Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

[BillVol]

Was watching the evening news on Galavision tonight and they showed Ana returning to Mexico.

There is no doubt she is the biggest celebrity in Mexico right now. The cameras showed the plane as it came out of the clouds and followed it until it reached the gate.

She was surrounded by around ten policemen as she exited the plane.

She was led to an SUV which, accompanied by many police motorcycles and cars, sped her to Los Pinos, the "Mexican White House." President Vicente Fox welcomed her and they visited for a while.

Then she was led to an auditorium full of some ten thousand Mexican school kids. Kids read speeches honoring Ana and a mariachi band played for her.

Then it was off to the Televisa station where Joaquín López-Dóriga, #1 news anchor in Mexico, interviewed her.

If only a track star could generate such excitement "north of the border"!

Re: Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

north of the border, the "man in the street" doesn't realize that track athletes are pros. The lay public thinks it's still chariots of fire.

Re: Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

Actually, there is an athlete north of the border who generates that kind of enthusiasm--Ana Guevara. We are optimistic that she'll return to the Pre Classic in 2004 (June 19 or 20 is the date), and with a large Mexican population, we anticipate having perhaps 1,500 or more of her countrymen in the stands. (Tickets go on sale March 17 from 1-800-WEBFOOT, btw.)

At the Grand Prix Final in Monaco last weekend, Ana spent most of Friday morning on one of the free computers set up by the organizers for use by the athletes...updating her popular website and diary.

[BillVol]

Re: Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

Of course there are US athletes deserving of such attention north of the border. My wish should have been that the people here give our track heroes the adulation that they deserve.

Here are some links on Ana's return to Mexico:

http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/?P=2&Orde ... e&Art=6324

The below articles are in Spanish. You can enter the URL in the space indicated on this page...

http://world.altavista.com/

...to translate. There are many other articles on the Reforma site besides the ones below. Links are in the right sidebar next to the articles.

http://www.reforma.com/deportes/articulo/330976/

http://www.reforma.com/deportes/articulo/330979/

http://www.reforma.com/deportes/articulo/330831/

Re: Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

gee Tom, maybe you could capitalize on that Latino support by eliminating all the field events and having a soccer game go on during the Pre!

Re: Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

Hey Franz, can i play midfield. I have a friend "Pele" he would liek to play also and we can use one of "Ana"'s balls to kick around

[blacklily]

Re: Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

>gee Tom, maybe you could capitalize on that
>Latino support by eliminating all the field
>events and having a soccer game go on during the
>Pre!

What an utterly ignorant comment. Tom knows a headliner when he sees one, & Ana Guevara is a headliner. That was clearly displayed at the Home Depot meet, where she was the main draw. To a lesser extent, at Pre. That's why the Mt. SAC Relays organizers are trying to get her to their meet. If it draws more fans to the stadium -- mind you, new fans -- who cares? Or can track & field be picky about who is in the stands?

Pre could hit the 14,000 overflow mark again. Especially if tickets get sold out earlier, which gives the Pre Classic organizers earlier access to these funds. Coupled with some of Mexico's decent distance runners (so it's sustained even if Guevara get injured, sick, etc.), it would make for an even livelier event. Better fare than the meet drivel we're typically forced to see, at most other meets. Go Mr. Jordan!

Re: Heroine's welcome for Ana Guevara

I believe Tom. I was at the pre-classic this year, and though the crowd supporting Anna wasn't substantial, it did generate a good energy. The kids from the family I stayed with were going 'who's that?' and by the time her victory lap approached where we were sitting, they were screaming 'Ana..Ana..'. Was a very nice experience!