1) Summary:

        John Grisham’s novel Playing for Pizza is about a NFL reject named Rick Dockery who stumbles into Parma, Italy with one last shot to redeem himself. Rick was an all-star in high school and all throughout college. He was known for his hard throws and smart passes. He was fresh meat waiting to be drafted into the NFL as a starting or second string quarterback and was anxious to make his name known. It became known alright, but not in the sense that Rick had hoped for. He was drafted as a third string who hardly ever touched the game field because he would choke and make the wrong decisions during the game. Only in practice was he the hero. Rick was bounced from team to team with each new season that rolled by. Where Grisham’s novel begins, Rick was on the Cleveland Browns. It was the Superbol game and the starting and scond string quarterbacks had been taken out of the game due to injuries. Dockery was sent in with eleven minutes to go and a 17 point lead. It was almost set in stone that the Browns would win their first Superbowl and the coach, though nervous, was confident that not even Rick Dockery could blow this game for them. But he did. It only took three horrible passes for the Browns to lose not only their spot as Superbowl champions, but their pride as well. Rick was down and taken out on a gurney at the end of the game due to a tackle to his blind side. He woke up a day or two later in a hospital bed. He had no memory of the game what so ever. His agent, Arnie, had to explain to Rick that his career had just come to a humiliating halt and that it was more than likely time to find something else to do with his life. With an excruciating head ache and a damaged pride, Rick pleaded Arnie to find him one more chance. He did. After days of running and arguing. Rick agreed to be shipped to Parma, Italy to play for a cheap paycheck and pizza. Atleast it was as far away from Cleveland and Denver as he could get. The team in Italy warmly welcomed Rick to their team and expected much from the reject NFL player. During his time in Italy, Rick learned more about the sport than he ever could in America. He learned that it’s okay to play for the love of the game rather than for fame and money. He found heart once again, like he had in high school and college. He learned what the meaning of the word team was and followed it through. He also found himself, and that no matter what the world says, it’s up to him to decide his future. Rick learned to never give up, even in the darkest moment of his life. He kept pushing until the end until he came out victorious.