Snake Eye

The legendary Snake Eye has returned after what seems to be an enternity. No fear though the consistency of it's randomness has not failed us. In a prior installment I questioned how random is the selection process is really. For those who don't know how a player is chosen for Snake Eye don't worry I won't shroud it in a veil of secrecy this isn't Carmen San Diego or the first twenty minutes of a Scooby-Doo episode, we don't roll like that on the Green, yet another sporting pun..............NICE. I hop on the Playstation 3 pop in the FIFA 09 and hit random search in the better known leagues and here we are. I don't know if I have to change my method or something but yet again a familiar face well to me that is but what can do.

Name: Sebastian Giovinco

Nickname: Formica Atomica (Atom Ant in English)

D/O/B: 01/26/1987 (age 22)

Place of Birth: Turin, Italy

Position: Midfielder(Central Attacking Midfielder/Left- Side Foward)

Prefered Foot: Left

Height: 5'4 1/2 ft/inches

Weight: 59kg

National Team: Italy

Caps: 10

Club Teams: Juventus (2006-present), Empoli (loan 2007/08)

"UP AND ATOM, ATOM ANTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!." If you were born in the 90s well that sucks for you. I remember getting up every Saturday morning in the tight pajamas my grandmother made for me that had smarties on them, for you Americans out there the English equivalent to M&Ms with a bowl of the latest sugar invested cereal which I placed sugar on to induce hyperactiveness so that I could watch Atom Ant on TNT back before they had Cartoon Network in my country. Those who again who were born in the 90s and don't know this classic, HAHA............ Atom Ant was an ant, with superpowers who kick ass for what is right and just. Sebastian is not a superhero but the fact he is just 5'4 I am inclined to take a pop at his height probably mentioning how my ten year old cousin's head is to his neck but Gio is head and shoulders above the rest of us when it comes to game maybe he is a superhero.

Sebastian Giovinco was born in the football crazy city Turin in the north of Italy to southern Italian parents his mother hailing from Catanzaro, Calabria while his father came from the island of Sicily. Giovinco being from Turin had a choice between the two giants that reside in the city, the black and white of Juventus or the blood red of Torino. With all due respect to Torino young Sebastian favoured the greater of the two clubs and in 2001 he joined the youth ranks of the "Old Lady," has to be an oxymoron that. At age 14 the Atom Ant was very much a big part the the youth team set up surging through the ranks helping win the Campionato Primavera the youth equivalent of the Serie A the top flight of Italian football in 2005/06 season. Gio is also a winner of the superb Serie B possibly the greatest league in the world, being extremely saracastic at this point but yes following the Turin side shameful relegation only a few years ago Giovinco helped them reach the dizzying heights of the Serie A once again but one could argue getting out of Serie B is not the most challenging when you have most of your stars are still shining. Back in the big time Juve decided to let their young buck go foraging on loan to Empoli a Serie A rival where he dazzled the Emperors with his quick feet and asurred passing for 35 games popping the net all but six times in the season of 2007. Back with Juventus now he has racked up 22 appearances in senior colors with two goals lets just see what his future with the "Bianconeri," or does he forfeit his allegiance like Juventus did to their fans in their infamous scandal.On the wider plateau which is the international stage Giovinco is already a star although not well known as his teammates at Juve he is as integral to his nation as any of them albeit at junior level. An olympian at the Beijing games a feather in any young man's cap but pure glory came in 2008 at the Toulon Tournament a competition that he starred in becoming the MVP guiding the young "Azzuri," to the title.

In my opinion his nickname is well justified. Being courted by the likes of Arsenal, AC milan and Tottenham is a testament to Giovinco's skill he is one for the future but will Juve bend to the beast which is the transfer market or will they polish this diamond into a world beater.I think they must, Italian teams are notorious for how can I put it kindly vintage players and a young Sebastian is what is need to light the fire under the Drughis Juve's famed Ultras, a sentence that deserves a google. He to me is the heir apperant not of the media suggested Pavel Nedved but to Alessandro Del Piero although both the Italian Stallion and the Czech Cavalier do raise the decibel level of the Del Alipi faithful it is Del Piero who is the local boy the true gem of the club. Gio himself is a local boy although Nedved is a darling of the fans he could never be the man Del Piero is or Giovinco could be. Giovinco is the essence of a true Italian. I for one want him to stay with Juve and be that cult figure the game needs far to often the nomadic nature of players lessen the passion of the game. Its to early for be to comment on his faults only bad thing I can say about the lad is his height but players like Maradonna, Pablo Aimar and the mentioned Del Piero aren't the giants in stature but its what you do with the ball that defines you in the game not atmosphere of your head and I for one hopes Gio keeps his.

Reptile