Bus Ride to Glory

Bus Ride The Estudiantes de La Plata bus was rocking back and forth. Players were singing, chanting, jumping and celebrating.  Enzo Perez was sitting on the driver's seat honking the horn. Juan Sebastian Veron stood in the middle of the bus, a giant smile and a black eye on his face. His arms stretched wide hugging his long-time teammate, Jose Calderon. The entire team sang songs along with the four thousand fans that made the trip to Brazil for the Copa Libertadores final.  Let me begin again. I am Pablo Alsina, I am Estudiantes de la Plata.  When you stand behind your team, you're not just a fan. You are part of them. It's even expressed in the way we say it in Spanish "Soy de Estudiantes", "soy de River," etc.  Meaning "I am of" or "I belong to" my team. A true fan IS their team. So, I repeat proudly, I am Estudiantes.  Yesterday was the greatest day as a sports fan in my entire life.  My club team winning the Copa Libertadores made me feel far greater than when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup. The joy I received from my team winning last night will far exceed how I would feel if Argentina wins the 2010 World Cup. I used to argue with fellow Argentines that would prefer their club teams to the Argentina National Team. I would actually say, “How can you love Boca, or River Plate more than Argentina?” And, for instance, one friend would argue “it’s simple, I am Boca and the National team has players from other clubs like River Plate, it’s different.”  I didn't quite understand. In 2006, Juan Sebastian Veron returned to Estudiantes. With him, he brought his great skill but also brought back the greatness of Estudiantes. A greatness that hadn’t been seen since the late sixties. He brought the mystique his father helped build. He brought memories of Copa Libertadores Titles: 1968, 1969, 1970.  Then, he brought current glory. In 2006, Estudiantes would win their first league title since 1983.  To win the title, Estudiantes had to beat Boca Juniors in a one-game playoff. Boca Juniors led 1-0, ironically on a goal by Estudiantes' product, Martin Palermo. But Estudiantes would fight back and tie the game, and then win the game 2-1. Estudiantes was champion again. Fast forward a couple of years to 2009. Juan Sebastian Veron is still with the team, turning down multi-million dollar offers from Italian soccer and from Major League Soccer’s DC United to stay with Estudiantes and wanting to lead the team to another grand title. The cliché "doing it for the love of the game, not for money,” gets used way too often.  In the case of Veron however, it is the absolute truth. He did it for the Love of Estudiantes.  Veron is Estudiantes. As the months passed since his return, my love and passion for Estudiantes continued to grow. Veron’s presence as a captain, as a leader, and as a "Pincha" (the club's nickname), inspired his teammates, inspired the city, and even inspired a soccer announcer living in Miami Beach to love the club even more. Juan Sebastian Veron wanted to do what his father Juan Ramon Veron did: to win a Copa Libertadores title. Back to the Bus Ride The Estudiantes bus was rocking back and forth, players were singing and chanting and jumping and celebrating, Juan Sebastian Veron was in the middle of the bus, a giant smile and a black eye on his face. This was BEFORE THE GAME.  I knew right then and there that Estudiantes would win the Copa Libertadores. The bus came to a stop. The players came out and entered the stadium. Confident, smiling, and ready for glory. They are all Estudiantes. Final versus Cruzeiro The Brazilian club was at home. 65,000 fans were cheering them on.  They were the younger team with faster, stronger, more fit players.  Cruzeiro would take the lead. 1-0, six minutes into the second half. Estudiantes needed at least a draw.  Estudiantes was dead in the water. The stadium was rocking, and shaking, Cruzeiro fans singing.  Veron was yelling. The TV announcer stated that Veron yelled to Mauro Boselli and Gaston Fernandez to give more, to try harder, to die on that field if they had to. Boselli and Gaston would respond.  Six minutes later, Gaston Fernandez would score. 1-1.  All of a sudden, the stadium was nervous. The Cruzeiro fans were not chanting as loud and some were actually whistling at their players’ mistakes. Tired legs all around for both teams. Then a corner kick for Estudiantes. The 34-year old Veron ran like a teenager to take the corner. Veron with the perfect cross, and Mauro Boselli, tired legs and all, out jumped everyone and headed home the second Pincha goal. 2-1. My eyes instantly burst into tears. My hands were clutching my lucky Estudiantes' color (red) sweater. My legs were shaking. The commentator said that as soon as Boselli scored, Estudiantes’ Enzo Perez started to cry.  He then said that the midfielder asked the referee how much time was left. I immediately stared at the clock to see there was still half an hour left in the game -- an eternity if your team is close to glory. In the stands, Estudiantes' legend Carlos Bilardo looked nervous, eyes fixed on the field, wanting glory again for his club. Bilardo is Estudiantes. Current Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella promised Bilardo he would take off his lucky sweater, the one he has worn during the Copa Libertadores games and give it to Bilardo if they won the Copa. Sabella is Estudiantes.  The minutes seemed like an eternity but I prayed for Estudiantes to hold on. My Christian faith that asks Jesus for my family's well being was asking for five more minutes of no goals for Cruzeiro. He must have listened. Bang! Cruzeiro’s shot blasted off the left top corner of the post. Mariano Andujar was beaten, the Estudiantes goalie would not have made the save. The post did. More tears bursting out of my eyes while I wrung my sweater mercilessly. Everyone at GolTV knew not to interrupt me. I was in my own little corner, waiting and praying. Then came a free kick for Cruzeiro. The play seemed to go in slow motion for me. In the far post was a Cruzeiro player, all alone. The great Estudiantes defense left him free. Andujar was out of position. But the shot went wide. The Final whistle blew. For the first time since 1970 Estudiantes won the Copa Libertadores.  The final tears poured down my face.  I can count in one hand the times I have ever cried.  I am a very emotional person but I am not crier. However, I am Estudiantes. Pablo Alsina p.alsina@goltv.tv