Sport Today

> >ABC commentator (the other guy- not O'Brian)  during 2nd half:
> >"Germany needs to start substituting so they can rest players for
> >Argentina."

> That was Lalas who picked Mexico to beat Argentina.  He plays in LA so
> his pick of Mexico was the PC thing to do.

> > >ABC commentator (the other guy- not O'Brian)  during 2nd half:
> > >"Germany needs to start substituting so they can rest players for
> > >Argentina."

> > That was Lalas who picked Mexico to beat Argentina.  He plays in LA so
> > his pick of Mexico was the PC thing to do.

> ?  It wasn't Lalas-  it was that long-haired guy Marcello Something Or
> Other...  who assumes Mexico will not advance.

> > ABC commentator (the other guy- not O'Brian)  during 2nd half:
> > "Germany needs to start substituting so they can rest players for
> > Argentina."

> They've been talking that way the whole game.  It's a complete lack of
> respect for Mexico, and it's putting an incredible "mufa" (jinx) on
> Argentina.

>> > ABC commentator (the other guy- not O'Brian)  during 2nd half:
>> > "Germany needs to start substituting so they can rest players for
>> > Argentina."

>> They've been talking that way the whole game.  It's a complete lack of
>> respect for Mexico, and it's putting an incredible "mufa" (jinx) on
>> Argentina.

> You're forgetting that's Marcelo Balboa, long time combatant in the U.S. -
> Mexico soccer wars.  Of course, he did play for Leon for two years so he's
> been on both sides of the 2-0 line.  Still its not surprising that he
> doesn't favor Mexico.

> That stupid "Lo Nuestro" stuff?

> Or does my irony metre need to be recalibrated?

>> I remember that he and Reyna are of
>>argentine decent and that Tabare Ramos (obvious because of the first name)
>>and another one of the USA '94 players were uruguayos.

> Right. But my questioning of your rationale was, why would he
> necessarily be on the side of Mexico, versus his own parents' country?
> Just for the Mexican-American viewers of ESPN?

>> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:32:35 GMT, "Daniel Windler"

>>>Even less surprising considering that his parents are from Argentina.

>> That stupid "Lo Nuestro" stuff?

>> Or does my irony metre need to be recalibrated?

>Lo nuestro?  I remember hearing before USA '94 that Balboa's parents (or at
>least one of them) are from Argentina.  Also, I heard him speak (imperfect)
>Spanish with a Rioplatense-ish accent.  I remember that he and Reyna are of
>argentine decent and that Tabare Ramos (obvious because of the first name)
>and another one of the USA '94 players were uruguayos.

>Daniel

> You know -- that tagline Univision applies to all "Latin" countries.
> The Spanish Cosa Nostra, in terms only.

>  [Although they do not necessarily use "Lo Nuestro" of Brazil, despite
> their attempts at light-hearted Brazil-support]

> It's about cultural solidarity, although a Latin country like Haiti,
> is never called "Lo Nuestro" either during Gold Cup matches.

> > I remember hearing before USA '94 that Balboa's parents (or at
> >least one of them) are from Argentina.  Also, I heard him speak (imperfect)
> >Spanish with a Rioplatense-ish accent.  

> Yes, his Spanish is not good. Reyna's is better. Never heard the
> latter speak Portuguese, though he must as his mum is from Portugal.

> > I remember that he and Reyna are of
> >argentine decent and that Tabare Ramos (obvious because of the first name)
> >and another one of the USA '94 players were uruguayos.

> Right. But my questioning of your rationale was, why would he
> necessarily be on the side of Mexico, versus his own parents' country?
> Just for the Mexican-American viewers of ESPN?

>>> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:32:35 GMT, "Daniel Windler"

>>>>Even less surprising considering that his parents are from Argentina.

>>> That stupid "Lo Nuestro" stuff?

>>> Or does my irony metre need to be recalibrated?

>>Lo nuestro?  I remember hearing before USA '94 that Balboa's parents (or
>>at
>>least one of them) are from Argentina.  Also, I heard him speak
>>(imperfect)
>>Spanish with a Rioplatense-ish accent.  I remember that he and Reyna are
>>of
>>argentine decent and that Tabare Ramos (obvious because of the first name)
>>and another one of the USA '94 players were uruguayos.

> I thought Balboa was of Uruguayan parentage.