As we get closer and closer to the end of the year, I feel a little more confident about my blogs. Therefore, I have decided to "come out of the box," or rather lap top, and try something new.
Because of our current topic being soccer, I find it convenient to interview someone with a little more knowledge to the subject. I look up from my computer to find the perfect candidate for my interview. Brown crocs, black sweatpants with the (impossible to miss) green Nacional logo, and a matching jacket. But this is not all he has to tell to the world. Or well, you bloggers. My father, lived in Medellín for over 45 years of his life. And though he's never seen "The Two Escobars" documentary, he sure lived the crisis from the inside.
I approach him, and start my blogpost. I mean, interview. Here it goes:
You thought I had run out of ideas, but no. Haha.
*Note: Paisas say the word "pues" very often. Translating it to a possible variation in English wouldn't have the same tone. Pues is pues.
I: What is it that you remember most of
Medellin at the time Andres Escobar was murdered? What was your reaction?
LF: No no I couldn’t believe something so
terrible had happened. Besides, it was very sad because that added to the poor
presentation the colombian team had in the United States World Cup. First, we
had a horrible game. Next, we got eliminated and like if that wasn’t enough
already, when the boys come back, Andres is murdered. Double misfortune. Pues, obviously a loss of a life such as Andres’s is much more severe and hurtful
than an elimination in a sporting event.
I: Did the close relationship Pablo Escobar
had with Atletico Nacional ever affect your love and passion for the team?
LF: No. Not at all. In fact, I was never fully
aware of those ties. It was later that they came out to the public but still,
Nacional always had great quality soccer and never needed money nor the
influence of a “celebrity” such as Pablo Escobar.
I: What is it that most disturbs you about Colombian
soccer?
LF: Pues, lets say that the so called
“hooligans” that use soccer as an instrument of relieve to let their violent
instincts and social frustrations out. This characters dress up as fans and
push away the real lovers of “el buen futbol” from the stadiums. Also, I am
very disturbed by the news of young men being murdered by other young men for
wearing a different team’s jersey.
I: We're almost done, dad. Don't worry.
LF: (Sigh)
I: Describe Colombian soccer in one sentence.
LF: Great illusions, few joys, lots of frustrations.
Hahaha, like Jorge Luis Borges, I think, used to say, “Ser Colombiano es un
acto de fe.”
I: Thank you for time. Any message or anecdote
you would like to share with the world?
LF: Pues, not really. Despite
everything I said in my previous answers, soccer continues to be a great
passion specially when there’s a game well played, in front of a full stadium…
It’s something very exciting, something very hard to describe. The happiness of
a goal well scored, one in a special moment, or a last-minute triumph is
something words can’t describe. Like the famous thinker Albert Camus [once
Algeria’s goalkeeper] used to say, “Everything I know of morality, I learned on
the soccer field.” Well, for those that like soccer, right?
I take out my cellphone a snap a quick picture of his outfit. "A ver Isa yo veo pues?! Nooo, no fregues!" I never showed him the picture and I must confess, posting it here will be against his will. Sorry dad. (Green hearts)
