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Interview with Francesca |
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Tuesday, 05 December 2006 |
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Interview with Francesca
In 2005, Steve Amoia of Calcio Connection interviewed Francesca about soccer. Now, that the Calcio Connection Web site could no longer archive the interview, we've posted it here for your reading pleasure:
Interview with Ms. Francesca Di Meglio, Journalist for BusinessWeek Online and ItaliansRus.com
| 25 May 2005
Calcio Connection is very pleased to welcome a versatile journalist with a life-long passion for soccer. Ms. Francesca Di Meglio was born and raised in New Jersey, and is the daughter of an Italian immigrant father, along with an Italian-American mother. Both sides of her family trace their roots to the idyllic island of Ischia, which is located in the Bay of Naples.
Ms. Di Meglio is a reporter for BusinessWeek Online, which is the web-based version of the famous magazine. She covers management education, and has written a recent article describing the gender barriers in graduate business school programs. She also is a featured columnist at ItaliansRus.com, which is an excellent web site that focuses upon the contributions, traditions, and cultural history of Italians around the world. Ms. Di Meglio authors “Our Paesani,” a weekly column that discusses a variety of current Italian themes. She has written several compelling articles about Italian soccer for this online publication (including one about the man who graces the top of this page, Paolo Maldini,) and has contributed featured commentaries for the highly respected Soccer365.com and SoccerAge.com (now called Goal.com.)
Ms. Di Meglio has also written articles for the following publications: Tour and Food Italia, La Voce, the Italian Tribune, F and L Primo Magazine, America and Italia Review, the Ladies’ Home Journal, iVillage.com (a web site about women’s issues), and MTV.com.
Francesca, benvenuta to Calcio Connection!
Q1: Steve Amoia (SA). Where did you attend college, and did you begin to publish articles during your student days?
A1: Francesca Di Meglio (FDM). I actually began my journalism career back in middle school. The first time I saw my byline on the student rag, I was hooked. By the time I got to high school, I was interested in using journalism as a form of activism and covered issues that moved the students like bad cafeteria food. Then, I attended The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (Class of 2000), where I majored in journalism and minored in women’s studies. From the very beginning, I wrote for the independent student newspaper, The GW Hatchet. By senior year, I was the news editor and I mostly covered the Greek system, substance and alcohol abuse, and the student government. I must admit that I did some of my best work at The Hatchet, which is why I’ve remained loyal. Last year, I was the editor and oversaw the production of a book about the history of the newspaper in honor of its 100th anniversary. The book should still be available for sale at www.gwhatchet.com.
Q2: (SA). You grew up in the New York City/New Jersey area that is known for a significant soccer tradition. You are a Juventus supporter (Juventina), but your younger sister supports Internazionale di Milano (Interista.) Things must become very interesting during the Derby D’Italia. (Which is the name given to games played between Juventus and Inter Milan.) When did your passion for calcio begin, and did you play organized soccer during your youth? Can two rival factions coexist peacefully within the same family? ;-)
A2: (FDM). Well, my father used to cut school in Ischia to play soccer. And he introduced the sport to us at a young age. In 1990, we visited Ischia right before the World Cup. I was about 11 at the time, and I remember getting caught up in the excitement with the national team. At that time, it was still hard to see games – other than the World Cup – here in the States. We could catch one on Sunday mornings, thanks to RAI but that was it. Then, in 1994, the World Cup came to America and the whole country was forced to watch our sport. The day Roberto Baggio came back to life with seconds left in the second round game against Nigeria and brought Italy back into contention was the day I knew I’d be a loyal fan for life. As soccer fans know, Italy went on to reach the final in ’94 and sadly lost when Baggio missed the penalty shot. I knew I wanted to be with him through the good and the bad, so I remained a faithful fan throughout his career. But I became too attached to Juventus to give up the team when Baggio left. I’ve been a Juventina ever since and will be for life.
It’s a little tough to accept the fact that my sister Rosaria is an Inter fan. Interestingly enough, she became an Inter fan when Baggio moved there. So, I can’t blame her too much. Derby days are certainly a treat at our house. In fact, when Juve faced Inter in winter 2004, my boyfriend Antonio and my cousin Fausto were visiting from Italy. They’re both Juve fans, too. And Juve was winning for most of the game, so we gave her a pretty hard time. Near tears, she ran upstairs and returned a few moments later at peace. She had looked at the final score of the game and already knew Inter came back to tie. She didn’t let on though and made us wait to see for ourselves. I guess you can say she got the last laugh.
Q3: (SA). Mr. Anthony Parente has created a tremendous resource and cultural site with www.italiansrus.com. Can you please tell us when you first became associated with this organization, and would you kindly elaborate about its mission and commitment to the Italian community around the world?
A3: (FDM). I was looking for new places to publish my work and did a few Google searches in spring 2003. That’s when I stumbled on this treasure. I noticed there was a lot of information about history and tradition on the site. But there wasn’t much on modern day Italy other than travel. I had been thinking about the Our Paesani column for a while because Italian Americans often are proud of their heritage but know nothing about today’s Italy. It’s a far cry from the Italy that their parents and grandparents left behind. Anthony was interested and I started publishing sometime in the summer. I’ve been writing the column just about once a week ever since. The great part of writing the column for a web site is that it’s posted for all of the world to see, not just Italian Americans. Anthony is committed to projecting a positive image of the Italian community but also to sharing the actual news that comes out of Italy and the Italian American community, which is something that I also aspire to do. I have great respect for him and the site.
Q4: (SA). As a reporter for BusinessWeek Online, you focus on management education topics. During my introduction, I referenced a very interesting article that you wrote about gender barriers at MBA programs. As you know in Italy, there are many sports shows dedicated to soccer that have women commentators. Telefutura, a Spanish language network in North America, frequently features Ms. Connie Quintero from Madrid, Spain. I have seen her interview Pelé and other famous players. Do you believe that any journalistic barriers remain for women in the world’s most popular sport?
A4: (FDM). To be honest, many of the women featured on Italian sports shows are still there as trophies to titillate the mostly male fan base. (Think Domenica Sportiva!) I covered a Juve/Milan game at Giants Stadium and even one of the very famous Italian players was surprised to see a young woman like myself on the sidelines with a camera and notebook. And the Italian journalists sitting next to me were hardly accepting of me. (They spoke Italian and didn’t realize I could understand them, so I understood every cutting word they said.) But things have started to improve. RAI International’s coverage of soccer on Sundays always features respectable female hosts who clearly know the game. But there’s still a long way for women sports writers to go in Italy. With the strength that most Italian women I know have, I’m sure it won’t take very long to get there.
Q5: (SA). Francesca, as I mentioned to you before this interview, AC Cugini is affiliated with a professional women’s team, the London Gryphons, of the W-League. After the tremendous success of the US Women’s National Team program over the past 15 years, what do you believe are the necessary ingredients for a viable and successful women’s professional league in North America?
A5: (FDM). This is a tough question. I have written a few relevant articles for Soccer365. The problem is that soccer is already at a disadvantage in this country because most Americans are not fans even if they enjoy playing the game themselves. They say it’s boring and they don’t appreciate the grace and intelligence necessary to win. The other thing that Americans have yet to buy into is women’s sports. They talk it up and give the women credit in the media – but they don’t buy tickets or merchandise. Unfortunately, the tickets and merchandise – not words – keeps a league going. I think that the organizers of the next women’s league will have to keep expectations much lower, target families with little girls who dream of being Mia Hamm one day, and keep the salaries low. Of course, they’ll have to keep up the good work with publicity and hope to produce players like Brandi Chastain, Hamm, and a few others who can also play the roles of spokespeople. Charm goes very far in a media-obsessed culture.
Q6: (SA). Last month, an unfortunate incident took place at the European Champions League game between Inter Milan and AC Milan. A goal by Esteban Cambiasso of Inter was disallowed. Several flares were thrown on the pitch, and one injured Nelson Dida, the AC Milan goalkeeper. The game was interrupted, and then was called off by the referee, Mr. Merk. Inter Milan (the “home team”) forfeited the game, which brought about immediate changes in Italian football. For instance, if one flare or object strikes the pitch, the referee must stop the game, and has the authority to halt the competition.
In your opinion, what needs to be done to ensure that the small minority of spectators do not ruin things for the majority who only want to support their clubs with passion instead of violence? Should the FIGC (the Italian Football Federation) follow the English model, since they have made great strides in this area? In terms of creating databases of known ultras (hooligans) and barring them from stadiums? Should clubs hire their own security teams, instead of relying solely on the police?
A6: (FDM). I wish I had a great answer for this. But this is a big problem and it will take many years to solve. The problem is that the government or FIGC can’t anticipate the character of every person who walks into a stadium. The English model has had some success and that certainly wouldn’t be a bad place to start. Private security works in the United States, and is definitely a viable option. But Italy likes to think of itself as a safe place and as a cozy country where everybody knows your name. I imagine stricter security measures that treat everyone as a threatening stranger will be hard for Italian fans to swallow, especially soccer is more a way of life there than any sport is here in America.
Q7: (SA). Last year, you wrote a beautiful tribute to Roberto Baggio at ItaliansRus.com. I read his autobiography, and came away with a tremendous respect for this very intriguing man. Like you, he has always been one of my favorite athletes, but often was misunderstood and underutilized by several famous coaches (Messrs. Capello, Lippi, Maldini Sr., Sacchi, and Trapattoni.) It might surprise soccer fans that a player as gifted as Baggio only had 56 caps (international appearances) for Italy during a career that spanned 18 years.
For me, our coaches could not appreciate, or perhaps were threatened by, his brilliance and artistry. “Mah sei tu pazzo?” (“But are you crazy?”) His memorable reaction when Mr. Arrigo Sacchi substituted him very early in a must-win game against Norway during World Cup 94. Unfortunately, as he explained so eloquently in his book, he will always be remembered for the penalty kick that he missed against Brazil. A game where he played 120 minutes with a tightly taped thigh. But the Italian fans forgave him, as was evident during the outpouring of affection during his farewell game last year. What attracted you to the Divine Ponytail, (Il Codino Divino) and how would you characterize his contributions, impact, and legacy on Italian and world football?
(SA: Interviewer Note. In the game against Norway, the Italian goalkeeper, Gianluca Pagliuca, was red carded for a flagrant foul. Actually, he was the first keeper ever sent off at the World Cup. Mr. Sacchi decided to remove Baggio, which the coach said was for tactical reasons. At the time, Roberto Baggio was considered the best player in the world. Italy won the game, 1 to 0, with a goal scored by Dino Baggio, who is not related to Roberto.)
A7: (FDM). Baggio is the reason I’m such a devoted soccer fan. For that one summer in 1994, he brought my favorite sport to my home country. And he played with his heart. It was obvious he wasn’t in it for the money. It was love in its purest form. When he would glide across the field with the ball between his feet, it was magic. Then, I learned more about him and realized he was as good a man as he was a soccer player. Italian soccer will never be the same without him. Those coaches who didn’t play him knew that all too well – and they were jealous if you ask me. The male ego is a delicate thing.
Q8: (SA). In August 2003, you covered the Italian Super Cup (the winner of the Scudetto against the Coppa Italia champion) at the Meadowlands between AC Milan and Juventus. If I recall correctly, you were on a photographic assignment, but were able to converse with several players and Mr. Lippi (who now coaches the Italian National Team.) Could you please share some of your observations and impressions about these Serie A stars?
A8: (FDM). The assignment was to take photos of the team, which granted me permission to be on the field near Juventus, and then write an article about a fan’s day with her favorite team. I really only spoke to the players before and after the game because you’re not allowed to say anything to them during the game. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Gianluca Zambrotta were gentleman. Marco Di Vaio and Alessio Tacchinardi had a bit of a wild streak in them. And Alessandro Del Piero and Ciro Ferrara were like the team fathers, doting on their teammates and making sure everyone had enough water. It was one of the best days of my life, and I’ll never forget it.
Q9: (SA). The major Serie A clubs (AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, and AS Roma) increasingly field more foreigners and fewer native Italians. As we have seen in other top European leagues, “globalization” has arrived in the strangest places. During a Champions League game last year between Valencia of Spain and Inter Milan of Italy, Valencia fielded as many Italians as Internazionale. Would we have ever expected Liverpool of England to have a Spanish coach, and only feature two native sons in their first eleven as they challenge for their fifth European/Champions League Cup?
A9: (FDM). As a writer for BusinessWeek Online, I am well aware of the lightning speed at which the corporate world is globalizing. Soccer is no different. It’s a business and as such, people are making business decisions. If the best talent comes from somewhere else, pay them to come to you. That’s how it works. I will say, however, that globalization takes a bit of the beauty out of the game. Part of the fun is the patriotism that soccer inspires. It’s no coincidence that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi named his political party Forza Italia after the soccer chant.
Q10: (SA). Several of the newly promoted Serie A teams, such as Cagliari, Livorno, Messina, and Palermo (the latter three returned to the top flight after decades in lower divisions) have enjoyed unexpected success this season playing mostly native born Italians. Between Cagliari and Messina, they have only lost 3 home games, which is a better record than Juventus and Milan (5.) What are your opinions about these teams that have predominantly Italian rosters, along with the contrasting argument that richer clubs, who do not field as many native Italians, may restrict the development and exposure of domestic talent in prestigious competitions such as the Champions League?
A10: (FDM). Watching Palermo and these other teams reach dizzying heights of success this season has been a pleasure for me. I especially enjoy Toni’s gift for making goals when everyone on the field least expects it. (Plus, his teammate Brienza is from Ischia.) Seeing more Italians get the opportunity to play makes me swell with pride and I think other fans feel the same way. If you’re from Spain watching the Spanish league, you want to see Spanish players. That’s especially true in the Champions League. It’s true that soccer is a business but it’s also a national pastime and the style has a lot to do with each individual country. It’s no accident that Italians play defensively and Brazilians play with flair. You lose a bit of the culture and tradition when you bring in a lot of foreigners. Then again, you get to see someone like Nedved perform amazing feats with Juve’s black and white stripes on his back.
Francesca, thank you very much for contributing to Calcio Connection. Continued success in your journalistic pursuits, and my best wishes to ItaliansRus.com.
Tanti auguri.
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by Steve Amoia for AC Cugini CALCIO CONNECTION
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