Italian Americans in Sports - Multimedia Presentation of "Life is a Great Game" - Thursday, October 23rd, 6:30PM

Oct 17, 2014 962

You are cordially invited to attend a unique event dedicated to Italian American Culture and Sports at the Italian American Museum on Thursday, October 23rd.

About the Book:

Life is a Great Game is a work of historical fiction based on real people and events in history embedded in a heartwarming, inspiring, and powerful work of fantasy. The story is based on an actual event, a soccer match that occurred in Bolognetta, Palermo, Sicily in July 10th 1943, the same day when the Allied Forces invaded Sicily during World War II. The novel is adapted from the original short story by Salvatore Cottone, entitled, Una Passione a Prova di Bombe, (a Shellproof Passion), which was published on www.Siciliana.it, based on a story re-told by the only player still alive among the players of both teams. Salvatore Cottone, with co-author Susan Mannino, has developed a novel that weaves together reality and fantasy. Numerous captivating layers of politics, social and economic issues, and world history - including the ever-present topic of war and its consequences - are interspersed with timeless matters of sports, love, and camaraderie among soldiers and men. Salvatore Cottone has spent over a decade researching the details of this crucial time period in the history of Europe and America, and includes many factual details on subjects ranging from ancient mythology, art history, and literature to the sociological bases and consequences of emigration across many decades of the Sicilian experience.

About Giorgio Chinaglia:

Giorgio Chinaglia, born January 24, 1947 in Carrara, Italy, was an Italian footballer. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales, and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. He later returned to Italy to play for Massese, Internapoli and S.S. Lazio in 1969. He played international football for Italy, including two appearances at the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
In 1976, Chinaglia left Lazio to sign with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. With the Cosmos team that also featured Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer, Chinaglia won four league titles, and retired in 1983 as NASL's all-time leading scorer with 243 goals.

In 2000, Chinaglia was inducted into the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame and was named the greatest player in Lazio's history during the club's centenary celebrations.

To reserve a place for this event, please call the Italian American Museum at (212) 965-9000 or email: [email protected] 

Location: Italian American Museum, 155 Mulberry Street, (Corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets), New York, NY 10013

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