We have become so accustomed to hearing players fight over a million more or a million less. About television contracts and rights issues and the other things that make the game the business that it has evolved into. There is selfishness everywhere and the only thing that matter is the bottom line. People only care about their team winning and if they don’t do that, it is the end of their lives- figuratively.
Being in the media, we only publicize the Jersey Shores of the world. We wear out laptops, furiously smacking with incessant keystokes and filling the internet with opinions about Mario Boltelli’s latest Rodman-like outburst or Carlos Tevez long layoff or Kim Kardashian’s newest fling. We are victims of our incessant hunger for the negative or fluff.
As much as the passion of billions is now reduced to a money making scheme for several, we get smacked in the face by a force that is way greater than we are- life.
I guess this is why what Antonio Di Natale has decided to do to help had to make most of us do an about face and inject some life into us again. What occurred to Piermario Moresini left many people in complete shock.
Udinese, via their Udinese for Life charity, will look after her financially and they are looking for other clubs to join the cause. As of the moment this was being posted, Atalanta reportedly was on board.
What’s more important is that Di Natale announced that he would take custody of Morosini’s sister. Many of us would say why? He has everything and maybe just forking over a few bucks would be more than enough.
The impact that Morosini had on many teammates past and present compelled him to make that decision. The impact he had on DiNatale was great. DiNatale talked about how Morosini helped him overcome the death of his mother just four years ago.
The former Italian youth international had a very difficult life. Both of his parents died when he was still a teenager, his disabled brother committed suicide and he is sister was disabled and took care of her while he played for Livorno. Yet throughout these tough blows that life dealt him, he was always known for his fortitude as well as the commitment towards his family. This was what made him such a likable player. This is what made him so popular within the clubs he played for.
“He was an exceptional lad, so full of life. Despite all the problems he had, he was always at the disposal of the team and every day gave us all strength,” - Antonio Di Natale on Piermario Morosini
In life it’s very easy to hold someone’s hand when you are walking on the beach. The true test is if they are willing to hold one’s hand when you are walking through hot coals.
What Di Natale has done is to grab someone in those hot coals and do so with a smile as big as Piermario’s. This is what makes him an even greater person than he is a player. For a two-time Capo Cannonieri, this was probably the biggest goal he ever scored because he did not change the result of a match, he changed a life.
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