L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano B eing the only Italian player in the entire National Football League, Giorgio Tavecchio gets asked a lot about his very first approach to American Football. Born and raised until he was 9 years old in Italy, a country where the national sport is soc- cer, it comes as a surprise that the 29 years old native of Milan became a NFL placekicker instead. Funny enough, the push to give a try to America's most ico- nic game came from his Italian family. "One day a friend of mine randomly asked me to come try out as a kicker on the High School football team my sophomore year and I initially said no," Giorgio tells me, "but my mother urged me to try it out to see if I liked it. I went to the team's practice the following day and had fun kicking a few foot- balls. But it was the delicious ribs at the team barbecue after practice that made me fall in love!" Giorgio moved to the US when he was four, but then retur- ned to live in Italy, in Rome, from age six to age nine before returning to the US and remai- ning for good. "We moved around a lot when I was younger because of my mother's job. She is Italian-American but worked for the American government." Giorgio's childhood memo- ries of Italy involve his family, spending time with zii and nonna near Lake Como and playing soccer with his father and brother at the circolo in Rome. "Because I spent my early childhood in both countries, I feel native to both places, though my dad says I was the best soc- cer player in the US town where we first moved," Giorgio proudly underlines while getting emotional recalling his past. Giorgio, you started playing soccer like most Italian kids, but then switched to football. How do you feel by having become the only Italian player in the NFL league? I feel fortunate to have a uni- que background which gives me a special opportunity to represent the many hopes and dreams of Italians who love American Football and follow the sport passionately overseas. More than that, I feel grateful for the chance I am given to highlight the values I find to be important: humility, dedication, sacrifice, and faith. What did you like about it at first? I enjoyed the camaraderie with my teammates, many of whom were my close friends. When and how did you rea- lize you could be a professional player? I didn't realize I could beco- me a professional until my first year in the NFL (2012 with the San Francisco 49ers). I had a great mentor on the team named David Akers — a legendary kicker — who taught me inva- luable lessons about the NFL and kicking. His confidence and belief in me convinced me I could play at that level. How was your very first experience in a team in the US? It's fun to experience a sport that is so loved by Americans and that so personifies American culture. You are a placekicker, can you explain what it means? A placekicker is someone whose sole job is to kick the football through the goal posts. A successful kick is worth three points (a "field g oal") or one point (an "extra point"). I read your nickname is Italian Ice, how so? I had success last season with the Atlanta Falcons and some of the fans came up with that nick- name... I guess it sounds better than "Giorgio Gelato"! Do you get stopped by fans? What's the craziest thing that happened to you or something that some of them said that resonates with you? No, I rarely get stopped by fans because other positions tend to be more visible than kickers most of the time. Also, wearing a helmet and spending most of your time on the sideline during the game make it difficult to get recognized just by appearance, though some people do recognize my name. What's the best compliment received by a fan? The best compliment I've A chat with Giorgio Tavecchio, the only Italian player in the NFL SILVIA GIUDICI Giorgio Tavecchio is the only Italian player in the whole National Football League (Copyright: Giorgio Tavecchio) LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE Continued to page 12

• Cover