Sunday, July 29, 2007

Italian Americans in Chicago Have Numbers, But No Voice, Therefore Are Victims

The ANNOTICO Report

At least 350,000 Italian Americans live in greater Chicago, according to the 2000 census. Illinois ranks seventh among states -- and Cook County ranks second among the country's counties -- with the largest Italian-Americans populations.

Yet, the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Herald (and TV &Radio Media) have for so long been so disrespectful to the Italian American Community, by constantly associating Italian Americans with the most Negative Portrayals. They support Negative theatrical,(Movie, TV, Theater) Portrayals, lose NO opportunity to spectacularize every little transgression by any Italian American and "Mafiaize" every incident. 

 

Any somewhat "positive" story about Italian Americans features them as a somewhat "quaint" and "picturesque", not as leaders,  pillars, or backbone of the Chicago Community.

 

All these years I have wondered why the Italian Community have "tolerated" this. Why they haven't assembled the leaders, and the large advertisers in those Media outlets and have a "sit down", and share the Communities disappointment.

Are we so naive that we don't realize that all other Ethnic communities do this, and get resolution.??

 

Now time to enjoy a "quaint'  story about bocce in Chicago

 

 

Bring on the Bocce, Southland

 

Chicago Daily Southtown - Chicago,IL,USA
Chicago Sun Times

By Courtney Greve Columnist

July 29, 2007

"Andiamo!"

Vincent Malfeo, perched atop the wooden edge of a bocce lane, throws up his left arm and shouts to his teammates at the other end.

"What's up?" he barks. "Let's-a-play the game!"

Nobody is stalling.

Malfeo, 75, is simply a taskmaster when it comes to bocce, a precision sport dating back to the Roman Empire.

The former Nabisco worker with a weathered face and tobacco-stained teeth scowls as he crouches, bending until his bottom is level with his knees.

He tosses the ball down the crushed limestone alley and watches intently until it lands just inches from its target, the smaller ball called a pallino.

Malfeo may be too serious, even grouchy in the heat of competition, but he's a flirty sweetheart between points.

"In Italy, we played on grass or stone and all over the place," he said with a sweet smile and a still-thick accent despite immigrating decades ago.

For a dozen years, Malfeo and his teammates -- his cousin Alberto Malfeo and friends Rosario DiMiele and Tony Melone -- have dominated the summer league at Mama Vesuvio's East in Palos Heights.

In the winter, they migrate a mile west on Illinois 83 to Caf-- Roma, where they drink espresso, play cards and watch soccer.

If the Southland had a Little Italy, this would be it.

At least 350,000 Italian Americans live in greater Chicago, according to the 2000 census. Illinois ranks seventh among states -- and Cook County ranks second among the country's counties -- with the largest Italian-Americans populations.

DiMiele, 71, who hails from Sassano in the Campania region, said the North Side can boast of more places for Italian Americans to gather and play bocce.

"More people from the old country up there," he said. "It's fun game. It feels like home."

Spending time with DiMiele and the boys felt like being taken back to a simpler time in a far-away place.

Out of nostalgia, they came to relive a game they played in their youth. They came for a few laughs. They came for the camaraderie.

And even if they claim otherwise, be assured they came to win.

"Nobody wanna lose," Vincent Malfeo said.

The gentlemen easily slipped into their native tongues, especially when giving directions for how to make a shot.

"It's wet," Melone said in Italian to Alberto Malfeo, of Oak Lawn, who goes by Al. "Push a little harder."

Ivaldo Basso, of Richton Park, sat on a bench and watched the game unfold. Sometimes he laughed when they taunted "corta," meaning short, or "forta," meaning too long.

"I'm from Asiago in the north (of Italy). They're from the south," said the retired welder. "We speak different languages, but we all got the same customs."

Bocce developed a strong Italian following, but it is popular in many overseas countries.

At Mama's, at least half the 160 league players have Italian roots, owner Gino Maira said.

"They're born with a set in the crib, and they have an extra chromosome named 'bocce,' " said Rita Bibeaux, a retired teacher who plays on a team with Tony's and Rosario's wives.

Immigrants from Croatia, Slovakia and Lithuania are represented, as well as Americans of Irish, German and Polish descent, Maira said.

Few can compete with DiMiele's team, which once placed third in an international tournament in Las Vegas.

Jim Healy and his team were no match for the old-timers Wednesday.

After an 11-3 thrashing (Healy's team had a three handicap, so they never actually scored), the Palos Park general contractor shrugged off the loss.

"I won't think about it tomorrow," he said. "They guys, they'll talk about it all day at coffee."

 

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed (and are Archived) on:

Italia USA: http://www.ItaliaUSA.com [Formerly Italy at St Louis] (7 years)

Italia Mia: http://www.ItaliaMia.com (3 years)

Annotico Email: annotico@earthlink.net