Observaciones sobre Guadalajara No. 6

Yesterday, Sunday, Guadalajara celebrated México’s 3-1 victory over Iran in the World Cup. The World Cup is the most popular sporting event for much of the world, including México, trumping the Summer Olympics by a considerable margin. Bars opened early, or stayed open late - depending on how you look at it - and were full by 11:00am local time, when the game started. Many businesses closed, and many more just moved TV sets into the office or sales floor, making little pretense of doing any business. At major intersections throughout the city, recently installed jumbo screens broadcast the game. As each goal was scored, the collective roar of Tapatios reverberated from the hills of the valley.

México’s victory was particularly sweet for Guadalajara. The national team’s goalie, Oswaldo Sanchez, is from here. Last week his father died in Guadalajara. Sanchez flew back from Germany for the funeral, and then back again to Germany just in time for the game. There wasn’t an un-choked throat in the house watching him fall to his knees and raise a salute to his father after the match, while his teammates jumped into each other’s arms.

The center of victory celebrations was the Minerva roundabout, where thousands of soccer fans turned out to share their excitement. Chaos reigned as vehicles trying to get through, competed with cars there for celebrations and pedestrians who ran amongst traffic with flags, noisemakers, and the ubiquitous México World Cup jersey. In the 90-degree sun, the revelers continued on for hours without tiring. The PRI candidate for mayor, Dr. Leobardo Alcalá, took advantage of the opportunity to show his everyman-ness and his patriotism, coming out shake hands and snap photos with his constituents.

Posted by Megan Smith at June 12, 2006 04:22 PM