25 years ago today

June 22nd 1986. First there was this....


...and a few minutes later, this.



Wow, time flies.

Argentina's Presidential Election: The polls

Peru isn't the only South American Presidential race this year, as Argentina also goes to the polls in Presidential, regional and congressional elections in October (and if we add in Central America, there's Nica and Guat, too). But over in the Argentina race it's a different story to the too-close-to-callness in Peru. Here are the latest polling numbers from three Argentina pollsters, CEOP, Ricardo Rouvier and Ibarómetro:

So even though she hasn't even thrown her hat into the ring officially, incumbent President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is a mile ahead in the running and in all probability will win in the first round (as Argentina's rules state that if you get more than 40% in the first round of votes and your nearest opposition is more than 10% behind you, you win). Behind Cristina come Ricardo Alfonsín, son of the ex-Prez Raúl, ex-Pres Eduardo Duhalde, eternal candidate Elisa Carrió and ex-Prez for about a day and a half (remember that back in 2001?) Adolfo Rodríguez Saá.

Date from here

Oxymoron of the day: Argentine political culture

Post written with Mexfiles in mind.

The recent Nobel Literature prizewinner Mario Vargas Llosa is on something akin to a tour of South America right now and has just landed in Argentina. To mark the occasion Argentine politicos have been on full "oh yeah I just love them there book things" toady alert, with the usual hilarious consequences including:

1) José Adrián Pérez, idiot member of Argentina's national congress said that he was "a good author", but when pushed by a reporter said that he'd done "a lot of valuable things, for example 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'."

2) Diana Conti, another idiot member of congress (and ex-Senator to boot), noted Vargas Llosa as "a man true to his principles" but also the dude that wrote 'The Open Veins of Latin America'.

I'm pretty sure Galeano would have a good chuckle about it all, but it'd be fun to know what García Márquez thinks. Thus ends another day in the paradise that is South America, ladies and gentlemen.

Miami Ultras in New York. Fans visit MLS and watch USA vs Argentina.

ALERT: Be sure to listen to Jorge Ramos y su Banda on ESPN Radio 1450 AM in Miami or go HERE to listen online as Jorge Ramos will have a chat with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Jorge will be asking Don about a future MLS team in South Florida among other MLS related subjects. Be sure to check it out starting at 4PM and call in to 1 800 Deportes You can also follow and send questions on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ESPN_JorgeRamos
Radio address if anyone wants to go is: ESPNDeportesRadio
 Alhambra plaza - 9 floor Coral Gables, FL 33134
Ultras in New York
Miami Ultras were spotted this past weekend in New York City. A group of Ultras, led by Mitchell Rivera visited the Big Apple to watch the USA vs Argentina match that took place this past Saturday.



But before the USA game Mitch decided to visit MLS digital where he was greeted by David Agrell. The Ultras were given a quick tour and were told that we are the first supporters group to visit MLS Digital. David did tell us that FutbolMLS (The Spanish version of the MLS website) will soon get its own front page link. Mitch asked where does MLSsoccer.com, get the most hits outside the US. David replied that it was from Europe and the Middle East only because gambling is legal and they find that MLS is unpredictable and there is parity in the league.

As you will see in the pictures below there is a collection of scarves there. We found that the Miami Ultras scarf was already amongst the MLS supporters scarves. We don't know how they got it, perhaps from Garber's last visit and meeting with the Ultras in January, but either way it's a good sign of things to come. (Click picture to enlarge)

Below you can see more pictures at MLS, the USA game and around New York.

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USA vs Argentina watch party at Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub

Hola Amigos! You wanna see some good futbol? Then come to Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub in Hollywood this Saturday March 26 at 7:00 pm to see the USA vs Argentina game.
This event will be hosted by South Florida United which is an umbrella group that wants to bring all South Florida Soccer groups together. So far the SFU consists of the Miami Ultras, Flight 19 and City of Sunrise Elite. But they invite all groups and fans to join. It's about coming together to celebrate the beautiful game no matter who you support!

Here is a brief description:

Who are the South Florida United?
South Florida United (SFU) is an independent supporterʼs association, supporting all soccer in South Florida, primarily the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL. The group also fully supports and actively pursues the return of a Major League Soccer franchise to the South Florida area. SFU consists of both independent fans as well as supporter subgroups that represent different aspects of South Florida.

The SFU logo represents all of South Floridaʼs soccer fans coming together for one cause: to support local soccer. The nuclear symbol represents the high energy and passion of South Floridaʼs soccer fans joining together to produce an unmatched, unified force, as well as being a nod to the old Miami Fusion. The 3 area codes represent Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, and the colors !represent our support of our current team, as well as the most successful team of the past, the Strikers.

How to Join
New members can join online via the SFU -or- subgroup websites, or join in person at any Strikers game or other SFU event. Membership is free.

For more info go HERE

News roundup (no silly parentheses today as every time the word Japan floats back into my brain all the jokes disappear)

We're keeping it LatAm-focussed, but remember what's important in life and what's not. I really think you'd be much better off reading other websites today and not this one, as all LatAm has to offer is minutae.

Best political quote of the day is Alejandro Toledo's "Not all Apristas are corrupt." His new tactic is clearly "Remember folks, I'm the one you vote for if you don't like Alan" which is a smart strategic move.

Guatemala's youth killings. Central American Politics has the latest figures and they're not nice at all.

Today's good market link is Cam Hui over at Humble Student of the Markets and his "A test of the Bernanke put" because Cam is being as insightful as always. This is good.

For Spanish speakers looking for more insight on the Argentina political events and guidance to the 2011 Presidentials later this year, today's post by Abel is unmissable.

Argentina 2011 elections: "A crucial triumph" for Cristina

Argentina's daily of record, La Nacion, is calling yesterday's win by Lucía Corpacci as just that and who am I to argue?

Argentina's politics is a veritable quagmire that's difficult to escape once you're sucked into it, but however hard it is to explain to outsiders, it's the most fun possible for South American politikwatchers. So to events and putting yesterday into a nutshell, what happened was that Corpacci won the vote to be the next Governor of the province of Catamarca (up Northwest on your map of Argentina), winning out from the incumbent Governor Eduardo Brizuela del Moral.

So, provincial election in way-out-that-waysville and what's the big deal Otto? The big deal is that Corpacci is a staunch Kirchnerite and this vote was seen by one and all as the first real test of Cristina's candidacy strength in the upcoming October 2011 Presidentials. Catamarca yesterday was a sort of New Hampshire Primary, if you like. Not the same because Cristina wasn't up on the ballot explicitly, but be in no doubt that Catamarca knew exactly who they were really voting for by making Corpacci their new Governor.

As thus, let Cristina's opposition tremble even more. She's already way out ahead in the polls and this weekend is yet another strong sign that re-election is the way of 2011. And she hasn't even officially thrown her hat into the ring yet, either.

Argentina: Widow's Peak

With a doff of the cap to top Argy econblog Los Tres Chiflados, here's how the 2011 Presidential election voter intention is looking in Argentina this weekend, according to local pollster CEOP.

Don't tell me you need a translation on that.

USA over T and T with Video, Miami FC wins pre-season game and more...

First of all our good friend Julio Caballero of the Miami Ultras gave us the heads up that Miami FC won their preseason match vs Barry University 3-1. More on that later today.

I'm still shocked to see how Maradona's Argentina lost 6-1 to Bolivia! I don't want to talk bad about Bolivia but no way are they that good to beat Argentina so bad. It's going to be fun reading what the Argentine press says about Maradona.

Did you kids see Jozy Altidore tonight? He was on fire! It's good to see the future of U.S. Soccer looking so bright. Though he was born in Jersey (of all places) he comes out of South Florida folks, Boca Raton to be exact. We'll take any credit we can get for any player who is as good as this 19 year old striker. Altidore scored his hat trick off of Landon Donovan assists. (Final Score USA 3 T & T 0)

"He's a player (Altidore) that, you know, we have known for a while is going to be a big part of our team going forward, but things need to be earned. Things need to come at the right time," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. Read more here ESPN

I don't know Bradley, I think Jozy Altidore has earned his spot as a starter, not only because of the hat trick but because he came off the bench against El Salvador and scored. Call me crazy but 4 goals in 2 games is enough to have "earned" a spot to me!
Check out the highlights:

Maradona a Grandfather! Soccer star Sergio Aguero proud dad

Will the kid play Soccer?
MADRID, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Diego Maradona became a grandfather on Thursday amid expectations the new arrival may one day follow in the Argentina great's footsteps.
Maradona's daughter Gianina gave birth in Madrid to son Benjamin, whose father is Argentina striker Sergio Aguero.
The Atletico Madrid player has often been likened to World Cup winner Maradona, who now manages the national team.

Here is the rest by Reuters

Maradona video by Manu Chao "La Vida Tombola"

In a tribute to Maradona, Manu Chao (Born José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao on June 21, 1961 in Paris, France) dedicates a catchy tune to one of his idols.
Manu, of Spanish (Galician-Basque) origin, develops a video grasping the many facets of Maradonas past, showing us a glimpse of highlights that demonstrate the greatness of a player many consider to be the best to ever walk this planet.
Diego Armando Maradona was born on October 30, 1960 in Lanus, Buenos Aires and is the current coach of the Argentine National Side.

To sum it up MANU Y MARADONA...GRANDES!!!!!
See the video: