Who is Greg Downing from Fade Away and what is their importance?

Greg Downing is a star player on the New Jersey Dragons, Greg disappears, causing Clip Arnstein to hire Myron to find him. Greg has been known to run away from problems before, and as he is in the middle of an ugly custody battle with his ex-wife Emily, the team owner thinks that things may have gotten to be too much for Greg. Myron is hired to find him. Myron feels a bond with Greg, as they had been competitors in their youth and though college. Myron believes that the bond they share had made them both better players. Myron had been injured before his chance to play for the Celtics, but Greg had gone on to become a major star.