Italy and the NFL: A Bond That Crosses the Atlantic

When we think of American football, Italy may not be the first country that comes to mind. However, there are surprising connections between the Bel Paese and the National Football League (NFL), connections that tell stories of emigration, success and cultural pride. Prominent among these connections is the legendary figure of Vince Lombardi, one of the most iconic names in the history of American football.

Vince Lombardi’s Italian origins.

Vince Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913, in Brooklyn, New York, into an Italian-American family. His parents were both children of Italian immigrants, and his roots lay in southern Italy, where all his grandparents came from. Growing up in an Italian American community deeply attached to its traditions, Lombardi brought with him the values of discipline, hard work and family that would define his career.

From a young age, Lombardi demonstrated a great passion for sports. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School, where he excelled in American football, and later Fordham University, where he was one of the famous “Seven Blocks of Granite”, the offensive line of the college football team. After a brief stint as a teacher and coach in high school, he began his career as an assistant coach in colleges, eventually rising to prominent roles in the NFL.

His real breakthrough came with the Green Bay Packers, a team that Lombardi transformed into an American football powerhouse. He guided the Packers to five NFL titles in the 1960s, including two Super Bowls. Lombardi is remembered not only for his athletic achievements, but also for his motivational approach and his ability to inspire players to give their all.

Success in the NFL and the legacy of Vince Lombardi.

After a brilliant coaching career, Lombardi became synonymous with excellence and leadership. His philosophy, summed up in the famous phrase “The price of success is hard work” made him a role model for generations of athletes and coaches. His vision went beyond the field: Lombardi was also a strong advocate for racial integration in sports and an example of inclusiveness at a time of great social change in the United States. In fact, he took a stand against racial discrimination during team retreats in Southern states, refusing to stay in hotel facilities that did not accept African American athletes. He also ensured that players’ contracts reflected wage equality and fair treatment. He was known for saying that there was no room for racism on his team and that anyone who exhibited discriminatory attitudes would find no place on the Packers.

In 1970, shortly after his untimely death, the NFL decided to name the Super Bowl trophy after Vince Lombardi. Each year, the winning team of the NFL championship receives the “Vince Lombardi Trophy”, a symbol of triumph that also carries with it a piece of Italian history.

Italy and American football today.

Although American football is not a mass sport in Italy, there is a passionate and growing community. The Italian Federation of American Football (FIDAF) organizes leagues and promotes the game locally.

In recent years, Italian fans of NFL teams have become increasingly active, thanks in part to social media and television broadcasts that make following games more accessible. Groups of fans gather regularly to watch games, and more and more teams have a significant following in Italy. Some bars and clubs organize themed events during the Super Bowl, turning the night of the final into a must-see event for Italian fans and demonstrating that American football is gradually gaining ground even in a country traditionally associated with soccer.

NFL players of Italian descent.

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In Italiano esistono due pronomi relativi invariabili, “che” e “cui”.

“Che” si usa per sostituire un nome che ha funzione di soggetto o complemento oggetto; “cui” invece si usa per sostituire un nome che ha funzione di complemento indiretto, preceduto quindi da una preposizione.

There are two invariable relative pronouns in Italian, “che” and “cui.”

“Che” is used to replace a noun that functions as a subject or direct object; “cui” on the other hand is used to replace a noun that functions as an indirect object, thus preceded by a preposition.

Lombardi portò con sé i valori di disciplina, lavoro duro e famiglia CHE avrebbero definito la sua carriera.

I suoi genitori erano entrambi figli di immigrati italiani e le sue radici affondano nel Sud Italia, DA CUI provenivano tutti i suoi nonni.

E ORA TOCCA A VOI 

Inserire negli spazi bianchi i pronomi relativi mancanti e le preposizioni necessarie:

Insert missing relative pronouns and necessary prepositions in the blank spaces:

1. Vince Lombardi è una figura storica ______ ha segnato il football americano.
2. La regione ______ provenivano i nonni di Lombardi era la Basilicata.
3. La comunità ______ viveva la sua famiglia era composta principalmente da immigrati italiani.
4. L’orgoglio ______ Lombardi parlava delle sue radici italiane era evidente a tutti.
5. Gli anni ______ Lombardi allenò i Green Bay Packers furono pieni di successi.
6. I principi ______ si ispirava la filosofia di Lombardi erano il lavoro duro e la disciplina.
7. Il football americano, ______ non è molto diffuso in Italia, sta guadagnando popolarità.
8. Il Super Bowl è l’evento sportivo ______ milioni di persone seguono ogni anno.
9. Il trofeo ______ viene assegnato al vincitore del Super Bowl porta il suo nome.
10. La vittoria del Super Bowl è il momento ______ ogni squadra lotta per tutta la stagione.