By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For FOX Deportes

I celebrated Mexico’s historic 2-1 Olympic gold-medal victory like countless (OK, maybe hundreds) of Americans of Mexican descent did: over some cold pizza.

What’s more American than that?

I skipped the menudo con tortillas parties at the crack of dawn at local restaurants and stayed home to watch Mexico v. Brazil. I watched the second half by myself. And on Saturday, like every day, it was a good day to have Mexican blood.

Mexico’s win, you see, wasn’t just for Mexico. It was for Mexicans and those of Mexican descent everywhere. It made those of us in the multi-generational Chicano category proud, too. For those young men on that medal stand in London, bouquets of flowers in their hands and gold around their necks, it was the moment of a lifetime. And whether you’re Mexican from Guadalajara or Portland, Ore., it was a beautiful moment, too.

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Por Luis Miguel Morales / @3luismiguel

Para FOX Deportes

Confirmado.  Giovani Dos Santos no estará en el partido de la final del fútbol olímpico frente a la ‘verdeamarela’.

El jugador de raíces brasileñas no tendrá la oportunidad de hacer historia y disputar el partido más importante, puede ser, de su carrera como futbolista.  Pero no importa, lo más relevante ya lo hizo.

Entró como relevo en los primero partidos de la eliminatoria olímpica y fue un revulsivo para la escuadra mexicana.  El entrenador del ‘Tri’, Luis Fernando Tena, mencionaba después de cada juego, que la estrategia le había funcionado y que le gustaba que ‘Gio’ entrara de cambio.

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By Jose M. Romero

For FOX Deportes

WASHINGTON D.C. – He threw no-look passes and dribbled through the NBA stars without hesitation for a layup to cut the USA lead to 57-50 with 1:10 left in the third quarter.

He dished out 13 assists for the game and made 5 of his 8 shots for Brazil, which led by 10 points at the end of the first quarter of Monday night’s Olympics tune-up game for both teams, until the Americans cranked up the pressure on defense.

Marcelo Huertas is the starting point guard for Brazil, but he’s overshadowed by the team’s NBA players – big men Nene, Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varejao and speedy two-guard Leandro Barbosa. But the 29-year-old Huertas showed he could hang with the best in the world.

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Por Luis Miguel Morales / FOX Deportes

Este fin de semana se jugará una nueva fecha de eliminatoria mundialista en Sudamérica.  Este sábado, Bolivia se enfrentará a Paraguay y Venezuela hará lo mismo con Chile. 

Por otro lado, el domingo el campeón de la Copa América, Uruguay, buscará una victoria ante Perú y Ecuador recibirá a Colombia.

Al ver el calendario, me percaté que Argentina descansaba y también me di cuenta que Brasil no juega porque ya está clasificada al Mundial, de forma automática, por ser sede.

Entonces, eso me dio como resultado, que se dará uno de los juegos más esperados del año: partido amistoso en New Jersey este sábado, entre Brasil y Argentina.  Debo confesar que me siento mal por los partidos de clasificación de ese día, porque pasarán a segundo plano.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

This past week, soccer fans throughout North America saw the team that will more than likely be the North American continent’s best in Brazil at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Hard as it is for U.S. national team fans to accept, our soccer region’s best team is undoubtedly Mexico. And that isn’t likely to change in the next two years.

Three wins in three friendlies on American soil last week – including the big one against Brazil in Arlington, Texas on Sunday — has to be put in perspective.

Friendlies don’t count toward anything but a national team’s overall record. Yet these are the kind of matches that have to be played to see what a team has and whom it can count on when the matches really matter.  Without friendlies, you don’t get an extended look at your player pool.

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