Farewell Italia

As my time here in Italy draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the past 10 months. When I made the decision to come to Italy, I had no idea what to expect. I had a fantasy in my mind of Italy and what to expect, which was created by pop culture, film, television, and books. Reading the novel “Playing for Pizza” before arriving here only perpetuated this fantasy even more. The funny part was that in the first few months here, my experience wasn’t far from the story line in the book. It was as if I was a character in the book, and someone had written it about my life and my experience. There were a number of comical situations that I experienced here in Italy that directly correlated with the story line. Everything from having to take time in the morning to learn how to drive a stick to close-calls with the Carbinieri, to the jolly character who owned a restaurant and hosted the team for meals actually happened in real life. I remember the foreign feeling I had when I first arrived here. I remember being in awe with everything. I was shocked at how small everything was. Everything from the tiny little elevator to my apartment to the Punto that was to be our vehicle and fit us and all our football equipment to the single beds that I duct-taped together to have some semblance of a normal sized bed…EVERYTHING. There was definitely no question that I was in a different place…someplace foreign and unfamiliar, but I had an open mind about everything and went into it hoping for the best. Did everything always go as planned? Of course not, but that’s part of the journey. This experience definitely had its share of ups and downs, but because of this, I grew stronger as a person and grew closer to the people around me. This experience wouldn’t have been what it was without the great group of people I was surrounded by. I was lucky to be immersed into a group of guys who share a special bond. It is something unique and something special. I was fortunate to be welcomed into their circle of friendship. Over the course of 10 months, we have grown from being complete strangers from opposite sides of the globe into brothers and life-long friends. The catalyst that allowed all this to happen was football. Football is what gave me this opportunity to come to Italy, and to meet these incredible people, and to come together through a common passion and shared goals. Football was what made it all possible. This changed a lot within me. Before arriving in Italy, I was bitter about football. I had lost the passion, and didn’t want anything to do with it. That has all changed now. Being able to play again just for the love of the game re-bridled that passion. Putting it all on the line week in and week out with other guys who simply play for the love of the game was something special. It reminded me why I love this game. It reminded me of all the great things about football and about the life-lessons football teaches you. I believe that football acts as a molder of men, and I believe that I grew as a man through my experience here. Did we have the season and success and fantasy season that I anticipated? No. Was it all easy and carefree? Hell no. Were there things that should have been done differently? Of course. Despite all this, however, I think there were a lot of positives that came out of the season. For me, I re-kindled the fire inside of me for this game. For the guys, I hope that they were able to see that a team and group united have all the possibility whereas a team divided has none. I hope they know now that football is not soccer. Football is not a game where ONE player can put themselves above the TEAM. Talent doesn’t matter if you don’t have a shared vision and a system of accountability where each player is required to make sacrifices for the man next to them. I hope they learned from some of the mistakes we all made and will use this to grow as a group and as a team. I hope they have learned that despite what the society or others try to do, they hold the power. The power though is as a GROUP and not as a bunch of individuals. They need to come together, unite with one vision and one goal. Those who are willing to commit to this need to sacrifice and move forward toward attaining those goals and those who cannot commit need to go away. That is my advice. So regarding football, we experienced many more defeats than victories this year, but I had fun and I gave it my all, and that’s what is important. I will remember the good times, the times like Belgrado or versus the Warriors when we realized our full potential. That's what I'll remember and take with me, along with all the great times we shared off the field.

Outside of football, there are more stories to tell than I have time for. I look forward to the opportunity in the future to re-unite with some of the guys and laugh about the many different things that have happened. I never planned on staying for 10 months, but there was a part of me that just didn’t want to leave. Italy has been a special place for me filled with special people and special memories. I will definitely cherish the time I’ve spend in this remarkable country and am forever thankful that I’ve had this opportunity.

It is now time to return home. It is time to see my family and friends. It is time to figure out the next step in this crazy journey we call LIFE. Right now, as I look ahead, there is a lot that is unknown and uncertain. This period of world history is one that is full of the uncertain. I will assess my opportunities and will continue to push forward to LIVE THE DREAM. It’s difficult not knowing what lies ahead, but at the same time it’s exciting. One day, you wake up, and a new opportunity presents itself. Next thing you know, you’re in a foreign place far from home not knowing what to expect. Ten months later, a place you’d never thought you’d be is a place you’re not ready to leave and a new place you feel comfortable calling home. That’s exactly what this has been for me. HOME. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and the things I’ve done and seen have made a mark on my life and I am forever grateful. So as I look forward to the future I can’t say for certain where I will be or where I will go. What I can do is I can gain confidence from the past. When I look back to see where I’ve been I can rest easy because past success makes the future look bright.

THANKSGIVING

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. This holiday brings everyone together and helps to remind us of the many things we should be thankful for. I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for this wonderful opportunity I have had to live here in Italy and be surrounded by such wonderful people. It is because of the people that the experience has been truly life altering and the reason for such an extended stay. The group has become my home away from home and we’ve come together like a family over this past year. I am thankful for that. I am thankful to have my family. I miss them, and having Thanksgiving this year away from them really brought back memories of being altogether during this time of year, and although usually chaotic, enjoying being with one another. I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve been blessed with as well as future opportunities that will come my way. I know for a lot of people, this past year has been a tough one. I know that things will turn around. You just need to have hope, believe in yourself and in God, and things will work out. I am thankful for life…for the new adventures it brings, from the mistakes we make and hopefully learn from, for the joy and happiness of success and for the pain and agony of defeat. If there is one thing that being here has opened my eyes to, it is that you must LIVE YOUR LIFE. You may not, which path your heading down, but if you commit to your endeavors with an open mind and a full heart, you never know where it might take you. You have to LIVE. Enjoy the people around you, enjoy the moment you’re in, take time to appreciate the little things, laugh, smile, love, and LIVE YOUR LIFE.

To celebrate this time-honored tradition, we decided to host a Thanksgiving feast at our apartment. What at first seamed like a simple gathering, turned into a grandeur occasion with 21 people committed to partake in the dinner and another 6 or so to join after. We had our work cut out for us…a daunting task for anyone, especially someone who has never prepared a Thanksgiving feast before. In the weeks leading up to the event, I spoke with my mother about certain recipes and advice. I gathered some of my favorite recipes from her cooking along with some new ones that I found on the Internet and put together the menu. We were to serve 6 different sides, along with the turkey, stuffing, and gravy, plus 2 apple pies for desert. My roommates took care of the shopping after we made the list to get all the necessary ingredients. Of course we couldn’t find certain things such as cranberry sauce, pumpkin mix, and a meat thermometer, but we did the best we could. We started the cooking the night before. We began with the apple pies. What we thought would be a seemingly easy task, turned into a 3-hour project. I was reminded of why my mother used to let me peel the apples to “help out” on Thanksgiving. It is a monotonous task and it takes forever! We somehow managed to roll the dough out using a wine bottle due to lack of a rolling pin, which was quite challenging. Despite not really knowing what we were doing, we had a finished product at 3:30 in the morning, which we hoped would taste as good as it looked. After 5 hours of sleep, it was time to start preparing the rest of the food for the feast. My roommates ran out to get some last minute things from the market while I started the cooking. It seemed simple at first. We had our time schedule set, and everything looked organized and feasible on paper, but once that turkey goes in the oven, the true chaos set in. I never got the 2-hour break I imagined I would have once the turkey went in. We were baking and preparing constantly. Making food for 20+ people was not easy, especially with an Italian oven, which is the size of an American microwave. A lot of people helped out with the cooking, but the true chaos began when people started to show up. We had everything still cooking on the stove and the bird on the oven. People were hungry and impatient. We had a pear, apple, and walnut salad to hold them over until the rest of the food was finished. Everyone had the need to poke his or her head into the already overcrowded kitchen, making the whole process just crazy. We were running out of clean dishes, space to put things, and burners to cook on, but due to a team effort we were able to get all the food out. Everything finished about an hour later than planned, but I know that’s part of the way things usually happen. Finally, around 9 p.m. we ate! There was plenty of food and everyone tried everything. They really seemed to enjoy many of these American traditional holiday dishes, and I must say myself that we did a damn fine job…not a bad for a bunch of Thanksgiving rookies. Some of the favorite dishes were the sweet potatoes, stuffing, turkey and gravy, and of course apple pie which turned out great! I still have a long way to go before I can compare with the cooking of my mother (it’s impossible to compete) but all in all it was a success! We had a great time eating, enjoying each other’s company, playing games, watching football and laughing…like a real Thanksgiving should be. We even had a little one running around the house, which made it seem even more like home because it reminded me of having my two crazy little nephews around. Thanks to everyone who helped out and who attended! Now, we have the daunting task of cleaning this mess up…this might be even more daunting that the feast itself…any volunteers?

In other news, we won our last game versus Trieste. In a game that was closer than it should have been, we did some good things and some very stupid things. Really, we didn’t play smart, but thankfully to our stout defense and a quasi-productive offense we were able to do just enough to escape with a victory. I think we entered the game over-confident after coming off the big win versus Bolzano. We thought we would stroll to victory with ease because Trieste hadn’t won a game all season, but this certainly wasn’t the case. They came out fighting and looked like a team who didn’t want to end the season with a zero in the win column. They managed to keep it close enough to strike in the fourth quarter. They closed the lead to just 3 points with about 2 ½ minutes to play. Our offense stalled and was forced to punt with just over a minute left. They moved the ball to mid-field then stalled. With only seconds left in the game, they had one last attempt for a big play. The QB chucked the ball down the field, which looked like an easy interception for us, but somehow their man came down with it and was thrown out of bounds by one of our players with one second left remaining on the clock and the ball at the 10-yard line. Instead of taking a shot at the end zone for the win, they sent the field-goal team on the field. I was pulling my hair out at this point. I couldn’t believe we were in a position to tie or lose the game. Were they helped out by an incompetent crew of referee’s, YES, but that is in part because we got the same crew from our first game in Verona, in which our guys talked entirely too much and a few were almost ejected. We had a bad reputation with this crew and they certainly made a point of showing it. So, here we were, one second left, ball on the 10, field-goal unit on the field. They lined up; center snaps the ball, kicker approaches, makes contact, ball in the air…wide left! Doves win! Doves win! I wasn’t happy with our performance, and I made that clear to the guys. I was however, proud of our resilience and the fight that we showed when things got tough. If we have the chance to continue the season into the playoffs, a game like that will prove invaluable. At the end of the day, a win is a win, and I was proud of the guys for fighting to the end to get it.

Now, as it stands, we are awaiting the decision of the IFL federation judge to make a ruling about the Bergamo game. They had previously ruled the game a forfeit, but under false stipulations and improper use of the rules. Bergamo never actually showed up to our field in the attempt to play the game. They improperly filed for the forfeit and the IFL rules were not correctly followed. We believe that we are entitled to an opportunity to play this game. There are playoff implications at stake as well as the division title. With a win, we can win the division and go to the playoffs. The kids deserve the opportunity to play this game. They have worked their asses off to get to where they are. They have transformed from a group of guys with no hope for the season into a team with the belief of playing for a championship. I would hate to see some bureaucratic nonsense rob these kids of that chance. Despite what the judge’s ruling may be I want to personally reach out to the coach and players of Bergamo. I want to play this game, and I expect that you do to. I encourage you to speak up. Let’s play this game. We will do whatever it takes. We are ready and willing. The challenge is on the table, if you accept…LET’S PLAY SOME FOOTBALL! It’s a do-or-die scenario. For us, the playoffs start now. The winner of this game is deserving of the playoffs, the way it should be, not a bid by default. Please, give these kids the chance they deserve. That’s what it’s all about anyway, the kids. The opportunity to PLAY this wonderful game. It would be a shame to decide a game without actually having the opportunity to control the result, especially when proper protocol has not been followed. Let them play.



I’ve spoken my peace. I hope we have the chance to play. My departure to the states is dependent on whether we play or not. If the season is over, I will plan my return. If we play and win, I will stay a few more weeks in Italy and hopefully get the shot to coach a team in contention for a championship. A decision should be made today….hopefully we have one more thing to be thankful for.

Smells Like...VICTORY!!!

Yesterday we played our second game of the season with the under 21 Doves youth team. The matchup was with the top team in the division and also the champions of the Series A this year, the Bolzano Giants. In each of the Giants’ previous games this season, teams struggled to do anything productive versus them and they cruised to 3 easy victories. Last night, however, was a much different story. We have had three weeks to prepare since our last game. After losing the first game, the moral of the guys was down. We were a team who was unsure about our potential and ourselves. We weren’t sure whether we had a legitimate chance of winning or not. These pass three weeks, I impressed upon the guys to take command of their team. Someone needed to step up as a leader and everyone had to buy in to what we are trying to accomplish. The first two weeks, we wasted a lot of time because guys weren’t showing up to practice, which made it impossible to do anything. It was gut check time. It was up to each one of them to decide if they wanted to play football or not. This meant, not just showing up when it was easy or convenient, but sacrificing for the betterment of the team and coming whether it was raining, whether they were, sick, tired, hurt, etc. This last week of practice, something finally clicked. Leadership started to surface, the guys started to mesh, and we had something that resembled a TEAM. Every time I had the chance to talk with them, the key word was BELIEVE. It was simple. That is all they had to do. They had to BELIEVE in themselves. They had to BELIEVE that they could win. Last night, we BELIEVED we could do it, and we did. Our guys played a great game. The offense was clicking on all cylinders and giving their defense fits. Our players made plays. In the first half, we had the ball down in the red zone twice but failed to finish the drive and missed on two field goal attempts. Thanks to our defense, they were unable to do anything productive on offense, so we went into halftime tied at 0-0. Halftime was the turning point. The guys had a much different look in their eye to start the game. At the start, they were quiet, they had big eyes, and they were nervous and unsure. Now they were focused, with enthusiasm and confident smiles on their faces. They knew they had a chance to win the game and they believed they could make it happen. To start the second half, we capitalized on it. Our defense got them to go 3 and out. On our first offense play in the second half, our tailback took the ball for a 60 or 70-yard touchdown run. We had the momentum and were now in the drivers seat. Our defense continued to be stingy, allowing them virtually nothing. Our offense was able to move the ball proficiently and chew up the clock in the process. Late in the fourth quarter, we took a punt back to the 5-yard line then scored two plays later. We were up 14-0 with less than 2 minutes to play. I stressed the importance to the defense of not allowing them to score on our field. They came out and drove the ball down to the 30, but then our defense, which played great all night, stepped up and finished them off. Game over. Doves win! 14-0. It was a huge victory for us. The attitude of the guys has completely changed. They are now confident, they believe in themselves and in each other. We have been united as a team and the guys are enthusiastic about getting the opportunity to do it again. We still have a lot of work to do, but we have given ourselves the chance to be whatever we want to be and take this season as far as we want. We just need to ride this wave of momentum and energy and keep building on it as we move forward. I am extremely proud of all our guys. Each one of them played hard for 4 quarters and contributed to the win. They deserved the victory and they earned it.

WE READY

Last night we had our last and final practice before our first game. The practice came on the third consecutive day of heavy rain. Despite, the cold and wet weather, to my surprise, we still had a good number of guys at practice. Unsure of what we would do, they took a while milling around in the locker room to come out for practice. Finally at 8:30 (a half hour after our supposed starting time at 8) we were on the field and getting ready for practice. The conditions were terrible. The field was covered in a few inches of water and completely muddy, but that wasn’t going to stop us from getting our work done. This was a critical practice for us and because of our late start, we’ve had much less time than the other teams to prepare so there was still some much needed to work. Trying to accomplish things in these conditions were difficult, but the guys for the most part did a good job of listening and being keyed in to what we were trying to accomplish. Most the emphasis was on special teams, which was quite comical to watch as guys went sliding all over the place due to the terrible footing. Nonetheless, we got through it and the concepts were grasped. When we got to the offense, however, it was extremely frustrating due to the difficulty to handle the ball. It was completely caked in mud so it was like trying to hold on to a greased pig. It was frustrating to see so many balls on the ground, but was understandable given the conditions…hopefully tomorrow we will fair better. As the practice went on, guys started to lose their focus and starting kicking around the mud. They made the mistake of kicking mud all over my jacket and face as I was walking back from the huddle. I laughed and told them that they would get their chance to play in the mud at the end of practice. Just wait. We were pressed for time due to the late start and some guys were in the need of going home. We were faced with the decision to stay longer or to end practice without finishing our work. I put it on the guys to decide. I asked them what they wanted to do, and to my surprise, there was an overwhelming demand to finish our work. This made me extremely pleased because it shows me that they are beginning to grasp the concept of what makes up a football player…and a successful person for that matter. In football, (and in life) you have to work rain or shine. You have to push through when you’re tired, sick, cold, pissed off, or whatever the case may be. You have to be flexible and adjust on the fly. You have to put in the EXTRA hours that others aren’t willing to do so that you are fully prepared and can gain an advantage. It wasn’t anything I made our guys do. I didn’t FORCE them to stay. I asked them, and they took it upon themselves to finish what they started. They are growing up as a TEAM. Despite this strong show of enthusiasm, I still had to make them pay a little for splashing me with the mud. So, at the end of practice we had a big circle and did up downs…IN THE MUD. I assured them they would get their chance to play in the mud. After the Up Downs, we came together for the break. If nothing else…THEY LOOKED LIKE FOOTBALL PLAYERS…they were muddy, wet, and a bit pissed off, but they were also anxious. Anxious and excited to play on Sunday. To hit someone in another colored jersey. The weeks of preparation will be tested tomorrow. It’s time to see what we’ve got. After the break, the guys tried to turn on me to get me muddy as well. I ended up running all over the field with about 30 players chasing me. I out ran them quickly and escaped without the mud bath. I’m excited for tomorrow. We’ve challenged our guys and thrown a lot at them in a very limited amount of time, but they’ve seemed to grasp the concepts. Now it’s just a matter of execution and being meaner, tougher, more disciplined, and more focused to the guy lining up across from them. Tomorrow it is time. WE READY.

There's a Feeling in the Air

It’s that time of year again, yup, its fall which can only mean one thing…football season. I love this time of year. I love the weather, the crisp air, the smell of firewood, and the leaves as they change color... although the temperature is getting cooler, there is a feeling of warmth about this time of year that is very tranquil and comforting. This time of year last year was not quite as pleasant for me. I was recently released from the Chiefs, dreams and aspirations crushed…the passion for football gone, and only spite and an empty void which once was a love and a fire burning inside of me for the love of this game. It was an extremely disappointed period. I was in my third year of the NFL and still trying to get that last final break. I thought last year was surely my year, but once again, I fell just short. I was once again the “53rd man on the 52 man roster”. Last year I didn’t follow much football, in fact I distanced myself from it as much as possible. This year, however, is different. I don’t know what the key component has been…time away from the business of the game, being able to play simply for fun, being in a foreign country, being around guys who simply play for the love of the game, or maybe a combination of these things. I don’t know, but I am thankful that I have been able to rekindle my love for the game and continue to pursue my passion. I am actively following both college football and the NFL this year. Although my CAL Bears have let me down once again, I have the 49ers to look forward to. Up until there devastating loss last week with Atlanta, they’ve looked pretty good and are poised to win their division (I know it’s still very early, but at least there is hope). I am currently coaching the Doves’ young teams. There are two squads, under 18 and under 21. Many of the guys on the under 18 team are in their very first year of playing football. For this reason, it has been extremely challenging trying to convey the important fundamentals and techniques to the players, which will allow them to have success. Its especially challenging because we got a late start due to the various societal issues that the Doves were trying to settle with the field, coaching, sponsorships, money, etc. That being said, we’ve had some very productive practices and our numbers at each practice seem to be increasing each time (as this is one of the most difficult things to accomplish in Italian football…getting guys to show up). Along with teaching a lot of basic fundamentals, technique, and schemes, I’m trying to stress upon them the mentality of a football player. Many of them still have the “soccer mentality” where they are afraid to hit or be hit and they think if they get a stinger or a bruise they are dying and should lay on the ground for 20 minutes until they get some icy spray to miraculously cure them of their near-death experience. They need to understand that football is the ultimate TEAM sport, and that it takes everyman on the team doing his job effectively to have success each and every play. I’m also dealing with the challenge of coaching some experienced players who have already played at the top division and think that they should receive some special treatment because they are more talented at their age then their peers. I need them to understand that football is never a game where you stop learning. There is always something that you can improve on and each and every time you step on the field, you should work to become a better player than when you stepped on the field. All in all, I believe in our guys. We have a good group of players on both teams. For the most part, they are hungry to learn and want to win…now it’s just a matter of BELIEVING they can win. It’s not going to be easy…winning never is. We play in one of the most competitive divisions in the young league, so each and every week will be difficult. We will get a chance to see where we stand this weekend. We play our first game this Sunday in Verona. The young team will play first at 2:00 p.m. followed by the older squad at 5:00 p.m. It will be a long day of football, but hopefully we can do some positive things, compete, play as a TEAM, and hopefully come out on top. We still have A LOT of work to do this week and only three short practices to do so. Hopefully everyone is at practice and not at home because, “it’s too cold” or “with the Italian fever” (an epidemic here in Italian football). Nonetheless, I am interested to see how our guys respond when it’s live bullets. Hopefully some of them will rise up and show that they want to be football players.

Other than coaching, I have been busy training several guys. I have put together specific training programs for various guys who’ve been smart enough to utilize and take advantage of what I have to offer. Already, the guys who have been on the program have noticed significant changes in their bodies and general athleticism. They are eager to continue to improve and work to become the best player they can be. They understand that to truly be a “football player” you MUST have an off-season program, which includes serious weightlifting, conditioning, and other football related exercises. The standard program that the personal trainer at the local gym creates for you generally is not sufficient for the types of things you should be doing to become more athletic. If there are people out there interested in sitting down with me to discuss an off-season program, please do not hesitate. I have also been working with several teams as a coaching consultant and did a camp in Milan as a coach with the Italian National Team coach and former NFL player Brock Olivo. There was an impressive turnout at the camp (80+ guys). We had a very productive day that included, two practices, an explanation of important agility and strength tests, emphasis on football fundamentals, and even a scrimmage. The players seemed to have gained a lot from the camp and really enjoyed themselves.

So the plan for now is to continue coaching here, keep looking for other opportunities to work back home and here, keep training 5 days per week (I have added 2 kilos in three weeks with my new program), and develop my plan for next year as to what I will do beginning January 2010.

As of now, my tentative plans for return are end of November/mid-December. I plan on being home for my birthday and the holidays. I look forward to spending time with my family (it’s been almost a year!) and couldn’t think of a better time of year for my return. This year for our traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy some truly authentic Italian foods from Italy (I have to figure out what I’m allowed to bring home).

That’s about it. Other than that, there are some other things that have been going on, but I won’t elaborate about them publicly. We have moved apartments once again and are now back at our original place in San Donato. I like this apartment better because it is more spacious and I have my own room again, plus it is much closer to the center and easier to get around without a car. We are still waiting for the Internet to be set up here, but hopefully it will be done sometime this week. I am living with Terrell and two of the Italian guys who are sharing the third bedroom…Andrea and Paolo. I believe Terrell should be heading back within the next week or two; he is just waiting on his flight.

That’s all for now. Once again, if you are a team or player interested in some off-season work, please do not hesitate to contact me. I have experienced Italian football long enough to see that there is a definite need if you want to take the sport of football to the next level and continue to elevate the level of competition. I will try to be more religious with the updates on here, and will keep you posted on our progress with the young teams and my coaching experience.



One more thing…I’ve got the beard grown out a bit…probably a month’s worth of work. Deciding whether to keep it for now or trim it down…what do you think?

Till next time…stay warm and stay healthy.

Off-Season Training Programs

Being that my time remaining here in Italy is undefined and fueled by the pressing need to start making some money if I am to stay, it is time to be proactive and think about what assets I have in which there is a demand of here in Italy. Given that I came here to play football and help others here to increase their knowledge and ability of the game, I want to expand on that by providing a platform, which serves as the core and backbone of every successful football player, and every successful football team I have ever seen or been a part of. This is the “OFF-SEASON” program. If you know football, you know that it isn’t the work you put in several weeks before you start the season that makes you successful, but rather is the commitment and sacrifice you make the rest of the year that separates great teams from average ones and transforms “people who play football” into true “FOOTBALL PLAYERS”. I am offering a service in which several football clubs here in Italy have already expressed an interest for. Given my plethora of knowledge for the game of football, my enthusiasm for working out, a strong desire to remain here in Italy for at least another year, and almost 2 decades football experience and training, I have come up with an idea that will hopefully be well received by those looking to improve as a football team or player, and allow me to reside here in Italy a while longer.

What I am offering to provide is a full dynamic team evaluation and off-season program that will help to exceed the goals and expectations you have as a player or as a team for not only next season, but for your career or your franchise for the long term.

After being here for over 6 months now, I have a deep understanding for the culture of football here in Italy. I understand that it is a different platform and that it holds a different priority level with most here as it does in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean that more can’t be done to increase the level of competition across the board. One of the key elements that is lacking with many players and teams here in Italy is the off-season workout program. To make up for this deficiency, I can devise a plan that is unique and specific to a player’s or team’s specific objectives and goals.

A brief explanation of the service is as follows:

Basically I will meet with the team (or individual) on an evaluation basis. This evaluation period will include a basic fitness, athletic, and skill program in which I will do a full evaluation and use as the means for constructing the entire off-season training schedule. After the evaluation, I will design a program of on-the-field agility, strength, speed, plyometric, and technique drills which I feel will adequately prepare the team (or individual) for the season as well as enhancing overall speed, agility, strength, and fundamental discipline. I will act as a consultant over the duration of the program so as not to interfere with the coaching staff or to present myself as their FUTURE coach. I can provide a wide range of services including specific drills, fundamentals of the game, position-specific work, coaching education and strategy, etc. The entire program can be Taylor-Made to fit whatever it is you are specifically looking for. Not only is it important for players to improve each and every year, but it is essential for coaches to improve as well. I can share coaching tips, strategy, drills, and position specific fundamentals and keys that can then be implemented by the coaches to the players on the field. This program is designed to lift the player or team’s overall performance level and deliver results. It is up for YOU to decide what exactly YOU want and then I can map out a plan according to your budget and goals.

I have already begun the preliminary stages of the off-season program for several individuals and teams.

If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming the best player or team you can possibly be, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The best way to get in touch is via email at: manderino.chris@gmail.com

Traveling Man

I know these updates have become less and less frequent, but it is summer time and my time here in Italy may be winding down. I hope to make a decision within the next two weeks as to whether I will be staying here for a while longer or instead return home. The exact timing of this decision may not be entirely in my hands because the situation with the Doves is still unsettled. The money still remains to be paid, a flight home is “too expensive” for them right now, and its not easy to get a response. That being said, I have my timeline for my decision, but it is somewhat dependent on the Doves’ willingness to fulfill their obligations.

My decision to stay here or return home is dependent upon the opportunities that surface here within the next couple weeks. I may have a couple interviews with some businesses here in Italy that could be both profitable and a great stepping-stone for my career after football. I also have some other teams here that have expressed interest in employing my knowledge and skills regarding football to help in building their programs. Now that everyone has returned from their month long vacations and is getting back to work, I expect that if some of these opportunities are going to actually happen, then they will do so in the next couple of weeks. If nothing happens within that time frame, I think the best thing for me to do is to return home and find something back in the states.

That being said, with the possibility of my time here in Italy potentially drawing to a close, I have been trying to maximize my enjoyment while still here. Over the past few weeks, I have had some incredible experiences. To escape the brutal heat of Bologna, I traveled to Elba Island. Elba is an island off the coast of Tuscany. My friend and teammate Marco has a sailboat docked there so we went and spent a week on the boat. The island reminded me of the times I would go to Catalina as a kid, except the water was more clear and the landscape a bit more tropical. We slept on the boat every night and spent the days anchored at nearby beaches swimming into shore and messing around on the boat. All in all it was a great trip and a great chance to escape the ghost town that Bologna becomes during August.

After the trip to Elba, I came back to Bologna for a week. There was really NOTHING to do, so I spent mostly every day in the gym, studying finance, and plugging away at the Italian (I’m about halfway there on my program.) After a week in Bologna, my friend Ryan arrived here in Italy. He was invited to travel to Italy with another family from Newport Beach. By surprise, his flight got re-routed to Bologna and I received a call Saturday night from him. The next day, we traveled together to meet the family in a little Tuscan town in the Chianti region. The house was stunning! It was an 8-bedroom villa on 25 acres with a swimming pool, tennis court, and all the modern luxuries. The property itself was amazing, but we were really isolated from everything else. The family we were with had two young boys around the age of 11. They were full of energy…constantly, which reminded me of my two little tornado nephews back home. We had a blast together playing soccer, tennis, swimming, and just hanging out, but at the same time, it was A LOT of energy. They were good kids though and just like any young kids can be great one minute and then a handful the next. After about 5 days at the house, Ryan and I needed some space and preferred to see another city. My coach Fabrizio had invited us to join him at his house on the sea. We took a train from Siena to a tiny town just south of Livorno. He picked us up from the train station and took us to his cozy seaside villa. The property was gorgeous. From the villa’s deck that surrounded the 2nd story, there is a perfect view of the water. It was very peaceful and relaxing here, because it was a quiet neighborhood with plenty of land and trees surrounding us so that it was private. The property was a five-minute walk to the beach, so we spent the days in the water and were lucky enough to even get some waves during our time there. We bodysurfed and body boarded on the waves that broke right next to the rocks…flirting on the edge of disaster or at least a painful trip to the hospital for some stitches. Luckily nobody got hurt and we had a blast in the waves. We made friends with a lot of the local kids so they lent us their fins and boards to use in the waves. We spent time talking to them about California and surfing and the ocean and football, which they really seemed to enjoy. There was a crowd of about 8 little kids surrounding us listening to our stories about California and all saying that they would like to visit one day. Fabrizio and his mother were the perfect hosts. They treated us like family and made sure that we were well fed at all times. They took us to some great restaurants and showed us some great sights and stories of the region. One day, we even went to a beach called Spiaggia Bianca…White Beach. This beach looked like something out of the Caribbean. The sand was soft and white like powder and the sea was a light blue. We walked up and down the entire shoreline, which spanned about a mile and a half or so. The sea as well as the girls was a sight to see. I’m glad that Ryan had the chance to get to the seaside and see this part of Italy because his impression before coming there was negative due to the fact that we were so isolated. He absolutely loved the seaside town and spent about 6 hours one day in the water. We were both very thankful and appreciative to Fabrizio and his mother for the hospitality and generosity they provided. We definitely didn’t want to leave, but after 4 days, it was time for Fabrizio to go back to work and us to re-unite with the family who had now moved to a town house in Florence. We met up with the family and once again the property was immaculate. It was in the hills of Florence overlooking Galileo’s house and the hills of the city. We were minutes from Piazzale Michelangelo, which had one of the best views of the whole city. This was my second time in Florence, so I had seen many of the sights before, but it is a magnificent city and is great to walk around or to just sit in one of the many piazza’s and people watch. I was very appreciative to the family for taking me in and allowing me to share their vacation with them.

After a few fun weeks, it is now time to start working. I need to find out what I’m going to do as soon as possible. I know it’s not easy and it is an extremely difficult market, but I feel I have some great assets to provide a company who is ready and willing to give me the opportunity. I am anxious and antsy to take the next step. The waiting is the hardest part, but I’ve been pro-active in my approach in tapping back into my network to see what opportunities exist both here and back home. I’m hoping something comes up soon. Besides, I need to figure out how I'm going to pay for my new car here (one day).
That’s all for now, I’ll keep you all posted on my situation as things develop. Thanks for all the support.