"he's in exile in libya because his government frowns on sci-fi."

I'm in the middle of End Zone, DeLillo's second novel, and so far it's a pretty straightforward football novel. What gives? I'm waiting for a nuclear meltdown or some mention of guerillas and they're talking about pass interceptions. There's been a little chatter about warheads, and I think we're inching (ever-slowly) to the brink of chaos, but it's just pussy-footing around. Come on!