2012's Best Moments In Latino Sports
1. São Paulo Wins Copa Sudamericana After Tigres Refuse To Play Second Half
This literally happened as I worked on the final edit of this entry. Brazilian club São Paulo “defeated” Argentine club Tigres to win the Copa Sudamericana, the club competition second only to Copa Libertadores, before the second half ever began. Tigres were behind 2 – 0 and refused to return to the field after the break after, as they claim, members of their squad were attacked by members of the security team at Brazil’s Morumbi stadium. Chilean referee Enrique Osses waited for over 30 minutes of regulation time for Tigres to return to the field before handing São Paulo the win.
Further adding to the escandalo is Rubén Pasquini’s, Tigres head of security, claim that a member of stadium security pointed a gun at the chest of Tigres goalie Damián Albil’s chest. More details about this are still coming in but, at this point, all I can say is I hope none of this locura makes its way into the 2014 World Cup.
[insert-video youtube=crIO7WT1YhA]
2. Peruvian Football League Turns 100, Sporting Cristal Wins Campeonato Descentralizado
Peru’s first division football league, formally known as el Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano, celebrated its 100th birthday this year as Sporting Cristal earned its 16th league title. The team from Lima, and only the second Peruvian team in history to reach Copa Libertadores, won out over Real Garcilaso from Cusco with a goal by Junior Ross in the 25th minute.
[insert-video youtube=0ldDkpWr8-c]
3. Messi Breaks Goal Record
Argentine footballer Lionel “El Mejor Del Mundo” Messi continues his incredible streak at being more-human-than-human by breaking the FIFA record of most goals scored in a calendar year. Messi, currently at 88 goals as of this writing and probably at a million by the time you read this, tied and then broke the 40 year-old record held by German footballer Gehrard “Gerd” Muller (85 goals in 1972) during a game between his team FC Barcelona against Real Betis on Dec. 9th (a feat I recreated in FIFA 13, hell yeah!).
There’s an interesting footnote to this story: members of the Zambian Football Association claim that African player Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu is the world’s leading scorer with a record 107 goals in 1972. The number was never recognized for, as yet, unknown reasons. Many question the timing of the announcement.
[insert-video youtube=lUPcZdPB2go]
4. Marquez Finally Knocks Out Pacquiao
Fourth time was the charm for Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez as he finally stood victorious over popular Philippine boxer Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (can we call him El Hombre Pac?) with a huge, earth-shattering, right-hand punch dead on the nose in the last second of the sixth round. The duo’s first meeting eight years ago ended in a draw while fights two (2008) and three (2011) were awarded to Señor Pac though not without LOADS of controversy.
[insert-video youtube=adXZhzDulik]
5. Tijuana Xolos Wins Its First Liga MX Title
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente (or los Xolos de Tijuana if you prefer) is only five years old and has only been in Mexico’s first division league for two years but it has already won its first Liga MX title! Their win over Deportivo Toluca denied that club’s 11th title and a record tie with C.D. Guadalajara for the most number of championship wins. All this after Los Xolos completed their first year at the bottom of the league table!
And you can bet good money that Tijuana partied hard that night. The city deserved it.
[insert-video youtube=gyv-JZvfZpU]
6. Chicharito (Sort Of) Scores A Hat Trick
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, a.k.a. every Mexican’s favorite Mexican, saved Manchester United’s red-and-gold behind on November 10th. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team was down 2 – 0 after the first half against Aston Villa, a team Fergie loves to humiliate. Fergie replaced Ashley Young with Chicharito for the second half where he scored three goals that gave Manchester the victory in Villa Park. That’s technically a hat trick but his second goal was a shot that rebounded off Villa captain Rob Vlaar and was ruled as an own goal against Villa.
[insert-video youtube=akBneFaMIcI]
7. US Finally Wins A Match Against Mexico In Mexico Thanks To Chicano Player
It took 25 attempts in 75 years but the US national team finally pulled off a victory against Mexico in the Estadio Azteca. The lone, winning goal in the August 15th friendly came from an unlikely source: defender Michael Orozco Fiscal. The defender entered the game in the second half as a substitute and scored off a quick pass from Terence Boyd in the 80th minute. The USMNT finally notched a win thanks to a Chicano athlete!
Fiscal was born in Orange, CA to Mexican immigrants and is a member of Mexican team San Luis but is currently on loan to Puebla. He also spent a year as a defender with the Philadelphia Union.
[insert-video youtube=7OoFSyqTjkc]
8. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants Win World Series
Sergio Romo doesn’t just rock an awesome beard that puts Fidel Castro to shame, he’s also a relief pitcher who helped the Giants win this year’s World Series. As a closer, he struck out three batters from the Detroit Tigers (including Triple Crown winner Venezuelan Miguel Cabrera) in a row in the last inning of game 4, a feat that sealed his team’s World Series sweep.
But that wasn’t enough! Did you see the shirt that this chicano pitcher wore to the Giants’ victory parade?
¡AJUA, MADARFAKARZ!
9. Mexico Wins First Gold Medal In Olympic Football
Now this was damn great football! Brazil and Mexico went head-to-head for what was guaranteed to be a historic game no matter the outcome. Brazil wanted to win its first gold medal in its history. Meanwhile, Mexico was guaranteed its first gold or silver as it had never won either.
Mexico won the game 2 – 1 thanks to the fancy foot- and headwork of Oribe “El Cepillo” Peralta. The striker from Santos Laguna received an intercepted pass courtesy of teammate Javier Aquino and scored 29 seconds into the match, an Olympics record. Peralta scored again late in the second half when he headed a free kick rocketed into the penalty area by Marco Fabian. The play launched commentator Andres Cantor into the longest series of GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL screams since that one time he lost his voice in that one World Cup years ago (you know which one!).
[insert-video youtube=xYH1NKWdY7A]
10. Latino Athletes Lead USA To Olympic Medal Wins
For further proof that the USA needs Latinos in its life, look no further than the Olympic games. The US water polo team, which included latinas Brenda Villa and Jessica Steffens, took home the gold medal. Meanwhile, chicana Marlen Esparza of Houston, TX took home the bronze medal in the flyweight division in Women’s Boxing.
Finally, dual citizen and UT Longhorn record-holder Leonel Manzano (born in Guanajuato, raised in Texas) won silver in the Men’s 1500 m race. It was the first time a US athlete medaled in that race since Jim Ryun won silver in Mexico 1968.
Leo then took his victory lap:
11. Spain Wins UEFA Championship
There were tears of joy for Andres Iniesta and tears of sadness for Mario Balotelli as Spain defeated Italy in this year’s UEFA (Union of European Football Assocations) final. Super Mario’s biceps were no match for the likes of David Silva and teammates as they soared to a 4 – 0 win with goals from Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres, and Juan Mata. The win gave Spain’s national team a neat hat-trick of sorts: UEFA 2008, World Cup 2010, and UEFA 2012.
[insert-video youtube=DbeOkjkkb_w]
12. Venezuelan Johan Santana Pitches First No-Hitter In History Of New York Mets
The New York Mets may not get the same love the New York Yankees do but the team was the talk of the town and the nation on June 1st thanks to the work of Johan Santana. The pitcher from Venezuela stepped up for a routine game against the St. Louis Cardinals, a game also marked by the return of former Met Carlos Beltran. Inning after inning went by and the Cards remained hitless while the Mets racked up 8 runs by the ninth inning.
It took 51 seasons but the Mets finally notched a no-hitter in their list of accomplishments thanks to a latino player.
[insert-video youtube=DATmorCNhH4]