In 2008, Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez decided that he would not accept the honor of Mr. Amigo after he was chosen by the The Mr. Amigo Association and the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville.
Derbez, one of the funniest and talented actors on Mexican media, said he had conflicts with his agenda in declining the honor.
The group then decided to name Jose Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council, to replace Derbez.
Now, according to the group's website, Mr. Amigo must be a Mexican citizen who has contributed to the friendship and understanding between the United States and Mexico, must be successful professionals with “the highest standards in their personal and professional life,”and role models who promote the improvement of the quality of life in the Hispanic community.
How Sulaiman, whose organization has been the object of worldwide criticism for promoting the organized bashing by one man of another over the space of 12 rounds qualifies him for being a good "amigo" and promote the unity of Hispanics escapes some of us.
Given the fact that worldwide boxing has also gotten some black eyes over the fixing of fights and the promotion of some well-known fighters over others, it was strange back then that the WBC president had been called as a last-minute replacement for the charismatic Derbez.
Then we were told that – unlike some other organizations – the Mr. Amigo designation carries no pay. The designee is simply invited to come over and have a good time and meetg shoppers over at the local HEB. Then, of course, they get to met some of our local luminaries.We recall that one of the former Mr. Amigo honorees, upon finding out that there would be nothing beside the socializing with the local social leaders, dumped his key to the city in the hotel room wastebasket and hightailed it out of town unwilling to wait out the two or three-day commitment.We can't say we blame him.
The members of the association, however, do get to travel to Mexico City and present the honoree with a framed resolution and party the night away in el DF.
This year, Mexican soap opera star, Arath de la Torre, will be the 47th Mr. Amigo inductee, coinciding with the 75th annual Charro Days celebration in Brownsville. To those of us who don't follow the Mexican citcoms, the name doesn't ring any bells. A cursory (and very brief) check of the novelas in the last few days show that Mr. de la Torre is a, well, at best a mediocre actor in a mediocre novela geared toward the lowest common denominator.
Now, the first Mr. Amigo, in 1964, was Mexican President Miguel Alemán Valdés, who served from 1946 to 1952.
The Mr. Amigo for 2010 was singer Carlos Cuevas.
It is obvious that the quality of the Mr. Amigo inductees have been going down these last few years. We can hardly wait until they have to invite the likes of Cepillin or Chabelo to fill the spot and the Mr. Amigo folks can jet over to Mexico City again to party hardy in the Mexican capital.
19 comments:
If the quality of those who agree to serve as "Mr. Amiso" is deteriorating, perhaps that says something about the quality of entertainers in Mexico...or is an indication that most of the real entertainers are already in the US. Also, perhaps the lack of pride in serving as Mr. Amigo is a reflection of the direction that the Charro Dsys festivities is taking on this side of the border. Why do Americans want to dress up as Mexicans of the past, when Mexicans of today are so determined to dress up like Americans. We surely have a conundrum surrounding Charro Days.
Queremos a Huevolin!!
Charro Days is an integral part of our local history, and should be respected. It is a unique, bi national party, where school children from Matamoros used to get to enter the USA without visas, to march in our parade. No where else has that ever happened. It's a lovely party, and it's primarily for the kids.
The present Mr. Amigo is extremely popular among Spanish speakers. All you mono culturally challenged dumb asses, should just shut up.
Charro Days is not just about Brownsville. Matamoros business's go all out on their parade, with ten times more float's than Brownsville can scrape together.
There is nothing wrong with people celebrating their cultural history.
Quit dissin Charro Days, and my bicultural cities.
NO WORRYS - IF THEY RUN OUT OF MEXI-CANTS THEIRS PLENTY WHERE TO PICK FROM AT THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE NO OFFENSE GRANDPA!!!
I like Cepellin.
I agree that Charro Days should be respected, but unfortunately, the whole thing has declined over the years. According to my elder relatives, the event used to have the military march in it, as well as several universiity marching bands...now its "all just a bunch of adult day care floats". maybe we can bring it back to the prominence it deserves...
Charro Days is such a BORING FESTIVITY it's so yesterday. Mexicans have become so anti American and are now the country's LEECHES that they have overextended their welcome. I for one is sick and tired of celebrating anything MEXICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't care if they pick Rush Limbaugh for "Mr. Amigo", the whole purpose of the event is to get drunk and then try to maintain your balance. Like our Macho Culture demands. Viva Charro Days.
If it's declined over the years, it's because the new breed of Brownsville citizens are a culturally challenged bunch of no nothings, who don't participate in anything.
Mexicans have become anti American to you perhaps. Not to me. I don't blame them. You are the classic Ugly American. Go read the book if you can read, dumb ass.
Last weekend there were plenty of Brownsville citizens dining in Garcia's, and several curious Winter Texans. Sadly, they were all over 65. Sad day for our unique culture, that only the old have some balls.
Don't you hate cowards who give up on their culture, just cause of a little crime wave, no worse than daily life in Cleveland, Phili, or DC.
Just be respecful, don't start arguments, and stay out of the drug biz. Nobody will bother you.
On the border by the sea, but destined to mono cultural boredom and mediocracy. What is Brownsville without Matamoros? Nothing. Absolutely, fucking, nothing. Just another boring small town in Texas.
Nothing more revolting than the hypocracy of a brown skinned Chuko beaner, who doesn't speak Spanish, hating on Mexicans.
Zorro.
I nominate Dagoberto Barrera for Mr. Amigo 2012.
I hope they get Maclovio O'Malley next year.....Uuuuuyyyy!
Zorro..The Geezers you see don't have cajones, they just need their meds and git a bite to eat while there. In fact if can be argued that what cajones they have are not functioning anymore. Hence the need for meds.
El Pinche Gringo
Now why would anybody nominate Mr. Dagoberto Barrera, as Mr. amigo?
Having never met Mr. Barrera in person, I do not know how he looks.
But as evidenced by his letters to the editor and other rants, I imagine him as a 6ft., blond hair, blue-eyed white Anglo-American of Germanic descent. Am I wrong?
I cannot be Mr. Amigo. I am a American Citizen. To be a Mr. Amigo you have to be a wetback. I am also a US Army vet!
Charro Days. The only week of the year that pinche gringos want to be Mexican. Might as well be Halloween Day.
somebody makes a lot of mula with this charro days deal and it aint me
"Don't you hate cowards who give up on their culture, just cause of a little crime wave,"
a "little crime wave"? Just check out:
http://www.mundonarco.com
http://www.historiasdelnarco.com
After checking out the above websites do you still call it a little crime wave?
It's "sitcom," with an "s" - for "situation comedy."
zoro said, "If it's declined over the years, it's because the new breed of Brownsville citizens are a culturally challenged bunch of no nothings, who don't participate in anything..." First of all many who live here are not citizens they're ILLEGAL ALIENS just to fu@k America. They are breeders who race to get pregnant pop those bastard anchor babies for free food stamps free housing free schooling & free medical. I'm sure any participation on their part is what's provided to them for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!
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