Chivas Press Conference...

[MLS3]

http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?chid=6&schid=1611&secid=1614&cid=287656

In Spanish, use babelfish to translate, but ya, Still want to join in 2004, been told they will join in 2005 but vergara doesn't really want to accept that, Houston, Chicago, San Diego and Los Angeles still in the running for which city, will be announced November 22nd, day before MLS Cup...new details for "New Blood", more on Club America to San Jose and who copied who, and Chivas-USA won't hire Hernan Medford for be the coach...

[Viking64]

Today's paper (Independiente) had a write up on
Chivas USA.

-they are holding tryouts in December of this year

-the choice of cities are SD, Hou, Chicago, LA

-the call for players is "spanish speaking, mexican
origin, mexican american." between 14 and 24 years old

-several un-named veteran Chivas Mexico players have asked about being taken up to play for the US squad

-official announcement the day before MLS Cup, where they will announce WHERE the team will play

-In the same sentance he's still holding out hope for
NEXT year, but understands it won't be official until
05. My PERSONAL interpretation is this could mean
something like playing a free schedule of A League /MFL and MLS teams next year, and then entering MLS league play a year later.

[FlashMan]

Either he really does NOT want to play in San Diego, or they're still mentioning all those other cities simply as a bargaining chip.

And it is a bit strange: if they're going to have the tryouts in December of this year , what are the players going to do for 14 months before the real season starts in 2005? That's a long time to just practice.

[uclacarlos]

Originally posted by Viking64
-the call for players is "spanish speaking, mexican
origin, mexican american." between 14 and 24 years old.

You left out something very important...

"Estamos invitando a todos los mexicanos nacidos en Estados Unidos o a los hijos de mexicanos nacidos en Estados Unidos y Y TODOS LOS QUE HABLEN ESPANYOL para que se integren, porque el equipo va a ser conformado en su mayoría por hispanoparlantes", aclaró Jorge Vergara, presidente de la Chivas en Los Angeles.

In capital letters it translates to "whoever speaks Spanish". So, anybody that speaks Spanish will be sought after. At least in California, that includes a ton of Anglos who have learned Spanish by playing soccer here (Landon Donovan, for instance).

Another important quote:

"En este sentido reconoció que esa primer temporada podría no ser el equipo de estrellas que aspira a tener en la liga de fútbol de Estados Unidos, pero será el inicio del proyecto por conformar un estilo de futbol de hispanoparlantes."

Basically, here Vergara himself (not a smack talking minion, not his local tortilla salesman, not his sock salesman, not El Jefe's brother-in-law's gardener's cousin' niece) states that the eventual goal is to have a a Latino (or rather, Spanish-speaker's) STYLE, but in the interim, they will NOT have only Latino players.

Where the f' are all the doomsdayers now?

[MLS3]

There waiting for the next la opinion article to come out so they can start 20 threads about how MLS is gonna die and they won't support the league anymore and Chivas will have the mexican national team as their roster...

[Viking64]

Originally posted by uclacarlos
You left out something very important...

"Estamos invitando a todos los mexicanos nacidos en Estados Unidos o a los hijos de mexicanos nacidos en Estados Unidos y Y TODOS LOS QUE HABLEN ESPANYOL para que se integren, porque el equipo va a ser conformado en su mayoría por hispanoparlantes", aclaró Jorge Vergara, presidente de la Chivas en Los Angeles.

In capital letters it translates to "whoever speaks Spanish". So, anybody that speaks Spanish will be sought after. At least in California, that includes a ton of Anglos who have learned Spanish by playing soccer here (Landon Donovan, for instance).


I used a comma to separate Spanish speakers from people of Mexican birth or Mexican/hispanic/latino ethnicity and born in the US. Sorry if people missed that. The quote you use goes on to say that the majority of the team members will speak Spanish. The above quote does not say 'you have to speak Spanish to be on the team." In fact it implies there may well be some that don't.

Won't take them long to learn though ;)

It's funny, if you look closely at the quote you gave, Cantínflas would have been proud. Or Vergara is REALLY up on the news on dual citizenship. (but I digress)

[uclacarlos]

Originally posted by MLS3
There waiting for the next la opinion article to come out so they can start 20 threads about how MLS is gonna die and they won't support the league anymore and Chivas will have the mexican national team as their roster...
Well, here's their chance to address what Vergara SAID HIMSELF (did you read THAT!). Their silence is deafening.

Just for the record, in the News and Analysis forum, most of the "I can't believe the league" posts are based on English translations and past paranoid BS perceptions.

[Joe Stoker]

I kinda like the idea of Chivas USA (or whatever) playing an independent schedule next summer and officially hooking into MLS in '05. Besides matches against MFL, MLS, and A-leaguers, a few internationals against the likes of Barca and Real Madrid or River Plate or Boca Jrs would be good.

Is Cantinflas still alive? One of the few that actually liked "Pepe". But then, I like pro soccer, too.

[efernandez9]

Originally posted by FlashMan
Either he really does NOT want to play in San Diego, or they're still mentioning all those other cities simply as a bargaining chip.

And it is a bit strange: if they're going to have the tryouts in December of this year , what are the players going to do for 14 months before the real season starts in 2005? That's a long time to just practice.

the confenrence also had info on the 4 cities: he said that some were offering nice tax incentives for operations of he club and others tax advantages for a Possible oWn stadia, while he said that the city of Los angeles had the most fan support so far (usians do not read beyond that....that is only what he said)

the guy truly has a deep pocket to keep a team with no league 10 or 12 months, or he really see money making chances for his 'practice' games around USA. Does not hurt to plan in advance if you can afford it!

[Viking64]

Originally posted by Joe Stoker
Is Cantinflas still alive? One of the few that actually liked "Pepe". But then, I like pro soccer, too.

No, he died. I think within the last year or so.

[kpaulson]

Today's ussocceruk article has a disasterous translation of part of the press conference.

Don't Turn Up if You Aren't Hispanic - TheMaine.Com (http://www.ussocceruk.com/news/?CatTypeId=2&ContentId=1052)

******** ********* translation, probably done on purpose.

"We are inviting all Mexicans born in the United States, or the sons of Mexicans who were born in the US who speak Spanish because the majority of the team will be made up of Hispanics" Vergara said in Los Angeles."

See the quote from the press conference here:

Chivas USA busca jugadores en EU - Univision.com (http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?chid=6&schid=1611&secid=1614&cid=287656)
"Estamos invitando a todos los mexicanos nacidos en Estados Unidos o a los hijos de mexicanos nacidos en Estados Unidos y todos los que hablen español para que se integren, porque el equipo va a ser conformado en su mayoría por hispanoparlantes"

MAYBE you can say he meant "children of Mexicans born in the US and children of Mexicans born in the US who speak Spanish" because he didn't say "y a todos los que hablan"... but I sincerely doubt it.

[efernandez9]

has there been a Press conference to Update fans in 2004?

[SoccerPrime]

Why does Chivas want only people with hispanic background on the team? I'm all for diversity and culture but isn't the best idea to look for the players with the best talent not the best language or race?

[uclacarlos]

Originally posted by OrlandoSoccer2
Why does Chivas want only people with hispanic background on the team? I'm all for diversity and culture but isn't the best idea to look for the players with the best talent not the best language or race?
Have you not read this very short thread? Re-read it, then report back to find this issue addressed.

[efernandez9]

ohhhh no

the same stupid question again!

[SoccerPrime]

Appreciate the kind words. :(
I have read this thread and about 500 other ones. I have yet to hear an answer. Is there a NFL team that wants only Africans or NHL team looking for only Russians? No of course not. And if Chivas fans would just think about this subject in the greater context, they would see how ridiculous it sounds. Why does Chivas have to make an announcement that they are actively looking for those of Latin background or can speak spanish? I am not inferring that they will ONLY accept Latinos, but they certainly aren't holding back the promise that those that are hispanic will get preferential treatment.

[efernandez9]

apples vs pears

mangos vs oranges?

[riverplate]

Originally posted by Joe Stoker
Is Cantinflas still alive? One of the few that actually liked "Pepe". But then, I like pro soccer, too.

Cantinflas died on April 20, 1993. His real name was Mario Moreno.

I've never seen "Pepe," but want to. The original version of it runs over three hours! I have the soundtrack CD, believe it or not. With Bing Crosby, Maurice Chevalier, Sammy Davis Jr.!! The movie sounds like total insanity!

[SoccerPrime]

Originally posted by efernandez9
apples vs pears

mangos vs oranges?

I accept that I do not know everything. If someone can explain it too me (without sarcasm) I am willing to listen.

Any takers?

[Calexico77]

1) Hispanics (or Chicanos or Latinos, I'm not getting into this) are the fastest growing racial demographic in the U.S. And it's getting richer

2) For those Americans that have been here for a while (generation or more), are still very strongly connected with the culture that has developed here

3) For the newly arrived, they still identify strongly with the culture they had back in the old country

4) The major pro sport of that culture is Soccer.

5) The MLS has failed to really ignite this demographic, so somebody with some name brand recognition from the old country decides they can do it better.

Plus? It makes people talk about it. It gets some people pissed. It makes some people happy. Regardless it's millions of dollars in free press. Plus, it gets SOME, not all, but SOME people of that heritage thinking "hey! this is someone who is looking out to represent me and my community" (which doesn't happen much).

How does that sound to you, Orlando?

Is it totally politically correct? No, but there is a long glorious tradition of teams picking exactly who they want to play for them.