Variety magazine announced that comedians Ray Romano and Sebastian Maniscalco are teaming up for a “dramedy” about an Italian American high schooler whose love of basketball causes a ruckus within his family.
It’s worth re-printing the film’s plot summary: “Leo (Romano) and Angela (Laurie Metcalf) Russo live a simple, blue-collar life in Queens, NY, surrounded by the big personalities of their overbearing Italian American family. When their lanky, soft-spoken son ‘Sticks’ finds success on his high school basketball team and a chance at a life beyond what tradition expects, Leo tears the family apart trying to make it happen.”
No mention of Maniscalco’s role. Hope it’s not a sports bookie! Anyway, please note the buzz words: “simple,” “blue-collar,” “overbearing,” and “a life beyond tradition.” In other words, don’t expect this film to challenge any Italian American stereotypes. Is it too early to call a foul?
It probably never occurred to Romano – or anyone associated with this project – that Italian Americans and basketball isn’t that weird of a combination. One of the greatest players in history is Hank Luisetti (pictured), a California kid still recognized by sportswriters as the second best player of the first half of the 20th century. (George Mikan was picked #1).
Luisetti was partially lucky: Due to the horrors of racism, African American players weren’t allowed to even play in the NBA until 1950, so his achievements might have been overshadowed by great Black players who were overlooked. Yet, Luisetti was unlucky: He developed spinal meningitis while serving in the Navy during WWII, which deprived him of following up his brilliant college career at Stanford (which included inventing the running one-handed shot). Nevertheless, authors like Philip Paullette (Game Changer) and Mike DeLucia (Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball) have done their best to keep Luisetti’s name alive.
Imagine Romano making a Hank Luisetti film! Game-changer, indeed. It would be about a real person, not a cliché. Italian Americans have also been involved in basketball in interesting ways other than as players, to wit:
a) Danny Biasone invented the 24 second shot clock in Syracuse, NY in 1954. (Incidentally, the city of Syracuse is named after Siricusa, Sicily).
b) Sonny Vaccaro, a rep at NIKE, signed a pre-superstar Michael Jordan to his lucrative shoe deal in 1984.
c) Dick Vitale moved from coaching to a 42-year career as a popular ESPN broadcaster (“Awesome, baby!”)
d) In the acclaimed 1994 basketball documentary Hoop Dreams, the late coach Gene Pingatore is a major presence.
e) In his book, Flavor and Soul, author John Gennari devotes an entire chapter to the unique relationship between Black basketball players and their Italian American coaches (Valvano, Pitino, Carnevale, Carlesimo, Fratello, Auriemma, Izzo, Massimino, D’Antoni, Calipari, Carnesecca, Motta, and Martelli, to name just a few).
Need more information on the history of Italian Americans in basketball? Click on the link below by Fausto Batella:
https://wetheitalians.com/web-magazine/italian-american-stars-us-sports-basketball-and-bowling
As for la bell’italia. It may shock readers to learn that basketball is the second most popular sport in Italy after calcio (soccer). In fact, Italian basketball leagues first started in 1920. Players from Italy have long played in the NBA, beginning with Hank Biasatti in 1946 to Marco Belinelli in 2014 – the latter of whom made history that year by becoming the first Italian player to win an NBA championship (with the San Antonio Spurs).
Finally, there is the most profound Italian/basketball link of all: the late Kobe Bryant. The L.A. Lakers superstar grew up in Italy (his father played in the Italian leagues for a decade) and never lost his love for Italy or for italianitá (he spoke the language and gave his biracial children Italian names). The entire town of Rieti, Italy (in Lazio ) publicly mourned his death after his private helicopter crashed in late January, 2020.
As predictable and condescending as the Ray Romano film may be, perhaps its very existence will at least stir people to look beyond the obvious and learn about Luisetti. But, that’s Hollywood. When it comes to Italian Americans and our history, Tinsel Town continues to dribble rather than slam dunk. “Not very awesome, baby!” -BDC
I would like to add Alex Caruso, Danilo Gallinari, Andrea Bargnani, and Nico Mannion to the long list of Italians and Italian-Americans in the NBA.
As far as Italy, the national basketball team has won the Olympic silver medal twice in the last 40 years (1980, 2004).
Scandinavian countries, Germany, U.K., Ireland, and the Netherlands (to name other countries with emigration to the U.S) have never won a single Olympic medal in basketball since 1936. Are they not supposed to be tall and athletic compared to the short and dark Italian men?
Excellent points!
Also add Manu Ginobili, an Argentinian player of Italian descent.
Finally, some good things. Its about time. Thanks for the upbeat info we Italian Americans can thrive upon. Maybe we are moving a step in the right direction.