Don't Cry in America: A Memoir of Unexpected Journeys, Family Love, and the Sport of Wrestling

A powerful story of resilience, hope, and the bonds that unite us. Could you imagine being sent alone on an ocean liner at just ten years old for an eight-day journey at sea, with only the hope of seeing your family again one day? That's precisely what young Antonio Russo faces when he is placed on a ship in the Bay of Naples and sent from a small town in Italy into the abyss toward America, with nothing but the shirt on his back and a suitcase filled with salami and provolone cheese. Tony struggles to fit in and often descends into a path of destruction. He adopts a tough-guy persona, acts impulsively, and frequently gets into fights and brawls, which ultimately lands him not only in the hospital but also in trouble with the law. As fate would have it, he discovers the sport of wrestling, revealing a natural talent and a strong drive to excel, leading him to become one of America's winningest high school wrestling coaches. Just as Rocky is not merely a story about boxing, Don't Cry in America is not simply a story about wrestling. While wrestling and Italian culture are interwoven throughout, this is an uplifting tale of resilience, hope, and the extraordinary yet complex bonds of family.