--- product_id: 103136677 title: "Playing for Pizza" price: "€ 6.16" currency: EUR in_stock: false reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/103136677-playing-for-pizza store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Playing for Pizza **Price:** € 6.16 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Playing for Pizza - **How much does it cost?** € 6.16 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/103136677-playing-for-pizza) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Fans of John Grisham live for his legal thrillers, but now and then he serves up something unexpected. That’s exactly what he does, with great success, in Playing for Pizza .”— USA Today 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. Review: Playing For Pizza - My wife and I were in Italy between 10 and 12 weeks in 2011. She arrived there earlier due to work assignment and I came 2 weeks later with our cat and a few items from home. Needless to say the entire book JG described, clearly captured the same culture we experienced in Italy. We were in Northern Italy in a town or small city called Ferrara. We experienced several issues which normally are kept out of US media. Such as protest demonstration issues from the main unions which blocked transportation for one day (which of course didn't affect us because weren't travelling at the time of the protest) to include the racial discrimination from immigrants from Sub-Sahara Africa seeking to stay and live in the Ferrara Region. I understood very well the survival techniques of the Africans but also the annoyances of the local residence "bugging harassment" of being annoyed to purchase things one doesn't want or need from them. Getting back to the book is: Italy is laid back and the 2 hour average lunches in 2011 were normal. The weather and atmosphere resembled Florida and California. However, what nerved me a bit was seeing a freaking McDonalds because I really get tired of seeing these burger joints in Europe. Sure they bring capital to the locals but I want to taste and experience a foreign country's cuisines, culture and what it has to offer me that I haven't and wont ever experience in the US. Like going into a restaurant with no menu cards and having to order something you're not aware of is quite challenging and rewarding especially not being able to speak the language. Driving out of our way to get a terribly expensive Original Balsamic Vinegar in Modena. Tasting a very old Prosciutto di Parma and how it's usage on Cantelopes makes one very weak to reisist or the god of cheeses, the Parmigiano Reggiano and the different sytles and techniques of eating it plain of dipped in Balsamic vinegar and etc.... My god, what a life I had living there. We visited Museums and the local tourist joints but really captured Italy and even more for us was having a local person to help integrate us within the local area and country. There was really one odd thing that we encountered which made us aware of hygienic issues while shopping for fruits and vegetable. The shopping of fresh fruits and vegetables MUST have plastic disposable gloves available so we can put on and it's the most hygienic thing we ever encountered there because the Italians are very picky and particular about getting any types of illness that they can easily avoided. Our contact person there just so happen to be from the Sicilian area but living in outskirts area of Ferrara. The family accepted us as their own and attending their open BBQ with friends was a delight and then later a home cooked meal just for the two of us and the family was incredible. Learning how to make a real pasta sauce and how much flavor we are missing by the typical standard of drowning out out pasta dishes with so much sauce. They even gave us a special invitation to attend a special Iraninan restaurant with dancers and etc.. Now, during our entire stay we cooked 80% at home and went out to eat in restaurants 9 times which were in different locations and only 3 x we ate local pizzas. The 6 restaurant all had their specialities, 2 restaurants we ate twice to get the different taste and cuisines they were offering and the the last one was strictly a raw seafood special which was served with shrimps, oysters and salmon. I couldn't see coming to the country without trying the local pizzas, the rest we were experimenting and tasting different cooking methods and taste from the area. This way when ever it's time to come back, we can always have a little Italiano at our creation. What we uncovered from the book was more than what was written, it was a life time and life changing experience. For anyone who would like the taste of Italy - from the view of an American Football Player - this book is highly informative, beautifully written with a loving heart for Italy. Review: DEFINITELY A DELIGHT!!! - In another witty and fun departure from his legal thrillers, Grisham has penned a delightful yarn about disgraced NFL quarterback Rick Dockery. After throwing fabulous passes to the opposing team in his final game with Cleveland, Rick's agent Arnie has the unenviable job of informing his client that there is no way he will again play in the National Football League. Hated by Cleveland fans for his shockingly bad performance in a game that was as much as won (until Rick came off of the bench) it doesn't take long for Rick to realize that he practically needs police protection anywhere in the city. Then Arnie receives a call from a coach inquiring about Dockery; the catch is that the team is in Italy. When a sullen Rick finally agrees to give the Italians a try, the experience is one of bravery,brotherhood, and a genuine love for the game. It would appear the Rick may have finally found a home with the Parma Panthers..... A story rich in descriptions of Italian culture...which of course includes good food. A great story made all the more so for those readers who have a love for and understand American football. A fun, light read. DYB ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #53,493 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #40 in Humorous American Literature #169 in Humorous Fiction #231 in Sports Fiction (Kindle Store) | ## Images ![Playing for Pizza - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Paw99VISL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Playing For Pizza *by J***R on August 12, 2012* My wife and I were in Italy between 10 and 12 weeks in 2011. She arrived there earlier due to work assignment and I came 2 weeks later with our cat and a few items from home. Needless to say the entire book JG described, clearly captured the same culture we experienced in Italy. We were in Northern Italy in a town or small city called Ferrara. We experienced several issues which normally are kept out of US media. Such as protest demonstration issues from the main unions which blocked transportation for one day (which of course didn't affect us because weren't travelling at the time of the protest) to include the racial discrimination from immigrants from Sub-Sahara Africa seeking to stay and live in the Ferrara Region. I understood very well the survival techniques of the Africans but also the annoyances of the local residence "bugging harassment" of being annoyed to purchase things one doesn't want or need from them. Getting back to the book is: Italy is laid back and the 2 hour average lunches in 2011 were normal. The weather and atmosphere resembled Florida and California. However, what nerved me a bit was seeing a freaking McDonalds because I really get tired of seeing these burger joints in Europe. Sure they bring capital to the locals but I want to taste and experience a foreign country's cuisines, culture and what it has to offer me that I haven't and wont ever experience in the US. Like going into a restaurant with no menu cards and having to order something you're not aware of is quite challenging and rewarding especially not being able to speak the language. Driving out of our way to get a terribly expensive Original Balsamic Vinegar in Modena. Tasting a very old Prosciutto di Parma and how it's usage on Cantelopes makes one very weak to reisist or the god of cheeses, the Parmigiano Reggiano and the different sytles and techniques of eating it plain of dipped in Balsamic vinegar and etc.... My god, what a life I had living there. We visited Museums and the local tourist joints but really captured Italy and even more for us was having a local person to help integrate us within the local area and country. There was really one odd thing that we encountered which made us aware of hygienic issues while shopping for fruits and vegetable. The shopping of fresh fruits and vegetables MUST have plastic disposable gloves available so we can put on and it's the most hygienic thing we ever encountered there because the Italians are very picky and particular about getting any types of illness that they can easily avoided. Our contact person there just so happen to be from the Sicilian area but living in outskirts area of Ferrara. The family accepted us as their own and attending their open BBQ with friends was a delight and then later a home cooked meal just for the two of us and the family was incredible. Learning how to make a real pasta sauce and how much flavor we are missing by the typical standard of drowning out out pasta dishes with so much sauce. They even gave us a special invitation to attend a special Iraninan restaurant with dancers and etc.. Now, during our entire stay we cooked 80% at home and went out to eat in restaurants 9 times which were in different locations and only 3 x we ate local pizzas. The 6 restaurant all had their specialities, 2 restaurants we ate twice to get the different taste and cuisines they were offering and the the last one was strictly a raw seafood special which was served with shrimps, oysters and salmon. I couldn't see coming to the country without trying the local pizzas, the rest we were experimenting and tasting different cooking methods and taste from the area. This way when ever it's time to come back, we can always have a little Italiano at our creation. What we uncovered from the book was more than what was written, it was a life time and life changing experience. For anyone who would like the taste of Italy - from the view of an American Football Player - this book is highly informative, beautifully written with a loving heart for Italy. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DEFINITELY A DELIGHT!!! *by D***S on April 28, 2008* In another witty and fun departure from his legal thrillers, Grisham has penned a delightful yarn about disgraced NFL quarterback Rick Dockery. After throwing fabulous passes to the opposing team in his final game with Cleveland, Rick's agent Arnie has the unenviable job of informing his client that there is no way he will again play in the National Football League. Hated by Cleveland fans for his shockingly bad performance in a game that was as much as won (until Rick came off of the bench) it doesn't take long for Rick to realize that he practically needs police protection anywhere in the city. Then Arnie receives a call from a coach inquiring about Dockery; the catch is that the team is in Italy. When a sullen Rick finally agrees to give the Italians a try, the experience is one of bravery,brotherhood, and a genuine love for the game. It would appear the Rick may have finally found a home with the Parma Panthers..... A story rich in descriptions of Italian culture...which of course includes good food. A great story made all the more so for those readers who have a love for and understand American football. A fun, light read. DYB ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great story *by L***8 on March 12, 2026* Great book! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/103136677-playing-for-pizza](https://www.desertcart.at/products/103136677-playing-for-pizza) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-06-04*