Monday, March 17, 2014
Visiting Puerto Caimito, Rivera's home town
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3/16/14, "Former Yankee Mariano Rivera out to revive thirst for baseball in Panama," Star-Ledger, Jorge Castillo, Puerto Caimito, Panama
"The home is gated, but not hidden. It protrudes from the landscape on the left side of Calle Puerto Caimito when you enter this underdeveloped town of fishermen, the lone road to the shore along the Gulf of Panama, this village’s lifeline. If the outsized dimensions and immaculate architecture is not enough, a Google Maps search reveals the owner: Mariano Rivera.
Like the house, Rivera is not covert when he travels from his adopted home in New Rochelle, N.Y., to occupy this residence in his hometown along the southern coast of Panama. Residents say he walks down the road, past his father and in-laws’ houses and the evangelical church built with his money and the elementary school he attended for six years, and greets his brethren with containers of toys for children.
At the end of the road, where the rocky path meets a shore populated with crumbling boats and seafood vendors and a rundown youth center, once stood a modest dwelling Rivera called home as a child. It no longer exists, knocked down some time in the 24 years since he left for the United States to launch an unlikely career with the New York Yankees that concluded last September.
This week, Rivera, 44, returned to Panama and he brought the Yankees and Marlins with him for the nation’s first major-league games since 1947.
Pride radiated throughout this village Saturday afternoon hours before Rivera tossed the first pitch at Rod Carew Stadium 45 kilometers away. Some planned on attending one of the two games, but most could not afford a ticket and travel. Instead, most were going to watch them on television. Fireworks were expected.
"He’s a figure we treasure," said Sergio Reyes, a local pastor, in Spanish. "Not only because of what he represents as a baseball player, but the values that he projects, what he represents for the children of Panama."
Hoping to Motivate
To everyone in Puerto Caimito, Mariano Rivera was just "Pili," a nickname Rivera’s sister popularized.
"I cry seeing how he has gone from humble beginnings to reach something so high," Sayuri Rivera, a cousin, said. "And not just here, but on a worldwide level."
Flor Deliz Segura was two grades above Rivera at Escuela Victorino Chacón, the local elementary school. She takes pride in pointing out that she and Rivera are now, in a sense, related — she is an aunt of Rivera’s oldest nephew and niece.
The two grew up a few houses away from each other playing on the same street. She recalls Rivera fishing and chasing after iguanas. "He loved iguanas," Segura said.
Now she has a nephew who pitches on the same district team — La Chorrera — Rivera played on before he was signed by Yankees scout Herb Raybourn for $3,000 after a 10-pitch tryout in his backyard. "He really appreciates Mariano and says he wants to be like Mariano Rivera," Segura said.
During his own childhood, professional baseball was not in Rivera’s universe. He was known for constantly running around and throwing everything in sight, his cousin Sayuri Rivera, joked, but sports were never a serious endeavor until he was pulled from the local high school, La Escuela Secundaria Pedro Pablo Sanchez, after his first year to play baseball.
Part of Rivera’s mission this weekend was
to invigorate baseball in this nation of 3.8 million people at the youth
level. The country’s presence in the major leagues is dwindling — there
are currently four players from Panama on 40-man major-league rosters.
"I hope what this does is motivate the youth because there is a lot of talent here in Panama," Rivera said. "They can be motivated to play sports at the highest level in the major leagues. And prepare themselves and move forward. I know a lot of them have dreams and I think this could motivate them."
Active with church
Mariano Rivera’s presence at Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia is immediately noticeable. In the foyer, on the wall to the right, hangs a plaque and portrait honoring Rivera, presented to him during his visit last month.
It is a sanctuary built on Rivera’s dime. Rivera donated $850,000 to construct the building, which opened "six or seven years ago," Reyes, the church’s pastor, estimates.
Rivera attends and preaches at the church whenever he can, Reyes said, and holds various events. One last month attracted 1,000 people from the town.
Rivera’s presence, residents say, extends beyond the church. He has donated to the local health center and elementary school and regularly meets with friends and family in the community.
One Sunday last month, Rivera invited the men in his family — brothers, uncles and cousins — to his home for breakfast. He preached to them — as he does sometimes to the congregation at Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia.
"He’s treated us the same like always," Segura said. "He’s always been humble."
But critics opine he does not do enough for Panama. Rivera is sometimes described as distant and is chastised for making New York his permanent residence and raising his children there.
He was criticized for not playing for Panama in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 and building his lavish home in an impoverished area. Those naysayers have relented a bit recently as Rivera has displayed a greater connection to the country.
"It’s just that people don’t want to understand," Segura said. "They think everything he has should go to the people. But they’re wrong. They’re wrong. He’s helped this town a lot."
The negative opinions were buried this weekend. Saturday night, Rivera threw out the first pitch to the roar of 30,000 people in attendance at Rod Carew Stadium. Thousands more attended yesterday’s game, including 86 children from Puerto Caimito in three buses.
This afternoon, he’ll return to Puerto Caimito, also his wife Clara’s hometown, for the fourth time in four months for an event at 2 p.m. to complete his trip to Panama before returning to New York tomorrow. He is expected to make donations. A village will be waiting.
"For us, he’s wonderful," Reyes said. "Mariano is a figure that has given prestige to Puerto Caimito and Panama. So to have him here on a day like this, and with the Yankees, is something wonderful. It’s something excellent.""
.
3/16/14, "Former Yankee Mariano Rivera out to revive thirst for baseball in Panama," Star-Ledger, Jorge Castillo, Puerto Caimito, Panama
"The home is gated, but not hidden. It protrudes from the landscape on the left side of Calle Puerto Caimito when you enter this underdeveloped town of fishermen, the lone road to the shore along the Gulf of Panama, this village’s lifeline. If the outsized dimensions and immaculate architecture is not enough, a Google Maps search reveals the owner: Mariano Rivera.
Like the house, Rivera is not covert when he travels from his adopted home in New Rochelle, N.Y., to occupy this residence in his hometown along the southern coast of Panama. Residents say he walks down the road, past his father and in-laws’ houses and the evangelical church built with his money and the elementary school he attended for six years, and greets his brethren with containers of toys for children.
At the end of the road, where the rocky path meets a shore populated with crumbling boats and seafood vendors and a rundown youth center, once stood a modest dwelling Rivera called home as a child. It no longer exists, knocked down some time in the 24 years since he left for the United States to launch an unlikely career with the New York Yankees that concluded last September.
This week, Rivera, 44, returned to Panama and he brought the Yankees and Marlins with him for the nation’s first major-league games since 1947.
Pride radiated throughout this village Saturday afternoon hours before Rivera tossed the first pitch at Rod Carew Stadium 45 kilometers away. Some planned on attending one of the two games, but most could not afford a ticket and travel. Instead, most were going to watch them on television. Fireworks were expected.
"He’s a figure we treasure," said Sergio Reyes, a local pastor, in Spanish. "Not only because of what he represents as a baseball player, but the values that he projects, what he represents for the children of Panama."
Hoping to Motivate
To everyone in Puerto Caimito, Mariano Rivera was just "Pili," a nickname Rivera’s sister popularized.
"I cry seeing how he has gone from humble beginnings to reach something so high," Sayuri Rivera, a cousin, said. "And not just here, but on a worldwide level."
Flor Deliz Segura was two grades above Rivera at Escuela Victorino Chacón, the local elementary school. She takes pride in pointing out that she and Rivera are now, in a sense, related — she is an aunt of Rivera’s oldest nephew and niece.
The two grew up a few houses away from each other playing on the same street. She recalls Rivera fishing and chasing after iguanas. "He loved iguanas," Segura said.
Now she has a nephew who pitches on the same district team — La Chorrera — Rivera played on before he was signed by Yankees scout Herb Raybourn for $3,000 after a 10-pitch tryout in his backyard. "He really appreciates Mariano and says he wants to be like Mariano Rivera," Segura said.
During his own childhood, professional baseball was not in Rivera’s universe. He was known for constantly running around and throwing everything in sight, his cousin Sayuri Rivera, joked, but sports were never a serious endeavor until he was pulled from the local high school, La Escuela Secundaria Pedro Pablo Sanchez, after his first year to play baseball.
"To be honest, I never looked for it," said
Rivera, who caught the first pitch Sunday from retired boxer Roberto
Duran, perhaps the only athlete with more clout than Rivera in Panama.
"God made it for me. I loved sports, but I never did it intending to
sign professionally. God opened the door and took me to this moment. All
I can do is thank God for everything he’s done for me."
"I hope what this does is motivate the youth because there is a lot of talent here in Panama," Rivera said. "They can be motivated to play sports at the highest level in the major leagues. And prepare themselves and move forward. I know a lot of them have dreams and I think this could motivate them."
Active with church
Mariano Rivera’s presence at Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia is immediately noticeable. In the foyer, on the wall to the right, hangs a plaque and portrait honoring Rivera, presented to him during his visit last month.
It is a sanctuary built on Rivera’s dime. Rivera donated $850,000 to construct the building, which opened "six or seven years ago," Reyes, the church’s pastor, estimates.
Rivera attends and preaches at the church whenever he can, Reyes said, and holds various events. One last month attracted 1,000 people from the town.
Rivera’s presence, residents say, extends beyond the church. He has donated to the local health center and elementary school and regularly meets with friends and family in the community.
One Sunday last month, Rivera invited the men in his family — brothers, uncles and cousins — to his home for breakfast. He preached to them — as he does sometimes to the congregation at Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia.
"He’s treated us the same like always," Segura said. "He’s always been humble."
But critics opine he does not do enough for Panama. Rivera is sometimes described as distant and is chastised for making New York his permanent residence and raising his children there.
He was criticized for not playing for Panama in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 and building his lavish home in an impoverished area. Those naysayers have relented a bit recently as Rivera has displayed a greater connection to the country.
"It’s just that people don’t want to understand," Segura said. "They think everything he has should go to the people. But they’re wrong. They’re wrong. He’s helped this town a lot."
The negative opinions were buried this weekend. Saturday night, Rivera threw out the first pitch to the roar of 30,000 people in attendance at Rod Carew Stadium. Thousands more attended yesterday’s game, including 86 children from Puerto Caimito in three buses.
This afternoon, he’ll return to Puerto Caimito, also his wife Clara’s hometown, for the fourth time in four months for an event at 2 p.m. to complete his trip to Panama before returning to New York tomorrow. He is expected to make donations. A village will be waiting.
"For us, he’s wonderful," Reyes said. "Mariano is a figure that has given prestige to Puerto Caimito and Panama. So to have him here on a day like this, and with the Yankees, is something wonderful. It’s something excellent.""
.
