Dominican football?

[Arve]

Sorry to dig this one up from its grave, but I've had exams..
work plus God knows what else and I just wanted to comment.

Dms3611. What was the score though? To each his own I
suppose, and that's fair enough really. Negative degrees of
freedom is a bitch... What you described would normally be
regarded as bookable offences, even in football.

Personally, football is maybe the best of many reasons I have
for not choosing DR when deciding where I want to go as I
now want to nail my Spanish. As if negotiations over fees on
celebratory hugs with a prostitute isn't hard enough, explaining
the importance of a Danny Murphy winning goal vs Manchester
United has been as frustrating as it has been futile.

However, I mainly wanted to say that I quite enjoyed Hillbilly's
post. Pity it happened like that. Football is supposed to be
intense and amateur, being a game for lower classes almost
anywhere but in the DR.

I'm not surprised to learn about a role for cigar smoking danes.
After all they enjoy life, unlike us other Scandinavians who
endure it.

There's a snowball's chance in hell that I'll end up at
Complutense one of these days. I'll walk slowly past that guy's
office if I ever do.

Best wishes for 2004.

[Oche]

Dominican soccer has experimented a considerable growth within the last 10 years. Football or soccer is far more accesible to even lower classes nowadays than it was 10-15 years ago. Proof of this is on soccer fields at Santo Domingo, San Cristobal or Moca and a few other towns and communities in the north. It is growing very slowly since dominicans find it appealing. Historically it has been most spread trough middle classes as it can be seen on Santo Domingo and Santiago, such practice is encouraged by private schools led either by clergy or non clergy authorities, strenghtened and supported by southamerican and european colonies settled in this fine country.

[Hillbilly]

Football has always been there for the "lower" classes.

Hell, I made about 7 fields myself with the sponsorship of Texaco back in the 70s. Mao, Esperanza, La Herradura, Villa Vasquez, Castañuelas are the ones I remember....

There were teams in Villa Tapia, Haina, San Cristobal that competed in the First Division in the 70s.

Moca Jarabacoa and La Vega were always hot spots for football.
Who can forget Padre Epy at Refor, Padre Joaquin or any of the others that shaped young men in football???? Or the Bolivian Fortunato Quispe Mendoza who created the Aurora Football Club out of nothing. Or the time their bus broke down and Villa Tapia ran the last 15 kilometers to the game!

HB

[Oche]

Well it was my point of view, not a statement, i'm obviously not as old as you are, i'm only 27, hence i cannot argue about soccer amateur histories dated as far back in 70's. I did not say that soccer was absent for lower classes, just that it was more spread through middle classes than lower. BTW we dominicans always welcome every foreign soccer enthusiast wether regardless of nationality. In regards to contribution to soccer in this country, my opinion is that Jorge Rolando Bauger is the No. 1 contributor followed by Quispe Mendoza.

[Hillbilly]

If you had posted thirty years ago, the sports reporters would have said Rosendo Sepúlveda, José Mójica and Luis Midence were the prime movers of fútbol in the DR. Bauger makes his living with football and noe of the above mentioned ever tried to do that. Neither did Fortunato Quispe Mendoza....But those were other days...

HB

[Tordok]

Oche,
I think that I may be a bit older than you but still younger than Mr. Hillbilly. I can respectfully tell you that HB is the most knowledgeable person regarding organized fútbol's development in the DR of anyone I know, as he had a big role in it. His other point is also quite relevant. Mr. Bauger's contribution to Dominican soccer is pretty obvious and important, but it also is a two-way street for him since he makes a living out of it too (TV, academy, etc.). Nothing wrong with that. However, the people HB mentions were true pioneers, sponsoring our beloved global sport among Dominicans of all levels and preceding Bauger in time.
They also did it truly for the love of sport and never went into it expecting material rewards. That, to me also, is a significant distinction when looking for who has been more influential.

-Tordok

[Oche]

I respect your opinions gentlemen, i never did question the contribution of the persons mentioned herein, nor was my intention to offend anyone. BTW, i'm glad that Mr. Bauger, makes a living out of Soccer in this country.

[Paulino]

If I may be so frank I'd like to suggest that the reason why soccer is not very popular or widespread in the DR is a combination of the climate and the psyche of the people. It is too hot for soccer, where you basically have to be physically active, running, jumping and kicking, most all of 2x45 minutes. OK, so it is hot in Mexico and Brazil too, where soccer is a craze, so part of the reason might lie in the psyche or attitude of Dominicans. No offense, but are Dominicans just that more laid-back?

I remember walking by a soccer field (near the Malecon) in Puerto Plata a couple of years ago. It was in the early evening, and the game was in full swing. The air was hot and sticky, and I thought to myself, how do they stand playing under these conditions? Must have been a dedicated few.

I suppose baseball is far more suitable here, a game where the extent of physical activity more or less is limited to swinging a bat or jogging a few yards every once in a while, with plenty of chance to rest in the shade in between. And chew some tobacco. You are also protected from the sun by long sleeve jerseys and long pants or stockings (or whatever they are called) plus a cap on the head. Has anyone ever seen a soccer player wear an outfit like this?

What first captured the hearts and minds of the people also must have something to do with it. If soccer had already caught a certain hold before the yankees introduced baseball in the DR way back when, things might possibly have been somewhat different (The US never occupied Brazil or Mexico, as far as I am aware, and certainly not in the early years of the past century. This argument also belongs in the first paragraph above.)

If soccer is more popular in places like Jarabacoa, could it be partly because the higher altitude climate is more benign?

Just a few unqualified thoughts that weren't meant to be taken too seriously.

(Arve: Heia Norge!)

[jorge_33]

For those soccer lovers, it's never too hot, too wet, too dry, too cold, etc, etc.... if you love the game you'll do anything to play no matter the conditions.

I'm an active soccer player, I was never close to be a wrold class soccer player, but I had my great moments playing for different clubs in South/North America and Europe.

Rain?? No problem!!!
Heat?? No problem!!
Lighting!!!! Ohhhhhh well... that would be a problem.. hehehe

I see plenty of future great players, that only need the correct coaching to better their skills. I've seen kids with the same interest, skills and dicipline as other kids in the rest of the world.
First time I went to DR (2 years ago) I had the impression that the only sport to see and to practice would be baseball... wrong!! Now, every time I go to DR, I make sure to pack a pair of shin guards and soccer cleats.... and i'm ready to have fun.
Personally, that's a great way to make friends, besides.. girls like to see a good player with skills.. another way to make more friends
Regards,
Jorge