«A few years ago he returned to the sports hall and we gave him a Varese Basketball jersey. We were in the locker room tunnel before the game: I gave it to him and we hugged. Then our gazes met: he had shining eyes and I had them too. It was a powerful look on him, a look that said it all, a look that spoke of this man’s love for Varese Basketball and for basketball in general, but also of the good old days that could never come back ».
There’s a Bruno Arena (read HERE the news of his death) different from what all of Italy has come to know, stage showman, film actor with box office success incorporated, comedian capable of carving out glory and fame with originality in a very difficult world.
It is an unfamiliar Bruno Arena, more intimate, only “ours”, only from Varese. And the Bruno Arena who loved basketball and Varese Basketball.
More than a fan: the former Fico, well before being Fico, he had been a mini basketball coach and instructor. And, among others (also the women’s Gavirate, for example, with great results), not in any club, but in the 10-time champion of Italy. We are in the 80s, the Divarese era.
In that role she met him Max Ferraiuolored and white soul, then in the first team: «Every now and then we players went to attend his lessons and so I made his acquaintance. The character Bruno was the person Bruno: histrionic, open, good at making himself lovable, someone who always put you in the mood to smile. And I’ve never seen him change, despite the fame he gained during his career ».
“When we met – continues Max – even many years later, he always remembered those times spent in society, with affection and nostalgia. And talking about basketball with him was very gratifying, given his competence ».
Master and passionate, Bruno, as long as his health supported him but sometimes even later, under the vaults of Masnago often appeared during matches. And it was a party for everyone.
On the other hand, his frequent appearances together with Max Cavallari in the season of grace 1998/1999, that of the Scudetto della Stella (you can also see it immortalized in the video by “collectors” that we attach below, “The year of the Star”, at 24.56 minutes). Bruno was an active part of a community “imprisoned” in a dream that made Italy talk and that to Lino Oldrini attracted celebrities, footballers, politicians, more or less famous VIPs, attracted as if there was a calamity by the magic of Roosters.
The singer of the Italian champions remembers it very well, the Varese journalist Franco Ferraroalso today moved: «He had, Bruno, a limpid talent – he writes – in his veins as in that anarchic and sweet face at the same time. He had perfect timing and comic pauses, often more effective than words, jokes. And the harmony with Max had something magical about his natural spontaneity, not like some comedians of today, built in the laboratory, test tubes, or a little more. I like to remember it with this photo (see below ed). Younger, happier. And destiny is still far away ».
Do you want to stay informed about Varese Basketball and have your say?
Sign up for our free service! Here’s how to do it:
– add the number 0039 to the WhatsApp contact list 340 4631748
– send a message with the text VARESE BASKETBALL
– the double check confirms the receipt of the request.
The messages will be sent in broadcast mode, so no subscriber will be able to see the contacts of others, your anonymity is guaranteed compared to anyone else.
VareseNoi.it will use them only for the purposes of this service and will not share them with anyone else.
To deactivate the service, just send a WhatsApp message at any time with the text STOP VARESE BASKETBALL always to the number 0039 340 4631748.
