Hey Goomba!!

So I am having this discussion back stage at the Ann Arbor Ark this past monday. Tommy (Sax master and accordian neophite) is going into another rap/rant/impromtu comedy bit and he ends the tirade with "Hey, Goomba!". Having heard this term before, my good friend (and drummer extraordinaire) Jim asks, "you know, my Dad used to say that all the time, what the heck does that mean?". I chime in to say that I think it means "friend / pal / buddie". I then go on to caution that it COULD be a derogatory term thus, we might not want to be dropping the G - bomb, especially at a public / charity event.

So, I have been thinking about this word for a few days and decided that I would ask my good friend and co-worker Ralph (who is as Italian as the day is long) what the heck "Goomba" means. Last night was the company christmas party and we had the gathering at Buca di Beppo's on 6 mile in Livonia/Northville. It is a nice place that serves southern Italian cuisine "family style". If you have a large group of people and everyone is down with Italian, it is a good choice (the Tiramisu is amazing). Oh, and try to reserve the Pope room if it is available.

Back at the office, before heading out for our holiday feast, we were all talking about how to get to the restaurant and how to avoid the mall traffic. During this conversation, someone finally asks "what the heck does Buca di Beppo mean anyway??" As it turns out, it means "Joe's basement". Go figure. Well, seemed like a perfect time to ask about the Goomba, but, being the absent-minded individual that I am, I failed to ask.

So, on to Buca di Beppo, where I am one of the first to arrive. I decide to go to the men's room before everyone else gets there and what do I see on the door? The word "Goomba's". So, without asking, sounding silly or ignorant by thowing out a potential slanderous word, all is revealed to me with a simple trip to the rest room.

SIDE NOTE: Now, if you are ever in a Buca di Beppo, make sure you visit the rest room and for the women readers out there, make a special trip to the Goomba's room. The art work in there is quite unique and many a woman have been found peeking in the Goomba's room just to get a look at the decor.

So, what would be the moral/morals learned of this story?

1. You dont need to assume that an ethnic word or term is deragatory. But you may want to check it out first anyway.
2. Be patient, and all will be revealed to you, in time.
3. Women can be just as curious as men.

and

4. Sophia Loren was, is and always will be HOT, HOT, HOT.. (did I mention that there were pictures of her all over the restaurant, but NOT in the Goomba's room?)

Ciao,