Too often I overlook John Grisham on the shelves because, to me, he is too serious and chooses subjects that are disturbing
in their reality. This book is just the opposite. I had heard an interview of John Grisham as he spoke of his latest book, Playing for
Pizza, and was intrigued and excited to pick it up.
The story centers around Rick Dockery who has made so many mistakes on the
football field that he is known as the Greatest Goat in the history of professional sports. He has few options left after the Cleveland Browns dump him. He also has a possible paternity suit about to catch up with him and this is the impetus that finally encourages him to take a job as quarterback in Parma, Italy where only the quarterback gets paid (and a pawltry amount at that). The real reward is beer and pizza at the end of the game, win or lose. At first it seems a long way from the top and his hopes are not very high when he arrives in Parma. That all changes in a very short period of time for Rick who finds friendship, unbelieveable food, even an (ex)cheerleader to cozy up to.
Most importantly though, Rick finds that love again of the sport, shared by his teammates who work "real" jobs while playing football on the side. Though the number of football fans is small, those that love the game (fans get to watch free), are eager to see who wins the Super Bowl in Italy every year. Rick's team is convinced that now they have a real NFL quarterback, they will win. Rick is not so sure.
I am not a big football fan though I used to watch the Broncos when John Elway was king. A lot of the jargon describing the plays was lost on me but not so much that I did not enjoy this book thoroughly. John Grisham had discovered "American football" in Italy while researching for another book. Several of the areas and sites are real, for instance the opera house, the Teatro Regio. Parma is a real place, the bar in which the team had their beer and pizza, Polipo's, is real. While reading this book, you may feel that you are reading a travel guide and I certainly believe you could use it as such.
The book is short, only 258 pages. You will want more and you will ask, as I did, "Where does Rick go from here?" Enjoy!