L'Italo-Americano

LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE received from a fan involved them appreciating my kindness... Though the funniest compliment I've ever heard from a fan invol- ved them thanking me for win- ning them $5,000 in Fantasy Football! What's the match you are more proud of? The two most memorable games so far are my debut with the Oakland Raiders against the Tennessee Titans in September of 2017, and my debut with the Atlanta Falcons against the New York Giants in October of 2018. And the best memory you have so far of NFL? There are innumerable memo- ries from my football journey thus far, so it's difficult to just pick one. But if I really had to pick just one, I would say that the evening after my debut game with the Oakland Raiders in 2017 was very cathartic and gra- titude-filled. What's the difference between NFL in USA compa- red to soccer in Italy? One thing I find curiously dif- ferent is that although American Football is by far the most popu- lar sport in the US, very few peo- ple actually play the sport. Generally speaking, you play from age 10 to age 18. From that point, only a select few players continue on to play at university level for four or five years, and only an even smaller select few are able to continue playing at the profes- sional level after finishing their college careers. There are no pri- vate American football clubs or leagues (outside of the NFL) where people continue playing into their twenties and thirties. In Italy, soccer is by far the most popular sport but also the most played by Italians. This is a uni- que and paradoxical difference I find here in the US. Where are you at the moment? I'm currently living in Atlanta, Georgia. What's your goal for the future? My goal is to continue to grow as a person and as a kicker, giving my best in every moment. Which team would be a dream for you to play with? I'd be happy to play for any team honestly, though getting to play close to home in the Bay Area is really special. I saw a video of you cooking lasagna, what does cooking mean to you? I really enjoy cooking because it allows me to serve others with passion, creating a communal time and space at the table. I also feel as though it connects me to my family traditions. My mater- nal grandfather was a chef and I hope to make him proud with the quality food I prepare for those around me. What's your favorite dish to prepare? My favorite dish to prepare is Chicken Cutlet. It's a very sim- ple dish, but when it's prepared well and served with arugula, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and a dash of lemon, it is absolutely deli- cious. To me, it represents a comfort-food with wonderful combinations of flavor; approa- chable and unpretentious. My passion for Italian wine and food has actually led me to start an importing company with three other colleagues; one Sicilian- American now living in LA with a very similar story to mine (Vincenzo D'Amato — a college football teammate), and two Italians from Torino who grew up playing American Football in the 80s, in Italy. A friendship began a few years ago in Italy and blossomed into a business idea, which we named after the jersey numbers of our two Italian colleagues: ElevenTwelve. What's the idea behind this? The idea combines our expe- riences in American Football with our passion for Italian wine and food, as we import artisanal quality products from the Piemonte Region. American Football is by far the most popu- lar sport in the US and Italian cuisine is among the most popu- lar cuisines. Our aim is to unite these two worlds with our pro- ducts and unique stories. Giorgio Tavecchio wearing his old team's — the Oakland Raiders —uniform (Copyright: Giorgio Tavecchio) THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano Tavecchio in action on the field (Copyright: Giorgio Tavecchio) Continued from page 10

• Cover