Soccer….Family Style

My Jersey Wave to Rossi

What’s it like to be Giuseppe Rossi right now?

It wouldn’t be right for a girl from New Jersey not to weigh in on Giuseppe Rossi’s not being named to the Italian World Cup roster. I’m really annoyed with Rossi. I’m proud of my New Jersey heritage, in spite of all MTV has done to tarnish my state’s rep. Rossi could have been another hero from Jersey, after so many Kearny boys before him.

But sometime, years ago, at the age of 12, Rossi decided to go play for Italy. He was invited to come play for the US in 2006 according to his Wikipedia page but turned it down. Here’s why I can’t feel sorry for him: it wasn’t after 1998, when we sucked and finished last. It was after 2002, when you could see the glimmers of hope that the US could actually be something someday. He could have stepped up and said, “Yes, I want to be a part of growing soccer in America.”

But he didn’t. He decided to play for Italy, explaining to ESPN last month, “Off the field, I have always felt American. On the field I’ve always felt Italian,” Part 2 of why I can’t feel sorry for him. Italians aren’t really halfway kind of people. I’m guessing they want a bunch of 100% Italian guys playing for them, not a guy who’s American on the street, Spanish at “work”, and Italian once every four years.

I’ve tried, for a few minutes, to feel sorry for him, but I can’t. He’s a traitor to the American Soccer program, and that just won’t work for me. The midwestern mama in me wants to say “sorry for your luck” but the Jersey girl in me has a better idea. “Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it?” Insert your own obscene hand gesture.

Because it’s us, the American soccer fans you’ve let down. You could have been a big contributor to US Soccer, Rossi, but instead you’re the guy who Italy didn’t think was Italian enough.

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