Playing for Pizza
posted in Fiction |
This is a heartwarming story about the ups and downs in the life of Rick Dockery—a third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
In a deciding game, Rick manages to successfully orchestrate the downfall of his team from a 17-point lead. In that process Browns loses the game, Rick gets mashed up, ends up in the hospital, and becomes a national laughing stock and villain. He is dropped from the team.
Rick’s chances of joining another team in the US become zero as nobody wants him, but his agent finally finds a team that would accept him—Panthers of Parma of Italy. Italians play American football and each team can have one or two American players. Only the Americans are paid; the Italians play because they are passionate about the game. Most players have full-time jobs. The Panthers have a judge, an airline pilot, an engineer, several truck-drivers, two restaurant owners, a dentists, two stonemasons, a couple of auto mechanics, and so on.
Although the pay package offered by the Panthers is nothing compared to his earlier pay, Rick left with no other option decides to give it a try till something better comes along. He leaves for Italy with absolutely no idea about where Parma is. He does not speak or understand a word of Italian. The Panthers’ coach is American and he introduces Rick to Italy and to his team.
Once the cultural shock wears off, Rick starts to like Italy and his team. Italy—the land of opera, fine wines, excellent food, extremely small cars, romance, and more—fascinates and captivates Rick; his love for the country and Panthers become stronger by the day.
The rest of the story is about how Rick finds peace, friendship and love in Italy and how it changes his outlook and life. It is also about how he plays a crucial role in winning the first super bowl trophy for the Panthers of Parma.
An excellent read, but a few words of caution. First, a working knowledge of American football will help you understand the finer points, though it is not a must. Second and more important: do not read this novel when you are hungry, because the very detailed and graphic descriptions of Italian food and wine will surely make you want to go to the nearest pizza joint.
Book Details:
- Author: John Grisham
- Publisher: Doubleday
- Year: 2007
- ISBN (10):0385525001
- ISBN (13): 978-0385525008
- Cover & Page Count: Paperback, 272 pages
You can order online at Amazon.