How ESPN Deportes Saved My Life

I never knew the relationship I would developWalking down the street on Valentine's Day
with ESPN deportes would grow so strong. Whoalmost always guaranteed at least one free
knew that a Spanish sports channel could do soconcert, and most nicer restaurants featured their
much for a kid who grew up in Boise...own in-house bands. The only time I didn't want
Anybody that has ever been to Boise, Idaho,the mariachi band to play in the restaurant was
knows that the city's nickname, "City of Trees,"when my Camoteros were playing on ESPN
only applies to a 100 foot-wide section thatdeportes.Fiestas, Pachangas, and Bodas
follows the Boise River through the middle of theI lived in a town of only a couple thousand people,
city. The rest of the city looks more like the setso everybody knew everybody. When someone
of a John Wayne movie - dry, sage-brushgot married, turned 15 years old, or had a new
covered, and dry. So I felt right at home in thebaby, the whole town was invited to the party.
high mountain desert of Puebla, Mexico, where IThe colors, the music, and the sense of
lived for two years. Although I love being back incommunity are still vivid memories I won't soon
America, there are a few things I miss aboutforget. My birthday party at Olive Garden with a
Mexico. Here are four things I miss and a few offew friends seems completely lame in comparison
the things that make me feel better.ESPNto even the smallest party I went to in Mexico.
DeportesThe town also had their annual celebration to
Growing up playing soccer, I thought I was prettyvenerate their favorite Saint, revolutionary hero,
hot stuff. In Mexico, I was mediocre at best. Itor Pope - and the food was always incredible.Real
was a pretty humbling experience the first time IMexican Food
played with a group of 12-year-olds and theySince I moved back to America I have only had
literally ran circles around me. I'll never forget theone meal that was close enough to authentic
rush of standing in the middle of 45,000 ecstaticMexican food that I could close my eyes and
soccer fans singing in unison to support theirimagine I was still there. (In case you are
team, which happened to be ranked last place inwondering, it was not at Taco Bell.) Every tour
the entire country. You just can't get soccer likebook and travel agent will tell you to avoid eating
that in America. In fact, you can hardly get anyfood from street vendors when you're in Mexico
soccer at all. To watch the World Cup I had tobecause you will most likely get sick. I would
wake up at 2:00am every morning, but I countedtrade a week of Montezuma's revenge for one
myself lucky because they were actually showinggood Taco al Pastor any time; and what I
soccer on TV. For any soccer fans out there whowouldn't give to have a quesadilla not made from
are disappointed with regular TV's offering ofcheddar cheese. Unfortunately, state health
soccer games, you've got to check out ESPNdepartments regulate restaurants too closely to
deportes. Even if you don't speak Spanish, theallow for any really good Mexican food here in
soccer coverage is worth it.Mariachi BandsAmerica, so I'll have to bide my time until I can
I'm not much of a musician myself, so there is noafford a plane ticket back.
way anybody would ever pay for me to dress upGood soccer, good food, good music, and good
in a black, sequin-covered suit and sing at the toptimes. I grew up American through and through,
of my lungs to their loved ones. I miss thebut spending a few years in Mexico made me
talented musicians in mariachi bands who wooedthink that had I been born south of the border, I
young lovers and venerated great-grandparents.would have fit in just fine.