the perils of being a soccer fan

I love the sport. I do. I grew up on it. I've already written about why I love it. There's something absolutely magical about going to a match and following a team. I don't think there's anything unique about my feelings. Talk to any fan. Any sport. Any thing, really. A die hard baseball fan will tell you about the joy they encounter while at a game. Regardless of park and teams playing. Talk to a musical theater fanatic and they will tell you about how amazing it is to see a show. Regardless of whether it's on Broadway or in their local high school gym.

That's how I feel about soccer.

But I'm also a fan. I also want my team to do well. I want the boys in light blue of Napoli to make me proud. And do they?

No.

At least not lately.

Today the boys lost to Roma. And is pisses me off. I know I need to not take it personally. These things happen. Teams lose. But this particular concoction of players are individually quite talented. And usually when individually talented players get together some good things can happen, regardless of egos and outsized personalities. (I'm looking at every Brazilian national team ever.) Not so with these guys. I just finished watching the match and it felt like my niece's travel league of 9 year olds were playing Roma. Honestly though, Roma looked like a slightly more organized high school team with a couple good shots on goal and then a tightened up defense.

In other words, this game was not a pretty one.

It also most likely marks the end of Roberto Donadoni as manager for Napoli. If managers were scored on looking amazing in suits - Donadoni would be tops. The guy cuts a fine figure in his exquisitely tailored suit on the side lines. No, really. He's a good looking guy.


But unfortunately, that's not enough. I like the guy. I like his laid back appearance. But something has not been cutting it. Maybe he just lacks the fire. Exhibit A is his experience as National Team coach during Euro 2008. Maybe he's not inspiring his players. I watch a lot of Friday Night Lights and it has taught me all I care to know about American football. And one thing it demonstrates is the power of inspiring coaching. If Coach Taylor was managing Napoli, those boys would be having emotional breakthroughs everyday on the pitch that can only improve their game. Even if Matt Saracen gets benched.

But I digress.

Donadoni is probably out. And maybe that's a good thing. The season is still early. Last year at this time, Napoli was on fire. At one point they were actually in first place. It's time to shake things up. And maybe that shaking involves a coach who can inspire. My dream pick: Robert Mancini.

He also looks good on the pitch in a suit. But I loved his work with Inter. I also remember watching him play with Sampdoria when I was a kid.

On a total side note, I am going to jump on the "BRING CASSANO TO THE NATIONAL TEAM" bandwagon. I'll be secretary. Seriously, the man is inventive in a way that so few players are. Sure, he's got a past of "Attitude problems." He wrote a book talking about how he basically didn't care about what people told him to do when he was younger. But, um, Sampdoria is at the top of the table. And it's because of him. They beat the unbeatable Inter. And it's because of him. And, well, the Italian national team needs some flair and attitude.



You won't get that from smiley Cannavaro or Buffon or any of the other national team mainstays.

But these frustrations, these anxiety inducing mornings, the mood setting experiences for the end of the weekend are what being a soccer fan is about. It's why I signed up. The agony of watching your team struggle and then (ideally, hopefully) win gloriously is why I keep watching. Again, it's not unique to me. It's not unique to this sport. But it's my experience.

And maybe next week I'll be writing about a completely revived Napoli.

Or not.

Happy Daylight Savings

I was a little stunned when I woke up this morning.  I forgot it was Sunday and then I forgot it was Daylight Savings.  When I realized what it was, I got really excited.  I had to buy a new alarm clock a few years ago and it automatically updates for Daylight Savings.  And that's awesome in my opinion.  And yes, it takes very little to impress me at times.  

Not impressive of late, is Napoli.  The soccer team.  Not the city.  I have no opinion on the city in fact as I have yet to visit.  It's on my list.   My hope is to make it there next summer.  

But back to the soccer team.  S.S.C. Napoli.  I have been a fan since I can remember.  Sure, I've had mild flirtations with other teams.  There were those days as a kid when I was obsessed with the Toto Schilacci era Juventus.  And even a few years back I developed an obsession with Fiorentina and the beautiful Luca Toni.  But Napoli has always been my team.  Why?  Well, my dad is and therefore I am.  

I won't bore the few readers of this blog with the recent  history of the team.  But I will say that it appears Napoli has decided winning is not the thing to do in 2009.  A team that was ranked a surprising 4th after the first half of the 2008/2009 season has not won a game in this new year.  And the year, not that new anymore.  They play well, sure.  But, they're not winning.  A game is on right now in the background.  And it's a few minutes from the half and they are still tied.  Ties are good.  It's better than losing due to a last minute goal by the other team on a stupid mistake.  

It angers me.  Win a game!  Just one.  Because I'm convinced that's all you need.  I really think that when you remember how wonderful it feels to win, you will be thrilled by the experience and do it more often.  One game.  It would make me so happy.  And don't you want me to be happy?  (I know guilt is a cheap tactic, but they're an Italian team.  I was brought up to think guilt was the Italian way.)

Okay, that's out of my system.  

I feel better.

As for other matters, I realize I am not as regular a writer as I once hoped I would be.  I'm in what one could refer to as a "funk" lately.  I feel the need to do something drastic in order to move myself out of it. 

Drastic for me is probably not that drastic for others.  But I've been thinking a lot about my hair.  I sort of want to go to a hair salon and say - "Change it.  Make it different.  I want to be look different."  I've been really happy with my long hair.  But, I feel a need for a change in some aspect of my life.  And hair is so easy.  I'd like a more fit body, but that can't be accomplished over the course of one sunday afternoon.  New hair can be.  And then it grows back over the course of time and it's okay.  

I woke up with that feeling today.  It's ridiculous to say that one haircut can be responsible for the unfunking, but I think it can be a step.  Or something.  I don't know.  I used to do this all the time.  Wake up and decide it was time to chop my hair off.  And do it.  I've gotten less gutsy with my hair over time, but maybe it's just the simple step I need for right now. 

I'm not overly concerned with the funk being anything major.  I've decided I'm allowed to be in a funk for the next year.  I'm entitled.  But the funk is starting to interfere with work.  I spent too many hours this week reading articles about Napoli's inability to win games this year, Will Chase's extensive theater career and blog posts about anything.  None of those things have anything to do with work.  And that's a problem.  I have no problem with the occasional wasted day, but the frequency of them this week are a problem.  I've just been tired and out of it and without any desire for anything.  

And I think a simple hair cut may make me feel lighter and different.  Add a new perspective to my day.  

But for now I need to see what my boys can do in Naples.