Italian-Americans who made Springfield their home many years ago brought the game of bocce to Western Massachusetts. Bocce is now more popular than ever thanks in no small part to bocce enthusiast Rico Daniele. The south end food store owner champions the game. He's been largely responsible for its continued growth here in the Pioneer Valley.

Daniele explained to 22News, "I wrote the first book on bocce in the United States and I was the head official of the Special Olympics, now I'm trying to get bocce courts in the schools and in the elderly homes to bring people together." In keeping with his enthusiasm for the game, Daniele held a free bocce school at the Mount Carmel society on Winthrop Street Sunday afternoon.

Source: http://wwlp.com/