Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with George Negus

Four Diegos Profile:               

Former commissioner of Soccer Australia, author of the best seller - 'The World from Italy - Football, Food and Politics', respected journalist, TV celebrity, football nut and father and husband of a pack of football nuts.

Four Diegos Verdict:              

Love his fashion sense (the Diegos go nowhere without our tweed jackets), love his political astuteness (got out of Soccer Australia), love his Italian footy books (even though the chapter on the Diegos was axed) and love his absolute passion for the game.

George you can be the Diegos’ Foreign Correspondent anytime amigo.

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with George Negus

George on his Italian footy and tucker book…

Diegos: " Congratulations on your new book, 'The World from Italy - Football, Food and Politics'. Some say with a title like that you really didn't have to go to Italy to write it, you could've achieved the same result by spending a bit of time in the Marconi social club. The Diegos found it a thought - provoking read.

What sort of response have you received from the punters?”

Negus: "Really good. I can let you guys know the reality of the situation. It was originally called 'Football, Food and Politics - The World from Italy' which to some of our mates would've been a much better way of putting it, with the right word up front.

It was interesting because the publishers thought that the word 'Football' in the title might have put some people off. They may have thought that it was just a book about soccer but it is about a lot more than that. What I'm finding, touring around the country promoting the book, is that everyone wants to talk about the phenomenon of soccer in Italy.

I was at a lunch the other day and I talked about the difference between a fanatical AFL supporter and a passionate soccer supporter in Italy. Some AFL bloke got up and was most offended at my suggestion that the Italians were more passionate about soccer than the Victorians are about Aussie rules. It really is the difference between something being an add-on to your existence and part of it."

Diegos: “Has the book got a glossary of terms that the Italians use at matches to abuse the opposition or a coach when he is out of favour?"

Negus: "No. We didn't want the book to be x-rated. I know what you mean though.

My kid still uses those terms and fortunately his mother's Italian doesn't extend to the colloquial. So when he says '#%*@%& Juve Juve' it's not something that she can understand which I'm thankful for."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

What? Italian politics and footy linked?? You’ve got to be joking George…

Diegos: " Although earth shattering for some, its hard to imagine a Wayne Carey miss from point blank range in an AFL Grand final ever coming close to determining the political future of a Liberal or Labor government in this country.

Not so in Italy it appears. In your book you write about Robbie Baggio's 1994 World cup penalty miss and its affect on Silvio Berlusconi's charge for office.

It certainly was a case of football and politics being inextricably linked Italian style wasn't it?"

Negus: "It's true. We Australians spend our time saying that sport and politics shouldn't mix. In Italy they say that that's ridiculous. How can you separate them?

My favorite story about the impact of soccer and football 'calcio' as we know it, and Italian politics is the time when the Italians put off the election of a president in the parliament because none of the MP's were going to turn up for the vote because they were going to watch their team play.

I call that getting your priorities right."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

George on drugs in Italian footy…

Diegos: "The Italian Serie A is rapidly becoming the type of place where Robert Downey Jr just can't wait to visit.

Drug scandals together with dodgy passport reports have hit the game and tainted the image of what's reputed to be the best league in the world. You've shared a short black with the average Italian in the street.

How do you think they would be reacting at the moment?"

Negus: "The Italians don't get surprised by much. They're very pragmatic and worldly people.

I guess in a way, when all these problems happen - the passport and drug problems, the neo-fascists at Lazio matches, the stock market going berserk because AC Milan shares are going up or down - they don't get overly concerned because its so intrinsically a part of their daily life and they don't expect that football is going to escape any of these things.

If on the one hand we say that it has such a huge impact on their daily existence, its automatic then that these things are going to have a presence in soccer as well.

The good and the bad of society will be reflected out there on the field and amongst supporters as well as everything else. So if it is what I say it is, an absolutely intrinsic part of being Italian then all these funny things are going to happen because its part of life."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

How good is the Italian league George??

Diegos: "Champions league lovers would've noticed this season that the early round failure of Italian sides also brought with it an absence of hand gesticulations, signs of the crosses and shorts pulled up really, really high.

The Diegos reckon the romance and the colour went out of the competition when the Italian clubs were knocked out.

When you were in Italy, were there any signs that Serie A clubs were waning?"

Negus: “No I don't think they're waning but I think the player import thing has become such a huge part of the game and the money has become so ridiculously high that a lot of the local fervor is gone.

I think that many people couldn't care less whether an Italian team qualified for the Champions league because they no longer can they really identify with it being an Italian side. The whole import process has the effect of de-localizing the teams and that is an aspect of European football that I have grown to dislike. When you get the absurd situation were you get no local players in the team I think it spoils the game to an extent.

I don't think that people are losing an interest in the game but I feel that they don't regard their team as being their own any longer."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

George on World Cup footy in Coffs…

Diegos: "Recently all the world's eyes were focused intently on Coffs Harbour, its Big Banana and the Socceroo's record breaking scoring exploits. Coffs is your hometown.

Was the tournament as successful as you would've hoped?"

Negus: "It wasn't for a couple of reasons. The officialdom decided to play games at 4.30 pm which is a bit stupid because the whole idea was to get people to go there after work, so that was a bit of a downer.

They also put Australia on at the wrong time in the interest of some pseudo-fairness. They should have scheduled Socceroo games on at the time that people wanted to see them play but I think Basil got carried away with his newfound role at Oceania. He reworked the definition of fairness when in fact I don't think the Oceania teams could've cared less when they played because they knew they were going to get belted anyway. Only one game mattered and that was the game against Fiji where Australia played like a bunch of old hens.

Obviously Frank knew what he was doing by going softly, softly and in the end he got the result that he wanted. There were some magnificent goals scored however. We soccer nuts crow when the scores are what they are but it was like watching one-day series cricket.

The locals up at Coffs were marveling at some of the play and saying things like 'Wow did so see that 18^th goal that was a beauty?'

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

George on the Negus family barbeque with the Socceroos…

Diegos: "The Four Diegos spies tell us that the Socceroos were treated to a world famous Negus family barbeque during the tournament.

The Diegos want to know whether the boys behaved themselves? Who went for the polish sausage? Who pigged out? Who slammed down one two many Flaming Lamborghini's?

Negus: " I blinked and the food disappeared. Needless to say being the world's great psuedo-Italian I cooked pasta for them and that just disappeared as well.

You know what footballers are like but they seemed to have had a good time. It was the day after the game against Fiji so they were feeling a bit flat. I'd like to think that the pasta had something to do with pepping them up for the next game. They're a great bunch of guys.

They're great representatives for the Aussie game when they go overseas but we all know that soccer players are a different breed. They are nice people to have around. You don't mind them being with kids, they're good role models and it's nice to be associated with them." 

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

George on the Italian match day…

Diegos: “Italians love their football - some say they love it just as much as making love and arguing about politics. The Diegos know that you too are a champion for all three activities and that you have also become a staunch supporter of Paul Okon's Fiorentina club.

It's clearly more than a game in the country. Tell us about the ritual of match day in Florence?"

Negus: " You guys coming from Melbourne would know the almost religious rituals involved with Aussie rules. If you can multiply the fanaticism of a Collingwood supporter by one hundred, you get fairly close to what a Fiorentina fan is like. My kids live for the Fiorentina matches.

They wouldn't be seen dead with the 'toffs' in the stands so we go to an area behind the goals 3 hours before the game so they can get the same seat every week and sit with their Italian mates.

They surround us with their bread and salami and whatever else they've got shoved down their pockets and the atmosphere is quite amazing. Soccer in this country is part of every supporter's essence; its part of their being.

It's not a case of soccer just being a sport; it's an essential part of their existence. Our blokes have become part of that. They have got their 'Viola' scarves, beanies, jackets, t-shirts and key rings. It's wonderful stuff."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

Negus on Okon…

Diegos: “Okon captained the Socceroos superbly in a recent match against the touring Brazilians at the MCG yet still seems to be a perennial substitute at Fiorentina.

You are a renowned righter of wrongs and pursuer of the world's injustices.

Have you thought about grilling Fiorentina coach, Giovanni Trapattoni, '60 minutes' style to find out what the real story is?"

Negus: " I think that his off his head! I just think that he is completely wrong but far be it from me to argue with the 'Trap'.

I think Paul Okon in the side would make Fiorentina a better team. I watched Paul play a couple of times in warm up matches earlier in the season and each time he comes on off the bench the team has settled down.

A bloke like Okon can bring the team back to earth and give them shape when he is playing. Yes I think the coach is wrong leaving Paul out of the side but having said that, all my Italian mates believe that although Paul is a fine player, once he has been as badly injured as he has there's no coming back.

So the conventional wisdom here is that Paul is not fit enough to play 90 full minutes of soccer. What I think Trapatoni is doing wrong by Paul is that he is not giving him a chance to prove otherwise."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

Negus on Club versus Country…

Diegos: " For you a 'Club V Country' issue is the choice between sipping a short black at the local café club or picnicking under the Tuscan sun in the country. For us on the other hand, it's whether Leeds United will allow Harry Kewell to play for the Socceroos.

What's your view on the whole saga and does the fact that Ronaldo experienced similar problems with Inter Milan put the whole issue into clearer perspective?"

Negus: “No it doesn't. It's a bloody mess to be honest.

I don't know that it's whether Leeds United will let Harry Kewell play for Australia or whether Harry Kewell wants to play for Australia.

I think the crux of the matter is that someone has got to sit down with Harry and work out something with him.

It's not easy. It's very hard when your dealing with a kid who is making as much money as Harry is. He is at the top level and make no mistake, he is huge overseas. I witnessed it for myself recently when I was in London. Harry is gigantic.

He is regarded as one of the finest young players playing in the premier league in England. I think Harry has got to work out in his own mind what he wants.

At the moment I don't think that the advice that he is getting suggests to him that Australia even counts in his way of thinking. I think Frank Farina and Soccer Australia are going to have a lot of trouble getting Harry to play when they want him to play.

It’s very hard to even get to talk to Harry at the moment. He is surrounded by the big time, he is not being handled very well and he is not being given very good advice.

He is still young even though he is enormously talented. He is clearly going to be one of the greatest players in the world and it's very hard to convince a kid in that situation that playing for Australia counts for much."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

Negus on the World Club Championship…

Diegos: " South Melbourne is about to embark on the biggest task ever confronted by an Australian club side, the World Club championship in Rio.

One of their opponents is a team you recently saw get beaten by Fiorentina 2-0 in the Champions league - Manchester United.

Any tips for Angie Postecoglou?”

Negus: "They're clearly beatable. The thing that we loved about the game when Fiorentina beat Manchester United was that our team won but Mark Bosnich played well.

I think Manchester United is beatable and at times they are shaky down back. Perhaps I'm being too optimistic. I guess I don't really know. If I were South Melbourne I'd be thankful that I was in the dam thing at all.

What a wonderful thing for them to be playing in a World Club Championship and I wish them well."

Soft Sombrero Moment April 2001

George on Tuscany…

Diegos: "Tuscany is currently your adopted home where you live a life of indulgence, sampling the wine, pasta, architecture and footy. Your sons - Ned and Serge - are the youngest Aussies abroad on Soccer Australia's books.

How do the locals cope with a tweed jacketed, mustachioed Aussie bloke who hurls good old Aussie homespun abuse at junior games every weekend?"

Negus: " Very quiet…I'm very quiet on the side lines. Italians are very sophisticated soccer people and they wouldn't take too kindly to a yahoo from Australia carrying on like a 'Good Thing'.

My kids have had a ball. It's quiet amazing the difference even in kid's soccer standards between the countries. I almost cried the first game one of my sons played, as he was warming up behind the goals at half time in a rain jacket. I turned to his mother and said 'Look, look at that…he's warming up ready to come off the bench like a Serie A player'.

Its almost like they treat their kids like adult footballers, which I know is both good and bad but for our boys it been a dream come true, pulling on pair of boots and playing in Italy with kids whose skills are amazing."

Soft Sombrero Moment December 1999

Negus in the aftermath of Australia V Iran 1997…

Diegos: “We’ve all seen the ‘before and after shots’ of Greg Matthews’ hairline and the ‘before and after shots’ of Demis Roussos’ waistline.

If we ask you to describe your feelings ‘before and after’ the World Cup qualifier what would you say?”

Negus: “Like two completely different people. I don’t think I’ve ever seen elation turn into devastation so rapidly.

This sounds absurdly melodramatic but I’ll probably go to my bloody grave watching my 10-year-old son screaming his head off one moment with the biggest smile of his face when the second goal went in to crying uncontrollably when they scored their second goal.

Fortunately with my kids they know enough about the game to know what was happening out there.

The little bloke could not believe it. I thought ‘what have we done?’ We’ve unleashed this enormous passion in these kids and how do explain what happens when that passion disappears so quickly as it did?

But we picked ourselves up and we’re picking ourselves up by the day.

The collective depression is going from collective depression I suspect to collective determination. We had a bunch of guys out on the field who did this entire country proud and this code that we love so much proud.

What depresses me is the only people saying anything negative about what happened are within our own ranks and to use a technical term that really ‘pisses me off’.

Everybody else is saying ‘well you proved your point; what a fantastic bunch of athletics; what a fine side; how unlucky and unfair and cruel it was that you haven’t got your rightful place in the World cup ’. I’m sorry that I don’t agree with the psuedo hardheads of the game like J Warren and co; the best team lost and everybody knows that.

The BBC interviewed me this week and they said everything we are hearing and everything we have seen suggests that Australia should be at the World cup; the team is good enough and that’ll do me.” 

 Diegos: “How do we recover from this?”

Negus: “It would be ridiculous to suggest as some people have, the pathologic negativists as I call them, that because we didn’t win and so much stock had been placed in winning that that means that it’s the beginning of the end; the death of western civilization as Australian soccer knows it. What crap!

Of course it would’ve been marvelous to win and of course the job of getting the game into the consciousness of the Australian people would’ve been so much easier had 18 million people become instant soccer fans overnight.

We didn’t get there but we got the game in the national consciousness; there’s absolutely no doubt about that.”

Soft Sombrero Moment November 1997

Negus trying to cover World Cup 1998…

Diegos: “Is there any truth in the rumor that your TV show on the ABC, ‘Foreign Correspondent’, is going to be produced in France in 1998?”

Negus: “I’m working on it.”

Diegos: “We are just wondering whether you plan to be traveling to France in the ‘Rainbow Warrior’, by some chance?”

Negus: Well nobody has followed that story up for a while have they? It might be a good one to look at around World Cup time in June 1998 perhaps.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1997

George in Hungary and Puskas’ birthday bash…

Diegos: “George you were in Budapest earlier this year for the Socceroos match against Hungary.

We heard you also attended Ferenc Puskas` birthday party. We actually sent him a voucher for a dinner for four at Toto’s Pizza Restaurant as our personal birthday gift.

What did Soccer Australia give him as a present?”

Negus: “Well Hilly (David Hill) got up on stage and made a lovely speech and we presented Puskas with an Acoubra hat and a didgeridoo.

I think he thought it was something you had to blow darts out of.”

Diegos: “Did he think it was a straw perhaps?”

Negus: “Well his been known to have a drink.

But we did our bit, David is never bashful in those situations, so in more ways than one during that marvelous 3 or 4 days in Budapest, we showed the world that we are up there now and that we are part of the big time.

We showed them that we are going to give it a real shake for the World Cup in 1998.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1997

Negus the ‘Playboy’ Foreign Correspondent…

Diegos: “We tuned into your show, Foreign Correspondent, recently and as usual, half expected to see you reporting from some war zone or grilling the leader of an oppressive overseas regime, but to our surprise we actually saw you in London being dressed in an exclusive Islington boutique by the lovely Australian author, Kathy Lett.

In your piece you were wearing a sexy body hugging lime green disco shirt. Now George were you doing some research for the new Socceroo strip or is this were you are going to shop from now on?”

Negus: “Did you think it was me? I thought it was time for an image change, unfortunately it didn’t work.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1997