Why are all my sports teams mediocre?
I can sorta answer that. Because my teams are teams that are connected to my heart, not my brain. I grew up a Mets fan because of geography. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, and even though it was nearly a decade after the Dodgers moved west, it just wasn't right to be a Yankees fan.
I'm also a Brewers fan because of geography. I've lived in Milwaukee for a little over 20 years and so, what can I do?
When I became interested in soccer, I chose a Turin team, again based on geography. It's the biggest city near where my family is from. I selected Torino over crosstown rivals Juventus because it was a team with a glorious history and because while Juve is the team of the rich Fiat empire, Toro is the team of the people.
While the Mets have had some great years and considering the team's history goes back only slightly more than 40 years, I think the orange and blue have done pretty well: two World Series titles, a couple more World Series appearances and at least one more division title. But, boy, we've also had some very low lows.
The Brewers are the Brewers. I don't need to tell you anything about them. But this past season was great at my two teams rode the top of the standings for most of the year, even if they choked like they were the Cubs at the end.
Torino was once Italy's most glorious squad but it won its most recent title in 1976 and the 30 years since have been a flip-flop between Serie A and Serie B. This year, like most, there was great hope, but the most the Granata has been able to muster has been a series of ties that prevents them from being at the bottom of the standings. But it isn't enough to put them near the top either.
Luckily, growing up with the highs and lows as a Mets fan prepared me for life as a Brewers fan. Supporting both those teams has also made me philosophical about my support for Toro.
I'm nothing if not loyal. Win, lose or draw, I'll be standing on the sidelines shouting my support. It'll take more than a little frustration or humiliation to make a Yankees or Juve supporter out of me.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
