tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92140116360721705252024-03-05T14:47:19.442-08:00Baldi in Bergamo, ItalyFormer NFL Player Brian Baldinger blogs from Bergamo, Italy while coaching the Bergamo Lions, an American Football team in the Italian Football League.Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-64265746015863279102010-06-10T10:29:00.000-07:002010-06-10T10:38:22.360-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 24: PIETRO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>WHEN THE COLTS WERE DEFEATED BY THE SAINTS IN THE SUPER BOWL IN FEBRUARY, PRESIDENT AND GM OF THE COLTS, BILL POLIAN, HAD THIS TO OFFER FOR THEIR CRUSHING DEFEAT..."OUR OFFENSIVE LINE BY OUR STANDARDS DID NOT HAVE A GOOD GAME. THEY WERE OUTPLAYED BY THE SAINTS DEFENSIVE LINE. WHEN YOU CAN'T GAIN A YARD WHEN YOU HAVE TO GAIN A YARD IN ORDER TO GO INTO THE LOCKERROOM 10-3 WITH ALL OF THE MOMENTUM ON YOUR SIDE..."<br />
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BILL POLIAN IS THE SHARPEST GM IN THE LEAGUE..HE HAS NO PEERS..HE WAS THE ARCHICTECT OF THE BILLS 4 TRIPS TO THE SUPER BOWL...HE TOOK THE EXPANSION CAROLINA PANTHERS TO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN 2 SHORT YEARS...HE HAS BEEN IN IDIANAPOLIS WHERE HE SELECTED PEYTON MANNING WITH THE FIRST PICK AND TOOK A FIRED TONY DUNGY FROM THE GUTTER AND MADE HIM HIS COACH<br />
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BILL POLIAN DOESN'T MAKE MANY MISTAKES..HE ALSO DOESN'T MAKE MANY EXCUSES..THE IRISHMAN FROM THE STREETS OF BROOKLYN HAS A TEMPER THAT CAN'T BE MEASURED AND ABOVE ALL HE DOESN'T MAKE EXCUSES..HE STATES FACTS..THE COLTS OL WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY..PERIOD!<br />
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I MENTION THIS ONLY TO REAFFIRM THE MOST FREQUENT AXIOM IN ALL OF FOOTBALL..FOOTBALL AT ALL LEVELS.<br />
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A TEAMS SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PLAY OF ITS OFFESNIVE LINE..WHEN THAT SPUTTERS, IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE FROM THERE...I CAN SIGHT YOU CHAPTER AND VERSE THE HORROR STORIES OF NIGHTMARE SEASONS IN THE NFL WHOSE TEAMS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE INFERIOR GROUP ON ITS OFFENSIVE LINE<br />
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AND IN OUR PLAYOFF GAME VS THE CATANIA ELEPHANTS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">QUESTA DOMENICA,</span></b> THE STORY WILL BE NO DIFFERENT...CATANIA'S ONLY BLEMISH THIS SEASON WAS TO US..AND IN THAT GAME WE RAN THE BALL DOWN THEIR THROATS IN THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">SECUNDA MESA</span></b> AND PLAYED KEEP AWAY FROM A DANGEROUS OFFENSE..AN OFFENSE THAT SCORED 75 POINTS IN THEIR SEASON FINALE.<br />
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WE WILL LEAVE FOR <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ISOLA SICILIA</span></b> WITHOUT OUR BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIETRO.</span></b>..PIETRO IS OUR STARTING LEFT TACKLE..YES HE PROTECTS BRADLEE VAN PELT'S BLINDSIDE..AND HE DOES IT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE WE HAVE..HE ALSO IS OUR BEST GUARD...AND IF HE HAD TO HE IS OUR BEST CENTER..I HAVE MILDLY SUGGESTED THAT HE BE OUR MIDDLE LINEBACKER AS WELL<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PIETRO..PROTECTS VAN VELT'S BLINDSIDE</b></span><br />
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PIETRO IS AN ATHLETE..IN SPORTS THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF ATHLETES..THERE ARE WAISTBENDERS AND THEIR ARE KNEE BENDERS..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIETRO </span></b>IS A NATURAL KNEE BENDER, WHICH MEANS HE CAN GET UNDERNEATH PEOPLE..HE HAS LEVERAGE WHICH IS EVERYTHING IN A CONTACT SPORT LIKE FOOTBALL. OH YEAH..HE IS COACHABLE AS WELL..HE DOESN'T PRETEND TO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS...AND BY FOOTBALL STANDARDS HE IS STILL YOUNG..26 OR MAYBE 28..IN THIS LEAGE HE HAS GOOD YEARS IN FRONT OF HIM<br />
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THIS IS NO KNOCK TO MY STARTING RIGHTSIDE OF THE LINE ANCHORED BY <br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">PEPE E' CHRISTIAN</span></b>...THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING A LONG LONG TIME..DOG YEARS ALMOST..COMBINED THEY HAVE PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR 48 YEARS; CHRISTIAN FOR 25 AND PEPE FOR 23..THEIR BODIES ARE BANGED UP, ALTHOUGH THEIR <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">ESPIRITU IS FUOCA FORZA</span></b>..THEY HAVE TEAMED TOGETHER FOR MANY OF BERGAMO'S RUN OF 12 STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT WAS ENDED LAST SEASON.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PEPE E' CHRISTIAN...48 YRS OF EXPERIENCE</b></span><br />
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ALSO MISSING SUNDAY WILL BE MY <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">RESERVA NUMERO UNO,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">VITO</span></span></b>...HE LOOKS SICK TO ME..NOT BECAUSE HE IS SICK, ITS BECAUSE HE BOOKED A VACATION WITH HIS FAMILY MONTHS AGO AND WITH HIS WORK, ITS THE ONLY WEEK HE CAN GO..HE DOESN'T WANT TO...HE WOULD RATHER EAT THE MONEY AND COME PLAY..HE IS MY MOST IMPROVED PLAYER..I DID A HORRIBLE JOB IN EVALUATING HIS PLAY EARLY ON..HE CAN PLAY 4 OF THE 5 OL POSITIONS WITH NO LOSS OF LEVEL OF PLAY..WE WILL REALLY MISS HIM<br />
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MY RIGHT GUARD, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">MARIO "SUNSHINE" ALBA</span></b> WENT DOWN IN PRACTICE ON MONDAY NIGHT..I THOUGHT HE DIED...AT LEAST SEVERELY WOUNDED..HIS FIRST NECK STINGER DROPPED HIM LIKE A <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">CARABINIERII</span></b> TAZER SHOT...HE HAS A CHANCE TO RETURN FROM THE DEAD AND HELP US<br />
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IN CASE HE RETURNS TO THE STATUS OF <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">IL MORTO</span></b>, TIGHT END <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CHRISTIAN</span></b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">PRANDELLI</span></b> HAS MOVED INTO TACKLE FOR US AND PEPE HAS MOVED INSIDE TO GUARD<br />
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WE ARE PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS...IT GETS LKE THIS SOMETIMES AT THE END OF THE SEASON...IN 1984 AS A DALLAS COWBOY I FINISHED THE SEASON AT RIGHT TACKLE..WE FINISHED THE SEASON PLAYING 5 GUARDS THAT YEAR..IT ALSO WAS THE FIRST TIME THE COWBOYS DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IN 16 YEARS..DAMN OFFENSVE LINE AGAIN!!!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIETRO</span></b> ISN'T PLAYING SUNDAY BECAUSE HIS PLAY IS PLAYING..OK..OK..OK..WHAT IS THE PLAY ON WORDS HERE?, BECAUSE I KNOW IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIETRO BAILO</span></b> IS AN ACTOR..HE IS ONE OF 8 PEOPLE WHO RUN A THEATRE GROUP...WHEN THEY CAN SELL ENOUGH TICKETS THEY GO AND PERFORM..HE DRIVES THE VAN TO WHEREVER THE PLAY IS TAKING PLACE...THEY ARE WILLING TO GO JUST ABOUT ANYWERE TO DO SO..IT IS HIS PAYING JOB..PLAYS FOOTBALL FOR FUN....BY ALL ACCOUNTS HE IS VERY GOOD..I WISH I COULD TELL YOU MORE BUT WHEN HE IS PERFORMING ON STAGE, WE ARE EITHER PRACTICING OR PLAYING A GAME.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgXxb5FWheh0kB36pjtjZrfhK3VRT_p3WSE1xoAAmeQw3vu9WCDWAR9_TFKUJ24ZEYQFgJsX1FqKJOrTcqurkn2K-n42xFw1L6lFHWggUOcDYC_keMGI7g8Ss_rTfdpJ9vNWjl_-0Yj4z/s1600/P3210539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgXxb5FWheh0kB36pjtjZrfhK3VRT_p3WSE1xoAAmeQw3vu9WCDWAR9_TFKUJ24ZEYQFgJsX1FqKJOrTcqurkn2K-n42xFw1L6lFHWggUOcDYC_keMGI7g8Ss_rTfdpJ9vNWjl_-0Yj4z/s400/P3210539.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PIETRO...ARRIVING TO STADIUM...GAMEDAY</b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">GIOCA E' ATTORE</span></b>..FOOTBALL AND ACTING..ITS HIS 2 PASSIONS..AND HE IS GIVING THEM EVERYTHING HE HAS...SUNDAY IS A CONFLICT<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">DUE SETTIMANA FA</span></b> WAS A CONFLICT FOR <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIETRO</span></b> AS WELL..BUT HE DEMONSTARTED HIS UNDYING LOVE FOR BOTH PROFESSIONS..ON SATURDAY NIGHT HIS THEATRE COMPANY GAVE A PERFORMANCE AT A LOCATION 2 HOURS SOUTH OF <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ROMA</span></b>...AFTERWARDS HE WOULD DRIVE TO ROMA..NOD OFF FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN DRIVE 5 HOURS TO BERGAMO TO PLAY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">FINALE ARRIVO,</span></b> HE SUITED UP AND WAS READY TO PLAY..PERHAPS NOT TO HIS NORMAL STANDARDS, BUT SLEEP DEPRIVED HE NEVER COMPLAINED.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>CARLO..PIETRO...CHRISTIAN.....STADIA COMMUNALE</b></span><br />
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MOST PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO FIND ONE PASSION..AND IF THEY CAN FIND IT, THEY CAN'T FIND A WAY TO FINANCE IT...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIETRO</span></b> IS NO DIFFERENT..HE IS BROKE..LIVES WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND..SHE HELPS TO SUPPORT..BUT AT LEAST EACH DAY <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">ALZARSI</span></b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">LA VITA</span></b> THAT HE LIKES..HE ENJOYS...HE HAS FUN DOING....DOESN'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO ANYONE ELSE BUT HIMSELF..HOW MANY OF US CAN SAY THE SAME THINGS ABOUT WHAT WE WAKE UP TO??..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">CREDITO PIETRO</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PIETRO....PRACTICING ...1 OF 2 PASSIONS</b></span><br />
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THE GREATEST NFL PLAYER TO EVER LACE UP A UNIFORM WAS JIM BROWN..AT AGE 30 HE QUIT THE CLEVELAND BROWNS AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS DOMINANCE TO TAKE UP HIS OTHER PASSION...ACTING..IT WAS THE SUMMER OF THE FILMING OF THE DIRTY DOZEN..A WW2 FLICK THAT LIVES ON ....IT INTERFERED WITH THE BROWNS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE..THE OWNER OF THE BROWNS, PAUL BROWN, GAVE JIM BROWN AN ULTIMATUM...COME TO CAMP OR ELSE??..JIM BROWN WAS ONE OF THE DIRTY DOZEN..TREMENDOUS MOVIE..STILL WATCH IT WHEN IT COMES ON..JIM BROWN'S... HOLLYWOOD CARRER DIDN'T GO VERY FAR AFTER THAT..BUT TO THIS DAY JIM BROWN IS HIS OWN MAN..DOING IT HIS WAY<br />
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AND IN SOME WAYS WE ARE MUCH LIKE THE DIRTY DOZEN..WE FLY TO CATANIA <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">DOMENICA MATTINA.</span></b>..WILL BUS THROUGH THE CHOKED STREETS OF CATANIA FOR<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"> MANGIARE</span></b>..DRIVE BACK THROGUH THE CHOKED TRAFFIC TO OUR LITTLE STADIUM NESTLED BETWEEN THE FOOTHILLS OF IMPOSING MOUNT ETNA AND THE CALM MEDITERRANEAN WATERS...WITHOUT PIETRO..WITHOUT VITO...WITH A DEFENSIVE LINE WHO AVERAGES OVER 40 YEARS OLD<br />
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BUT LIKE BILL POLIAN, I OFFER NO EXCUSES..THESE ARE THE FACTS..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span> GOES IN FOR PIETRO..HE WAS SAD AT PRACTICE ON MONDAY WHEN HE FOUND OUT PIETRO COULDN'T PLAY...NUMA AND THE OTHERS WILL HAVE TO GO THE WHOLE WAY..IN TEMPERATURES THAT COULD SOAR IN TO THE 90"S..WHOEVER FINISHES THE GAME HAS TO GET THE JOB DONE OR ELSE<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NUMA....TIME TO STEP UP AND PLAY LARGE</b></span><br />
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OR ELSE WE WILL BE LIKE THE COLTS THIS YEAR..I HAPPEN TO BE A FAN OF BILL POLIAN..AND LIKE HIM I ALSO AGREE THAT WE WILL GO AS FAR AS OUR OFFENSIVE LINE CAN TAKE US..WE HAVE PRACTICED WELL THIS WEEK..I THINK WE ARE READY...LETS GO FIND OUT<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LINEA...HOW WELL WE PLAY...DETERMINES OUTCOME</b></span><br />
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GAME ON..THESE ARE THE F*#*ING PLAYOFFSBrian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-11803549551480929432010-06-03T07:21:00.000-07:002010-06-03T07:36:08.893-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 23: THE QUARTERBACKON SEPTEMBER 12TH THE NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS OPEN THEIR NEW PALACE AT 1 PM AGAINST THE CAROLINA PANTHERS..ITS A DAWN OF A NEW DAY..LYING IN ITS SHADOWS IS GIANTS STADIUM.<br />
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I AM NOT OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER ANY OTHER STADIUM THAT THE GIANTS EVER PLAYED IN..I WORKED WITH PAT SUMMERALL AND KNOW STORIES OF THE BLUE SHIRTS PLAYING IN YANKEE STADIUM..I HAVE TALKED WITH GIFFORD AND OTHERS FROM THAT FAMED ERA ABOUT WHAT FOOTBALL WAS LIKE..<br />
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BUT FOR ME IT WILL BE A SAD DAY KNOWING FOOTBALL WON'T BE PLAYED IN GIANTS STADIUM ANY LONGER..MEMORIES AND GHOSTS AND HIGLIGHTS SWIRL TOGETHER MUCH LIKE THE WINDS THAT BLEW THROUGH THAT ELECTRIC ARENA ON AUTUMN AFTERNOONS.<br />
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AND THE MOST CELEBRATED PLAYER TO EVER WEAR A GIANTS UNIFORM, IN ANY ERA, WAS LAWRENCE TAYLOR..AKA..L.T....THE ORIGINAL L.T....NO ONE PLAYER IN THE HSTORY OF THAT STORIED FRANCHISED CAPTURED THE IMMENSE GIANT FANBASE LIKE L.T...NO ONE OF THAT MAGNITUDE WILL EVER SIEZE THE CROWD OR PUT FEAR IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE OPPNENETS LIKE L.T.<br />
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HE WAS A GOD...HE WOULD WALK INTO MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TO SIT IN ONE OF THOSE FANCY OVERPRICED GARDEN SEATS RESERVED FOR THE CELEBRITIES AND SIT NEXT TO SPIKE LEE AND INSTANTLY...THE GARDEN CROWD ECHOED CHANTS OF ..."L.T....L.T....L.T..."..HE WALKED ON WATER<br />
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BEFORE THEIR WAS L.T. IN NEW YORK...THEIR WAS BRAD VAN PELT...THERE WEREN'T CHANTS OF VAN PELT BY THE CROWDS..HE DIDN'T WALK ON WATER..HE WASN'T EVER THE CELEBRATED PLAYER THAT LAWRENCE TAYLOR BECAME..BUT HE WAS GOOD..DAMN GOOD..<br />
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THE GIANTS ALWAYS HAD LINEBACKERS..SAM HUFF...HARRY CARSON..BRIAN KELLEY..AND VAN PELT<br />
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ODDLY VAN PELT WORE #10..NO LINEBACKER BEFORE OR SINCE EVER PUT THAT NUMBER ON AT THAT POSITION BEFORE OR SINCE..BUT HE WAS DRAFTED OUT OF MICHIGAN STATE AS A PUNTER.AND AS A SAFETY..HE WAS GIVEN THE SAME NUMBER HE WORE IN COLLEGE<br />
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HE WOULD GO ONTO PLAY IN 4 PRO-BOWLS...HE MADE THE SWITCH FROM SAFETY TO LINEBACKER...I CAN COUNT THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO EVER SUCCESSFULLY MADE THAT TRANSITION ON ONE HAND..AND NO ONE WHO WENT ON TO PLAY IN 4 PRO-BOWLS<br />
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I CALLED COACH BILL PARCELLS ABOUT HIM A FORTNIGHT BACK AND ASKED ABOUT COACHING HIM..HE GUSHED!..HE SAID, "BY TIME I BECAME THE LINEBACKER'S COACH WITH THE GIANTS HE HAD ALREADY MADE THE TRANSITION FROM SAFETY TO LINEBACKER...HE MADE MY JOB EASY..AND HE WAS THE LEADER..NOT JUST OF THE LINEBACKERS THAT INCLUDED HALL OF FAMER, HARRY CARSON, BUT OF THE DEFENSE AND OF THE TEAM."..HE WALKED..HE TALKED..PLAYERS FOLLOWED."<br />
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MY BROTHER, BIG RICH, WS A ROOKIE WITH THE NY GIANTS IN 1982...DRAFTEDAS A TACKLE, HE SPENT MANY TRAINING CAMP DAYS TRYING TO PASS BLOCK VAN PELT..SCHOOL WAS IN SESSION...USED AND ABUSED ON A DAILY BASIS...ON ONE SIDE L.T....ON THE OTHER SIDE VAN PELT..PICK YOUR POISON...ULTIMATELY PLAYING AGAINST THOSE 2 OLB'S HE WOULD IMPROVE DAILY AND EVENTUALLY CARVE OUT A 12 YEAR CAREER<br />
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AWAY FROM <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">IL CAMPO</span></b>...VAN PELT LEAD THE TEAM DURING TRAINING CAMP IN PING PONG..BEER PONG..TURNING THE CAMPUS BAR AT PACE UNIVESITY INTO A QUICK PARTY UNTIL CURFEW CHECK...AND THEN SOME NIGHTS LONG AFTER BED CHECK..BOYZ WILL BE BOYZ<br />
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HE WAS A NATURAL..WEIGHT ROOM???.UH..FOR WHAT?...SPRINTS AFTER PRACTICE?...FROM THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">SCUOLA VECCHIO</span></b>...MY BROTHER WOULD SAY.."IF YOU GET TIRED IN PRACTICE ITS YOUR OWN DAMN FAULT.'..IT WAS ABOUT SUNDAYS..IT WAS ABOUT THE GAME..FUN WAS GAMEDAY..PRACTICE WAS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME<br />
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AND FOTBALL WASN'T THE ONLY SPORT HE EXCELLED IN..PARCELLLS SAID HE EASILY COULD AVE PLAYED PRO BASEBALL..WAS DRAFTED TO DO SO..NOT ENOUGH CONTACT..SEASON WAS TOO LONG..BASKETBALL AS WELL SINCE HE WAS A STAR IN THAT SPORT IN COLLEGE AS WELL...ROBERT REDFORD COULD HAVE EASILY PLAYED THE PART OF VAN PELT IN HIS ROLE AS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">IL NATURALE</span></b><br />
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I MENTION ALL OF THIS, IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE HIS SON IS OUR QUARTERBACK..BRADLEY HUNTER VAN PELT IS A NATURAL...WE WOULD NOT BE PREPARING FOR THE PLAYOFFS WITHOUT HIM..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">NIENTE NIENTE.</span></b>...WE WOULD HAVE PACKED OUR BAGS AND OUR MEMORIES LONG TIME AGO<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VAN PELT....OUR QUARTERBACK</b></span><br />
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IN OUR LAST GAME AGAINST REGGIO EMILIA HE STRUGGLED MIGHTILY..IN FACT HE WAS AWFUL..HE COMPLETED A GRAND TOTAL OF 7 PASSES AGAINST A DEFENSE THAT RESEMBLED THE NEW YORK LIFE DEFESNE OF TV COMMERCIAL FAME WHERE ALL THE DEFENDERS FELL DOWN EVERY PLAY AD THE OFFENSE WALKED IN TO SCORE TOUCHDOWWNS<br />
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BUT WITH THE GAME HANGING IN THE BALANCE HE MADE THE LAST 2 PLAYS TO WIN AND ALLOW US TO MOVE ON<br />
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THIS BLOG CANNOT ALLOW ME TO RECREATE THE DRAMA IN WHICH WE WON..BUT GIVE ME A SHOT TO SET IT UP<br />
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WE WERE DOWN 26-19 WITH 14 SECONDS REMAINING AND COUNTING..NO TIMEOUTS....HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A PASS TO THE HOGS 1 YARD LINE...3RD AND GOAL...THE PLAY WAS TO SPIKE IT TO STOP THE CLOCK.."KILL..KILL..KILL"..WAS BEING EMPHATICALLY SHOUTED FROM THE SIDELINES..IF WE DO IT WE HAVE A 4TH DOWN PLAY..NEEDING ONLY ONE YARD THEN TO MAKE THE SCORE 26-25..<br />
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HE TOOK THE SNAP FROM <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MIRKO</span></b>...AND ALL EYES FROM THE SIDELINE IN A SLOW MOTION YELP..SAID N???.....WHEN HE QB SNEAKED OVER <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MARIO "SUNRISE" ALBA </span></b>TO SCORE THE TOUCHDOWN WITH UNDER 5 SECONDS TO GO...<br />
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WE GOT THE SCORE..NOW WHAT DO WE DO?..OUR XTRA POINT OPERATION HAS BEEN A CRAPSHOOT ALL YEAR..THE PROBLEM IS THAT VAN PELT IS OUR BEST SNAPPER..OUR BEST HOLDER..OUR BEST KICKER..SINCE WE HAVEN'T FIGURED A WAY YET TO GET HIM TO DO ALL THREE PHASES WE ELECTED TO GO FOR 2<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>EVERY TEAM IS IN SEARCH OF THE QUARTERBACK</b></span><br />
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PLAY CALLED..DEFENSE CAME WITH THE BLITZ..OPENED UP A HOLE ON A QUICK SLANT TO <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MATTEO.</span></b>.BALL DELIVERED PERFECTLY..BALL WAS JUGGLED MOMENTARILY..BUT THE CATCH WAS SECURED..THE SIDELINES ERUPTEED...WE WOULD ADVANCE IN THE PLAYOFFS...IT WAS OUR 3RD DRAMATIC WIN AS TIME EXPIRED, ALL ENGINEERED BY VAN PELT.<br />
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AWAY FROM THE CLEBRATION WAS THE QUARTERBACK..HE WASN'T SURE IF HE SHOULD CELEBRATE WITH SPONTANEOUS JOY OR HANG HIS HEAD FOR SUCH A POOR PERFORMANCE...ITS THE COMPETITOR IN HIM..WE LIVE FOR ANOTHER DAY, BUT FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE THEIR HARSHEST CRITIC...HOW DO WE STOP THE DVD IN YOUR HEAD FROM REPLAYING ALL OF THE BAD PLAYS??..POOR DECISIONS..MISSTEPS..IT IS A NIGHTMARE FOR ATHLETES..EVEN THE GOOD ONES HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE NONSTOP RECALL BUTTON..IT DOESN'T SHUT OFF SOMETIMES UNTIL THE NEXT GAME.<br />
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IN PERSPECTIVE, VAN PELT IS HONEST ABOUT HIS PLACE HERE IN BERGAMO, ITALY..WHILE SOME AMERICANS ARE VASTLY DISILLUSIONED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, AND THINK IT IS A STEPPING <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">PIETRE</span></b> TO THE NFL, VAN PELT IS NOT..HE IS CLEAR ABOUT THAT..HE IS NOT HERE TO SECURE SOME GAME FILM AND SEND IT BACK TO THE NFL FOR ONE MORE GO ROUND.<br />
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MUCH LIKE HIS FATHER HE IS A NATURAL ATHLETE..WOULD RATHER SCALE MACHU PICHU UNDER A BLISTERING SUN THAN TO CIRCUIT TRAIN AT BALLY'S FITNESS...WOLD RATHER BODY SURF THE UNDERTOW'S AT ZUMA THAN TO RUN ANOTHER MILE ON A TREADMIL...BUT HE IS OUR KICKER..HE IS OUR PUNTER..HE IS OUR BEST DEFENDER AT ALMOST EVERY POSITION ON DEFESNE..HE HAS PLAYED HURT..COME BACK FROM A HYPEREXTENDED KNEE, A SWOLLEN ANKLE..CAN'T ASK MUCH MORE FROM A PLAYER WHO HAS CUT THE CHORD TO THE EMPTY PROMISES OF A PRO FOOTBALL CARREER<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> PREGAME VS THE HOGS...THE GAMES ARE FUN</b></span><br />
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HE IS NOW IN THE WINE BUSSINESS..HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT IT..USE ITALY AS A BASE TO LEARN ABOUT THE MAKING..THE PROCESSING ..THE DISTRIBUTION OF ITALIA'S <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><b>FAVORITO BEBENDE.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">TRY FOOLING HIM ON A TASTERS TEST BETWEEN A FERRARI FROM TRIESTE TO A FRANCIACORTE FROM LOMBARDIA OR A CHIANTI FROM TOSCANO AND A VOLPICLELLO FROM VENETO...NEVER FOOLED..AND THATS ONLY VINO ITALIA..YOU WANT TO PARLA VINO...THEN YOU AVE HIS ATTENTION ALL DAY</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> VINI.....VITA.....VEDI...THERE IS TRUTH AND LIFE IN WINE</b></span><br />
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HIS NFL STORY IS NOT UNLIKE MANY WHO TRY TO PLAY QUARTERBACK..DRAFTED OUT OF COLORADO STATE IN THE 7TH ROUND BY THE DENVER BRONCOS, HE WAS EAGER TO LEARN UNDER QB GURUS LIKE MIKE SHANAHAN AND GARY KUBIAK..IN FRONT OF HIM WAS JAKE PLUMMER WHO WAS NEWLY ACQUIRED FROM TE ARIZONA CARDINALS...TIME..PRACTICE..OFF-SEASON..PRE-SEASON WAS SPENT GETTING JAKE UP TO SPEED TO ENGINEER AN OFFENSE THAT ONLY SHINED WHEN A GUY NAMED ELWAY TOOK HIS TEAM TO B 2 B SUPER BOWL VICTORIES TO END HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER<br />
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FOR VAN PELT...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ASPETTI ASPETTI.</span></b>.WAIT YOUR TURN...AND AS A ROOKIE HE DID..BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEY WOULD SELECT A FREAKISH TALENT NAMED CUTLER, JAY CUTLER...JEFF GEORGE REINCARNATED..THE ARM MAKES YOU MARVEL..THE GUTS OF A BURGLER..AS CLOSE TO COCKY AS BILL O"REILLY IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE POLITICAL WORLD...FOR VAN PELT..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ASPETTI ASPETTI</span></b>...<br />
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NO COACHING..NO REPS...SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE CAN ERODE LIKE THE ICE OFF AN ALASKAN GLACIER IN THE DEAD OF SUMMER..WHEN GIVEN A SLIVER OF A CHANCE IN A PRESEASON GAME TO SHOW WHAT HE CAN DO HIS FIRST PASS WOULD SLIP OUT OF THE BACK OF HIS HAND AND BE FUMBLED AWAY..SHANAHAN GAVE HIM THAT FROZEN GLARE THAT CAN EVAPORATE ANY REMAINING CONFIDENCE A QB COULD HAVE AFTER SUCH A MELE'<br />
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IT WAS ONTO HOUSTON WHEN KUBIAK TOOK THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">CAPO</span></b> ROLE...HE WOULD BACK UP A STIFF NAMED CARR, DAVID CARR....FORMER 1ST PICK IN THE DRAFT THAT WOULD STRUGGLE TO LEAD A CUBSCOUT UNIT...HE HAD THE TOUGHNESS OF THE LION IN WIZARD OF OZZ...NEXT YEAR WOULD SEE MATT SCHAUB SIGN AS A KEY FREE AGENT...CAN THROW WHEN HE HAS TIME..BUT LIKE THE JETS SHOWED IN WEEK 1 LAST YEAR..HIT HIM IN <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">LA BOCA</span></b> A FEW TIMES IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND PICK UP THE HYMNBOOKS...THE MASS HAS ENDED<br />
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BEFORE HE WAS OUT THE NFL DOOR THEIR WAS A COURTESY PHONE CALL FROM BILL PARCELLS..HE IS GOOD LIKE THAT...COACHED HIS DAD..MAYBE TAKE A SHOT ON THE SON..EXCEPT THAT YEAR THEY HAD A GUY NAMED ROMO THAT THEY WERE READY TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO..I GUESS WE KNOW HOW THAT STORY HAS PLAYED OUT<br />
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VAN PELT'S TALE IS NOT UNLIKE THAT OF KURT WARNER...JAKE DELHOMME..JEFF GARCIA..BRAD JOHNSON..TONY ROMO..TEAMS THAT EVERYBODY PASSED ON NUMEROUS TIMES...NO COACHING..NO OPORTUNITIES..NO CONFIDENCE<br />
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ITS WHAT MADE THE NFL EUROPE LEAGUE SO ATTRACTIVE FOR MANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED QB'S..THEY FINALLY GOT A CHANCE TO PLAY..TO LEAD..TO WIN BACK THEIR CONFIDENCE....TO GET A 2ND OR A 3RD CHANCE...JAKE DELHOMME WENT THERE TWICE..IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH AMSTERDAM HE BACKED UP A FORMER GROCERY CLERK NAMED WARNER...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><b>.NON IN BOCA LUPO ..</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">THE NEXT YEAR HE WOULD LEAD THE FRANKFURT GALAXY TO THE WORLD BOWL...EVENTUALLY HE WOULD LEAD THE CAROLINA PANTHERS TO A THRILLING SUPER BOWL LOSS...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">NON POSSILBILI</span></b> ...WITHOUT THE 2ND AND 3RD CHANCES THAT NFL EUROPA AFFORDED HIM</span></span><br />
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ALL FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S ARE QB DRIVEN REGARDLESS OF THE STYLE OF OFFENSE YOU RUN..THE BALL IS IN <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">LUI LE MANI</span></b> EVERY PLAY...HE HAS TO BE A LEADER..HE HAS TO BE THE FACE OF THE ORANIZATION..HE HAS TO SHOULDER THE BLAME WHENEVER YOU LOSE<br />
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THE PROBLEM WITH DISCOVERING QB'S IS THAT ONLY ONE CAN PLAY AT A TIME..IT IS THE ONLY POSITION ON THE FIELD WHERE THIS IS THE CASE...AND HE CAN ONLY BE EVALUATED IN REAL LIVE ACTION<br />
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I SARDONICALLY SMIRK EVERYTIME I READ AN ARTICLE SAYING HOW SAM BRADFORD COMPLETED 55 OF 57 PASSES IN HIS PRIVATE WORKOUT..IN SHORTS..WITH NO DEFNESE..WELL <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">LALLIDA LALLIDA</span></span>..BIG WHOOP..SO DID JEFF GEORGE AND JOEY HARRINGTON AND DAVID CARR AND RYAN LEAF AND ...I CAN'T GO ON..EVERY ONE OF THESE STIFFS MADE ME PUKE...NOT AN OUNCE OF TOUGHNESS OR LEADERSHIP IN ANY OF 'EM...OH I CAN GO ON..JAMARCUS..AND MCKNOWN..AND KLNGLER...STOP ME STOP ME!<br />
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SO NO COACHING..NO 3RD CHANCES..NO NFLEUROPA...AND VAN PELT IS HERE IN BERGAMO..HE WILL NEVER REALLY KNOW..ITS SAD..BUT IT HAPPENS..ALOT..NOTHING WORSE IN LIFE THAN TO NOT KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED..NOTHING..LET ME FAIL..LET ME FALL..LET ME STRIKE OUT..BUT AT LEAST LET ME TRY<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>HE HAS KICKED THE GAME WINNER AGAINST ROME</b></span><br />
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WE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS THIS YEAR HERE IN BERGAMO..SOME HAVE BEEN RECOUNTED IN EARLIER BLOGS...SOME ARE BETTER LEFT UNSTATED..BUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS STILL IN OUR GRASP...WE ARE 1 0F 4 TEAMS STILL STANDING..A CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD BE A GENTLE REMINDER OF WHY WE ARE HERE..WE CAN AGGRANDIZE THE STORIES INTO TALL TALES AS YEARS GO BY...BUT EVERYONE WANTS TO CLAIM A CHAMPONSHIP ON THEIR LIFE'S RESUME'<br />
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OUR PLAYOFF GAME IS AGAINST THE DESPISED PARMA PANTHERS..PART OF THE DISLIKE IS THE NATURAL RIVALRIES THAT EXIST IN THIS LEAGUE..MUCH IS TRUMPED UP BECAUSE IN JOHN GRISHAM'S BOOK, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">"PLAYING FOR PIZZA"</span></b> THE PARMA PANTHERS LEAD BY THEIR AGED NFL VETERAN QB WITH NO WHERE ELSE TO PLAY LEADS HIS PANTHERS TO VICTORY AGAINST THE BERGAMO LIONS...THE STORY IS EARILY FAMLIAR TO WHAT IS PLAING OUT THIS YEAR<br />
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AND THE ONLY CHANCE WE HAVE IS WITH VAN PELT PLAYING AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME..HE IS THE LEAGUE'S BEST PLAYER..AND WITH HIM IN THE SADDLE WE HAVE A CHANCE<br />
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BECAUSE IN THE GAME OF FOOTBALL YOU ONLY GO SO FAR AS THE QUARTERBACK WILL TAKE YOU<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> THE QB WILL BE READY FOR PARMA</b></span>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-70866741713913819782010-05-18T13:54:00.000-07:002010-05-18T16:00:46.710-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 22: PRACTICE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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ITS OFTEN BEEN SAID THAT THE QUICKEST WAY TO CARNEGIE HALL.....IS PRACTICE..PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> CARNEGIE HALL...NYC</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ALLEN IVERSON, THE ICONIC NBA SUPERSTAR, MADE A MOCKERY OF PRACTICE 4 YEARS AGO IN A NOW FAMOUS PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN HE SAID.."PRACTICE?...WE TALKIN ABOUT PRACTICE?..I AM THE FACE OF THE NBA..A SUPERSTAR PLAYA...WE AIN'T TALKING ABOUT THE GAME I DIE FO..WE IN HERE TALKIN ABOUT PRACTICE..."</span><br />
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IT WAS COMMON IN THE NFL, BACK IN THE DAY, TO SAY..."WE GET PAID TO PRACTICE...BUT WE PLAY FOR FREE.."..IN OTHER WORDS PRACTICE WAS A GRIND BUT THE GAMES WERE A BLAST..<br />
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WELL I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT PRACTICE...<br />
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I HAVE TOO...ITS THE STORY OF OUR SEASON...<br />
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THIS SUNDAY WHEN THE REGGIO EMILIA HOGS COME INTO TOWN WITH THEIR UNIQUE WING-T OFFENSE, OUR FATE IS ON THE LINE..UNDERSTAND THIS...IF WE LOSE WE ARE DONE...IF WE WIN WE ADVANCE TO THE PLAYOFFS..SIMPLE FORMULA..WE WIN WE ARE IN..WE LOSE AND WE PACK UP OUR BAGS AND SAY <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CIAO DI BERGAMO</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>WE ARE NOT READY TO PACK OUR BAGS </b></span><br />
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FOR THE FIRST 4 MONTHS THIS YEAR PRACTICE WAS MORE SURVIVAL THAN WORK..MOSTLY WE WERE AT THE MERCY OF A STRANGE BLACK CLOUD THAT HOVERED OVER BERGAMO WITH A WEATHER PATTERN THAT NO ONE IN THE AREA HAD EVER WITNESSED...SOME FORM OF PRECIPITATION FELL...SNOW..SLEET..HAIL..AND LOTS AND LOTS OF RAIN...NEARLY EVERY NIGHT<br />
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AND WHEN SOME <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PIOVVI</span> WASN'T DRENCHING US THE TEMPERATURES WERE NEAR FREEZING..<br />
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OUR PRACTICE SESSION TAKES PLACE ON ONE ALOTTED FIELD...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">IL CAMPO</span> HAS BEEN TORTURED THIS SEASON...IT HAS BEEN OUR FEISTIEST OPPONONENT..FOR MOST OF THE YEAR IT WAS A RICE PADDY...JUST HOW MANY PUDDLES WOULD WE HAVE TO DANCE AROUND TO GET THROUGH PRACTICE WAS A COMMON <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">DOMANDE</span></b>??...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">D'ERBA</span></b> WAS RIPPED UP MONTHS AGO...NOW THAT THE RAIN HAS TAKEN A REST FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS, THE FIELD RESEMBLES ASTRO-ROCK...IF WE PRACTICED IN THE PARKING LOT THE ASPHALT MAY BE MORE FORGIVING..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>GRASS....FOOTING....ARE YOU JOKNG???</b></span><br />
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I MENTION THIS...I BITCH ABOUT THIS.. ONLY TO RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT "FOOTING' IS TO PRACTICING FOOTBALL...THE SPORT IS A SERIES OF TECHNIQUES AND FUNDAMENTALS THAT WHEN PRACTICED CORRECTLY RESEMBLES A FINELY SOUNDING ORCHESTRA..LOTS OF MOVING PARTS..LOTS OF INSTRUMENTS...BUT WHEN ALL THE NOTES ARE PLAYED CORRECTLY...AND TUNED AND HARMONIZED AND ALL THAT...THEN THE MUUUUUSIC IS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MEREVIGLIOSA</span></b>...<br />
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WE HAVE RARELY EXECUTED THIS YEAR TO THE SOUND OF A RECOGNIZEABLE LULLABY...MOSTLY BECASUE OUR PRACTICES HAVE BEEN <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CHE BRUTTO</span></b><br />
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SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE BECASUE ALL OF THE ITALIAN PLAYERS HAVE OTHER JOBS..CAREERS..GO TO SCHOOL..HAVE FAMILIES..WE ARE FORCED TO PRACTICE AFTER 9 PM AT NIGHT..WE ARE AMATEURS BUT WANT TO BE PROFESSIONAL... <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">VOGLIAMO GIOCARE</span></b> LIKE PROS, BUT WE AREN'T...WE ARE LIMITED...<br />
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BUT PROS PRACTICE..AND THE GOOD ONES PRACTICE WELL..AND OFTEN..AND WITH PURPOSE..AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NFL BETWEEN THE ELITE TEAMS AND THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK WARRIORS IS GOOD COACHING MIXED WITH EXCELLENT PRACTICE HABITS..I HAVE FREQUENTLY SAID THAT IN THE 11 YEARS THAT ANDY REID HAS COACHED THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES THAT NO TEAM IN PRO FOOTBALL PRACTICES AS WELL OR AS HARD AS THE EAGLES..AND THAT HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF THEIR ANNUAL SUCCESS..<br />
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RECENTLY WE HAVE BEGUN TO PRACTICE WELL...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">LA PRIMAVERA</span></b> HAS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">FINALAMENTE ARRIVO</span></b>...IT FEELS FUN..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">ATTENZIONE</span></b> IS IMPROVED..OUR LAST 2 OR 3 PRACTICES HAVE BEEN THE BEST ALL YEAR..WE HAVE 2 MORE BEFORE WE PLAY ON SUNDAY..I HOPE WHAT I AM WITNESSING ON THE PRACTICE FIELD IS NOT TOO LATE..AND SHOWS UP AT <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">COMMUNALE STADIA IN OSSIO SOTTO</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>SPRING EVENING...2 MONTHS LATE..FINALAMENTE!!</b></span><br />
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THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">REGGIO EMILIA</span></b> HOGS RUN THE WING-T...I DON'T EXPECT THAT THIS BLOGS' WORLD WIDE AUDIENCE WILL EVER UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES TO THIS OFFENSIVE STYLE BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEFEND...THINK GEORGIA TECH..THINK AIR FORCE ACADEMY..THINK NAVAL ACADEMY AND MAYBE THE MIDDIES OF WEST POINT...4 TEAMS IN THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">DEL MONDE</span></b> THAT RUN THIS OFFENSE..OF THE 100'S OF COLLEGE AND PROFOFESSIONAL TEAMS AND INTERNATIONAL FIELD THAT PLAY FOOTBALL...5 RUN THE WING-T..OH..... THERE MAY BE SOME OBSCURE HIGH SCHOOLS...AND MAYBE A SMATTERING OF NAIA SCHOOLS THAT USE VARIATIONS OF THIS "<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">SCUOLA VECCHIO</span></b>" OFFENSE...BUT IT IS UNIQUE<br />
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THE 5 THAT RUN IT HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.... NO ONE SEES IT..NO ONE IS FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO DEFEND IT...AND WE DON'T GET MUCH OF A CHANCE TO PRACTICE AGAINST IT..AND AT THE CORE OF ITS BRILLIANCE IS DECEPTION...ALL OF THE ACTION GOES LEFT..AND THE RUNNER GOES RIGHT...WHERE IS THE BALL?...WHO HAS THE BALL?...WHO IS GOING TO GET THE BALL?..QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE HAS ON EACH PLAY AND SOMETIMES <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">NESSUNO </span></b> HAS THE ANSWER UNTIL THEY ARE CELEBRATING IN THE ENDZONE.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">IL CAPO</span></b> FOR THE HOGS RUNNING THIS WING -T IS THEIR QB WHO LOOKS TO BE THE LARGEST MAN ON I<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">L CAMPO</span></b>..AND THE SWIFTEST AND THE MOST AGILE..IF THAT ISN'T RECOGNITION ENOUGH HE ALSO SPORTS A PONY TAIL TANGLING FROM THE BACK OF HIS HELMET THAT RIVALS ANYTHING GERONIMO MIGHT HAVE HAD IN DEFENDING HIS INDIAN LAND<br />
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IMAGINE THE FERRARI THAT JUST WON THE GRAND PRIX OF MONACO SUNDAY RACING NORTHBOUND ON THE JERSEY TURNPIKE WHILE IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANE..THAT IS WHAT THE HOGS RUNNING THE WING-T RESEMBLE ..<br />
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PRACTICE?...WE TALKIN' ABOUT PRACTICE?...IF WE WAIT TIL GAMETIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEFEND THIS AWKWARD <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MACHINA</span></b> ON GAMEDAY WE WILL SURRENDER 50 POINTS AND LOSE...IF WE CAN KEEP THE HOGS UNDER 30 WE WILL WIN AND ADVANCE TO THE PLAYOFFS...THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GIVING UP 30 OR GIVING UP 50 MAY LIE IN HOW WE PRACTICE<br />
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IT COMES DOWN TO DEFENSE....AS MUCH AS TELEVISION AND THE LEAGUES TRY TO MANDATE MORE OFFESNE IN EACH SPORT..IT IS ALWAYS THE TEAMS THAT DEFEND THE BEST THAT HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO SUCCEED..THINK BACK TO THE THE LAST 3 SUPER BOWLS...GIANTS HOLD BRADY AND THE PATS AND THE HIGHEST SCORING OFFENSE IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE TO 14 POINTS...THE DEFESNIVE PLAYER OF THE 2008 SEASON, JAMES HARRISON, INTERCEPTS A KURT WARNER PASS JUST BEFORE HALFTIME AND RETURNS IT 100 YARDS FOR A TD AND A 14 POINT SWING AND THE STEELERS CLAIM THEIR 6TH SB TROPHY; AND THEN, JUST THIS PAST FEBRUARY, THE SAINTS COMPLETELY CHANGED THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR DEFENSE TO ANNOY...PESTER..AND HARRASS THE INVINCIBLE PEYTON MANNING TO ALLOW THE SAINTS TO MARCH TO THEIR 1ST SB VICTORY.<br />
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THOSE 3 REMARKABLE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCES WASN'T THE RESULT OF GREAT TALENT..LUCK..OR HAPPENSTANCE..NO NO NO...IT WAS WORK..IT WAS SOUND GAME-PLANNING..AND HOURS OF PRACTICE<br />
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ITS PRACTICE WHERE THE FUNDAMENTALS ARE LEARNED...AND EVENTUALLY MASTERED..AND IT IS THE FUNDAMENTALS OF EACH POSITION THAT EACH PLAYER CARRY IN THEIR TOOLBOX...AND CARRY TO EACH GAME<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>DRILLING THE FUNDAMENTALS...OUR TOOLBOX</b></span><br />
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THESE NEXT 2 PRACTICES HAVE TO BE CRISP...SHARP..LEARNING IS NEVER TOO LATE...<br />
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AND THE OFFENSE ISN'T IMMUNE TO OUR NEED TO PRACTICE..ALL OFFENSES ARE BASED ON PRECISION AND TIMING..WE ARE A PASS BASED OFFENSE...ONE NOT TOO DISSIMILIAR TO THE ONE THAT BILL WALSH MADE FAMOUS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">30 ANNI FA</span></b> IN SAN FRANCISCO...DO YOU THINK JERRY RICE AND JOE MONTANA JUST SHOWED UP AND MADE MAGIC?<br />
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OUR RHYTHYM AND TIMING HAS BEEN HURT BY OUR BAD FIELD...BAD FOOTING..DEPTHS OF ROUTES THAT AT TIMES ARE PURE GUESSWORK...WHEN THE OFFENSE CLICKED IN SAN FRANCISCO THE BALL NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND..WE NEED EVERY MINUTE OF PRACTICE TIME WE CAN GET UNDER THE CLEAR WARMING <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CIELO</span></b> TO IMPROVE OUR PRECISION AND TIMING..<br />
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AND TO THE PLAYERS CREDIT...AND THE MEMORY THAT WILL ALWAYS LAST WITH ME ABOUT THIS EXPERIMENT HERE IN BERGAMO, IS THE PLAYERS HAVE NEVER ONCE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS..OR THE WORK..OR THE PRACTICE SCHEDULE..THEY HAVE TRIED TO DO WAHT IS ASKED...AND IT AIN'T EASY..<br />
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LAST NIGHT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT MOST TEAMS ARE UP AGAINST IN THIS LEAGUE..MY RIGHT GUARD...<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CHRISTIAN LUNGHI</span></i> HAS A BROKE KNEE....HE TRIED TO PRACTICE BUT COULD NOT BEND HIS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">GINOCCHIA VECCHIA</span></b>..HE ALSO CAN'T PLAY SUNDAY BECAUSE OF A WORK CONFLICT..MY GIANT, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">NUMA,</span></i> STEPPED INTO A HOLE IN WARM UP DRILLS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">SCORSO SERA</span></b> AND HIS SIZEABLE HOOF ROLLED ON THE ASTRO-ROCK AND MOMENTS LATER A BALLOON THE SIZE OF A LARGE EGG APPEARED ON HIS ANKLE...MY LEFT TACKLE, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">PIETRO</span></i>, HAS 3 PASSIONS IN LIFE...1) FOOTBALL...2) ACTING..3) CHICAS...HE IS UNSURE IF HIS PLAY THAT HE IS CURRENTLY STARRING IN IS RUNNING SUNDAY OR NOT...HE GETS PAYED TO ACT..PLAYS FOOTBALL FOR FREE...IN A RECESSION FELT WORLD WIDE..DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHERE HE MAY PLAY ON SUNDAY??..EXACTLY..HE WILL ANSWER TO STAGE RIGHT...<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">VITO</span></i>, MY IMPROVING PIANO PLAYER, A TERM GIVEN TO PLAYERS THAT CAN PLAY UP AND DOWN THE OFFENSIVE LINE, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY IF WE ADVANCE TO THE PLAYOFFS BECAUSE IT CONFLICTS WITH HIS ONE WEEK VACATION THAT HE GETS A YEAR..<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">PEPE</span></i>, MY INVESTMENT BANKER, AND OUR MOST EXPERIENCED 0-LINEMAN IS A LMTIED PRACTICE PLAYER BECASUE OF HIS ADVANCED AGE AND AN ASSORTMENT OF INJURIES...AND THATS JUST THE OFFENSIVE LINE...THESE ISSUES ARISE AT NEARLY EVERY POSITION.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PEPE...CAN THE BODY UP A LITTLE LONGER??</b></span><br />
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FORGHETABOUT THE OTHER UTILTIES THAT MAY AID IN DEVELOPMENT...TECHNOLOGY???HA!!...FILM STUDY??..HA!!...EQUIPMENT??...HA!!..BARE BONES BABY....ROLL THE PIGSKIN OUT..STRAP ON THE CHINSTRAP AND BUCKLE THE SHOULDER PADS AD GO TACKLE SOMEONE..BLOCK SOMEONE..CATCH THE DAMN BALL..<br />
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HECK OUR FIELD IS TAKEN CARE OF BY US..CHRISTIAN WAS MOWING THE WEEDS LAST NIGHT...OUR EQUIPMENT MAN, GIAMBA, LINES THE FIELD...NUMA BUILT THE OUTDORR GRILL SO THAT WHEN THE WEATHER COOPERATES WE CAN HAVE A TEAM BAR-B-QUE..<br />
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</div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">CHRISTIAN KNOWS...THE MORE YOU CAN DO....</span><br />
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IT IS OFTEN CLICHED IN SPORTS THAT .."YOU PLAY LIKE YOU PRACTICE"...YOU CAN'T JUST FLIP ON A SWITCH..SO TRUE!!..AT TIMES OUR PLAY RESEMBLES THE PRACTICES WE SURVIVED THROUGH..AT TIMES IT IS SURPRISING WE PLAYED AS WELL AS WE DID CONSIDERING HOW POOR OUR PRACTICES WERE.<br />
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IF WE CAN CARRY OVER SUNDAY THE WAY WE HAVE PRACTICED RECENTLY AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ALL THE WAY UP TO SUNDAY, I THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN SUNDAY...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>IF WE WIN SUNDAY WE CAN ENJOY MORE BAR-B-QUES</b></span><br />
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AND TO THROW OUT EVEN MORE COACHES CLICHE' SPEAK, I WON'T LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN SUNDAY..ONE GAME AT A TIME..RIGHT?..HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD THAT?<br />
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SO PRACTICE?..WHY WE TALKIN ABOUT PRACTICE??.. THAT MOCKERY ALLEN IVERSON WAS REFERRING TO IS THE REASON HE NEVER WON AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP..MAYBE THATS WHY LEBRON WILL NEVER WIN ONE..AND MAYBE THE REASON WHY KOBE AND THE LAKERS WILL MARCH ON TO ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP IS BEAUSE OF THEIR COMMITTMENT TO THE PRACTICE REGIMEN<br />
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DOES ANYONE KNOW THE WAY TO CARNEGIE HALL?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> HOW ABOUT THE WAY TO STADIA COMMUNALE??</b></span>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-45641110161539340762010-05-11T02:03:00.000-07:002010-05-11T07:01:09.841-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 21: ALPINITHEY CAME!<br />
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WOW...DID THEY COME!<br />
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"WHO...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CHI SONO?"</span></b><br />
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NOT BY THE HUNDREDS..<br />
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"WHO "...YOU ASK?<br />
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THEY CAME BY FOOT<br />
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"WHO"??<br />
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THEY CAME BY <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">AUTOMACHINA</span></b><br />
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NOT BY THE THOUSANDS...NO NO NO NO...NOT THIS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">GRUPO</span></b><br />
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THEY CAME BY MULE...THEY CAME BY JOHN DEERE TRACTORS...THEY CAME BY <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">VOLO..</span></b><br />
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"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">IO DICO...A DOMANDE</span></b>"...I DEMAND TO KNOW<br />
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THEY EVEN CAME BY <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">BICICLETA</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ALPINI....TRAVELLED BY ANY..AND..ALL MEANS</span><br />
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AND THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH..FROM THE SOUTH...EAST AND WEST...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">LORO</span></b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">VENGIAMO TUTTI</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">THROUGH THE SMALL TOWNS THEY CAME</span><br />
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DID I MENTION THEY CAME YET?<br />
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THEY CAME ..NOT BY HUNDREDS...NOT BY THOUSANDS...NO NO......THEY CAME BY THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS...<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">BENVENUTI ALPINI!</span></b>!!!!....WELCOME ALPINI<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">THEY CAME BY JOHN DEERE TRACTOR</span><br />
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THIS WAS AN EVENT<br />
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A 3 DAY EVENT<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ALPINI</span></b>...ENGLISH..THE ALPINES...THEY ARE MONTAIN GOATS IN A MILITARY UNIFORM WITH FUNNY SHAPED HATS...THEY ARE ELITE MOUNTAIN WARFARE SOLDIERS OF THE ITALIAN ARMY...THEY ARE THE OLDEST MOUNTAIN INFANTRY IN THE WORLD..THEIR ORIGINAL MISSION WAS TO PROTECT ITALY'S NORTHERN BORDER WITH FRANCE AND AUSTRIA...THEY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN WW1 WHEN THEY FOUGHT A THREE YEAR WAR WITH THE AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE AND WITH GERMANY..IT IS KNOWN FAMOUSLY HERE AS THE WAR OF SNOW AND ICE<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ALPINI...MOUNTAIN FIGHTERS OF ITALIAN ARMY</span><br />
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PERHAPS THATS WHY THEY WERE UNFAZED BY THE NOT SO KIND RAINY DAMP AND COLD CONDITIONS THAT MET THE HALF MILLION PARTGOERS THIS WEEKEND..IN FACT THESE ARE THE VERY SAME CONDITIONS THAT THEY ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH..<br />
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EACH YEAR THEY PICK A DIFFERENT CITY IN ITALY TO COME AND CELEBRATE THEIR HERITAGE..THIS YEAR IT WAS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">BERGAMO.</span></b>..IF YOU HAVE BEEN ATTENTIVELY FOLLOWING THIS WORLD FAMOUS BLOG YOU NOW KNOW GEOGRAPHICALLY THAT BERGAMO IS A WEALTHY INDUSTRIAL CITY 40 CLICKS TO THE EAST OF MILAN..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">MILANO</span></b> IS KNOWN FOR BANKING AND FASHION..BERGAMO IS KNOWN FOR FACTORIES..BLUE COLLAR DIRT AND GRIT..AND THEIR ESTEEMED<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"> CITTA'</span></b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ALTA</span></b>..THE CITY AT THE TOP BUILT BY VENETIAN HANDS 500 YEARS AGO AND A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD..<br />
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IT WAS ALSO THE DESTINATION OF THE 500000 PEOPLE THAT DESCENDED UPON BERGAMO THIS WEEKEND TO HONOR THEIR BILLY GOATS...BERGAMO WASN'T BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE CROWD...SO IN EVERY TONY AND RURAL HAMLET THAT SURROUNDS BERGAMO THE FESTIVE CROWD CAME..AND PARTIED..AND CELEBRATED..AND SHOWED THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THAT THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ALPINI</span></b> HAVE DONE<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ALPINI..A 3 DAY GRANDE FESIVA</span><br />
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IN STEZZANO..IN COLOGNOLO..AND MOZZO....IN PONTE SAN PIETRO..AND TREVIOLO..AND SERIATE.....AND EVERY OTHER SMALL RURAL TOWN IN A 20 CLICK RADIUS TO BERGAMO YOU COULD FIND THE ALPINI AND THE LEGION OF FRIENDS AND WORSHIPERS<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">RAGAZZI WITH MIKE BRAD AND TRAVELDOG</span><br />
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WOW!!!...WHAT A <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CELEBRAZIONE.</span></b>..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">FANTASTICO</span></b>..IT WAS A FESTIVAL THAT RIVALED ANYTHING I HAVE BEEN TOO..CARNIVAL IN BRAZIL.MARDI GRAS IN NAWLINS'..SAN FERMIN IN PAMPLONA...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CARNEVALE IN VENEZIA</span></b>...AND ON AND ON.<br />
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BEER..AND VINO FLOWED..MAYBE EVEN SOME VODKA AS WELL..MIXED WITH A FEW RED BULLS TO KEEP THE BLEARY EYES OPEN A LITTLE LONGER..BUT JUGS AND JUGS OF VINO FOR SURE..AND MUSIC..AND PARADES..AND COSTUMES AND FLAGS...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">DECORAZIONE</span></b>..BIG AND SMALL AND COLORFUL FLAGS EVERYWHERE HONORING THE MOUNTAIN BOYS<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">N </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"> F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">G</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">S </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">U</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I</span><br />
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GOT TO THINKING DURING THE CELEBRATION ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN THE STATES TOWARDS OUR MILITARY..WE DO THE PARADES..WE DO THE FLAGS AND THE SALUTES AND THE FLY OVERS..WE HONOR ON HOLIDAYS LIKE VETERANS DAY AND DURING OUR I<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">NDEPENCIA</span></b> ON JULY4TH...BUT WE DON'T HAVE AND EVENT LIKE ALPINI.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ALPINI IN WHOOLY MAMOUTH CAMAFLOUGE</span><br />
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WHERE THE SOLDIERS THAT HAVE SACRIFICED FOR OUR FREEDOMS..FOR OUR PROTECTED BORDERS..FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY..WE REALLY DON'T GO ALL OUT AND STAGE A CELEBRATION THE WAY BERGAMO DID FOR THEIR ALPINI...JUST A TREMENDOUS NATIONAL OUTPOURING OF APPRECIATION<br />
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AND MAYBE WE SHOULD..MAYBE WE SHOULD PICK A CITY EVERY YEAR AND HONOR ALL 4 MAJOR BRANCHES OF OUR SERVICE AND ALL OF THE SPECIALTY FORCES...AND MAKE THEM FEEL SPECIAL..OVER THE TOP SPECIAL..DRINKS ARE ON THE HOUSE KIND OF SPECIAL..AND PHOTOS AND UNIFORMS..AND CRAZINESS...AND LET THE FESTIVAL BE THEIR FESTIVAL....JUST NAME IT..."ARMED FORCES!!!IT COVERS ALL BRANCHES AND SAYS IT ALL..<br />
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MAYBE I SAW WHAT I WANTED TO SEE..IT WAS OVER THE TOP..AND DRUNKENNESS WAS ON DISPLAY...LIKE IN THE BOB MARLEY SONG WHERE HE SINGS.."THE COLD GROUND WAS MY BED LAST NIGHT AND A ROCK MY PILLOW."..TRULY THE GROUND WAS MANY A SOLDIERS BED THIS PAST WEEKEND..TENTS AND SLEEPING BAGS AND WINNEBAGOS LINED THE STREETS AND THE SIDEWALKS AND THE PASTURES FOR MILES AROUND<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ALPINI......</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A PARTY TO REMEMBER...</span><br />
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BUT THE FUNNY HATS AND THE MEN THAT WORE THEM WILL BE REMEMBERED..I RATHER ENJOYED THE WEEKEND...PROBABLY CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING BUT THATS WHY WE TAKE THE PHOTOS AND SHOOT THE VIDEOS...SO WE CAN PIECE ACTIVITIES TOGETHER THE MORNING AFTER<br />
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LOST IN ALL OF THIS 72 HOURS OF FRENZIED CELEBRATION WAS THE LIONS VICORY OVER THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">BOLOGNA WARRIORS</span></b> BY THE CLOSE SCORE OF 38-33...VICTORY WAS CLOSER TO THE JAWS OF DEFEAT FOR MOST OF <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">POMMERIGIO DOMENICA.</span></b>..IN FACT WE WERE ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION ALL DAY AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING..<br />
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YOU SEE, WE HAD OUR "ITALIAN MOMENT" THAT SUSPENDED THE ACTION FOR WELL OVER <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">TRENTI MINUTI</span></b>...FOOTBALL IS A VIOLENT GAME AND THATS WHY AT EVEY NFL GAME THEIR ARE 2 AMBULANCES...ITS A REALITY SHOCKER THAT DEFINES THE BRUTALITY OF THE SPORT..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">PREGAME....TAPING THE WING DOWN</span><br />
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WHEN A DEFENSIVE BACK OF THE WARRIORS WENT DOWN THERE WAS A HUSH THAT FELL OVER THE SPARSE CROWD...HE MAY HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OUT...CONCUSSION PERHAPS?..MOMENT OF POSSIBLE PARALYSIS??..ALL CAUTION WOULD BE TAKEN..THE STRETCHER AND AMBULANCE WERE HAILED..A TEAM OF MEDICS AND ADVISORS CAREFULLY LAID THE WARRIOR INSIDE THE AMBULANCE AND MOMENTS LATER THE SIRENS AND FLASHING RED LIGHTS WERE HEADED TO THE<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"> OSPEDALE.</span></b><br />
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THE PROBLEM WAS WE ONLY HAD ONE AMBULANCE...PERHAPS THE OTHER WAS BEING USED TO TAKE CARE OF <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ALPINI</span></b>..WHO KNOWS??..BUT WE WERE SHORT AN AMBULANCE.. .PLAY COULD NOT RESUME UNTIL THE AMBULANCE RETURNED..THE TEAMS EMPTIED THE FIELD AND HEADED TO THE LOCKERROOMS..SIDE BY SIDE THE LIONS AND THE WARRIORS MINGLED..NERVOUSLY..WITH ADRENALIN SUSPENDED RIGHT IN THE VERY VEINS THAT HAD THE WARRIORS UP BY 5 POINTS WITH A FULL 4TH QUARTER LEFT TO PLAY<br />
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WHAT TO DO??..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">ASPETI ASPETI</span></b>..WAIT AND WAIT...NERVOUSLY WAITING..THEN TO DISCOVER AN ITALIAN RULE THAT IS NOT EXECUTED OFTEN, IF EVER AT ALL..IF THE AMBULANCE WOULD NOT RETURN IN UNDER 30 MINUTES THEN THE GAME WOULD BE CALLED.AS IN ENDED...AS IN FINISHED<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">POSTGAME .....WEREN'T SURE IF WE WOULD FINISH</span><br />
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AND IF THAT LAW WAS INVOKED THE LIONS WOULD HAVE LOST AND WE WOULD BE FINISHED..<br />
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DRAMA AND SUSPENSE FELL UPON US...JUST AS THE RAIN THAT HAD THREATENED ALL DAY BEGAN TO FALL UPON US..THIS IS NO WAY TO LOSE..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">DOVE AND QUANDO</span></b> WOULD THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">DAMN</span></b> AMBULANCE RETURN??<br />
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MEANWHILE PLAYS..NEW PLAYS WERE BEING DRAWN UP IN THE CROWDED LOCKERROMS..ASSIGNMENTS PASSED AROUND..INSTANT REVIEWS CALCULATED TO PREPARE FOR THE ANTICIPATED 4TH QUARTER TO RESUME<br />
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AND RESUME IT DID..A MAGICAL CATCH BY T-MAZE GOT US INTO POSITION TO SCORE THE GO AHEAD TD..THE DEFENSE WOULD PREVAIL AND WE SNATCHED A MUCH NEEDED WIN TO STAY IN PLAYOFF CONTENTION..IT ALSO STOPPED THE HEMORRAGING OF A 3 GAME SLIDE<br />
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AS FOR T-MAZE..IT WAS HIS FINAL GAME WITH US..HE IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE NOT NAMED VAN PELT..HE IS HEADED TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA OF THE 2ND YEAR UFL WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A GOOD SALARY..HE IS A VERY TALENTED PLAYER AND AN ALL AROUND GOOD GUY..QUIET..UNASSUMING..HUMBLE..HE WAS A DIFFERENCE MAKER EACH TIME HE TOUCHED A BALL, OR DEFENDED A PASS..HE WAS IN THE TRAINING CAMP OF THE BALTIMORE RAVENS IN 2007..ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T EARN A ROSTER SPOT ON THE TALENTED REX RYAN DEFENSIVE FRONT, HE DID OCCUPY A LOCKER NEXT TO RAY LEWIS...HE LEARNED MUCH ABOUT PREPARATION AND HOW TO BE A PROFESSIOANL FROM RAY RAY..AND IT SHOWED DURING THE 6 WEEK STINT THAT HE WAS HERE<br />
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WE WILL MISS HIM...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ANDREA' AND T-MAZE....LAST GOOD-BYES</span><br />
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AS FOR THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ALPINI</span></b>..THE CELEBRATION IS FINISHED..THE SMALL TOWNS ARE BACK TO BEING SLEEPY HAMLETS...THE ACTIVE ALPINI ARE BACK PATROLLING THE RUGGED MOUNTAIN TOPS OF AFGHANISTAN WHERE THEY ARE PRESENTLY DEPLOYED HUNTING DOWN TALIBAN..THE CELEBRATION GOES TO VERONA NEXT YEAR...THE HISTORICAL ROMANESQUE TOWN POPULARIZED BY SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIET...STOP BY..THE MEN IN FUNNY HATS ARE A FUN AND LIKEABLE BREED..AS ARE THEIR ADMIRING FANS AND FRIENDS..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ALPINI IN FUNNY HAT LEFT THEIR MARK</span>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-44170129021719540082010-05-05T05:03:00.000-07:002010-05-05T05:10:00.137-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 20: DEFEAT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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FINALLY!<span id="goog_1792283893"></span><span id="goog_1792283894"></span><br />
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</div><div>I'M BAAAACK...THE BLOG HAS RETURNED...MY WORLD WIDE FAN BASE IS HAPPY</div><div><br />
</div><div>AH..BUT THE BERGAMO LIONS?</div><div><br />
</div><div>LOSERS OF 3 STRAIGHT..THE LATEST THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT IN BOLZANO, ITALIA TO THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>BOLZANO GIANTS</b></span> BY THE SCORE OF 43-40..HEARTBREAKER</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMS6PTrPRd1X44CaKZsew6vkZmPaIJNm-u-KXK7OxjnPGNDRnJs0uh30aLhur31X4NLdcOB7Sd9GxksIqesYcktryiS2MyVBg-DVlgPEd8fgJtLBrrb1jv8A37Ujm_gS0vOB0VvI_8NQY/s1600/P5010142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMS6PTrPRd1X44CaKZsew6vkZmPaIJNm-u-KXK7OxjnPGNDRnJs0uh30aLhur31X4NLdcOB7Sd9GxksIqesYcktryiS2MyVBg-DVlgPEd8fgJtLBrrb1jv8A37Ujm_gS0vOB0VvI_8NQY/s320/P5010142.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>BOLZANO GIANTS..43-40 WINNERS...UGH!!!</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>THIS IS THE BERGAMO BLUES</div><div><br />
</div><div>NOW I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A ST. LOUIS RAM..A DETROIT LION..AN OAKLAND RAIDER...</div><div><br />
</div><div>THE SAGES THROUGHOUT TIME HAVE STATED EMPHATICALLY, "DEFEAT ISN'T BITTER IF YOU DON'T SWALLOW IT..".</div><div><br />
</div><div>WE TRIED NOT TO SWALLOW..THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE REASON THE 3 HOUR BUSRIDE HOME THROUGH THE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">DOLOMITI MONTAGNI</span></b> WAS SO QUIET..QUIET AS A CHURCHMOUSE CAUGHT IN THE CATECOMBS OF AN <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">ANTICA BASILICA ITALIANI</span></b>..IN FACT OUR COLECTIVE PULSE WAS ON THE VERGE OF NEEDING CARDIAC SHOCK TREATMENT</div><div><br />
</div><div>YES, WE ARE ON LIFE SUPPORT...WE ARE INJURED..WE ARE SPLINTERED...WE ARE IN DOUBT...DISARRAY WOULD NOT BE A POOR DESCRIPTION</div><div><br />
</div><div>THIS NOT WHAT JOHN GRISHAM WROTE ABOUT IN PLAYING FOR PIZZA..THIS IS NOT FUN..THIS IS NOT THE EXPERIENCE ANY OF US SIGNED UP FOR WHEN WE STARTED THE SEASON..NO NO NO!</div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT THIS IS SPORT..THIS IS REALITY...THIS IS LIFE..ONE MIMICKS THE OTHER..</div><div><br />
</div><div>HOW DID WE GET HERE?</div><div><br />
</div><div>WHEN I LEFT YOU A <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">SCORSO MESA</span></b>..WE HAD WON 4 IN A ROW AND WERE HAVING A JOYOUS TIME..HOW DID THE FORTUNES GET OVERTURNED..</div><div><br />
</div><div>I DIGRESS FOR GOOD REASON..WHILE AWAY I WENT TO WORK FOR THE NFLNETWORK IN PREPARATION FOR THE NFL DRAFT..2 WEEKS OF OVERANALYSIS..OVERHYPE...OF MAKING GOOD TV OUT OF THIN AIR..CREATING NEW STARS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT LIES IN THE HEART OF AY OF THESE POST TEANAGE ATHLETES.</div><div><br />
</div><div>THATS OK..I ENJOY THE PROCESS...WILL SAM BRADFORD BE MORE TROY AIKMAN..OR MORE DREW BLEDSOE, OR WORSE YET..MORE SIMILAR TO DAVID CARR..NO ONE KNOWS..</div><div><br />
</div><div>FOOTBALL IS UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS...THE MOST UNIQUE BEING THAT IT IS THE ONLY SPORT WHERE NOTHING YOU CAN DO OR ASSIMILATE CAN REPLACE THE SKILL OF PLAYING..IN OTHER WORDS, SAM BRADFORD CAN HAVE A PRIVATE WORKOUT AND COMPLETE 57 OF 59 PASSES AND THE MASSES IN ATTENDANCE CAN BE WOWED...WOWED LIKE THEY WERE WHEN JEFF GEORGE THREW ...WOWED WHEN RYAN LEAF THREW...NONE OF IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE..HOW ACCURATE ARE THEY WHEN JAMES HARRISON IS AT THEIR THROAT AND WHAT KIND OF DECISIONS DO THE MAKE WHEN JARED ALLEN IS CHASING THEM FOR THEIR ADULT <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LA</span></b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">VITA</span></b>..PERIOD!!!THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW IF ANY OF THESE QB'S CAN PLAY..AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLUM QB THAT CAN DO THESE 2 THINGS THEN YOU CANNOT COMPETE!!!AND THAT GOES FOR EVERY OTHER POSITION ON THE FILED INCLUDING KICKING AND PUNTING..THATS WHY JEFF FEAGLES, MY PUNTER IN PHILLY 18 YEARS AGO, JUST RETIRED AT AGE 44.</div><div><br />
</div><div>THIS GETS ME BACK TO THE BERGAMO LIONS...HOW ARE WE SUCKING THE BERGAMO BLUES??</div><div><br />
</div><div>IT STARTS WITH OUR QB, BRAD VAN PELT..HE HYPEREXTENDED HIS LEFT KNEE AND ROLLED HIS LEFT ANKLE OVER 3 WEEKS AGO..HE IS OUR BEST PLAYER...HE IS ALSO OUR KICKER AND OUR PUNTER AND WITHOUT HIM WE ARE LIKE THE RAMS AND THE RAIDERS..A TRY HARD GROUP WITHOUT THE KEY INGREDIENT.</div><div><br />
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</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VAN PELT...INJURED....STILL PLAYED</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>WE HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH CARLO PLAYING QB..ALL OF 20 YEARS OLD AND AN ICREDIBLE ATHLETE HE PLAYED WELL..HE WOULD THROW THE GAMES FIRST TD PASS...MORE ATHLETE THAN QB, LIKE MANY CHOSEN IN THE NFL DRAFT, HE WAS ONCE A NEAR 7 FOOT HIGH JUMPER WHILE ONLY 14 YEARS OLD..ONE OF THE BEST IN ALL OF ITALY WHILE NARY A TEENAGER.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br />
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</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>CARLO....WOULD THROW GAMES 1ST TD PASS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br />
</div><div>WE WOULD SUBSTITUTE THE QB WITH THE WILDCAT, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE MIAMI DOLPHINS HAVE DONE WITH GREAT SUCCESS THE LAST TWO SEASON..BRADLEY ROBINSON WOULD PLAY THE ROLE...B-ROB HAS MAD SKILLS..AND WOULD CREATE MANY GOOD PLAYS...UNTIL HE TWEAKED HIS HAMMY IN THE 2ND QUARTER.</div><div><br />
</div><div>VAN PELT WOULD ENTER AND LEAD...ON ONE LEG..WITH A LIMP AND SOME SALTY DETERMINATION HE HAD A PRETTY GOOD DAY..WE MISSED HIS IMPROVISATION AND EVEN MORE..WE MISSED HIS GAMBA A DESTRA</div><div><br />
</div><div>WE WOULD OUTSCORE BOLAZANO 6 TD'S AND A FG TO THEIR 6 TD'S..BUT WOULD LOSE 43-40..THE REASON IS WE WOULD CONVERT ONLY 1 MEASELY XTRA POINT TRY ON OUR 6 TD'S..</div><div><br />
</div><div>NO EXCUSES!</div><div><br />
</div><div>BOLAZANO HAS A REPUTATION AS A TEAM TO MIX IN A FEW POWERFUL VITAMINS IN THEIR<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> CIBO</span></b>...LETS JUST SAY THAT WHILE WE LINEUP TO GET OUR PASSPORTS CHECKED BEFORE THE GAME, WE DO NOT LINE UP AFTERWARDS TO HOLD A CUP IN OUR HAND IN FRONT OF THE URINAL....THE SAME VITAMINS THAT OUR CONGRESS INVESTIGATED WITH THE NAMES OF MARK McGUIRE, RAFAEL PALMEIRO AND ROGER CLEMMONS..NOT TO MENTION THE OVERGROWN FOREHEAD OF BARRY BONDS OR THE POPEYE FOREARMS OF SAMMY SOSA...YOU DO KNOW WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS..SI SI???</div><div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS</b></span><br />
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</div><div>YET WITH THE ARTIFICIAL STIMULANTS SWALLOWED BY BOLZANO OUR OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYED THEIR BEST GAME..I PENALTY WOULD MAR ALMOST A VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE...ASSIGNMENTS WERE EXCELLENT..EFFORT WAS EVERYWHERE...ADJUTMENTS WERE HANDLED WITH ALACRITY...AND POISE WAS ON DISPLAY..AS THEIR COACH I WAS PROUD..</div><div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PEPE...AND THE O-LINE...A NEAR VIRTUOSO</b></span><br />
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</div><div>ON DEFENSE WE HAD OUR ASSORTMENT OF ERRORS...WE DRESSED OUR AGED BRIGADE..A PROUD UNIT OF VETERANS WHO MOSTLY ACT AS COACHES NOW DONED THE UNIFORM..FOR ROBERTO AND DAVIDE' AND LUCCA..ALL IN TO THEIR 40'S..THIS IS A PROUD ADN GRITTY UNIT...THEY ONCE WERE THE MIDDLE OF THE LINEUP TAT WON 12 STRAIGHT FOOTBALL AMERICANO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND A TRIFECTA OF EURO BOWLS..</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PFFzSxIncSYkMX0E24rprQ_lDzh4b9bpurS2vC6QXFWkkJpo4hFNSsq9CwdVgfz5G_W9PNNIg8it1JKwNt1uL8zMFfdtPw7lGV8U_vStpkr33qk5swr9RqFOUIuiglcF6sl835U4l-WU/s1600/P5010134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PFFzSxIncSYkMX0E24rprQ_lDzh4b9bpurS2vC6QXFWkkJpo4hFNSsq9CwdVgfz5G_W9PNNIg8it1JKwNt1uL8zMFfdtPw7lGV8U_vStpkr33qk5swr9RqFOUIuiglcF6sl835U4l-WU/s320/P5010134.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>DAVIDE'...PREGAME..WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED</b></span><br />
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</div><div>ROBERTO IS AMAZING..NOW AT 42 ANNI, AND A WORKER IN A STEEL MILL FOR 8-10 HOURS A DAY..HE IS MADE OF IRON..HIS DAY IS SIMILAR TO THE TROJANS THAT BUILT PITTSBURGH 50 YEARS AGO..HE HAS THE WOUNDS AND THE SCARS AND THE BATTLEFIELD MEMORIES OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN IN A HOT STEEL ZONE...WHEN NOT SAWING RIBBONS OF METAL ALL DAY IS A DOTING FATHER OF TWIN OTTO ANNI RAGAZZI...FOOTBALL IS HIS RELEASE AND HE WAS OUR BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER ON SATURDAY NIGHT..</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ltY2C93Re57rGiYblDTPv3MYJg8Y025GHnjHtFXoprgwfM2dVSrYI-xSPG8ws7zzGdwBOi2jji9X_23eEd6IXylc1QprsruDBlBjqS_SFYfSG9Dma9bTd6NHZUvPnp35qmYQuFPfVMgz/s1600/P5010125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ltY2C93Re57rGiYblDTPv3MYJg8Y025GHnjHtFXoprgwfM2dVSrYI-xSPG8ws7zzGdwBOi2jji9X_23eEd6IXylc1QprsruDBlBjqS_SFYfSG9Dma9bTd6NHZUvPnp35qmYQuFPfVMgz/s400/P5010125.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>ROBERTO..42 ANNI...STILL GOTTA A 1ST STEP</b></span><br />
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</div><div>NOT LOST ON THE ARTIFICIAL SURFACE OF BOLZANO STADIUM WAS THE INJURY BUG THAT HIT US HARD..BROKEN LEGS AND ROLLED ANKLES AND THIGH BRUISES TOOK THEIR TOLL ALONG WITH OUR PUNCTURED PSYCHE..WE UNLOADED FROM THE BUS AT 3AM LOOKING LIKE A BATTERED FOOTBALL TEAM</div><div><br />
</div><div>WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?</div><div><br />
</div><div>"HE WHO HAS HEALTH HAS HOPE, AND HE WHO HAS HOPE HAS EVERYTHING."</div><div><br />
</div><div>VAN PELT AT 80 % GIVES US HOPE...T-MAZE AND B-ROB CAN INFLICT INSTANT WOUNDS ON ANY OPPONENT..ROBERTO AND LUCCA AND DAVIDE' WILL PATCH P AND PERFORM AND PLAY WITH ANGER AND PURPOSE</div><div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> B-ROB AND T-MAZE....PLAYMAKERS</b></span><br />
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</div><div>THAT IS A START</div><div><br />
</div><div>ALREADY IN THAT PARAGRAGH THEIR IS OPTIMISM..WHEN WE WIN OUR FINAL 4 CONTEST WE WILL LEAVE BELL'ITALIA CHAMPIONS..THAT WAS OUR GOAL WHEN WE ARRIVED OVER 3 MONTHS AGO..IT IS STILL IN OUR GRASP....WE MAY HAVE TO PLAY LIKE SUPERMAN...THE EFFORT HAS TO LIKE THAT OF WILL..HE DRVES 2 HOURS EACH WAY EACH DAY FROM TORINO JUST TO BE A PART OF THE TEAM..AND WHEN HE IS THERE HE IS A DIFFERENCE MAKER</div><div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>WILL DA TORINO....GREAT EFFORT AND COMMITTMENT</b></span><br />
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</div><div>WHEN WE DO WIN IT ALL, ALL OF THIS LOSING...AND ALL OF THE BLUES..AND ALL OF THE SPLINTERING WILL BE FORGOTTEN...WINNING IS A WONDERFUL DEODORANT</div><div><br />
</div><div>FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN CHECKING IN ON THIS AMAZING BLOG, THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE..I ENJOY WRITING THIS..FOR YOU...WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE IT WOULD FEEL A LITTLE EMPTY..BETTER DAYS ARE COMING..BE PREPARED FOR A MAGIC CARPET RIDE OF A FINISH</div>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-48513627373284633452010-04-06T15:45:00.000-07:002010-04-06T15:58:38.979-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 19: GIARGI<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">GIARGI</span></b> IS AN ETHNIC SLUR USED BY ITALIANS TOWARDS ALL ALBANIANS..TRANSLATED, I CAN'T PRINT WHAT IT MEANS IN ENGLISH..ITS NOT NICE..ITALIANS DON'T LIKE ALBANIANS...THEY ARE STEREOTYPED AS CONNIVING THIEVES WHO CAN'T BE TRUSTED....GIARGI IS A MUCH WORSE SLUR THAN 'WETBACK"..A DEROGATORY TERM AMERICANS USED, AND SOME MAY STILL USE, TOWARDS ILLEGAL MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS WHO CROSSED BORDERS INTO THE UNITED STATES.<br />
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TO ELTON LUTO HE COULD CARE LESS..HE IS OUR ALBANIAN...AND HIS TEAMMATES CALL HIM GIARGI.<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">.GIRAGI</span></b> WITH ABSOLUTE AFFECTION..HE IS POPULAR WITH HIS FELLOW LIONS...IN FACT I WOULD BET NOT MANY EVEN KNOW HIS NAME IS ELTON LUTO...WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO CALL ELTON LUTO HE WILL GREET YOU WITH A SMILE AND A JOKE..EASYGOING MAY BE A WORD TO DESCRIBE<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>GIARGI....THE KID LOVES THE SPORT</b></span><br />
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THIS IS HIS STORY, FROM WHAT I HAVE GATHERED OF IT THUS FAR..HE IS INTERESTING TO ME LIKE MANY OF THE LIONS<br />
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GIARGI DOESN'T LIKE MUCH..DIDN'T LIKE SCHOOL...HE QUIT BEFORE HE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL....DOESN'T LIKE GONG TO THE PAELESTRA AND PUMPING IRON...IN FACT THE ONLY APPARENT MUSCLE THAT HE HAS IS HIS PROTRUDING STOMACH MUSCLE..THEN AGAIN WHEN HE DID WORK HE WAS A CHEFF..AN ACCOMPLISHED ONE AT THAT...HAVE YOU SEEN MANY IN SHAPE CHEFFS??.MOST ENJOY SAMPLING THEIR WORK..HE QUIT THAT JOB SO HE COULD CONCENTRATE ON BALL.. .DOESN'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND..DOESN'T LIKE HIS MIDDLE BROTHER..SAYS HE STEALS HIS CIGARETTES FROM HIM, ALTHOUGH HE DOES LIKE HIS YOUNGER BABY BROTHER.MOM AND DAD ARE HARD WORKERS AND THEY ARE PROVIDING FOR HIM NOW.<br />
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WHAT HE DOES LOVE IS FOOTBALL...IT GRIPPED HIM AS A YOUNG TEANAGER...NOW ALL OF 21 HIS LIFE IS FOOTBALL..HIS TEAMMATES KNOW HE IS CRAZY..WILL HIT ANYTHING THAT MOVES..TAKES PRIDE IN BEING THE WEDGEBUSTER ON KICKOFFS..HE CAN BE SEEN RECKLESSLY THROWING HIS BODY INTO AS MANY GUYS WITH DIFFERENT COLOR SHIRTS AS HE CAN..A SUICIDE BOMBER..MY DAD USED TO REFER TO THE GUYS LIKE GIARGI AS "NUTSQUADERS"..THAT FITS ELTON.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>GIARGI...OUR NUTSQUADER....WEDGEBUSTER</b></span><br />
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HE IS A LINEBACKER FOR US..WEARS #34...IF YOU GO ONTO HIS FACEBOOK PAGE YOU WILL SEE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOOTBALL PICS..VIDEOS..AND FOOTBALL CONNECTIONS...I SMIRKED WHEN A SAW HE WAS IN DICK BUTKUS' FANCLUB AND SENDS HIM MESSAGES NOW AND THEN..HIS PREGAME INSPIRATION COMES FROM A SONG CALLED "FIRST BREATH AFTER COMA" SUNG BY THAT POPULAR GLOBALLY KNOWN GROUP.."EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY"..I HIT THE VIDEO LINK AND THE FIRST SHOT IS BRIAN DAWKINS AS AN EAGLE GIVING ONE OF HIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PEP TALKS IN A PREGAME HUDDLE..GOT ME JACKED UP THE WAY RAY LEWIS DOES A RUNNING BACK ...WHICH HAPPENED TO BE THE NEXT SHOT IN THE VIDEO<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>ELTON WEARS #34..BIG FAN OF WALTER PAYTON</b></span><br />
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THE KID LIKES THE SPORT..WE ALL NEED SOMETHING TO SINK OUR PASSIONS INTO AND THIS KID HAS FOUND OUR AMERICAN GAME..FUNNY HOW THAT CAN HAPPEN TO AN IMMIGRANT KID FROM A COUNTRY MOST COULDN'T LOCATE ON A MAP EVEN WITH SOME HELP FROM WIKIPEDIA.<br />
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BY THE WAY IF YOU TRAVEL TO THE BOOT OF ITALY..PICK A TOWN..BARI..BRINDISI..AND LEAVE FROM ANY OF THEIR ROCKY BEACHES AND SWIM DUE EAST ACROSS THE ADRIATIC SEA YOU WILL LAND ON ALBANIAN SHORES..A PLACE CALLED TIRANA IS THE CAPITAL... ALBANIA IS ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND..HAS A POPULATION SOMEWHERE NEAR 4 MILLION PEOPLE..<br />
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IT ALSO IS POOR..VERY POOR..THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS UNDER $4000 DOLLARS A YEAR..UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH..IN FACT THERE ISN'T EVER MUCH WORK THERE..GIARGI SAYS THAT MEN IN ALBANIA WITHOUT JOBS WAKE UP AND BEGIN DRINKING GRAPPA THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY.<br />
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THATS WHY THE ALBANIANS COME TO ITALY..THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WORK..THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY..THEY ARE IN SEARCH OF A LIFE..JUST LIKE MOST IMMIGRANTS ANYWHERE..THEY COME TO ITALY WITH REPUTATIONS OF THIEVES..UNTRUSTWORTHY..CRAZY..WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET WHAT THEY WANT..A REPUTATION THAT MANY IMMIGRANTS CARRY ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD<br />
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THUS, THE UNFLATTERING NAME OF <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">GIARGI.</span></b><br />
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BUT ELTON HAS FOUND HIS WAY..I MENTIONED HE IS A CHEFF..BEEN COOKING IN FINE RESTRAUNTS SINCE HE WAS 14..SCHOOL WASN'T HIS CALLING<br />
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I STARTED A COOKING CLUB..COOKING WITH GIARGI..HE WAS HERE AT VILLA MORONI LAST WEEK AND WENT TO WORK..THERE WAS THE TUNA MARINARA SAUCE OVER PASTA RIGATONI..THE RISOTTO WAS PERFECT..THE LEFTOVERS WERE EVEN BETTER.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>GOOD LBer.....BETTER CHEFF</b></span><br />
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LIKE AL CHEFFS, HE HOVERED OVER THE STOVE LIKE A PARENT PROTECTS HER 9 MONTH OLD THAT IS JUST GETTING MOBILE...CRAWLING EVERYWHERE ... CANNOT TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">BAMBINI</span></i> NOT EVEN FOR A SECOND..SO IT WAS WITH GIARGI OVER THE STOVE..ADDING BROTH TO THE MIX..ADDING A VARIETY OF SPICES..NO RECIPES..JUST THE TASTE TEST.<br />
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THEN CAME THE FINAL TEST..AT THE TABLE HIS EYES WERE GLUED TO MYSELF.VAN PELT AND HIS GIRLFRIEND..NOT EVEN A BLINK..JST A STARE AT ALL 3 AT THE SAME TIME..WHAT WOULD THE FIRST TASTE BE LIKE???<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>COOKING WITH GIARGI.....MAKES IT LOOK EASY</b></span><br />
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HIS EYES WERE BLANK..RESULTS..FLAVOR..TEXTURE..""DO YOU FREAKING LIKE MY WORK OF ART??""..THE ANSWER OVERWHELMINGLY WAS YES YES YES..DELICIOUS.<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">.MANGIA MANGIA</span></i>..ITALIAN COOKING IS REALLY SO SIMPLE..THE KEY ARE THE FRESH INGREDIENTS WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN ALMOST EVERY <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">ALIMENTARI</span></i> IN ITALIA..THEN ITS JUST UNDERSTANDING THE TASTE AND HOW HOW TO MIX INGREDIENTS TO WAKE UP ALL OF YOUR TASTE BUDS<br />
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DURING THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CLASSE IL CUCINO </span></i>THERE WERE THE STORIES..THE HISTORY..WHY FOOTBALL?..WHEN DID HE SART PLAYING?..FOR WHAT REASONS?...WHY WHY?? ..WHY HE QUITS WORK DURING THE FOOTBALL SEASON TO CONCENTRATE ON THE GAME..THE CRAZINESS CAN POP AT ANY TIME..HE CAN OPEN BEER BOTTLES WITH HIS TEETH EASIER THAN IF YOU HAD TO ONLY TWIST OFF THE CAP...LIKE ALL ITALIANS THERE IS ALWAYS A TIME FOR A CIGARETTE BREAK...USUALLY FOR ELTON IT IS BETWEEN NAPS..POSTGAME AND POSTPRACTICE..HE SAYS SOMEDAYS HE SMOKES A PACK A DAY, WHILE ON OTHER DAYS HE MAY NOT SMOKE AT ALL..HE HAD A STICK GOING SOON AFTER OUR WIN VS CATANIA A FEW WEEKS AGO..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">GIARGI</span></b> MADE IT KNOWN THAT HE HAD 2 SACKS THAT DAY.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NATURAL BOTTLE OPENER..HE GOT SKILLS</b></span><br />
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AND SO FOR THE LIONS GIARGI IS AN IMPORTANT PART TO THE DEFENSE THAT HAS BETTERED ITSSELF EACH WEEK..A MONTH AGO WE SURRENDERED 49 POINTS TO THE PARMA PANTHERS..LAST SATURDAY IN OUR WIN VS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">VALENCIA DI SPAGNA</span></b> WE HELD THEM TO 21 POINTS.WE ARE GETTING BETTER.<br />
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OUR FRIENDLY, FUN, ALBANIAN IMMIGRANT IS ENJOYING HIMSELF..HE IS DOING WHAT HE LOVES...THE GAME IS IMPORTANT TO HIM..HE SHOWS UP TO EVERY PRACTICE READY TO WORK..WILL DO WHATEVER THE COACHES ASK OF HIM..VERY GOOD ATTITUDE.WE ARE CULTIVATING YOUNGER PLAYERS TO CARRY ON A 27 YEAR TRADITION OF WINNING LION FOOTBALL..I THINK GIARGI IS A PART OF THAT FUTURE<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>BERGAMO LIONS BANER..A WINNING TRADITION</b></span>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-54466346239408942382010-04-04T09:45:00.000-07:002010-04-04T09:45:04.674-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 18: BUONA PASQUAHAPPY EASTER EVERYONE..I HOPE THE EASTER BUNNY FOUND HIS WAY TO YOUR HOME...I HOPE ALL THE EGGS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED AND THAT NO ONE OVERDOSES ON THE ELABORATE CHOCOLATE BUNNIES THAT I SEE WRAPPED AND DISPLAYED IN EVERY <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">NEGOZ</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">I </span>AROUND TOWN..<br />
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IN ITALY IT IS <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">BUONA PASQUA</span></i>..HAPPY EASTER..AND IT IS A FAR MORE ELABORATE FESTIVAL THAN THE EASTER BUNNY...OR EASTER BASKETS..OR COLORING EGGS..OR A RARE CHURCH VISIT.<br />
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NO NO..IT IS THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY..IT EXTENDS BEYOND SUNDAY...IT IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY ON MONDAY AS WELL..A LONG WEEKEND..THE LARGE GROCERY FOOD CHAINS AS WELL AS THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PICOLINO ALIMENTARI </span></i>AND <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MACELLERIA</span></i> WERE BUSY ALL DAY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY....ITALY WAS CLEANING OUT THERE FOOD SHELVES THE WAY WE DO IN THE US of A DOES WHEN THE WEATHER REPORTS THAT THE STORM OF THE CENTURY IS IMMINENET...YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?..BREAD..EGGS..MILK..CASES OF BEER...THE IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS WE CAN HORD INTO THE AFTERLIFE WHEN ALL 4 INCHES OF SNOW ENDS UP FALLING<br />
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THE SHELVES WERE CLEANED IN <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">BELL'ITALIA</span></i> TO CLELBRATE..EVERY GREETING COMING AND GOING IN THIS <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PAESE</span></i> WAS MET WITH <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">BUONA PASQUA</span></i>..THEY LET THE VISITORS LIKE ME KNOW THAT THIS WEEKEND WAS SPECIAL<br />
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ITALY IS THE HOME TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH...<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CITTA' VATICANO</span></i>, WHILE SMALL IN SIZE, IS A SEPARATE PROVINCE FROM ROME..FROM ITALY..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">IL PAPA </span></b>RESIDES THERE.. THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CAPELLA SISTINA</span></i> HAS THE FAMOUS FRESCOED CEILING MAGNIFICENTLY CREATED BY MICHAELANGELO OVER A 3 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME IN THE TWILIGHT OF HIS ARTISITC LIFE..MUSEUMS AND THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS TUCKED INTO EVERY CREVICE OF VATICAN CITY...PIAZZA SAN PIETRO, ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE BASILLICAS IN THE WORLD, WAS FULL TODAY AS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">IL PAPA</span></b> DELIVERED TODAYS SERVICE TO THE MASSES OF PEOPLE WHO FLOCK TO THIS EVENT..I SAW POPE JOHN PAUL DELIVER A SERVICE ONE TIME IN THAT PIAZZA IN 6 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES OVER A 2 1/2 HOUR PERIOD OF TIME..POLISH..ITALIAN..FRENCH..PORTUGUESE..GERMAN..SPANISH WERE FLUENTLY AND SEEMLESLY WERE EXCHANGED EASILY TO STATE HIS MESSAGE..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PIAZZA SAN PIETRO...ROMA</b></span><br />
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HERE IN BERGAMO THE CELEBRATION WAS AS FERVENT AS ANY REGION IN ITALY...IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE AMAZING HOW MANY CHURCHES, CATHOLIC CHURCHES, THERE HERE IN <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">COMMUNE DI BERGAMO</span></i>..REPORTS VARY ON THE NUMBER, BUT 68 IS THE NUMBER I HEAR MOST..68 CHURCHES IN A POPULATION OF 120000 PEOPLE..MY ARITHMETIC IS A LITTLE ABOVE THAT OF A 5TH GRADER, BUT CALCULATIONS SAY THAT THERE IS 1 CHURCH FOR EVERY 1750 PEOPLE...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LARGE SELECTION OF CHURCHES TO PRAY IN</b></span><br />
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FROM ANY VIEWPOINT IN BERGAMO YOU CAN SEE A STEEPLE STRETCHING TO THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">CIELI </span></i> FROM ONE OF THESE STRUCTURES..ALL DIFFERENT...FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT ERAS..ALL WITH A UNIQUE HISTORY..IN MANY INSTANCES THERE ARE CHURCHES BUILT <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">ACCONTO</span></i> ANOTHER CHURCH...HERE IN MY <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">TRANQUILLO</span></i> NEIGHBORHOOD OF STEZZANO I COUNT NO LESS THAN 4 CHURCHES..COULD BE MORE..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>BASILICA SAN GIOVANNI....STEZZANO</b></span><br />
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HERE ON <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">BUONA PASQUA</span></i> IT MUST BE A DIFFICULT DECISION WHICH ONE TO ATTEND..I WONDER IF THESE CHURCHES COMPETE FOR AUDIENCE AND FOR MEMBERS..JUST CURIOUS...LIKE AUTO MAKERS DO AT AN AUTOMALL<br />
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BERGAMO IS A SPLIT CITY..CITTA' ALTA SITS HIGH ON A HILL WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS SUPPORTED BY VENETIAN WALLS BUILT OVER 500 YEARS AGO..SOME SAY IT IS THE LARGEST MUSEUM IN THE WORLD..THE NAME BERGAMO HAS A GERMAN ROOT..BERG IS DEUTSCH FOR MOUNTAIN..TRANSLATED, BERGAMO MEANS SOUL OF THE MOUNTAIN..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VENETIAN WALLS...ATOP CITTA' ALTA</b></span><br />
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THE SOUL TAKES MANY FORMS...ONE FORM IS THE MULTITUDE OF CHURCHES...LARGE, SMALL, ATTACHED TO <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PALAZZI</span></i>....DIFFERENT MATERIALS..SEMINARIES ATTACHED..ETC....I COUNTED 9 DIFFERENT CHURCHES IN A RELATIVE SMALL AREA. IN THE CITTA' ALTA...FROM THE PANORAMA THERE ARE CHURCHES EVERYWHERE..STEEPLE AND COMPANILE SIDE BY SIDE..BELL TOWERS WITH CLOCKS AND CHIMES AND VIEWS THAT GO ON IN EVERY DIRECTION.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> 1 OF 68 CHURCHES AROUND BERGAMO</b></span><br />
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BERGAMO HAS TURNED OUT MANY FAMOUS SONS...BUT NONE MORE FAMOUS AND CELEBRATED THAN THAT OF DI PAPA GIOVANNI XX111...YES, THE 261ST CATHOLIC POPE WAS BORN ANGELO GIUSEPPE RONCALLI IN SOTTO IL MONTE..A SUBERB IN BERGAMO..1 OF 14 CHILDREN, HIS FATHER, GIOVANNI RONCALLI, WAS A TENNANT FARMER...HERE IN ITALY, ANGELO GIUSEPPE RONCALLI LIVED THE AMERICAN DREAM...I OF 14 KIDS GROWING UP ON A FARM TO BECOME THE ESTEEMED AND POWERFUL LEADER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.HE WAS ALSO QUITE ACCOMPLISHED<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>BRONZE STATUE OF POPE GIOVANNI XX111</b></span><br />
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DURING WORLD WAR 11 HE HELPED THOUSANDS OF JEWISH REFUGESS ESCAPE AND FIND SHELTER..HE WORE THE RED HAT OF A CARDINAL WHILE SERVING AS THE PATRIARCH OF VENICE...WHEN THE POPE PRIOR TO HIM PASSED AWAY IN 1958, HE MADE HIS WAY TO <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">ENCLAVE</span></i> IN VATICAN CITY AT THE ADVANCED AGE OF 77..HE PURCHASED A ROUNDTRIP TICKET BACK TO VENCE THINKIG HE WOULD ONLY BE PART OF THE VOTE TO ELECT THE NEW <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">IL PAPA</span></b>..NEVER IN HIS WILDEST DREAMS DID HE THINK HE WOULD BE ELECTED..BUT ONCE CROWNED THE NEW POPE, HE WAS MERELY SUPPOSED TO BE A STOPGAP TO A YOUNGER CLERGYMAN..HE WOULD SERVE ALMOST 5 YEARS BEFORE HIS PASSING AT AGE 82.<br />
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HE IS MEMORIALIZED EVERYWHERE IN BERGAMO..STREET SIGNS AND PIAZZI AND STAUES COMMEMORATE HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS...ONE MEMBER OF THE LIONS, EZIO MARRONE, HAS POPE GIOVANNI XX11 TATOOED ON THE INSIDE OF HIS FOREARM..HE ALSO IS THE ONLY LIONS PLAYER I TALKED TO THAT WAS GOING TO GO TO SERVICE ON THIS HOLY DAY..THE OTHERS KIND OF SHRUG AT RELIGION..AT THE CHURCH...AT THE MEANING OF THE DAY..FOR MOST IT IS A DAY SPENT WITH DI <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">FAMIGLIA</span></i>..TO ENJOY A FEAST..TO TRAVEL ONE MORE TIME TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR SKIING...TO VISIT THEIR WINTER CABIN...TO LABOR DOWN TO <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">TOSCANA </span></i>TO PREPARE THEIR SUMMER HOUSE..A LONG GETAWAY..<br />
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PERHAPS THE MOST IMPOSING OF THESE CHIESI IS THAT OF BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE..IT ANCHORS THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PIAZZA VECCHIA</span></i>...IT IS THE OLD SQUARE THAT SITS ATOP THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CITTA' ALTA</span></i>..LIKE MANY CHURCHES IT HAS ENORMOUS HISTORY..HISTORY OF THE CHURCH..ART HISTORY..HISTORY OF AN ERA..AND A HISTORY TO THE PEOPLE...AND LIKE THE NAME<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"> PIAZZA VECCHIA</span></i> IMPLIES IT IS ANCIENT HISTORY<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE</b></span><br />
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THE FIRST STONES IMBEDDED THAT BECAME THE FOUNDATION TO BASILICA SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE WERE LAID IN 1137 BC BY MASTER BUILDER FREDO..IT HAS AN IMPRESSIVE FACE OF ALTERNATING RED, WHITE AND BLACK MARBLE..NEXT TO IT LIES THE IMPRESSIVE<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"> CAMPANONE</span></i> (THE BIG BELL)..A TORRE THAT STRETCHES 54 METERS IN THE AIR...IN 1407 A CLOCK WAS ADDED THAT STILL TELLS PERFECT TIME TODAY..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>TORRE COMPANONE....BASILICA SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE</b></span> <br />
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THE TOWERS WERE AS IMPORTANT AS THE BASILICAS THAT THEY STOOD NEXT TO..THE TOWERS GAVE THE TOWN A VOICE..THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE TO THE TOWER WAS FOR THE BELLS THAT SWUNG INSIDE THE TOWER TO TELL THE PEOPLE OF CURFEW..TIME TO COME INSIDE BEFORE THE TOWN GATES WOULD CLOSE...AT 10 PM SHARP THE BELLS WOULD CHIME 180 TIMES IN RHYTHMIC SINCOPATION TO GIVE THE PEOPLE TIME TO GET INSIDE THE GATES..THE BELLS WOULD CHIME AT <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MEZZOGIORNO</span></i> 6O TIMES TO LET PEOPLE KNOW IT WAS HIGH NOON..IN SOME CASES THE TOWERS WERE USED AS PRISON CELLS.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>BASIILICA E' TORRE....COMPONOGLO</b></span><br />
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ONCE YOU BEGIN THE HISTORY LESSONS OF THESE MASSIVE STRUCTURES YOU BEGIN TO LEARN HOW COMPLICATED IT ALL IS...THE ITALIAN WORD FOR CHURCH IS <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CHIESA</span></i>..BUT ALONG WITH THAT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE AND SUCH A VARIETY..WHY ARE SOME A BASILICA...SOME AN ABBEY..A CATHEDRAL..SOME ARE SIMPLY A DUOMO...SMALLER CHURCHES ARE CHAPELS..THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM WAS PERFORMED IN THE BAPTISTRY..PRIEST LIVED IN THE CLOISTERS..THE CUPOLA IS THE TOP TO MANY OF THE CATHEDRALS..WHERE HEAVEN AND EARTH WERE THOUGHT TO MEET..ATTACHED TO A CHIESA COULD BE THE SACRISTY OR A TEMPIETTA OR THE CAMPIONE.<br />
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I HAVE YET TO SEE A CHURCH HERE IN BERGAMO THAT ISN'T CARED FOR..THAT ISN'T MAINTAINED..THAT HASN'T HAD OR ISN'T UNDERGOING A FACELIFT..FOR THESE BASILICAS ARE A STANDING HISTORY TO THE PEOPLE..TO THE CITY..TO A TIME GONE BY..A CONSTANT REMINDER OF HOW RELIGION..FAITH..ART..POLITICS..COMMERCE ALL COME TOGETHER AT THESE NUMEROUS SHRINES..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>DUOMO...MILANO</b></span><br />
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AS I SCOOTER AROUND THE AREA OF BERGAMO FROM COMPAGNOLO..TO STEZZANO..TO AZZANO SAN PAOLO..TO PONTE SAN PIETRO TO SERIATE I AM GREETED BY AN IMPRESSIVE STEEPLE OF A CHURCH AND THE BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS OF BELLS RINGING HIGH ATOP A CAMPANONE<br />
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I AM NOT SURE WHY 68 CHURCHES HAVE BEEN BUILT HERE IN BERGAMO...I SURMISE THAT THE ROMANS AND VENETIANS AND ALL THE OTHER CONQUERING TRIBES DID A LOT OF VERY BAD THINGS AND CONSTRUCTING CHURCHES WERE LIKE ASKING FOR FOREGIVENESS... PERHAPS IT WAS THEIR WAY TO DEALING WITH GUILT THAT COMES WITH DOING BAD DEEDS..I SEE A LOT OF REALLY SHORT OLDER LADIES GRIPPING THEIR ROSARY BEEDS HARD EACH MORNING AS THEY RECITE THEIR RITUALS OF PRAYERS..IT LOOKS PAINFUL SOMETIMES HOW HARD THEY PRAY..I NEED TO GET THEIR ATTENTION ONE OF THESE DAYS TO SEE IF MY SOUL CAN BE INCLUDED IN THEIR INTENTIONS..CAN'T HURT<br />
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MAYBE SOME OF OUR INTENTIONS ARE BEING HEARD DURING DAILY MASS HERE IN BERGAMO AS THE LIONS WON OUR THIRD STRAIGHT GAME YESTERDAY..<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">VALENCIA DI SPAGNA</span></i> CAME INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH AN UNDERMANNED ROSTER OF 23 PLAYERS AND NEARLY BOUNCED US OUT OF THE EURO CUP OF FOOTBALL AMERICANO..IT TOOK A LAST DRIVE GROUP EFFORT OF HEROICS TO WIN A NAILBITER 27-22..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LIONS TAKE FIELD VS VALENCIA.....</b></span><br />
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IT ALLOWS US TIME NOW TO ENJOY <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">BUONA PASQUA.</span></i> IF WE DIDN'T WIN IT WOULDN'T HAVE STOPPED THE CLEBRATION, IT JUST WOULDN'T BE AS FERVENT...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VALENCIA FIREBATS..POSTGAME HANDSHAKE</b></span><br />
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I REALIZE I WENT SHORT ON FOOTBALL AND HEAVY ON HISTORY TODAY, BUT WE PLAYED UGLY FOOTBALL YESTERDAY..IT TOOK THE COLLECTIVE PRAYERS FROM 68 CHURCHES...THE GRACE OF GOD..AND MAYBE EVEN SOME HELP FROM THE EASTER BUNNY TO WIN..<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">BUONA PASQUA</span></i> EVERYONE..ALLOW THE CELEBRATION TO CONTINUE..Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-85022670642707459272010-03-28T13:32:00.000-07:002010-03-29T10:50:23.677-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 17: CATANIA...THE OLD AND THE NEWIF YOU WANT TO WITNESS A CIRCUS WATCH A PROFESSONAL FOOTBALL TEAM TRAVEL THROUGH AN AIRPORT TO PLAY A GAME...J. LO, BRAD PITT, PARIS HILTON, GEORGE CLOONEY CAN'T HOLD THE CANDLE OF ATTENTION TO WHAT PIETRO, NUMA, CHRISTAIN AND LUCA DID GOING THROUGH ITALIAN SECURITY ON SATURDAY MORNING...NO NO NO..THE STARES...THE GASPS...THE OMG'S...WERE IN FULL DISPLAY..ANIMALS IN THE CIRCUS..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>THE CIRCUS COMING THROUGH THE AIRPORT</b></span><br />
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OF COURSE WE ARE JUST OVERGROWN KIDS..THEY CAN BE A COACHES NIGHTMARE..WHO WOULD SHOW?..WHO WOULD MISS THE PLANE?..PASSPORTS?..ANYONE LEAVE THE CRIB WITHOUT THEIR'S?...RESPONSIBLE FOR PACKING YOUR OWN GEAR..WHO WOULD FORGET THEIR HELMET?..THE SHOULDER PADS?..KINDA HARD TO DELIVER A BlOW ON THE GRIDIRON WITHOUT THOSE...SECURITY LINES AROUND THE CORNER?..WHAT THE HECK..CUT IN FRONT..WHO'S TO ARGUE?..NOTHING LIKE SEEING A DEFESIVE LINEMAN'S MUG SQUEEZED INTO A MIDDLE SEAT IN COACH CLASS..AREN'T THOSE SEATS RESERVED FOR THE GOATS AND CHICKENS..OR THE MIDGETS OF THE WORLD?<br />
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THE MORNING TRAVEL WOULD PRODUCE NO ISSUES...NO SURPRISES..ALL HANDS ON DECK...WE ALMOST APPEARED LIKE A PROFESSIONAL OUTFIT..COULD THIS REALLY BE THE BERGAMO LIONS EMBARKING ON A TRIP TO PLAY A GAME THAT DAY WITH NO ONE MISSING?<br />
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OUR DESTINATION WOULD BE A LAND OF ULTIMATE CONTRASTS...FROM THE AIR YOU CAN SEE A SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAIN ON A SUNDRENCHED ISLAND...THATS A CONTRAST..THE LARGEST ISLAND IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA IS SEPARATED BY LESS THAN 10 MILES OF SEA TO HER MOTHERLAND..HOW COULD THIS LAND PRODUCE BOTH A BLOODTHRSTY<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"> LA COSA NOSTRA</span></i> (OUR BUSINESS) THE<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"> MAFFIOSA</span></i> BORN OF <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">MONREALE</span></i> AND CLOSE TO THE CITY OF <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">CORLEONE</span></i>, POPULARIZED BY MAURIO PUZZO'S <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">IL PADRINO</span></i>...AND YET MAKE THE SWEETEST PASTRY KNOWN TO MANKIND..THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">CANOLI</span></i>?...WHERE CITRUS FRUITS OF BLOOD ORANGES, LEMONS, AND LIMES ARE AS PLENTIFUL AS THE THE SOUND OF HORNS HONKING IN MIDDAY CITY TRAFFIC....WHERE PEOPLE ARE SHORT AND THE DAYS ARE LONG...WHERE THE NARROW CITY STREETS OF PALERMO, CATANIA AND MESSINA ARE CHOKED WITH BUMBER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, WHERE RULES AND LAWS ARE MERELY A SUGGESTION WHILE THE COASTLINE IS DOTTED WITH COUNTLESS COLORFUL PEACEFUL FISHING BOATS THAT HAVE NEVER GONE FASTER THAN THE OAR CAN ROW...THIS IS<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> S</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">C</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">Y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">.</span></b>..THIS WAS OUR DESTINATION..<br />
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CATANIA, SICILY TO BE EXACT...WARM AIR AND BRIGHT SUNSHINE GREETED US UPON LANDING..ALREADY THE MOODS BRIGHTENED...IF THIS IS GAMEDAY TRAVEL THEN LET THE CONTRAST TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SURVING IN, AN EXTENDED MISERABLE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">INVERNO</span></i> IN BERGAMO, CONTINUE..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>MT ETNA TOWERS OVER CATANIA AT ALL TIMES</b></span><br />
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BUT HERE IS WHERE THE ITALIAN LEAGUE OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL AND THE "ITS JUST ITALY" TOOK OVER..THE STADIUM WE WOULD PLAY IN, 2 1/2 HOURS FROM KICKOFF WAS 15 MINUTES AWAY..SO WHAT DID WE DO?..OUR BUSDRIVER WOULD TAKE US 10 KM IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THROUGH THE CENTER OF TOWN AROUND THEIR PORT OF CATANIA IN PARKING LOT TRAFFIC..WHICH WOULD TAKE 1 1/2 HOURS SO WE COULD GET A GOOD LUNCH AT A TRATTORIA WITH <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">TYPICO</span></i> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">SICILIANI CIBO</span></i>...CROQUETTES OF FRIED RICE WITH MOZZARELLA AND TOMATO SAUCE WAS TO DIE FOR...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">N</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">C</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">N</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">..</span></i></span>..BUT FOR A PREGAME MEAL WITH KICKOFF TO TAKE PLACE IN AN HOUR?..I CAN JUST IMAGINE THE BLOOD VESSELS THAT WOULD POP IN BILL PARCELLS' BRAIN IF THE NEW YORK GIANTS TRIED SOMETHING LIKE THIS BACK IN HIS HEYDAY.<br />
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BUT IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS WORLD FAMOUS BLOG YOU KNOW THAT THE BERGAMO LIONS DO NOT COMPLAIN..NEVER...EVER..ABOUT ANYTHING..NOT FROM MY EARS ANYWAY..AMAZING, AND ITS THE QUALITY I LOVE MOST ABOUT THE TEAM..THERE WERE PLAYERS THAT STARTED THE DAYS JOURNEY IN THE SOUTH OF ROME AT 1AM IN THE MORNING AND WOULD DRIVE OVER 5 HOURS TO REACH THE BERGAMO AIRPORT TO TRAVEL WITH THE TEAM...SO A GOOD LUNCH ON WHAT FELT LIKE A SIGHT SEEING TOUR OF DOWNTOWN CATANIA DIDN'T SHAKE ANYONE UP<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>KICKOFF CAN WAIT...PREGAME MEAL TO ENJOY FIRST</b></span><br />
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OF COURSE OUR BUS DRIVER DID THE ITALIAN THING OF MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME..REDLIGHTS?...STOP SIGNS?...THEY ADHERE TO ONLY 1 RULE..NO <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">PEDONALE...NO FERMATA.</span></i>..TRANSLATED...NO PEOPLE..NO STOP..ONCE AT CUS STADIUM ON THE CAMPUS OF CATANIA UNIVERSITY WE WOULD CHAT WITH THE OFFICIALS WHO WOULD BEND THE STARTING TIME FROM 1:30...TO A NEW START TIME OF 2:15..LOCKERROOMS UNDERSIZED..ILL-EQUIPED FOR 45 FOOTBALL PLAYERS..NO PROBLEM..JUST TAKE THE UNI'S OUTSIDE AND CHANGE IN BROAD-DAY-LIGHT..MAKESHIFT TRAINING ROOM ..VOILLA..PREPARATION WAS UNDERWAY..US AMERICAN COACHES WERE CONCERNED...ARRIVE LATE..PREGAME MEAL OF SICILAIN FAVORITES...80 DEGREES IN STRONG SUNSHINE...PLAYING AFTER TRAVELING ALL-DAY..WHO WOULDN'T BE CONCERNED??..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NO TRAINING ROOM..NO PROB..FLOOR IS PERFECT</b></span><br />
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CUS STADIUM WAS A GARDEN SPOT....IT APPEARED TO BE WEDGED BETWEEN THE MAR MEDITERRANEAN AND THE SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAIN OF MT ETNA...AT NIGHT THE VLCANO THAT IS AT THE PEAK OF MT ETNA WOULD BE BILLOWNG SMOKE , REMAINS FROM AN ACTIVE VOLCANO THAT OVERFLOWS WITH LAVA INTO THE NEIGHBORING TOWNS EVERY DECADE OR SO..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>MT. ETNA SNOWCAPPED VOLCANO RISES IN BACKDROP</b></span><br />
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OH YEAH ANOTHER WORRISOME THOUGHT HAD CREEPED INTO OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCHES ALL WEEK LONG..THE CATANIA ELEPHANTS HAD JUST SET AN ITALIAN LEAGUE RECORD OF SCORING 81 POINTS THE PREVIOUS WEEK VS BOLZANO GIANTS, LAST YEAR'S LEAGUE CHAMP..81 POINTS..NOT AN NBA SCORE...OR AN ARENA LEAGUE SCORE..NO NO..BOLZANO WOULD FIRE THEIR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AFTER THAT DEBACLE..WE WITNESSED ALL 81 POINTS IN GAMEPLANNING FOR THIS WEEKS CONTEST<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>CATANIA SCORED A RECORD 81 PNTS A WEEK AGO</b></span><br />
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IT WOULD BECOME A FABLE OF THE OLD AND THE NEW...I<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">L VECCHIO E' I</span></i>L <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">NUEVO</span></i>...JOINING THE RANKS WOULD BE SOME BERGAMO VETS WHO WERE PART OF 12 STRAIGHT ITALIAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS...LUCCA AND ROBERTO WOULD TRAVEL, DRESS. AND PLAY...LUCCA IS 45 YEARS OLD..I FIRST MET HIM AS A SPRY, SUPERHUMANSTRONGMAN WITH THE BARCELONA DRAGONS OF THE WORLD LEAGUE OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN 1997..THAT YEAR THE DRAGONS, COACHED BY JACK BICKNELL, AND LEAD BY NFL GREATS JON KITNA AT QB AND BY LA'ROI GLOVER AT DT WOULD WIN THAT LEAGUE'S CHAMPIONSHIP ON A GREAT NIGHT IN OLYMPIC STADIUM HIGH ABOVE MONJUIC VS THE RHEIN FIRE..LUCCA WASA RESERVE DT BUT A CHAMPIONS HEART..AT 45 HE STILL CAN SQUAT AND DEADLIFT WITH SOME OF THE WORLDS STRONGEST...BUT HIS SMILE AND FRIENDLY NATURE IS INFECTIOUS...HE WOULD PROVIDE STRENGTH IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DEFENSIVE WALL<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LUCCA...45 YEARS YOUNG..SMILE NEVER GOES AWAY</b></span><br />
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THEN THERE IS ROBERTO, AGE 42...WANTS TO RETIRE..BUT THE GAME STILL SUCKS HIM BACK INTO IT..BY DAY HE WORKS IN A STEEL FACTORY..HATES IT...WHO WOULD ENJOY..WHEN HE SPEAKS SPARKS OF IRON SPIT OUT..PURE GRAVEL...BUT HE HAS TWIN 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS THAT HAVE TO BE LOOKED AFTER..CARED FOR AND LOVED...SO HE DRAGS HIMSELF TO THE FACTORY EACH DAY...REMINDS ME OF MY FATHER'S ILK...STRAIGHT FROM THE STEELMLLS OF PITTSBURGH WHERE FOOTBALL IS THE GREATEST RELEASE AND THE HEALTHIEST DISTRACTION..ROBERTO IS ALSO OUR DEFENSIVE LNE COACH..BUT ON THIS WEEK WITH THIS OPPONENT..IT WAS TIME TO STRAP IT UP ONE MORE TIME..WHAT A PERFORMANCE..ONE OF OF BEST 1ST STEPS FROM ANY 42 YEAR OLD I HAVE EVER WITNESSED<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>ROBERTO 42...DREAMING OF THE WAY HE USED TO DO IT</b></span><br />
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IT WAS ALSO A DAY OF THE NEW..OUR DEFENSE GAVE UP 49 POINTS THE FIRST WEEK IN A LOSS..IT WOULD SURRENDER 42 POINTS VS ROME IN A WIN..COULD WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WHILE TRAVELLING TO CATANIA TO PLAY AN OFFENSE THAT BLISTERED ITS OPPONENT 6 DAYS AGO FOR 81?...WELCOME RICH BROWN..RICH HAS ASSUMED DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DUTIES SHARED WITH DAVIDE'..RICH HAS PUT A FOUNDATION IN PLACE..HE SPENT HOURS PREVIEWING CATANIA'S OFFNESE..A FORMER DEFENSIVE STALLWORT AT END FOR SANTA CLARA AND A TEAMMATE TO COACH COS..HE WOULD PUT INTO PLACE A MASTERFUL GAMEPLAN...PICKING UP ON KEY TENDENCIES, IT WAS TIME TO MAKE THEIR QB NO LONGER IMITATE DAN MARINO..HE WOULD RUN FOR HIS LIFE WITH THE RELENTLESS PRESSURE OFF THE EDGE.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>RICH BROWN AND COS..SANTA CLARA REUNITED</b></span><br />
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BUT THIS OFFENSE WOULD NOT SURRENDER TO RICH BROWN'S SCHEME ALONE..IT NEEDED A "SHUT DOWN" CORNER...SOMEONE WHO COULD TRAIL, FOLLOW, AND HARRASS THEIR ACE AMERICAN RECEIVER..THIS WAS THE KEY INGREIDIENT TO COACH BROWN'S FORMULA..<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">BENVENUTO</span></i> TERRELL..IF I NEW HIS LAST NAME I WOULD PRINT FOR YOU TO READ, EXCEPT I DON'T KNOW IT..NOR DOES ANYONE ELSE ON THE TEAM..YOU SEE, HE JUST ARRIVED ON <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">LUNEDI</span></i>..LAST PLAYED FOR THE LA TEAM IN THE NEWLY ERRECTED UFL THAT WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN NOVEMBER...AT PRACTICE ON MONDAY, HOURS AFTER LANDING FROM AN 18 HOUR TRAVEL DAY FROM LA, HE APPEARED BOTH JETLAGGED AND QUIET..BUT SWEET..EASY SMILE..ACTUALLY 5 DAYS LATER HIS DEMEANOR DIDN'T CHANGE AT ALL..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>TERRELL</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>...WARMI</b>N<b>G UP TO A SENSATIONAL DEBUT</b></span><br />
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ONE OF THOSE PLAYERS WHO YOU NEVER KNOW IS THERE UNTIL THE GAME STARTS..PREFERS TO LET HIS PLAY DO THE TALKING....LONG BONEY CALVES...SPAGHETTI LIKE SINEWY ARMS..SLEPT FROM THE AIRPLANE RIDE TO THE BUSRIDE THROGUH THE AIRPORTS AND TO THE STADIUM...GOT THE BODYFAT OF A HUMMINGBIRD..WOULD HE WAKE UP INTIME FOR THE KICKOFF?..OUR FOOTBALL LIVES RESTED IN HIS GIFTED HANDS AND FEET.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>TERRELL</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>...PREFERS TO LET HIS PLAY DO THE TALKING</b></span><br />
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HIS PLAY WAS SMOOTH...AND NATURAL..BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL..THE STAR AMERICAN RECEIVER FROM CATANIA WAS A NONFACTOR...ON OFFENSE WITH PLAYS HE HAD NEVER PRACTICED , HIS HANDS CAUGHT EVERYTHING..THE PARTY WOULD ONLY GET STARTED ONCE HE CUPPED THE BALL IN HIS HANDS..IT WAS A REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE..DOMINANT..NOT AN ECHO OF GLOAT..NO PRAISING THE HIGHER POWERS..NO ENDZONE CELEBRATIONS...AS QUIET IN A STUNNING VICTORY AS HE WAS GETTING OFF A JETLAGGED PLANERIDE FROM SOME OTHER PART OF THE WORLD JUST <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">CINQUE GIORNI FA</span></i>.<br />
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WE WERE DOWN 12-0 AND NOT A SPECK OF PANIC...WE HAD EM RIGHT WHERE WE WANTED THEM...FOOTBALL IS AN AMAZING GAME..WHEN YOU DON'T CATCH THE BALL AND YOU DON'T TACKLE YOU DON'T PLAY WELL..NEVER CHANGES NO MATTER WHAT CONTINENT YOU ARE PLAYING ON..AND WE WERE AWFUL THE FIRST QUARTER..BUT WE DECIDED THAT TACKLING AND CATCHING AND BLOCKING WERE IMPORTANT BY THE START OF THE 2ND QUARTER AND WE WOULD TAKE A HALFTIME LEAD OF 13-12..WE DOMINATED THE 3RD QUARTER AND WOULD STRETCH THE LEAD TO 34-12<br />
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VAN PELT CONTINUED HIS WARRIOR WAYS..HIS STORY IS COMING IN THIS BLOGOSHERE..ENOUGH CAN'T BE SAID ABOUT HIS GAMESMANSHIP, LEADERSHIP AND ABOVE ALL HIS TOUGHNESS..HE NEVER FLINCHES..HE ALWAYS TAKES A LITTLE BLOOD BEFORE HE HITS THE GROUND..FINGERS WERE SWOLLEN..GOT A 2ND AND 3RD CHIN TODAY..WASN'T PERFECT ON THE DAY ...BUT SOMETHING ABOUT QB'S FROM ANY ERA THAT WILL STAY IN THE POCKET, WAITING TO THE VERY LAST POSSIBLE SECOND TO RIFLE A BALL AT A MOVING TARGET THAT HE BARELY CAN SEE, AND AFTER HE IS SANDWICHED BY A LINEBACKER PARTY WILL, NEVER KNOW IF THE BALL IS CAUGHT UNTIL HE HEARS THE ROAR OF THE CROWD...HARD TO BELIEVE THAT EVEN AT AGE 30 HE ISN'T ONE OF THE TOP 100 QB'S IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW..I REFUSE TO BELEIVE DAVID CARR OR AJ FEELEY OR CHARLIE WHITEHURST COULD DREAM OF THIS KIDS TOUGHNESS.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VAN PELT....FINAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM COS</b></span><br />
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THE FEELING OF VICTORY NEVER GETS OLD...IT NEVER TIRES..AND THE FEELING OF A GROWING TEAM SPIRIT IS WHAT KEEPS THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">VECCHIO</span></i> COMING BACK FOR MORE..TO ROBERTO AND TO LUCCA..THANKS..IT IS NSPIRING TO SEE 42 AND 45 YEAR OLD MEN GO OUT AND PLAY A BOYS GAME...TO THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">NUOVO</span></i>, RICH AND DARRELL..NOTHING LIKE SEEING YOUR WORK..YOUR EFFORT PAYOFF IN SUCH A NEEDED SPOT<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VAN PELT AND OFFENSE BEGINNING TO CLICK</b></span><br />
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WHAT'S NEXT IS ALWAYS THE QUESTION..AT 2-1 AND A GREAT 2 GAME WIN STREAK ITS NOW TIME TO SET OUR ULTIMATE GOAL..TO BE THE BEST TEAM ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT THIS YEAR..ITS BEEN AWHILE SINCE BERGAMO COULD LAY THAT CLAIM..BUT IT IS IN OUR GRASP..THIS TEAM IS A TEAM..IT HAS A HEART..IT HAS CHEMISTRY..WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO FROM HERE?..THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN COMING BLOGS..KEEP COMNG BACK..IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET BETTERBrian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-83309666749301644612010-03-25T05:03:00.000-07:002010-03-25T05:03:06.857-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 16: NUMA....THE BLIND SIDE 2THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEIR HAS BEEN A SMATTERING OF TRULY GREAT "ONE-NAME" WONDERS....SOME HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME ..FROM THIS PART OF THE WORLD, HERE IN <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">BELL'ITALIA</span></i>, THERE WAS <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">MICHAELANGELO</span></i>....DOES ANYONE EVEN KNOW HE HAD A LAST NAME?...EVEN IF HE DID, CAN ANYONE SPELL IT?<br />
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IN THE SOCCER WORLD, THERE WERE THE MAGICAL <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">PEDI</span></i> OF PELE'..NO ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD WIDE SPORT OF <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CALCIO</span></i> WAS EVER MORE POPULAR THAN PELE"..AT THE END OF HIS BRILLIANT CAREER HE BROUGHT SOCCER TO THE US of A...THE NEW YORK COSMOS WERE BORN AND THERE WAS STILL SOME MAGIC DUST LEFT IN HIS FEET..CAN ANYONE RECALL EVER SEEING A LAST NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAZILLIAN STAR?<br />
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IN THE POP WORLD WE HAVE WATCHED THE MATERIAL GIRL REINVENT HERSELF MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">MADONNA</span></i> HAS BEEN POP SINGER, LOUSY ACTRESS, WIFE TO AN ASSORTMENT OF BOYTOYS, AND A CONSTANT LIGHTNING ROD TO THE WORLD WIDE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">PAPPAROZZI</span></i>...DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA OF HER LAST NAME?...DIDN'T THINK SO.<br />
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EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WE TRY TO GIVE STARS THE "ONE NAME" TREATMENT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THEY ARE REALLY "BIG-STARS."..IN BASKETBALL THERE HAS BEEN "BIRD"..."MAGIC"..."SHAQ"...BUT REALLY?....WE ALWAYS NEW IT WAS SIMPLY larry BIRD...MAGIC johnson AND SHAQ o'neill...NO ONE WAS FOOLED....THEY NEVER DESERVED THE "ONE-NAME' TREATMENT.<br />
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BUT.....HERE IN BERGAMO...THERE TRULY IS SOMEONE WITH THE CACHE' TO BE A "ONE NAME " WONDER..HE GOES BUY THE NAME ,,,<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b>....HE IS SIMPLY THE LARGEST ITALIAN EVER..CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME MEATBALL CHEFFS WHO HAVE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">MANGIATO</span></i> THEMSELVES OUT OF THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">LA CUCINA</span></i>...AND THERE IS THE PHENOM BASKETBALL SENSATION WITH THE NEW YORK KNICKS NAMED DANILO GALLINARI..ALL 6'9"BEANSTALK THIN <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">CORPO</span></i> WHO CAN HOOP.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>"NUMA"</b></span><br />
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NO NO NO...THIS NUMA WITH THE LIONS IS 6'9" AND 350 PLUS POUNDS...NOT FAT...NOT A BEANSTALK..JUST MASSIVE...BUT MUCH MORE THAN LARGE..OH YEAH THERE ARE THE SIZE 18 SHOES...HE HAS TO DUCK SIDEWAYS TO FIT THROUGH THE FRAME OF MOST DOORS..HE IS THE BUTT TO MANY BIGMAN JOKES...IN FACT NOT MUCH BOTHERS <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b>..ALL EXCEPT FOR ONE THING WHICH I WILL GET TO IN A LITTLE WHILE..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>ON HIS WAY TO TO PATROL BLIND SIDE</b></span><br />
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YOU SEE <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b> IS THE TYPE OF ATHLETE THAT NFL SCOUTS DROOL ABOUT...PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF ONE FOOTBALL AXIOM THAT NEVER GETS OLD..."YOU CAN'T COACH SIZE."...HOWEVER, IF HE JUST HAD SIZE I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS BLOG RIGHT NOW<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b> IS AN ATHLETE..WHAT KIND YOU ASK?..HE PLAYED PROFESSIOANL BASKETBALL HERE IN ITALY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS..AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS HE WAS REMARKABLE...NIMBLE LIGHT FEET,...DEFT SOFT BIG HANDS...VERY COORDINATED...NATURAL...AND A THE SAME WEIGHT HE IS NOW...THE 2ND NFL AXIOM ABOUT SIZE IS THIS..IF HE CAN'T MOVE IT THEN HE CAN'T CARRY IT...MEANING, PLENTY OF FAT SLOBS OUT THERE WHO CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b> CARRIES HIS WEIGHT WELL....<br />
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JUST RECENTLY THE NFL FINISHED THE SCOUTING COMBINE IN INDIANAPOLIS...THE VERY PLACE WHERE MANY TEAMS HAVE A LONG AND TORRID HISTORY OF OVEREVALUATING TALENT BECAUSE OF HOW GUYS RUN AROUND IN SHORTS AND THEY SEE HOW HIGH GUYS CAN JUMP...ALARMINGLY, HOW STUPID NFL SCOUTS ARE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MEASURING THE MEASURABLES....THE VERTICAL JUMP IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.....THE MOST EXPLOSIVE PLAYER I EVER PLAYED WITH, AND THAT IS WHAT THE VERTICAL JUMP IS DESIGNED TO MEASURE---EXPLOSION, WAS A FIRST BALLOT HALL OF FAMER...DT OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS FOR 15 YEARS BY THE NAME OF RANDY WHITE..HE COULDN'T HIGH JUMP OVER HIS HOME TOWN OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE'S PHONE BOOK.<br />
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THEY MAKE THE COMBINE INTO A MEAT MARKET...THEY ALSO ADMINISTER THE WONDERLIC TEST DESIGNED TO SEE HOW SMART PLAYERS ARE..I WONDER WHAT LT#56 OF THE NY GIANTS SCORED ON THE TEST?...OH AND THE QUESTIONS AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING...AND THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT BOYSCOUT IS ALL PART OF THE PROCESS..NONSENSE..ITS THE MOST VIOLENT SPORT ON THE PLANET PLAYED BY VIOLENT PEOPLE..NOT MANY ARE INTO STUDYING THE VIOLIN..KNOW WHAT I MEAN?<br />
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ANYWAYS I DIGRESSED TO MAKE A POINT..IF YOU PLOPPED <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b> INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE COMBINE AND LET HIM RUN AROUND FOR 3 DAYS WITH THE REST OF THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN...HE WOULD BLOW THE PLACE UP WITH SUCH A BUZZ...THIS YEAR OT IS THE POSITION THAT IS THE DEEPEST IN THE DRAFT..AS MANY AS 6 OR 7 GUYS WILL GO IN THE FIRST ROUND...I REMEMBER LAST YEARS #2 OVERALL PICK, JASON SMITH FROM BAYLOR. WATCHED HIM PLAY A COUPLE OF PRESEASON GAMES..COULDN'T BREAK AN EGG...YOU COULD PUT <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA </span></b>SIDE BY SIDE AND THE KID WILL HOLD HIS OWN.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NUMA AND GROS....MY GUYS</b></span><br />
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WHEN I RUN HIM BEFORE PRACTICE THROUGH A SERIES OF INDIVIDUAL DRILLS..THE SIZE 18 HOOFERS DANCE OVER AND IN AND AROUND OBJECTS LIKE HE IS A 7 YEAR OLD PLAYING HOP-SCOTCH IN THE STREET..NEVER A STUMBLE..NEVER A FALL..NEVER A TRIP.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>SO NIMBLE THAT HE IS A BLUR TO THE CAMERA</b></span><br />
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NOW HE IS NOT WITHOUT FLAWS...YES, HE WOULD BE A SENSATION AT THE COMBINE..WHILE HE IS A TALENTED PLAYER, HE HAS ONLY PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR 2 YEARS...HE IS RAW..HE NEEDS TO PLAY..HE NEEDS TO WORK...<br />
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MY JOB THIS YEAR IS TO SEE HOW FAR I CAN DEVELOP HIM..HE IS NOT NATURALLY AGGRESSIVE..NOT UNUSUAL FOR BIG GUYS...THE PASSIVITY CAN BE COUNTERED WITH WORK ON TECHNIQUE..<br />
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BIG PEOPLE THAT ARE TALENTED AND CAN MOVE ARE A COACHES DREAM..JOHNATHAN OGDEN WAS THE BEST IN RECENT HISTORY...FREAKISHLY LARGE, BUT NIMBLE..COULD SURF...6'9", UNLESS THE AFRO WAS STANDING TALL..HE COULD APPEAR ALMOST 7"...THE SCALE AT THE RAVENS TRAINING CAMP WAS AN OLD MEAT LOCKER SCALE AND TOPPED OFF AT 350.."J.O." WOULD STEP ON AND OFF JUST TO MAKE SURE HE WAS STILL OVER 350..BUT AS PASSIVE AND NICE AND SOFT SPOKEN AS ANY NERD YOU HAVE EVER MET<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b> IS SIMILAR.....<br />
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I ASKED HIM LAST SUNDAY BEFORE OUR GAME WITH THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">LAZIO MARINES</span></i> IF HE EVER GETS PISSED OFF?...HE GLANCED DOWN AT ME WITH HIS MENACING FURROWED BROW...HE PAUSED...FOR A LONG TIME...HE PONDERED...I PATIENTLY WAITED ON WONDERING IF HE HAD A HOT BUTTON I COULD PUSH TO GET HIM MORE AGRESSIVE...THEN HE SPOKE...FIRST THEIR WAS THE TWINKLE IN HIS <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">OCHIALL</span></i>I...THEN THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH WAS PIERCED...THEN HE BREATHED DEEPLY AND SAID...FINALLY..."YES, THERE IS ONE THING THAT REALLY UPSETS ME..WHEN PEOPLE TOUCH MY BIKE."..YOU SEE ITS A HARLEY DAVIDSON...AND ITS HIS PRIDE AND JOY..AND NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO LAY THEIR GRUBBY <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">MANI</span></i> ON IT.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>ITALIAN HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK</b></span><br />
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OFFENSIVE TACKLES ARE HARD TO FIND...THE REALLY GOOD ONES ARE QUIETLY AGRESSIVE...THEY DON'T START CAMP FIGHTS..THEY MAY FINISH THEM..QUICKLY..BUT THEY DON'T START..THEY DON'T TALK ALOT..THEY LET THEIR PLAYING DO THE TALKING..<br />
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THEY ARE BASICALLY GRAZERS...THEY GUARD AND PATROL A 3 BY 3 YARD AREA...THEY WALK A LOT TO AND FROM THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE...THEY KEEP THEIR YARD CLEAN...QB PROTECTION IS THEIR GAME..THEY ARE LIKE ELEPHANTS IN THE SERENGHETTI...FAMILY MEMBERS..HANG WITH THEIR GROUP..NEVER IN TOO MUCH OF HURRY..SNACK ON BRUSH..BUSHES...HERBIVORES...CARRY PEOPLE EFFORTLESSLY ON THEIR ENORMOUS BACKS..FUN..AND PLAYFUL....UNTIL...THERE IS DANGER...AND INSTANTLY THEY CAN RUN SWIFTLY WITH ALMOST ANY ANIMAL IN THE KINGDOM..AND TRUCK ANYTHING IN THEIR WAY<br />
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THIS IS THE MINDSET OF OFFENSIVE TACKLES ...THE GOOD ONES IN THE NFL...JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE...COACHES LOVE THIS MENTALITY..THE GOOD ONES DON'T LIVE IN THE WEIGHT ROOM TRYING TO BUILD UP THEIR BODIES..TRYING TO LOOK PRETTY..THE SZE AND STRENGTH AND DISPOSITION IS NATURAL..THINK OF OGDEN...RUNYAN..TRA THOMAS...AND PERHAPS THE BEST EVER..WALTER JONES..PEACEKEEPERS..UNTIL DANGER STRIKES..THEN WATCH OUT..<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span></b> IS EXACTLY LIKE THIS<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> NUMA.....OUR PEACEKEEPER</b></span><br />
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HOLLYWOOD MADE A VERY GOOD MOVIE THIS YEAR CALLED THE "BLIND SIDE."..VERY GOOD MOVIE ABOUT A LARGE ATHLETIC KID FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS..GETS AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRACKS WITH A FAMILY WHO GIVES HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE COACHED AND LOVED AND VOILA!...A STAR WAS BORN..HE NAME IS MICHAEL OHRER..<br />
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HE PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT OLE MISS..I ANNOUNCED HIS FINAL COLLEGE GAME WHEN OLE MISS PLAYED TEXAS TECH IN THE COTTON BOWL..I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET AND TALK WITH HIM...SOFT SPOKEN..ARTICULATE..SMART..AND FIERCELY COMPETITIVE..WHEN OZZIE NEWSOME MOVED TO DRAFT HIM WITH THE RAVENS 1ST PICK LAST SPRING IT WAS CLASSIC OZZIE...HARDLY EVER A MISTAKE WITH THEIR FIRST PICK..AND OHRER WAS VERY VERY GOOD IN HIS ROOKIE CAMPAIGN..<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">WILL NEVER BE A 1ST ROUND PICK...AND HOLLYWOOD WILL NOT COME TO BERGAMO LOOKING TO MAKE A SEQUAL..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NUMA</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> IS NOW 29 YEARS OLD...IS A PHYSICAL THERAPISTS HELPING PEOPLE RETURN FROM INJURIES...HE IS PLAYING FOR THE LIONS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ...FOR FUN ..FOR COMPETITION...FOR COMRADERIE..</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VERY VERY COACHABLE......A NATURAL</b></span><br />
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BUT TO ME...HE IS MY BLIND SIDE PROJECT....THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT WONDERS WHAT IF THE NFL GOT A HOLD OF THIS FREAKISH ATHLETE 10 YEARS AGO...BEFORE BASKETBALL...IN HIS YOUNG PRIME..WITH HIS RARE SKILLS...COULD HE HAVE BEEN THE PRODUCT OF A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE..WE WILL NEVER KNOW....FOR NOW I WANT HIM TO GET READY FOR, IRONICALLY ENOUGH, THE CATANIA ELEPHANTS..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NUMA....PREGAME..NEED HIM TO PLAY BIG</b></span><br />
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OH YEAH....HE HAS A LAST NAME...NUMA MALGARINI.....AND LEAVE YOUR HANDS OFF HIS BIKE...Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-6076113874646859782010-03-22T18:00:00.000-07:002010-03-23T10:10:26.026-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 15: OUR FIRST WINI COULD FILL THIS BLOG TODAY WITH NOTHING ELSE BUT QUOTES PASSED ON THROUGH THE ERAS ABOUT WINNING..WE HAVE HEARD THEM SO MANY TIMES FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE BEYOND CLICHES'..HERE ARE A FEW AT THE TOP OF THE NOGGIN' AS I WRITE, "WINNING ISN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, ITS THE ONLY THING."..."WINNING IS THE BEST DEODORANT."..."WINNING ISN'T A SOMETIME THING, ITS AN ALL-TIME THING."...GOERGE S. PATTON WAS QUOTED ONCE SAYING, "WARS MAY BE FOUGHT WITH WEAPONS, BUT THEY ARE WON BY MEN. IT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE MEN WHO FOLLOW AND OF THE MAN WHO LEADS THAT GAINS THE VICTORY.'"<br />
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</div><div>I AM LOOKING FOR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT SUNDAYS VICTORY VS THE LAZIO MARINES MEANS...IT WAS BEYOND THRILLING..DOWN 8 WITH UNDER 3 MINUTES TO GO IN THE GAME, WE WOULD SCORE TWICE, A TOTAL OF 9 POINTS, TO SQUEAK OUT A 43-42 VICTORY FOR OUR SEASONS FIRST WIN...WHEN THE 1-MAN BAND OF BRADLEY VAN PELT KICKED THE 25 YARD WINNER THE CLOCKS READ ZERO...THE JOY AND JUBILATION THAT IMMEDIATELY ENSUED RIVALED ANY UPSET WIN YOU HAVE WATCHED IN THE NCAA'S MEN BASKETBALL TOURNEY.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>I STRUGGLE WITH PERSPECTIVE TODAY BECAUSE WHAT DOES IT MEAN?..ITS <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">FOOTBALL AMERICANO-ITALIA</span></i>..MAYBE 400 FANS WERE THERE AT OSSIO SOTTO TO WATCH ON THE FIRST DAY OF <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">LA PRIMAVERA</span></i>, WHEN THE WEATHER LOOKED LIKE WHAT WOULD BE FORECASTED FOR ARMEGGEDON....THE FIELD WASN'T EXACTLY NFL DIMENSIONS..CHIARA, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">A REGAZZA</span></i>, WAS THE LINE JUDGE...BARELY A SPECK OF WRITEUP ABOUT THE GAME IN ANY OF THE LOCAL GIORNALI...IF WE HAD LOST WOULD ANY OF OUR LIVES BE ANY DIFFERENT?...NO, OF COURSE NOT.</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrygKiiSGm5DTvUenGpzUtpK5vR9VMcMSw4P50sZquSO8sHCSyJzxYv-Jdhb9OaJBImcuxwOGIFpYGspqZDMe9HRogj-lSqd9aFyXgtIKMpUnXj-z6F1kX5-UKeNOhlwC38pEn5mWB6Lt2/s1600-h/P3210583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrygKiiSGm5DTvUenGpzUtpK5vR9VMcMSw4P50sZquSO8sHCSyJzxYv-Jdhb9OaJBImcuxwOGIFpYGspqZDMe9HRogj-lSqd9aFyXgtIKMpUnXj-z6F1kX5-UKeNOhlwC38pEn5mWB6Lt2/s400/P3210583.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><b>CHIARA...OUR LINE JUDGE..THANKS FOR THE HELP</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div>BUT THATS NOT THE ESSENCE OF SPORT..THE ESSENCE OF SPORT IS STRICTLY THIS...<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">TO COMPETE</span></b></i>..PERIOD..TO THE BEST OF YOUR CAPABILITY...PERIOD!...REMEBER THE DAYS AT THE LOCAL SCHOOL GROUND WHEN IT WAS PICKUP BALL?..US VS THEM..ME VS YOU..YOU THINK YOU GOT GAME?..THEN BRING IT.. SUCKA!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>RECALL THE DEFEATS... WHEN ALL YOU COULD SAY WAS.." GIMME A REMATCH."..ANYPLACE..ANYWHERE..ANYTIME. AND..NEXT TIME YOU WON'T BE SO LUCKY... SUCKA!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>THAT WAS YESTERDAY..ANYPLACE..ANYWHERE..ANYTIME..IT WAS ON A LONELY FILED LOST IN SOME LONELY SUBERB OF BERGAMO..WITH A ROAR OF THE LAZIO MARINES MARCHING INTO TOWN...LETS PLAY SOME BALL...JUST FOR THE SAKE OF COMPETITION.</div><div><br />
</div><div>THATS WHERE IT GOT A HELLUVA LOT OF FUN..THE TYPE OF FUN WHERE YOUR MIND AND BODY ARE STRICTLY IN THAT MOMENT...AND THE MOMENTS..AH THE MOMENTS...SOMETIMES THEY LAST A LIFETIME..</div><div><br />
</div><div>AS THE AUTHOR OF THIS WORLD FAMOUS BLOG, ALLOW ME TO TAKE YOU BACK TO HOW IT ALL STARTED ON GAMEDAY..</div><div><br />
</div><div>I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS THE STRIKEUP OF THE BAND THAT I HEARD FIRST...OR...THE RINGING OF THE CHURCHBELLS...OR THE POP OF A GUN..THAT FIRST WOKE ME UP ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING. BUT WHEN MY EYELIDS CLEARED, THE TICK-TOCK OF THE ALARM CLOCK...<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">IL TEMPO, </span></i>WAS 7AM...A TAD EARLIER THAN I HOPED TO ARISE..HOWEVER SUNDAY MORNING WAS THE FIRST DAY OF WAKING UP IN <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MIO NUEVO LA</span></i> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CASA..VILLA MORONI</span></i>...AND I THOUGHT IN THE SLEEPY VILLAGE OF <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">STEZZANO, ITALIA</span></i> PERHAPS I COULD SLEEP IN A LITTLE TO BE WELL RESTED FOR GAMEDAY...MAYBE ON MOST DAYS, BUT NOT ON A DAY THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE BIKE RACE STARTING IN FRONT OF THE VILLA; AND WITH NO LESS THAN 1000 PARTICIPANTS...THERE WAS PLENTY OF ACTION GOING ON...</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06ht-pcnaohuD0psycrTmrWFxxHMvpQo4dGth2z2aaAmLlrtW_zQk_3od7ICO9C5tEfWuggCkmqpq-RlLg36Z0ZyGrR4NlzHRBIJCQCSide9OMK3YKANdMTHJy3ZLtVlJwBhJHS2C0KBk/s1600-h/P3010197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06ht-pcnaohuD0psycrTmrWFxxHMvpQo4dGth2z2aaAmLlrtW_zQk_3od7ICO9C5tEfWuggCkmqpq-RlLg36Z0ZyGrR4NlzHRBIJCQCSide9OMK3YKANdMTHJy3ZLtVlJwBhJHS2C0KBk/s400/P3010197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> </div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>CASA DELLA TRAVELDOG..VILLA MORONI</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT GAMEDAY IS SPECIAL..THE FOCUS..THE WALK..THE MIND..ITS ALL DIFFERENT...FOR ALL PERFORMERS AND COACHES OF PERFORMERS; WHAT IS MOST DIFFERENT IS THE BODY...ITS BUILT INTO COMPETITORS..I FELT SHARP YESTERDAY..ITS A GOOD FEELING..I WAS READY AND EXCITED..</div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT AS A FIRST TIME COACH IN A LITTLE LEAGUE FAR FAR FROM HOME...IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING I AM DOING..WHY?..BECAUSE A SMALL LEGION OF COACHES AND PLAYERS ARE COUNTING ON ME..ITS A SIMPLE RESPONSIBILITY..TO BE READY..TO BE PREPARED..TO BE SHARP..</div><div><br />
</div><div>THE DRIVE TO THE STADIUM WAS LIKE MOST DRIVES IN ITALY...FULL OF ROUNDABOUTS AND UNCERTAINTY AND FAST RECKLESS DRIVERS EVERYWHERE..THEY SAY THAT TO DRIVE WELL IN ITALY YOU KEEP ONE HAND ON THE WHEEL AND <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">LA OLTRE MANI </span></i>ON THE HORN....GARMIN HASN'T INVENTED A GPS SYSTEM YET THAT CAN GET YOU FROM A TO B IN ITALY WITHOUT BEING DIVERTED..</div><div><br />
</div><div>EVEN WITH THE DIRECTION PROBLEMS, WE WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO ARRIVE..REMEMBER WE ARE SHARP GUYS..US AMERICAN COACHES...COACH COS WANTED A SPECIAL SESSION WITH THE RB'S TO REVIEW PASS PROTECTION FROM A NEW 2 BACK SET..</div><div><br />
</div><div>ITS AMAZING HOW QUICKLY TIME PASSES HANGING AROUND A STADIUM ON GAMEDAY..WE ARE ALL CHATTY CATHY'S AND WILL TALK TO ANYONE..BROCK OLIVO, IS A FRIEND, WHO IS ALSO THE COACH OF THE LAZIO MARINES...WE SHARED COACHES SPEAK WITH THE ISSUES THEY HAVE THAT ARE SIMILAR TO OUR OWN..PLAYERS PASSED BY..WE EYE-BALLED THEIR STAR DEFENSIVE END...THEIR QB ARRIVED FROM THE STATES ONLY ON MONDAY..HOW READY WOULD HE BE ?..THEIR AMERICAN WIDE RECEIVER PLAYED AT WAKE FOREST, WHERE MY 2 BROTHERS STARRED, AND WAS A FRIEND OF ONE OF THE GREAT WR'S IN OUR NFL WHO ALSO IS A DEAMON DEACON..RICKY PROEHL.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHez4-RWvKdeIblL7sGLhk0POHwssB_ADk8OC22TTyHUV7MSE6kgYsSDce8njQTQffubh5AdRdO0avawltlCQ4gNF1utyNAiMlzOn0ItXQVUJLoBWtX2vrJ8XHvz9ZU7-D3Q00Z-XM7qg/s1600-h/P3210554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHez4-RWvKdeIblL7sGLhk0POHwssB_ADk8OC22TTyHUV7MSE6kgYsSDce8njQTQffubh5AdRdO0avawltlCQ4gNF1utyNAiMlzOn0ItXQVUJLoBWtX2vrJ8XHvz9ZU7-D3Q00Z-XM7qg/s400/P3210554.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LAZIO MARINES TAKE THE FIELD</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT ALL THE WHILE ...THE NERVES ARE LIKE A BOX OF COAT HANGERS..WE WERE 0-1...THEY WERE 0--1..WHICH TEAM WOULD LEAVE 0-2?..IN THE NFL TO BE 0-2 IS A DEATH MARCH..WHILE ITS NOT SO LARGE A HOLE THAT YOU CAN'T DIG YOURSELF OUT; THE PROBLEM IS WITH TEAMS CONFIDENCE..WHEN DOES IT SHATTER?..ESPECIALLY WITH A TOTALLY NEW STAFF..WHEN 0-2, A TEAM CAN'T HELP BUT QUESTION THE LEADERSHIP.</div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT WE WARMED UP WELL...WE WERE CRISP..THE OFFENSIVE LINE, MINUS RT GUARD, "GROS".,.HAD GOOD BOUNCE AND FOCUS..NUMA WOULD MAKE HIS FIRST START AT LEFT TACKLE..HE WASN'T AT ALL NERVOUS..</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigookYfNHaG4rVBgSIGJpePD8A8r2oYG8mMjRyfUmVNzH1sqxV0VKVq_VSbkUE7HSzChv2rHN_jnZLZOdSPuq04cNu4KOlNozqIklNqJAxkC2MA_PSzpQ76GC4g9lKSMpok3Hj6jRSgUN3/s1600-h/P3210540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigookYfNHaG4rVBgSIGJpePD8A8r2oYG8mMjRyfUmVNzH1sqxV0VKVq_VSbkUE7HSzChv2rHN_jnZLZOdSPuq04cNu4KOlNozqIklNqJAxkC2MA_PSzpQ76GC4g9lKSMpok3Hj6jRSgUN3/s400/P3210540.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NUMA..</b></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>A QUICK "STICK" PREGAME TO CALM THE NERVES</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>PIETRO WOULD START AT RIGHT GUARD...SHOULD I WORRY WHEN HE SHOWED UP BARELY AN HOUR BEFORE KICKOFF??..A PROFESSIONAL ACTOR, HE IS MADE FOR THE STAGE..I WASN'T WORRIED</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-CW9h_lO5KmyDbfTBS1jwyCm4SajhFlrq3Z6CvpQpof8zbDqOtfddGrvo3R3WDtDOFb_0X7j5pXVwSkZIsmLfGVNz34YkSvU7Nl4Nz3seOLBiqHR8Lwa5R7tlP1sfsOhucl39Ty3E-KW/s1600-h/P3210539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-CW9h_lO5KmyDbfTBS1jwyCm4SajhFlrq3Z6CvpQpof8zbDqOtfddGrvo3R3WDtDOFb_0X7j5pXVwSkZIsmLfGVNz34YkSvU7Nl4Nz3seOLBiqHR8Lwa5R7tlP1sfsOhucl39Ty3E-KW/s400/P3210539.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> </div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VAN PELT AND PIETRO...PARLO ON WALK TO LOCKERROOM</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div>WHAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT IS OUR FIELD GOAL OPERATION..VAN PELT IS THE KICKER; BUT MIRKO IS THE SNAPPER AND YOUNG CARLO IS THE HOLDER...HOW CRISP WOULD THAT OPERATION BE..I MADE SURE WE GOT PLENTY OF REPS BEFORE WE STARTED..OH WHAT A PRESCIENT COACHING MOVE THAT WOULD BE.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuvKe8-S-HrS2nVZ8k9atl-JHgZj2Hb2S03KxXU48jREUIOKKclh-1tmDi4U_-UuG-SxeyRYIOcJOpt5-Q6xZVcFZCvSI8ituspOm04H6cxQIFbNTJKmhvn5xCDzJhXkG5mlVIFl6TdK-/s1600-h/P3210546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuvKe8-S-HrS2nVZ8k9atl-JHgZj2Hb2S03KxXU48jREUIOKKclh-1tmDi4U_-UuG-SxeyRYIOcJOpt5-Q6xZVcFZCvSI8ituspOm04H6cxQIFbNTJKmhvn5xCDzJhXkG5mlVIFl6TdK-/s320/P3210546.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>CARLO HOLDS..VAN PELT KICKS..PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>WE JUMPED ON THE MARINES FAST..THE DEFENSE, NONEXISTANT LAST WEEK, AND REVAMPED UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF RICH BROWN, WAS EXCELLENT..THEY MADE STOPS AND WE SCORED FAST..VAN PELT WAS SHARP AND QUICKLY WE WERE UP 14-0</div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT BY THE END OF THE 2ND QUARTER, THE MARINES HAD SURVIVED OUR ASSAULT AND THEY RESPONDED..BY HALFTIME WE WERE UP ONLY27-21..</div><div><br />
</div><div>WE HIT A FLAT SPOT IN THE 3RD QUARTER..OUR PROTECTION OF OUR QB BROKE DOWN REPEATEDLY..AND OUR DEFENSE STOPPED TACKLING, AND INTO THE 4TH QUARTER WE WERE DOWN BY AS MUCH AS 13 POINTS..QUESTIONS AND BLANK STARES WERE FAR TO OFTEN</div><div><br />
</div><div>COS WAS IN CONTROL, HOWEVER..THERE IS GREAT FUN ON THE SIDELINE MAKING CALLS, SHOUTING INSTRUCTIONS..PLEADING FOR REMINDERS, DIALOGUE WITH QB VAN PELT..WHAT IS WORKING..WHAT NEEDS TO BE KILLED..DECISIONS MADE IN MILLISECONDS THAT WOULD EFFECT THE OUTCOME..ITS SUCH A BUZZ..WHEN THE DEFENSE IS ON THE FIELD.....AND I AM FREE....HOW CAN I HELP THE OFFENSE..WHAT CAN I SAY?...OR SHOW?..OR DEMONSTRATE TO MY OFFENSIVE LINE THAT WILL HELP FOR OUR NEXT SERIES?..TEACHING..PATIENCE..MAINTAINING HOPE ALL THE WHILE..</div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT THE CLOCK WAS TICKING AND WE NEEDED THE BALL..AND PLAYS..AND SOME HELP....<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">AIUTO...AIUTO</span></i>...WE FOUND OURSELVES DOWN BY 8 WITH 3 MINUTES TO GO..VAN PELT WAS DOING IT ALL..WHAT DID HE HAVE LEFT?..HE WOULD SCORE ON AN IMPROVISED RUN/PASS OPTION WITH JUST OVER 2 MINUTES LEFT IN THE GAME..THE CROWD WAS CHEERING..FANS???..I WAS SO FOCUSED ON THE FIELD THAT I DON'T THINK I EVER LOKED UP TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY..WE WENT FOR 2, AND OUR PASS FAILED.</div><div><br />
</div><div>DOWN 2 WITH UNDER 2 MINUTES, BUT WITH A POCKETFUL OF TIMEOUTS, THE DEFENSE NEEDED A STOP..QUICKLY...AN INCOMPLETION!..WHAT WERE THEY THINKING...WHY NOT A RUN TO KEEP THE CLOCK TICKING???...CLOCK STOPPED...2ND DOWN..A CATCH BUT A GOOD TACKLE....AND ON 3RD AND 5..CLOCK RUNNING..AND THEN A SACK..TIMEOUT...4TH DOWN..PUNT..YES YES YES...27 SECONDS AND A TIMEOUT SAVED..WE WERE ROCKSTARS WITH OUR CLOCK MANAGEMENT..IF ONLY NFL COACHES COULD BE SO SHARP ON SUNDAYS IN THE NFL..HELLO ANDY REID??</div><div><br />
</div><div>VAN PELT WOULD HIT 3 STRAIGHT COMPLETIONS...9 SECONDS LEFT..A CHANCE FOR MAYBE ONE SHOT AT THE END ZONE AND THEN MARCH FIELD GOAL UNIT OUT..NO PLAY TO BE MADE..A THROWAWAY...SMART...OK FIELD GOAL UNIT..YOUR TIME TO SHINE...WE PRACTICED PREGAME <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MOLTI VOLTE</span></i></div><div><br />
</div><div>3 SECONDS LEFT..VAN PELT IS OUR FIELD GOAL KICKER..NOTHING MORE THAN AN EXTRA POINT TO WIN..SO EASY...SO AUTOMATIC..THATS WHAT WE ALWAYS SAY..BUT IS IT WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE?..LAZIO WOULD BURN THEIR FINAL TIMEOUTS TRYING TO PUT VAN PELT AND OUR WHOLE OPERATION IN THE DEEP FREEZE..THEY DON'T KNOW VAN PELT..HE WAS MADE FOR THESE MOMENTS</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXbjyAxE3v5pvRZwiaCT1VOl7vmUWdAlQHf2r88odB9QxI7k2Ncqsd9ZHmraQGDWQadtjlVuTxho-LIeOPVW0fvRn-gqXeHKb1c1UWNuptMAYLC8XP2mm_CheaP8MV59MfMM-EEtu3kUu/s1600-h/P3210580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXbjyAxE3v5pvRZwiaCT1VOl7vmUWdAlQHf2r88odB9QxI7k2Ncqsd9ZHmraQGDWQadtjlVuTxho-LIeOPVW0fvRn-gqXeHKb1c1UWNuptMAYLC8XP2mm_CheaP8MV59MfMM-EEtu3kUu/s400/P3210580.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>VAN PELT/PIETRO..GAME CAPTAINS...BOTH PLAYED GREAT</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>ON THE SIDELINES WE HAD EACH OTHERS HANDS..HOLDING TIGHTLY IN UNISON..WE WOULD WIN TOGETHER...WE WOULD LOSE TOGETHER..THE DRAMA..THE SUSPENSE..ON A FIELD SOMEPLACE FROM NOWHERE IN A LEAGUE THAT NO ONE FOLLOWS...ON A DAY WHERE THE SUN SLEPT ALL AFTERNOON UNDER A DARK CLOUD..WHAT COULD MAKE THIS KICK SEEM SO VASTLY IMPORTANT?</div><div><br />
</div><div>THIS IS THE PERSPECTIVE THAT I STRUGGLE WITH..EMOTIONS ARE SOO <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">DELICATO</span></i>..COULD THIS ONE KICK FROM VAN PELT, WHO HAD MISSED 2 ON THE DAY..ONE WAS BLOCKED AND ONE WAS SHANKED..WHAT LIE IN THE BALANCE?</div><div><br />
</div><div>THE KICK WENT PERFECTLY THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS IN A BLINK..AND IN THE NEXT BLINK THERE WAS A RELEASE OF UNPARRALLED EMOTIONS..THE TEAM STORMED THE FIELD..VAN PELT WAS THE HERO..HE WAS HIT HARDER BY THE TIDAL WAVE OF PLAYERS CHARGING, HARDER THAN HE WAS HIT ALL DAY..</div><div><br />
</div><div>THE THRILL OF VICTORY...THE AGONY OF DEFEAT..WORDS WERE NEVER MORE TRUE..LAZIO EXHALED AND WAS 0-2..WE SHOUTED AT THE HEAVENS TO BE 1-1..BUT MORE THAN THE RECORD..WE WERE CHAMPIONS OF THAT MOMENT</div><div><br />
</div><div>THE PERSPECTIVE IS SIMPLY THIS...ITS WHY WE PLAY THE GAME..ITS WHY WE ARE HERE..IN THAT BLINK OF A SECOND WE BECAME UNITED..WE BECAME A TEAM..AND THAT IS A SPECIAL FEELING..</div><div><br />
</div><div>THE CELEBRATION WOULD CARRY OVER TO THE VILLA MORONI..COACHES..PLAYERS..WIVES...GIRLFRIENDS...AS MANY AS 40-50..MAYBE MORE CAME TO CELEBRATE THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">CREATION OF A TEAM</span></span>....SI SI SI..THE BERGAMO LIONS WERE BORN TODAY; IN A PLACE...IN A TIME...ABOUT A GAME..THAT NO ONE MUCH CARES ABOUT...EXCEPT US..THANKS FOR READING AND FOLLOWING ALONG..ITS NOT EVERYDAY THAT A TEAM IS BORN</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCjp0qzPBQ6ktPxAsjNGYkmJCc6m1jjnQ9_nwXZGQ6anJ_6M9RTMZVGvQKJsO1KLSKUyTxJh0z7p4rSD8gd1tfHn5y2EfEqe8uXWdb2WwICWSQyh7X1fV0dqKqBjATtCpVkFP9wYyXWxP/s1600-h/P3210613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCjp0qzPBQ6ktPxAsjNGYkmJCc6m1jjnQ9_nwXZGQ6anJ_6M9RTMZVGvQKJsO1KLSKUyTxJh0z7p4rSD8gd1tfHn5y2EfEqe8uXWdb2WwICWSQyh7X1fV0dqKqBjATtCpVkFP9wYyXWxP/s400/P3210613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>POST GAME PARTY AT VILLA</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> ALWAYS BETTER AFTER A WIN..OUR 1ST WIN</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF-2GNkte-bhUGaOuYIhdfAWTpdNs1jeAryReNzTXdRmNrAE7a1IXqh_RnBqjwdJswuVCdG9xw25o-E9YzRcACvEznmG3aXYEsZl1QilfU8PkgHcHnyYdmKKDKRmgIMLirjNXxF8lwwKX/s1600-h/P3210611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF-2GNkte-bhUGaOuYIhdfAWTpdNs1jeAryReNzTXdRmNrAE7a1IXqh_RnBqjwdJswuVCdG9xw25o-E9YzRcACvEznmG3aXYEsZl1QilfU8PkgHcHnyYdmKKDKRmgIMLirjNXxF8lwwKX/s320/P3210611.JPG" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b> CIAO.....CIAO</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>AND SOME THINK WINNING ISN'T IMPORTANT!!!!<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">NONVERO..NONVERO IN BERGAMO</span></b></div>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-21607382434199344042010-03-18T11:30:00.000-07:002010-03-18T11:31:14.694-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 14: PER QUALE MOTIVO ALLENO???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>WHEN I WAS A BOY GROWING UP IN APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA AT THE PREADOLESCENT AGE OF 12 OR 13, I KNEW I HAD AN ADDICTION...IT WAS EASY FOR ALL TO SEE. I WAS ADDICTED TO BASKETBALL..I EVEN WENT SO FAR TO DOCUMENT WITH VARIOUS POEMS..HERE IS AN EXAMPLE..<br />
ALL DAY I PLAY AT BASKETBALL,<br />
AND POP AND POP AND POP.<br />
AND WHEN I GO TO BED AT NIGHT,<br />
I DREAM I CANNOT STOP.<br />
<br />
AND THE TEAM I WAS ADDICTED TO WAS UCLA BASKETBALL..THE BRUINS WERE LEAD BY BILL WALTON, THE BIG REDHEAD, AND THEIR LEGENDARY COACH..THE WIZARD OF WESTWOOD, JOHN WOODEN...I HAD A SHINY ROYAL BLUE JACKET EMBLAZONED WITH GOLD LETTERING ON THE BACK THAT SAID "UCLA BASKETBALL." I WORE THAT JACKET EVERYWHERE. THE COLORS WERE THAT OF THE BRUINS AND I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE WAY THEY PLAYED.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>THE WIZARD OF WESTWOOD...JOHN WOODEN</b></span><br />
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IN THOSE YEARS THE WIZARD WAS WINDING DOWN HIS 27 YEAR CAREER..THEY WERE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF WINNING 6 OR 7 STRAIGHT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS..THEY WERE THE BEST PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY AND I WANTED TO PLAY FOR THEM ONE DAY..<br />
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WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE THEN WAS THAT THE SUCCESS THEY ENJOYED AND THE FOLLOWING THEY BUILT WAS DUE TO ONE MAN, AND ONE MAN ALONE..JOHN WOODEN...IT WAS MANY YEARS LATER WHEN I READ MANY OF HIS BOOKS THAT I KNEW ONE DAY I WOULD ALSO COACH.<br />
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IT WAS ONE OF HIS QUOTES THAT GRABBED ME AND FOR YEARS HAS SOMEWHAT TORTURED ME.."A LIFE NOT LIVED FOR OTHERS IS NOT A LIFE."..COACHING IS ONE WAY TO SERVE OTHERS..<br />
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WE ALL CAN REMEMBER OUR FAVORITE COACHES...THE BAD ONES AS WELL..COACHING IS TEACHING, AND WE CAN REMEMBER OUR GOOD <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">INSEGNARI.</span></b>.THE ONES THAT MADE A STARK DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES; AS WELL AS THE ONES WHO WE COULDN'T WAIT TO PART WAYS WITH<br />
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WHEN JOHN WODEN WAS ASKED WHAT HE ENJOYED MOST ABOUT BEING AN <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">INSEGNARE </span></i>HE RESPONDED BY SAYING.."WATCHING YOUNGSTERS IMPROVE."; AND HE FOLLOWED BY ADDING THAT THE KEY INGREDIENT TO BEING A GOOD TEACHER IS "PATIENCE."..IN ADDITION KNOWLEDGE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET DESIRED RESULTS..YOU MUST HAVE THE MORE ELUSIVE ABILITY TO TEACH AND TO MOTIVATE.<br />
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TODAY I WRITE, "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PER QUALE MOTIVO ALLENO?</span></i>"..WHY DO I COACH..EVERYWHERE I GO IN BERGAMO PEOPLE INQUIRINGLY ASK, .."WHY ARE YOU HERE?"<br />
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I WILL ATTEMPT TO ANSWER.<br />
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I HAVE MADE A HANDSOME LIVING FROM THE ULTIMATE TEAM SPORT OF....FOOTBALL...MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE GAME STARTED NOT UNLIKE MANY OTHERS WHO PLAYED AT VARIOUS LEVELS..MY FATHER WAS THE FIRST TO PUT THE PIGSKIN IN MY HANDS..TOSSING THE BALL IN THE YARD OF CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY ARE SOME OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES. EVENTUALLY THERE WAS POP WARNER..AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL..IT WAS GROWINGLY COMPETITIVE AT MASSAPEQUA HIGH SCHOOL AND ONTO COLLEGE<br />
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AN OLD TEAMMATE OF MINE IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE, AND A FORMER 8 YEAR VET OF THE NY J E T S... JETS JETS JETS...KURT SOHN, ONCE SAID .."IF YOU PLAY HS FOOTBALL THEN YOU MAY AS WELL TRY TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL; AND IF YOU PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL YOU MAY AS WELL TRY TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL."...IT SEEMED SO MATTER OF FACT..SIMPLE...AND ON THAT DAY THE SEED WAS OFFICIALLY PLANTED SOMEWHERE IN MY DNA THAT THAT WOULD BE MY MISSION..NOTHING STOOD IN BETWEEN ME AND MY MISSION.<br />
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I ONLY OFFER THIS BACKROUND TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE WHAT FOOTBALL HAS MEANT TO ME..FROM THE DAYS OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER FOR 12 YEARS, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">DODICI ANNI FA</span></i>, IN DALLAS..INDY..PHILADELPHIA...IT WAS ALL CONSUMING...AFTERWARDS AND FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS I HAVE MADE A HANDSOME LIVING AS A FOOTBALL ANALYST..WILL TALK ABOUT ANY FACET OF THE GAME TO ANYONE WHO STOPS ME AND IN SOME CASES I WILL FIND SOMEONE TO <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">INIZIO CONVERSAZIONE</span></i> ABOUT THE WONDERFUL GAME<br />
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FOR MOST SUNDAYS DURING THE NFL SEASON SINCE 1998 I HAVE HAD STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT COACHING DECISIONS..ABOUT PLAYER PERFORMANCES...ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL VISION...POSITIVE ND NEGATIVE..I HAVE PLACED MYSELF IN THE SHOES OF MANY OF THESE PEOPLE AND STATED WHAT I WOULD DO, OR MORE EMPHATICALLY,WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE..I AM PAID WELL TO OFFER MY OPINIONS.<br />
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YET, DEEP INSIDE OF ME, I KNOW I HAVE NEVER COACHED A DOWN..IN FACT, OUTSIDE OF SOME FOOTBALL CAMPS THAT I PARTNER TOO, I HAVE NEVER COACHED A SPORT..A PLAYER..OR A GAME IN MY LIFE...IT SEEMS ALMOST HYPOCRITICAL TO BE SO DEMONSTRATIVE ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN I HAVE NEVER WALKED IN ANYONE'S SHOES BEFORE..<br />
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PART OF THAT VOID IS WHAT BRINGS ME TO BERGAMO....<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">AIUTO</span></i> WITH THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">FOOTBALL AMERICANO</span></i> TEAM OF THE BERGAMO LIONS..<br />
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LIKE WOODEN, I THINK I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE..AT LEAST ENOUGH TO THINK THAT IF I IMPART SOME, SOMEONE COULD HOPEFULLY BENEFIT..BUT CAN I GET THE DESIRED RESULTS?..CAN I TEACH?..CAN I MOTIVATE?..CAN I DO ALL OF THIS AND EXERCISE PATIENCE ALL AT THE SAME TIME<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>TO TEACH AND TO INSPIRE...PATIENCE!!!</b></span><br />
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THE BERGAMO LIONS STAFF IS FULL OF <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LA PRIMA VOLTE.</span></i>..WE ALL ARE FIRST TIMERS IN SOME WAYS...<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">IL CAPO DE BERGAMO LIONS</span></i>, COACH COS, IS AN EXPERIENCED COACH WHO PLAYED 10 YEARS FOR THE LEGENDARY TOM LANDRY AND THEN COACHED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE LEGENDARY GENIUS AND ARCHITECT OF THE WEST COAST OFFENSE, BILL WALSH..BUT IT IS HIS FIRST TIME IN ITALY AND FIRST TIME COACHING ITALIANS..THERE IS MUCH TO LEARN<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NOTHING LIKE GAMEDAY TO A COACH</b></span><br />
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THE DEFENSE IS LEAD BY DAVIDE'..HE IS A FORMER PLAYER WITH THE LIONS WHO AFTER WEARING PROUDLY NUMERO <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">VENTIOTTO</span></i> FOR A LONG TIME AND ACCUMULATING THE INJURIES THAT ALL VETERAN PLAYERS WEAR AS A BADGE OF COURAGE, IT WAS TIME TO TAKE HIS LOVE OF THE GAME TO THE SIDELINES AND USE HIS EXPERTISE TO COMMAND<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>DAVIDE' AND ME....PREGAME..BOLZANO, ITALY</b></span><br />
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THERE IS THE PUP OF THE GROUP HANDLING SPECIAL TEAMS AND RUNNING BACKS, MIKE MADEIROS...A FORMER COLLEGE PLAYER, HE COULD NOT CATCH ON IN AMERICA WITH A STAFF SO HE SOLICITED HIS TALENTS TO THIS ITALIAN LEAGUE..I ADMIRE HIS INITIATIVE; AND I THINK HE WILL BE A VERY VERY SUCCESSFUL COACH ONE DAY...I THINK HE ENJOYS THE TEACHING..ALSO HELPING ON ALL PHASES IS RICH BROWN..RICH HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUSLY SUCCESSFULL BUSINESS MAN AND HAS A STRONG URGE TO TEACH..TO GIVE BACK..TO HELP..FIRST IT WAS WITH HIS OWN CHILDREN..THEN IT WAS WITH COACH COS IN A STARTUP SPRING LEAGUE..AND MOST RECENTLY IT WAS AS AN ASSISTANT BASKETBALL COACH WITH THE SANTA CLARA'S WOMAN'S TEAM<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>MIKE MADEIROS AND MYSELF...1ST TIMERS</b></span><br />
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AND THERE IS STEPHANO...KIND OF THE DAY TO DAY <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LA PRIMA VOLTE</span></i> GENERAL MANAGER WHO IS TRANSITIONING FROM PLAYING CENTER FOR THE LIONS OVER THE PAST DECADE TO NOW RUNNING A LOT OF THE OPERATIONS..HIS FIRST ACT WAS TO SHED 30 KILO'S FROM HIS LINEMAN BODY TO BECOMING A LEAN BUSINESS MAN..<br />
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WE ARE A GROUP OF FIRST TIMERS TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT...LIKE ANY TEACHING ASSIGNMENT THERE ARE CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR FIRST GAME AND THE LAZIO MARINES ARE WAITING FOR US THIS SUNDAY..THE PRESSURE IS ON<br />
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BUT WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THE SEASON IS, I KNOW THIS IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL TREASURE FOR A LONG LONG TIME..WHETHER I AM GOOD AT IT; WHETHER I CAN APPLY THE LESSONS OF THE WIZARD OF WESTWOOD, REMAIN TO BE SEEN..MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE NEED TO GIVE BACK TO A SPORT THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMLY KIND TO ME..FOR 40 YEARS NOW IT HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION THAT MY LIFE HAS BEEN BUILT UPON..I CANNOT JUST CONTINUE TO TAKE TAKE TAKE..THIS FEELS RIGHT TO GIVE BACK<br />
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OH YEAH...IT CAN REALLY SUCK YOU IN..THERE ARE 8 OFFENSIVE LINEMAN THAT I AM COACHING...PEPE..CHRISTIAN..MIRKO..MARIO..PIETRO..NUMA...VITO..AND LUCCO..I REALLY LIKE THE GROUP..I THINK THEY CAN BE VERY GOOD, AND THIS CAN BE A MEMORABLE YEAR FOR ALL OF US.IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO SEE THIS GROUP IMPROVE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY..TO WATCH THEM COME TOGETHER AS A LINE AND PLAY WITH ONE MIND..STATCHINAUTO...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>MIO GRUPPO...GOTTA GET BETTER</b></span><br />
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I DON'T THINK I WILL COMMIT THE NEXT 27 EARS OF MY LIFE TO THIS ADDICTIVE PROFESSION THE WAY JOHN WOODEN DID AT UCLA, BUT I HOPE TO LEAVE MY MARK AND LEARN A PERSPECTIVE ON THIS DIFFICULT, BUT REWARDING PROFESSION, BY SPENDING <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MIO LA PRIMAVERA 2010 CON BERGAMO LIONS.</span></i>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-78734176224001267372010-03-15T11:36:00.000-07:002010-03-16T00:32:54.769-07:00BERGAMO GIORNI 13: PARMA PANTHERSOUR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">FOOTBALL AMERICANO</span></span> SEASON KICKOFFED THIS WEEKEND..IT WAS WITH <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">MOLTI MOLTI</span></span> DRAMA...BUT SUCH IS LIFE IN ITALIA..WITHIN THE DRAMA LIES THE LIFE.<br />
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THE DRAMA KEPT OUR SEASON OPENER IN DOUBT UP UNTIL 48 HOURS PRIOR TO KICKOFF..ORIGINALLY, OUR GAME WITH PARMA WAS SCHEDULED TO BE PLAYED IN PARMA; HOME TO THE WORLD'S FAMOUS PROSCUITTO HAM AND EVEN MORE FAMOUS BECAUSE OF JOHN GRISHAM'S NOVEL, "PLAYING FOR PIZZA" TOOK PLACE IN THE HAM CAPITOL..<br />
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BUT BECAUSE OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">TEMPO BRUTTA</span></span> AND 3 STRAIGHT DAYS OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">NEVICA</span></span>, THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">TAPPETI</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">D'ERBI</span></span> IN THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">COMMUNE DI PARMA</span></span> WERE OFFICIALLY SHUT DOWN..NO AMERICAN FOOTBALL GAMES WOLD BE PLAYED AT <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">LANFRANCHI STADIUM</span></span> OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN PARMA..AND ALL OTHER ATHLETIC CONTEST WOULD BE CANCELLED AS WELL..WORD LEAKED OUT WEDNESDAY THAT OUR SEASON OPENER WOULD BE CANCELLED. OK!<br />
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BUT WHOEVER RUNS THIS FUN LITTLE LEAGUE, FOUND A FIELD IN BOLZANO, ITALY FOR US TO PLAY OUR GAME..GAME ON!..YEAH!<br />
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BOLZANO IS HOME TO THE GIANTS, WHO WOULD BE ON THE ROAD VS THE LAZIO MARINES..THEIR FIELD IS THE ONLY PURE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">FOOTBALL AMERICANO</span></span> FIELD IN THE LEAGUE..IT HAS A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">TAPPETO D'ARTIFICIALLE</span></span>...HASH MARKS..GOAL POSTS..5 YARD STRIPES AND STANDS..OH YEAH?...YEAH<br />
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SO WE GATHERED AS A TEAM ON SUNDAY MORNING AT OUR PRACTICE FIELD SIGHT AND SOME 50 COACHES AND PLAYERS AND TEAM PERSONNEL CRAMMED INTO OUR SUPERSIZED BUS FOR A 2 1/2 HOUR ROAD TRIP..WE WOULD HAVE OUR PRE-GAME MEAL ON THE WAY AT THE AUTOGRILL.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">SQUADRA DI BERGAMO...ROADTRIP A BOLZANO</span><br />
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THE RIDE WOULD TAKE US EAST ON THE A4 AUTOSTRADA BEYOND BRESCIA AND THE SOUTH END OF LAGO DI GARDA WHERE WE WOULD TURN NORTH ON THE A22 JUST BEFORE VERONA; THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CITTA' </span></span>MADE FAMOS BY SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIETTA. WE WOULD DRIVE 120 KILOMETERS THROUGH A VALLEY OF NONSTOP VINEYARDS OF GRAPES AND APPLES..GOING NORTH WE WOULD APPROACH THE NORTHERN BORDERS OF GERMANIA, FRANCIA, SWISSERA, AUSTRIA, AND SLOVAKIA..ALL AROUND US WERE THE SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAINS OF THE DOLOMITES..STRIKING <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">CASTELLI </span></span>ADORNED THE PEAKS THROUGHOUT THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">VIAGGIO</span></span>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">CASTELLO DI ALMI...BELLO</span><br />
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THE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> CLIMA WAS PERFETTO</span></span>..SUNNY..WARM.. AND CLEAR..VIEWS WERE CRYSTALIZED BY THE MOUNTAIN AIR..WHEN WE ARRIVED AT GIANTS STADIUM THE PARMA PANTHERS WERE ALREADY THERE...DRESSED AND WARMING UP..THEIR KICKER WAS KNOCKING FIELD GOAL TRIES THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS FROM 45 YARDS LIKE TIGER USED TO CHIP FROM 20 FEET..IMPRESSIVE<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">PANTHERS WARMING UP IN GIANTS STADIUM</span><br />
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FROM THE TIME WE DISEMBARKED WE HAD ROUGHLY 90 MINUTES TIL WE WOULD KICKOFF..THE ROUTINE WAS FAMILIAR TO THE AMERICANS..FIRST THING TO DO AFTER UNFOLDING OUR BODIES OUT OF THE CRAMPED SEATS WAS TO STROLL THE FIELD...GET A FEEL FOR THE ARTIFICIAL SURFACE..TAKE IN THE AMAZING SCENERY..EYEBALL THE COMPETITION..AFTER THE GAZING WAS FINISHED IT WAS TIME TO BE TAPED..DRESSED..ADJUST THE PADS...APPLY THE GEAR FOR GAME CONDITIONS.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">ANDREA GHISLANDI.....ANKLES TAPED TIGHT </span><br />
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br />
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WE WOULD ALSO MEET THE 7 OFFICIALS..I THINK THE REFEREE WAS CARLO, AND ON HIS CREW WAS A WOMAN HEAD LINESWOMAN..I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE..SHE WOULD BE KEEPING THE SIDELINES CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND WAS STRADDLED WITH AN <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">TUTTI-RAGAZZI</span></span> CHAIN CREW..OK!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">UFFICO RAGAZZA...AND SHE WAS MEAN!!</span><br />
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I WASN'T HAPPY WITH HOW MY OFFENSIVE LINE WARMED UP...GAMEDAY HAS TO BE SPECIAL..PLAYERS HAVE GOT TO REV THEMSELVES UP..CONTACT HAS GOT TO BE AS NECESSARY AS YOUR NEXT BREATH OF AIR..WHAT SURPRISED ME IS THAT I THOUGHT MY GROUP OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">8 GIOCATORI</span></span> KNEW THAT; AND I WOULD SEE AND HEAR THE HITS AND THE GRUNTS AND THE SLAPS AND THE SMELL OF TESTOSTERONE WOULD FILL THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">DOLOMITI </span></span>AIR..ALL I SAW WERE DEER IN THE HEADLIGHT LOOKS..NOT HAPPY WITH OUR APPROACH<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">LIONS WARM UP IN THROES OF THE DOLOMITES</span><br />
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CHRISTIAN LONGHI, OUR RIGHT GUARD, AND A VETERAN OF 25 YEARS OF PLAYING <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">FOOTBALL AMERICANO</span></span>, WAS ONE OF OUR GAMEDAY CAPTAINS. WE WON THE COIN TOSS, AND FOR SOME INEXPLICIT REASON WAS PERFORMED TWICE..PRACTICE IS A GOOD THING.....WE WOULD TAKE THE BALL AND FIELD OUR KICKOFF RETURN TEAM TO START MY FIRST GAME AS A COACH AND MY FIRST AMERICAN FOOTBALL GAME IN ITALY.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">GROS</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">......winning coin toss...one of our highlights</span><br />
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WE FUMBLED THE FIRST HANDOFF...AN OMEN ABOUT OUR EXECUTION..BUT RB , ANDREA GHISLANDI WOULD RIP OFF A COUPLE OF RUNS THAT WOULD TAKE US ON THE MOVE..ONE OF THOSE RUNS WOULD END UP IN THE ENDZONE, BUT THE CHEARING ON OUR SIDELINES WOULD ABRUPTLY END DUE TO A QUESTIONABLE HOLDING CALL ON ONE OF OUR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN..BUT BRAD VAN PELT WOULD COME BACK THE VERY NEXT PLAY AND THROW A PERFECT BALL TO OUR AMERICAN WR WHO COULD NOT GET A HANDLE ON IT TO SCORE..INSTEAD OF BEING UP 7-0 ON OUR OPENING DRIVE, WE WOULD TUEN THE BALL OVER TO PARMA<br />
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THEY WASTED NO TIME IN PERFECT EXECUTION OF TAKING THE BALL RIGHT DOWN OUR THROATS...WE SEEMED HELPLESS ON DEFESNE AND THAT WAS THE STORY OF THE GAME,,THE HEADLINES IN <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">THE L'ECO DI BERGAMO GIORNALE</span></span> ACCURATELY READ.."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LIONS, PARTENZA FALSA, A BOLZANO SUBITO KO.</span></span>"..WE STARTED SLOW AND IN BOLZANO THE PANTHERS DELIVERED A QUICK KNOCKOUT.<br />
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DOWN 28 - 6 BRAD VAN PELT ADDED OUR DAYS BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT..HE WOULD FAKE A DIVE, SPRINT AROUND THE RIGHT END AND DASH 70 YARDS TO PAYDIRT BEHIND AN ELECTRIFYING DISPLAY OF MOVES, A GREAT DOWNFIELD BLOCK BY ROMAN WR MATTEO ZUCCO, AND FINISHED OFF BY A VIOLENT STIFF ARM THAT FREED HIM FOR OUR SECOND SCORE..HE WOULD IMMEDIATELY LINE UP AND KICK THE EXTRA POINT<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">DJ AND BRAD...PREGAME..VAN PELT CAN PLAY</span><br />
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THE RIDE FROM BOLZANO TO BERGAMO WAS LONG AND QUIET..WE WOULD STOP AT AN AUTOGRILL FOR A LATE SNACK.AND.A STRETCH . IN A FASHION THAT ONLY THE FOOTBALL GODS COULD ALLOW, SIMULTANEOUS TO US BEING THERE, SO WOULD THE VICTORIOUS PARMA PANTHERS..THICK SEA SALT IN OPEN PAINFUL WOUNDS..OUCH!<br />
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GROUPS WOULD HUDDLE THROUGHOUT THE RIDE HOME TO TALK ABOUT THE GAME..CONVERSAZIONE ABOUT HOW BAD THE OFFICIATING WAS...THE USUAL WHATIFS..WHAT IF WE HAD SCORED ON OUR OPENING DRIVE?..WHAT IF WE RECOVERED 3 OF THE PARMA PANTHERS FUMBLES?..WHAT IF WE HAD AN OFFENSIVE ANSWER FOR THE DISRUPTIVE BLITZING OF THEIR AMERICAN ROVER, NUMERO 32?<br />
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THE FACT IS.. PARMA BEAT US..THEY EXECUTED WELL..THEY PLAYED WITH SOPHISTICATION ON DEFENSE..THEIR 3 AMERICAN PLAYERS ALL HAD A HUGE IMPACT..THEY WERE SHARP AND CRISP AND WE WERE SLOPPY AND HESITANT. OUR FUNDAMENTALS AND THE BASICS OF BLOCKING AND TACKLING WERE NOT DISPLAYED WELL.<br />
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SO NOW WHAT TO DO?...NO SENSE OF PANIC, BUT NOW AFTER OUR FIRST ACTION ITS TIME TO ADJUST..6 DAYS FROM NOW WE PLAY A FINE TEAM FROM ROME, THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">LAZIO MARINES</span></span>, COACHED BY A FREIND, BOCK OLIVO.. BROCK PLAYED FULLBACK IN THE NFL FOR THE DETROIT LIONS AND THEN MOVED TO ITALY AND PLAYED IN THE ITALIAN LEAGUE..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">LUI CUGINO</span></span>, SCOTT KOWALKOWSKI, IS A FRIEND AND FOR MER TEAMMATE OF MINE WITH THE EAGLES, AND WAS A VETERAN OF ALMOST 12 YEARS IN THE NFL..HIS FATHER, BOB, PLAYED FOR THE LIONS AND HIS MOTHER, JUDY, IS STILL EMPLOYED BY THE DETRIOT LION<br />
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THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE..WE HAVE 6 DAYS TO SURVEY OUR TALENT..OUR JOB IS TAKE THE BEST PLAYERS WE HAVE AND NOW PLACE THEM IN THE BEST POSITIONS POSSIBLE TO HAVE SUCCESS..FILM STUDY AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES AND DRAWING UP PLAYS AND DEFENSES ON KNAPKINS ARE CONSUMING MOST OF OUR DAYS..WE ARE COMPETITIORS AND THE ITALAIN EXPERIENCE WILL BE MUCH FULLER IF WE CAN CARVE OUT A VICTORY THIS SUNDAY HERE IN BERGAMO<br />
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NFL COACHES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR ONE UNIFYING STATEMENT..."THE HIGHS OF WINNING ARE NEVER AS HIGH AS THE LOWS OF LOSING."..ACTAULLY ANYONE WHO COACHES TO WIN IDENTIFIES WITH THIS STAEMENT...AFTER CAOCHING MY FIRST GAME EVER I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE RESTLESS NIGHTS OF A JIM SCHWARTZ IN DETROIT THIS PAST SEASON; OR OF STEVE SPAGNUOLO IN ST. LOUIS WHO LOST MANY MANY GAMES IN A ROW..ITS AN UGLY SICKENING FEELING.<br />
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ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, TODAY, THE WEATHER WARMED AND THE SUN WAS STRONG..THE FEW PLAYERS I RAN INTO ABOUT TOWN ALL HAD THE SAME SCIKENING FEELING..IDEAS AND CHANGES FILL OUR MINDS, OUR TIME, AND OUR CONVERSATION.<br />
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THE LIONS WILL HUNT THIS SNDAY AND THE HUNGER IS WITH US..THIS WEEK CAN DETERMINE THE FATE OF OUR SEASON...A GREAT BRAHMIN ONCE STATED THAT "IT IS NOT HOW YOU START BUT HOW YOU FINISH."...STAY TUNED..WE ARE LOOKING TO REBOUND.Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-20839020842888025582010-03-11T10:23:00.000-08:002010-03-11T10:23:31.766-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 12: TERME' SIRMIONEWHILE IT IS CERTAINLY TRUE THAT THE SUN NEVER SET ON THE BRITISH EMPIRE, THE ROMANS SPREAD AND MAINTAINED AN EMPIRE THAT THE WORLD HAD NEVER SEEN AND HOPEFULLY WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN..THE IMPRESSVE PART TO THE ROMANS WAS HOW THEY LEFT THEIR MARK..ARCHES AND ACQUADUCTS AND ROADS, AND MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT MARK OF ALL...HOW TO ENJOY LIFE..<br />
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THE ITALIANS HAVE TAKEN THE ROMAN WAY..PRESERVED THE MARKS THROUGHTOUT THEIR SMALL COUNTRY AND ENHANCED THEM...AND THEN TAKEN THE ENJOYMENT OF LIFE TO THEIR OWN LEVEL THEY CALL.."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">LA DOLCE VITA.</span></span>"..THE SWEETNESS OF LIFE.<br />
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I AM HERE IN BERGAMO IN LARGE PART TO DISCOVER LA DOLCE VITA..I WANT TO FIND OUT JUST HOW SWEET LIFE CAN BE AND HOW THE CROSS SECTION OF LA <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">GENTE DI COMPAGNA</span></span>, FROM THE UPPER CRUST TO THE DIRE IMPOVERISHED, ENJOY THEMSELVES.<br />
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THE OBVIOUS ENJOYMENT COMES FROM THEIR ENJOYMENT OF FOOD AND THE PREPARATION OF FOOD IN ALL OF THEIR VARIOUS REGIONS..THERE IS ALSO THE GREGARIOUS PERSONALITIES AND THE WARMTH THEY CONVEY..IT COMES FROM THE MELODIC RHYTHYMS OF THEIR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">LA BELLA LINGUA.</span></span>..THE FASHION AND THE DESIGNERS FROM FURNITURE TO CARS TO BOATS...AD NAUSEUM...THERE IS REAL PALPABLE ENJOYMENT HERE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE WORST AND MOST PROLONGED <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">L'INVERNO</span></span> ANYONE HERE CAN RECALL.<br />
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ITALIA BENEFITS FROM BEING THE HEADQUARTERS TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE..BECAUSE MUCH OF THE CONSTRUCTION FROM THAT EMPIRE CAN NEVER BE DUPLICATED OR ATTEMPTED AGAIN, THE ITALIANS HAVE RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO PRESERVE THE RUINS AND OTHER MARKS FOR THEIR OWN ENHANCEMENT<br />
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ONE SUCH PLACE IS THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CASTELLO ROCCA SCALIGERA </span></span>AT THE MOST NORTHERN TIP OF LAGO DI GARDA, THE LARGEST LAKE IN ALL OF ITALIA....FROM THE CASTELLO ONE WALKS TO NATURAL SPRINGS FED FROM THE LAKE THAT ARE HEALING AND BENEFICIAL TO RELAXATION AND GENERAL HEALTH..THE ROMANS SOAKED IN THE BATHS FOR HOURS AND DAYS AFTER BATTLES AND TODAY THEY SERVE A POPULATION THAT RECOGNIZES THE NATURAL BEAUTY IN SIRMIONE, ITALIA<br />
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WHY TODAY???..LETS JUST SAY THAT AFTER 24 STRAIGHT HOURS OF WET SNOWFALL WITH FLAKES THAT EASILY FELL ON ONES EXTENDED TONGUE AND COOLED ONES BREATH, IT WAS TIME TO FIND SOME LA DOLCE VITA..WHAT HOT SPRING WAS GOING TO REMOVE THE CHILL FROM THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">MOLTI NEVI</span></span> FALLING FROM THE GREY OVERCAST SKIES?<br />
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VAN PELT AND MYSELF HEARD THE CALL OF THE WILD AND IT WAS TIME TO ENJOY A SLICE OF LA DOLCE VITA..UPON ARRIVING AT THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">TERME SIRMIONE </span></span>WE WERE GREETED BY THE POWERFUL <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">EDIFICIO OF CASTELLO ROCCA SCALIGERA</span></span>...IT WAS 13TH CENTURY RENOVATION BY THE VERONESE..IT WOULD SERVE AS A BOAT BASIN SHELTER FOR THE VERONA ARMADA WHICH WAS CONSIDERABLE AT THAT TIME<br />
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BEAUTIFUL ACQUA WATERS SURROUND THE FORTRESS...WHAT MADE IT MORE AUSTERE WAS THE RATE THAT SNOW WAS FALLING..ACCUMULATION WAS RAPID IN THE SURROUNDINGS, WHICH WE WOULD EXPLORE NEXT TO ON OUR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PASSAGIATA </span></span>TO TERME' SIRMIONE..THROUGH A RETICULUM OF PATHS AND STONEWALL STORES AND AMIDST TALL THIN CYPRESS TREES WERE CHURCHES, AND VILLAS, AND HOTELS, AND GARDENS ALL PAINSTAKINGLY MAINTAINED...A FORTNIGHT AWAY FROM THE ADVENT OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">LA PRIMAVERA</span></span> THE TOWN OF SIRMIONE IS PREPARING TO AWAKEN FROM ITS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">I'INVERNO</span></span> SOLSTICE.<br />
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THE ROMANS WERE SMART IN WHERE THEY LEFT THEIR MARK..SIRMIONE IS AN IMPRESSIVE DWELLING IN NORTHERN ITALY..THE SPA, FED BY THE BOIOLA SPRINGS IS AT THE MOST NORTHERN TIP OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LAGO DI GARDA</span></span>..FROM ATOP THE CASTELLO ANY ENEMY THAT MIGHT ATTACK COULD EASILY BE SEEN FROM A PANORAMIC VIEW AS BOTH SIDES OF THE WATERS MEET AT THE POINT.ITS NOT SURPRISING THAT A SMALL VILLAGE JUST SOUTH LIES LIMONE SUL GARDA..AIR SCENTED BY AN ABUNDANCE OF CITRUS TREES WHERE THE LOCALES ENJOY THE LONGEST LIFE EXPECTANCY IN ALL OF ITALY.<br />
THE SNOW PREVENTED ANY LEMON FRESH SCENTS ON THIS DAY..IT DID PRODUCE 2 SOAKED DAMP SORE TRAVELERS IN NEED OF SOME HOT SPRINGS.<br />
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THE SCENE WAS SURREAL..LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE OLD SOAP OPERA, "DARK SHADDOWS"..THERE WAS ZERO VISIBILITY..NO LAND COULD BE IDENTIFIED LOOKING OUT OVER THE LAKE...IF THE LOCHNESS MONSTER JUMPED FROM THE SHORE INTO THE HOT STEAM BATHS NO ONE WOULD RECOGNIZE..IT ADDED TO THE ANTICIPATION<br />
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THE 30 EURO DAY PASS BOUGHT US 5 HOURS OF SWIMMING..REALXING..SOAKING..EATING...FULL USE OF PALAESTRA AND AN EFFERVESCENSE THATS HARD TO FIND OR GENERATE ON SUCH A MISERABLE DAY...WHEN FEELINGS LIKE THIS OVERWHELM THE HUMAN SOUL, IT IS DIFFICULT TO THINK ABOUT WORK OR WHAT LIES AHEAD...WITH THAT SAID WE BOTH WONDERED IF COACH COS WOULD SEE ANY VALUE IN PRACTICE TONIGHT IN SUCH WRETCHED CONDITIONS...CERTAINLY THE BERGAMO LIONS WOULDN'T PLAY ANY BETTER OR WORSE IF PRACTICE WAS CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT CONDITIONS.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">LA DOLCE VITA.....SI SI</span><br />
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ON THE OTHER HAND AFTER 5 HOURS OF JACUZZI'S WITH JETS MORE FORCEFUL THAN A FIREMAN'S HOSE PUTTING OUT A 5 ALARM FIRE, AND AFTER EATING <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CIBO</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">FRESCA</span></span> AND AFTER ERADICATING THE ONSET OF JOINT STIFFNESS ONE FEELS ON SUCH WINTRY DAYS, WE COULD CARE LESS WHAT CONDITIONS WE WOULD PRACTICE IN..AND WE WOULD PRACTICE<br />
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THE ONLY THING THAT WILL BE BETTER THAN TERME SIRMIONE IN COMING MONTHS IS SEEING IT ON A PERFECT SUNNY WARMER SPRING DAY..WITH THE LAKE..THE ALPS..THE VILLAS...AND THE SCENT OF SWEETENED AIR..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">VAN PELT...GOTTA KEEP QB HAPPY</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">LA DOLCE VITA</span></span> IS MORE THAN A PHRASE..ITS MORE THAN A MOVIE THAT IN ITS DAY POPULARIZED THE JET SET CROWD AND GAVE LIFE TO THE SCURRYING SYCOPHANTS KNOWN AS THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PAPPARAZZI</span></span>..NO ITS REAL..MAY HAVE TO SEARCH FOR IT..BUT THEIR IS AN UNDERBELLY HERE THROUGHOUT ITALY WHERE THERE ARE OFFERINGS THAT BELY THE ACHES THAT DEVELOP FROM A HUMDRUM LIFE<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">PANORAMA OF LAGO DI GARDA</span><br />
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IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SURVEY SOME OF THESE RICHES AND SHARE WITH YOU IN BETWEEN SHAPING UP MY OFFENSIVE LINE, AND CREATING NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ATTACK THE BRUTTISH PARMA PANTHERS COME THIS WEEKEND..ITS A NEAR IMPOSSIBLE ASSIGNMENT. BUT I WILL PERFORM WITH A A MORE RELAXED SMILE AFTER A VISIT TO THE NATURAL HOT SPRINGS OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">TERME' SIRMIONE</span></span>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-49071087225322044562010-03-09T16:52:00.000-08:002010-03-09T16:55:39.544-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 11: ROADTRIP-MONACO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
CAN YOU ALL REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN A "ROADTRIP" IS ALL YOU COULD THINK OR DREAM ABOUT? POSSIBLY SPRING BREAK IN COLLEGE, OR A FREE SUMMER WEEKEND, OR FRIENDS ROLL INTO TOWN AND KIDNAP YOU FOR A FEW DAYS OF DEBAUCHERY? RING A BELL WITH ANY OF THESE BLOG FOLLOWERS?<br />
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</div><div>A EUROPEAN PERK IS THAT WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF ANYWHERE ON THIS CONTINENT YOU CAN BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY...ANOTHER LAND..A PLACE WHERE THE FOOD, LANGUAGE, CULTURE IS IMMEDIATELY FOREIGN.</div><div><br />
</div><div>WITH THE WEATHER IN BERGAMO COMPLETELY UNCOOPERATIVE, BRUTA TEMPO, AND A FREE WEEKEND ON OUR HANDS IT WAS TIME TO PERUSE SOME OPTIONS..2 PARAMETERS WERE TO FOLLOW..1) WE WERE FOLLOWING THE SUN AND WARMER WEATHER...THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER, JIMMY BUFFET ONCE SAID, "CHANGES IN LATTITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITIUDES." WE WERE LOOKING TO CHANGE BOTH; LATTITIUDE AND ATTITUDE...AND 2) WE WERE DOING THIS ON THE CHEAP...NO PLANES..NO HIGH SPEED TRAINS...NO ORIENT EXPRESS...</div><div><br />
</div><div>HOW ABOUT DIAL UP HERZ AND FUNDANGLE THE OPERATORS INTO A REAL SPORTS CAR FOR UNDER 100 EURO FOR 3 DAYS..HOW ABOUT 4 GUYS IN AN ALPHA-ROMEO..DESTINATION MONACO..</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv7D_ohJsJjnI0czumLlvOX1JluRgC1_swLdWrjYrcBqYp4DcLji9ijzkSgeg6eSlpIPe9WMK5p-Ocn12HHOAOEWfgDjhqP6h3-OBEOZqzlL8VIKVK-jFe9IH9_ZypYPPKwFlhRlUSIfj/s1600-h/P3060275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv7D_ohJsJjnI0czumLlvOX1JluRgC1_swLdWrjYrcBqYp4DcLji9ijzkSgeg6eSlpIPe9WMK5p-Ocn12HHOAOEWfgDjhqP6h3-OBEOZqzlL8VIKVK-jFe9IH9_ZypYPPKwFlhRlUSIfj/s400/P3060275.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div> </div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">OUR SPORTS CAR...THE ALPHA ROMEO</span></div><div><br />
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</div><div>KEEP OUR EXPENSES LOW SO THAT WE CCOULD TAKE SPARE CHANGE RIGHT TO GRAND CASINO IN MONTE CARLO..007 STYLE...THE DEBATE AFTER CAR RENTALS AND ITALIAN ROADBLOCKS BECAME WHEN SHOULD WE DEPART?..OPTIONS THAT EXISTED WAS 2100 HRS FROM BERGAMO ON FRIDAY NIGHT WITH ETA OF 1:30AM..OR DEPART SATURDAY MORNING AT 0800 HOURS AND FEEL SOMEWHAT FRESH FOR A 4-4!/2 CARRIDE</div><div><br />
</div><div>QB, BRAD VAN PELT, MADE HIS EXECUTIVE OPINION WITH AN HYSTERICAL SHOUT THROUGH THE VODAPHONE OF..."WHAT THE F**K ARE WE WAITING ON BOYS?"..20 MINTUTES LATER WE HAD TRUNK OF ALPHA-ROMEO LOADED WITH PROVISONS OF ALL SORTS READY FOR THE PROVINCE OF MONACO...NO MAPS, NO CARTE OR HARDLY THE USE OF GPS..JUST GOOD OLD FASHION ITALIAN ROAD SIGNS AND SOME SOLID MALE INTUITION..</div><div><br />
</div><div>ALMOST ALL PORTS OF CALL IN ITALY CAN BE REACHED BY THE OMNISCIENT GREEN SIGN OF AN AUTOSTRADA....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">INZIA IL VILAGGIO</span></span> BY JUMPING ON THE A4 OUTSIDE FROM OUR APARTMENT AND HEAD TOWARDS MILANO..PICK UP THE A7 GOING SOUTH AND WEST TO THE EMBARCATION OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">CHRITOFORO COLUMBUS</span></span>, GENOA, AND THEN CRUISE ALONG THE ITALIAN MEDITERRANEAN TAKING THE A10 THROUGH SCENIC TOWNS OF SAN REMO, VENTIMIGLIA, AND INTO THE COTE' AZUR OF MENTON AND INTO FINAL DESTINATION OF MONACO..</div><div><br />
</div><div>NOT A WRONG TURN..NOT A MISSTEP..COUPLE OF PIT STOPS AT THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">AUTOGRILL</span></span> AND WE WERE IN FRANCE..</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">NORMALAMENTE</span></span>, ON A GOOD ROADTRIP..TUNES ARE IMPORTANT..AND WHILE THE ALPHA ROMEO DID HAVE A CD PLAYER AND IPOD DOCKING STATION NONE OF THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY..IN FACT I DON'T REMEMBER ONE SONG ON THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">VIAGGIO</span></span>..</div><div><br />
</div><div>THATS BECAUSE QB BRAD VAN PELT CAN TALK..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">CONVERSAZIONE NON</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">FERMATA</span></span>...HE IS IN THE WINE BUSINESS AND HE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT VINO..BUT HE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMING ACROSS AS A "NO-IT-ALL."..HE JUST HAS A LOT OF ENERGY AND A L0T TO SAYAND HE ISN'T BASHFUL ABOUT HOLDING ANYTHING BACK..I ALWAYS SAY THAT QB'S HAVE TO BE LOUD AND THEY HAVE TO BE HEARD AND THOSE ATTRIBUTES DESCRIBE VAN PELT TO A TEE.</div><div><br />
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</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-style: italic;">VAN PELT..SAYS.."THE ROSE' IS GOOD IN MONACO"</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>AT ANY RATE THE TIME WENT FAST...BEFORE WE NEW IT WE WERE AT THE FRONT DESK HARRASSING OMAR INTO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD "PAPERS" THAT SHOULD ALLOW US THE "FRIENDS OF FAMILY" DISCOUNT WHICH WOULD LET US OCCUPY ROOMS AT 59 EURO A NIGHT..RIDICULOUS!!! THE FIGHT WAS ON FROM 1;30-2:OO AM..WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AND FIND OUT AT A LATER TIME IF WE WERE SO FORTUNATE..</div><div><br />
</div><div>IN THE MEANTIME IT WAS TIME TO TOUCH AND GO..STRAIGHT TO MONTE CARLO AND FIND CASINO ACTION...FUNNY HOW THE BOUNDARIES WORK IN MONACO..MONACO IS A PROVINCE..SPEARATE FROM FRANCE..MONTE CARLO IS THE CAPITOL...OUR HOTEL WAS ACROSS THE STREET FROM STADT LOUIS 11...WHERE A CALCIO FRIENDLY BETWEEN ITALY AND CAMEROON WAS PLAYED <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">IERI DOPODOMANI</span></span>..ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET WHERE STADIUM IS IS MONACO...ON THE SIDE OF STREET WHERE HOTEL IS IS FRANCE..TAXIS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CROSS INTO FRANCE, SO WE HAD TO GRAB TAXI UP AND OVER THE STREET..BIZARRE BUT A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.</div><div><br />
</div><div>IT IS NOT LOST ON MOST AMERICANS WHO VISIT FRANCE THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH FRANCE IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY DAMN FRENCH..ITS TRUE AND I AM SURE WITH THIS WORLD FAMOUS BLOG THAT IT WILL SOUND AS IF I AM A "HATER."..I ASURE YOU I AM NOT...THE ONE THING THAT IS CLEAR ABOUT THE FRENCH IS THIS: THEY DON'T GIVE A DARN WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THEM..I ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND AND SOMEWHAT RESPECT THEIR DECISION.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I BRING THIS TOPIC UP NOW BECAUSE UPON ARRIVING AT THE GRAND CASINO-MONTE CARLO..NO ONE THERE COLD CARE LESS THAT 4 AMERICANS WHO LOOKED LIKE THEY ROAD TRIPPED IN, WERE AT THEIR CASIN0..AIUTO WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY.</div><div><br />
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</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-style: italic;">VAN PELT...MIKE..BALDI..DREW.....MONTE CARLO</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>ALSO NOT LOST ON US WAS THE TIME OF YEAR..MARCH 5TH IS FAR TOO EARLY FOR THE COTE'..IN FACT MONACO IS IN A DEEP SLUMBER..FAR TOO <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">FREDDO.DI PIU</span></span>"..THE YACHTS LOOK UNTENDED TOO..IT IS STILL ANOTHER 6 WEEKS AWAY BEFORE THE GRAND PRIX OF MONACO AND THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL WAKE UP THE RICH FROM THEIR WINTER NAP</div><div><br />
</div><div>IT DOESN'T DISTRACT FROM THE BEUATY, THE LOCATION, THE HISTORY, THE AWE, THE SMELL OF MONEY, OR THE HUNT TO BRING DOWN THE GRAND CASINO..MONTE CARLO..THIS WAS OUR GOAL.</div><div><br />
</div><div>NO SENSE IS DELIBERATING ANY FURTHER..THE FIRST NIGHT RESULTS WERE IN QUICKLY...IN FACT, THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD HAVE BEEN IN QUICKER IS IF WE DROPPED OUR EURO ON THE GROUND AND WERE MET BY A HOOVER VACUUM CLEANER TO SUCK UP..IT WAS A SWIFT AND DEVASTATING AND TOTAL DEFEAT.WE WOULD START THE NEXT DAY IN THE HOLE.</div><div><br />
</div><div>BUT THE NEXT DAY WAS QUICKLY UPON US AND WHAT A SPECTACULAR DAY IT WAS..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">.CAMERA </span></span>NUMERO #407 OPENED UP TO A BALCONY THAT HAD THE WARM RAVAGING <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">IL SOLE</span></span>' MAKING US SQUINT TO FACE THE SUN..EVENTUALLY OUR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">OCCHIO</span></span> ADJUSTED TO ALLOW US TO SEE THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">BELLA MARINA</span></span> LINED WITH YACHTS EXTENDING FROM CALIFORNIA TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS TO SARDEGNA TO THE YACHTING WORLD OF COSTA DEL SOLE, COTE' AZUR, AND THE ITALIAN MEDITERRANEAN...WHEN DO THESE YACHTS GET SUPERSIZED?..I MEAN AT WHAT POINT ARE THEY BIG ENOUGH?</div><div><br />
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</div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-style: italic;">MARINA.......MONACO....WANNA PLAY???</span></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">MOLTI CAPPUCINI TARDI</span>, IT WAS TIME TO <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">PASSAGIATO</span> THROUGH THE STRIKING BRILLIANCE OF WHAT IS A SEASIDE THAT CAN NO LONGER BE CREATED..STATELY, ORDERLY, QUIETLY, ELEGANTLY, THE SUPERSIZED RICH OF THE WORLD DESCEND ON MONTE CARLO TO DPOSIT THEIR HEIRLOOMS, THEIR TRUSTS, THEIR EARNINGS IN SAFETY BOXES THAT EVEN THE GRUBBING GOVERNMENTS CAN'T ACCESS..AND FOR THAT THE WEALTHY NEED TO BE TENDED TOO...THAT IS WHAT MONACO IS..IT IS A WELL TENDED SEASIDE RESORT TOWN WHERE NONE TOO MANY QUESTIONS ARE EVER ASKED AND FAR FEWER ANSWERS ARE EVER DELIVERED</div><div><br />
</div><div>THERE IS A REASON THAT THE WORLDS MOST FAMOUS RACE, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">THE GRAND PRIX OF</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">MONACO</span></span>, TAKES PLACE IN AND AROUND MONTE CARLO..IT IS BEAUTIFUL...THE STREETS WIND THROUGH NARROW SLITS WITH A FLASH OF ACQUA SEA, A FLASH OF RUGGED ROCK, THE SMELL OF A BOULANGERIE, THE SWEET AROMA OF SCENTED AIR..AND EVERYWHERE SOMEONE IS REVVING THE RPM'S OF A FINE EUROPEAN SPORTSCAR</div><div><br />
</div><div>LOOKIE THERE..A FERRARI..OR THERE..A LAMBERGHINI..OR HOW ABOUT THE ZIPPINESS OF A PORSCHE...OR THE WHINE OF A TESTAROASA..THEY ARE ALL HERE AND ON DISPLAY..YOU HAVE TO LOOK AND MARVEL AT HOW A SPECIAL PRIVALEDGED SECT CAN BUZZ AROUND IN A SUCH A SMALL BUCOLIC HAMLET WITH THE FINEST OF ANYTHING KNOWN TO MAN AT THEIR WELL MANICURED FINGERTIPS..</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5PSJ_bq0j72-Cf17Nd5SOJ09z8Q1w4nAVjw8OOrknftnsqnmxjO6uw7H-PbO_IZFww4QvoIswdiT9_ndVW8xG_ChBloFzOBUwkFaqb2mveE2YRYWM7fsht4MtQq9skY1rloL74GStZ5Y/s1600-h/P3060310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5PSJ_bq0j72-Cf17Nd5SOJ09z8Q1w4nAVjw8OOrknftnsqnmxjO6uw7H-PbO_IZFww4QvoIswdiT9_ndVW8xG_ChBloFzOBUwkFaqb2mveE2YRYWM7fsht4MtQq9skY1rloL74GStZ5Y/s400/P3060310.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div> </div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-style: italic;">I PREFER MY FERRARI IN </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">BLACK</span></div><div><br />
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</div><div>LIKE A GOOD ROADTRIP AT COLLEGE UNDERGRAD SPRING BREAK BUDGET, SATURDAY NIGHTS DINNER WOULD BE PURCHASED AND ENJOYED IN CAMERA #407..FORMAGGIA...SALAMI..TOMATOES..FRESH BAKED FRENCH BREAD..VINO FROM LOCAL VINEYARDS..AND ALWAYS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">SEMPRE.</span></span>."BIRRA READY."</div><div><br />
</div><div>ALL WOULD BE ENJOYED WITH THE UNTIMATE GOAL TO GO 007 STYLE BACK TO THE CASINOS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE KNOW BASIC STRATEGY BLACKJACK AND ARE READY TO ADD A MONEY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT EVEN THE SECRETIVE AND SMUG FRENCH HAVEN'T WITNESSED SINCE CARY GRANT LEFT HIS MARK IN "IT TAKES A THIEF"..YEAH BRO..WE COME TO KICK YOUR CAPPED TEETH IN AND THEN AFTER WE FLEECED YOUR "OLD" WORLD MONEY WE WOULD REALLY SHOW YOU HOW ROADTRIPPIN AMERICANOS CAN GO 'MONTE CARLO WILD"</div><div><br />
</div><div>WHAT PROCEEDED TO HAPPEN WAS MIRACULOUS...LIKE THE FRENCH NEED FOR YOU TO SPEAK <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">PERFETTO</span></span> PARISIAN FRENCH FOR YOU TO GET A FEINT RESPONSE, WE WERE MET BY AN ASSORTMENT OF DEALERS THAT COULD ONLY STRIKE 21.WHETHER IT WAS BLACKJACK ITSSELF, OR A 4-6-2-5-4....21..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">VENTUNO</span>..THE HARD WAY...THEY STEAMROLLED US WITHOUT SO MUCH AS BLINKING AN EYE..NOT EVEN A PUPPYDOG GLANCE TO SAY.."SORRY BOYS"..NICE TRY..NO THEY WERE MUCH MORE DISMISSIVE THAN THAT</div><div><br />
</div><div>WE WOULD TRY OTHER CASINOS...ONE BY ONE THE BOYS DROPPED..SPRING BREAK BUDGETS DON'T LAST LONG IN MONTE CARLO..BUT I HAD WATCHED THIS MOVIE BEFORE..WHERE WAS THE TABLE THAT HAD THE BUZZ..WHERE THE PITCREW SEEMED SOMEWHAT WORRIED THAT THEY WOULDN'T DEPOCKET EVERY GAMBLER ON ITS PREMISE THAT NIGHT</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">THE GRAND CASINO...MONTE CARLO</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>THATS WHERE I ENDED UP AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING..200 EURO MINIMUM..THE FILTHY RICH THAT LINED THE TABLE DON'T HAVE USE FOR BASIC STRATEGY OR BY THE BOOK BLACKJACK..THATS NOT EXCITING ENOUGH...THEY BREAK RULES UNMERCIFULLY..I CRINGED AT A PRINCE RANIER WANNABE WHO DECIDED TO SPLIT 10'S...TWO PERFECT QUEENS FOR HIS OWN STUFFY ENJOYMENT WHILE I SHUT MY EYES PRAYING FOR A COMEBACK AGAINST ALL ODDS</div><div><br />
</div><div>LIKE MOST BLACKJACK PLAYED AROUND THE WORLD IN PITS JUST LIKE MONTE CARLO, ONE LOSES FAR FAR MORE THAN THEY WIN..BUT WHEN YOU DO WIN, EVEN IF ITS JUST A SHORT WINNING STREAK, YOU HAVE TO MAXIMIZE YOUR BET...IN THE FINAL 4 HANDS I DID THAT AND TOOK A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONTE CARLO'S MONEY..A COUPLE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">CENTO EURO</span></span>..</div><div><br />
</div><div>ENOUGH TO SAY..WHEW..I WAS LUCKY..TIME TO GET OUT OF TOWN, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID THEY FOLLOWING DAY..</div><div><br />
</div><div>FIRST GAME TO BE PLAYED THIS WEEK VS THE HATED PARMA PANTHERS..DETAILS, AND GAMEPLANS, AND GAMEDAY RITUALS HAVE TO BE PRACTICD..REHEARSED..AND IRONED OUT BEFORE WE TAKE THE THE FIELD AT LANFRANCHI STADIUM IN A TOWN MADE POPULAR BY ITS PARMA PROSCIUTTO HAM AND ITS PARMA PANTHERS OF JOHN GRISHAM FAME</div><div><br />
</div><div>OH YEAH..THE FRENCH WEREN'T THAT BAD..THEY SMILED WHEN I PAID MY BILL AND I LOOKED UP AT THE WALL TO SEE "HIGH SEASON" PRICES...STARTING RATES AT 599 EURO A NIGHT WITH NO SEASIDE VIEWS...THE CLERK SMILED AND SAID THAT IS A BARGAIN AT GRAND PRIX TIME PROVIDED YOU MADE THE RESERVATION LAST YEAR..MONACO IS ASLEEP..THANKS ...WE HAD A NICE LOOK AROUND</div><div><br />
</div><div>NOW WE ARE FOCUSED AND SERIOUS ABOUT THIS SUNDAYS MATCH....STAY TUNED </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-78261805026638760702010-03-05T09:05:00.000-08:002010-03-05T09:07:38.929-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 10: SPIRITO DI SQUADRAMY 2ND YEAR IN THE NFL WAS 1983..YES YES, I AM <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">ANTICA</span></span>..OLDER THAN DIRT..IN THAT YEAR I EARNED THE NFL MINMUM SALARY OF $40,000. ITS A PER DIEM FOR TODAYS PLAYERS..BUT TO ME IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY AND TO PLAY FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS IT MADE IT EVEN A BIGGER DEAL.<br />
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AFTER THE SEASON FINISHED I WAS APPROACHED BY OUR PRO-BOWL WIDE RECEIVER, DREW PEARSON, TO COME PLAY ON THE COWBOYS OFF-SEASON TRAVELLING BASKETBALL TEAM..DREW WAS THE COACH AND ORGANIZER..BEING A BASKETBALL JUNKIE I JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY.<br />
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I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I HAD GOTTEN INTO..IN SUMMATION WE WOULD PLAY 48 GAMES IN FAR AWAY PLACES LIKE FORT DODGE, IOWA; LONGWOOD TEXAS; NORMAN, OKLAHOMA; AND LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO..IT WAS FUN..IT WAS GOOD CONDITIONING...IT WAS COMPETITIVE..I ALSO FOUND OUT JUST HOW BIG THE NFL WAS WHEN WE WOULD PULL INTO SMALL RURAL TOWNS AND THE TOWN WOULD STOP TO ACCOMODATE.<br />
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OH YEAH, WE GOT PAID...THAT DAY...IN CASH...SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS $700 FOR A GAME..IN GAMES IN IOWA VS THE HARLEM WIZARDS WE PLAYED A DOUBLE HEADER..TO A GUY WHO EARNED THE NFL MINIMUM SALARY, THIS WAS LIKE WINNING LOTTO..<br />
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BUT BY FAR THE MOST MEMORABLE WEEK OF OUR SEASON CAME WHEN WE WOULD PLAY THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS ON A 6 GAME IN 7 NIGHTS BARNSTORMING TOUR THROUGH TEXAS...HERE IS THE BEST PART..WE MET AT DFW AIRPORT IN DALLAS, TEXAS AND STEPPED INTO AN OLD FASHIONED YELLOW SCHOOL BUS AND HEADED TO AMARILLO, TEXAS..IN THE PANHANDLE TO PLAY OUR FIRST GAME<br />
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YES..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">VERO!</span></span>!."TOO TALL" JONES,TONY DORSET, DREW PEARSON, TONY HILL, RON SPRINGS, MYSELF AND OTHERS SIDE BY SIDE WITH A DOZEN REDSKINS LEAD BY ART MONK, GARY CLARK, MONTE COLEMAN, AND DARRELL GREEN..2 DOZEN PLAYERS FROM THE COWBOYS AND REDSKINS..MORTAL ENEMIES, SHARING A YELLOW SCHOOL BUS FOR ONE WEEK PLAYING CHARITY BASKETBALL GAMES TO SOLD OUT VENUES IN AMARILLO...ABILENE...LUBBOCK...AUSTIN..SAN ANTONIO...WE SOLD OUT THE HEMISPHERE ARENA IN SAN ANTONIO AND AFTER I HIT THE GAME WINNER, THE FANS BEGAN TO LEAVE THE ARENA PRIOR TO THE SPURS TAKING THE FLOOR.<br />
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NOW THATS OLD SCHOOL..THE TYPE OF COMRADERIE THAT NO LONGER EXISTS IN THE NFL...AFTER THE GAMES WE WOULD ALL GO OUT TOGETHER AND ENJOY THE EVENING..SOMETIMES THE EVENING BECAME MORNING...BUT WHEN THAT SCHOOL BUS PULLED OUT THE NEXT DAY WE HAD 24 NFL PLAYERS ROLLING DOWN EMPTY TEXAS HGHWAYS...TUMBLEWEEDS AND NFL SUPERSTARS. WHAT A COMBINATION...WHAT A SIGHT..<br />
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FEW OF US BECAME WEALTHY...MOST OF US NEEDED THE ADDED INCOME FROM THE BARNSTORMING TOUR..BUT WOW, DID WE HAVE FUN..WE WOULD LATER IN THE SPRING DO A SIMILAR, BUT SMALLER TOUR IN THE VIRGINIA/DC AREA..<br />
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I MENTION THIS YARN BECAUSE OUTSIDE OF RETELLING STORIES OF THE "GOOD OLE DAYS, I DON'T SEE THAT SIDE OF THE NFL ANY MORE..NOT TO THAT DEGREE.<br />
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BUT I SEE IT AND FEEL IT HERE IN BERGAMAO WITH THE LIONS...IN FRENCH.."ESPIRIT DE CORPS"..IN ITALIAN.."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">SPIRITO DI SQUADRA</span></span>"<br />
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IN THE 12 PRACTICES I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR IT HAS RAINED MISERABLY FOR NO LESS THAN 9 OF THE PRACTICES..THIS PAST WED AND THURS NIGHTS THE TEMPERATURES DROPPED DOWN TO THE MID-30'S...AND THE ONE FIELD WE HAVE IS .WET, THICK MUD..THE GRASS IS GONE...PUDDLES HAVE FORMED..IT IS BEYOND GROUNDHOG DAY..OUR STANDING JOKE IS...TIME TO PRACTICE..MUST BE RAINING..AND<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> PIOGGI</span></span> NORMALLY <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">INSIEMI</span></span><br />
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I HAVE YET TO HEAR ONE GRIPE FROM ANY ITALIAN PLAYER OR ITALIANI COACH..INSTEAD OF BITCHING THEY LAUGH..<br />
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YOU SEE, THIS IS PROFESSIONSAL FOOTBALL TO THE ITALIANS, BUT ITS NOT ABOUT MONEY..IN FACT THEY DON'T DRAW A SALARY..THEY PLAY STRICTLY FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.<br />
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WE PRACTICE UNDER THE LIGHTS AT 9 PM AT NIGHT..ANY EARLIER AND SOME OF THEM WOULD NOT BE HOME FROM WORK, OR FINISHED WITH SCHOOL YET...OR HAVE TO PUT THEIR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">BAMBOLINI A DI LETTO</span></span>..SO FROM 9-11 WE PRACTICE...GUYS SHUFFLE IN AND IN MNUTES HAVE CHANGED FROM CIVILIAN <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">VESTI</span></span> TO FOOTBALL PLAYERS...THEY SEEM IMPERVIOUS TO THE T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">BRUTTA TEMPO<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;">..RAIN/COLD/MUD...THEY WANT TO BE THERE..THEY WANT TO PLAY..THEY WANT TO WIN...CAN'T CHANGE THE WEATHER OR CONDITIONS SO WHY GRIPE?</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6txLTNpwUbUDV7D7rgXHhIj4-JnGfMQTN40x2tMwHyd1duSbVqbVaB69u-_c8PSS2KD5Kvq5GqSaDMNJQSIRHX5eV3ouIt2ohzER50bKHHyObBvs0gAEtW_1c4cLtsH5QKorytndK86k/s1600-h/P3040260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6txLTNpwUbUDV7D7rgXHhIj4-JnGfMQTN40x2tMwHyd1duSbVqbVaB69u-_c8PSS2KD5Kvq5GqSaDMNJQSIRHX5eV3ouIt2ohzER50bKHHyObBvs0gAEtW_1c4cLtsH5QKorytndK86k/s400/P3040260.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">COACH COS IN THE COLD SLEET RAINY CONDITIONS</span><br />
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I GIVE MY 2 ITALIAN COACHES LOTS OF CREDIT..ROBERTO AND DAVIDE'..THEY START UP AND PEP UP COS AND MYSELF IN A NEW TRADITION WE CALL.."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">HAPPY </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">DAY HOUR</span></span>"..WE HAVE A SHOT OF ESPRESSO MIXED WITH A SHOT OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">GRAPPA </span></span>AND AWAY WE GO..HEAD DOWN..FLAPS UP..WHISTLES BLOWING..TIME TO GET THE LIONS READY FOR ANOTHER PRACTICE..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> ESPRESSO AND GRAPPA..."HAPPY DAY HOUR"...</span> <br />
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MY RIGHT GUARD, IS CHRISTIAN, WHO OWNS A SNOWBOARD COMPANY AND CLOTHING COMPANY CALLED "BASTARD"..HE IS SOMEWHAT OF A CELEBRITY IN ITALY BECAUSE HE DOES COMMENTATING FOR SNOWBOARD COMPETITIONS ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">TELEVISIONE</span></span> AND IS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED "GROSS"..GERMAN FOR BIG...HE IS PLAYING HIS 25TH YEAR OF FOOTBALL..STARTED AT THE JUNIOR LEVEL WHEN HE WAS 14..NOW ALMOST 40, HE ISN'T READY TO GIVE IT UP..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CymWkRCyjHILpkwVHqeiAnL-SQA_gG7dBMwXodyMtG2SxMtuA2K6KDeJv3MG2wd8r96Rd1RU-OAlfBSlOHqbGmNP2ZQrf96QQc-ZKyPk-0vqPzRRbQvoybFubyUI5vn9cMnMe_pBnE-5/s1600-h/P3040269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CymWkRCyjHILpkwVHqeiAnL-SQA_gG7dBMwXodyMtG2SxMtuA2K6KDeJv3MG2wd8r96Rd1RU-OAlfBSlOHqbGmNP2ZQrf96QQc-ZKyPk-0vqPzRRbQvoybFubyUI5vn9cMnMe_pBnE-5/s320/P3040269.JPG" /></a></div> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">GROSS HOLDING COURT AT FUORIROTTA</span><br />
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CHRISTIAN AND OTHERS CAN'T GIVE IT UP FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT NFL PLAYERS HAVE A HARD TIME MOVING ON...HELLO BRETT!!!ITS THE COMRADERIE..ITS THE FUN IN THE LOCKERROOM..ITS THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">SPIRITO DI SQUADRA</span></span> THAT PERMEATES THIS GROUP WHEN THEY PUT THE UNIFORM ON...AND THEY WANT TO BE WORKED HARD...AND THEY WANT TO BE AROUND GUYS LIKE COS AND MYSELF WHO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT THE GAME AND CAN IMPROVE THEIR KLNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME<br />
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BUT AFTERWARDS WE MEET EVERY THURSDAY AT OUR FAVORITE LATE NIGHT PIZZERIA, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">FUORIROTTA</span></span>..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">SERVICIO</span></span> IS AMAZING HERE..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MOMENTO DOPO ARRVIAMO</span></span> BIRRA AND PIZZA ARE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">DELLA TAVOLA</span></span>...AND SLOWLY THE SQUADRA WONDER IN...NORMALLY YOU HEAR THE LAUGHTER BEFORE YOU SEE THE "GROSS" BODIES..SOME OF THE LEADERS ARE DEMANDING A FULL TEAM TURNOUT THIS THURSDAY, 3 DAYS BEFORE WE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">INIZIA</span></span> THE SEASON AGAINST THE DESPISED PARMA PANTHERS<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">DJ...MARIO...VP..COS...PIETRO....WINDING IT DOWN</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">CONVERSAZIONE</span></span> AND <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">BEBENDI</span></span> CAN GO HOURS INTO <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">DA SERA</span></span> OR UNTIL ALL OF THE CHAIRS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON TOP OF THE TABLES AND THE SERVERS WAITING WITH BLANK STARES OFFER UP HINTS THAT ITS TIME TO WIND DOWN ANOTHER SESSION..<br />
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WHAT MORE CAN SOME FIRST YEAR COACHES ASK FOR FROM ANY TEAM?...WANNA WORK, DON'T BITCH, LIKE EACH OTHER, AND HAVE A COLLECTIVE GOAL THAT THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE?<br />
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I REMIND READERS OF THIS WORLD FAMOUS BLOG THAT ITALIA DID WIN THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">COPA</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">DE MONDE</span></span> JUST 4 SHORT YEARS AGO..THE BLUE SHRTS PLAYED GREAT TEAM <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">CALCIO </span></span>THAT YEAR AND IT UNIFIED THE PEOPLE OF ITALY TO A NEW LEVEL..WELL THE CUP QUALIFYING FRIENDLIES WERE BEING PLAYED THIS WEEK..IN FACT ITALY PLAYED CAMEROON IN MONACO ON WEDNESDAY, SIMULTANEOUSLY TO OUR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MERCOLEDI SERA</span></span> PRACTICE..I WAS CURIOUS IF WE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF NO SHOWS..IN FACT IN A NONSTOP SLEETING FREEZING DRIZZLE WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT UP AGAINST THE ITALIA FRENDLY..WHEN I ASKED SOME PLAYERS WHY THEY WEREN'T WATCHING LIKE THE REST OF THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PAESE</span></span>...THE UNIFIED RESPONSE WAS...MUCH LIKE AN AMERICAN RESPONSE..."F**K SOCCER"!!!!GOTTA LOVE IT<br />
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WE HAVEN'T MUCH TIME BEFORE GAME 1..NOT SURE THAT WE WILL BE READY WITH THE WEATHER BEING A CONSTANT PROBLEM..ONE THING I AM SURE OF THOUGH..WE WILL HAVE NO ISSUE GETTING OUR GUYS READY TO PLAY, AND READY TO PLAY TOGETHER<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BALDI..AND..COACH DON...AFTER HAPPY DAY HOUR</span><br />
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NO NO..THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">SPIRITO DI SQUADRA</span></span> IS ALOT LIKE OUR OLD NFL DAYS IN A YELLOW SCHOOL BUS BARNSTORMING THROUGH TEXAS...WE ARE HERE FOR THE LOVE..A TRUE LOVE OF THE GAME<br />
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AMEN TO THAT!!!Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-43532101399823654262010-03-03T08:18:00.000-08:002010-03-03T08:18:05.221-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 9: LAGO DI COMO--BELLAGIOTHE WORLD IS FULL OF BEUATIFUL AND MAGICAL PLACES...EVERYONE HAS A SPOT OR TWO OR THREE THAT THEY FEEL IS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF SPECTACULAR NATURAL BEAUTY, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PERFETTO PER RELAZIONE,</span></span> AND ENERGIZES THEIR SOUL.<br />
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ITALY IS A SMALL COUNTRY BUT SEEMS TO HAVE THEIR SHARE OF SWEET SPOTS.<br />
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AT THE CONSTANT URGING OF COACH COS' OLDEST DAUGHTER, KARI, WE HEADED OUT MONDAY MORNING IN THE DIRECTION OF <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">LAGO DI COMO</span></span>..A SPLENDID DECISION.<br />
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LAGO DI COMO IS PART OF THE NORTHERN LAKES REGION OF ITALY THAT LIES NEAR THE SWISS BORDER AND IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ALPS....OTHER LAKES OF NOTORIETY IN THIS REGION IS LAGO MAGGIORE, LAGO L'ISEO, AND LAGO DI GARDA..ALL OF THEM ARE FED BY THE NATURAL RAPID FLOW OF WATER OOZING OUT OF THE ALPS MOUNTAIN RANGE.<br />
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IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO COMO ONE NEED NOT HOOK UP THEIR GARMIN GPS SYSTEM, OR PURCHASE A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">GRANDE CARTE</span></span>, OR STOP AT THE LOCAL <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">BENZINO </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">STAZIONE</span></span> AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONS..NO NO NO!!!!.<br />
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IN ITALY ALL PLACES OF DISTINCTION ARE LABELD ON SIGNS POINTING IN THE DIRECTION THAT THEY LIE...ITALIANS DON'T DO MANY THINGS WITH EFFICIENCY( THEY MAKE COFFE FAST AND WELL IS ALL I CAN REALLY THINK OF)...SO DRIVING IS MADE FAIRLY SIMPLE EXCEPT FOR THE ITALIAN DRIVERS THAT LIKE TO PRACTICE RUNNING YOU OFF OD THE ROAD ... IN THE CASE OF FINDING COMO, SIMPLY FOLLOW THE SIGNS FOR LECCO-COMO..FROM ALMOST ANYWHERE IN NORTHERN ITALY ONE WILL SEE A SIGN, AN <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">AZZURRO</span></span> SIGN FOR LECCO-COMO<br />
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LECCO IS A CITY ON LAKE COMO..IT IS THE FIRST CITY ONE COMES TOO ON THE LAKE IF COMING FROM OUR DIRECTION WHICH FROM BERGAMO IS WEST AND SLIGHTLY NORTH...AFTER BARELY GETTING OUR 6 GEAR AUTOMACHINA INTO 4TH GEAR IT WAS TIME TO HIT A TRAFFIC CIRCLE FOR MANY DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS..FROM BERGAMO TO LECCO WE STOPPED COUNTING TRAFFIC CIRCLES AT 18<br />
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ONCE AT LECCO, IT WAS TIME TO DECIDE WHERE TO ENJOY OUR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">IL PRANZO</span></span>...IN ADDITION TO LECCO, THERE WERE SIGNS TO COMO, TO GRIGNA, TO CERNOBBIO, TO MENAGGIO....AND TO BELLAGIO..AH <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BELLAGIO</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">IT</span></span> WAS.<br />
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OUR FOURSOME OF COS, DREW, MYSELF AND KARI WERE CAPTIVATED BY THE NATURAL BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDED US..SNOWCAPPED JAGGED JETTING MOUNTAIN PEAKS IN CONTRAST TO THE PEACEFULLNESS OF A CALM LAKE AND NESTLED THROUGHOUT TONY AND MAINTAINED HAMLETS OF VILLAGES SPRINKLED WITHIN THE COUNTRYSIDE.<br />
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LITERALLY BELLAGIO MEANS..."BELLA--BEAUTIFUL//GIO--PLACE"..BEAUTIFUL SPOT..AND THATS WHAT IT IS..MADE POPULAR BY TOURIST FROM AROUND THE WORLD IT IS NESTLED RIGHT WHERE THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGER OF AN INVERTED HAND MEET.<br />
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AND THATS WHERE WE PARKED THE CAR..TIME FOR A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">PASSAGIATO </span></span>THROUGH TOWN..I HAVE VISITED BELLAGIO DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE TOURIST SEASON AND IN ANY PART OF THE TONY HAMLET, ONE CAN HEAR 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IN SYMPHONY..EVERY RISTORANTE, TRATTORIA, CAFFE', GELLATORIA IS FULL..SO MANY PEOPLE IN SUCH A SMALL AREA...IT IS ACTAULLY CHOKING<br />
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BUT ON A CRYSTAL CLEAR DAY ON THE FIRST OF MARCH WITH <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">LA PRIMAVERA</span></span> TEMPERATURES SOARING TO ALMOST 15 DEGREES CELSIUS, IT WAS SPECIAL TO ROAM THROUGHOUT THE NARROW SLITS OF STREETS AND PASSAGEWAYS AND GARDENS THAT DEFINE BELLAGIO..MANY OF THE HOTELS AND POPULAR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">NEGOZI </span></span>WERE CLOSED..SPRING CLEANUP WAS UNDERWAY..LEMON TREES WERE STILL PROTECTED FROM THE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"> L'INVERNO</span></span> TEMPERATURES..SHOP OWNERS WERE FLUTTERING ABOUT DOING THE NECESSARY THINGS TO PREPARE FOR THER UPCOMING TOURIST SEASON<br />
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EVEN FOR AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS LIKE OURSELVES II WAS INSPIRING TO CLICK AWAY...STONEWALKWAYS, VISTAS OF THE SPARKLING LAKE, MOUNTAINS SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY, AND THE ITALIAN FLARE FOR MAKING EVERYTHING SEEM MAGICAL<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-weight: bold;"> BALDI......KARI.....COS.....BELLAGIO</span><br />
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AFTER AN HOUR WALKABOUT IT WAS TIME TO LUNCH...BUILT INTO THIS RESPITE IS MY FAVORITE ITALIAN SAYING AND ONE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULD THINK ABOUT ADOPTING.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">IL DOLCE FAR NIENTE'</span></span>...IT TRANSLATES TO.."THE SWEETNESS OF NOTHING"..TIME TO DO NOTHING BUT TO TAKE IN ALL OF THE BEAUTY..ENJOY A DELICIOUS LINCH AND LET THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">CONVERSAZIONE</span></span> DRIFT INTO ANY DIRECTION THAT IT WANTS TO GO<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-weight: bold;">COS...DREW...BALDI...KARI.....BELLAGIO</span><br />
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MUSSELS, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">COZZE</span></span>, FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">INSLATA MISTA</span></span>, PIZZA MARGHERITA, VINO LA CASA, FRESH GNOCCHI, VARIOUS OTHER PASTAS AND PANE AND AQUANATURALLE AND ESPRESSO AND GELATO...WELL YOU UNDERSTAND..2 HOURS LATER I THINK WE HAD ENOUGH..HOW TO DRIVE BACK WITHOUT A SIESTA WOULD BE THE ONLY OBSTACLE?<br />
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NOT LOST ON OUR AFTERNOON WAS CASUAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE LOCAL A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">GENTE'</span></span>...THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS HIGH SCHOOL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE WHERE THE KIDS TAKE A WATER FERRY TO AND FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY..WHEN THEY DISEMBARKED THEY JUMPED ON THEIR VESPAS AND BEGAN RACING EACH OTHER HOME...OTHER FERRIES WERE TRANSPORTING CARS AND THEIR DRIVERS TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS AROUND THE LAKE....ONE SAILBOAT GRACED THE SCENERY WITH A PERFECT SAIL AND A TRANQUILITY THAT BELIED THE AFTERNOON.<br />
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WE GOT HOME IN TIME TO PREPARE AND SCRIPT AN ELECTRICAL PRACTICE..I THINK WE WERE INSPIRED BY WHAT WE SAW ON OUR DAY TRIP<br />
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SADLY WE SAW KARI OFF ..BACK TO SACRAMENTO..SHE WAS REALLY NICE TO HAVE AROUND..DREW, HER BOYFRIEND WILL MISS HER...EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HER VERY FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP, I HAVE A FEELING THAT SHE WILL RETURN..<br />
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TO THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THIS WORLD FAMOUS BLOG, AND TO THOSE WHO KNOW ME AS THE TRAVELDOG, I CAN'T COME TO ITALY AND THINK ONLY ABOUT FOOTBALL..I KNOW COVER 2 DEMANDS MORE ATTENTION AND IT WILL, BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE THIS FABULOUS REGION AND SOAK UP ALL THE EXPERIENCES WE CAN..WE HOPE YOU ENJOY READING AS MUCH AS WE ENJOY DOING<br />
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THE DOORS ARE OPEN AND THE VILLA MORONI IS BUSY BEING PREPARED FOR THE SPRING SEASON..<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">VILLA MORONI....OUR SPRING HOME</span><br />
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A CHE' VEDIAMO A PRESTOBrian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-40044239496907894782010-02-28T09:36:00.000-08:002010-02-28T09:52:26.728-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 8: THE DARK SIDEIN 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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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THAT HOPELESS VISUAL OF A POOR FIELD PAILED IN COMPARISON TO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.<br />
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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.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWNofP6bNaEuWf769WaidjAYsLxxje9banq41G6s16Vypfivoz3LNHu7tPqK1YQL9SUff0YnCbpj3DWTMwukY8edgLTvlbsHXdw00mnQ_Oi1O3svz4HoD8UWdD4yoc-ILKqbZVEzCdrj5/s1600-h/P2170069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWNofP6bNaEuWf769WaidjAYsLxxje9banq41G6s16Vypfivoz3LNHu7tPqK1YQL9SUff0YnCbpj3DWTMwukY8edgLTvlbsHXdw00mnQ_Oi1O3svz4HoD8UWdD4yoc-ILKqbZVEzCdrj5/s400/P2170069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">drew...brad..mike...and COACH NEIL</span><br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUoEHggv6R03eUFvCr2PSgb9OYsVuZW-Et6VL_oSenye0CqvGnVTr8azHUXI3bV-NjK0BRW7Rn_x9sOQLVuOFmfY4KLLa3XKAE1S0IZMo9uANY9cpVLcULLV67KU_-3gZHuxmPQ7iz22u/s1600-h/P2270183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUoEHggv6R03eUFvCr2PSgb9OYsVuZW-Et6VL_oSenye0CqvGnVTr8azHUXI3bV-NjK0BRW7Rn_x9sOQLVuOFmfY4KLLa3XKAE1S0IZMo9uANY9cpVLcULLV67KU_-3gZHuxmPQ7iz22u/s400/P2270183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">coach cos....MARIO(owner)...dj AIR</span><br />
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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.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueXv49QbY1E48UCJUPPF-FJD1kjyf9c3HbXz14HBCsSPYFafITyfxiq5e6aFUtrL10n3ziiRnDd6ItITxSSe7wbNPfQCZjMV1bXdlAnMCh_CFMjj9-liC7Do14QhHLqV4S4LBJXdQgOmA/s1600-h/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueXv49QbY1E48UCJUPPF-FJD1kjyf9c3HbXz14HBCsSPYFafITyfxiq5e6aFUtrL10n3ziiRnDd6ItITxSSe7wbNPfQCZjMV1bXdlAnMCh_CFMjj9-liC7Do14QhHLqV4S4LBJXdQgOmA/s400/IMG_0131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-style: italic;">MIKE...BRAD...ADRIAN..BALDY...GOOD LUCK TO YOU FRANK</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">OH DIO OH DIO</span></span>..LIFE CAN BE SO CRUEL AND UNFAIR.<br />
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AND THEN THERE WAS OUR SCRIMMAGE...CAN YOU GUESS WHERE THIS IS GOING?<br />
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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.<br />
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I AM THE COACH OF OUR OFFNESIVE LINE AND THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">TUTTI</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">VERO.</span></span><br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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A PAGE FROM LOMBARDI ENSUED..THE LAID BACK CALIFORNIA KID FROM SACRAMENTO, CALI, COS SAID,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">" BASTA BASTA BASTA</span></span>!!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"> COACH COS</span><br />
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EVERYONE ON THE GOALLINE AND INSTRUCTED ALL 34 PLAYERS TO RUN...100 YARDS DOWN AND 100 YARDS BACK..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LUNGO</span></span> GASSERS...UNTIL THE TONGUE FALLS OUT....UNTIL THE PLAYERS DOUBLE OVER AND PUKE WHATEVER WAS IN THEIR STOMACHS<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">ATTENZIONE ATTENZIONE</span></span>...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<br />
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MANY OF THE SENIOR PLAYERS CONCUURED..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MOLTO CAPISCO</span></span>...WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT IMPACT THE BLOWING OF MOUNT VESUVIUS' BY COACH COS WILL HAVE WHEN WE MEET ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LUNEDI SERA.</span></span><br />
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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<br />
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STAY TUNED..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">DUE SETTIMANA</span></span> 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..Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-39762851780284640222010-02-26T12:17:00.000-08:002010-02-26T12:35:22.428-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 7: PIZZA PIZZA PIZZAI 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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 ."<br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIZZAIOLO </span></span>(PIZZA MAKER) MUST BE A REAL MAESTRO, THE DOUGH STRETCHING TECHNIQUE IS ESSENTIAL AND YOU NEED 2-3 YEARS OF APPRENTICESHIP TO BECOME A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PIZZAIOLO</span></span>...ETC..<br />
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THE VERY FIRST PIZZA AND THE ONLY PIZZA MADE WENT ON FOR A CENTURY. IT WAS SIMPLY THE PIZZA MARINARA..JUST DOUGH AND <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">POMODORO</span></span>(TOMATO SAUCE)...IT IS STILL VERY POPULAR..<br />
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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...<br />
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NAMED PIZZA MARGHERITA IN HER HONOR, THIS IS HOW THIS PIZZA IS STILL UNIVERSALLY KNOWN..<br />
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WITH THE CRUST PAPER THIN AND THE MOZZARELLA SPREAD THIN AND THE TOMATOE SAUCE LIGHT AND ZESTY AND FRESH, PIZZA IS NOT AN I<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">L PRANZO</span></span> OR A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LA CENA</span></span></span>..IT IS A STARTER..IT IS AN APPETIZER..IT IS SERVED PRIOR TO THE LA PRIMA PIATTI OR SECONDO PIATTI<br />
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MY FAVORITE PIZZA TO DATE WAS AT PEPE'S FRIENDS' TRATTORIA IN MILANO..ALLOW ME TO DESCRIBE..<br />
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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!!<br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">ACONTO</span></span> TO ME WAS MY <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">AMICO</span></span>, 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..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">NIENTE!NIENTE!NIENTE!</span></span>...<br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">OSPEDIALE</span></span> TO TREAT HIM FOR THE SEIZURE THAT DR. BOB CREATED<br />
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ONE UTENSIL MISSING FROM THIS DAILY <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">GASRONOMIA</span></span> FEAST IS THE PIZZA CUTTER..HAVEN'T EYE-BALLED ONE YET ANYWHERE..ITS EITHER SLICED OR CUT WITH <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">COLTELLO</span></span> AND <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">FORSCHETTO</span></span>...OR IT IS WEDGED APART USIG DEXTERIOUS FINGERTIPS..EITHER WORKS FOR ME<br />
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I CHALLENGE MY NEXT VISITOR TO BERGAMO TO INDULGE IN NO OTHER FOOD GROUP SAVE PZZA..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">.CALAZION</span></span>E..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">IL PRANZO</span></span>...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LA CENA</span></span>...WHILE VARIETY IS CERTAINLY THE SPICE OF LIFE YOU WLL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED BY THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD IN ALL OF ITALIA<br />
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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<br />
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WHY DEPRIVE THE BRAIN..THE SOUL..AND THE STOMACH OF THE ONE THING I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT...PIZZA!!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MANGIARE</span></span> ANYBODY?Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-79093207129775790142010-02-24T08:53:00.000-08:002010-02-24T08:53:08.395-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 6; VICTORIA PALAESTRATHE WAY THINGS ARE DONE IN BERGAMO IS CALLED BERGAMASCO...BerGAmasCO....THE STYLE OF<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">CUCIN</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">A</span></span> 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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MOLTO IMPORTANTE</span></span><br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">CALCIO.</span></span>.RUGBY...SWIMMING...AMERICAN FOOTBALL...HEALTH CLUBS..ETC..<br />
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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<br />
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SO PRIORITY<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> NUMERO UNO</span></span> 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..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">VA BENNISSIMO</span></span>!<br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">SIGNOR GENTILE</span></span>..<br />
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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...<br />
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IT IS OUR SOCIAL HANGOUT EACH DAY.<br />
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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.<br />
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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, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">CAMBIO</span></span>, AND THEN STEP INTO THE RING IN GEAR WHILE WRAPPING THEIR WRISTS IN BANDAGES PREPARING FOR REAL BOXING LESSONS...DURING THEIR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">SIESTA</span></span> NO DOUBT.<br />
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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">IL PRONZO</span></span> OR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">LA CENA</span></span> IN NO TIME COMPLETE WITH WARM HOSPITALITY..IF NOT A MEAL, ESPRESSO' CAN BE SERVED WITH THE WORLDS FASTEST <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">BARRISTAS</span></span>; OR A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MACEDONIA INSALATA.</span></span>..A MIX OF FRUITA FRESCA WITH YOGURT CAN BE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO KEEP MOVING AFTER A STRENUOUS WORKOUT<br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">ME PARLO ITALIANO </span>.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."<br />
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AS PLENTY AND TASTY AS THE FOOD IS EVERYWHERE WE GO, IT IS GREAT TO STEP INTO PALAESTRA VICTORY EVERYDAY TO SEE OUR NEW <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">AMICI</span> 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..<br />
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KEEPING FIT IN BERGAMO..THANKS FOR ASKNG.Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-29207184038894936342010-02-23T03:04:00.000-08:002010-02-23T03:18:46.874-08:00bergamo giorni 5; fa bel tempoTHE WEATHER SUCKS....IN ITALIAN...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">FA BEL TEMPO</span>...THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT...YESTERDAY WAS THE WORST..WET, DAMP, DRIZZLING, RAINING, GREY, MISERABLE....ADJECTIVES DO NOT DESCRIBE.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> LA CENA</span>...PLAY WITH THEIR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">BAMBINI</span>(IN SOME CASES) AND THEN COME TO THEIR SECOND JOB..PLAYING AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN BERGAMO.<br />
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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<br />
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SO WHEN WE EMBARKED FOR THE PRACTICE FIELDS YESTERDAY THE WAETHER AND OTHER CONDITIONS HAD ME IN TE DUMPS..GROUCHY..MISERABLE...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">VAFFANCULO</span>...FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF: I WAS HOPING THE ESPIRIT DE CORPS COULD PICK ME UP.<br />
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IT WAS AS IF EVEYONE HAD A CASE OF THE BLUES..NOT A GOOD PRACTICE SESSION.<br />
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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.<br />
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OUR FIRST DECISION LAST NIGHT WAS WHAT FIELD WOULD WE EXERCISE ON..THE RICE PADDY OR THE SHORTENED UNLIT ASTRO-ROCK SURFACE?<br />
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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.<br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">D'ERBA</span>..TO GO PARTLY GRAZE ON AND PARTLY SLOP THROUGH 45 MINUTES OF INDIVIDUAL DRILLS...WE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0vjWfzhpTTe05maBA5mOA9kZl3pGL8etyy4WmSljIz8K4TCYK_XMX19gyBUuNkRTaodav2ICl-difavsQRCHYB4ri1k8Qt2xTOTQrhYqbEKuSoFA-VU3fdE3fVGxx7MrdDqPRqWLoQmT/s1600-h/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0vjWfzhpTTe05maBA5mOA9kZl3pGL8etyy4WmSljIz8K4TCYK_XMX19gyBUuNkRTaodav2ICl-difavsQRCHYB4ri1k8Qt2xTOTQrhYqbEKuSoFA-VU3fdE3fVGxx7MrdDqPRqWLoQmT/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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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."<br />
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BUT ITS ITALY, AND ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD..TOMORROW IN ITALY IS CALLED <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">DOMANI</span>..THERE IS ALWAYS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">DOMANI</span>..EXCEPT THAT WE HAVE OFF ON TUESDAY AND DON'T PRACTICE UNTIL WEDNESDAY...SO ITS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">DOPODOMAN</span>I..THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW...FULL PADS...FULL SCRIMMAGE..GOING TO BE ROUGH..GOING TO FEEL LIKE A REAL 2-A-DAYS PRACTICE..YEAH MAN!!<br />
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LETS HOPE THE WEATHER COOPERATESBrian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-52248573092278092562010-02-21T06:01:00.000-08:002010-02-21T06:01:31.130-08:00bergamo giorni 4; san pellegrino terme<div style="text-align: left;">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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKs2g3wudipxZScz9Z2yCZUIMM1_RiUFdCFi-wuerTOpNQvPbnvWGzCmrYHutAeTk3-iJurUVjOQ1PTTdkqTNA0YF80m59PpTLXadkE08j1MyAqsU89OCMS3ArKzkjwimIjM3x2reIqX5/s1600-h/get-attachment-1.aspx.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKs2g3wudipxZScz9Z2yCZUIMM1_RiUFdCFi-wuerTOpNQvPbnvWGzCmrYHutAeTk3-iJurUVjOQ1PTTdkqTNA0YF80m59PpTLXadkE08j1MyAqsU89OCMS3ArKzkjwimIjM3x2reIqX5/s320/get-attachment-1.aspx.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">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?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">THAT IS THE STORY THAT WILL BE TOLD..</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">IN THE CENTER OF SAN PELLEGRINO, A TOWN DESIGNED ALONGSIDE THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">FIUME</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">BREMBA</span>, IS AN ANCIENT CATHOLIC CHURCH WHICH THE TWON GREW OUT FROM..THE HOTEL NEXT TO THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">CHIESA</span> IS THE HOTEL IL PAPA..IT IS THE OLDEST HOTEL IN SAN PELLEGRINO AND T IS PERATED BY THE GREGARIOUS GIORGIO.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">HOTEL GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WOULD ENJOY A BOTTLE OF WINE AT HIS RISTORANTE AND THEN TAG IT WITH THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">FIUME'..</span>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">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 </div>Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-75043534962235513282010-02-21T05:51:00.001-08:002010-02-21T05:54:41.846-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 4, SAN PELLEGRINO TERME'Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-63272811467111809072010-02-21T03:44:00.000-08:002010-02-21T04:12:07.818-08:00BERGAMO GIORNI 3, AMICI E' FAMILGIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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.<br />
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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<br />
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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!<br />
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UNLESS THEY ALL DECIDE TO COME<br />
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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.<br />
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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<br />
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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 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">LA STRADA</span></span> AT BOOM PIZZERIA..AMAZING!<br />
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HE THREW HIS BAGS IN THE APARTMENT AND JUMPED IN HIS RENTED MACHINA AND CAME TO PRACTICE WITH US THAT NIGHT<br />
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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<br />
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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!!!!<br />
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BY TIME SHE ARRIVED IT WAS TIME TO <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">MANGIA</span>..LA CENA WOULD BE AT A BERGAMASCO SPECIALTY LA CASA, GIOP' E LA MARGI'<br />
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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.<br />
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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<br />
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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<br />
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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<br />
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THE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">LA CENA</span> WOULD BE CAPPED OFF BY <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">LA DOLCI</span>, ESPRESSOS, LIQUORS AND CHEESES<br />
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WHEN WE FINISHED WITH OUR TALL TALES OF LAUGHTER AND <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">MANGIATO</span>.WE SAID OUR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">BUONA SERAS</span> AND WERE PREPARED FOR OUR AFTERLIFE..<br />
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ONE MORE STOP AFTER A REFRESHING WALK FOR A NIGHTCAP AND WE WERE ALL READY TO CALL IT A DAY..I THINK OUR<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> AMICI AND FAMIGLIA</span> WERE WELL TENDED TO AND ENJOYED THIER OPENING HOURS IN ITALY.<br />
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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<br />
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COACHING FOR CANOLIS IS THE EASY PART OF THIS ASSIGNEMNT!!!Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-9841242419767529072010-02-19T10:27:00.000-08:002010-02-19T10:27:10.274-08:00bergamo giorni 2EVERY RULE, LAW, AND ORDER IN ITALY IS MERELY A SUGGESTION EXCEPT FOR ONE: NO GUNS ALLOWED IN A BANK..THESE ITALIANS ARE SMART...<br />
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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<br />
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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...<br />
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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!"<br />
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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<br />
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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..<br />
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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.<br />
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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<br />
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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...<br />
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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?<br />
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STAY CLOSE...THE ACTION IS JUST GETTING STARTED!!!!Brian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214011636072170525.post-45620023753235559862010-02-17T16:15:00.000-08:002010-02-17T16:15:56.935-08:00bergamo giorni 1CIAO AMICI<br />
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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<br />
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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<br />
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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<br />
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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<br />
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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<br />
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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!!!<br />
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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<br />
WHY?<br />
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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<br />
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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<br />
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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..<br />
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ITS EARLY..FACES ARE NEW...THE SEASON IS A MONTH AWAY...YET THE ANTICIPATION IS UPON US..<br />
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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<br />
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CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT UPDATE..STAY TUNED..REALITY TV SHOW AND MANY OTHER SURPRISES ARE HERE TO FOLLOWBrian Baldingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02085803838744807535noreply@blogger.com0