10) Book Review:

       John Grisham’s sports novel Playing for Pizzais one to be commended. Grisham used a modern setting and a popular sport, football, in order to make the readers grasp the message he was sending out. This novel is one of success, failure, love, learning, and growing up. Yes, Grisham’s main character was a 27 year old man, but even men have to grow up sometimes. In his novel, Grisham perfectly illustrates the life of a professionalfootball player who, in a time of despair, never gives up. He pieced together the puzzle of human nature and the world’s perspective of today’s celebrities. Rick Dockery was an NFL reject who was shipped to Italy for his last shot at a professional career in football. Grisham brought Dockery to life by showing his readers Rick’s thoughts and feeling through an omniscientpoint of view. He creatively put his story together to give the readers the message that failure only occurs when you quit trying. It’s okay to fall as long as you get back up and try even harder to reach your goals. Rick didn’t give up after his disastrous game in Cleveland, no, he kept pushing and was given another chance to redeem himself and make his team proud to call him their quarterback. I wouldn’t change a thing about this novel because I would be afraid to ruin the message that was thoughtfully placed into the words and pages of John Grosham’s work. Any person who struggle with gaining mental toughness should read this book. It’s a testimony that should be heard throughout America and the world because it teaches such an important life lesson. Props to John Grisham who learned and illustrated such an important lesson on ink and paper.

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.

6) 10 favorite phrases/quotes:

    1) “They’re calling me to warn me not to call them. I’m afraid this may be the end of the line kid.” (-Arnie pg. 4)

          This quote is important to the story because it helps to show the reader just how bad Rick’s reputation was. Even before the Superbowl game, most of the teams in the NFL already knew what kind of player he was because he had jumped from team to team so many times. After the Superbowl game, it was basically the end for him in the American football league.

          2) “I’ve never been to Italy.” (-Rick Dockery pg. 27)

             Though it seems simple, this quote is rather important because it illustrates Rick’s need for change. If he can’t make a positive difference in the game in America, maybe he can do it in Italy.

          3) “What the heck am I doing in Parma, Italy?” (-Rcik Dockery pg. 31)

               This quote shows the aggrivation Rick faces during his time in Italy. Although the Italians are the only ones giving him another chance to play, he would rather be in America playing in the NFL. Even though he faces these struggles, Rick manages to fight through it all and come out victorious.

              4) “Rick Dockery walked slowly across midfield as long shadows fell, hands crammed in jean pockets, the aimless stroll of a man in another world.” (-Narrator pg. 38)

                Rick’s utter disappointment in himself, and the misery he hides under his skin is seen in this quote. He doesn’t want to be in Italy and he doesn’t know what to expect from his new team or the foreign season ahead. His thoughts still lie in America, where he wishes he could be the man, the player, he built himself up to be.

              5) “How many fans watch the panthers?” (-Rick Dockery pg. 40)

                 Rick obviously still worries about who’s watching him play. For as long as he could remember he played under the eyes of the world and for the entertainment of others. In Italy, he was concerned about the fan population. Or perhaps he didn’t want very many people to watch him in Italy in case he were to choke once more and it would be Cleveland all over again.

               6) “The Italian Superbowl. I can’t believe I missed it.” (-Rick Dockery pg. 41)

                    This perfectly shows Rick’s smart alack and sarcastic attitude towards the football league in Parma. He is rather negative about playing and demeaning about the league there.

                 7) “We really want a Superbowl trophy here in Parma.” (-Franco Harris pg. 63)

                     This quote by Franco shows how high of a pedistal the Italians have put Rick on. The panthers have never won a Superbowl and expect Rick to give them one this year. They put a lot of pressure on him to succeed and change their lives forever.

                8) “This wasn’t high school ball. He was a pro!” (-Narrator pg . 78)

                  In this section, Grisham talks about Rick’s first practice. He was made to condition with the rest of the team, which he had never had to do before. He had always had his own workout since he was the quarterback. He did not appretiate this treatment and was determined to make a change in the practices. This shows how spoiled he was in America and how he didn’t truly understand the word TEAM.

                 9) “A sudden patriotism sealed his lips.” (-Narrator pg. 87)

                 Rick had been teching himself to drive the standard Italtian Fiat when he realized he had an audience of one. An old lady was watching him fail miserably at trying to get the car onto the street. Already aggrivated by now, Rick wanted to yell at her but kept his mouth shut because she would be able to tell he was American. He was prideful of his country and didn’t want anyone to think negatively about it.

                10) The Italians seemed to thrive on dirt and sweat.” (Rick Dockery pg. 96)

                      Rick was finally learning what pushed the Italians so hard and that they didn’t have to get paid; they played because they loved the game and that was enough for them.

9) Theme:

        John Grisham’s novel Playing for Pizza is a story about a man who finds himself on the other side of the world, Parma Italy. The theme of the story is that although you may face many trials, you should never give up. Rick Dockery, Grisham’s main character in the story, illustrates this theme all throughout the story. Even after the most disasterous game in the history of football, and his career, Rick didn’t give up. After his recovery, he was shipped off to Italy to give the sport he loved another try. While in Italy, he faced several trials once more but still never gave up. Like during the first practice he had to condition with the rest of the team. He had never done that before since he was a quarterback, he had always had his own workouts. Although he was sore, tired, and frustrated with the workouts, he didn’t give up and quit or complain, but stood tall and finished practice with his new team.

7) Three Truths about Human Nature:

                      John Grisham’s novel Playing for Pizzais based on modern times and modern-like people. By using such a popular topic like football, Grisham is able to incorporate the way people today act and react in certain situations.

                      One truth about human nature is that people are ignorant and violent. For example, after Rick lost the Superbowl game for the Cleveland Browns and was taken to the hospital for injuries, dozens of Browns fans lined up at the entrance of the hospital to try to get to Rick and kill him out of anger. They were upset with him, and along with being extremely drunk, they were willing to kill a man over a football game.

                        Another truth is that no one is an expert at anything right off the bat. Every great expert had to begin somewhere. An example of this is when Rick had tearn to drive a standard Italian vehicle. He had never done it before so it was rather challenging for him. It took him several attempts just to get it out of its parking space and into the street. But after a few hours of practice, he was able to master the car and drive as he pleased.

                      Finaly, one last truth about human nature is that every challenge a person takes involves an enormous amount of mental toughness. An example of this is when Rick lost the game for the Browns; he could have quit football for the rest of his life after that humiliation and ran away and hid from the rest of the world. But he didn’t. He chose not to give up and to keep playing the game he loved, even though he had to go to Italy in order to do so.

8) Opposite Words: Success/ Failure

              In John Grisham’s novel Playing for Pizza the main character, Rick Dockery, faces many trials of success and failure; most of which is failure. Dockery was an all-star in High School who continued on to play college football where he shined just as bright if not brighter. After his glory days in college, Dockery was drafted into the NFL as a third string quarterback, which was a good decision on the coach’s part since Rick completely choked up during games. His glory days were over. After playing through success and triumph, Rick now faced his bitter end, failure. The success he had so long before, came with an attitude and an arrogance so great that he couldn’t see past himself in order to play for his team. The failure that was now running through his veins was making him into a new man, making him realize that he wasn’t the best catch and that teams would do just fine, if not better, without him. He carried his failure with him to the Cleveland Browns where he faced his biggest failure, losing the Superbowl in eleven minutes with a 17-0 lead. As anyone could guess, he was humiliated, injured, and fired. Rick’s agent shipped him off to Italy to play for a club team who thrived off of failure. During his time in Italy, Rick learns that it’s okay to fall as long as you fall hard and to never forget to get back up and fight harder to win. His everlasting failure comes to a screeching halt in Italy; not only on the field, but also throughout his life and relationships with his teammates and the people around him.

5) Major Changes in the Main Character

                John Grisham’s main character in his novel Playing for Pizzais a 28 year old man named Rick Dockery. In the beginning of the story, Dockery is widely known as the cocky, third string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. He had jumped from team to team and state to state all throughout his professional career. He was also known for his hard, fast passes and his unearned arrogant nature. In practice he was quite the all-star, but when you get Rick Dockery into a real game, he chokes and makes the wrong decisions and the wrong passes; which is why he is always the third string. In High School, Dockery was the all-American player, which is where he developed such arrogance and pride and where he built up the rather large pedistal he sits upon still in his professional career. During the Brown’s first Superbowl game, the first two quarterbacks were taken out due to injuries which left Rick to clean up the last eleven minutes of the game. This didn’t seem like such a hard task considering they were up 17-0. But somehow, Rick managed to screw that up with a few terrible passes and finally a brutal beating from his blind side to get him out of the game; Browns lose. After his recovery Dockery was recruited to play in Parma, Italy where he sees the game of football in an entirely new way. He learns what a team truly is and how they support each other. He also learns that its okay to play for the fun of the game rather than for the money. While in Italy, Rick loses the arrogance he lived with for so long and becomes a team player in order to win the big one with his new team, the Parma Panthers.

3) Setting and Genre

        John Grisham’s novel Playing for Pizza is set during modern times, and although it is a fictional story, its quite possible that such events could occur in our world today. Rick Dockery, Grisham’s main character, is a NFL reject who loses his team’s Superbowl all by himself in only eleven minutes. This embarrassing failure of Dockery’scauses him to lose his contract with the Cleveland Browns and causes all of the opposing teams in the NFL to contact Rick’s manager to tell him they don’t want to recruit Dockery. When all seems to fail, Rick’s manager manages to find a position for Dcokery to fill in Parma, Italy as their starting quarterback, which Rick had never before played after High School. This type of situation is incredibly possible for any man who plays football or any other sport. It’s not unlikely that a person would go out of the country to play their sport in a different culture. This novel is quite realistic in the fact that such events could happen to somone in our world today.

4) Ideas about the Main Character

          The main character in John Grisham’s novel, Playing for Pizza, is Rick Dockery. Rick is a NFL reject who is recruitedto play for an Italian football team in Param, Italy as their starting quarterback. Dockery never started in the NFL, in fact, he was the third string quarterback for all of the teams he played on during his career and hardly got any playing time. Although, he was still payed thousands of dollars for each game. Rick’s major mistake of his career and his worst injuries all occured in the same game in only an eleven minute period. This game killed his reputation and pride. As always, Rick was always a proud man, from the time he was in High School all the way up to his final NFL game as a Cleveland Brown. When he arrived in Parma, this attitude didn’t change. He still thought he was better than the rest of the men and was rather embarrassed to be playing with them. For example, on his first day of practice he had to run sprints with the team and was outraged because he had never had to do it before. He thought that the quarterback shouldn’t be worked with the rest of the team, but should have his own personal workout. While his attitude towards his teammates and the sport may seem poor, he is young and still has learning to do throughout the novel. During his time spent playing ball in Italy, Rick learns more about himself and the sport he loves than he ever could have learned by playing in America.

2) Significance of the Title:

                  John Grisham titled his football novel Playing for Pizza because of where the story’s setting takes place; Italy. Grisham’s main character, Rick Dockery, is a NFL reject who is recruited to play as the quarterback for an Italian football team in Parma, Italy. It’s a club team where most of the men play for fun instead of for money and the majority of the players have daily jobs. However, instead of money, they are paid in pizza; thus the title Playing for Pizza. Rick on the other hand, because he is the quarterback, is actually paid in money, as well as pizza. Playing in Italy is a wake up call for Rick because he is so used to playing for fame and fortune. When he arrives in Italy, his life changes not only with the culture, but also by the way the game he loves so much is played. Grisham cleverly titled his novel Playng for Pizza to show that playing sports, playing football isn’t only for fame and wealth. After all, it is only a game and should be played for the fun of it. Rick Dockery was sent to Parma just in time to save him from himself by showing him that he can have fun and be payed to do so.