[QUOTE=Ninerballin;415001]I’m pretty sure Jones has lived here, plus he was born an American Citizen due to his father being in the service and stationed in Germany.
I would have no problem with a guy playing for another country if he didn’t get as much playing time and he was going to a national team where he would start or get a lot more minutes. That’s essentially what Jones is doing. Rossi could’ve got all the opportunity in the world here though.
I guess the most popular sport in the world doesn’t count as a sport? :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
I was just trying to get everyone riled up!!! It’s the offseason for gosh sake!
That is such a bull argument. Rossi could've started the past couple years for the US squad, but no he rides the bench an entire half for an old Italian squad. If most of the guys on this Italian squad were in their prime, Rossi wouldn't see the light of day.
Yeah, he’ll eventually start, but the current Italian squad isn’t that far ahead of the US. Had it not been for a bs red card on Ricardo Clark, that would’ve been a different game in South Africa.
Of course, I can’t complain, Jermaine Jones is coming over to the US squad from the German squad, and he’ll be a better than going forward than Rossi could’ve been.
I don’t think it’s bull. Everytime they practice he goes up against some of the best players in the world and a group of players with more overall talent that he would ever face on the US squad. If you don’t think Italy > US at soccer then this will go nowhere. The gap isn’t close either. It isn’t large either but it isn’t close.
That is such a bull argument. Rossi could've started the past couple years for the US squad, but no he rides the bench an entire half for an old Italian squad. If most of the guys on this Italian squad were in their prime, Rossi wouldn't see the light of day.
I could’ve gone to my choice of D3 schools and started, but instead I came to Charlotte and sat the bench the whole year, except for four matches where I played 15 min in each. To be the best, or at least get better, you have to play and train with the best every day. Rossi is much better off in Italy than here. Not only will he be playing with much more skilled players on a much better team, but he has much better chances going somewhere in the World Cup, therefore, being better off financially as well.
[QUOTE=kr11;415022]I could’ve gone to my choice of D3 schools and started, but instead I came to Charlotte and sat the bench the whole year, except for four matches where I played 15 min in each. To be the best, or at least get better, you have to play and train with the best every day. Rossi is much better off in Italy than here. Not only will he be playing with much more skilled players on a much better team, but he has much better chances going somewhere in the World Cup, therefore, being better off financially as well.[/QUOTE]
It’s not a matter of exact comparison, it is one of good vs better. I would much rather go somewhere better where I can play a half, than go somewhere crap and start. I would rather go to Charlotte and play 15 minutes, than even go somewhere like St. Bonaventure or Tennessee Tech (There, D1 comparisons, happy?), teams we beat 8-2 and 8-0 respectively, and start. It’s the quality of the team, and I would rather play for better quality.
He could get better playing club soccer in Europe and representing his country at the national level. This is a situation where he could have his cake and eat it. Instead he chose the cannoli.
[QUOTE=kr11;415033]It’s not a matter of exact comparison, it is one of good vs better. I would much rather go somewhere better where I can play a half, than go somewhere crap and start. I would rather go to Charlotte and play 15 minutes, than even go somewhere like St. Bonaventure or Tennessee Tech (There, D1 comparisons, happy?), teams we beat 8-2 and 8-0 respectively, and start. It’s the quality of the team, and I would rather play for better quality.[/QUOTE]
Understood now. The fact that you had really played here really changes the argument as well, and for some reason that was over my head the first time I read the post.
To me, however, this is still different. Representing your country, to me, isn’t “choice”. If you were born to permanent residents of a country, in that country, then that’s your country. It takes a terrible lack of pride to turn your back on your home like Rossi did.
This happens to more than just the USA, and European teams just have more appeal, it’s just a fact. While soccer is up and coming here, and constantly growing, it’s still not the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. Rossi is playing in Italy where everyone loves him. Here, he would surely have fans, but in a country where soccer is not the top sport? Rossi chose to play for the Azzurri, and more power to him. It sucks he’s not playing for the USA, but there is no use whining about it now. Cause it’s impossible for him to ever come back, and he just netted two unstoppable goals on the Americans, the end.
PS - The Canadian National team stinks - Owen Hargreaves is Canadian born, and could’ve played for them, yet instead plays for one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, and for England. I don’t hold anything against him, he chose the better career move.
PPS - I agree that it is a crap thing to turn your back on your country, and I don’t condone that at all. But some situations are out of control. Never did I think that Coach Lipsitz would go to Kentucky over Charlotte, but it was a better opportunity for him, and I don’t hold it against him, he is still a great coach. And I realize that that isn’t switching countries, but it still comes up when you talk about pride/loyalty.
He holds dual-citizenship in US and Italy. His parents are Italian immigrants. He started playing in Parma’s youth system at age 13 in the year 2000. He and his father moved to Italy to do so. While still in Parma’s youth system, he joined Italy’s U16 national team. He’s played his way up through that system all the way to the first team. He never had anything to do with US soccer. I don’t understand why anybody would consider him a traitor.
[QUOTE=49timesthelovin;415038]He holds dual-citizenship in US and Italy. His parents are [B]Italian immigrants[/B]. He started playing in Parma’s youth system at age 13 in the year 2000. He and his father moved to Italy to do so. While still in Parma’s youth system, he joined Italy’s U16 national team. He’s played his way up through that system all the way to the first team. He never had anything to do with US soccer. I don’t understand why anybody would consider him a traitor.[/QUOTE]
That. Right there.
immigrant - [U]a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence[/U]
It’s simple really. He’s not an Italian anymore. He’s an Italian-American. Welcome to the melting pot. His parents aren’t immigrants if they left. So if you’re going to get out, then stay out.
immigrant - a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence
It’s simple really. He’s not an Italian anymore. He’s an Italian-American. Welcome to the melting pot. His parents aren’t immigrants if they left. So if you’re going to get out, then stay out.
That is anything, but simple. What are your arguments based on? His parents are immigrants… What are you even talking about?
[QUOTE=49timesthelovin;415042]That is anything, but simple. What are your arguments based on? His parents are immigrants… What are you even talking about?[/QUOTE]
I’m saying that everybody is using the farce that his parents are “immigrants” as a crutch to justify this. Immigration is permanent… all I’m really saying at this point is that if he wants to be an Italian, that’s fine… but don’t try to move back to America after your soccer days are over.
[QUOTE=thelew1014;415043]I’m saying that everybody is using the farce that his parents are “immigrants” as a crutch to justify this. Immigration is permanent… all I’m really saying at this point is that if he wants to be an Italian, that’s fine… but don’t try to move back to America after your soccer days are over.[/QUOTE]
I'm saying that everybody is using the farce that his parents are "immigrants" as a crutch to justify this. Immigration is permanent... all I'm really saying at this point is that if he wants to be an Italian, that's fine... but don't try to move back to America after your soccer days are over.
You just going to ignore the rest of what I said about him moving to Italy at age 13 to play for Parma’s youth system and joined the ranks of the Italian national team at 16? IMO, with his heritage, his Italian parents, the fact that he moved to Italy almost ten years ago; he’s more Italian than he is American.
[QUOTE=49timesthelovin;415050]You just going to ignore the rest of what I said about him moving to Italy at age 13 to play for Parma’s youth system and joined the ranks of the Italian national team at 16? IMO, with his heritage, his Italian parents, the fact that he moved to Italy almost ten years ago; he’s more Italian than he is American.[/QUOTE]
That’s what I’m saying. Viva Italia, don’t come back.