BERGAMO GIORNI 8: THE DARK SIDE

IN THE WINTER OF 1976-77 MASSAPEQUA HIGH SCHOOL HAD THE BEST BASKETBALL TEAM IN NASSAU COUNTY ON LONG ISLAND. AND THE BEST BASKETBALL PLAYER ON THAT TEAM WAS MY TEAMMATE,  HARRY "FRITZ" ROTE. HE WAS MAGICAL.

AFTER A PARTICULARLY ROTTEN SCRIMMAGE VS SYOSSETT HIGH SCHOOL PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON, "FRITZ" LOOKED OVER AT ME ON THE BUSRIDE HOME AND WITH A WRY SMILE SAID, "BALDY, SOMETIMES SPORTS JUST SUCK."..THOSE WORDS REALLY HIT HOME THAT NIGHT.

OF COURSE HE WAS RIGHT..SPORTS, LIKE ANYTHING ESLE, DO NOT ALWAYS GO RIGHT..SOMETIMES YOU LOSE, SOMETIMES YOU TAKE YOUR LUMPS, SOMETIMES YOU EXPERIENCE MASSIVE DISAPPONTMENT. THOSE WERE THE LIFELONG LESSONS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LEARN AT THE TENDER AGE OF 17.

YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS HERE IN BERGAMO WHERE FRITZ' WORDS RANG TRUE. YESTERDAY SUCKED FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT SPORTS SOMETIME DISAPPOINT. AND NO ONE IN FOOTBALL IS EVER IMMUNE TO THE TYPE OF DAY THAT THE BERGAMO LIONS HAD.

SATURDAY HAD ALL OF THE BUILDUP OF WHAT EVERY TEAM FEELS ON THE AFTERNOON OF THEIR FIRST BIG SCRIMMAGE, IN PREPARATION BEFORE THEIR FIRST GAME 2 WEEKS AWAY WITH THE DESPISED PARMA PANTHERS...IT WAS SUNNY..ON THE WARM SIDE OF 14 CELSIUS...GOOSEBUMPS ON THE RIDE TO THE FIELD..CAN FEEL THE DELICIOUS SMELL OF PADS POPPING AND WHISTLES BLOWING AND BOYS GETTING THEIR YA YA'S OUT..TESTOSTERONE  OVERLOAD..ITS WHY WE LOVE THE GAME.

THE GOOSEBUMPS WERE DEFLATED A BIT WHEN WE SAW THE CONDITION OF OUR FIELD..2 LARGE PUDDLES SAT THEIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD LIKE 2 SAD-EYED LADIES OF THE LOWLANDS WAITING FOR A BUS TO NOWHERE..2 DAYS OF SUNNY WEATHER DID NOTHING TO DRY OUT OUR RICEPADDY..YUCK.

THAT HOPELESS VISUAL OF A POOR FIELD PAILED IN COMPARISON TO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

OUR LINEBACKER COACH, COACH NEIL, WAS GREETED BY OUR OWNER AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS BEING RELEASED...SOMETHING ABOUT TOO MUCH CONFLICT WITH THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, DAVIDE'..PERSONALITIES AND EGOS AND THE WAYS THAT TEAMS PLAY WILL ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION...THATS THE BEAUTY OF FOOTBALL...THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO TO WIN AND THERE IS NO ONE WAY THAT A JOB CAN BE DONE..OFTENTIMES IT IS THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARISE FROM CONFLICT THAT IS THE RIGHT WAY.

                               drew...brad..mike...and COACH NEIL
                                          

THAT WON'T BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN HERE IN BERGAMO..COACH NEIL, A FORMER PLAYER AT PENN STATE, WILL NOT BE AROUND ANY LONGER...I FEEL BAD FOR HIM..I THINK HE MEANT WELL AND WITH TIME COULD HAVE BEEN AN ASSETT..NO ONE, REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCES, LIKES TO SEE A COACH OR PLAYER RELEASED.

THE NEWS WORSENED WHEN WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR STAR AMERICAN DEFENSIVE STUD, FRANK, WAS DIAGNOSED WITH WOLF PARKINSON'S WHITE SYNDROME..IT WAS DETECTED FROM HIS VERY FIRST EKG EXAM WHEN GIVEN HIS PHSICAL..IT IS A RARE DISORDER AND IS POSSIBLY CUREABLE. BUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LIONS WILL NOT BE THE ONES THAT PICK UP THE EXPENSE OF TREATING FRANK AND POSSIBLY GETTING HIM READY TO PLAY..INSTEAD A HARD BUSINESS DECISION WAS MADE TO SEND HIM BACK TO HIS HOME OF GARLAND, TEXAS.

                                    coach cos....MARIO(owner)...dj AIR


IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SADNESS IN FRANK..IN THE LITTLE TIME HE HAS BEEN HERE, HE WAS OBVIOUSLY A TALENTED PLAYER, BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE WAS  A SWEET KID...PRIOR TO HIS DIAGNOSIS THERE WAS SO MUCH MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH. SO HE WAS MET WITH THE END OF FOOTBALL AND A DOUBLE WHAMMY OF DEALING WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT IF LEFT UNTREATED COULD IN RARE INSTANCES BE FATAL..UGH!!!..IF THER IS A SILVER LINING FOR FRANK IT S THAT THIS FORM OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE IS NOW DIAGNOSED AND MAYBE THAT KNOWLEDGE SAVES HIS LIFE DOWN THE ROAD.

     MIKE...BRAD...ADRIAN..BALDY...GOOD LUCK TO YOU FRANK                                


OH DIO OH DIO..LIFE CAN BE SO CRUEL AND UNFAIR.

AND THEN THERE WAS OUR SCRIMMAGE...CAN YOU GUESS WHERE THIS IS GOING?

A SIDE NOTE TO ALL FOOTBALL FANATICS READING THIS WORLD REKNOWNED BLOG...AT EVERY LEVEL, AND IN EVERY LEAGUE...IF YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE IS NOT SOUND AND IS NOT THE LEADER OF YOUR TEAM YOU WLL EVENTUALLY FAIL...TAKE IT TO THE BANK OF WISDOM.

I AM THE COACH OF OUR OFFNESIVE LINE AND THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS TUTTI VERO.

YESTERDAY, WE WERE WITHOUT 3 OF OUR STUDS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE; NUMA, PIETRO AND CHRISTIAN ALL HAD CONFLICTS AND COULD NOT ATTEND. WOW, DID WE MISS THEM.

PARTLY AS A RESULT OF LOSING 3 CRITICAL LEADERS, THE TEMPO WAS NOT RIGHT..10 PLAYS INTO THE SCRIMMAGE COACH COS HAD ENOUGH..GASKETS BLEW, FRUSTRATION MOUNTED AND FINALLY THE FINAL WHISTLE BLEW.

A PAGE FROM LOMBARDI ENSUED..THE LAID BACK CALIFORNIA KID FROM SACRAMENTO, CALI, COS SAID," BASTA BASTA BASTA!!!

                                  
                                                     COACH COS


EVERYONE ON THE GOALLINE AND INSTRUCTED ALL 34 PLAYERS TO RUN...100 YARDS DOWN AND 100 YARDS BACK..LUNGO GASSERS...UNTIL THE TONGUE FALLS OUT....UNTIL THE PLAYERS DOUBLE OVER AND PUKE WHATEVER WAS IN THEIR STOMACHS

ATTENZIONE ATTENZIONE...SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE..IT STARTS WITH EFFORT..IT WASN'T WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE AND THE PLAYERS, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR OF PAST SUCCESS...EFFORT AND EXECUTION HAD TO CHANGE FROM THIS POINT GOIING FORWARD

MANY OF THE SENIOR PLAYERS CONCUURED..MOLTO CAPISCO...WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT IMPACT THE BLOWING OF MOUNT VESUVIUS' BY COACH COS WILL HAVE WHEN WE MEET ON LUNEDI SERA.

THESE DAYS HAPPEN IN FOOTBALL..EVERYONE GETS HUMBLED, INJURIES MOUNT, EXECUTION STINKS, COACHES GET FRUSTRATED..NOW WHAT WE DO ABOUT IT GOING FORWARD WILL DETERMINE WHATEVER SUCCESS WE HAVE

STAY TUNED..DUE SETTIMANA AWAY FROM OUR FIRST GAME..LOTS OF WORK TO DO AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT........AND TO HARRY FRITZ ROTE, YOUR WORDS STILL RING TRUE..

BERGAMO GIORNI 7: PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MORE THAN ONE PERSON ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION THAT I HAVE A GREAT EYE FOR THE OBVIOUS...SO I START THIS COLUMN TODAY BY STATING SOMETHING THAT MAY BE UBIQUITOUSLY OBVIOUS TO MOST OF THE WORLD; FOOD IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE ITALIAN SOLDI....AND THE ITALIAN PEOPLE ARE VERY GOOD AT CREATING SOME OF THE VEY BEST RECIPES ON THE PLANET.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD IS PIZZA...IT IS EVERYWHERE IN THIS LONG PENINSULA OF A COUNTRY...AND WITH IT EVERYONE HAS THEIR FAVORITE PLACE IN WHICH TO EAT IT..AND THE ITALIANS KNOW EXACTLY WHO DOES IT WELL AND TO THOSE WHO SHOULD FIND EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IN THE VERY CITY THAT IT WAS SO MERCIFULLY CREATED, NAPLES, THEY HAD A SENATE HEARING A FEW SUMMERS BACK THAT GOVERNED THE VERY RUDIMENTS OF WHAT A PIZZA SHOULD BE..IN TYPICAL ITALIAN STYLE THE SENATE ARGUED AND DELIBERATED FOR DAYS ON WHAT THE INGREDIANTS REQUIRED TO MAKE PROPER PIZZA..MY FAVORITE LINE TO COME FROM THE HEARINGS WAS THIS.."PINEAPPLE ON A PIZZA AIN'T A PIZZA...ITS A CAKE..IT DON'T NEVER BELONG ."

SOME GOLDEN RULES THAT THE NAPOLEATANOS EMPHATICALLY ENFORCE ABOUT PIZZA ARE THESE: 1) PIZZA CAN ONLY BE COOKED IN WOOD BURNING BRICK OVENS....2) THE CRUST HAS TO BE SOFT AND LIGHT, THATS WHY THE DOUGH IS MADE THE DAY BEFORE ITS USED, ALLOWING THE YEAST TO RISE FOR AT LEAST 10-15 HOURS...3)THE PIZZAIOLO (PIZZA MAKER) MUST BE A REAL MAESTRO, THE DOUGH STRETCHING TECHNIQUE IS  ESSENTIAL AND YOU NEED 2-3 YEARS OF APPRENTICESHIP TO BECOME A PIZZAIOLO...ETC..

THE VERY FIRST PIZZA AND THE ONLY PIZZA MADE WENT ON FOR A CENTURY. IT WAS SIMPLY THE PIZZA MARINARA..JUST DOUGH AND POMODORO(TOMATO SAUCE)...IT IS STILL VERY POPULAR..

BUT IN 1889 RAFFAELE ESPOSITO, WORKING AT A PIZZERIA IN NAPLES, WAS COMMISIONED TO MAKE 3 DIFFERENT KINDS OF PIZZA FOR THE ROYAL VISIT OF KING UMBERTO 1 AND QUEEN MARGHERITA OF SAVOY..THE QUEEN'S FAVORITE PIZZA WAS THAT OF THE ITALIAN FLAG: BASIL LEAVES FOR GREEN, MOZZARELLA FOR WHITE, AND TOMATOES FOR RED...

NAMED PIZZA MARGHERITA IN HER HONOR, THIS IS HOW THIS PIZZA IS STILL UNIVERSALLY KNOWN..

WITH THE CRUST PAPER THIN AND THE MOZZARELLA SPREAD THIN AND THE TOMATOE SAUCE LIGHT AND ZESTY AND FRESH, PIZZA IS NOT AN IL PRANZO OR A LA CENA..IT IS A STARTER..IT IS AN APPETIZER..IT IS SERVED PRIOR TO THE LA PRIMA PIATTI OR SECONDO PIATTI

MY FAVORITE PIZZA TO DATE WAS AT PEPE'S FRIENDS' TRATTORIA IN MILANO..ALLOW ME TO DESCRIBE..

OUT COMES A FRESH PIZZA MARINARA..ROUND, HOT, FRESH, LIGHT...TOMATO SAUCE AND OREGANO SPEAD PERFECTLY AROUND A CRISP SALTINE CRACKER THIN TOASTED CRUSY..THEN WHAT FOLLOWED WAS AMAZING...ON A SEPARATE PLATE CAME TWO ROUND SOFT SOFTBALL SIZE HELPINGS OF FRESHLY MADE BUFFALO MOZZARELLA...AND ON ANOTHER PLATE CAME A GENEROUS SLICING OF PARMA MADE PROSCIUTTO...FROM THOSE TWO PLATES YOU CUT AND CARVED AND ADDED THESE INGREDIANTS TO A SLICE OF .PIZZA MARINARA....FOLDED PROPERLY IT WAS SIMPLY....HEAVENLY!!

AFTER THE JOY OF CREATING THE GREATEST SUPERFOOD KNOW TO MAN TRAGEDY STRUCK..SEATED ACROSS FROM ME WAS THE DEAN OF OUR OFFENSIVE LINE, PEPE...SEATED ACONTO TO ME WAS MY AMICO, DR. BOB...AFTER HIS PIZZA MARGHERITA SHOWED UP HE REACHED FOR THE PARMESAN CHEESE AND ATTEMPTED TO GRATE PARMESAN CHEESE OVER THE PIZZA MARGHERITA..AT THAT VERY MOMENT WHEN THE PARMESAN WAS TILTING....ALL 265 POUNDS OF PEPE CAME FLYING OUT OF HIS CHAIR WITH RAGE AND DISDAIN AND UTTER CONTEMPT..PARMESAN ON A PIZZA WAS LIKE A HERETIC SPLATTERING OIL ALL OVER THE MANA LISA..NIENTE!NIENTE!NIENTE!...

FROM THIS NEAR TRAGEDY COMES THIS REMINDER AND ITALIAN WISDOM..NEVER PUT PARMESAN CHEESE ON A PIZZA..DON'T ASK..JUST SURRENDER...WE THEN RUSHED PEPE TO THE OSPEDIALE TO TREAT HIM FOR THE SEIZURE THAT DR. BOB CREATED

ONE UTENSIL MISSING FROM THIS DAILY GASRONOMIA FEAST IS THE PIZZA CUTTER..HAVEN'T EYE-BALLED ONE YET ANYWHERE..ITS EITHER SLICED OR CUT WITH COLTELLO AND FORSCHETTO...OR IT IS WEDGED APART USIG DEXTERIOUS FINGERTIPS..EITHER WORKS FOR ME

I CHALLENGE MY NEXT VISITOR TO BERGAMO TO INDULGE IN NO OTHER FOOD GROUP SAVE PZZA...CALAZIONE..IL PRANZO...LA CENA...WHILE VARIETY IS CERTAINLY THE SPICE OF LIFE YOU WLL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED BY THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD IN ALL OF ITALIA

I WOULD ENTERTAIN YOU FURTHER WITH TALES AND YARNS OF THIS SUPERFOOD, BUT I AM RAVAGED FOR MY DAILY DOSE AND CAN NO LONGER GO FORWARD..IT WILL BE MY14TH DAY OF PIZZA IN 15 DAYS I HAVE BEEN HERE...I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT THE ONE DAY I REFRAINED I ALSO WAS IN A VERY VERY BAD MOOD THAT DAY

WHY DEPRIVE THE BRAIN..THE SOUL..AND THE STOMACH OF THE ONE THING I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT...PIZZA!!!

MANGIARE  ANYBODY?

BERGAMO GIORNI 6; VICTORIA PALAESTRA

THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE IN BERGAMO IS CALLED BERGAMASCO...BerGAmasCO....THE STYLE OF CUCINA IS BERGAMASCO..THE TYPE OF PEOPLE IS BERGAMASCO....ONE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IS EVIDENT TO AN OUTSIDER OF THE BERGAMASCO IS SPORTS..THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT THEM AND SPORTS IS MOLTO IMPORTANTE

THE EVIDENCE IS IN THE FACILITIES...THE NUMBER OF SPORTS FACILITIES AND THE VARIATION OF FACILITIES PERMEATES THE AREA...AND IT IS FAR MORE THAN JUST CALCIO..RUGBY...SWIMMING...AMERICAN FOOTBALL...HEALTH CLUBS..ETC..

COS AND MYSELF ARE TWO 50 YEAR OLDS TRYING TO PRESERVE EVERYTHING WE HAVE LEFT..SOME OF OUR EFFORTS ARE VANITY..WE DO NOT WANT TO LET OURSELVES FALL APART..SOME IS TRYNG TO STAY AHEAD OF THE HEALTH CURB AND KEEP OUR JOINTS YOUNG...AND SOME IS THAT WE ARE COACHING ALOT OF KIDS FOR 2-3 HOURS A DAY, AND DAMMIT IT REQUIRES A LOT OF ENERGY TO TEACH/COACH/AND DEMONSTRATE THE PROPER TECHNIQUE..IT CAN BE PHYSICALLY DEMANDING

SO PRIORITY NUMERO UNO WAS TO FIND A GOOD GYM FOR DAILY EXERCISE...DAVIDE', OUR ITALIAN DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, AND FORMER STAR PLAYER JUST HAPPENS TO DATE MARINA, WHO IS AN INSTRUCTOR AT PALAESTRA VICTORIA..HE  INVITED US TO WORKOUT FOR A DAY COURTESY OF MARINA..PURE GOLD..VA BENNISSIMO!

ON OUR FIRST DAY WE MET THE OWNER NAMED OMAR...A PURE BREAD ITALIAN NAMED OMAR IS AKIN TO JOHNNY CASH SINGING HIS SMASH COUNTRY HIT, "A BOY NAMED SUE."  OMAR GENTILE SAYS HIS FATHER HAD A TWISTED SENSE OF HUMOR..ANYWAYS, NO NICO OR  ROBERTO OR OR LUI FOR SIGNOR GENTILE..

BUT HE RUNS A FANTASTIC GYM...MODERN, CLEAN, COMPLETE WITH EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE INCLUDING BOXING LESSONS IN A 18 X 18 RING, AND AN OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOL WITH 12 ,25 METER LANES...STEAM..SAUNA..AND RESTRAUNT TO BOOT...

IT IS OUR SOCIAL HANGOUT EACH DAY.

I MENTION BOXING BECAUSE OMAR HAS TEAMED UP WITH A CHILDHOOD FRIEND NAMED LUCCA MESSI, A WORLD CLASS BOXER WHO AS HELD A NUMBER OF CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS IN HIS 44 PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS..LUCCA IS CURRENTLY TRAINING FOR A FIGHT TO BE HELD IN THE NORTH ON APRIL 24TH, AND A LATER FIGHT IN GERMANY ON JULY 3RD...2X-A-DAY YOU CAN FIND LUCCA GOING THROUGH RIGOROUS PACES TRYING TO SECURE ANOTHER PAYDAY. HE IS MANAGED BY NONE OTHER THAN DON KING WHO HAS PERSONALLY BEEN TO BERGAMO AND TO THE GYM TO WATCH LUCCA TRAIN..PICTURES OF OMAR WITH DON KING, HIS IDOL JOE FRAZIER AND OTHER LEGENDS ADORN THE BOXING FANATICS WALLS.

WHEN THE RING ISN'T USED BY LUCCA, YOU CAN FIND OMAR TRAINING AMATEUR WOMEN AND MEN...ITS CHARMING WATCHING 30 YEAR OLD BUSINESS WOMEN IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE COME INTO THE GYM, CAMBIO, AND THEN STEP INTO THE RING IN GEAR WHILE WRAPPING THEIR WRISTS IN BANDAGES PREPARING FOR REAL BOXING LESSONS...DURING THEIR SIESTA NO DOUBT.
THE CENTER OF ACTIVITY IS CAFE' VICTORIA RUN BY GIANNI...GIANNI IS ONE OF 3 BROTHERS WHO COME FROM THE INTERIOR OF SARDIGNA...COOKING WITH BUON PERSONALITY IS A STRONG CHARACTERISTIC OF SARDIGNES...GIANNI CAN WHIP YOU UP A EXCELLENT FRESH HEALTHY IL PRONZO OR LA CENA IN NO TIME COMPLETE WITH WARM HOSPITALITY..IF NOT A MEAL,  ESPRESSO' CAN BE SERVED WITH THE WORLDS FASTEST BARRISTAS;  OR A MACEDONIA INSALATA...A MIX OF FRUITA FRESCA WITH YOGURT CAN BE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO KEEP MOVING AFTER A STRENUOUS WORKOUT

MANY OF THE LIONS COME TO TRAIN HERE..ON MOST AFTERNOONS, EZIO, A BERGAMASCO NATIVE AND DENTIST, ALONG WITH MARIO, OUR RIGHT GUARD, CAN BE IN HEAVY TRAINING..EZIO IS MY LINGUISTIC AID..I TOLD HIM EARLY ON THAT I WILL TEACH FOOTBALL TO HIM IF HE TEACHES ME PARLO ITALIANO .MARIO HAS DROPPED 30 KILOS FROM A YEAR AGO AND HIS LEGS ARE FRESHER AND QUICKER THAN EVER..DAVIDE' CAN BE SEEN WORKING THE CORE ON MOST DAYS WEARING PROUDLY HIS FAVORITE T-SHIRT.."BERGAMO LIONS...LIVE ON THE WILD SIDE."

AS PLENTY AND TASTY AS THE FOOD IS EVERYWHERE WE GO, IT IS GREAT TO STEP INTO PALAESTRA VICTORY EVERYDAY TO SEE OUR NEW AMICI AND TRAIN LIKE ITS 1985 AGAIN...GOOD ATMOSPHERE, GREAT PEOPLE, A FAVORITE CAFE' AND SMILING HAPPY PEOPLE IS THE MOST ANYONE CAN ASK FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD GYM..

KEEPING FIT IN BERGAMO..THANKS FOR ASKNG.

bergamo giorni 5; fa bel tempo

THE WEATHER SUCKS....IN ITALIAN...FA BEL TEMPO...THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT...YESTERDAY WAS THE WORST..WET, DAMP, DRIZZLING, RAINING, GREY, MISERABLE....ADJECTIVES DO NOT DESCRIBE.

THE KIND OF DAY WHERE IF THE BUSIEST OF PEOPLE LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SAY..."YOU KNOW..GOOD DAY TO CALL IN SICK"...AND THEN THEY PROCEED TO CRAWL BACK UNDER THE COVERS AND SLEEP UNTIL THEIR BODY ACHES...IF YOU COULD ORDER IN CHICKEN SOUP THAT WOULD BE AS MUCH LABOR AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXERT.

BUT IN THE WORLD OF PRO-FOOTBALL, LIKE THE US MARINES, "IT NEVER RAINS ON THE RIFLE RANGE"..IN RAIN SNOW OR SUNSHINE..THE WORK MUST GO ON.

THE BERGAMO LIONS PRACTICE AT NIGHT....LATE AT NIGHT...FROM 9-11 PM UNDER ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS...MOSTLY BECAUSE THE PLAYERS ALL WORK AT OTHER JOBS OR ARE IN SCHOOL...SO THEY COME HOME..HAVE A SHORT LA CENA...PLAY WITH THEIR BAMBINI(IN SOME CASES) AND THEN COME TO THEIR SECOND JOB..PLAYING AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN BERGAMO.

IT IS A LOT TO ASK...AND AS AMERICAN COACHES IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN WE CAN NOT GET 100% ATTENDANCE..IN FACT IN THE 10 DAYS I HAVE BEEN HERE WE HAVE NEVER HAD THE ENTIRE TEAM SHOW UP FOR PRACTICE

SO WHEN WE EMBARKED FOR THE PRACTICE FIELDS YESTERDAY THE WAETHER AND OTHER CONDITIONS HAD ME IN TE DUMPS..GROUCHY..MISERABLE...VAFFANCULO...FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF: I WAS HOPING THE ESPIRIT DE CORPS COULD PICK ME UP.

IT WAS AS IF EVEYONE HAD A CASE OF THE BLUES..NOT A GOOD PRACTICE SESSION.

A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM IS WEATHER RELATED..OUR 1 PRACTICE FIELD LOOKS LIKE A RICE PADDY THAT HAS BEEN OVERUSED..ON ONE SIDE OF US IS A PERFECTLY MANICURED, PROPERLY CARED FOR RUGBY FIELD...WE COLLECTIVELY DROOL AT THAT FIELD NEARLY EVERY NIGHT...WOW!..HOW NICE WOULD THAT BE TO PLAY ON WHAT LOOKS LIKE "AUGUSTA NATIONAL "...ON THE OTHER SIDE IS A SHORTENED ASTROTURF FILED WITH NO LIGHTS...NOT IDEAL FOR DO ANYTHING, BUT IS SERVICEABLE IF NEEDED.

OUR FIRST DECISION LAST NIGHT WAS WHAT FIELD WOULD WE EXERCISE ON..THE RICE PADDY OR THE SHORTENED UNLIT ASTRO-ROCK SURFACE?

WE OPTED FOR THE RICE PADDY...FOOTBALL CANNOT BE PLAYED OR PRACTICED ON SKATES..IT DOESN'T TRANSLATE..ARE THE GUYS IN SLOW MOTION?...DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING?...IS THAT AS FULL SPEED AS THEY CAN GO?...ALL QUESTIONS THAT THE COACHES WERE ASKING AS WE SLOPPED THROUGH THE MESS.

MY GROUP ARE THE "HOGS"..OFFENSIVE LINEMAN LOOK LIKE THEY SHOULD ENJOY ROLLING AROUND IN SLOP...AND MY GROUP TRULY DO..OUR RIGHT GUARD, CHRISTIAN, LOOKED AT ME BEFORE WE COMINCIATI, AND SAID TO ME, "YOU ARE NOT RIGHT!!!"..BUT I MANAGED TO FIND A SMALL PATCH OF D'ERBA..TO GO PARTLY GRAZE ON AND PARTLY SLOP THROUGH 45 MINUTES OF INDIVIDUAL DRILLS...WE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING..

COACH COS.WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE..HE LET THE TEAM KNOW AFTER PRACTICE..IT WAS THE RIGHT WORDS AND THE RIGHT SPEECH...IN LOMBARDI'S DAY OR PARCELLS' ERA, THEY SIMPLY WOULD HAVE DONE ONE OF TWO THINGS...EITHER THEY WOULD HAVE SAID TO GO HIT THE SHOWERS..."I AM SICK OF LOOKING AT YOU BASTARDS"...OR THEY WOULD HAVE SAID..."GO HIT THE LOCKERROOMS..SHOWER..PUT THE STINKNG SMELLING UNI'S BACK ON AND LETS START ALL OVER AGAIN."

BUT ITS ITALY, AND ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD..TOMORROW IN ITALY IS CALLED DOMANI..THERE IS ALWAYS DOMANI..EXCEPT THAT WE HAVE OFF ON TUESDAY AND DON'T PRACTICE UNTIL WEDNESDAY...SO ITS DOPODOMANI..THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW...FULL PADS...FULL SCRIMMAGE..GOING TO BE ROUGH..GOING TO FEEL LIKE A REAL 2-A-DAYS PRACTICE..YEAH MAN!!

LETS HOPE THE WEATHER COOPERATES

bergamo giorni 4; san pellegrino terme

20 CLICKS TO THE NORTH OF BERGAMO LIE THE LEGENDARY SAN PELLEGRINO TERME'. SO FAMOUS THAT 450 YEARS AGO, A SMALL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE RENAISSANCE, LEONARDO DA VINCI, LEFT THE WHITE MARBLE CLIFFS OF CARRERA, ITALY TO GO AND TASTE THE WATER STREAMING FROM THE ALPS. HE WOULD CALL THE WATER, "SWEET WATER" AND INSISTED ON DRINKING IT FOR THE REST OR HIS DAYS

SAN PELLEGRINO BOTTLING COMPANY WAS SOLD TO NESTLE 5 YEARS AGO. TODAY THE SPA THAT WAS WORLD FAMOUS AND ATTRACTED TOURIST FROM AROUND THE GLOBE IS CLOSED FOR EXPANSION...A NEWFANGLED ULTRA MODERN SPA IS CURRENTLY BEING DESIGNED AND WHO'S DRAWINGS WE WITNESSED THAT SHOULD NVEIL ONE OF THE LUXURIEST SPAS IN THE WORLD

COS, DR. BOB AND MYSELF MADE THE SHORT TREK YESTERDAY TO SEE FOR OURSELVES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ALPS..I HAD HEARD THAT SAN PELLEGRINO TERME' PRODUCED THE ONLY NATURALLY SPARKLING WELL WATER IN THE WORLD....PURE MYTH!..HOW DID WE FIND OUT?

THAT IS THE STORY THAT WILL BE TOLD..

IN THE CENTER OF SAN PELLEGRINO, A TOWN DESIGNED ALONGSIDE THE FIUME BREMBA, IS AN ANCIENT CATHOLIC CHURCH WHICH THE TWON GREW OUT FROM..THE HOTEL NEXT TO THE CHIESA IS THE HOTEL IL PAPA..IT IS THE OLDEST HOTEL IN SAN PELLEGRINO AND T IS PERATED BY THE GREGARIOUS GIORGIO.

WE STOPPED IN THE RESTRAUNT WANTING TO HAVE A TASTE OF SAN PELLEGRINO AND A SHOT OF ESPRESSO WHEN GIORGIO STARTED BREAKING OUT WITH THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN..HE WAS BORN AND RAISED THERE AND TOOK THE HOTEL OVER FROM HIS FAMILY..SEATED QUIETLY IN THE CORNER AND ROBUSTLY ADDING COMMENTARY WAS HIS 87 YEAR OLD MOTHER.

HE TOLD US ABOUT HIS BASEMENT IN THE HOTEL THAT DOUBLED AS HIS WINE CELLAR...IT WAS 400 YEARS OLD WITH WINE OLDER THAN ANY OF US STORED WITH CARE..DESIGNED IN ROMAN STYLE, AT ONE TIME IT WAS HIS REFRIGERATOR, WHERE HE COULD STORE BLOCKS OF ICE THAT WOULD LAST FOR A YEAR. THE COLD CELAR WOULD KEEP VARIOUS FOODS FRESH FOR LNGER PERIODS OF TIME.

HOTEL GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WOULD ENJOY A BOTTLE OF WINE AT HIS RISTORANTE AND THEN TAG IT WITH THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS.

THE HISTORY LESSON CONTINUED WITH THE UPDATE OF THEIR CASINO..ONE OF ONLY 4 IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF ITALY..IT IS UNDER REPAIR..IT OPENED IN 1097 AND HAS AN ELABORATE AND DECORATIVE FACE..ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION IS A FACE LIFT TO THE GRAND HOTEL ALONG THE FIUME'...

ALL OF THIS AFOREMENTIONED LIES WITHIN A QUAINT PICTURESQUE TOWN THAT MOVES AT A SPEED COMPLETELY OPPOSITE THE SWIFTLY FLOWING RIVER... THE  PEOPLE SEEM TO KNOW THAT THE CITY IS SPECIAL AND WITH THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A RESPECT TO ALL THAT TRAVEL THROUGH OR LIVE THERE. NATURAL SPRINGS FEED THE RIVER POURING DOWN FROM THE ALPS THAT APPEAR FROZEN , SNOW CAPPED AND FADED IN BETWEEN LARGE WHITE CUMULUS CLOUDS...THE RIDGES OF THE MOUNTAINS SEEM TO SPAN IN ALL DIRECTIONS UNENDING INTO THE HORIZONS

ALL IN ALL IT WAS A SPECTACULAR SHORT VISIT THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO REVISITING WHEN THE WEATHER WARMS UP...GUESTS WILL ENJOY THE DAYTRIP TO ONE OF THE ENDLESS NATURAL RESOURCES THAT LIE WITHIN THE SMALL PENINSULA OF A BELOVED COUNTRY WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL ..BELL'ITALIA  

BERGAMO GIORNI 4, SAN PELLEGRINO TERME'

BERGAMO GIORNI 3, AMICI E' FAMILGIA

SOMETIME SHORTLY AFTER THANKSGIVING I GOT A CALL FROM "COS" TO COME JOIN HIM COACHING AN ITALIAN FOOTBALL TEAM I BERGAMO, ITALY...WITH KNOW LITTLE ELSE I SIGNED ON.

I DID SO WITH NO CONTEMPLATION..WITH NO DISCUSSION...WITH NO DISCUSSION OF DETAIL..I JUST NEW IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD TO DO..SO I AM HERE

THE ONLY PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ARISED FROM THAT WHIMSICAL AND KNEE-JERK REACTION IS THAT EVERYONE ELSE I KNOW ALSO FEL IN LOVE WIT THE IDEA..SO MUCH SO THAT EVERYONE I KNOW SEEMINGLY WANTS TO COME OR STOP IN FOR A VISIT...THE MORE THE MERRIER!

UNLESS THEY ALL DECIDE TO COME


AND THEY ARE ARRIVING...TWO ARRIVED THIS WEEK...MY AMICO FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS, DR. BOB  SHOWED UP THURSDAY NIGHT, AND THE OLDEST DAUGHTER OF "COS", KARI ARRIVED FRIDAY AFTERNOON..FRIEND AND FAMILY.

DR. BOB IS A WORLD TRAVELLER AND HAS BEEN ON A LIFELONG PILGRIMMAGE SINCE HIS HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE PROGRAM DAYS WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL AD PLAY SOCCER IN BRAZIL FOR A YEAR...FLUENT IN FADO PORTUGESE DR. BOB LOVES A GOOD CHALLENGE

HIS CHALLENGE ON THIS TRIP WAS FOR HIM TO ARRIVE N MILAN AND FIND HIS WAY TO OUR APARTMENT IN TONY BERGAMO...WELL HE DIDN'T FIND THE EXACT APARTAMENTO, BUT HE DID SKYPE ME 2 HOURS AFTER TOUCHDOWN FROM ACROSS THE LA STRADA AT BOOM PIZZERIA..AMAZING!

HE THREW HIS BAGS IN THE APARTMENT AND JUMPED IN HIS RENTED MACHINA AND CAME TO PRACTICE WITH US THAT NIGHT

KARI'S VISIT WASN'T AS SMOOTH..SHE HAD NEVER STEPPED FOOT OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES..THE INCENTIVE, HOWEVER, WAS STRONG..HER FATHER "COS", THE HEAD COACH IS HERE AND HER BOYFRIEND, ANDREW IS HELPNG ME COACH TE OFFENSVE LNE

SO SHE PACKED AND BOARDED A FLIGHT THAT TOOK HER FROM SACRAMENTO-TO-SEATTLE-TO-PARIS/CHARLES DE GAULLE-TO-MILAN..A COUPLE OF BREAKDOWNS ALONG THE WAY..BAGS WERE ONLY CHECKED TO PARIS AND NOT ALL THE WAY TO MILAN..THAT CAN MAKE A FIRST TIME ITERNATIONAL TRAVELLER DIZZY.THEN SHE MISSED HER CONNECTION IN PARIS AND HAD TO WAIT 3 HOURS FOR THE NEXT FLIGHT TO MILAN WITH AN AIRPORT FULL OF CHEERY FRENCH PEOPLE...UGH!!!!

BY TIME SHE ARRIVED IT WAS TIME TO MANGIA..LA CENA WOULD BE AT A BERGAMASCO SPECIALTY LA CASA, GIOP' E LA MARGI'

DINING AT THIS PLACE IS WORK...AS YOU ARE SEATED THE FIRST PLATES OF ANTIPASTA ARRIVE COMPLIMENTED BY A SWEET SPARKLING WINE TO ENHANCE YOUR APPETITE...BRUSCETTA, VEGETABLES, OLIVES, PROSCIUTTO, SALAMIS, AND FORMAGGI ARE WHISKED AROUND THE TABLE LIKE IT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE "LAST SUPPER"...ACTUALLY IF IT IS ONE'S FINAL MEAL...YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN SMILING, HAPPY, AND FULL.

THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY LOCAL BERGAMASCOS PASTAS...TAGLIATELLI, RAVIOLIS, AND GNOCCHIS ATTACK YOU FROM EVERY ANGLE..THERE IS NO ESCAPE..BUT AFTER THE PRIMI PIATTI, THE MENU ARRIVES FOR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORDER..ALL IN HEALTHY SUPPLY

PORTIONS OF RABBIT, PORK, STEAK AND VEAL WERE ON THE TABLE BEFORE YOU CAN ESCAPE..SOME DID, AS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AIR AND A WALKABOUT, ONLY TO BE CAPTURED BY THE FOOD POLICE...THE SECONDA PIATTI WAS COMPLIMENTED BY VARIOUS VEGETABLES AND SAUCES

WITH US AT DINNER WERE OTHER COACHES AND OUR NEW PLAYER FRANK WHO REALLY WANTED TO VENTURE ACROSS THE STREET FOR A McITALY BIG MAC HAPPY MEAL..NO SUCH LUCK ON THIS NIGHT

THE LA CENA WOULD BE CAPPED OFF BY LA DOLCI, ESPRESSOS, LIQUORS AND CHEESES

WHEN WE FINISHED WITH OUR TALL TALES OF LAUGHTER AND MANGIATO.WE SAID OUR BUONA SERAS AND WERE PREPARED FOR OUR AFTERLIFE..

ONE MORE STOP AFTER A REFRESHING WALK FOR A NIGHTCAP AND WE WERE ALL READY TO CALL IT A DAY..I THINK OUR AMICI AND  FAMIGLIA WERE WELL TENDED TO AND ENJOYED THIER OPENING HOURS IN ITALY.

AGAIN THE PROBLEM ON THE HORIZON IS THIS WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE FINAL DAYS OF WINTER AND THEN INTO LA PRIMAVERA..EXHAUSTING WORK THIS ENTERTAINING THING IS.ITS ALL PART OF THE JOB

COACHING FOR CANOLIS IS THE EASY PART OF THIS ASSIGNEMNT!!!

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EVERY RULE, LAW, AND ORDER IN ITALY IS MERELY A SUGGESTION EXCEPT FOR ONE: NO GUNS ALLOWED IN A BANK..THESE ITALIANS ARE SMART...

TODAY WAS CENTERED AROUND OPENING A BANK/DEBIT CARD ACCOUNT IN MILANO...I THINK IT IS EASIER TO ROB A BANK WITH A BANNED GUN THAN IT IS TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT....IN TODAYS EURO WORLD AMERICANS CAN GET HIJACKED TRADING DOLLARS FOR EUROS EITHER AT EXCHANGE HOUSES OR AT ATM'S

FORTUNATELY THE SOLUTION IS MY TALENTED AND EXPERIENCED RIGHT TACKLE, PEPE..OR BETTER KNOWN IN THE PROPER BANKING WORLD AS MAURO SALVEMINI..PEPE IS A 20 YEAR VETERAN OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYED IN ITALY..HE IS A CONTRARIAN...HE DISLIKES MOST THINGS ITALIAN..HE PREFERS AMERICAN FOOTBALL TO SOCCER..HE LIKES BUDWEISERS OVER VINO ROSSO AND HE LIKES TEXAS BARBEQUE OVER PASTA..HE ALSO HAS AN EASY GOING SPIRIT, A PENCIL THIN MUSTACHE, AND A HEART AS BIG AS BERLUSCONI'S BANK ACCOUNT...

SO TODAY WAS DICTATED BY OUR TRIP TO VISIT PEPE IN DOWNTOWN MILANO TO GET MY ACCOUNT SET UP..BERGAMO TO MILANO IS A 30 MINUTE TRAIN RIDE WITH MANY STOPS ALONG THE WAY..EVERYTHING IN ITALY IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND TODAY WAS NO DIFFERENT..AFTER PURCHASING OUR ROUNDTRIP TICKET FOR 16 EURO WE EMBARKED ON OUR 12:02 TRAIN ON BINARIO 4...20 MINUTES INTO THE RIDE THE CONDUCTOR CAME TO COLLECT OUR BILLIGLIETTI..WE SURRENDERED TO A PROBLLEMMA...WE NEVER HAD OUR TICKET STAMPED BY A MACHINE PRIOR TO ENTRY..SO IN THEORY WE COULD REUSE OUR TICKET OVER AND OVER UNTIL COLLECTED...THE FINE FOR NOT HAVING TICKET PUNCHED IS STIFF...$50 EURO STIFF..I HAGLED IN BROKEN ITALIAN FOR 10 MINUTES..WE GOT THE  CONDUCTOR OFF THE 50 EURO FINE DOWN TO 30 EURO..FINALLY THE CONDUCTOR RELENTED AND SAID ALL WOULD BE FORGIVEN IF WE JUST SLIPPED A 10 EURO SPOT IN HIS BACK POCKET..IN OTHER WORDS IT WAS AN ESCALATING EPISODE FROM THE SOPRANOS...WE  COUNTERED WITH OUR BEST BROOKLYN ACCENT.."FORGETABOUTIT!"..WE SAID WE ARE AMERICANO AND DID NOT KNOW BETTER..."AH" SAID THE CONDUCTOR..."AMERICANO AMERICANO"..ALL WAS FORGIVEN WITH A CREST TOOTHPASTE SMILE AND A HIGH FIVE AND A ARRIVIDERCI THAT SAID...."WE ARE GALD YOUR'E HERE..DON'T SCREW UP AGAIN!"

PEPE WAS WAITING OUTSIDE OF MILANO CENTRALE .NEAR THE  BUS STOP FOR US..IN ORDER TO MEET HIM WE WALKED THROUGH A TRAIN TERMINAL THAT LOOKED LIKE A NATIONAL ART GALLERIE..DOLCE AND GABANA ADDS THE SIZE OF FOOOTBALL FIELDS DOTTED THE INTERIOR WITH OSTENTATIOUS ORNAMENTS, AND VAULTED CEILINGS THE SIZE THAT JERRY JONES COULD INSERT ONE OF HIS JUMBO SCREENS INSIDE OF WITH MOLTO ROOM TO SPARE

BANCO POPULARE DI MILANO IS A LARGE BANK THAT DOES A LOT OF INVESTMENT BANKING..PEPE SPENDS MOST DAYS DECIDING IF A NEW BUILDING HAS ENOUGH FINANCING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION LOAN TO KICK IN..TODAY HE DEALT ASSIDUOUSLY WITH MY CONCERNS OF OPENING A DEBIT ACCOUNT THAT WOULD CHARGE ME NO FEES FOR TRANSFER..NO FEES FOR WITHDRAWL AND OFFER ME THE BEST RATE IN ITALY FOR EXCHANGING AMERICAN DOLLARS FOR EUROS..AFTER SIGNING PAPERS FOR AN HOUR AND ASKING FAR TOO MANY QUESTIONS FOR AN EXPERIENCED INVESTMENT BANKER..MISSION ACCOMPLISHED..

WE CELEBRATED MY NEW BANCO POPULARE CARD WITH AN IL PRANZO AT CAFFE' PIAZZA..BIRRA..PANINI TO REMEMBER FOR LIFE AND AN ITALIAN INSALATA FULL OF TOMATOES,  LETTUCE, MOZZARELLA GLAZED WITH LOCAL OIL OF VIRGIN...CAPPED WITH AN EXPECTED SHOT OF ESPRESSO..PERFECT DAY.

BLUE SKIES AND WARMING TEMPS GREETED US ALL AFTERNOON UNTIL PRACTICE STARTED..SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DUSK AND DARK THE CLOUDS DARKENED AND RAINED ON US ALL NIGHT...TO OUR GROUP OF 35 PLAYERS WHO SHOWED UP AT 9 PM TO WORK TOWARDS OUR DUAL GOAL OF ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS WE HAVE ADOPTED MY MANTRA FROM THE US MARINE CORPS.."IT NEVER RAINS ON THE RIFLE RANGE."..IN OTHER WORDS WE WORK HARD AND SHOW UP REGARDLESS OF OF THE WEATHER

PEPE PRACTICED GREAT..38 AND NOT THE ATHLETE THAT HE ONCE WAS, WAS FIRST IN LINE IN ALL DRILLS...HE TAKES TO COACHING THE WAY ITALIANS TAKE TO FOOD..IN FULL PADS AND LIVE CONTACT IN ALL DRILLS THE HITTING WAS CRSIP AND SHARP...

I AM A HAPPY GUY IN BERGAMO...I HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK AND I HAVE AN OFFENSIVE LINE THAT IS PRACTICING HARD AND IMPROVING DAILY..WHAT MORE CAN A FIRST TIME COACH ABRAOAD ASK FOR?

STAY CLOSE...THE ACTION IS JUST GETTING STARTED!!!!

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CIAO AMICI

WHAT ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH IS THE BALDY DOING IN BERGAMO, ITALY?...FINE QUESTION TO START THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS NEW BLOG..SO I ANSWER MY OWN QUESTION WITH THIS ANSWER...I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED FOOTBALL AND ITALY..THIS SPRING I GOT A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO COMBINE THEM BY SAYING YES TO A GOOD FRIENDS REQUEST TO COME HELP HIM COACH THE BERGAMO LIONS IN THE ITALIAN PROFESSIONSL FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF ITALY..YES THEY PLAY AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN ITALY..NO IT IS NOT FUTBOL..REAL AMERICAN FOOTBALL

MY FRIEND IS DOUG COSBIE..THE 10 YEAR VETERAN AND PRO-BOWL TIGHT END FROM THE DALLAS COWBOYS..FOR YOU SERIOUS FANS HE WORE #84 AND CAME FROM SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA..AFTER LEAVING TOM LANDRY AND SOME GREAT COWBOY TEAMS HE LEFT PRO FOOTBALL TO COACH WITH BILL WALSH AT STANFORD AND THEN AT CAL-BERKLEY AND ONTO MENLO COLLEGE AND THEN TO THE HIGH SCHOOL RANKS IN SACRAMENTO...BUT A FATHER OF 5 AND SHERRI, HIS WIFE BY HIS SIDE THROUGHOUT, HE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE AND TO HAVE SOME FUN

JOHN GRISHAM'S NOVEL, "PLAYING FOR PIZZA"..WAS THE CATALYST..A FICTIONAL TALE BASED ON A REAL TEAM, THE PARMA PANTHERS WHERE A FALLEN NFL HERO HAS NO WHERE ELSE TO PLAY AFTER WEARING OUT HIS WELCOME AT A NUMBER OF NFL STOPS...AT THE BEQUEST OF HIS SUPER AGENT, THE ONLY PLACE LEFT TO PLAY IS IN PARMA, ITALY..GREAT 2 DAY READ THAT TITILATED DOUG AND MYSELF....COS INQUIRED ABOUT AN OPENING IN ITALY..AS FRIENDS HE INFORMED ME OF HIS INTENTIONS..I TACITLY AGREED THAT IF HE GOT THE JOB I WOULD COME AND BE HIS WINGMAN COACHING THE OFFENSIVE LINE

HERE WE ARE..BERGAMO LIES NORTH AND EAST OF MILANO..A WOMAN'S DREAM TO SHOP IN THE FINIEST BOUTIQUES IN THE WORLD FOR THE FINEST FASHIONS IN THE WORLD..WE LIE BETWEEN THE WORLD REKNOWN NORTHERN ITALIAN LAKES OF COMO AND D'ISEO...AND ON A CLEAR DAY THE STUNNING BEAUTY OF THE SNOWCAPPED ALPS LOOK LIKE THEY WERE APINTED AAS A BACKDROP

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO AL GORE'S GLOBAL WARMING THEORIES?...THROUGHOUT THE USA, RECORD SNOWFALLS ON THE EASTERN SEABOARDS AND AS FAR SOUTH AS DALLAS, TEXAS..IN NORTHERN ITALIA RECORD COLD TEMPPS RUIN THE SUNNY DISPOSITION OF FABULUS FUN AND OUTGOING PEOPLE..ALONG WITH THE COLD TEMPS ARE RECORD AMOUNTS OF RAIN..AND GREY..AND BLAHS

EXCEPT MY NEW FRIENDS, OF MY NEW TEAMMATES OF THE BERGAMO LIONS..WE ARE IN WNTER TRAINING FOR A SEASON THAT BEGINS MARCH 14TH AGAINST THE GRISHAM MADE FAMOUS PARMA PANTHERS..OH WE WILL BE READY!!!

TONIGHT ON A TURF FIELD NORMALLY BELONGING TO THE LOCAL RUGBY TEAM WE PRACTICED IN A MIX OF SLLET AND RAIN FROM 9-11 PM WITH LITTLE OR NO LIGHTS IN FULL PADS AND HAD A SPIRITED PRACTICE..FULL OF PEPE AND BOUNCE
WHY?

THESE PLAYERS FELL IN LOVE WITH THE AMERICAN GAME..SOME ARE COACHES LIKE DAN AND ROBERT: NOW IN THEIR 40'S...SLOWED BY INJURIES AND SURGERIES AND MOTHER NATURE..BUT AFTER WORKING A FULL DAYTIME JOB THEY SHOW UP TO COACH THE NEXT CROP...WISHING THEY COULD STILL SUIT UP AND HIT SOMEONE AND ENJOY THE COMRADERIE THAT MAKES THE GAME SO UNIQUE AND SPECIAL TO ALL WHO HAVE PLAYED..AND BEFORE  SEASON END THE DAILY TRIPS TO THE GYM TO PRESERVE WHATEVER IS LEFT OF THEIR YOUT COULD GET THEM ON A FIELD TO TRY AND WIN YET ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE PROUD BERGAMO LIONS

TONIGHT WAS SPECIAL BECAUSE WE WELCOMED A NEW PLAYER..EACH TEAM IS ALLOWED 3 AMERICAN PLAYERS..THE LIONS FLEW FROM DALLAS TEXAS TODAY...FRANK...YOUNG..ATHLETIC..TALENTED..HEAVILY JETLAGGED..AND COMPLETELY UNSURE WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO..ONCE FITTED FOR HIS UNIFORM, HE WAS QUICKLY INTRODUCED TO THE XISTING TEAM WITH A TEAM CHEER PRACTICE IN COLD WET DARK CONDITIONS BEGAN

IT ENDED AT A LOCAL PIZZERIA WHERE THE LOCAL BEER AND PIZZA FLOWED AND WAS CHOWED..MOSTLY TO MAKE FRANK FEEL COMFORTABLE..WANTED...TO MAKE HIM PART OF THE UNITED TEAM..

ITS EARLY..FACES ARE NEW...THE SEASON IS A MONTH AWAY...YET THE ANTICIPATION IS UPON US..

WHAT I REALIZE IS THIS..THESE PLAYERS LOVE PUTTING THE UNIFORM ON ; AND WITH IT, IS A LICENSE TO HIT...AMERICANS LOVE TO WATCH..SOME LIKE TO PLAY..MANY HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE...BUT THE ITALIANS DO IT FOR THE RIGHT TO HAVE FUN AND CRASH INTO AN OPPONENT

CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT UPDATE..STAY TUNED..REALITY TV SHOW AND MANY OTHER SURPRISES ARE HERE TO FOLLOW