The Wrath of Khan Fra
By: Martha | July 18th, 2007
Look out, Lega Calcio: The Great Francesco Totti is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it any more. (Yes, that is two movie references in two sentences. I’m feeling good this morning.)
Just as the latest wave of Totti in Retirement From Azzurri Shock! rumors hit, the man himself (entirely coincidentally, I’m sure) gave an interview in which he ranted against the football league’s lack of respect for the players, as indicated in their refusal to move the start of the season up a week (and insert an extra week off at Christmas) so Roberto Donadoni’s players can be nearer to full fitness when they face France on September 8. Totti is threatening to leave the Players’ Association if the Lega Calcio doesn’t pay more attention to the wishes of “the main actors,” AKA those who play the game, something which may or may not put the fear of god into anyone. Of corse, what listening to the players more means isn’t defined, which makes it very easy for Totti to say, down the road, that his demands have been met and that he’s staying.
In addition, the Roma captain reiterated (quite rightly, it seems to me — see the Alan Shearer parallels I refuse to stop drawing) his physical inability to play in every match for both Roma and the Azzurri next season, though he still refused to say whether he has or is about to retire from international duty.
So, on the surface, there’s nothing really new here. But, given the respectful tone with which La Gazzetta reported the interview — they refer to him as a sindacalista (which, roughly translated, makes him out to be a trade organizer, or unionist) rather than a rable-rouser or malcontent or ungrateful bastard — one wonders if this isn’t the first step towards something. Suffice to say it wouldn’t surprise me a bit to see the season moved up a week and Totti quietly (or not so quietly, given his ego and status) agreeing to appear in (only) the September qualifiers. Italian football works in mysterious ways.
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Comments
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“Out of Sight” being the second reference, or is it something more obvious?
I don’t know what to make of this move from Totti. I feel like he’s done this before… and it’s a little strange that he’s taken it upon himself to be the figurehead of a ‘respect players’ movement, when he’s skipped out on La Nazionale for almost a year.
Posted from
United States
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Yes, it’s thinly veiled bullshit as far as I’m concerned, but he clearly doesn’t have the most accurate sense of himself; probably actually thinks people see him as the leader he’s trying to be. (That said, if the Lega does, it probably doesn’t matter what the other players think.)
As much as I adore adore adore Out of Sight (with Dark City, my favorite American movie of the last 15 years), the second reference is a bit more classic.
Posted from
Portugal -
I think Totti is speaking out because he is one of the senior members of the player’s association along with Cannavaro.
Posted from
United States -
Wait, Canna’s still in the Italian players assoc? So it’s Italian nationality rather than Serie A? Was Zola in it while he was in England, then? And Di Canio, Maccarone, etc? Are foreign Serie A players in it, or no? (And are these really stupid question?) God this is confusing.
Posted from
Portugal -
I say you made 3 references in 2 sentences (best j-lo movie ever, still haven’t seen network).
PS: Inter are wearing light-blue kits now? Who do they think they are, Napoli?
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul18j.htmlPosted from
United States -
Maybe it’s part of their desire to be “more Italian.”
As evidenced by the signing of an Argentinian and a Chilean.
Martha, that 12% just dropped. Congratulations.
Posted from
United States -
What the hell is the Out of Sight reference? I’m drawing a blank, shamefully — do they quote Network? And yeah, JLo is fantastic in it. Too bad she’s spent every minute of her life since then disappointing me.
And those are just the training kits, don’t panic — they actually think they’re England.
Posted from
Portugal -
Martha, the Italian Player’s Association is for any Italian player, they don’t have to play in Serie A, so like you said they can play in foreign leagues and still be in the association.
Mike, those light blue kits are training jerseys.
Posted from
United States -
When Clooney’s in the trunk for the first time with J-Lo, Network is one of the films they discuss (his delivery of the “mad as hell” line is really funny).
I do like those new “english” Inter kits, though… too bad their mothers are all whores.
Posted from
United States -
isnt that the flag of milan or something??
Posted from
United Arab Emirates
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