Check Out This Crazy Italian Bastard…
Livin' the life
Someone brought Giovanni Bartocci’s story to my attention last week.
It disappeared into the ether until I was digging through my email last night and I laughed to myself, “Oh yeah, that crazy bastard.”
Bartocci is a Green Bay Packers fan. He’s also one of those guys. There’s something not quite right about him, but there’s something awesome about him at the same time.
His story goes something like this.
He was born in Italy, but fell in love with the Packers at 14, while visiting an aunt in New York. Three years ago, he moved to New York City and in 2009, he made his first trip to [intlink id="183" type="category"]Lambeau Field[/intlink] — solo.
He got wasted, wore a cheesehead, went shirtless in single-degree weather and generally endeared himself to the locals.
When the Packers made [intlink id="1425" type="category"]Super Bowl XLV[/intlink], Bartocci decided to go to Dallas, even though he didn’t have a ticket.
He somehow finagled an all-access field pass and watched the game from the Packers’ bench. When the Packers won, he ran onto the field and joined the celebration with players, coaches and the various camera and media types who were there trying to do their jobs.
How all of this happened, I have no idea, but you can see him in the background of Aaron Rodgers’ Disneyworld commercial, right when the Super Bowl MVP utters the iconic phrase.
Bartocci also got to touch the Lombardi Trophy, so basically, he lived out every Packers fan’s dream even though he wasn’t even sure he was going to get into Cowboys Stadium when he left New York.
Now, if you really want to get a feel for what I’m talking about when I use the phrase “crazy Italian bastard,” then check this out. It’s the video Bartocci shot of the final moments of the game and the ensuing celebration.
It might make you nauseous, but it’s quite entertaining.
I think I want to go on a bender with this guy.
You can check out Brett Michael Dykes’ full profile of Bartocci at Shutdown Corner.
02/18/2011 - 6:25 am
WOW! This guy is a foot away from Rodgers right after the Super Bowl!!! I woulda gave everything I own to be in his spot. That must have been the greatest moment of his life. How the hell did he get that field pass?!??!!
02/18/2011 - 3:05 pm
Yeah, I saw this last week. Nothing short of incredible. He’s conversing with an Italian next to him, who I bet is an Italian media guy. So my bet is that he managed to score a pass from them.
02/18/2011 - 6:38 am
Well I guess from now on he will be known as the Crazy & Lucky Italian Bastard!!!
02/18/2011 - 6:50 am
this guy should be put in the Packer HOF right now…how lucky can u be
02/18/2011 - 12:51 pm
Wow. WTF. Wow.
02/18/2011 - 5:20 pm
Anyone know how he was able to get that field pass?
02/18/2011 - 7:48 pm
I just thank God that the Packers won. I have a feeling that if the Steelers would have won, this guy would have been sticking a shank in Big Ben’s back.
02/19/2011 - 6:24 am
This dude is pretty pazzo (crazy), however I don’t know if I would be any different. What a lucky guy. It still gives me chills to see the end moments of the game. We couldn’t have written a more unbelieveable strory of a team that was torn apart due to injuries and then comes back to rule the NFL.
Go Pack Go!
02/20/2011 - 6:38 am
I thought I was the only italian packer fan. Seriously guys, i’ve Viqueens and Bears fans all around me!
Also, i know 2 Falcons fans… seriously? Do the Falcons have an actual fanbase? they barely fill their stupid dome and someone in italy root for them?
I guess im going kind of off topic, now…
Go Pack Go!
07/14/2011 - 2:40 pm
No way,i’m from Milan as well and u can bet green&gold Are runnimg intorno my veins. Went to’ Georgia dome to’ see the packs. It was a sort of indoor lambeau..
Go pack go