CBC Sports Online's soccer expert, John Molinaro, takes you inside the world of soccer and offers his insights about the action on the pitch and in the front office.
Scaring the Icelandic neighbours
Comments (8)
Thursday, October 18, 2007 | 01:55 PM ET
CBCSports.ca soccer expert John F. Molinaro is on vacation in Rome for a month. While there he plans on eating a pile of prosciutto, soaking up the warm Italian sun and watching a lot of soccer.
An amusing incident occurred last night that reminded me of home.
Back in Toronto, I have a bad habit of screaming at the television whenever I'm watching a soccer game. If Alessandro Del Piero botches an easy scoring chance for Juventus, I hurl a slew of obscenities. If the Italian national team is getting outplayed by a lesser opponent, I stomp my feet and bang on my coffee table.
My tantrums are so loud that on more than one occasion the folks who live above me come running down the stairs to knock on my door to see if I'm okay. Something similar happened last night here in Rome.
Italy was playing a friendly against South Africa in Siena, so I decided to settle in for the evening after I made dinner to watch the game. It was a meaningless contest, really. Italian coach Roberto Donadoni rested the majority of his regular stars and played a handful of youngsters instead, several of whom were making their Azzurri debut.
But like any other time the Italian national team plays, I took the friendly pretty seriously.
It was such a nice evening that I left my front door wide open, allowing the cool autumn breeze of the Roman night to enter my living room. My next-door neighbours, three young women from Iceland who are studying design at the local university, were out on their front patio having dinner at the same time.
With my door ajar, they got an earful of my vocal assault on the TV as I watched the game.
Italy swarmed South Africa in the first half, but for all their possession they couldn't score. This frustrated me endlessly, and I wasn't shy about letting out my dissatisfaction.
As the game progressed, I got louder and louder with each chance the Italians squandered. With 10 minutes to ago, it looked as though Italy was going to be held to a 0-0 draw at home to South Africa, a team that is hardly a world power.
Then, finally, with eight minutes left in regulation, Cristiano Lucarelli scored on a header to put Italy up 1-0, and I cried out "Gooooooooooal!!" at the top of my lungs.
Seven minutes later, Lucarelli scored on another header, and I went nuts.
"Gooooooooooal! Gooooooooooal! Gooooooooooal!"
I was so loud that I soon discovered one of my neighbours inside my doorway. She thought I burned myself boiling some water to make pasta that she rushed over to see if I was okay.
I assured her that I was fine, and kindly explained to here that I'm a big soccer fan and that when I watch games on TV I tend to get emotional. I jokingly told her that this likely won't be the first time she and her roommates hear me screaming at the top of my voice over the next month, and she thanked me for the polite warning.
With the game over and the fears of my Icelandic neighbours soothed, I set out for a local pizzeria and had a slice of pizza bianca (topped with grilled eggplant, fresh parsley, olive oil and hot pepper) to celebrate Italy's victory - and I managed to keep quiet while watching the highlights of the game on the TV in the pizzeria.
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About the Author
John F. Molinaro is a reporter for CBC Sport Online whose chief love is international soccer. John served as senior editor of Sports Online's Euro 2004 website, which helped him win a CBC.ca Award of Excellence, and was the driving force behind our coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He holds an honours BA in sociology from York University and a print journalism diploma from Sheridan College, and is also the author of The Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time (Stewart House, 2002).
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Comments (8)
Carlo
Montreal
John,
You probably blew your chance with your Icelanic neighbours for some romance. Who cares about a friendly between the Azzurri vs Bafana when you are on vacation and have three Icelanic women, a beautiful Roman night, and plenty of wine to go around....I enjoy your blogs and I love the beautiful game as much as anyone but man you are obsessed!
P.S: Forza Roma,Giallorossi all the way! Juve stinks! Milan and Inter too!
Posted October 18, 2007 04:50 PM
A.D.
Toronto
Hi John,
I have to agree with Carlo in Montreal. You may have missed out on an opportunity to really experience "la dolce vita". But I love your passion for the Azzurri! I might have done the same thing. Scotland's Hampden Park will be the place to be next month when Italy clinches a spot at Euro 2008!!
Cheers.
Posted October 19, 2007 09:43 AM
JOhn G
Since it was a match in Italy, wouldn't the winner have already been pre-determine? Cheaters...
Posted October 19, 2007 04:30 PM
Jon
Ottawa
John! Well its great to hear that you love the beautiful game, you need to pull some moves on the Icelandic neighbours! An opportunity wasted. Take in the football culture but also the romance! Rome is THE city for romance. I guess players need to know how to play.
P.S. I hope that you will be screaming quite loud as the Bois for Scotland make their way to Euro2008 at the expense of the Italians.
Posted October 20, 2007 12:04 AM
vince
Rome
Hi John,
while you are in Rome listen what happens when AS Roma play... you will hear the city blowing up, and screeming all around!!
Forza Roma and Foggia
Posted October 22, 2007 09:35 AM
BigShow
Montreal
John, you picked soccer over women. You truly are a soccer fanatic. I went from Montreal to Milano just to watch the Azzurri play against France, the game ended in a tie but the experience was worth it and I'll do it again very soon.
Posted October 23, 2007 10:35 AM
FLAVIO
VAUGHAN
Hey Giovanni,
Give us more insight on your Icelandic neighbours.
Posted October 23, 2007 04:17 PM
Younes kalid said
toronto
Forza juve this is how I greet people beleive it or not but thanks god i thought i was the only crazy juve fanatic you should see me watching Juve play mama mia forget about it.Italian passion with Moroccan blood bad combonation.Juve 4 life.
Posted November 7, 2007 11:53 AM