 Throughout the book, T.J.'s hate for Mike Barbour only grows as the differences of opinion and Mike's racism escalate.When T.J's teacher, of whom he is also very friendly with, comes to him with the idea for a swim team, remembering how T.J. was once a very talented swimmer in his youth, T.J. at first shoots him down, citing how the school doesn't even have a pool.But, as the story progresses, T.J. begins to see the idea as potential to make a statement about how his school takes athletics way too seriously.