‘Twas the eve of the Derby.

By: chris | December 5th, 2009

totti-vi-ho-purgato-ancora

‘Twas the eve of the derby, when all through the land
Not a Roman was sleeping, the anxiety so grand.
The prayers already said bedside with fright,
In hopes that San Francesco would soon take the night.

The giallorossi were tossing and turning in their beds,
While dreams of a run to the Sud danced in their heads.
Francesco decked in his kit and Daniele in steel,
They schemed over lit candle to honor the Roman seal.

In the morn a red sun rose over Rome,
And soon the laziali were fretting this was no longer home.
They dashed to the hills, no time for a note,
Eagerly hunting the most vulnerable goat.

The Stadio Olimpico, a twinkle in its eye,
Could hardly bide its time until the final heroic cry.
The match still long when out of the tunnel emerged a Roman hero,
His back wearing a one and a zero.

The tifosi waited unknowing outside the walls,
Inside this hero listening and absorbing their passionate calls.
Silently dancing atop the dew of the grass,
He played out in his mind every move, every pass.

The match near, the stadium opened its mouth,
While angelic chords begun belting ever louder to the south.
The hero long disappeared down into the womb,
Now assured of sending biancoceleste dreams to their tomb.

The capital’s bowl filled with flags end to end,
A cracking boom emerged from the southern-most bend.
The derby proceedings had begun, you see,
Sending God-fearing men to a beggar’s bended knee.

A sphere in the circle moved with a tweet,
And hurried hearts quickly turned to hurried feet.
On the green heels went high and shoulders low,
There was nary a doubt one would mourn a reddish blow.

The barbaric battles quickly becoming the war,
Every blue and white test sent tremors to the core.
But as the city’s hero looked on helpless,
Another between the poles wouldn’t dare not impress.

A sickening gasp was uttered when one in the center,
Soon learned from on high he would never re-enter.
Heads quickly slumped, eyes to the ground,
A second fiery flash in the sky meant a miracle was found!

The boys galloped with glee, dancing in open air,
Extracting a sly smile from the man in the stands with no hair.
The gods would not be kind, the score still round,
When from he holding the cards we twice heard a sound.

The break too short, the blood too rushed,
Another closing half left the stands hushed.
But then the sphere slipped through, the enemy left only to bask,
When from nowhere emerged a superhero donned in cape and mask!

A dash to the left, a glorious loft to the flank,
Suddenly it was the others with only a miracle to thank.
A pass to the middle, then another on the floor,
The hero had sent Curva Sud into a rapturous roar!

His work now done, he jumped with the joy of a child,
While all but the tourists went just as wild.
The whistle soon sounded, ushering an end to the game,
The capital’s sole team had once again reaffirmed its name.

San Francesco took to his fans to head the mob,
But we soon learned he’d yet to finish one last job.
With a flash he ran to the nord, and erupted in its defeated aura,
“Buona notte a tutti, vi ho purgato ancora!”

Some Related Roma Posts:

Category: The Derby

« VotD: Basel Nonsense Dispatched, There’s A Game Of Slight Importance This Weekend. | Home | For The Fans, By The Fans. »

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Kamran

*make or break
Kamran

I MANAGED TO GET ROMA VS LAZIO LIVE ON MY TV!! I'M ECSTATIC!

Well, match kicks off at 12:45 local time. My cable network shows Supersport 3 which shows EPL shit but I checked out the website and saw the Supersport 3 Nigeria is going to broadcast it live. I called the cable guys and requested SS3N instead of SS3. They didn't take me seriously. I said I'll be at their office if they don't show SS3N, they still didn't. I went and reached their office at about 11:30 PM and then got redirected to operational office and I told them I'll sit in office all night long if they don't play the match. They thought I was insane, and then, BAM, SS3N live on my TV. They said upcoming game is Roma vs Lazio.

Semester finals on Wednesday but nothing else matters now! This is literally the "make of break" game of the season no matter what Ranieri says. If they win, they're 4th by Christmas, period. If they lose, it can take a toll on their mentality a la Madrid last season and they can lose the plot against battle for CL spot with Parma and Fiorentina.

Can.not.wait.
Dhaw

Filazio sono piene di sacchetti douche !!

Vaffanculo Lazio !!

FORZA ROMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
rayman

its good its a late ko...didnt the enjoy afternoon game last time or maybe it was just because of the result....
rayman

lol Rahul honestlr didnt see your post!
rayman

aLrite!! an hour and fifteen to go!
lets kick some goat fuckin asses!
Rahul

1:24 to go! Forza Roma!
Rahul

@Robbie - dude give them a break. They haven't won in 12 weeks or something like that. :P
Robbie (ASR)

Quick heads up. Nazio offside still has Lazio-Bologna up, no new post about the derby. Where is their dedication?
Pat

If you read chris's poem carefully...you will relaize...he wants roma to lose, so that we can see who is a true romanista and so that rosella can speak out to the fans
As a true romanista...FORZA LAZIO
Robbie (ASR)

alright giallorossi tifosi, we're the 12th, hope the 200 million watching from home are supporting our reds! LA DERBY!!!!!
Il Giallorosso.

i third the homework stuff!!! except it is a computer programming midterm tomorrow and i havnt even started studying.
forza roma
Rahul

@MJ - ha ha. For our sakes let's hope that Roma wins. There is no way I can write that report if Roma draws this game. As to what will happen if we lose - I don't know.
Francesco (Giallorosso)

Great results across the board this morning (except for Palermo winning :p). A draw between Genoa and Parma is the best we could have asked for. Let's just hope we don't slip up like we have before on these crucial match days. I hope Totti grabs a goal or two to put him back on top and I'd love to see Vuci score since he's been on fire since he grabbed that first goal this season.
MJ

@ dhaw lol how come ya don't want a live blog/commentary

@rahul, yh i got a 2000 word report to hand in 2morrow!
Rahul

2:30 to go!

@Jed - I know! I need to finish this report, else my group members will kill me. :P
Dhaw

Filazio sono piene di sacchetti douche !!

Vaffanculo Lazio !!!
Dhaw

Chris ,

Please don't do a liveblog. Just a starting line up post with Okakachukamuthafucka's picture should do it for today.

Pretty please.
Jon

a win and we are tied with genoa and fiorentina
Daniele

ROMA ROMA ROMA
CORE DI STA CITTA
jed

rahul, same here with the homework thing
Marmash

great article chris. Cant stop admiring your creative writing abilities.
Aquismaia

happy birthday jonas, and i know a friend of mine that is a roma fan and also has pictures of himself and every single player of last season, including loria, his birthday is today
Miles Deep

Can't wait for this match. Ranieri's gootta be psyched for this too! Daje!
Rahul

Hell, need to finish my homework and just can't get started. This derby is making me go crazy.
jed

veetle should have a streem today cause it will be on fsc... i actually walked by nevada smiths yesterday on my way to arturo's pizza and it looked awesome. Wish i was of age.
siraj

Masterpiece Chris!!!

Looking forward to a dominant derby from us, a win to day will be huge in the standings.

FORZA ROMA!
Dhaw

And thousands on their PC.
Caroe

I read on RomaNews that 60k will watch the game in Lo Stadio and 200 MILLION will watch the game on TV! Sounds a bit too crazy.
Dhaw

Win today gets us on par with Genoa and 1 point away from Parma who are having one heck of a season.

I think we are going to battle it out with Fiorentina & Genoa for that 4th spot once again.
Rahul

A win today will see us move to within 1 point of 4th place.
Riccardo

Haha happy birthday Jonas. Mine is tomorrow, wishing for the same thing!
brento (asr)

Fadayn, not sure if you are trying to get tickets, but I just read this on RomaNews, there seems to be hope:

Per chi fosse interessato all’affare, i Roma Store di piazza Colonna 360 e via Appia Nuova 130 resteranno aperti fino alle 18, mentre i punti Lis Lottomatica e i botteghini del Gran Teatro di viale Tor di Quinto addirittura fino al fischio d’inizio. Dunque, fino alle 20,45.
Uncle Fester(ASR)

HAve a nice B-day, Jonas (in advance)
:)
Geeg

Chris how on earth do you dream this stuff up??? Gents the derby is upon us, read this morning that Aqui is watching form England (Romanista around the world take note). Remember these goat fuckers will be fired up to win this game as trhere run of form has been shitty as of late. They will not turn thier season around on US!!!!!!!!!!!
Jonas

ow and btw it's my birthday tuesday so I hope for an early gift from San Francesco and co ;)
Jonas

"They dashed to the hills, no time for a note,
Eagerly hunting the most vulnerable goat"
LMAO

give Chris an Oscar for fucks sake,this is a masterpiece,very very well written!

now for tonight,FORZA ROMA! CORE DE STA CITTA! C'E SOLO UNA ROMA! DAJE ROMA DAJEEEEEEEEE
MJ

The funniest banner i have seen in a while by Juve fans:

Don’t kid yourself Balotelli, you’d annoy us even if you were white.

LOL!
fital

really miss u Aqui, your loyalty will never be in my doubt
Rahul

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10...

Once a romanista, always a romanista! :)
Rahul

Holy shit Chris. If you are not a professional writer by now, now is the time to become one. I don't have adjectives to describe what you penned there. Just ruddy brilliant.
zzzzurzolo

derby!

All the old romans in my local bar this morning have predicted a 2-0 win for i lupi.
Apuzzo

"The Juventus fans held up a banner during the match that read: ‘Don’t kid yourself Balotelli, you’d annoy us even if you were white."

That is an absolute instant classic.
Aquismaia

fascinating work chris no word can describe this, I think MOTM will be Chris himself rather than someone else, Daje Roma Daje, the fans deserve a win so does ranieri and the warriors he has raised
Jacob (Roma fan)

LOL Dhaw. Predicted line-up is:

------------------Sergio------------------
---Motta------Mexes----Juan-------Riise---
-----------De Rossi-----Pizarro-----------
---Vucinic---------Menez---------Perrotta-
------------------Totti------------------

Menez or Vucinic might swap roles, but Im assuming Menez will start behind Totti. Lazio's team wont feature Rocchi, meaning that they really only have one striker in Zarate, and he hasn't been in good form lately (but everyone steps up).
Dhaw

The Juventus fans held up a banner during the match that read: ‘Don’t kid yourself Balotelli, you’d annoy us even if you were white.’

This is some funny shit. lollll
Fadayn

@alessio - €18 for the derby on listicket? bullshit man, I've never seen a cheaper ticket than €50 (even though theyre supposed to sell the €30 ones online too) on Listicket and I usually wait for the moment sale starts. They only sell the Monte Mario and up, you must have got it elsewhere. Anyways, I'll get some photos up and clips if I get a chance tomorrow (if I get in!)
jed

can't. fucking. wait.

! OH YEA !
Kelly

thats brilliant
ked

Thanks Apuzzo, I remember seeing that phrase often before. Guess it just slipped.
Let's hope he does it again tomorrow!!!!
Caroe

Well, it's not a reference to AS Roma but to Italpetroli.

Roma's debt is not very much.
Apuzzo

Caroe that would be amazing. Our debt aint shit! its only 400 million. Hahaha, i cant say that without cringing my teeth though.
Apuzzo

ked, Buona notte a tutti means: Good night to all

vi ho purgato ancora, which im sure you know by now but just in case

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

It means: I've purged you again.
ked

"Buona notte a tutti, vi ho purgato ancora"

Some aid for the multilingual handicaps? lol
Caroe

There will be some sort of choreography by Curva Sud tomorrow (for the first time in THREE years!!)

Someone on Carlo Zampa forum suggested this:
http://www.freeimagehosting.ne...
Apuzzo

Wish i could Dhaw but unfortunately i have a 360. Im gonna grab me a PS3 soon simply for the blue-ray. I played FIFA 10 on the ps3 while i was visiting my wife's family on Turkey day and saw a very noticeable superiority in the graphics.
ked

(speechless)
Dhaw

Anyone want to play FIFA 10 on PS3 ??

My PSN : oxROMANISTAxo

Add me.
brento (asr)

Daje Roma!! Fa questi laziale sapere il significato di calcio! Che campioni abbiamo nel nostro parte di Roma, la parte gialla e rossa, la vera roma!!
fital

but i don't want a just-win mentality from Ranieri this time, make it a clear win. and cleansheet please, damn, do I need to beg for this.
Dhaw

I think our MOTM tomm is going to be CLAUDIO RANIERI. He is going to win us the game. His tactics , subs has to be spot on and his starting line-up will give us a clear indication about his intent.

Forza Roma.
Forza Claudio.

Go and get those fatherless baby blue cocksuckers.
fital

what a masterpiece.....
Hail to you Chris

'When from nowhere emerged a superhero donned in cape and mask!' he will

FORZA ROMA
Apuzzo

San Francesco took to his fans to head the mob,
But we soon learned he’d yet to finish one last job.
With a flash he ran to the nord, and erupted in its defeated aura,
“Buona notte a tutti, vi ho purgato ancora!”

Brilliant, i got one rhyme for you chris

Chris, go write novels until u see you're arm fall. You are as creative with words as San Francesco is with the ball.
Tottigol

*sob*
Caroe

http://www.tribalfootball.com/...
hahahahahahah.
"The Israelis are keen to take Pit on-loan in January.
The midfielder made his debut against Livorno, but is only playing a bit-part role with Roma."

bit-part role? Very much, indeed.

Great post, Chris!
Ian

It is definitely time for Francesco to get another one against Lazio!
Dhaw

In the morn a red sun rose over Rome,
And soon the laziali were fretting this was no longer home. They dashed to the hills, no time for a note,
Eagerly hunting the most vulnerable goat.

Brilliant. Take a bow Mr.Chris
Richie Aprile

'ROMA ROMA ROMA!'
Richie Aprile

Lmao! Interesting to see pathetic “frank” call Romanisti “froci” in our blog when Lazio has Adam Lambert defending their pathetic little blog!

Its also interesting to see Frank call Filazio “mighty” when we haven’t seen a single win from his team in the last 12-13 games.

In addition, has everyone seen that pathetic little blog totally isolated as none of those “real, lazio Romanisti” haven’t posted any comments in the last few days—except Adam Lambert of course!

What a bunch of pathetic, fake losers they all are. Frank, go give Filazio to a sheep, son!

DAJE ROMA! DAJE!
Jacob (Roma fan)

Brilliant. Magnificent. FORZA ROMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!