John Grisham: Playing for Pizza (USA 2011)

From the Publisher:
After providing what is arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL, third-string quarterback Rick Dockery becomes a national laughingstock. Cut by the Cleveland Browns, and shunned by every other team, Rick insists that his agent find a team that does need him. Against enormous odds, Rick lands a job -- as the starting quarterback for the Mighty Panthers... of Parma, Italy. The Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player -- any former NFL player -- at their helm. And now they've got Rick, who knows nothing about Parma (not even where it is) and doesn't speak a word of Italian. To say that Italy -- the land of fine wines, extremely small cars, and football americano -- holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza. Bantam, ISBN: 9780385344005 (August, 2011), 272 p., $15.00.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza (UK 2011)

From the Publisher:
Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the deciding game at the climax of the season, 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 laughing stock and, of course, was immediately dropped by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.

But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, finds 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 Rick -- for 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 player from the home of American footballat their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers -- at least until a better offer comes along -- and heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parma (not even where it is), has never been to Europe, and doesn't speak or understand a word of Italian. To say that Italy - the 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.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza. Arrow, ISBN: 9780099557265 (May, 2011), 325 p., £7.99.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza (USA 2008)

From the Publisher:
Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game, 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 was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams. But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds, Rick finally gets a job -- as the starting quarterback for the Mighty Panthers... of Parma, Italy. The Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player -- any former NFL player -- at their helm. And now they've got Rick, who knows nothing about Parma (not even where it is) and doesn't speak a word of Italian. To say that Italy -- the land of fine wines, extremely small cars, and football americano -- holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement...

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza. Dell, ISBN: 0440244714 (July, 2008), 308 p., $7.99.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza (USA 2007)

From the Publisher:
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 Rick -- for 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 player -- any former NFL player -- at their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers -- at least until a better offer comes along -- and heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parma -- not even where it is -- has never been to Europe, and doesn?t speak or understand a word of Italian.

To say that Italy -- the 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.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza. Doubleday; ISBN: 0385525001 (September, 2007), 262 p., $21.95.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza (UK 2007)

From the Publisher:
Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the deciding game at the climax of the season, 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 laughing stock and, of course, was immediately dropped by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.

But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, finds 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 Rick -- for 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 player from the home of American footballat their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers -- at least until a better offer comes along -- and heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parma (not even where it is), has never been to Europe, and doesn't speak or understand a word of Italian. To say that Italy - the 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.

John Grisham: Playing for Pizza. Century, ISBN: 1846053684 (September, 2007), 262 p., £15.00.