It seems like a very long time ago that I worked at that school in Tijuana coaching American football.The school was called CETYs,an acronym that stood for Centro Education Technica and (something that begins with a 's').They're big on acronyms in Mexico. They also like to put official stamps on things.Everthing is very officious,but if you have the money you can around all the red tape.
Anyway it was in the late 80's that I was traveling back and forth across the border six days a week to coach the U.S brand of football at that private school.The kids that went to CETYs were bred from the aristocracy of TJ. They often referred to themselves as that,the aristocracy. They were proud of their position.Socially,economically,they felt entitled.But it was an arrogance that I didn't mind that much. They liked me there at the school. The rich and the poor are distanced apart in Mexico. The poor are made to feel inferior.People that struggle often feel that way. The rich don't have much to do with the poor except to exploit them.But with the rise of the cartels,the rich have to be more careful.The poor continue to be exploited.They don't have the energy or the means to do anything about it.
I did a pretty good job with the football team. I scheduled games against U.S. teams.Those games were very important to us. We also played local teams in Tijuana. Those games were usually decided by how much money you could bribe the referees. Since we were the only school that played against U.S. teams(we had to play the games in San Diego.that was all right with us.The U.S. refs didn't put the "bite' on us).CETYs won nine games against the American squads against three losses.That was a first for a Mexican school to cross the border and have success against a "gringo' school. CETYs was very popular because of those victories. But we were also very hated by the local rivals.Instead of being proud of their compadres beating the "gringos" from the north,they conspired against us. That's where they got to the referees. I wouldn't pay them off. In the end that was one of the reasons I left the school.They also didn't pay "jack" to anyone there even though the school was owned by one of the wealthiest men in Mexico.Jose Fimbres,the founder of the Cali Max super market chain.
But looking back, it was a new experience for me,and it was fun.I made a lot of friends there.I am still very close to many of them,players,parents,coaches,teachers,and administrators.
I spent a long day at the school when we were in season.After practice the coaches liked to go out for coffee at one of the restaurants on the boulevard. I remember when there was almost nothing out there in the 50's. At the west end of the boulevard(where it began)was the Caliente Race Track.Then about a half mile down the road was the municipal auditorium. Turning left on one of the side streets was the La Mesa penitentiary and Colonia 20 de Noviembre.Getting back on the boulevard going east there were a couple of cantinas,then nothing until you hit Tecate which was 40 miles down the road.But when I started work at CETYs the boulevard was all built up with restaurants ,shopping centers,various places of business. It was a lot of hustle and bustle,and the boulverd was always congested with cars and trucks.You can never get the smell of that Mexican gas out of you. It's not that it's offensive,just very recognizable.I can't remember the name of the coffee shop the coaches and I would go to after practice except that it had an "American" name.That was not only prestigious,but chic.
I'll never forget one night we were all sitting at this big round table lapping up cup after cup of coffee.Of course me being the "gringo' my staff thought I was rich. All Mexicans think Americans are rich. I bet Jose Fimbres even thought I was rich.I never saw one of those guys make a move towards the check when we finally asked the poor waitress for the bill. Those guys had no hesitation for telling the waitress to pour for 10 or 12 free refills.After finishing with us the waitress probably needed her shoes to be resoled.Of course,I'd leave the tip. They had no shame.They were happy just like a bunch of little kids.
The night I'll never forget went like this. We're sitting around, like I said, when I saw this guy come through the door and grab a empty booth across from us.He was alone facing me.I did a double take. I looked him over real hard before I said to one of coaches sitting next to me."Isn't that Ruben Olivares?"
The coach broke away from the banter and gave a quick look at the guy I was referring to.
"If it is he probably can't read the menu,"he laughed.
The rest of the staff now fused their attention on the guy sitting in the booth.
"Someone should tell him that if he needs to take a s--t,They have bathrooms here."
More laughter from the group.
"It looks just like him,"I said still staring. "He even has that gap in his front teeth."
"He got that fom sucking his thumb too much,"chimed in another.
Now it seemed it was a competition to see who could come up with the better insult.I pretended their comments didn't phase me.
"He was a great fighter.One of Mexico's best ever,"I exclaimed.
"He's probably got syphilis by now,"blurted the last comedian.
Whoever that guy was,he sat there by himself. He ate alone.No one paid him any attention except the group I was with and that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't initiated it.My coaching staff didn't feel like continuing their attack. They got back to gossiping and bragging about everything and everyone that popped up into their minds. We finished drowning ourselves in coffee.The caffeine was having a counter affect on me. I was beat.I wanted to cross the border and go home.
As I drove to the border I thought of the time I saw Olivares fight at the Forum in Los Angeles against Jesus Pimental.The arena was packed to the doors.Fireworks were going off,the excitement in the crowd ran through your body. After Olivares had Pimental hanging through the ropes,I could only imagine all the celebrating and pandemonium that continued after his triumph.
Ruben Olivares
