Rossi explains decision to snub USA

[red&bluearmy[cpfc]]

Rossi definately has talent as seen on Manu's tour of South Africa. Simply because he hasn't cracked the first team dosn't mean anything. Rooney is the exception rather than the rule. The fact that Ferguson is persisting with Rossi signals he is good. At that age plenty of quality players fail to break into the first team at top level clubs.
I'm not sure why wanting to play for a great football nation should be an issue especially since loves Italy. Why should the US care if he decides to pursue a dream. If he ends up deciding to play for the US then he will be just another selection possibility to strengthen the squad and perhaps a major part of the team. I think we can all agree that playing for Italy is vastly more difficult than playing for the US. Simply because he dosn't manage to succeed in Italy doesn't mean he won't succeed with the US.

[pokemoncards]

If you can say all those things about Rossi, why don't you try to ask some good questions about Freddy Adu? Why doesn't he come oversea to Europe, to somewhere like Manchester United and try to crack the first team?

He's not allowed, i understand you watched the World Youth Cup, but if you wanna see him embarass Celtic I can put the video up.

[GRUNT]

Hey, you brought "paper American" into the conversation.

And that compelled you to go biblical on me?

What do you find inaccurate or otherwise inappropriate about describing Rossi as a "paper American"?

He is both Italian and American on paper -- as in legally -- but an Italian in how he views himself. If given the opportunity, he very clearly would have been working for our defeat last month. While some cases may be less clear, this isn't one of them; he is American on paper only (just like your old friend, Palo, I might add).

In any case, I don't want paper Americans representing in any national endeavor. Maybe I just don't need to win as much as some people.

[Red Card]

it doesn't look like we'll get that chance this year....as it apears Ruud will play for Munich, and Rossi is currently behind Rooney, Saha, and Alan Smith

Solskjaer too!

[dark knight]

And that compelled you to go biblical on me?

What do you find inaccurate or otherwise inappropriate about describing Rossi as a "paper American"?

He is both Italian and American on paper -- as in legally -- but an Italian in how he views himself. If given the opportunity, he very clearly would have been working for our defeat last month. While some cases may be less clear, this isn't one of them; he is American on paper only (just like your old friend, Palo, I might add).

In any case, I don't want paper Americans representing in any national endeavor. Maybe I just don't need to win as much as some people.

I'm pretty sure he has said he considers himself American at least in part, but when it comes to soccer that his dream has been to play for Italy. Have you ever heard him say he doesn't consider himself American?

[Fan123]

He's not allowed, i understand you watched the World Youth Cup, but if you wanna see him embarass Celtic I can put the video up.

Is it because of age? (And I don't believe that even America's top talent Freddy Adu could break in Man U's A team at 19.)

After the Youth World Cup, Carlos Vela (who played very well there) from Mexico got signed for Arsenal, the guy's the same age as Adu.

Wait, I messed up, Adu plays in the U-20 one, but fact remains he wasn't particularly shining there either.

I still don't know why Adu's put on a pedestal before he has even done anything for USA NT at the Youth Level (which surely is the easiest level to impress.)

[pokemoncards]

Is it because of age? (And I don't believe that even America's top talent Freddy Adu could break in Man U's A team at 19.)

After the Youth World Cup, Carlos Vela (who played very well there) from Mexico got signed for Arsenal, the guy's the same age as Adu.

Wait, I messed up, Adu plays in the U-20 one, but fact remains he wasn't particularly shining there either.

I still don't know why Adu's put on a pedestal before he has even done anything for USA NT at the Youth Level (which surely is the easiest level to impress.)

Vela's deal didn't go through, he's not playing for anyone. Adu played as well if not better in the U-17 cup as a 14 year old than Vela did at 17. He's been far more impressive at the MLS level (which is a much higher level than the youth level, than he was in the U-20s. People who cite that to attempt to prove anything only show that they haven't seen him play elsewhere. I don't see people using Fabregas (who was worse in the tournament than ada, and 2 years older) to say he sucks.

Here's freddy at 14, he has improved vastly since then, and would dominate the competition that his "peers" are playing at.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8216802894535795593&q=adu

P.S. I hope rossi pans out and plays for the U.S.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0600soccer/0200news/tm_objectid=17425378&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=rossi-spurned-world-cup-chance-name_page.html

'The USA asked me to play and I knew there was also an opportunity to go to the World Cup,' said Rossi. 'But I also knew if I took that chance, I would never be able to play for Italy, which has been my dream virtually since the day I was born.'

[superdave]

And that compelled you to go biblical on me?

What do you find inaccurate or otherwise inappropriate about describing Rossi as a "paper American"?

He is both Italian and American on paper -- as in legally -- but an Italian in how he views himself.

Do you have any evidence for this assertion? And remember that soccer isn't life. TIA.

[Shaster]

MOST Americans wouldn't even be signed for Manchester United, much less trying to crack the first team. Cannavaro and Zambrotta is moving overseas, why no Italian team sign them? Is Manchester United that worse than Series A teams?

There's a lot of bitter people over this kid's decisions, so needed to smack him, and I think it's uncalled for b/c the kid is only 19 years old.

If you can say all those things about Rossi, why don't you try to ask some good questions about Freddy Adu? Why doesn't he come oversea to Europe, to somewhere like Manchester United and try to crack the first team? Why Adu can't dominate even MLS? I watched him in Youth World Cup in 2005 (U-17?), and I can tell you he couldn't even do anything in that Youth Cup. And it's a YOUTH CUP, how could he go anywhere else if he couldn't even shine there? I seriously want to see if Adu (America's so-called gonna-be BEST) can do better than Rossi in Europe.

I am not a fan of Rossi, but some people are being so ridiculous about him it's not even funny.

Rossi does have good talent, but not like people here to make him Ronaldino that can make or break a USA team.

The fact is that as good as Rossi is, he is still not in top packing order of Italian U-20/U-21 forward/attacking midfielder pool. There are bunch of Italian kids -- those who already have good Seria A playing time, like Pazzini, Palladino, or Cerci, etc. May Rossi pass over those kids in the future? It is possible. But now Rossi is not in top of the order. Otherwise he would be in Italy U-21 team now.

Now come back to USA's future. As I pointed out, including Rossi, USA so far has produced 6 potential players--Rossi, Nguyen, Nunez, Adu, Villanueva, and Arvizu. In the future, Rossi maybe better than all of them, maybe just one of a good bunch. Also we know that if our youth system didn't screw so much on talent kids--like always value the speed more than skill, and physical size then smart brain, we probably have more of those kind of players.

So my attitude is that if Rossi plays for USA, I will welcome him, but if not, I am not losing sleep over it.

[GRUNT]

I'm pretty sure he has said he considers himself American at least in part, but when it comes to soccer that his dream has been to play for Italy. Have you ever heard him say he doesn't consider himself American?

Ah, a partial-American. If that's something like a partial-birth abortion, he's still DOA.

Alas, FIFA does not allow Rossi to change into a USNT jersey at the 60th minute.

[Fan123]

Rossi does have good talent, but not like people here to make him Ronaldino that can make or break a USA team.

So my attitude is that if Rossi plays for USA, I will welcome him, but if not, I am not losing sleep over it.

I was directing my post at people who say that he sucks just b/c he says he wants to play for Italy. That fact does not automatically make one a bad player.

And (If Rossi plays for USA) why would he need to become a Ronaldinho anyways? (He's not Ronaldinho.) But you do not need to be anywhere near Ronaldinho to be on the USA NT. That's a sick joke. Even the big superpowers in world football don't have a Ronaldinho.

[Adam Zebrowski]

would rossi have to transfer to serie A to get a real chance to play for italy...

given all their 2006 talent is home grown, moving to the boot might help out

[GRUNT]

[/B]

Do you have any evidence for this assertion? And remember that soccer isn't life. TIA.

You obviously require more than his refusal to play for the US followed by a stated desire to play for Italy. I don't.

You're welcome.

Btw -- the irony of you reminding me that "soccer isn't life" is amusing.

[dark knight]

Ah, a partial-American. If that's something like a partial-birth abortion, he's still DOA.


That's offensive.

My father was a full on American citizen -- born and raised in Seattle, joined the 442nd Division to "defend" this country - but he and his whole family were also forced to sign allegiance to this country or go to jail and be deported and still his father was forced to sell his business and all his families possessions for peanuts and they were forced into virtual prisons. I'm glad that you are so patriotic, but as has been said above, life isn't black and white and trying to force it to be can lead you down some unpleasant paths, as my father's experience helps illustrate.

I'm proud to be American but I'm also wary of folks that don't recognize other ways of being as valid. Maybe you are just talking in soccer terms but it's hard to tell when you make comments like the above.

[GRUNT]

That's offensive.

My father was a full on American citizen -- born and raised in Seattle, joined the 442nd Division to "defend" this country - but he and his whole family were also forced to sign allegiance to this country or go to jail and be deported and still his father was forced to sell his business and all his families possessions for peanuts and they were forced into virtual prisons. I'm glad that you are so patriotic, but as has been said above, life isn't black and white and trying to force it to be can lead you down some unpleasant paths, as my father's experience helps illustrate.

I'm proud to be American but I'm also wary of folks that don't recognize other ways of being as valid. Maybe you are just talking in soccer terms but it's hard to tell when you make comments like the above.

I believe certain situations require one to make a choice; fence-sitting is simply not possible. The side one chooses in war, since you brought it up, is probably one of those. And in the case of international soccer FIFA definitely agrees with me.

Your pride in your American citizenship, the loyalty of your family, and the ill treatment received by Japanese-Americans was never questioned or brought up by me, but if you see some connection with my views on Rossi's case, I'd be interested in hearing how. In any case no offense was intended.

[dark knight]

I believe certain situations require one to make a choice; fence-sitting is simply not possible. The side one chooses in war, since you brought it up, is probably one of those. And in the case of international soccer FIFA definitely agrees with me.

Your pride in your American citizenship, the loyalty of your family, and the ill treatment received by Japanese-Americans was never questioned or brought up by me, but if you see some connection with my views on Rossi's case, I'd be interested in hearing how. In any case no offense was intended.


I guess your denigrating him for having dual loyalties reminds me of how my father's family was forced to denounce their homeland (homeland in my grandparents case), despite being treated like criminals here. Many Japanese Americans died for this country and yet still were looked on and treated as less than American. You are acting like this guy is less than American without any knowledge of how he feels about it. That was the kind of thinking that went into what went on in the case of the internment camps, would you not agree?

[GRUNT]

I guess your denigrating him for having dual loyalties reminds me of how my father's family was forced to denounce their homeland (homeland in my grandparents case), despite being treated like criminals here. Many Japanese Americans died for this country and yet still were looked on and treated as less than American. You are acting like this guy is less than American without any knowledge of how he feels about it. That was the kind of thinking that went into what went on in the case of the internment camps, would you not agree?

But I'm not denigrating him for having dual loyalties, because I don't see that he has dual loyalties. In fact, I commend him for his clarity and stating it for all to hear -- even if some choose to ignore it, or don't care, as long as he could potentially help the US win.

If playing for a national side, especially in a World Cup, were more important to Rossi than his identity, I think we can all agree, the easier path would have been to accept that call-up from Arena. My hat's off to him for following his heart.

My opinion on the thinking behind how Japanese-Americans were treated during WWII is that it was primarily driven by racism. My objection to Rossi playing for the US has nothing to do with race.

But sticking with the WWII analogies, there were also Japanese- and German-Americans who fought for those countries. I find their decisions analogous to Rossi's, not your family's

[Elninho]

Apples and oranges. Unlike the vast majority of WWII-era Japanese-Americans, Rossi has publicly chosen Italy over the country in which he was born and raised.

Of course, just as a bit of side commentary, Rossi is drawing all this attention because he is a young potential international star, and because he so persistently states that Italy is his first allegiance. Shalrie Joseph would also improve the USMNT now... but he gets a pass because he was cap-tied to Grenada in college, when he didn't think he'd be good enough to play for the US national team. If he hadn't joined another NT prematurely, he'd have started over Mastroeni in this World Cup. Oddly enough, the very same reason that Joseph gets a pass here - considering playing for a national team more important than national identity - makes him more guilty of divided loyalties than Rossi, whose loyalty to Italy is clear.

[dark knight]

But I'm not denigrating him for having dual loyalties, because I don't see that he has dual loyalties. In fact, I commend him for his clarity and stating it for all to hear -- even if some choose to ignore it, or don't care, as long as he could potentially help the US win.

What were you doing when you likened partial American to partial birth abortion? If he says he feels American but in soccer he wants to play for Italy, for some of us, that is an expression of dual loyalties. I believe at other times he has said that he is still open to the idea of playing for the United States. What are we ignoring? This was a fluff piece that used the National Team choice decision as evidence of something else. Who knows how accurately it reflects his feelings.

[GRUNT]

What were you doing when you likened partial American to partial birth abortion? If he says he feels American but in soccer he wants to play for Italy, for some of us, that is an expression of dual loyalties. I believe at other times he has said that he is still open to the idea of playing for the United States. What are we ignoring? This was a fluff piece that used the National Team choice decision as evidence of something else. Who knows how accurately it reflects his feelings.


Perhaps I should have found a less inflamatory example.

I find it oxymoronic to describe an abortion as anything approximating a birth. I also find it oxymoronic to describe someone, who would actively take part in defeating the US, to be a "partial American". Your father could no more fight for Japan on Mon-Fri and for the US on Sat-Sun, than Rossi could play for Italy -- and, when necessary, against the US -- and legitimately claim he's a "partial American".

In my opinion, there are times when being a "partial American" is not possible. There is a difference between eating Danish meatballs for a holiday, and supporting the Danish national team against the US. And, yes, I do think it's an acid test for where my heart lies. I would never support Denmark or any other nation against the US, let alone play for them, and a so-called Danish-American, who would, is more accurately described as an American-Dane.