Frickin' Italians (and Portugese) !!

I used to live in Toronto's Little Italy. I love that neighbourhood. I love the character the bars, restaurants and cafes give to that area. I'm now in the Danforth area and though I love the tree lined, quite streets just minutes from downtown, Danforth just doesn't have that neighbourhood feeling like Little Italy. Maybe it's the four lanes of the Danforth that ruins it. The sides of the street seem too far apart for a real neighbourhood feeling.
It was in Little Italy at Sushi Island on College that I broke my sushi cherry. Kalendar brunch was an almost weekly occurrence. Beers at Ted's or South Side Louis or at the patio at the Dip. And Revival and the Mod Club were regular haunts during my clubbing days. And I even loved the hood during the World Cup and European Championships. Except when Italy or Portugal play. (And Brazil. The Portuguese jump on that bandwagon with the ease of a fickle alcoholic) But I'm glad I'm not living there anymore. Last night the streets, I'm sure, where full of people who acted as though the Portuguese won the world cup. And today, after Italy needed a dubious penalty in LAST FRICKIN' MINUTE to beat a resolute, tough tackling Aussie side who deserved better than to go out to the Italian National Diving Team - I mean soccer team. Amazing how easy that slips out. My only consolation, besides the fact I don't live on the west side anymore, is that if Italy keeps playing like they have, they will surely fall to the Swiss (who should beat the Ukraine). And hopefully the English will pull their heads out of their asses and play like they should and beat the Portuguese. Then the west side will get the sleep it deserves and I can eat my sushi in peace.