U.S.-Mexico World Cup Match Sparks Identity Crisis for Immigrant Fans

AP | June 15, 2002 | Daisy Nguyn, AP Staff Writer

[Pistol]

Sunday, June 16

       

U.S.-Mexico World Cup Match Sparks Identity Crisis for Immigrant Fans

By Daisy Nguyen Associated Press Writer

Published: Jun 15, 2002 LOS ANGELES (AP) - Whenever Mexico plays a World Cup match, it's like a national holiday for natives of that country.

But Mexico's upcoming game against the United States has created an identity crisis for Mexicans living in this country.

"This is like having two family members fighting," said Jose Resendiz, 50, who came to East Los Angeles in 1969 from the Mexican state of Aguas Calientes. "It's upsetting. I'd rather have Mexico eliminate somebody else."

The game, to be played Monday at Jeonju, South Korea, has the two teams competing to become one of the final eight in the tournament.

The fan conflict isn't isolated to California. In Arizona, the match pits family members against each other. And at an Immigration and Naturalization Service detention center in Texas, authorities plan to bend the rules and allow inmates - many from Mexico - to watch the game.

Storefronts, sidewalks and cars in East Los Angeles are decorated in green, white and red - the colors of the Mexican flag.

At a parade Friday in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the Lakers third consecutive NBA title, many people carried a flag in each hand - one for the Lakers, the other for Mexico.

"We're U.S. fans but we're Mexican fans first," said Jorge Magdaleno, a U.S. resident for 20 years. "We've got to stay true to the homeland. The U.S. pays the bills, but our true roots are still in Mexico." Adrian Rodriguez, a shoe store manager in Phoenix, said he'll be in the minority when he watches the game.

"All of my friends support Mexico, and I'll be the only one for the U.S., so it won't be a pretty sight," Rodriguez said. "My loyalties lie with this country, even if my wife doesn't like it."

Divided loyalties are particularly strong in Texas' Rio Grande Valley.

"I hate this match," said 28-year-old Maria Maldonado in Brownsville. "My whole family's from Mexico, but then again, I live here."

Officials at an INS detention center near Brownsville plan to stretch television viewing hours so inmates can watch the game Monday.

Security guard David Valdez said 90 percent of the inmates are rooting for Mexico, even those from other Central and South American countries.

"It's a Latin thing," Valdez said. "Soccer is more of a Mexican sport, that's why I think they're going to win."

Both U.S. and Mexican flags hang outside the Los Angeles pet store owned by Julio Cesar.

"My roots are Mexican, but I was born in the United States," said Cesar. "I have feelings for both countries, and I won't be disappointed if the U.S. and Mexican teams tie."

Still, when the game begins, he'll be rooting for Mexico.

"When Mexico loses a game, it's like a death in the family," he said. "I don't want to mourn.

[bok]

Personally i find it despicable and disgraceful, i wouldn'nt have minded some rough riders running these people back to mexico. They live here illegally and that's the problem and are not assimilating. Millions of La Reconquistas!

Mexicans attack Americans at Soccer Game

VCT note: A member of VCT was at this game. He is extremely reliable. He said that he was doused with urine, as was the U.S. Marine band.

[monkeyshine]

True enough. And we can pool our talent, too. There will come a time, soon I think, that the USA will dominate soccer. The only thing holding us back is the money. Our best athletes are drawn to big money sports. If American soccer teams has the ability to pay $20 million a year to the players, there would be a lot more talented athletes trying to gain entry to it.

[Mo1]

WE ARE ALMOST THERE ... LET'S WRAP THIS UP TONIGHT!!!

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[dougherty]

Identity crisis my butt. I've seen quite a few cars here with GO MEXICO written on the windows in shoe polish.

[JamesWilson]

"I have feelings for both countries, and I won't be disappointed if the U.S. and Mexican teams tie."

This guy's pretty sharp. He knows how the tournament works.

[SoCal Pubbie]

"You could write similar stories about Italian, Polish and Irish Americans when the US plays those teams. Soccer is a passion in those countries, it is a link to the "old country" for Americans of those persuasions. Face it, soccer in the US doesn't bring out that kind of passion, it is not part of our tradition. That's just the way it is."

I don't think it's just sports. My last name is of German origin. Wy wife tells me "You're German". I always say the hell I am! I have no desire to dress up in lederhosen and prance around in knee socks at Oktoberfest!

[Cool Guy]

My roots are Mexican, but I was born in the United States," said Cesar. "I have feelings for both countries, and I won't be disappointed if the U.S. and Mexican teams tie."

Check this out. LOL! They need to interview some people who really follow this sport.

[Michael2001]

I'm going to have the same problem now that it looks like the US is going to play Germany. I've always been a fan of German soccer, since that was the one sport we sucked at. I don't know who to root for now, I'll probably sleep through the game.

[Michael2001]

I have no desire to dress up in lederhosen and prance around in knee socks at Oktoberfest!

You don't know what you're missing.

[1rudeboy]

Funny that you mention it . . . when the US team tied Mexico 1-1 in Mexico City, 100,000+ Mexican fans applauded our team, and threw debris on their own. Go figure. Well don't, if you're a real fan.

[1rudeboy]

No he's not. It's now a single-elimination tournament.

[FreeAtlanta]

It does seem that many of our southern immigrants are self-destructively trying to get Americans to hate them. My sister, who is sickeningly liberal, use to brag about how great a worker a Mexican laborer was that she used for some rental property. Then, he started making late night prank calls (traced to his cell phone) and making long distance (international) calls billed to her house. very strange.... but it couldn't have happened to a stranger person

[JamesWilson]

No he's not. It's now a single-elimination tournament.

That was my point. ;-)

[1rudeboy]

Sorry, I missed it . . . .

[Aquinasfan]

People who had one great-great-grandparent from Ireland were more Irish than St. Patrick (actually the Pope's more Irish than St. Patrick).

I'm originally from outside Boston so I know what you're talking about. Sometimes it's a fun local cultural thing. Sometimes it's just silly, like the South Boston Saint Patrick's Day breakfast. And sometimes it's just stupid.

[3AngelaD]

Exactly. They see our beloved country as a cash cow, to be taken advantage of and exploited. Meanwhile, they remain loyal to their Mexican roots. They don't appreciate the freedoms we enjoy here, all they want to do is tap into the wealth, not realizing that our mindset is why we have that wealth (we did not take over a developed country in 1846, we took over a wasteland and made it prosper), and Mexico's mindset is why they don't enjoy the standard of living and wealth that we've created. So they resent the hell out of us. This is Balkanization, pure and simple, and it's why I always invite people flying foreign flags to get the hell out and go home.

[Semper Paratus]

You should have seen what is was like when Ireland played the USA in an exhibition game in Foxboro Stadium.

I was there with my son it was a 1-1 game and he cheered both goals. : )

[Colonel_Flagg]

"This is like having two family members fighting," said Jose Resendiz, 50, who came to East Los Angeles in 1969 from the Mexican state of Aguas Calientes. "It's upsetting. I'd rather have Mexico eliminate somebody else."

Maybe in 2006 they can.

[luvbach1]

But, I'm not bothered by the fact that Mexicans here root for Mexico in a soccer game.

OK. Are you bothered when the US players are doused with urine? When the Star Spangled Banner is booed? When Old Glory is desecrated? Of course you are. That's what it's about, not the fact that Mexicans root for the Mexican team.That is to be expected and tolerated among unassimilated peoples in the US. The rest is intolerable, yet tolerated.And Americans of German extraction will NOT, with few exceptions, be rooting for Germany. I'm one of them.

[JamesWilson]

Sorry, I missed it . . . .

No problem, as long as you didn't miss today's game. ;-)