1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: Dear listener. This month, we're bringing you episodes of La Brega. 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: It's a special seven part mini series presented by Futuro 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: Studios and WNYC Studios about the Puerto Rican experience. Today's episode, 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: Basketball Warriors, our very own Julio Ricardoarella tells the story 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: of a basketball game that Puerto Ricans will never forget. 6 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: And if you'd like to hear any of the episodes 7 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: in Spanish, visit the La Brega feed wherever you listen 8 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: to podcasts. And now I'm going to hand things off 9 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: to WNYC's Alana Casanova Burgess, but definitely stay tuned after 10 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: the episode for a conversation with me Alana and Julio 11 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: Ricardo La enjoy. 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 2: In the summer of nineteen seventy nine, journalist Julio Ricardo 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: Varela was ten years old and he was spending the 14 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 2: summer with his dad in Rio Piedras in San Juan. 15 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 3: And it was the same year that the nineteen seventy 16 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 3: nine Pan America and Games were happening, and we're being 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: hosted in Puerto Rico. It felt like it was our 18 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 3: little mini Olympics. 19 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 2: For the opening ceremony, they commissioned this big Hollywood style. 20 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 3: Musical number, and it was so exciting because here they were. 21 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 3: He were all these athletes, and when you're ten and 22 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 3: you're a sports freak like I am, that's all you 23 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 3: were thinking about. 24 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 4: I mean, I was obsessed with it. 25 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: I loved it, especially he loved the Puerto Rican national 26 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: basketball team, Las Alexion Nacional. 27 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 3: It was just like it was like watching your heroes 28 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 3: and here were your heroes, ready to represent your homeland 29 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 3: in basketball. 30 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: Julio was born in Puerto Rico and grew up there, 31 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: but when he was in first grade, he moved with 32 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 2: his mom the Bronx, and would go back and forth 33 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: to the island over the years. But he never had 34 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: any doubt as to who his team was. It was 35 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: always Puerto Rico, and in nineteen seventy nine at the 36 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: Pan American Games, it was easy to root for Puerto 37 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 2: Rico because they were kicking, but the other top team 38 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: was the United States. But midway into the tournament, the 39 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 2: US squad got into a scandal. The scandal surrounded their coach, 40 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 2: the infamously hot tempered Bobby Knight, known for his outrageous 41 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: outbursts and angry locker room speeches like this one can 42 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: guarantee you the next birthday. One day during the PanAm Games, 43 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: Bobby Knight got into a scuffle with a Puerto Rican policeman, 44 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:07,119 Speaker 2: during which he allegedly hit the officer. According to the officer, 45 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 2: Knight also called him the N word. He was arrested 46 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 2: and charges were pressed. It was all over the news, 47 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: and it just so happens that Puerto Rico and the 48 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: United States were set to face off in the final. 49 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: It was a hard fought, close game, but the US side, 50 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 2: led by a young Isaiah Thomas, ultimately won and took 51 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 2: home the gold. After the game, Bobby Knight told the 52 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 2: press that the only thing Puerto Ricans were good at 53 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: was quote, growing bananas, and there was something else. 54 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 3: As they were leaving Puerto Rico, this is you know, 55 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 3: this is what is reported. 56 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: I feel like you're going to tell me that he's 57 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 2: spat in some muffungo or something. 58 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 3: No, he dropped his pants and he mooned Puerto Rico. 59 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: He put his you know, put his ass against the 60 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 3: wa and he mooned Puerto Rico. As they flew off 61 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 3: like the ugly American. Here you go again, thinking you're 62 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 3: better than us. 63 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 2: Julio remembers the incident was the only thing the grown 64 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 2: ups around him could talk about for weeks. 65 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 4: Niki Benel gaurum Ei Domedicano mart. 66 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: That freaking ahole, the way he mistreated us. 67 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 3: So throughout this history, right to me, it's always about 68 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 3: beating the Americans, and luckily for Puerto Rico there have 69 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 3: been there have been chances to take revenge. 70 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 2: Without a doubt, there is a deep connection between being 71 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 2: Puerto Rican and rooting for our sports teams. And yes, 72 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 2: people all the world loves sports and are proud of 73 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: their athletes, but in Puerto Rico, the stakes are just 74 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: higher because Puerto Rico, despite being a US colony, competes 75 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: in international sporting events like the Olympics on its own, 76 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: under its own flag, as if we were an independent country. 77 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: Journalist Noel Algarin, who has covered sports in Puerto Rico 78 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 2: for many years, put. 79 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 4: It this way. 80 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 5: The only place where we can call ourselves sovereign. 81 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 4: Is in sports. 82 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 5: In sports, we get this opportunity to be Puerto Rico, 83 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 5: the country from the Caribbean. We get to be someone, 84 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 5: and then we get chances, in a more symbolic way, 85 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 5: to face the country that owns you in some way. 86 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: Today, we're going to tell a story about one of 87 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: those chances, you could say, a chance for revenge against 88 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 2: Bobby Knight, a time when Puerto Rico faced off against 89 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: the United States and basketball on the sporting world's largest stage. 90 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 2: Julio Ricardo Varella, a journalist with Futuro Media, takes the 91 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: story from here. 92 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 3: So, at the time I was watching the nineteen seventy 93 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 3: nine game on TV, this guy was actually watching. 94 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 2: Court side Florida Melandez, Etoyem Bayamon Micassa and Puerto Rico. 95 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 4: Florida Melandez was a coach of the team that year, 96 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 4: and he was a legend in Puerto Rico. 97 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 3: In a documentary about the nineteen seventy nine games, you 98 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 3: can see him screaming at players and gesturing wildly. He's 99 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 3: looking really sharp with this thick black mustache and fro. 100 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 3: Floyd went on to become one of the national team's 101 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 3: all time most decorated coaches, and his story kind of 102 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 3: runs parallel to the story of Puerto Rican basketball. 103 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 4: So Floyd grew up in a big family, old set Mano, 104 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 4: the oldest of eleven siblings. They lived in public. 105 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 6: Housing, casserio polo. 106 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 3: We're talking nineteen sixty. Florida started playing basketball at his 107 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 3: local YMCA. Then as a teenager, he played in the 108 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 3: Puerto Rican League, and pretty early on Floyd figured he 109 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 3: had a talent for coaching. 110 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 4: He describes his coaching style as tough. 111 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: Yo. 112 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 4: Discipline heavy, and Florida. 113 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 3: Got into coaching right around this kind of magic moment 114 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 3: for Puerto Rican basketball. 115 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 4: Coaches like Florida and league officials. 116 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: They started visiting New York City and scouting the courts 117 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 3: where New Yorkans were playing streetball, and they started convincing 118 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 3: these players to leave their lives behind to come play 119 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 3: professionally in Puerto Rico. Here were these amazing Afro Puerto 120 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 3: Ricans who learned the craft, and the mecca of the sport. 121 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 4: Brought it back al rai mon darma. 122 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 6: Nario. 123 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 3: It was a different kind of basketball than people were 124 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 3: used to in Puerto Rico. It was a faster rhythm 125 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 3: of play with big dunks, and it was fun, like 126 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 3: that type of basketball is fun. 127 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, boom. 128 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 4: These were the boom years for Puerto Rican basketball. 129 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 3: And as a team kept winning and becoming better basketball 130 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 3: in Puerto Rico. 131 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 4: Became the sport. Fans filled the stadiums. 132 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 6: And his combatation and. 133 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 3: This, by the way is a promotional rap song recorded 134 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 3: by the team in nineteen eighty six. By the nineties, 135 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 3: many from that generation of great New Aurekan players had retired, 136 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 3: but they had inspired a new wave of Puerto Rican 137 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 3: born players, and those players they took the team to 138 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 3: even greater Heightsoria Radgames, idea, the idea Puerto Rico can 139 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 3: pan Americanos, umbezi mos fuegos Pan American gold in the 140 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 3: nineteen ninety one Pan American Games, gold in the nineteen 141 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 3: ninety three Central American Games, and maybe the biggest accomplishment 142 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 3: of all, fourth place in the nineteen ninety World Championships. 143 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 3: Puerto Rico the fourth best team in the world. That's 144 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 3: pretty good. With Puerto Rico having made a name for 145 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 3: itself on the international stage Florida, Melendez got opportunities to 146 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 3: coach in Argentina and Panama, but it was always clear 147 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 3: to him that coaching the Puerto Rican national team that 148 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 3: was a different kind of responsibility. He has this saying 149 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 3: only he thinks about it like this. Puerto Rico doesn't 150 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 3: have an army, so we the national basketball team. We 151 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 3: are the ones that have to represent the country. He 152 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 3: says that the basketball is a weapon and the basketball 153 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 3: jersey is actually a soldier's uniform, and it's this it's 154 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 3: this reverence, right you. It's like you respect it like 155 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 3: you respect a flag. He told me he had this 156 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 3: ritual he would do with the national team that at 157 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 3: the season's first practice, where they would put on their 158 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 3: national team jerseys for the first time. With yo, he'd 159 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 3: go down the line and hand out little Puerto Rican 160 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 3: flag pins to all the players. He says, the players 161 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 3: would get so emotional about it, and whenever they'd face 162 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 3: the United States and international play, those games had a 163 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 3: special kind of weight. It was the chance for his 164 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 3: soldiers to go to war, the war we haven't been 165 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 3: able to have to win our independence, he says. Puerto 166 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 3: Rico was generally pretty outgunned in this war. The US, 167 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 3: after all, wasn't is the global superpower of basketball, especially 168 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 3: after the nineteen ninety two Barcelona Olympics. What happened was 169 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 3: a few years before the International Basketball Federation made a 170 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 3: change to their rules to allow NBA players in international competitions, 171 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 3: and that change was huge. 172 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 4: This summer, the. 173 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 7: US Olympic basketball team win the makeshift dream the dream 174 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 7: team of Georgian bird Chewing Robinson, fifth Professler, Mulleen Hartley Magic. 175 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 3: That first dream team that went to Barcelona in nineteen 176 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 3: ninety two was legendary. 177 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 7: Let's go, I shut up superstars, but I'm selfish, laid magnificent. 178 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:10,199 Speaker 4: It wasn't just a sports team. It was a cultural phenomenon. 179 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 7: You've got yourself the gold medal meal what you want, 180 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 7: it's what you get, gold medal. 181 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 3: And they kicked everybody's ass. It wasn't even closed. It 182 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 3: wasn't even fun to watch. 183 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 4: They were that good. 184 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 3: And there it is, and the. 185 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 8: Dream Team win gold. 186 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 3: And from then on the players change, but the dream 187 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 3: team was here to stay. The US won gold again 188 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 3: in nineteen ninety six at the Atlanta Olympics. 189 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 4: They got up very one for gold in two thousand 190 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 4: at the Sydney Olympics. Same story that. 191 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 1: It's all smiles now from dream theme four. 192 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 3: And then you get to the two thousand and four 193 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,599 Speaker 3: Olympics in Athens, and the US team was an institution 194 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 3: at that point, and the first game they were gonna 195 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 3: play that Olympics was with Puerto Rico. The two thousand 196 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 3: and four team was stacked Alan Irison, Ai, Dwayne Wade, 197 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 3: d Wade, Tim Duncan, one of my favorite players of 198 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 3: all time. I mean the team even had Lebron James 199 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 3: in his early days, Lebron James. The US had the 200 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 3: best basketball teams in the world when they were using 201 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 3: amateur players, but when the NBA showed up, these guys 202 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 3: were invincible in the Olympics. I mean that literally, since 203 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 3: NBA players were allowed to play, they had never lost 204 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 3: an Olympic game. 205 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 4: They were the death Star. 206 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 3: And if the US team was the death Star, the 207 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 3: Puerto Rico team was definitely the ragtag rebel Alliance. The 208 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 3: players were mostly local stars from the Baloncesto Supero National, 209 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 3: the league in Puerto Rico. 210 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 4: You had Jose Ortiz also known as Pikuling. 211 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 9: Oh, that's the leader, the rock, the legend. 212 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 4: That's Julios. 213 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 3: He's the filmmaker behind a great Puerto Rican basketball documentary 214 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 3: called New Yorrekan Basket. 215 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 4: You had Caio Eddie Man and it was the fire Cracker. 216 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 4: He will go to to toe with you and he 217 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 4: had to fight. He will fight, But. 218 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 8: Rady and Copiana going to. 219 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 4: Rolando. 220 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 9: He was all about the craft, very disciplined and a 221 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 9: great defender. 222 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 3: And a lot of other really talented guys Ladi Ajuso, Babbi, Johannan, 223 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 3: and then there was Carlos Arodo. 224 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 9: Was the young gun, anxious to drove himself with a 225 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 9: lot of talent. 226 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 4: As a Royal knocks down that jumper. Carlos was in 227 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 4: the NBA. 228 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 3: He was a starting point guard with the Utah Jazz 229 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 3: that season and was on a path to becoming a 230 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 3: legend a Royal. 231 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 4: Tonihanger Wright gets behind tag shaking the bacon and the 232 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 4: double a mamba. Joli Nis goes right to the hoop 233 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 4: the first of the right tipe. I get up and 234 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 4: I have Kennedy's bow. 235 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 3: At six', two he was a lot shorter than most 236 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 3: OTHER nba, guys But carlos was, fast and he played with, 237 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 3: energy and he played with heart and we all loved. 238 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 3: Him so a few weeks before The, olympics The Puerto 239 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 3: rican team goes To florida for a week of practice 240 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 3: in a series of warm up games against THE us. 241 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 3: Team this is strangely standard practice leading up to these 242 00:16:56,120 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 3: big international, competitions and it was an oppertunity to get 243 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 3: to know the. Enemy and at these games they're playing mansman, 244 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 3: defense which is what it sounds. Like each player follows 245 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 3: a player on the other team and sticks to. Them 246 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 3: In Puerto, rico because of their size or lack of, 247 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 3: it you, know The americans are, bigger they were. Faster 248 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 3: they wanted to play zone, defense where you literally stay 249 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 3: in a zone and you defend a set area of the. 250 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 3: Court during one of those, games The american coach went 251 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 3: up to The Puerto rican coaches and asked for a. 252 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 4: Favor he, said can you please not play zone during this? 253 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 3: Game and it was one of those Like Flor melendez 254 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 3: moments to be, like hmm insert mysterious discovery. 255 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 4: Music. Mm, interesting they don't want to play against a, zone. 256 00:17:58,040 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 2: He. 257 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 4: Says they kept quiet and the Classic helatto. 258 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 6: Move hear Perto rican lombred. Come he. 259 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 3: Says whenever city people visit the, mountains they think that 260 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 3: he ados the country people are. Simpletons, wait but secretly 261 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 3: they always have something up their. 262 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 4: Sleeve we'll be right. Back this Is La. 263 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 2: Brega we're, back this Is. Laverega it's the summer of 264 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 2: two thousand and four and The Puerto rican national basketball 265 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 2: team arrives In athens to compete in The. Olympics their 266 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 2: first rival is The United States Dream, team who by the, 267 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 2: way aren't staying at The Olympic village with the rest 268 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 2: of the, delegations but in a luxury cruise ship In Athens. 269 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 2: Harbor Julio Ricardo varella picks the story back. 270 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 3: Up on the morning of the game In, athens The 271 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 3: Puerto rican team is expecting the. Worst lutined was in 272 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 3: his dorm room in The Olympic village when one of 273 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 3: the coaches on the, Staff Julio, toro barged in the room. 274 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 6: Early in the. 275 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,959 Speaker 10: Morning julia comes. In he's on his you, know jockey 276 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 10: underwars or. Whatever it, was no, shirt no, nothing just. 277 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 10: Barefoot it's, like, hey, hey you, guys what's going? On 278 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 10: julia is too, early, Man SO i want you guys 279 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 10: to know that we're going to do something different. TODAY i, 280 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 10: said what are you talking. About it's, like, well you 281 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 10: have to wait and. 282 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 3: See a few hours, later the players are gathered in 283 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 3: the locker room and the coaches bust out their. Plan 284 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 3: they thought maybe they had found the weakness in the Death. 285 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 3: Star they're going to do a variation on the zone 286 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 3: defense that The americans didn't want to play against back In. 287 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 3: Florida for all you basketball nerds out there a variation 288 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 3: known as a triangle and two, defense with the goal 289 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 3: of forcing THE us team to take outside. 290 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 4: Shots so lou we looked. 291 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 10: At each other, like, hey you, know never done. It 292 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 10: we lose by thirty every, time so might as well try. 293 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 3: It the game was set to start at eight Pm athens, 294 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 3: time one pm In Puerto. RICO i REMEMBER i was 295 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 3: at my home in The boston area that day watching 296 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 3: the game in my, bedroom all by, myself all. 297 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 4: ALONE i had A Puerto rico. 298 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 3: SHIRT i do remember, that my Old Puerto RICO t, 299 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 3: shirt AND i had really low, expectations to be, honest 300 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 3: to jog my memory for the, STORY i recently rewatched the. 301 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 4: Game i'm. Excited this is the first Time i've put 302 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 4: this on since two thousand and. 303 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 3: Four you can see in the broadcast that the arena 304 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 3: In athens was pretty. 305 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 4: Full everybody wanted to see the debut of THE us. 306 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 3: Team before they started, playing both teams lined up for 307 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 3: a group. Picture every single photographer turned to photograph THE 308 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 3: us team and The Puerto rican. 309 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 4: Team they just stood. There the whistle. Blows the start 310 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 4: of the, game it was pretty tight back and forth 311 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 4: in The United states leading early by. Series Puerto rico 312 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 4: didn't really start off. Strong they just played enough to 313 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 4: keep it. Close an impressive start For Puerto. RICOS i was, like, 314 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 4: okay all, right how long is this gonna? 315 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 3: Last this will be entertaining until THE us score is 316 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 3: like eighty points in a, row and then we're down by. 317 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 4: Sixty, yeah there's the buzzer and then the first. 318 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 3: Quarter but for, me things really kicked off in the 319 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 3: second quarter When Carlos rodo Found piccolin with a super cool. 320 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 4: Pass here, comes here comes look at this. Pass, hello, 321 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 4: Hello carlos Rio hal what a farle. Fight and then it. 322 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 3: Begins something just clicks And Puerto rico has this sequence 323 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 3: of amazing. Plays little by little in the, broadcast you 324 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 3: start to notice that most of the people in the, 325 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 3: arena we're rooting For Puerto, Rico and how could you 326 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 3: not root For carlos A prodo that day he had 327 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 3: these super flashy. Passes he was making incredible, shots just 328 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 3: dominating the. 329 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 4: Court, Excellent, Paul he like For carlo To Royo fuddy's 330 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 4: flying all over the boy to, ooio what let's do? 331 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 6: People floor? 332 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 4: Watch Puerto rico nails shot after shot looking. 333 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 5: On and. 334 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 3: He says he noticed THE us players in a bad, mood, 335 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:42,400 Speaker 3: frustrated and it was probably because The Puerto rican strategy 336 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 3: seemed to be. 337 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 4: Working Here's Rolandovo. Routina you. 338 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 10: Know we were pre, physical and we were really giving 339 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 10: it to, them you, know and and it's something that 340 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 10: they were not used to. It and it was our 341 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 10: turn to talk. Trash go, ahead shoot. It you don't 342 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 10: want to shoot, it, right go ahead shoot. It let me, 343 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:00,199 Speaker 10: see let me your. 344 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 3: Shot right as the second quarter ticked, Down Puerto rico's 345 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 3: lead just kept. 346 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 7: Growing it's hard to believe What i'm saying, this but 347 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 7: The United states trails by twenty and there's the puzzle 348 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 7: ending the first. Half disasters first half for The United. 349 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:31,439 Speaker 11: States at, halftime the score was forty nine to twenty, 350 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 11: seven twenty two point lead For Puerto. 351 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 4: Rico and you could see it on the faces of 352 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 4: The american. Coaches they look so. 353 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:47,159 Speaker 3: Dejected, meanwhile at one pm In Puerto, Rico Idan, martinez 354 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 3: then a sports editor At, edinbalseo was getting ready to 355 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 3: turn on the. 356 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 4: Game when his wife asked him to go to the 357 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 4: mall with her to pick something, up. 358 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,159 Speaker 8: He, pulls, okay HERE i got you played on mohak 359 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 8: blas a La jamerica Yob. 360 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 3: Reluctantly iam goes to the mall and finds a store 361 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 3: window with the television's turned to the. 362 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 8: Game she And persona has handlo. 363 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 4: About a hundred people were crowded around doing the same, 364 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 4: thing and to, It i'm. 365 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 3: Surprised Puerto rico is doing pretty well in the first, 366 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 3: minutes but he thinks who, Cares they're just gonna come 367 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 3: back and slam, Us so he heads back home in 368 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 3: the car when he gets a call from his. 369 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 4: Daughter are you watching the? Game she, Asked, NO i was, like, 370 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 4: no why? Bother and she, says we're. 371 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 3: Winning sunidam is getting frantic calls from the newspaper and 372 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 3: Mean he, said. 373 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 4: Where are you get over? Here we're beating THE us 374 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 4: and we're beating. Them good, eyo, no no. 375 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 3: Said even The Puerto rican players in the locker room 376 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 3: at halftime were surprised at the. 377 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 4: Score Here's. Orlando first of, All my first one was 378 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 4: are we really beating this? 379 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 10: Team by Nineteen that was my first, thought right go 380 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 10: walk into the locker, room and second was, like, WOW 381 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 10: i have more pressure now THAN i did at the 382 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 10: beginning of the game because there's a brand new, game 383 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 10: twenty brand new, minutes and you know they're going to 384 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 10: come back. 385 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 3: Stronger you thought The americans were going to make a 386 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 3: run eventually and come back and beat. Us they had. 387 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 3: To the third quarter is also really back and. Forth 388 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 3: THE us makes, points try to the basket pretty low 389 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 3: For Puerto, rico maintains its lead. 390 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 4: A royal inside and the lead back up to twenty. 391 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 3: One the quarter closes sixty five forty, Eight Puerto rico 392 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 3: is still leading by seventeen, points and then the fourth 393 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 3: quarter start arts and that's when things get. Scary it 394 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 3: starts with about nine minutes left on the. Clock Puerto 395 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 3: rico's up by fifteen And Lebron. 396 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 7: James james wide opens and hits the Three Lebron james 397 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 7: from downtown and it's a twelve Point. 398 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 3: James it was the first three for The United states 399 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 3: in a long. Time and then they just keep making 400 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 3: baskets lamar on. 401 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 4: Them cut late to twelve five percent for. 402 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 7: Three, boy that's a huge bucket as we. 403 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 4: Go on to the five minute mark. 404 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 3: On the, Court dando watched As Puerto rico's hard fought 405 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 3: lead disappeared from twenty two at halftime to just eight. 406 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 6: POINTS i will look up at the. 407 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 10: Clock i'm like to, me it's, like hurry up and you, 408 00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 10: know finish, RIGHT i just want to end this. 409 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 3: Game suddenly it looked like THE us could turn the 410 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 3: tide in the final. 411 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 4: Minutes but then right, here, baby right, Here, Carlos carlos. 412 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 7: Fit, coloribo here Comes, yal. 413 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 4: The royal cross the. 414 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 8: File and one that was. 415 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 4: Awesome up by, Eleven. 416 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 3: Puerto rico answers the. Charge suddenly only one minute. Remains 417 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 3: what The rinco is back to leading by twenty and 418 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 3: it's clear THE us. 419 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 4: Has run out of time to catch. 420 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 12: UP i H, Jackie, jackie, no, no don't put it 421 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 12: back In San juan at the offices Of edbalsaido at 422 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 12: that very. 423 00:27:52,960 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 3: Moment, Yeah i'm finally exhaled with victory and hear the 424 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 3: coach takes gardless afterdo out of the. 425 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 7: Game Carlos royal the game of his, life twenty four 426 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 7: points and as he comes, out. 427 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 4: As he walks off the, court cocky as all. 428 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 3: Hell he looks at the stands and grabs his jersey 429 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 3: and pulls forward the part where it Says Puerto, rico 430 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 3: as if to show everybody watching the name of the 431 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:24,360 Speaker 3: place he's. 432 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 6: From that was. 433 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 4: Awesome when he did. 434 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 3: That in, part it was a gesture of defiance to 435 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 3: A us player who had fouled him a few moments, 436 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 3: ago but to many in the audience, watching the message 437 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 3: was way bigger than. 438 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 6: That where come? 439 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 3: On florida says that it was Like carlos was telling The, americans, 440 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 3: look where are the powerful? 441 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 8: Ones, yeah, NO i Don't Dalaga. 442 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 3: Nicholas in the newsroom In San, juan people started hugging each, 443 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 3: other tears were. 444 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 4: Falling iam was. 445 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 3: So shaken up with joy that he says he felt 446 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 3: like a brand new journalist at a loss for how 447 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:37,479 Speaker 3: to do his. Job the final score ninety two to seventy, 448 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 3: three which. 449 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 7: Finally happened The United states loss analymptic player WITH nba. 450 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 7: Players they showed some signs in the second, half but 451 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 7: doug themselves too big a. 452 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 4: Hole had an experienced team. 453 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 7: Led by a brilliant performance Of Colos, arroyo put the 454 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 7: game away. 455 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 3: On the corner That ronando remembers that final moment as 456 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 3: having this dreamlike out of body. 457 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 4: Quality you come off the. 458 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 10: Court celebrating by at the same time you're not still 459 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 10: believing what, happened and then you're being interviewed In italian 460 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 10: by The italian. Press is a lot of things happen 461 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 10: at the same time that you Are you, know you 462 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 10: were consumed by all this and you don't even know 463 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 10: how to. React you are kind of. 464 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 3: Numb back at the offices Of, edboco everyone was buzzing 465 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 3: to get the paper ready for the. Morning they had 466 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 3: already decided on the cover When idam saw a photo 467 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 3: come in that instantly caught his. Eye it's A carlos 468 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 3: A rodo from that moment he walked off the court 469 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 3: showing off His Puerto rico. Jersey it was this quick 470 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 3: moment on the. Court if you, blinked you could have missed. 471 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 3: It but here captured by the. Camera there's something special 472 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 3: about that. Image And idam, said this is the photo in. 473 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 8: No, no, no, no no No etato. 474 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 4: And Sing, anu the layout, designer was, like no, way 475 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 4: we already have the. Cover Bud. It i'ms, like this 476 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 4: is the, photo this is the. 477 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 3: Photo we're gonna be talking about fifty one hundred years from. 478 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 4: Now this needs to be the. 479 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:35,880 Speaker 8: Cover guandiamente. 480 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 4: All night. Long the island celebrates the. 481 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 3: Win the next, morning the team wakes up and heads 482 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 3: mostly together to the cafeteria for. Breakfast and as they 483 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 3: walk through The olympic village and all the delegations of 484 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 3: athletes from around the world were. There and as they 485 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 3: walked into the cafeteria. 486 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 6: Para fionac mine holdo de toloase but had on there. 487 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 4: That lore, says you'd think it was A Puerto rican. 488 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 3: Party everybody from The, germans The, iraqis all of them stood, 489 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 3: up stopped eating and clapped For Puerto. 490 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:32,760 Speaker 6: Rico no, no. 491 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 2: He. 492 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 3: Says it's something one never imagined could. Happen they were 493 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 3: getting a standing ovation from the world and it's just 494 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 3: a fleeting. Moment that's the thing that is just so 495 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 3: bittersweet about. It it's twenty four hours of joy and 496 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 3: then that's. It the team doesn't perform nearly as well 497 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 3: for the rest of the. Tournament they were eliminated in 498 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 3: the quarterfinals in a game Against. Italy but When Puerto 499 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 3: ricans Remember, athens they don't remember losing To. Italy they 500 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:18,880 Speaker 3: remember beating The United. States Rolando routine. Says people on 501 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,400 Speaker 3: the island still come up to him and thank. 502 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 4: Him it was, very very. 503 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:30,760 Speaker 10: Emotional for the, island and up until today people remember the. 504 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 10: Date it's, like you, know like one of Those President's 505 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,040 Speaker 10: day or. Whatever so it's the day that we BEAT. 506 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 10: Usa it's Like david Beat. 507 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:41,840 Speaker 3: Goliath it hasn't been fifty or one hundred years, yet 508 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 3: but the image Of CARLOS A rojo grabbing the jersey 509 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:48,720 Speaker 3: has become an enduring symbol Of Puerto rican power and. 510 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 3: Pride everybody knows that. Image it was even painted as 511 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 3: a mural In, Bieo San. JUAN i think it means 512 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 3: more than ever now to. Me two thousand and four 513 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,120 Speaker 3: was before the hard times Hit Puerto, rico the, debt, 514 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:10,120 Speaker 3: hurricanes people, leaving political, failures this creeping feeling of, failure 515 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 3: of no hope because everywhere around you you know you're not. 516 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 4: Winning SO i think. 517 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 3: There's something special about looking back at what happened In. 518 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:26,160 Speaker 3: Athens about these sports. Victories they aren't, permanent but that 519 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 3: moment when the game is over And Puerto rico is on, 520 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:37,880 Speaker 3: top it tells people that, yes you can. Win so 521 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 3: that's why you got to hold up that jersey and 522 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 3: show it off a little. 523 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 1: Bit and after listening to this great episode Of La, 524 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:57,440 Speaker 1: BREGA i, MEAN i just love the production on. 525 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:00,319 Speaker 4: This we have a real treat for, you my dear. 526 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:04,160 Speaker 1: Listener i'm joined now by the host Of La, brega 527 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 1: which is WNYC's Alana Casanova burgess and our very Own. 528 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:15,080 Speaker 4: Ricola, Welcome alana And julio He. Maria thanks for having us. So, 529 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 4: alana you've been answering this question for weeks. 530 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: Now, okay assuming that there are some people who haven't 531 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:25,719 Speaker 1: heard our extraordinary mini Series La, brega people are going to, say, 532 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: okay what are you? Saying what is that word la? 533 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:33,880 Speaker 1: Brega so what does la brega? Mean like the concept 534 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:36,320 Speaker 1: on also in terms of the, Podcast. 535 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 2: Well la brega is a word that exists In, spanish 536 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 2: but In Puerto rico and here in the diaspora we 537 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 2: use it in this very broad. Way it's this word 538 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 2: that is really a lens into our. Experience so brega 539 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:53,640 Speaker 2: is a kind of. Challenge it's a, struggle something that 540 00:35:53,719 --> 00:35:56,600 Speaker 2: you can't quite, resolve but you can get around. It 541 00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 2: you can, negotiate you find your way through. It when 542 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 2: we're asked how are you doing what's going on in your? 543 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:06,320 Speaker 2: Life you might say, Aga and when you say it 544 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:10,040 Speaker 2: like that, exasperated it Means i'm not doing, well not doing. 545 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:13,040 Speaker 2: Poorly but you, Know i'm, Struggling i'm, Hustling i'm, Here 546 00:36:13,160 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 2: i'm in, It i'm dealing with. It but you can 547 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 2: also you, know because it means deal with. It sometimes 548 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 2: it's kind of. Cute you can, say. 549 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 4: You, KNOW i can't deal with, IT i can't deal with. 550 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 1: It my favorite one is how you doing? Acquireando so 551 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 1: it's very much a. Verb, Right it's been the process 552 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: of dealing with of figuring out the. 553 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:37,200 Speaker 4: Challenge. 554 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:41,839 Speaker 2: Yes and Actually riggio who is a Famous Puerto rican 555 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:44,520 Speaker 2: scholar who we feature in the first, episode in both 556 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 2: first episodes because it's In spanish and In, english he 557 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 2: says that la brega is never, finished, right like, laverega 558 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 2: you are constantly. Bregando it is this endless. Thing and 559 00:36:55,560 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 2: he also wrote this essay called the which is a 560 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 2: way to See Puerto rican culture through this. Word, right 561 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 2: why are we always struggling and why do we take 562 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:09,840 Speaker 2: such pride in the, struggle and sometimes it's good to 563 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 2: take pride in that. Struggle we are, creative we are, 564 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:16,560 Speaker 2: amazing we are, talented and other, times why are we 565 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 2: struggling so? Much and congratulating each other on? It so 566 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:21,600 Speaker 2: That's leaverega the podcast. 567 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,879 Speaker 4: Right, right a very Very Puerto rican interpretation right. 568 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: There So, julio people who listen To LATINO usa know 569 00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:32,720 Speaker 1: that they also listen To in The, thick Which Futuro 570 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:37,320 Speaker 1: media also. Produces you're also a vice president At futuro you, 571 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: know co host and the host Of Latino Rebels. Radio, 572 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 1: okay You're. Latino you got twenty five million different, jobs 573 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:48,600 Speaker 1: but specifically You're Puerto, rican very very Proud. Moriqua so 574 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:51,279 Speaker 1: how and what is your relationship to the Miniseries. 575 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:55,880 Speaker 4: LEAVEREGA i was chosen as one of The avengers That 576 00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:58,359 Speaker 4: alana And Marlon. 577 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:02,000 Speaker 3: Bishop who is With Futuro, studios former senior editor For LATINO, 578 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:07,040 Speaker 3: usa got a bunch Of Puerto rican, storytellers, academics, journalists, 579 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 3: artists And i'm proud to be A Puerto Rican avenger 580 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:11,400 Speaker 3: because you're. 581 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:16,520 Speaker 1: An essential part of the. Diaspora but you grew up 582 00:38:16,560 --> 00:38:16,920 Speaker 1: In Puerto. 583 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:18,680 Speaker 4: Rico, yeah a lot of people don't know. 584 00:38:18,800 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: That so the story that you tell In, labrica it's 585 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:26,480 Speaker 1: got a, great great, title It's Basketball. Warriors it's an 586 00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:30,239 Speaker 1: episode that is just so. Joyful, julio thank you so 587 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:33,440 Speaker 1: much for telling this. Story but some people might be, like, 588 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:36,880 Speaker 1: wait you're going to tell a story about basketball In Puerto. 589 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 1: Rico as this is a way we can understand the 590 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 1: complexity Of Puerto rican. Reality so why this particular, Story. 591 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:48,440 Speaker 3: Julio sports In Puerto rico is not just, sports you, 592 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:52,800 Speaker 3: know issues of, identity issues of, pride of relationship with 593 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:59,840 Speaker 3: a country that colonized. You to, me the basketball courts 594 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 3: and like a major like. BATTLE i grew up in 595 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:09,120 Speaker 3: a place Where Puerto rico you just celebrated anyone who 596 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:12,360 Speaker 3: was A Puerto rican, athlete whether it was in, baseball in, 597 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:17,399 Speaker 3: basketball in, boxing in. Golf you, Know Chichi, rodriguez come, 598 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:21,400 Speaker 3: on and who doesn't Love Chichi. Roldriguez so that was 599 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:25,919 Speaker 3: always part of WHO i. Was AND i remember really 600 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,839 Speaker 3: specific moments growing, up like in the nineteen seventy Six 601 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:32,000 Speaker 3: Olympic games Where Puerto rico almost beat The United states 602 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:33,600 Speaker 3: AND i listened to it. 603 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:37,320 Speaker 4: On a radio In White nawl with My avuoilo and 604 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:39,800 Speaker 4: my Cousin, omar and we were. Rooting there was no 605 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:40,600 Speaker 4: tell we didn't have it ON. 606 00:39:40,719 --> 00:39:42,600 Speaker 3: Tv it wasn't like, cable but you were listening to 607 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:45,480 Speaker 3: this and it was, like oh my, god they're In, Montreal, canada, 608 00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 3: right that's so. 609 00:39:47,480 --> 00:39:49,160 Speaker 4: Foreign BUT i was like so into. 610 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:52,520 Speaker 3: It so then when my folks split AND i moved 611 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 3: to The, BRONX i still actively sought anyone Who's Puerto 612 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:00,200 Speaker 3: rican in the sports, world whether it was like in 613 00:40:00,280 --> 00:40:02,680 Speaker 3: The bronx with Like Ed figueroa who is a, pitcher 614 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:06,680 Speaker 3: whether it was like With Ferrelo, anitez all these. FIGHTERS 615 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:10,840 Speaker 3: i rooted for Every Puerto rican. Athlete so for me 616 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:14,240 Speaker 3: to come back in seventy nine and see this team 617 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:21,000 Speaker 3: of Mostly New eurekans who had changed the, game who 618 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:24,600 Speaker 3: were you, know if everyone knows it's like the diaspora island. 619 00:40:24,719 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 3: RELATIONSHIP A New, aurekan you, know In Puerto rico is 620 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:31,000 Speaker 3: seen as a pejorative in a lot of, ways but 621 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:34,680 Speaker 3: they literally transformed the sport and transformed the culture In 622 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:38,080 Speaker 3: Puerto rico and the. Identity so here was an example 623 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:42,279 Speaker 3: of These New, eurekans Mostly Afro Latino New eurekans coming 624 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 3: back to the island and putting Out Puerto rico on 625 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 3: a path to. Glory so to, me it was another 626 00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:51,320 Speaker 3: example of, like you know, what we can kind of 627 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:55,960 Speaker 3: get all united, here this whole, diaspora island. Tension if 628 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:57,920 Speaker 3: we all got, together look at all these great things 629 00:40:57,920 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 3: that we can. Do AND i think that's to me 630 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:03,839 Speaker 3: what sort of the foundation for how it elevated through 631 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:06,520 Speaker 3: the nineties and into two thousand and four WHERE i 632 00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:09,000 Speaker 3: was Like, MARIA i rooted against. 633 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:10,719 Speaker 4: THEM i still root against The americans of. 634 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:13,640 Speaker 1: Basketball what about, You, alanna for you as the whole 635 00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:17,719 Speaker 1: story of sports something that helped explain The Puerto rican, 636 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:21,520 Speaker 1: reality or were you more, like, WOW i really am 637 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:23,800 Speaker 1: not into, sports but, wow what a great way to 638 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:26,319 Speaker 1: tell the story of the relationship between The United states 639 00:41:26,360 --> 00:41:26,640 Speaker 1: And Puerto. 640 00:41:26,719 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 2: Rico you, know the sports conversation comes up so frequently around. 641 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:34,960 Speaker 2: Status even people who really Want Puerto rico to be 642 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:37,920 Speaker 2: a state will stop themselves and, say, oh but you, 643 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:41,080 Speaker 2: know then we won't have our own, team or then 644 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:44,360 Speaker 2: we won't have our own contestant in The Miss universe. 645 00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:47,080 Speaker 2: Pageant and there's something about that sense of pride of 646 00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:51,239 Speaker 2: being represented internationally that really matters to, people and so 647 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:53,600 Speaker 2: my approach to the story was actually from that, lens 648 00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:56,799 Speaker 2: from the Reporting i've, done hearing people say, that hearing 649 00:41:56,840 --> 00:41:59,600 Speaker 2: people in my family say that over and over, again 650 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:03,120 Speaker 2: and feeling, like you, know this is a good example 651 00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:06,879 Speaker 2: of an individual, burega but also a collective. Brega every 652 00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:09,880 Speaker 2: episode in the series operates at two. Levels so you 653 00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 2: have the individual burega with Like Flor, melendez who's the 654 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 2: coach for the, team the, players you, know they've got 655 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:17,320 Speaker 2: to go out on the, court they've got to figure 656 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:19,479 Speaker 2: out a way to. Win and then you have this next, 657 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:24,160 Speaker 2: level this brega, collectiva where everybody is coming together as 658 00:42:24,360 --> 00:42:29,000 Speaker 2: a country essentially and representing themselves and feeling like that 659 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:31,320 Speaker 2: struggle is playing out on the. 660 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:37,719 Speaker 1: Court, okay So, JULIO i HAVE i have a picture? Here, oh, 661 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:42,200 Speaker 1: okay a lot of people In Puerto. RICO i think 662 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:44,920 Speaker 1: it's In San juan or outside Of San. Juan, yeah On, 663 00:42:44,960 --> 00:42:48,880 Speaker 1: guennawo in Guit, novo and you're in the, middle of, 664 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:53,120 Speaker 1: course and everybody's all around. You it just looks like 665 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:59,160 Speaker 1: the funniest. Time at this, point it's nineteen eighty were 666 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:00,920 Speaker 1: you what what what does when you look at this 667 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:05,239 Speaker 1: picture and everybody's so nice and, Toasty caribbean, brown, sunshiny 668 00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:11,480 Speaker 1: just sweaty also and everybody's. Smiling got some cool fashion 669 00:43:11,560 --> 00:43:15,839 Speaker 1: going on there, too in nineteen tube. Socks what does 670 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:19,000 Speaker 1: this represent for? You like this this kind of memory 671 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:19,359 Speaker 1: Of Puerto. 672 00:43:19,440 --> 00:43:22,440 Speaker 3: Rico, well that's a picture of all my cousins at the, 673 00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:24,440 Speaker 3: time all The verrilla, cousins and we still have a 674 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:28,440 Speaker 3: couple more that joined us. Later but it's this moment 675 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:33,680 Speaker 3: of maybe it's me romanticizing and maybe like doing this 676 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:35,120 Speaker 3: this part Of La. 677 00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:37,520 Speaker 4: Vedega it's this moment of how do we celebrate joy 678 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:39,800 Speaker 4: and what do we remember of things that make you 679 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:40,239 Speaker 4: who you? 680 00:43:40,360 --> 00:43:45,799 Speaker 3: Are that picture of all my cousins smiling and we're 681 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:47,719 Speaker 3: all like in the summer and it's the height of 682 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:52,000 Speaker 3: The Puerto Rican National Puerto rican basketball and the professional, 683 00:43:52,120 --> 00:43:53,640 Speaker 3: league and. 684 00:43:54,160 --> 00:43:56,879 Speaker 4: We'd go to. Games we were all. 685 00:43:57,000 --> 00:44:00,200 Speaker 3: Happy we had the, shirts you, know the pandama in 686 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:02,080 Speaker 3: nineteen seventy nine, SHIRTS. 687 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:04,440 Speaker 4: I had a basketball. Jersey we would play for. 688 00:44:04,719 --> 00:44:09,840 Speaker 3: Hours my experience as A Puerto rican has always revolved 689 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:14,560 Speaker 3: around that. Joy and there's so many examples of sport 690 00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:18,879 Speaker 3: being so central to that, Joy. MARIA i mean WHEN 691 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:20,919 Speaker 3: i talk about in the, PIECE i MEAN i watched 692 00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:23,440 Speaker 3: that game in two thousand and four by myself In. 693 00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:27,880 Speaker 4: MASSACHUSETTS i was still trying to connect with my. Cousins 694 00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:28,640 Speaker 4: those people in that. 695 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,719 Speaker 3: Photo we found a way to connect after the game 696 00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:35,520 Speaker 3: after like just how gorgeous and joyous it. Was and 697 00:44:35,680 --> 00:44:38,560 Speaker 3: that's WHAT I i don't, know that picture just reminds 698 00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:42,160 Speaker 3: me of like love and the possibilities and. 699 00:44:42,320 --> 00:44:45,000 Speaker 1: Warm, So, alana we've talked about the fact That Puerto 700 00:44:45,080 --> 00:44:50,160 Speaker 1: rico competes under its own flag at sports competitions before 701 00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:52,759 Speaker 1: doing this story With, julio had you thought a lot 702 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:57,240 Speaker 1: about you, know sports and. Teams were you also rooting 703 00:44:57,440 --> 00:44:59,200 Speaker 1: for The Puerto rican teams when you were growing? 704 00:44:59,280 --> 00:45:02,600 Speaker 2: Up you, KNOW i hadn't really thought about, it except 705 00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:05,560 Speaker 2: For Monica puig's gold medal. 706 00:45:05,640 --> 00:45:09,080 Speaker 4: Win and for those of us who don't, know Monicap wig. 707 00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:10,319 Speaker 4: Won what? Win? 708 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:14,759 Speaker 2: Uh that was twenty, sixteen the first time that Any 709 00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:19,400 Speaker 2: Puerto rican had won An olympic, medal so, huge and 710 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:20,120 Speaker 2: she was playing. 711 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,080 Speaker 4: TENNIS i was In Puerto rico with my family watching. 712 00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:27,400 Speaker 3: It my Son, miguel and we watched the final in 713 00:45:27,520 --> 00:45:30,160 Speaker 3: a hotel lobby with like one hundred Perto ricans and 714 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:30,839 Speaker 3: here's my, Son. 715 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:34,400 Speaker 4: Miguel it was the first time he experienced like Whoa. 716 00:45:34,760 --> 00:45:38,640 Speaker 3: Bobby NOW i get why you root For Puerto rican 717 00:45:38,719 --> 00:45:40,280 Speaker 3: athletes and, teams. 718 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:44,040 Speaker 4: Because it was just like an all out crazy party. Celebrated. 719 00:45:44,080 --> 00:45:46,400 Speaker 3: Yeah SO i, think like What alana said and this 720 00:45:46,640 --> 00:45:49,799 Speaker 3: notion of what that was a special, moment just as 721 00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:52,640 Speaker 3: much as it was a special moment when the baseball 722 00:45:52,719 --> 00:45:56,359 Speaker 3: team in The World Baseball classic almost beat The americans year, 723 00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:58,160 Speaker 3: before gives you like. 724 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:01,560 Speaker 2: Hope you, know we have so many Different Puerto rican. 725 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:05,879 Speaker 2: Flags the blue has particular. Meanings now there's the black 726 00:46:05,920 --> 00:46:08,320 Speaker 2: and white, one which is of mourning but also of. 727 00:46:08,400 --> 00:46:11,960 Speaker 2: Resistance and then there's the gold. One, right like the 728 00:46:12,120 --> 00:46:15,680 Speaker 2: gold one because we want and because she was Representing Puerto, 729 00:46:15,760 --> 00:46:19,919 Speaker 2: rico BUT i wanted to. Also just Hearing julio, talk 730 00:46:20,560 --> 00:46:24,400 Speaker 2: it reminds me of something that there's this poet Requelsa, 731 00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:28,239 Speaker 2: ribera who SAID i think it was in a VIDEO 732 00:46:28,360 --> 00:46:31,760 Speaker 2: i saw maybe a year. Ago he said that nobody 733 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:36,319 Speaker 2: ever gave us a manual for Being Puerto, rican, Right 734 00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:38,600 Speaker 2: AND i think the comparison, was like you don't get 735 00:46:38,640 --> 00:46:41,320 Speaker 2: a manual for being, queer for how to make a, 736 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:44,880 Speaker 2: family for how two women can can start a family. 737 00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:47,759 Speaker 2: Together and it's the same thing with like being part 738 00:46:47,800 --> 00:46:50,880 Speaker 2: of the diaspora and being part of the island. Community 739 00:46:51,040 --> 00:46:53,239 Speaker 2: like nobody ever gave us this manual for how we 740 00:46:53,360 --> 00:46:57,960 Speaker 2: can sort of like like make one one thing out of. 741 00:46:58,040 --> 00:47:01,680 Speaker 2: That AND i think that's so beautiful AND i think 742 00:47:01,680 --> 00:47:03,480 Speaker 2: about it a, Lot and what we've done With La 743 00:47:03,560 --> 00:47:06,960 Speaker 2: brega is, That, yeah you, know we're. Experimenting sometimes when 744 00:47:06,960 --> 00:47:09,680 Speaker 2: it comes to, unity we do it. Poorly sometimes we 745 00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:12,440 Speaker 2: do it really. Well but as long as we keep 746 00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:14,480 Speaker 2: trying and we don't give up on, THAT i think 747 00:47:14,520 --> 00:47:15,920 Speaker 2: really beautiful things can come out of. 748 00:47:15,960 --> 00:47:19,200 Speaker 1: It, So, alana you, know a lot of the episodes 749 00:47:19,239 --> 00:47:21,680 Speaker 1: Of La brega are going to be On LETINO usa 750 00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:26,200 Speaker 1: and we'll be hearing from you in this, Space and you, 751 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:28,640 Speaker 1: know you haven't had an opportunity to kind of focus 752 00:47:28,719 --> 00:47:32,640 Speaker 1: On Puerto rico in this way like concerned it as a, 753 00:47:32,760 --> 00:47:35,440 Speaker 1: journalist And i'm just, wondering what has it meant for 754 00:47:35,560 --> 00:47:38,879 Speaker 1: you to kind of dig deep into The Puerto rican 755 00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:41,200 Speaker 1: dynamic and reality for you as a as a. 756 00:47:41,280 --> 00:47:41,720 Speaker 4: Journalist. 757 00:47:41,920 --> 00:47:44,920 Speaker 2: YEAH i, mean the actual production of this series has, 758 00:47:45,000 --> 00:47:49,600 Speaker 2: been you, know eight months in the. Pandemic it's been a, 759 00:47:49,719 --> 00:47:55,000 Speaker 2: challenge But i've really have appreciated how faithful we've been 760 00:47:55,560 --> 00:47:58,520 Speaker 2: to this concept that we can make an anthology of 761 00:47:58,600 --> 00:48:02,839 Speaker 2: our own voices and our own. Stories and the most 762 00:48:02,880 --> 00:48:05,160 Speaker 2: remarkable thing has been the reaction that we've. GOTTEN i, 763 00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:09,600 Speaker 2: mean so many people have reached out personally On, twitter On, 764 00:48:09,719 --> 00:48:13,880 Speaker 2: instagram On, facebook all over the. Place and someone tweeted 765 00:48:14,280 --> 00:48:16,640 Speaker 2: that you can smell The Puerto rico on this, series 766 00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:19,759 Speaker 2: like it feels authentic to, people AND i love. THAT 767 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:23,280 Speaker 2: i love that sense that people feel it can literally 768 00:48:23,360 --> 00:48:27,560 Speaker 2: smell this place off the work that we've. Done even 769 00:48:27,680 --> 00:48:30,440 Speaker 2: people from the diaspora who really haven't known a lot 770 00:48:30,480 --> 00:48:32,759 Speaker 2: about their, history people from the island who haven't known 771 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:37,560 Speaker 2: a lot about their, history really connecting with these stories 772 00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:39,840 Speaker 2: that we're. Telling whether it's something as recent as the 773 00:48:39,880 --> 00:48:44,000 Speaker 2: two thousand and Four olympics or nineteen fifty. Two there 774 00:48:44,040 --> 00:48:47,080 Speaker 2: are so many different ways to Be Puerto, rican AND 775 00:48:47,560 --> 00:48:49,960 Speaker 2: i think that when you come from the, diaspora there's 776 00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:54,759 Speaker 2: a lot of there's several layers of imposter, syndrome right 777 00:48:54,920 --> 00:48:58,280 Speaker 2: like who are we to tell the? Story but, actually 778 00:48:58,320 --> 00:49:01,600 Speaker 2: when you look at the history of the, island you, 779 00:49:01,680 --> 00:49:03,560 Speaker 2: know we are here In New york for a, reason, 780 00:49:03,880 --> 00:49:06,200 Speaker 2: right we are In, Chicago we're In boston for a. 781 00:49:06,280 --> 00:49:10,640 Speaker 2: Reason BUT i know that for everyone, involved you, know 782 00:49:10,760 --> 00:49:13,719 Speaker 2: doing these stories In spanish and In, english it was 783 00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:17,200 Speaker 2: sort of a test of, like can we really unite 784 00:49:17,640 --> 00:49:20,160 Speaker 2: ourselves and like the two parts of our of our 785 00:49:20,239 --> 00:49:22,360 Speaker 2: souls and our brains in order to pull this. 786 00:49:22,520 --> 00:49:23,160 Speaker 13: Off AND. 787 00:49:24,840 --> 00:49:27,800 Speaker 2: I think it's been a beautiful experiment that the Messages 788 00:49:27,800 --> 00:49:30,800 Speaker 2: i've gotten from people in the diaspora who, say, gosh 789 00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:35,000 Speaker 2: LIKE i wrenched. MYSELF i purposely did not consider Myself 790 00:49:35,040 --> 00:49:38,360 Speaker 2: Puerto rican because of all the, stereotypes and listening to 791 00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:42,440 Speaker 2: your series makes me feel really light and beautiful and. 792 00:49:43,239 --> 00:49:44,440 Speaker 4: Full AND i love. 793 00:49:44,520 --> 00:49:47,600 Speaker 2: THAT i love that something that we did hit someone 794 00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:49,920 Speaker 2: so hard in a good. 795 00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:52,680 Speaker 1: Way, WELL i want to say thank you to both 796 00:49:52,760 --> 00:49:55,560 Speaker 1: you And julio for this beautiful work On La. Brega 797 00:49:56,040 --> 00:50:01,239 Speaker 1: That's alana casanoa burgess and d is the host of 798 00:50:01,400 --> 00:50:26,600 Speaker 1: the new Series La. Regan this episode was produced By Marlon, 799 00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:30,720 Speaker 1: Bishop Ezequiel Rodriguez sandino And Mark. Pagan it was edited 800 00:50:30,760 --> 00:50:34,680 Speaker 1: By Luis, trees fact checking for this episode By Gabriel Avile. 801 00:50:34,800 --> 00:50:39,240 Speaker 1: Saponte The LATINO usa team Includes Viel, Macias Andrea Lopees, 802 00:50:39,280 --> 00:50:45,360 Speaker 1: Crusado Marta, Martinez Julieta, Martinelli gini, Montalbo Alejandra Salassard, Rinaldo 803 00:50:45,480 --> 00:50:48,680 Speaker 1: Leanoz junior And Julia, rocha with help From Raoul. Perees 804 00:50:49,040 --> 00:50:52,000 Speaker 1: our engineers Are stephanie Le, Beau Julia caruso And Lia, 805 00:50:52,040 --> 00:50:55,240 Speaker 1: shaw with help From Elishiba YouTube And Gabriel La. Bayez 806 00:50:55,560 --> 00:50:58,560 Speaker 1: our digital editor is Res. Luna our interns Are Samantha 807 00:50:58,600 --> 00:51:02,080 Speaker 1: friedman And Carli. Rubin our theme music was composed By Segnor. 808 00:51:02,160 --> 00:51:04,400 Speaker 1: Robinos if you like the music you heard on this, 809 00:51:04,640 --> 00:51:08,400 Speaker 1: episode stop buying atousa dot org and check out our 810 00:51:08,440 --> 00:51:12,000 Speaker 1: Weekly spotify. Playlist i'm your host and executive Producer maria No. 811 00:51:12,120 --> 00:51:14,440 Speaker 1: Posa join us again on our next, episode and in 812 00:51:14,520 --> 00:51:16,880 Speaker 1: the meantime find us on social media. 813 00:51:17,400 --> 00:51:23,360 Speaker 13: Joo LATINO usa is made possible in part by The 814 00:51:23,480 --> 00:51:29,880 Speaker 13: Heising Simons, Foundation unlocking, knowledge opportunity and. Possibilities more at 815 00:51:30,120 --> 00:51:34,760 Speaker 13: hsfoundation dot, org The JOHN. D And CATHERINE. T MacArthur, 816 00:51:34,880 --> 00:51:40,680 Speaker 13: foundation and The Ford. Foundation working with visionaries on the 817 00:51:40,719 --> 00:51:42,200 Speaker 13: frontlines of social change. 818 00:51:42,320 --> 00:51:50,520 Speaker 4: Worldwide my boss does. It g hi, Boss i'm. Good