Ode to Pancho

Hey young Sebi. Today you lost your great uncle Pancho (his real name is Hector Caldiero). Sadly, you and your mother never had a chance to meet him.

He was a special man who lived an interesting life, and most importantly, he made my aunt Aida (I call her “Titi”) a happy lady and helped create and raise my two beautiful cousins, Hermes and Romina.

Pancho was born in a small town a few hours outside of Buenos Aires, Argentina but he worked really hard and rose through the ranks to become an internationally-known soccer announcer (that’s called a “locutor” in Spanish) who was best known for covering my favorite club team, Boca Juniors, and who’s biggest international claim to fame was coining the phrase “Batigol” (the nickname for Argentinan soccer great, Gabriel Batistuta). He was a celebrity in his home country of Argentina, and yet, one of the things I remember the most about him is how down-to-earth he was with me, our family, and even the folks he would meet out in the street.

I have so many great memories of him, some going back to my early years living in Mendoza, Argentina. Some of the ones that stand out the most are:

• Him asking a local restaurant to open (after they had already closed) because he knew my mom and I were hungry
• Him explaining what the tastiest part of a steak is (the part closest to the fat and bone)
• Him taking me to La Bombonera to watch a private practice (I was the only person in the stands)
• Watching Parnell Whitaker vs. Julio Ceasar Chavez in a hotel in downtown Miami with him, my father, and my brother
• His crazy driving in the streets of Buenos Aires
• His way of showing humor and affection with his wife, kids, and mom
• Seeing him trying to calm my dad after my dad and brother got into an altercation in my home
• Him taking us to a really old cafe in Buenos Aires and explaining its history
• Him taking the time to watch a 12-year-old kid’s little league soccer game and him telling that kid that he had some real potential (that kid was me)

Like everyone, Pancho had some rough spots in his life, but he found religion (literally) and that helped him find a purpose and a foundation for his life (and I respect that despite the fact that I’m an aetheist).

Though I have a ton of love for him, and the rest of my Argentinan family, I have to admit that I haven’t seen Pancho in years and have only spoken to him (and the rest of my Argentinan family) sparingly over the years. I’m not proud of that, Sebastian, and so I will try my best to change that so that I can serve as a good example for you. Stay in touch with your family and close friends. It’s really important.

Anyhow, tonight is not about father-to-son lecture. Instead, its about trying to share the spirit of a great man and a great life. I find myself leafing through Pancho’s old radio calls on YouTube. Here’s a good one that really communicates what a powerful voice and man he was.

I love you Pancho. Fare you well.