In the backyards of Manhattan, the young shoe salesman Marty dreams of a future that is a few sizes bigger than his uncle's small shoe store. Driven by the idea of becoming world champion in table tennis, he dives into the city's smoky competition halls every night, where he earns a few extra dollars with a lot of talent, the necessary chutzpah and thanks to the help of his best friend. Too little to finance a professional career and to be able to participate in the tournaments in London, Paris or Tokyo. So Marty 'borrows' money from his uncle's safe, lies to his mother as well as his girlfriend and shamelessly throws himself at a Hollywood diva, whose husband he wants to win as a sponsor at the same time. But this is only the beginning of the odyssey of a man who is willing to risk everything for fame and success.