Stevie is the main character of the novel and the first person the reader meets. The letter that opens the book addresses him. The narrator can reveal any of the characters’ thoughts but mainly focuses on what’s happening with Stevie. He’s the protagonist, and the narration is structured to set the reader up to root for him despite his flaws. Stevie can be stubborn and sexist and is a 13-year-old boy with a lot to learn about the world.

At first, he treats Susan Carol dismissively and snidely. The narrator writes, “Whatever. Susan Carol wasn’t who he wanted to meet anyway” (21). Stevie appears to have a crush on her, which he expresses in a rather stereotypical fashion: by being mean to her. His contempt for her matches his disdain for Duke, Susan Carol’s favorite team. In the hotel elevator, Stevie spots a woman with an ABD (“Anybody But Duke”) button and tells his dad he wants one for himself.

What Stevie wants more than anything is to be a top college basketball journalist. He’s been going to local Philadelphia games with his dad since he was four, and through the internet, he reads the top sports journalists like Lupica and Kornheiser.