BAFA', Grossman!

Hey goombahs and amici,
Your pal, Joey C (that's me) is very upset these days. Ever since that "asino" Grossman singlehandedly messed up THE game last Sunday, I have not been all that happy. Concetta is now upset with ME for being upset over the game. Do you know how this deal affected my CREW? Dio mio! This is not about just football. It's about Chicago, Da Bears, a way of life, and BUSINESS!

I shoulda been in Chi that day at Ditka's - or maybe over in Pepper Park having a beef sandwich with the boys. Anything woulda been better than watching that nightmare from a warm climate. The only good part was that I was eating a gelato and having an espresso at this little joint "The Chocolate Cafe".
God love the owner, the gelato was better than in Italia and I'm taking people over there this week. But I've gotta get outta my bad mood, for sure.

WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE ALMIGHTY WAS GROSSMAN DOING OUT THERE? WHY DID LOVIE ALLOW THIS?

Grossman needs to get bounced. Let some other outfit take him. I've got enough agida to last me 100 years. I need a Brioschi again. Since Sunday, I'm slugging Brioschi like it's vino. If you don't what Brioschi is, you need to go buy some at an Italian deli. In Chicago, I think you can get it at Dominics Foods.

The only good thing I can look forward to now is baseball season starting in a couple of months. Ah, the Cubbies! It's about the game, y'know? Maybe this year SOMEBODY will do SOMETHING to get rid of that curse. Imagine that - a mal'occhio on a baseball team. And they say we Italiani are nasty! Hah!

Da Bears!

Buon Giorno ragazzi, amici, paisani e goombahs!
Whattagreatday for the city of Chicago! Concetta, my bella cummare, is all set for the game that we are going to see in a few hours.
My crew has all the friendly wagers already in and still talking to anyone who wants to "vote" for their favorite team.
As a real "Chicago Family" man, if you know what I mean, we can't talk about odds or who's going to win or take bets or anything like that. But we can say who we like.
Concetta went to Mass today and made today the 9th day of her BIG Novena for a Bears "win". Well, what else? I AM, after all, a Chicago guy. Listen, it's been 22 years - ventidue anni - since we had such a day. My favorite guy, Mike Ditka, God love him, is still my hero. Back in the day, he was a giant. Personally, I still think he is more than just human.
My little pooch is wearing a Bears Jersey all day today.
A few of my "crew" are at the actual game. We'll be talking by cell phone. Man, what a joy these phones would've been years ago when "the book" was our life. Bafa'napoli...as we say.
The rest of the guys between Chi and L.A. are at my house here and also there...they are really there for the food, I think. Concetta's best friend, Anna Natalia, is cooking there - just a few snacks for an army of 20 guys. Concetta, of course, has the spread here in L.A. - I wanted to go to Chicago - just to be there for the mood of it. But, I've got my responsibilities here. Eh, amici, duty calls and a stand up guy always takes care of business FIRST! Capisce?
I want to get my cullo into the other room to have a bowl of minestrone, so let me close this note with a big "Ciao" to everybody in Cicero, Melrose Park, Highwood, and the NorthSide. My old buddies, Renzo "bookman" Giambalvo and Romualdo "bigboy" Sangenaro, are at Villa Scalabrini Assisted Living now - so just relax and enjoy the game, fellas.
Saluti and say "hello" to the good priests there.
Sad note on this bright day - Condolences to the family of "Shy Louie" Cinquegrani.
He is in Heaven now, laying odds for da'Bears - right beside Hank "the Hammer" who left in August of '06.
Have a buonissimo giorno, tutti voi (all of you)!
To quote one of our GREAT politicians (you know who he was): "Don't make waves and don't back losers".
Your good buddy,
Joey C (that's me)