By Carlos Ramírez Zago
Mexico’s historic role in the World Baseball Classic
The Mexican ninth made history in the World Baseball Classic 2023. It is a relatively new tournament (2006), but it is gaining more prestige as the years go by and teams from different countries face each other in search of world glory.
The Mexican national team gave its best performance in the tournament’s history, obtaining third place, behind only Japan and the United States; this is why Mexico climbed to the podium of the baseball world cup.
The Mexican «novena» started the tournament on the wrong foot, losing to Colombia. However, they had an excellent group stage, defeating the host United States, Great Britain, and Canada, to reach the quarterfinals as the group leader.
In the quarterfinals, they faced Puerto Rico. It seemed that the story was over for Mexico after trailing 4-0, but in the seventh inning, they came from behind 5-4, giving the Mexican team a ticket to the semifinals.
Mexico faced the great power and favorite team, Japan, in the semifinals. The Mexican ninth managed to put Japan on the ropes, but it was not enough, and the Asian team advanced to the final, which they won a few days later against the United States.
Despite the defeat in the semifinals from Japan, the Mexican team was satisfied with their great performance in the tournament. They faced difficulties yet captivated the attention of a country and the world.
Historic Mexicans!
Randy Arozarena, Mexico’s new idol
Randy Arozarena became a Mexican idol thanks to his incredible and outstanding performance in the World Baseball Classic.
Arozarena was born in Cuba in 1995. He fled the island as a youth to seek a better quality of life. He arrived in Mexico searching to achieve his dream of playing baseball professionally.
Thanks to his undisputed talent as a baseball player, he made his debut in the Mexican Pacific League with the Toros de Tijuana. He was later traded to the Mayos de Navojoa, where he would become a star. He caught the attention of teams in the United States, and the Tampa Bay Rays signed him in 2020.
Randy wanted to represent the country that first took him in, so he asked to play for Mexico and become a naturalized Mexican. In this year’s World Baseball Classic, he represented the Mexican national team and became its new figure, achieving that historic third place and earning the affection of millions of Mexicans.
«Mexico received me as a son. Mexicans are born wherever they want,» declared Randy Arozarena on social networks.
Mexico has a new idol!
Diego Cocca’s bittersweet debut with El Tri
The time came for Diego Cocca to debut as the new coach of the Mexican national soccer team during the FIFA date for the CONCACAF Nations League.
Mexico visited Suriname in a match that should have come out in Mexico’s favor because of its soccer ability. Mexico expected to beat Suriname and have a good, comfortable performance. But the reality was different. It was a game with many doubts and boredom in between. El Tri managed to win by a score of 2-0 without convincing anyone.
The second game was at the Azteca Stadium, where the Mexican national team received Jamaica in another match that should have been a victory for Mexico. Mexican soccer has stagnated. Mexico salvaged a draw against Jamaica at the «Coloso» of Santa Ursula. Instead of hearing that famous «Cielito Lindo» from the stands, we heard only booing toward the national team for its mediocre performance.
The fans booed players such as Raúl Jiménez, Diego Laínez, and Guillermo Ochoa, and the coaching staff led by Diego Cocca at the end of the match at the Azteca Stadium.
Cocca started on the wrong foot in this «Mexican National Team» challenge!
The time Xavier Lopez «Chabelo» missed the Olympics
The famous comedian Xavier López «Chabelo,» an icon of Mexican television, passed away at 88.
Fans will always remember him as a legend of Mexican television for playing Chabelo, the friend of all children, for decades. But few know that before starting his career in television, he was passionate about sports. At a very young age, he practiced Greco-Roman wrestling. He competed in his discipline’s national championship and obtained his qualification to represent Mexico in the Olympic Games of Helsinki 1952 (Finland).
On multiple occasions, Xavier Lopez declared that he had the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. However, a corrupt federation official demanded that he pay 40,000 pesos to make the trip and fulfill his dream. Xavier did not have 40,000 pesos, so he lost his chance to represent Mexico at the Olympics. Years later, he triumphed on Mexican television, and all Mexicans recognized him as «Chabelo”.
Rest in peace, Xavier Lopez «Chabelo»!
