California. When he's not writing or making films, you'll find him hiking, cycling, brewing beer, or hanging out with his wife, grandkids, and dog.
Before writing memoirs and thrillers, Gorman spent years as a design manager in engineering—a background that shows in his meticulous research and attention to detail. A graduate of the University of Washington Extension College's Advanced Filmmaking Program, his documentaries have screened at film festivals across North America and Europe, while his memoirs Into Trouble and Running Down a Dream have earned acclaim for their unflinching honesty and vivid prose.
Into Trouble chronicles his 1969 incarceration in Franco's Spain as a draft dodger, while Running Down a Dream documents the journey of creating his documentary Ride the Sky. His debut thriller Offsides began as a 1987 screenplay and explores the fragile hope of glasnost-era peace.
Gorman splits his time between the Seattle area and Palm Springs, California. When he's not writing or making films, you'll find him hiking, cycling, brewing beer, or hanging out with his wife, grandkids, and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 28, 2026
Offsides is a gripping and imaginative Cold War thriller that brilliantly merges sports drama with high-stakes geopolitical tension. Paul Francis Gorman crafts a compelling “what if” scenario where the football field becomes an extension of ideological warfare, pitting the Soviet Union against the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in a game charged with global consequences.
At the heart of the story is Valery Medved, a master strategist tasked with achieving the impossible, and Mike Larsen, a journalist who finds himself entangled in a conspiracy that reaches far beyond the game. The narrative skillfully balances detailed historical context with fast-paced suspense, creating a story that feels both authentic and electrifying.
What sets Offsides apart is its ability to transcend the sports genre, exploring themes of power, propaganda, and the fragile nature of peace. The tension builds steadily toward a climactic finale where every play carries weight far beyond the scoreboard.
For readers who enjoy thrillers with historical depth, political intrigue, and a unique sporting twist, Offsides delivers an unforgettable and adrenaline fueled experience.
At the heart of the story is Valery Medved, a master strategist tasked with achieving the impossible, and Mike Larsen, a journalist who finds himself entangled in a conspiracy that reaches far beyond the game. The narrative skillfully balances detailed historical context with fast-paced suspense, creating a story that feels both authentic and electrifying.
What sets Offsides apart is its ability to transcend the sports genre, exploring themes of power, propaganda, and the fragile nature of peace. The tension builds steadily toward a climactic finale where every play carries weight far beyond the scoreboard.
For readers who enjoy thrillers with historical depth, political intrigue, and a unique sporting twist, Offsides delivers an unforgettable and adrenaline fueled experience.
March 19, 2026
Offsides is a gripping Cold War sports thriller that turns a football game into a high-stakes geopolitical showdown. Paul Francis Gorman delivers a fast-paced narrative where the Soviet Union’s challenge to the Denver Broncos becomes a global spectacle filled with tension, conspiracy, and political intrigue. Blending sports action with historical suspense, the novel builds toward a dramatic climax where every move carries international consequences. A bold and cinematic read for fans of thrillers that merge sports, history, and espionage.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews