We’ve all seen the YouTube videos posted on Facebook featuring Americans crowded around a television at a local bar during the wee hours of the morning, drinking cold beers, and anticipating a win from our beloved USA team. We’ve seen the reactions on their faces captured and combined to highlight the exhilarating feelings that accompany a goal or a heart-breaking off-sides call. Either way the World Cup has been the focus of the world this summer. Everywhere you go a television is set up so a quick glance at the score can be taken or every single pass can be seen.
Going back to the national YouTube video, where every state had its moment of fame, what is it like to achieve this feeling from the prospective of another country? Maybe the host country of the defending champions? Or better yet, what is it like to be in a country where rivals gather, different flags are polishing every other balcony within a single street, and a cluster of languages fill the same bar?
I spent the last month working in Italy, which means I was here for the entire World Cup finals. I had arrived after Italy was out, so I was expecting a lot of anger and hostility, and was bummed that I would not get to experience this country’s love for soccer as Gli Azzuri defended their title. To my surprise, I was fed with an abundance of emotions, fans, and dedication as teams were eliminated and yellow replaced green on the Italian flag.
Honestly, this experience is indescribable. You all have had a taste of my wordy recaps of the fine gentlemen in today’s world of sports, but for this experience I had to call in a favor from my better half of the trip Anthony Viltro, who was able to capture this life-changing experience via video.
On one of our town duty adventures, Anthony and I stumbled across a television that competed in height with Brunelleschi’s Duomo and length with Ponte Vecchio stationed on the make-shift beach along the powerful Arno River. As we searched for our students making sure they were not inebriated, we decided to take in the scene and absorb the intensity of the situation. The decision was made; we were watching the final game along the Arno, basta cosi.
July 11, 2010 Anthony and I gathered the students of ASA’s Florence program and made way for the Arno River. The streets were roaring with cheers for both Spain and Netherlands, Vespas honking, and the ever- exasperating Vuvuzelas. Hundreds of men, women, children, Italians, Spaniards, Dutch, Americans, Mexicans, and even dogs (yes I named the dog featured in this video the Official World Cup Doggy) crowded around the monumental television. I can continue to savor your taste buds with this flavorful experience, but I’ll leave this as the antipasto and add a little more spice by finishing the meal with the first Sorts of Sports live stream video, after all how could I be in Italy without sharing the amazing food.
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