14/12/2012

Tradition. According to the dictionary means: "Transmission through time of a cultural heritage; also, the set of values and standards of a nation, a region or a time".
Because A.C. Milan is a faith and a cultural heritage, and that A.C. Milan fans are a population, it is natural for us to consider the tradition as a serious matter. Very serious. The authority of the number 10 jacket of A.C. Milan fits into the highness of such tradition, and takes the form of an issue of utmost importance.
The tradition of number 10 to Milan is one that is worn by the most talented player, even bizarre, but with most of the "class", a term which indicates the fusion of technical ability, charisma and style. It's always been that way in football after the war; the unattainable Liedholm, teacher of football and life, the brilliant Schiaffino, perhaps the most technically strong player who has worn our jersey, Rivera, the greatest all time italian player, who gained fame and glory when the contenders were Sandro Mazzola and Luigi Riva, not Falchetti or Mengoni.
And after Gianni, who for twenty years (except with trainer Marchioro) get “the 10” on the fields around the world, the tradition was revived by Gullit, the prototype of bionic player; and after him, Savicevic the genius of Montenegro, and after him, his enimy-friend Zvone Boban. Then the great Rui Costa, and finally Clarence Seedorf, the charismatic leader of the tribe who last climbed the Champions League and the top of the world in Yokohama.
Today, the shirt is on the shoulders of Boateng. He got it by taking advantage from the ideological vacuum following the departure of the old lions of the locker room, the inaction of the company (too busy in the rendez-vous food by Giannino) and, finally, from the foolishness of a coach who does not care any traditions (just look at how he give the captaincy, not caring about appearances and " Rossonero heart"). Boateng grabbed the mythical 10 shirt and made it unfortunately a target of ridicule and mockery of opposing fans, with regret and impatience on our part.
This will not work so far. It cannot continue. The number 10 shirt for us is a sacred thing because it’s a symbol, a flag, a laurel wreath encircling the head of the best player. It's always been that way. It’s not the same for everyone, but it’s so for us. Oh, yes. It’s for the South Americans, who attribute to that number a semi-religious symbolism. It’s not for other teams, maybe at Real Madrid, which had the most traditional number 9 worn by noble father Di Stefano. For F.C. Inter is not the most prestigious symbol, because Meazza first and Mazzola then played a lot more, respectively with number 9 and then with the 8. Neither is for ManU, where number 7, from George Best on, up to Cantona, Beckham and Ronaldo the team choice has highlighted the talent, even with the untouchable number 9 Bobby Charlton. It’s not so far been up to now for Barca, as Messi is contemporary with us, and the greatest before him, Cruijff, had chosen his beloved 14.
At A.C. Milan however, the tradition has been handed down over the decades, and cannot and should not be trampled and broken. It's a sacrilege, and also a pagan ritual as football deserves the respect of its sacredness. This shirt has always given the best player, and so it must be, without exception.
Even in ancient Greece warriors customized their armorsm, as to be able to distinguish and recognize the opponents, inspirating respect and fear.
One day Liedholm, in the year of the Star (10 Serie A Championship), put on Buriani the jersey number 10, in the absence of Rivera. At the end of a game Beppe Viola (a great journalist ad fine humorist) said he had never seen that shirt running so much on a field. It was, superficially interpreted by a sort of a affectionate criticism to Gianni Rivera and an openness to muscular-football. Instead, it was the testimony of the white wonder of the great master, his sense of dismay looking at something unusual, dystonic in the harmony of the team. It was like seeing Patroclus put on the armor of Achilles, causing fear until it was fighted and defeated. Today we are at the same point, a new Patroclus wearing something on his shoulders, but that didn’t ever belong to him.
I tell the guy to enjoy this strange season and then make an act of humility that surely ennoble him. I suggest to the President to masquerade himself as Odysseus, and look for another Achilles, to convince him to join to us and take this jacket intended for the greatest players only.

Bunkerman
 

14/12/2012