Calcio a Napoli

Ieri sono andata mia prima partita di calcio!

And even after being surrounded by Italian speakers for 3+ hours, my Italian skills still leave much to be desired. But hey, I was able to communicate enough with the pizza delievery guy when I got home to tell him I went to the game, and that I was disgusted that they blew their 2-0 lead to end in a tie.

Okay, maybe not all of that was spoken Italian but I'm pretty sure my comments regarding the score and my expression both on my face and the tone of my voice let him know how I felt about it. I think he was impressed because he told me that some game would be on the TV tonight starting at 730 and said I should come watch it in the pizzeria. I may start hanging out there once a week...it's so much fun. Like every game is a do or die situation. And everyone gets into the game. EVERYONE. I've mentioned how in the past I've noticed a slowing in food service because Napoli was playing- right?

At any rate, yesterday was one of those "hey, why not?" moments in action when earlier in the week my coworker had asked if I'd want to go go with to a game with his friends and family. Um soccer in Italy? Yes please! I mean, with opening day just over a week away and me an ocean (which may as well be forever away) I have a whole lot of sports enthusiasm to share, even after coaching the kids.

No, the stadium isn't new. It looks like it belongs in Naples with its cement construction, plastic backless seats covered in...well,  I really don't want to think about it...if there was a score board, it must have been on the overhang above our heads. Along the field advertisements of their corporate sponsors flashed but they were easily ignored while you watched the two squads run up and down the field. No jumbo-tron. Just a PA system blasting music and a guy talking in Italian. I'd call it a no frills stadium with limited concession stands selling only chips, crackers, and soda. Wait. I mean them and a bar, but the Italian variety- not American.

You tracking or did I just lose you in the shock that alcohol wasn't sold within the stadium? 
Talk about culture shock!

Our seats were in the "family- friendly section" meaning that we were surrounded by mainly sons and dads that all had their Napoli blue scarves, flags, shirts, and hats on. Don't read this wrong- they were still very much into the game: screaming at bad passes, sighing in agony over missed shots, booing the visiting team. I only mention this because up in la curva (the upper curves) were the crazy, fan waving, continually standing, ruckus generating fans. It was amazing. Like even more intense than my beloved SF Giants bringing the first World Series title home a few years back.

After the jeers from the visiting team (more about them in a minute), the announcer man read off the numbers of the Napoli team and the crowd would shout the players name. Talk about knowing your team! Luckily for me, I knew enough of the sports cheers to figure out the various chants and after I figured out that they weren't doing the Braves' tomahawk but rather throwing both hands up in cheer, I joined along. I did of course have to stop screaming in English because well, I pretty much already looked 100% American and didn't want to bring too much attention.

As for the Catania fans. Well, within minutes of entering the stadium I picked up on a "special section." Maybe because it was void of Napoli blue, and in its place were dark blue and red. Maybe it was due to the fact that a very wide section of stairs separated that section of seating from the surrounding two. Or maybe, just maybe it was the fact that both the upper deck and lower deck were completely inclosed in netting. Yes, netting. Although it was suggested that it's there to keep them from throwing things onto the field...I can't help but think it's to keep them safe from the home team's fans. Just in case though, there were a surplus of neon yellow attendants also in this section.

We had to wait until the second half for the first goal of the game, although Napoli had plenty of attempts. It worked out because after the half, they were shooting on our end of the field so we saw them up close. Of course after they took the 2-0 lead, Catania scored 1. And then as we were all really hoping we could see a clock they scored again, tying the game.

What's the point in playing if you're just going to tie at the end of it? Gimme more time on that clock! Gimme a shoot out! Gimme a penalty count per side and award the "nicer" team the win! Gimme something other than a stinkin' tie!

Seriously. For a sport that has such a huge following that work hours are arranged by game times, that players are talked about like family members, that everyone plays how is it that these fans can leave knowing that their team tied. Granted, they didn't lose, but they didn't win either. This honestly may be the one thing that prevents me from being a true soccer fan. I just can't wrap my head around it. I honestly think I'd rather take a loss than a tie. Yes, I know I'm competitive, ma no lo so!