My love of sports actually began with the L.A. Dodgers in the early 80s during “Fernando-mania” (my dad enjoyed taking me to Dodgers Stadium). In elementary school, I would spend hours watching Dodgers games on a tiny black & white TV and doing homework or reading. I was also a big Lakers fan during the “Showtime” era. I eventually swapped baseball for football and Dan Marino’s Miami Dolphins—even before my family moved cross country to North Miami, FL. Games at the Orange Bowl (‘Canes and ‘Fins) and Joe Robbie Stadium were childhood highlights.
Soccer, however, is in my blood. As a Costa Rican-American, it’s hard not follow the sport – even more when we later moved to Costa Rica. Although I support Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, watching Argentina win the 1986 World Cup was a transformative experience that eventually led to my research. I’ve been able to visit many iconic soccer stadiums around the world, but La Bombonera and El Monumental in Buenos Aires, and the Centenario in Montevideo, are something else.
Fun Facts
- Furthest I’ve traveled: (North) Cambridge 🇬🇧 (South) La Plata 🇦🇷 (East) Varanasi 🇮🇳 (West) San Francisco 🇺🇸
- Favorite movies: The Godfather 1 & 2, Batman Begins, The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
- Bucket-list concerts: Tom Jones, Rick Astley, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band
