Playing the Moldovans at Tennis
Tony Hawks (2000)

THE A5 BOOK REVIEW

The English comedian Tony Hawks gained some notoriety around his 100 GBP wager to hitchhike around Ireland with a refrigerator as his traveling companion.  His next stupid bet and corresponding trip?  Hawks needs to beat all eleven starters of the Moldovan soccer team at tennis, with the loser of the bet agreeing to strip naked outside the local pub and to sing the Moldovan national anthem.  The book tells the funny story of his audacious quest in this off-the-beaten-path country, and ultimately how Hawks learned to enjoy and to appreciate life in this very different part of the world.  He meets many local characters, including a morose translator, gypsies, gangsters, and a wonderful host family.  The humor around the bet is predictable, but the story of Hawks’ travel misadventures is worth reading.
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ABOUT TONY HAWKS

Tony Hawks is a British comedian, author and general entertainer.  His career includes some success as a singer-songwriter with a parody of a Beastie Boys song, regular appearances on UK television and radio panels, and numerous stand-up comedy appearances.  He is the author of a number of books, most which deal with quests to follow up on some type of crazy bet made with friends.  Round Ireland with a Fridge (1997) is his most popular book, followed by Playing the Moldovans at Tennis.  He is often confused with the famous skateboarder Tony Hawk, and he has a section on his own website with emails he has received from mistaken skateboarding fans.

GREAT QUOTES:

“I didn’t even know where Moldova was, but then I suppose that was part of the appeal.  As I stood on the chair to take down the atlas from the top shelf I became excited.  More excited than anyone ever had been before while in the act of looking up Moldova on a map.  I had a strong feeling that this was it.  Quite suddenly the void in my life, which had resulted with not being faced with a complex and yet ultimately pointless challenge, was to be filled.”
- Tony Hawks, prologue to Playing the Moldovans at Tennis

INTERESTING LINKS:

  • Read the Publishers Weekly review on Playing the Moldovans at Tennis.
  • ​Hawks produced a movie of the same name, with the profits going to the Tony Hawks Centre for children with cerebral palsy in Moldova, which was started with royalties from his book.  See a clip here on the website for the film.  Even better, learn more about this charity by clicking here.  
  • Moldova is certainly not a typical travel destination, but new budget flights from London are making it easier to visit.  Learn more about this country from Lonely Planet.

WHERE IS MOLDOVA?