The Date is February 29, 2012

    Today is either Fat Tuesday or ash Wednesday, depending on what part of the Earth you live on or what day you are reading this. To many Italian-Americans, this could mean a number of things. It could mean that Tuesday night is a great night to go out and get really drunk and lose all your inhibitions. To some, it might mean time to figure out what one thing you will give up for Lent so people may think you really care about this religious time of year. Others take the religious parts very serious and make their plans to go to church on Wednesday to receive their ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead. And to be totally honest, the are many who just don’t really care and take it as any other day. A simple two day span in the month of February in a leap year. Yes, 2012 is a leap year. Happens every four years and really doesn’t hold much meaning other then the fact it is an extra day of work to some. So what’s the big deal about that day? Why should the 2012 leap year be circled on all Italian-Americans calendars? And the real question, why are their so many IA’a (Italian-American’s) who do not even know what that day is?!

    Growing up an IA here in New York City can only really be explained with one word, GREAT! Other then actually being raised in Italy itself, I could not think of any other city the NYC in which to be raised. The history that this city has with IA’s is astounding and very rich. From generation to generation, recipes, languages, personalities, looks and even some swagger has been passed down from our ancestors  to the people you see walking the streets today. From Belmont to Bensonhurst, to Howard Beach to Bay Ridge and Mulberry Street Little Italy all the way to the original Little Italy Arthur Avenue, IA’s are everywhere. From cafes to restaurants to deli’s to butchers to that little shop that sells the huge $40 Sunday pasta bowls our stamp is all over the city. We are raised by a family, taught to love family and turn our close friends into family. Hold your friends and family tight, but you enemies tighter. The influence goes on and on and many great things have come out of this city from IA’s yet one thing truly lacks and February 29 is proof of that.

    IA’s are all over the sports world of the U.S. mostly in baseball and football, but ask any person born in Italy, American football and baseball will not be the sport they either want to watch or play growing up. Soccer as we know it here is the main sport in Italy and one in which they are one of the best in the world at playing. So why is this sport not loved by the IA’s who love the Italian culture as much as they claim? When the home country of Italy takes on another country with it’s national team, it is a big deal, even if there isn’t much up for grabs. An international friendly means just as much to a fan of the sport as a cup game, for something as simple as bragging rights. The sport loved by more people around the world, yet means very little to the people of this country. And I know many of you reading this right now are saying the complete opposite. You are thinking, “Yes I do like soccer and it means a lot to me so how can you say that?” Well let me say this to you in response, February 29, 2012.

    2:30 p.m. ET, February 29th, where will you be? Well I know where I will be. Macbook on lap, fingers tapping away as I watch the game I love, played by the country I love against the country I was raised in. Yes. If you haven’t figured it out by now, the Italian national team, the 8th ranked team in the world will be playing a friendly match in Genoa, Italy against the 31st ranked team in the world, the United States of America. When these two teams meet in this sport, it brings nations together. Will it mean as much to you as it does to me? Well if you didn’t even know they were playing, I doubt that.