Blue Smoke (In the Spanish Quarters)

There is almost nothing in this story except what happened in a part of Naples, the Spanish Quarters, in the few minutes before and after the city's soccer team drew their away game with Udinese and mathematically won the Italian Serie A championship. Almost nothing. Because in the human volcanic explosion that shook the close-knit hive of climbing alleys that make up the Spanish Quarters it felt there was much more. A unique city, with its history of misery and slendour. A special people, so loved and so hated. And its feel of revenge after years of falling. There was a game, soccer, that I think - in our society - is giving ''asylum'' - with lights and shadows - to the most visceral and incorrect, the most emotive and controversial ... but all still very human ... feelings, problematic in our society. And there was a little lesson on victory and defeat. Back in Rome, I saw two kids playing soccer on a roof. It's the last picture of this story. Their generation will have it interesting but not easy. I thought of how we try - and I do as a father - to teach our kids that defeat is not a tragedy. It is important. But I also thought that this lesson is not as useful and true if it is based on the assumption that winning and loosing are the same thing. I saw it in Naples, in those few minutes. Victory and defeat are very different things. And only knowing that, one will be able to win and to loose with a strong heart. To play. This is the lesson I wished to the two kids could learn, on the roofs.