Toto Schillaci è morto l'anno scorso dopo una lunga lotta contro il cancro. Quando gli ho chiesto che tipo di cancro stesse combattendo, ha riso e con un sorriso nel suo inglese stentato ha risposto ad alta voce: "Yerrikay! (la sua pronuncia di Eric) Non ho più il retto - questo lo so!". Il traduttore ha fatto la sua parte per il piccolo gruppo che voleva ascoltare, e tutti hanno riso: il fatto che Toto fosse Toto era sicuramente l'atmosfera giusta.

Era una di quelle persone così carismatiche che si poteva permettersi quel genere di cose. Ogni domanda sembrava un'opportunità. Un sorriso gli si dipingeva sul volto mentre il traduttore giungeva alla fine: non vedeva l'ora di rivivere un momento, di trovare umorismo o ironia in una vecchia storia, o il calore provato nel ricordare un vecchio amico o compagno di squadra.

Lui continuò, tenendo banco, per me e 5 dei suoi amici fumatori accaniti che avevano deciso di restare ad ascoltare. Della sua giovinezza in Sicilia negli anni '70, dove la mafia ti circondava ovunque, della sua remota possibilità di arrivare in Serie A con la squadra dei suoi sogni: la Juventus, poi la possibilità ancora più remota di entrare in Nazionale e poi quella più azzardata, fuori dal mondo: guidare il Mondiale del 1990 in gol e conquistare un'intera nazione con il suo gioco, i suoi gol e quel sorriso irresistibile. Avrebbe concluso il 1990 al secondo posto nella votazione per il Pallone d'Oro (Giocatore dell'Anno): un viaggio assurdo.

Facevamo la nostra apparizione al suo tennis club, anche se vedevo solo pickleball – credo che siano tempi così ovunque. Ma non lo dimenticherò mai – Ascoltatelo – sono sicuro che, come me, vi conquisterà.

Ep. 27 – Totò Schillaci

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Toto Schillaci died last year after a long fight with cancer. When I asked him what kind of cancer he was battling, he laughed and with a smile in his broken English loudly replied – ‘Yerrikay! (his pronunciation of Eric) I no longer have a rectum - I know that much!’ The translator did his thing for the small group that wanted to listen in, and all laughed – just Toto being Toto was definitely the vibe.

He was one of those people so charismatic that you could get away with that kind of thing. Every question seemed an opportunity. A grin would come across his face as the translator would come to his end – he could not wait to relive a moment, to find humor or irony in an old story, or the warmth felt in recalling an old friend or teammate.

On he went, just holding court, for me and 5 of his chain smoking friends that deemed to stay on and listen in. About his youth in Sicily in the 70s where the mafia was all around you, about his long shot of making Serie A with his dream club: Juventus, then the even longer shot at making the national team and then that longest, out of the world, shot – of leading the 1990 World Cup in goals and captivating an entire nation with his play, his goals, and that irresistible smile. He would end 1990 2nd in Ballon D’Or (World Player of the Year) voting: a ridiculous journey for this kid from the south.

We did our sit at his tennis club, though it was only pickleball that I could see – such are the times everywhere I guess. But I will never forget it – Give the man a listen – I am sure that like me, he will win you over.

Ep 27 – Toto Schillaci

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As I talked to Steve Sampson, I was very much reminded of the coaches of my youth in the 80s and 90s. I smirked nostalgically as I heard words like: accountability, preparation, and culture.

If you Google Steve Sampson, of the first 10 articles you see, 9 will be about one event he experienced - a moment where he was coaching the US National Team, prepping for the 1998 World Cup, and was faced with an impossible off-the-field situation.

He handled it in his way, grounded in his own set of values, which he summarized in that clichéd/old school but very true idea of: can you look yourself in the mirror?

His decision was hugely unpopular. His career and reputation suffered tremendously, but as he says both then and now, he sleeps just fine at night.

He talks a lot about that incident with me and how it impacted him. In his words, 'that's the most I've ever talked about that'. And he humbled me by casually adding that, 'he felt in good hands'.

Of course, there is much more to the man than this single moment. And I hope you enjoy hearing from the man himself: the life and philosophies of 'el profe' , Steve Sampson.

EP: 025 - Steve Sampson

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