Playing For Pizza: A Novel

Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.

But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds Arnie finally locates just such a team and informs Rick that, miraculously, he can in fact now be a starting quarterback. Great, says Rickfor which team?

The mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy.

Yes, Italians do play American football, to one degree or another, and the Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL playerany former NFL playerat their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthersat least until a better offer comes alongand heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parmanot even where it ishas never been to Europe, and doesnt speak or understand a word of Italian.

To say that Italythe land of opera, fine wines, extremely small cars, romance, and Football Americano holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.