Doubleday
October 2007
On Sale: September 24, 2007
Featuring: Rick Dockery
272 pages ISBN: 0385525001 EAN: 9780385525008 Kindle: B003B02O00 Hardcover / e-Book Add to Wish List
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 Rickโfor 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 playerโany former NFL playerโat their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthersโat least until a better offer comes alongโand heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parmaโnot even where it isโhas never been to Europe, and doesnโt speak or understand a word of Italian.
To say that Italyโthe land of opera, fine wines, extremely small cars, romance, and Football Americanoโholds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.
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