THE MIRACLE OF CASTEL DI SANGRO

McGinniss admits that he's obsessed with soccer. Why else would he go to an Italian mountain village to spend a season getting to know a previously obscure team that made headlines when it advanced to Italy's second-highest soccer league? But Dick Hill's spirited narration and McGinniss's boundless enthusiasm make it seem not that crazy a project. Hill captures the passion the players feel for the game, masters a plausible Italian accent, and gracefully handles the passages in which the conversation runs in Italian with English translation following. Memorable characters crowd the program, with Hill catching their essence, including the likable players; the frustrated author; the bullying, strong-willed coach; and the omnipresent owner and manager, who have other goals for the team besides winning the season. Spirit and passion give this program universal appeal, for it captures the human capacity to be dedicated to a cause. M.A.M. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]