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June 4 - July 11, 2010 |
A well deserved honour for Nicola Sparano
Corriere Canadese sports writer receives Antonio Maglio journalism award
By Simona Giacobbi
Originally Published: 2009-02-01
“Certainly life is very strange. First you lose a mother, then you gain a grandchild. And finally, a ‘Maglio’ lands in your lap.”
His voice did veil a certain heart-felt emotion, but Nicola Sparano, who was awarded the Antonio Maglio Award for Italian Journalism last Thursday at the AMICI Museum in Maple is the same Sparano as always.
The Corriere Canadese sports editor, surrounded by his family, colleagues, and numerous high-profile personalities from the Italian Canadian community, accepted the first ever prize – awarded for contribution to promoting the Italian language – with the same humbleness and wit that has always characterized his style.
Sparano retraced his story, recalling the carabinieri (Italian military police) killed at the Nassiriya massacre – they were “temporary immigrants” like him who, however, did not make it back home. He also recalls Pope John Paul II’s visit to Toronto, describing him as “an elderly person who knew how to motivate the youth, along with their parents and grandparents.” Then a moment of silence as his thoughts turn to his “dear mentor” – his late mother whom he featured in many of his unmistakable “Controsport” columns. She passed away two months ago.
“A giant in the world of journalism”, is how Sparano was described by MPP Laura Albanese, by Italian Consul General to Toronto Gianni Bardini, and by the director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Toronto Corrado Paina, moments before the prize was awarded.
The event was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, by Corriere Canadese/Tandem, and by the Italian Cultural Institute. In attendance were representatives from across the GTA’s Italian language media.
More than a “giant”, Sparano jestingly refers to himself as “one of those ‘dinosaurs’ – political editor Angelo Persichilli included – who don’t deserve an award, but a monument.”
And the evening could not proceed without an anecdote about his arrival to Toronto: “The advice of my coach Ferrigno was determinant – he said to me: ‘guaglio [Neapolitan slang for ‘kid’], soccer isn’t for you. Go to America where your tastes will be well suited. So that’s what I did,” Sparano joked.
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