Personal celebrations have become an unforgettable part of the football world, so when New York Giants third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito threw his first touchdown in November, he raised his right hand and I pinched my fingers and thumb in Italian. Roughly speaking, it’s a gesture that means “What do you want?”
people noticed.
A few weeks later, when DeVito led the Giants to a thrilling 24-22 victory at home over the Green Bay Packers, thousands of fans joined in by pinching their fingers and waving the backs of their hands toward the field. . The gesture was promoted on live sports, featured on sweatshirts and featured on sports pages as far away as Italy. DeVito explained that the gesture was natural, citing a quote from “old Italians.” That’s just a small achievement for them. ”
DeVito’s moment in the spotlight brought excitement to a disappointed Giants team, even though he is once again the backup quarterback for the season that ends Sunday. His moment, and his signature gesture, left some Italian-American observers, myself included, at least a little ambivalent, even perplexed. Some fans were proud to see an Italian kid (raised in New Jersey) take center stage, but considering how quickly Italian-American culture can turn into a cliché, it’s hard to believe that it’s an old fix. Some fans cringed at the idea’s resurgence in popularity. Half-baked mob movies and the excesses of “Jersey Shore.” I winced when I saw this gesture blow up on social media, especially in endless TikTok videos and Instagram Reels set to Louis Prima songs. My misgivings were not assuaged by the fact that DeVito’s agent, also an Italian-American, attended the game in a flashy pinstripe suit and black fedora. Before the season ended, the suddenly star quarterback was criticized for being too eager to be in the spotlight.
It is both a truism and a truth that Italians speak with their hands, and this feature likely developed as a way to facilitate communication in a country where each village had a different dialect. Most of these hand gestures have specific meanings and are recognized throughout Italy as well as by Italian Americans. Since then, I have realized that these gestures, in their evolving meaning, are not just typical throwbacks or just a secret language. They embody the vitality of my culture and are evidence of the vibrant resilience of our experience.