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Yes, Mexico’s Lone Olympic Alpine Skier Will Compete in a Mariachi Costume

January 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment

We got this one from Bleacher Report after Twitter follower Esteban tweeted the following story to us:

No way, we thought. But once we went to NBC’s Olympic page, we saw this:

HubertusvonHohenlohe7

http://www.nbcolympics.com/

And this:

HubertusvonHohenlohe1

http://www.nbcolympics.com/

And this (by the way, we want this):

HubertusvonHohenlohe5

http://www.nbcolympics.com/

Then we knew it HAD to be true. Mexican Prince is a mariachi outfit or to the purists, a charro one.

And this is the dude who is doing it:

Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe might be the most interesting competitor in the Alpine skiing field at the Sochi Olympics. Having qualified in the slalom, he would be the oldest competitor in the sport at 55 years of age. Descended from the reigning dynasty of a former principality in what is now Germany, von Hohenlohe, has competed in 15 World Championships and Sochi would be his sixth Olympic Games. In Vancouver, he was the lone Mexican athlete at the Games.

As you imagine, our community had a lot to say about Prince Hubertus. You gotta love what people with money do for attention. Here are just a few of those comments:

LOL instead of screaming he should laugh like a mariachi while going down hill lol

omg i want one!!..lol I would totally be singing as i try to learn to ski..lol When I sing “aye aye aye aye canta y no llores” will probably be due to pain..LOL!! Good Luck Hubertus

hahahhaha it looks horrendous XD

I love him already!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is too cool!!! A german mexican!!

Oh, Spanish Mexico.

Filed Under: Humor, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Drake as ARod in SNL Skit: Brilliance

January 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Ok, in between a skit that featured Piers Morgan (Taran Killam), Chris Christie (Bobby Moynahan) and Justin Bieber (Kate McKinnon), Drake got to play ARod.

CNNArod

The results are brilliance. “I’m also suing steroids for being inside of me.”


Cold Open – Piers Morgan Live (Drake) – SNL 1… by IdolxMuzic

Filed Under: Humor, Sports Tagged With: , , , ,

Seahawks Richard Sherman’s Only Fault Is His Humanity

January 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment

For the record, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman gave the best postgame interview since the days of Muhammad Ali. Just seconds after Sherman made a clutch play against San Francisco 49er Michael Crabtree that earned Seattle a trip to the Super Bowl, Sherman was on TV, being asked by Erin Andrews about how it felt.

sherman

The response was pure gold:

As a media guy, I always thought that sports networks are always too quick to rush and get the postgame hit as quickly as possible. 99.9% of all postgame interviews are a snoozefest, and Sherman’s raw honesty was beyond refreshing.

Of course, social media jumped in a called Sherman every name in the book, and let’s not pretend race was not a part of it. What if Wes Welker did the same thing to Tom Brady? There is an excellent summary by Tommy Tomlinson that pretty much vindicates Sherman for being himself.

And then you have Sherman himself, who took to Twitter late last night to share his thoughts. First tweet is to Seattle’s fans:

Then there is this one, which to be honest with you, speaks to all the haters out there:

This one speaks to how crazy the game was. Crabtree and his 49er teammates (especially, Anquan Boldin) were talking trash all day. Stay true to yourself, Richard, who by the way is a Stanford grad.

Then there are these:

And yes, he did shake up the world:

By the way, Crabtree (the guy who lost) comes across as a sore loser when he tweeted this:

And this whole “Sherman is a thug” thing? Would a “thug” wish the best for NaVorro Bowman, whose tragic knee injury was replayed and replayed on TV? In fact, Bowman’s injury took more air time than Sherman’s own postgame words:

 

Richard Sherman is human, and last night during one incredibly intense game, we saw a range of emotions. What would you do if someone jawed at you for hours and then you got the last laugh? Good for Sherman for being himself. That’s what it is all about.

And in an age where sports has become corporate and boring in a lot of ways, Richard Sherman put a smile on my face. Here’s hoping more and more athletes toss away the fear of being themselves and start being themselves.

As for my final thoughts?

***

EDITOR’S NOTE: Julio (Julito) Ricardo Varela (@julito77) founded LatinoRebels.com in May, 2011 and proceeded to open it up to about 20 like-minded Rebeldes. His personal blog, juliorvarela.com, has been active since 2008 and is widely read in Puerto Rico and beyond. He pens columns on LR regularly. In the last two years, Julito represented the Rebeldes on CBS’ Face the Nation, NPR,  Univision, and The New York Times. Currently, he is a digital producer for Al Jazeera America’s The Stream. The views expressed in any of the LR columns written by Julito on this page do not reflect the editorial stance of Latino Rebels or Al Jazeera America. His opinions are his own and his alone.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: , , , ,

The Case of Alex Rodriguez and The Things That Bothered Us About “60 Minutes” Story (VIDEO)

January 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Last night, we caught the “60 Minutes” two-part segment about Alex Rodriguez’s major league problems with Major League Baseball.

bosch1-web

Here is the full segment:

Granted, ARod is no saint and yes, several of the Rebeldes are Yankee fans, so we have our issues with Rodriguez. Nonetheless, is it just us or were you bothered by the following:

  1. Scott Pelley. Can you be any more sanctimonious? There is cheating in baseball! Wow. It seems as Pelley is stuck in 2009. Hey, Scott, baseball players cheat, but fans still go to games. Integrity of the game? Why didn’t you ask MLB that very same question? By the way, most baseball fans are not “outraged” as you claim. It is sad to see how you let MLB get off the hook (see below).
  2. Ok, Anthony Bosch? You have to give it up for his honesty (yeah, I did it), but the dude has been doing this for years. Did he need to cry? He did make a point that PEDs are “part of baseball,” but aren’t you an enabler, too? Here’s a thought: you should have never done it, but we’re sure the allure of hanging with pro players was too strong, given that you started doing this to young high school players.
  3. Speaking of Pelley, you need a Spanish editor. A COJOTE? COJOTE? Please stop saying cojote. And while you are it, that Spanish editor could have told you that it is spelled cohetes.
  4. MLB has power. Did you see who they hired to investigate this? Also, looks like MLB is like the FBI now, offering protection for witnesses. They will pay for information to make them look better. MLB is the biggest enabler going in all this.
  5. The whole “seedy Miami” motif in the second part of the segment. Is this “60 Minutes” or “Scarface?”
  6. And as for Rodriguez? ARod, give it up. You have made millions. Millions. Walk away and take your punishment. Very few are sympathetic to you, and it’s clear to us that your ego is huge.

By the way, this whole thing pissed off the players union (MLBPA), as the following statement shows:

It is unfortunate that Major League Baseball apparently lacks faith in the integrity and finality of the arbitrator’s decision and our Joint Drug Agreement, such that it could not resist the temptation to publicly pile-on against Alex Rodriguez It is equally troubling that the MLB-appointed Panel Arbitrator will himself be appearing in the “60 Minutes” segment, and that Tony Bosch, MLB’s principal witness, is appearing on the program with MLB’s blessing.

MLB’s post-decision rush to the media is inconsistent with our collectively-bargained arbitration process, in general, as well as the confidentiality and credibility of the Joint Drug Agreement, in particular. After learning of tonight’s “60 Minutes” segment, Players have expressed anger over, among other things, MLB’s inability to let the result of yesterday’s decision speak for itself. As a result, the Players Association is considering all legal options available to remedy any breaches committed by MLB.

MLB responded to MLBPA, by the way:

We have notified the Major League Baseball Players Association on numerous occasions that we intended to respond to all of the attacks on the integrity of our Joint Drug Program. Those attacks continued yet again yesterday with Mr. Rodriguez’s statement. Out of respect to the grievance process and at the request of the MLBPA, we waited until a decision was rendered to make our response.

It is ironic that the MLBPA is complaining about MLB’s participation in this program given that Mr. Rodriguez’s lawyer is also participating in the show.

As to Mr. Bosch’s appearance, he is not controlled by us and is entitled to speak however he chooses about his interactions with Mr. Rodriguez.

At this stage, everyone gets a #NoMames, because in the end, baseball fans have become so cynical, most of us really don’t care about the reputation of a very rich ballplayer whose worried about his reputation. Take a number, ARod.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: , , , ,

Yasiel Puig’s Not So Excellent Moment (VIDEO)

January 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment

So this week the dashboard video showing Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig getting arrested in Florida for reckless driving was released.

puisig

Here it is. Along with what NBC Los Angeles reported:

Footage shows the trooper pull Puig over and scold him for putting the lives of his passengers and other drivers at risk.

“(Puig) is probably going to jail, I’m going to tell you that right now,” the trooper tells the occupants of the car.

When asked why, the trooper says, “Why? For reckless (driving) — 110 miles an hour? One, two, three lives at risk? … You tell me.”

A short moment later, the trooper asks the Cuban native in Spanish, “Is this your mother?”

When Puig responds that she is, the trooper — apparently surprised by the answer — says in English, “Oh, you’re going to jail.”

The trooper orders Puig to step out of the car. Puig reluctantly emerges from the car and is handcuffed.

“Sir, please don’t do this to me,” Puig tells the trooper in Spanish after being taken into custody. He is later heard cursing while sitting in the back of the patrol car.

Now maybe NBC Los Angeles is not seeing the same video we saw, but yeah we know that Puig messed up BIG TIME, but the NBC report makes it seem like Puig was insane or evil or uncooperative.

Listen, Puig got caught, he got arrested and he looked pretty contrite and embarrassed by it all. You can easily tell that by his tone in Spanish, which was respectful to the trooper, who to be honest with you, was a bit over the top at times.

And did you hear any curses from the video NBC Los Angeles displayed? Did you?

We find it hard to believe that a Los Angeles news station can’t brush up on its Spanish some more.

And this isn’t “outrage” here. Puig was speeding and it was reckless, but let’s not paint him as some guy who was being resentful and angry about it all.

Filed Under: Media, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Victim Blaming Dominates Jameis Winston Verdict Reaction

December 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: , , ,

MLS to “Refrain From Providing Comment” on Univision Pocahontas Models Posing with MLS Cup

November 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

This past Sunday we got a tweet tip about a photo taken on the set of Univision’s “República Deportiva” showing the popular sports program’s two Senadora models dressed in Pocahontas outfits next to the MLS Cup.

After finding out that the photo was deleted from Twitter (and no one knows why), we were able to still find the image, pictured below. On the left is Alba Galindo and on the right is Carolina Macallister. They are both dressed in hypersexualized Pocahontas costumes, and from what we can gather (based on Galindo’s tweets), they dressed like that because it was Thanksgiving.

MLSCup

As they say, the optics are not that good for MLS, at least that is what people who are familiar with the league have told us. In conversations we had with sources, the picture above was not taken by Univision or “República Deportiva,” it was taken by an individual contracted by the MLS to do press and promotion.

So we reached out to MLS yesterday (we have removed any personal contact information on this thread):

We noticed that MLS EVP of Corporate Comm tweeted some reaction, but we were hoping to connect with someone, since we have information that the photo was actually taken by a MLS press person contracted by the league and not Univision.

We have a few questions and we’re hoping to talk with someone this morning.

This is what we got back:

We appreciate your inquiry and interest in Major League Soccer. We will refrain from providing comment on this topic.

Best regards,

Dan

_______________________
Dan Courtemanche
Executive Vice President, Communications
Major League Soccer

So we followed up:

Thank you. Is there a reason why you choose to refrain from commenting on this topic? We have a source saying that an MLS press person under contract by the league took the picture, it was posted on the Univision Rep Dep Twitter and then it was deleted.

Is this accurate? Was the picture taken and sanctioned/approved by MLS?

Am just doing my job and following up as to why the picture was deleted, who deleted it, did MLS ask it to be delete it and why did an MLS contracted press person take the picture in the first place.

Ok we will report that since we have confirmation that the photo came from an MLS contractor doing press and not from Univision. We will then report than MLS has refrained from comment as your email states. Thanks.

And we will refer to your tweets as well as other MLS tweets about this. Thank you for your help.

The reply we got back:

Thank you.

Dan
_______________________
Dan Courtemanche
Executive Vice President, Communications
Major League Soccer

For the record this is what Courtemanche tweeted out on Sunday:

Part of the criticism directed at MLS has to do with its’ “Don’t Cross the Line” campaign, which states, “promotes unity, respect, fair play, equality and acceptance, will be revealed throughout the 2013 MLS season. Major League Soccer is committed to providing an environment in which clubs, coaches, players, fans and partners are treated with dignity and respect.” Many have told us that the Pocahontas picture and MLS’ decision “refrain from providing comment” goes against the very same campaign they are promoting.

Filed Under: NoMames, Sports Tagged With: , , , ,

It’s Friday, and This Is How We Feel

November 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Viernes, familia.

celtic

Hit it.

Filed Under: Humor, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

World Cup CEO to Brazilian Protesters: “Just Don’t Hurt the Tourists”

November 14, 2013 by 1 Comment

Ricardo Trade , Executive Director of Brazil’s Organizational Committee for the 2014 World Cup, recently gave an interview in which he spoke about the impact of nationwide protests that have occurred in Brazil since June have had on the event’s planning. He had the following to say, via The Raw Story:

“The protests are democratic in a democratic country — save for the violence, which nobody wants to see,” said Trade, speaking from his headquarters just outside Rio where his team can monitor progress on the venues 24 hours a day.

“They (protesters) are demanding health, security, schools, education — these are legitimate public desires.”fifa-world-cup-2014-brazil-logo

In the full interview Trade called the protester’s demands a “welcomed” goal, saying that “Brazil is growing and needs to improve on its social inequality.” He went on to issue a message to those protesting throughout the country:

Asked what his message would be to demonstrators, Trade said: “Protest for what you believe is fair; the country is growing and needs to do better in terms of social inequality. But let’s not forget that we are bringing over an important event for your country.

“Treat the people who come here well.”

The executive director also said “It’s very important to not mix up their actions with those who will be here.”

As innocuous as those words might seem, they are not. If you’ve wondered at any point in the last few months why Brazilians have been upset enough to stage the largest national protests in over two decades, this is why.

In one breath Ricardo Trade acknowledged Brazilians’ right to protest and voice their discontent with rampant inequality, crumbling infrastructure, and widespread corruption, yet in the next he made the country’s emphasis quite clear: those coming into the country matter more than those who have been there all along.

During the onset of the #ChangeBrazil movement it was widely reported that a main cause for public outrage was the government’s enormous investment into World Cup preparations. While this is true, it is tangent to the primary point. Brazilians are protesting because they’re a secondary priority in their own country.

Now, I must hedge my criticism of Ricardo Trade’s comments: He is not an elected official; his obligations are not (necessarily) to the Brazilian people.

The goal should be decreasing the margin of income inequality, not increased FIFA’s margin of revenue. The goal should be improving. The goal should be protecting all of the country’s residents and visitors, not just the tourists.

Filed Under: Other, Politics, Sports Tagged With: , , , , ,

An Open Letter to The Boston Globe: Where Are the Latino Red Sox Fans?

November 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Originally published at JulioRVarela.com

Yesterday morning, after my early-morning soccer game, I sat down for breakfast, eager to read my Sunday Boston Globe, a ritual of mine since 1986. Like most Sundays before, I was not disappointed. However, one section, which featured essays from notable Bostonians about the Red Sox’s World Series victory, did leave me a bit perplexed.

CREDIT: WCVB

CREDIT: WCVB

So I tweeted about it:

And also posted my thoughts on my Facebook wall:

“So The Boston Globe ran several opinion pieces about the #RedSox today, about 8 of them, and it was really surprising to not see at least on Latino voice at all, especially since most iconic guy on your team is flipping Big Papi. Ugh.”

(Full disclosure: I occasionally contribute freelance opinion essays to the Globe, and the Globe was my first “real job” ever in 1989.)

A few hours later, I got the following tagged post from my friend, José Massó, a Boston radio legend.

My open letter to the Boston Globe:

It took some time before I read today’s paper…I was out last night celebrating “Steppin’ Out 2013” with Divina, dancing to the music of Manolo Mairena & Curubande and stayed up listening to “¡Con Salsa!”…and with the whole turning back the clock an hour I didn’t get to it until this evening.

I finally read it after noticing a post on Facebook from my friend Julio Ricardo Varela mentioning that eight essays and a poem had been written by New England notables on what the World Series victory by the Red Sox means to them and the region. He noted that none of the essays were written by a Latino voice even though the player that is Boston right now is David Ortiz, the pride and joy of every Dominican and Latino living in Massachusetts and beyond. Ironic, since seven of the eight essays that I read mention Big Papi in addition to the poem’s liberal use of his quote for eternity “this is our f***ing city and nobody is going to dictate our freedom”.

I read Bill Littlefield’s piece first since he is my ‘BUR colleague and we talk about baseball, sports and other matters whenever I’m at the station. At least ‘BUR was smart enough to feature the voice of our friend Héctor Piña the day after the Sox clinched the series commenting on how David Ortiz evokes Dominican pride in Boston. The closest to touching on this was the piece by Gish Jen…but I wondered what would have Junot Díaz written and was he asked to contribute his voice to the “Boston celebration” by the Globe. I’m sure that a Pulitzer Prize winner, professor at MIT and 2012 MacArthur Fellow (also known as a MacArthur genius) would have something to contribute. No need for me to mention that he’s Dominican and if he wasn’t available, as David González suggested on Julio’s Facebook page, a poem by Martín Espada would have been nice…after all he authored “The Trouble Ball” about his father’s experience in 1941 when he went to Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field as an 11 year old for a game between the Dodgers and the Cardinals hoping to see the legendary Satchel Paige pitch, only to learn that Blacks were not allowed to play major league baseball.

I would have enjoyed reading Marcela García’s take on all of this celebration…she’s done an excellent job as an op-ed writer for the Globe and as a guest along with Julio on ‘GBH radio in addition to what she has written for the Boston Business Journal.

Another friend of ours, Alberto Vasallo III, was on the field last Wednesday night and has been covering the Red Sox for several years in addition to his annual celebration of Latino Youth events at Fenway Park. He knows David very well and I would have enjoyed reading an essay by him in the Globe today. Maybe he would have mentioned that Carlos Beltrán won the coveted Roberto Clemente Award this year and that Big Papi won it in 2011. It’s an award that is given annually to a Major League player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team”.

In closing, I give you the benefit of the doubt but I could go on to name others, and suffice to say…this is our “effing city too” and maybe, just maybe, under the new ownership of the Globe it will be reflected every time we celebrate the positive.

But hey, we’re “Boston Strong”.

With warm regards,

José Massó

***

EDITOR’S NOTE: Julio (Julito) Ricardo Varela (@julito77) founded LatinoRebels.com in May, 2011 and proceeded to open it up to about 20 like-minded Rebeldes. His personal blog, juliorvarela.com, has been active since 2008 and is widely read in Puerto Rico and beyond. He pens columns on LR regularly. In the past year, Julito represented the Rebeldes on CBS’ Face the Nation, NPR,  Univision, Forbes, and The New York Times. Currently, he is a digital producer for Al Jazeera America’s The Stream. The views expressed in any of the columns writte by Julito on this page do not reflect the editorial stance of Latino Rebels or Al Jazeera America. His opinions are his own and his alone.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: , , , , ,
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