How I Became A Romanista
I grew up in the suburbs of New York, just outside the city. I had the good fortune of residing in a multicultural town with plenty of resources to expose myself to soccer. Until recently, “the beautiful game” was considered a niche sport in this country.
The Millennial generation has embraced the sport like no other previous generations in America. I’m one of these Millennials who absolutely loves the sport. But it wasn’t always this way. I was one of the kids who was more excited to goof off with my friends during water breaks and chow down on orange slices after practice.
I was a US soccer prodigy. I gave my all in hopes I'd play professionally...Jk I was in it for the halftime orange slices.
So what changed? We’ll have to fast forward several years…
Late into my teenage years, I found my interests gravitating away from conventional Americana in a sporting sense. The NFL, MLB, NBA just didn’t do it for me anymore. I developed friendships with the international kids at my high school and found them to be more interesting than my childhood friends from Westchester. The Italian culture in particular really resonated with me. I believe I was particularly drawn to Italian’s because they live life with unabashed passion. This passion is best exemplified through soccer. Or as the Italian’s call it: Calcio.
Antonello Venditti's "Grazie Roma" performed by myself and Giovanni.
My closest friend, Giovanni would forever change my soccer ignorance.
Giovanni and I used to play pick-up soccer matches with the other international kids after school. Giovanni was from Rome, Italy. His parents were diplomats at the United Nations and had relocated to my town.
Being from Rome, Giovanni had a vital choice to make. Either you’re for Roma or for Lazio. These are the bitter rivals that divide Rome. This rivalry is steeped in socioeconomic and political history. Once chosen, there is no turning back. Giovanni made the correct choice. He was a Romanista (Supporter of AS Roma). Unico grande amore.
Francesco Totti celebrating with a selfie with the Curva Sud after his extraordinary volley in the Derby della Capitale against Lazio.
Giovanni was inspired to play soccer like Roma legend and former captain, Francesco Totti. Giovanni would proudly tell me about Totti’s magisterial ability and colossal personality. Il bimbo d’oro (golden child) as Totti was affectionately called in Rome is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players to ever play the game. He is the last of the golden generation.
Totti’s style of play is that of a playmaker; a magician-like quality to pull something out of nowhere. Watch his highlights below:
Throughout his 23 professional seasons for Roma, Totti was most certain to score or assist when the team needed him the most. He has a demi-god like reputation in Rome and held in very high regard with the worldwide soccer community.
I was in awe of Totti’s ability. I too dreamt of playing like him. But as my interest for Roma grew my effectiveness to play the sport dwindled. Being fast as a kid no longer mattered when you have essentially no technical ability against more seasoned opposition. That’s why I was forced into defensive duty as teammates really could only appreciate my tackling ability to reclaim possession of the ball, aka “getting stuck in.”
I would later idolize Roma’s long awaited future captain and midfield general; Daniele De Rossi. At the astonishing age of 41, Totti sadly retired from Roma at the end of this past 2016-17 season. So De Rossi is now the deserved captain of Roma, who remained committed to wait for the legendary Francesco Totti to hang up his boots.
De Rossi doesn’t produce the same type of awe-inspiring magic that Totti had, but his defensive ability, leadership, and grinta (determination) is unmatched.
These two players on Roma laid the seeds for me to become a Romanista. I would play FIFA video games and would always select Roma. I got to learn the names of the players and their attributes. In senior year of high school I was able to watch Roma as ESPN picked up the broadcast rights for the Champions League. But for the Italian league games, I would have to resort to sketchy Russian streams and risk the very real possibility of contracting malicious malware on my laptop…the struggle was real. All in the name of being a Romanista.
My dedication grew exponentially. In college, I remember sitting in the back of a few undergrad courses with my laptop tuned to the game on mute. When Roma scored, I would have to restrain every nerve in my body to leap and scream “GOAL!!!”
My fandom truly grew into fanatical support when I studied a semester abroad in Rome, 2010. While most students were determined to see ancient ruins, eat pasta, and converse with the locals…my top priority was to watch a live Roma match at the historic Stadio Olimpico.
Watching Roma at the Stadio Olimpico is a pilgrimage for any Romanista. Posing like Christ the Redeemer statue was in order I suppose.
I secured tickets to Roma vs. Inter Milan. And the experience was nothing short of magical.
To my dismay, I would discover that I’d be seated in the neutral fan section. I panned my gaze off to the left to witness the iconic Curva Sud; south end of the stadio. They were in full attendance and absolutely rocking the stadium. Truly one of the most iconic displays of pageantry at any soccer stadium; led by the hardcore fans known as the Ultras who wave flags, light flares, and orchestrate chants and songs from the Curva Sud.
I was excited and nervous. It was a fiercely contested match. The referee handed out 8 yellow cards that evening.
It was the Tinker-man vs Fat-man.
It was Totti vs Cambiasso.
It was Cat Man vs Julio Cesar.
Totti nearly scored. That would have been soccer nirvana! His replacement would be the hero on that warm September night.
In the 92nd minute…on the counter, De Rossi delivered a sublime early cross. Curling past 4 defenders and placed perfectly in front of a diving Mirko Vucinic to head the ball home in the bottom left corner of the net, just past an outstretched Julio Cesar.
The final whistle blew. Rome won against the former champions of Europe! The energy was absolutely electric. The most invigorating feeling. I was still buzzing on the train ride back to my apartment in Trastevere. I couldn’t have asked for a more dramatic conclusion to a sporting event.
The Roma Club New York is my second family
Roma embodies why we love sports. It’s an escape from reality. A romantic rollercoaster of euphoric highs and crushing lows. There’s beauty in chaos. Personally it holds nostalgic purposes for me. I fell in love with the city. And watching a match at the Stadio Olimpico was enough to hook me for life. Watching with fellow Romanisti at the Roma Club New York helps keep me tied to the city and culture I love.
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