Leave Giuseppe Rossi alone.
Holding an American passport doesn’t mean you can’t call your best friend in Sao Paulo anymore, nor does it come with a requirement to cut your ancestral ties. As Americans, especially in today’s political environment, there’s a premium on loving America, even though no one ever really explains what that means or how to properly love the homeland. From what I can gather, there’s a camp that emphasizes love and respect for the tangential, focusing on flags, moments of silence, pins, abstract freedom, guns and random citizens who take it upon themselves to protect our borders. This strain of political thought often elevates love of objects over ideas, such as loving the physical flag rather than the freedoms that the flag is supposed to represent.
On the appreciation to love spectrum, most Americans probably fall in a safe zone when it comes to the exercise of allegiance. But is loving America meant to completely encompass one’s entire being? Are people supposed to develop amnesia regarding generations of family abroad, generations whose actions and sacrifices ultimately enabled present generations to be American? There’s a lot of room for patriotism between recent immigrants and the purveyors of rigid Americanness. To be American means nothing and everything. Americanness is the freedom to be difficult to define. Whether people accept it or not, Giuseppe Rossi’s decision to play for Italy is rooted in what it means to be American.
Born and bred in New Jersey, Giuseppe Rossi grew up just like many Americans. He went to a regular school, played suburban soccer, and like many Americans, has parents who were born overseas. Sounds pretty average so far. But Rossi’s soccer ability wasn’t average. At the age of thirteen, Rossi’s exceptional ability led his family back to Italy where he joined the youth set up at Parma. From there, Rossi went on to Manchester United, then off on loan spells to Newcastle and Parma, finally ending up in Spain at his current club, Villarreal. While meandering around the old continent, twenty-three year old Rossi found his way to the front door of the Italian World Cup squad after years of rejecting advances from the U.S. to join the Stars and Stripes. Rossi’s decision to shun America and represent Italy has unfortunately drawn the ire of many an American, sometimes to the extent of questioning Rossi’s patriotism.
Rossi’s decision has nothing to do with appreciating America. Last time I checked, rooting for another country or even deciding to compete for another country in sport doesn’t amount to treason. Representing another country in sport also doesn’t mean that you lack affection for your birth country. These are stances that should be able to co-exist in American life today.
Americans seemed quite welcoming when German-born Thomas Dooley, Netherlands native Ernie Stewart, and Preki, born in the former Yugoslavia, decided to represent the Stars and Stripes. At that point, there wasn’t much of a focus on patriotism. We just checked to make sure the paperwork was in order in time to compete. The American soccer community has always been relatively welcoming of foreign-born players who want to play for the U.S. But as the first U.S.-born player to have a legitimate chance of playing for a world soccer power, Rossi is different. He’s doing the reverse commute. That’s why his decision cuts so deeply for some U.S. supporters.
Given the same option, you wonder whether other U.S. youth players would decide to play for France, England, Argentina or Brazil if they had a shot at being full internationals, particularly if they had deep family connections to any of these traditional soccer powers. Would we condemn these players as traitors? I hope not, because doing so incorrectly presupposes that a person can only have one home. In practice, particularly in the United States, we know that not to be true.
Like Rossi, many American citizens have connections that extend beyond our borders. Some connections are distant, requiring people to go back several generations to find their roots, but for others, relationships to another motherland are much closer. Disassociating oneself from an ancestral home can be challenging when close family relationships still exist. These aren’t connections that one easily discards with the acquisition of a passport, whether by birth or naturalization.
The dirty little secret is that we Americans, we’re not all the same. We didn’t all become American in the same way, yet we’re often expected to be the same kind of pre-packaged American. But America is no longer just baseball and apple pie. America is also risotto and bolognese, choripan and empanadas, and masala and roti. There is no American purity; it’s a myth. Our entire national existence is infused with external influences. Although some seem to view Americanness as involving a singular love, a singular interest, and a longing for the traditional, America 2.0 is, in reality, multi-faceted, fluid and culturally confusing. One of the implications of living in this sort of America is that sometimes professionals like Rossi have multiple, often conflicting identities and allegiances. And that should be fine, especially in sport.
Is it feasible that Giuseppe Rossi may have longed for Italian football while watching generations of successful Italian national teams with his Italian family? Absolutely. American families sit around and root for their ancestral homeland all the time. It’s a pastime that’s as American as, well, Sbarro Pizza. Should we let Rossi back in the country? Sure, he’s a citizen, born and bred in Jersey. But if he comes back, say in a 2018 or 2022 World Cup in an Italian National Team jersey, he deserves stick just like any other member of the Italian side. However, I won’t take it to questioning his Americanness, simply because being American is complicated. The traitor talk needs to be reserved for life and death matters, not sport. It’s America’s liberties that give Rossi the freedom to be American, hold on to his roots and explore opportunities in whatever way he sees fit under the law.
These are the narratives that make international soccer so exciting. But the Rossi situation is particularly interesting because rarely in U.S. soccer do we have to deal with the problem of losing world class talent. Our issue has been that we’ve had a hard time developing it. Rossi is part of the first wave of potentially world class players to choose to take their talents elsewhere, but it’s unlikely he will be the last. America’s multiculturalism is what makes the country so great, but it is also what will open the door to more and more players considering playing for other nations as the level of play in the U.S. continues to improve. That’s the reality. American soccer may not have inspired a sufficient number of players to discard their dreams of playing for their ancestral homeland for putting on the red, white and blue yet, especially when their ancestral homelands are world powers with histories of legendary teams and globally-recognized, talismanic figures.
Rossi believes he is good enough to play on a side capable of winning a World Cup now. His Italian connection is not just a random selection based on a tenuous relationship, but a connection tied to a country that holds his family’s roots. He may be the only American player in his generation with a realistic chance of playing on a World Cup winning side. Could we have used him? Without question. But I can’t hate his decision given the context. His behavior is not that of an international mercenary. This is the behavior of a player who latched on to ancestry and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Who knows whether we would have made the same decision given the opportunity, but at the end of the day, I respect his choice and wish him the best of luck, that is, until he comes up against the U.S. … again. If that ever happens, for me, he’s Italian for the day, just like he was during the 2009 Confederations Cup when he scored two goals against the U.S. But that’s another story, and one I don’t like to think about.
I would never call Rossi a ‘traitor.’ He has the right to make that choice. I also have the right to hope for some schadenfreude action if/when he doesn’t make Italy’s final 23-man roster.
I don’t get your Preki or Dooley comparisons – it is the reverse of the Rossi situation. Of course Americans liked that – we were getting a good player, so the US was all smiles. The US getting Preki as a USMNT player is like Italy getting Rossi for the Azzuri – NOT like the US losing Rossi.
(For the record I am opposed to the USMNT bringing in guys like Jermaine Jones. In the long run, soccer-specific ‘citizenship’ is bad for the development of the US game. I’m not talking about some kid that comes from Mexico or Africa (Adu, forzample) as a child and then becomes a star as he develops. That is great. That is America. But importing some 23-yr old Brazilian who can’t quite make Dunga’s squad is weak, and though we have done that in the past, I hope the USMNT is past that now.)
You can’t deny that Rossi put his interests over the interests of the US. That is certainly something all citizens have the right to do. Congrats, Giuseppe – just don’t expect other people not related to the Rossi family to cheer on that decision.
30f, But some people do. I just think that the language around it is ridiculous. I know too many people (including myself), who have deep connections to other countries, but were born and bred in the States. Sure, I’ll get on him like I’d get on anyone else, but at least for me, there’s a line I’m not going to cross where I begin delving into this antiquated idea of what it is to be American.
My point with Preki and Dooley is simply that the U.S. is accepting and recognizes that people’s lives and allegiances are complicated, at least when it’s convenient. We can either naively close our eyes or accept that allegiance can go both ways when it comes to sport in a multicultural nation. My point isn’t to say that people don’t have the right to be disappointed in his decision; it’s that questioning his Americanness is BS. The same loophole that let’s people in, is the same loophole that provides the avenue for Rossis to move if they’re good enough. I don’t expect people to cheer his decision or even leave him alone, but the whole traitor thing is a bit much.
BTW, if you’re against Jermaine Jones, does that mean you were also against Thomas Dooley’s inclusion? Their situations aren’t exactly the same, but they have very similar family backgrounds that permit their inclusion with the USMNT.
Mirti – I am not sure that American soccer fans were re-thinking their concept of what it means to be from this country when Preki and Dooley were playing for the USMNT. I think people wanted to win, and didn’t care where the players came from. Dooley and Preki were a while ago, and I want US Soccer to be past that crutch.
I am not opposed to the existence of Jones – I just think it is a short term strategy to import these second and third tier players who have played junior level games for the nation of their birth when the realize they’ll never make the national team there. I am far, FAR happier that Bradley the Elder found better US based midfielders than Jermaine Jones – THAT makes me really happy. That means we are making progress.
Here is the thing about Rossi (and Jermaine Jones) – ’switching’ countries seems opportunist. If Jermaine could have made the Mannshaft (hee, hee) do you honestly think he would have rejected a call-up for Germany to play for the US? Of course not, he would have grabbed that white adidas shirt with both hands!
If Rossi had turned out to be an ‘MLS All-Star’ level of player instead of the top notch striker he is – would he have committed to playing for his beloved Italia? Would Rossi have said he was down for the Azurri, and lost out on his chance to play in he World Cup for the US even if he would have never gotten the call from Lippi? Of course not! Rossi waited and waited and read the situation and only committed when he was sure (or as sure as one can be) that he had a chance at the brass ring (Italian Natl Team) before he dropped the tin ring (USMNT).
This doesn’t make Rossi evil, it makes him smart. But it also makes him someone putting his own personal interests over the interests of the US. Rossi chose Italy, not because he loves Italy so much, but because he saw himself having a better chance to play in the final game of the World Cup if he was wearing a different shade of blue shirt.
30 – I see where you’re coming from. I just think that most people are opportunists. It’s just that most U.S. players don’t have the option of playing for a Brazil or Italy even. Not that all of them would choose to, but if Landon had Brazilian or German parents and was good enough to play for one of these nations, I wouldn’t be shocked if he made that decision. But let me not stray too far into the hypothetical; I’m not giving too much extra credit to U.S. players for making a choice until we start producing players who are good enough to play anywhere, yet still choose to play for the U.S. As it stands, most people who have nationality choices, have chosen the U.S. because it was their only option to realistically see the field in an international jersey. I’d wager that if Dooley was good enough to be in contention for play for Germany back in the day (just like Jones), he would have opted to do that.
They are all opportunists; some just don’t have the opportunity to make any choices. But if they did, I think we’d quickly realize that we’re in a competition for the hearts and minds of young players w/ immigrant backgrounds. As things stand, we come in second for some players who have equally strong connections to another country. But the better our league gets and the better the USMNT performs, the closer we’ll be to being the choice rather than the only opportunity. No question that Rossi decided to trade up, at least in his mind. I just don’t presume that many others wouldn’t make the very same decision if in his position. But, of course, that’s pure speculation.
Earnie Stewart, and every other player you mentioned, had no chance of playing for their respective home countries.
Make no mistake about it, those nations were their first choice.
Poor comparison.
Sorry, John. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough with my point. That wasn’t the comparison. The point was that the U.S. has acknowledged and accepted players with multiple cultural allegiances. The players mentioned chose the U.S. not because they love this country so much, but because they had no other option. That doesn’t yell uber-patriotic, that yells opportunist, and we’re seemingly fine with that. Rossi also had multiple cultural allegiances. He just happened to choose Italy. Just as I don’t use Stewart’s choice as a barometer of his patriotism, I don’t use Rossi’s decision as a litmus test of how American he is either.
I keep reading the word ‘opportunist’, this would suggest that a player just wants to play for an established winner and that is the sole basis of his choice. I definitely think this was Rossi’s mindset in choosing Italy over the US, and that’s what rubs me the wrong way. I don’t like glory hunting band wagon jumpers.
There is nothing wrong with being an opportunist. Think about it in terms of our own our lives and our own career paths. I know if I were presented with an opportunity to work with the most talented individuals anywhere, even abroad, I would jump at the chance. Talent breeds talent. Rossi has always wanted to play for Italy, he declined all overtures from Bradley and Arena in the past to join U.S. training camps. It’s not like he ever committed anything to the U.S. team. Why is it that we are so accepting of players like David Regis (yes, I went there, all the way back to 1998), who was naturalized and played his first game for the U.S. in May 1998, mere weeks before the start of World Cup in June, but we try to vilify Rossi for playing for Italy? I would say the U.S. soccer team is just as guilty of being opportunistic as Rossi.
Now what…didn’t make the cut for the Italian team? Perhaps he may rethink his beloved Italy…or wait another 4 years and try again.
Good Luck Rossi
God forbid if Rossi should prefer pizza to hamburgers…as if the USA never stole any players from their mother countries. Grow up Uncle Sams…everyone has a choice, Rossi’s was Italy. He missed out this time around because of the calibre of players on the Italian squad…remember they are the defending World Cup champions. But I expect him to be on the 2014 Italian team & make a positive contribution.
I honestly don’t see how anyone can view Rossi’s decision to play for Italy as “opportunist”. His parents were Italian immigrants, his father was an extremely passionate fan of Italian soccer (he’s an AC Milan fan, btw) and knowing the kind of atmosphere he grew up in, it should come as no surprise that Rossi’s aspirations leaned towards the Azzuri rather than the red, white and blue. He grew up speaking the language fluently (I’m guess Italian was his first language) and most of his family still live there. He also played with the Italian youth team from the get-go so it’s not like he started out playing with the US and then jumped ship when he thought he was good enough to play for Italy. Italy was obviously his (and probably his father’s) dream since he was born.
Good piece, and even more heartening, well thought out, and balanced comments. Nice to see. I don’t care that Rossi chose Italy, it was his choice to make and I don’t consider him a traitor. However, I think he (and much of the Italian team) does need a long hard look in the mirror. In England, it’s customary for a player when scoring against their previous team (particularly the team that nurtured them)to defer celebrating, or do so in a low key manner as a sign of respect to the fans and acknowledgement of their debt to the club. Anyone who saw Rossi’s behaviour at the Confed cup would see that he doesn’t understand the concept of debt. On a wider note, Italy’s WC win was not a pretty one. Elbows, fouls, simulation and targeting Zidane, (a true football genius) shows more of a oportunistic/win at all costs mentality than any real love of the game.