Just blocks from Baltimore?s Inner Harbor, where people were celebrating America?s 230th birthday, about 75 men and women shouted and smiled in celebration of something completely different ? an Italian victory.
Velleggia?s Italian Seafood Restaurant, located on the edge of Little Italy on Pratt Street, was standing-room-only Tuesday afternoon for Italy?s semifinal match-up against Germany.
“It gets so loud in here for these games,” bartender Janet Badencak said as she turned the game on, on the two large plasma screens, just minutes before kickoff. “I?m not going to be able to hear a thing.”
And while the cheers were mostly for the same team, the reasons behind the allegiance were vastly different.
At the end of the bar, a man who gave his name only as Alberto, spoke Italian to his son, Neal, on his cell phone during the first half, his eyes still glued to the screen. Born in Italy, Alberto, 70, is retired and lives in Baltimore, frequenting Velleggia?s, especially to root for his homeland.
Alberto attended three games in Germany in June with Neal and was quick to show off his authentic Italian national team jacket, which his son bought for him during the trip.
“It?s a different world over there,” Alberto said, his eyes darting back to the television. “It?s beautiful to be at these games, that?s all I can say. But if I can?t be there, this is second best.”
A few seats down the bar sat Brian Ellis, of Elkridge, and his wife, Susan. Proudly sporting a royal blue “Italia 2006” T-shirt, Ellis cheered for Italy because his grandmother is from Sicily.
“I?ve been following the World Cup loosely, but I?m into it now,” Ellis said. “If they win, this shirt will have a lot more meaning.”
Next to Ellis sat Partha Mohapatra, 35, a business professor at Morgan State University. Several of his friends from Kentucky University are Italian, and he said he enjoys following the team.
Will Cavey, 17, relaxed with two friends, also bearing the Italian colors on his shirt. Cavey said his father?s side of the family is Italian.
Velleggia?s? head chef Enrico Velleggia III, whose grandfather opened the restaurant in 1937, said the pride and unity bring people back, from the diehards to the casual observers.
“The Italian community is a very tight-knit community,” Velleggia said. “It?s great to have a place to come and cheer for your country.”
And cheer people did, especially when Italy finally scored in the 119th minute of the nerve-racking match. High fives to strangers were commonplace, and with the Italian flags waving outside the glass windows and glimpses on TV of the insanity in Rome, being in Baltimore became inconsequential.
“It?s so exciting,” restaurant owner Terry Coffman said. “I love it.”
