Anyone else wish that Italian-Americans were more passionate about the US team?

I was born and raised in San Jose CA where there was a large Italian-American community however, many of them are fairly older. My parents are from Italy and I just returned from living in Florence, Italy for 4 years. Most Italians still alive in the area are usually 1st,2nd & 3rd generation however, most of their parents & grandparents immigrated in the 20's & maybe 30's. Therefore, their sons and daughters grew up before during and maybe right after WW2. At that time there was a big push to be American. They really didn't want their kids to speak much Italian(at least in Northern California) and wanted the kids to be pro American , especially during the war. A lot of my relatives were ridiculed because Italy was the enemy.

Therefore, you had many Italians playing baseball & football. I.E. Leo Nomelli (49ers) & Joe DiMaggio from SF but who played for the NY Yankees. As a matter of fact, I think that was around the same time most of America did away with soccer. The USMNT qualified for the semifinals in 1930 and then got eliminated in 1934,losing 7-1 to Italy in Rome. I think that most Americans just didn't want anything to do with the foreign game. This can be another reason on why you have these old time sportscasters who act ignorant when speaking of soccer.

At any rate, my parents immigrated in the 50's from Italy after the war. When the NASL was in full bloom,all of my uncles became thoroughly involved in PAL youth soccer as coaches and we all had season tickets to the Quakes matches. We fell in love with the sport however, the older brigade that was still alive at the time didn't really understand or care or watch the sport. This may have a lot to do with why most Italian Americans don't really care about soccer and Italy's victory at the World Cup.

 

In Boston, the band was so large they had to fly in more wagons. It was so bad, it was almost worse than 2 years ago when the Red Sox finally won a World Series after 86 years of repeated failure. It was hilarious watching the 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Americans of Italian heritage (or 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc.) sporting brand spanking new Toni, Totti Cannavaro, or del Piero t-shirts yelling and carrying on.

Granted there were numerous knowledgable Italy fans of American birth, but the best part was when the newbies thought something good had happened for Italy and screamed excitedly only to learn it actually was bad. So many of them really had no knowledge of the sport nor the Italian team, but their grandfathers or great grandfathers came from Sicily or Rome, so they had to be at City Hall to watch the game and celebrate later in the North End (historically Italian section) as if their own country won the WC.

What many didn't realize was their own country actually defeated (kidding) Italy 1-1 playing a man down about a week before. Bandwagoners, defined! (It wasn't that the bandwagon was an Italian thing. If they had been 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. generation Americans of German, Polish, French, Irish, Mexican or whatever other heritage rooting for their ancestors' homeland more than their own place of birth and country, it would be equally rediculous). Welcome to America!

 

Wow, that guy would do the "bridge and tunnel crowd" proud. He needs a few more gold chains, but otherwise he's sporting the entire costume including globbed up hairdo, Italia sweatshirt, and headband. This guy's father was right there with John Travolta in 1978. Night fever, night fever...

 

I'm a first generation Italian-American. One reason I follow Italian soccer with a bit more passion is because before 1994, US soccer did not exisit. So for the longest time of my life all I had was Italy to cheer for. It was close to imposbile to find out any news on the UMNT. I don't even think an American channel picked up the rights for the all games World Cup games untill 1994. I used to watch the Spanish stations just to watch club soccer. The big day's were Sunday's because a whole bunch of us would watch Napoli on RAI in A.M. The sport was basically ignored here even though my dad tought me to love it and I loved it. I mean Maradona while playing for Napoli was my idol over Payton Jordan etc. because I was fan of soccer and liked watching it. I have been a soccer fan before Nike and Adidas made it hip with their commercials. So, why should I just drop that fact that I'm a fan of Italy just because all of a sudden the U.S. Is finally making a ripple in the water? Don't get me wrong if the US ever win the cup, I would be first person getting arrested for disturbing the peace.

 

There was definately a bandwagon effect when we were in Kaiserslauten. There were many (about 10 in seperate groups) Italian Americans we ran into wearing full Italy gear and backing the Azzuri who when quizzed, amongst all of them could not name more than 4 people who JUST PLAYED against the US! The more we razed them, they started acting very embarrased, defensive, or just plain appologietic. Just kiddies looking for an identity really.
I guess I can give some credit to Italian Americans that truly support the Azzuri over the good and bad times and might actually be able to name the head coach, but the bandwagon jumpers in Azzuri gear are just an outright embarrasment IMO.

 

I root for and follow the US more than Italy. But Italy won, so I am very happy and take great pride in the victory. I have fond memories of watching the 1982 team win and cheering and crying with my father, and also watching Serie A games with him. Passion for Italy is passion for my roots and my beautiful family that I have been blessed with.

If the US wins, you will see even more passion and pride from me, because when we win it will be so much sweeter coming from so low and then reaching the pinnacle. Passion for the US is passion for all you guys and everyone else (incuding my father) who has built and is building something special right here. The US is our sweat and tears that we shed on the fields and in the lockerrooms every day. When you put your own work into something, victory is that much sweeter. It goes beyond nationalism. This is about our soccer community. We will win a World Cup in my lifetime! And it will change this country forever!

- Paul

 

My ex-girl is half Italian second generation from Jersey. When they scored against the US she called me screaming and yelling about how the USA was going to lose. I cut her some slack since her father is from Italy, but somewhere they need to draw the line. It's pretty sad that if the USMNT was to play Italy anywhere near the New York area it would be a decidedly pro-Italy crowd.

 

Its the same thing in LA when the USA plays Mexico. US SOCCER use to schedule those matches there however I believe the last one was in 2000. I guess they got tired of playing an away match in their own home,

 

I was born in the USA but my heritage is pure Italian. I even lived there for a little while as a kid, and I can remember falling in love with the game just as any other schoolboy did.
However, my passion for the US Team is unrivaled. I cannot watch US National team games with anyone else around..it's too emotional. I did watch the FR-It final with family and all I wanted to see was a good game..I could care less who won. Even after Italy won..a game in which they did not play well, I applauded their Championship but no chills went up my spine. I was too taken in by their seemingly defensive style and penchant for diving and rolling around. Seems like whenever any one so much as put a finger on them they jerked in the opposite direction like someone just fired a .357 at them.
What I see in the US Nat. play..I see a team that has true passion and a true underdog fortitude. Granted, they didn't play very well in this tournament and with some unlucky breaks got their plane tix handed to them too soon. However, against Italy something was different. They actually knew they could win..and should have. Had McBride not tried to redirect DBM's shot it would have been 2-1 USA, end of story...but alas it wasn't meant to be.
Even when I watched the Australia game I rooted for the underdog Socceroos. They took it to the Italians and almost came away with it..had it not been for a ref who didn't want to play extra time.
So take it from an American who just happens to have Roman blood in his veins...the USA is my home..always was..always will be. A country that is the envy or every other nation on earth. Next time when you see a guy or gal in their ITALIA shirt ask them..what was the last thing Italy did for them..or tell them to ask their Grandparents or whoever else was the first from their family to emigrate here. Italy needed all of us to leave. There was nothing there for anyone who had ambition and wasn't afraid of hard work. I'm not a jumper on the Italy bandwagon..and am proud of the red white and blue. Always was..and always will be.

 

Here in Miami, we have this problem x 10, with more than a dozen other nationalities.

There's a reason why Miami is called the gateway to Latin-America for the U.S. It's because Miami is so close to the U.S. (sorry, that's a local joke).

 

Eh, I don't really care. Soccer is about the most innocuous expression of national identity you can find.

 

BTW -- to make it clear:

I never owned a Camaro or an IROC
I never had my hair spiky
My tracksuit phase was very short (about 4 months as a college freshman)
I have not worn a gold chain in years
I have never worn more than one gold chain at a time
Only once did I date someone with big hair, and interestingly, she was not Italian
I have not worn a wife beater since I was old enough no choose my own tee shirts
I was always Anthony not Tony -- where I come from Tony is a guy with all of the above.

 

The beauty about football is that it is much more than a love for the game for us ethnic americans (italians, mexicans, whatever). It's an identity. It's a connection to our roots. Growing up, that passion was not present with America. We didn't even have a decent professional league to follow.
Alas, people like me got our first taste of this love watching WC games with our parents rooting for the countries or teams from far, far away. Common sense would say this passion for our teams will continue.
So to all of you cynical americans who are worried that our streets will get taken over by an army of foreign team rooting americans, relax. You have your league. You have your growing fanatical crowd. I'm sure that in another ten years you won't feel as lonely as you did when the Italians were running rampant.

 

Why?

MLS is a third-rate product. If I want to watch crappy soccer with teams located in far-flung cities hundreds or thousands of miles away from me, I'll turn on Univision and watch Mexican soccer.

US soccer is a different crowd than what I'm used to and what I want from a crowd. Hence, I prefer foreigners. For every fourth generation paisan walking around in a spotless Italy shirt is a retard trying to argue that Gooch would make the Azzuri (remember that gem of a thread?).

 

The biggest problem with rooting for the USMNT or any American team for me is the complete lack of footballing knowledge even the most self-proffessed soccer fan in the US has. I attend every Crew, let me restate every soccer event that the city of Columbus has had in the past 11 years, minus the few that took place when I was out of state at college. The one thing that hasn't changed is the drunken idiots who claim they are soccer fans just becuase they throw on a scarf and get piss drunk before each game. They are embarrassing to me and the other fans attending the Crew and USMNT games. The thrill of those that cheer in the North End for those of you who know the stadium, is to get the players who are warming up to wave at them. Seriously come on. Many of the true fans who started areas like the North End, after coming over from OSU, have left this area because of the complete stupidity of these clowns. Half of these guys can't stand up,have slurred speech, smell like they would burst into flames if you lit a match, and have their girlfriends dress like $2 hookers. Let's not forget the civil service they provide by purchasing beer for 16 and 17 year-old girls who wouldn't give these guys the time of day unless for the free alcohol. These are the people that hurt U.S. soccer and make me not want to be a part of it. So I say FORZA ITALIA!

 

What? That's your arguement? Are you a dimwit or something? You can do better than that can't you? you live in Columbus and go to Crew games. What do you expect?
American Azzuri fans are still some of the most clueless fans that I've ever ran into when it comes to a "complete lack of footballing knowledge ."

 

I think it depends on what part of the country you are talking about. Some of that cluelessness (and general stupidity outside of the context of soccer) might be present in that region across ethnic lines, and manifests in a unique way in each ethnic group.

Just about every ethnic group in the US that tries to take pride in their roots, even though they are far removed from their roots, has the potential to look kind of stupid. They are in danger of becoming caricatures of themselves and their ancestors. Even Mayflower Americans sometimes look stupid with their revolutionary war or civil war re-enactments and rebel flags. Human beings in general are always looking for identity. Some of us end up looking like clowns, others find a deeper understanding of themselves and life in general.

I think the wise path is to not get too locked-in to a way of being. That just closes you off to new experiences and will probably make you depressed and curmudgeonly later in life. People like that are the ones who always want to start wars and kill people that are different than them.

- Paul

 

What I expect is these people to stop boasting of their soccer knowledge and their loyalty to the club when soccer to them is nothing more than an excuse to get drunk and make fools of themselves. I don't care how many teams the USMNT beats from CONCACAF because anyone you talk to how really, truly knows soccer will tell you if the U.S. had to compete against Europe or South America to qualify for the cup they'd be lucky to ever get in. I am just trying to be a realist here, I am proud to be an American and am proud of my Italian heritage, if I choose to root on Italy thats my decision. The reason I am not that thrilled with American soccer is the other fans and the fact that soccer is a rich boy sport in the states which is the main reason we can't compete for a title.

 

Your arguement is poor at best. Anyone with "soccer knowledge" would realize there are people worldwide who exploit the sport for various purposes. Whether to get drunk, pick up on chicks, have a bit of aggro, promote nationalsim or other political agendas. It's very much in vogue in Italy if you hadn't noticed. This is not something specific to America or any one sport and I think you'd agree if you were honest with yourself. In fact, how loyal to Roma can you be, living in Columbus and all?

What does CONCACAF, USMNT, and an inability to compete against SA or EU have do with poor soccer knowledge? The sport is relative to whatever anyone supports. Does it make you a better, more knowledgeable soccer fan because you support some Serie A team that you've probably seen live once in your life, over some kid who feverently supports an MLS side,. or even a 4th division USL side for that matter? How does that make anyone more knowledgeable and worthy in your eyes? I don't give a squat if you want to support Italy, but your reasoning is a flawed arguement that makes you look like a wally.
Rich boys sport indeed. Tell me, how much is Totti making now? LOL.

 

AS Roma,

i totally understand what you're saying. i am all for getting matches going among inner city kids. my nephew was one of those inner city kids who discovered the game when some college students were part of an at risk youth thing and they taught them soccer. this did wonders for my nepheyw and is probably why he is not in jail.

there are many poor black, latino, southeast asian areas in this country. give the game to the kids there. teach them. if you know how to play organize some of them, pretty soon they will be spontaneously playing matches on their own like my nephew did. brazil has samba style, argentina has tango style. the US should have hip hop style soccer. in the words of chuck d from public enemy, "hip hop is offense, but its also defense". give the game to the streets. i know in the place i grew up in many black kids who played the game in PE class and tried to play when they got home with friends but there was no one willing to really keep that interest there.


to that end you may be interested in this:
http://www.soccerinthestreets.org/

 

There's poor white people in this country too. What's your point and what does any of it have to do with the thread?

 

Like I said I lived in Florence, Italy but was born and raised in San Jose Ca. When I was working in Italy during Korea/Kapan 2002, I was rooting for the USA and I found myself an Italian American actually rooting against Italy for a bit. As Intalian American in Italy you begin to miss home and its the same for us Italians here. There isn't a day that doesn't go by that most Italian Americans don't think about Italy once or twice. In this day of cable & satelite and internet its almost like we know more of what's going on in Italy than do most Italians. While I was in Italy I was constantly online finding out US news USL/MLS as well as watching FOX & CNN , it was alomst like living in an Italian speaking section of the USA.
Anyway, I've been an American soccer fan since 1974 since my San Jose Earthquakes came to town. I've also been a fan of Italy mostly starting with the WC in 1982. My dream was always to have Italy and the USA meet and its happened twice in 16 years. I started following the USMNT in the 1980 OLYM Q rounds where they qualified for Moscow but Carter boycoted. That bunch was awell respected group of NASL players who played well. Then in the 1984 LA OLY soccer tournamnet I followed the US also as they ended up falling 3rd in the group with a 1-1-1 record. They played well enough to qualify but messed up against Egypt and that was it for them. That spilled the end of the USMNT untill WCQ for 1990. Lothar Osiander got a bunch of NCAA players together and ignored the former NASL and MISL players. I would floow the team closely and I desperatley want them to succeed. I remember telling Paul Bravo in around 1991 the list of pool of players for the 1994 WC and he couldn't believe I knew that many. He said I was the only person he ever met who could recite the names of the national team players. I started rattling off names like Lyle Yourks, Steve & Ken Snow, Jugen Sommer, Carl Strong. Names that most players didn't even know, I silently wished for Italy to lose against the nats but I knew that would be almosr impossible. Maybe a tie but never a loss.

Anyway, I have been waiting fot the usmnt to become competitive for 39 years. To tell you the truth,the 1984 Olympics was really a mini World Cup as it was the first tournmanet that nations could use their over age players as long as they never played in a WC. There were first division players all over the place and for a buch of NASL bench warmers to play the way they did against Egypt , Italy and Costa Rica was an accomplisment in itself. The results back then were a lot better than now and one would think what else has to happen for the American player to develop? As an Italian America I'm ver passionate about the USMNT, but I don't see all that much change since 1990. We have luck in some matches but then thats it. In 1990 we were 0-3 In 1994 we were 1-3-1 & we beat Columbia , in 2002 we were 2-2-1 when we beat Portugal and Mexico and lost to GMNY. Since 1990 rhe US has lost 9 times with 3 ties & 3 wins

 

It had to do with a point made here about how soccer is to much of a monied college sport in the usa.

Yes of course there are poor white kids too. and if they live in those areas o want to get to them (ala the young Dempsey) then they are more than welcome to join [ play soccer.

soccer has to stop being lacross for it to become bigger in america.