Spanish...NO?...YES!
Apparently saying a couple of Spanish words in my sportscasts has become a popular issue on the radio...at least on WOR Radio 710. Yesterday, I was a guest on "The Steve Malzberg Show". Steve invited me to discuss why I occasionally throw out a Spanish phrase or two and how this came about. I invite you to listen to the show because the comments made, well... I won't do them justice!
In a nutshell, it all began about three years ago. David Ortiz (I believe) hit a monster homerun, and I threw out a "Pa la calle" ("to the street"). Based on the "moment", I reacted to the homerun leaving the park. And, I liked it! It made me feel like I was exerting some of my own personality during the segment. I appreciate the fact that I can have a little fun with sports . As a news reporter, this is not such an easy thing to do.
So, it stuck! Now each sport has its own trademark Spanish line. Steve, respectfully (thank you), questioned the use of these words and added that for some listeners, "it doesn't sit right". Steve's argument is that my use of Spanish phrases can be interpreted as yet another way the U.S. is "in danger of losing its language and culture". I must disagree! It's simply a reaction to a play or a homerun or a goal or a dunk. The words are spoken at appropriate times, when the action justifies an emotional response. Think of it as you, sitting at home, watching the Mets, and Carlos Beltran hits a bomb. You might yell, "Hell ya!" My reaction is in Spanish. As a Puerto Rican, born on the island, with most of her family still on the island, sometimes my thoughts are in my native tongue. However, growing up in the states, my parents (both educators) pushed me to learn English and be as much a part of this society as any "true blood American". Having this balance is the way I have succeeded from elementary school to Harvard University and beyond . However, "Spanish" and the ideals of my own culture have never waned. It is an excellent blend of both worlds that has been instrumental in my personal and professional successes.
Yes, I admit...the use of these phrases has become "my thing", but I don't think this takes away from the sincerity of their use. I have always been true to what I do and work tirelessly to put together accurate, informative and entertaining sportscasts. Trust me, it's not just the players who feel pressure to be appreciated and accepted by the New York, New Jersey sports fan base. I implore you to get past one or two words and REALLY listen to those 3 minutes or so of Lolita's Lineup. You might smile, laugh, say "oh I didn't know that" or simply appreciate the fact that I showed you those much needed highlights (because you were stuck at a lame dinner and couldn't watch the game. We've all been there!) Thanks for the support and keep watching...Adios amigos, Lolita Lopez
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Comments: 15
I'm hispanic and I personally cringe whenever I hear you say a stupid out of place ghetto spanish phrase on the TV, it makes us look bad to both non spanish and spanish Americans...give it a rest. POR FAVOR!!!!
Listen, I've gotten used to Pa la calle for better or worse, and I still watch and like you. My real question is, are you a sports fan? do you anything about sports before you got this gig?
I ask because I have seen you do reports on everything on the broadcast, and not sure if you just got this spot because the timing was right. I'm just curious.
Lolita - I love when you say "PA LA CALLE" it's a phrase that I as Puerto Rican myself look forward for you to say it. It makes the Sports more interesting and also when we see the homerun in baseball it's a phrase that no matter what your background American or non American it's said in every language. Spanish just brings out the best in the word. Sigue muchacha "Pa La Calle" con tu Sports.
personally if i want to watch/listen to spanish ill just switch to GALAVISION or NOTICIAS. u guys are english language broadcasters next thing i know kaidee will be saiying NI-HAO on TV.
from one long islander to another....im not really concerned about your background and pedigree covering sports. but your use of spanish phrases has always bothered me. what this does is really make your spot almost an ethnic sports segment. the many other ethnic groups that make up the metro area arent going to understand or appreciate your spanish, but instead alienate them. i know it has bothered me.
i watch your 10pm news quite frequently but i turn off when you come on. tonite i turned on to watch mr g for the snow info when i heard you finishing your report and you mentioned steve malzburg. i decided to put in my two cents as an avid long-time sports fan!i certainly respect the fact that you are proud of your spanish heritage, but what happens is that it weakens your validity in the sportscaster role. establishing a personna as a sportsperson isnt easy, and in our market you sometimes are up against the top guns like berman and you sub for another ny legend in sal. even salzburg has his own style but he doesnt use ethnic phrases. if you are serious about your sports reporting, use your knowledge, bubbly disposition and wit to make the broadcast your thing. i respect the fact that you mentioned this subject during tonite's broadcast. my comments are not meant to be personal in nature. i know you have received awards of excellence in the spanish community. i think if you want to be taken seriously as a sports broadcaster in the whole ny sports scene, which is a highly coveted job in the big apple, you should lose the spanish phrases. try it!
Hey Lolita,
you have become a personal favorite play by play sports broadcaster next to Sal. It really doesn't matter in which way you call the game. It's ok to throw a few spanish words in the mix, it actually makes it more exciting. You just keep on doing a wonderful job.
First of all, thank you all for your comments!! An open discussion about any topic is always good and hopefully productive in the end.
To Roberto, the last thing I want to do is make anyone look bad. I strive to create a product that is informative and factual, whether it is news or sports. I have been in the business for 10 years and remain as focused as I was on my first day on the job to tell a good story. Thanks for watching!
Groucho, I have been the weekend sports anchor at WPIX for the past 5 years. I often substitute when the M-F sports anchor is out. I began as a news reporter and because of this, hold a "hybrid" position. I report news three days a week (barring any big sports stories) and anchor sports on the weekend. I have an athletics background, having played volleyball and track throughout college. My family friends are Jose Cruz and Dickie Thon, so going to an Astros game in the 80s was like going to school. The point is, we were there a lot. That's how my love for baseball began. In Texas, football is king. I followed the Oilers and Cowboys with my older brother who loves the game.
I have also had the honor of working alongside NY sports greats. Sal has taught me a lot. Listening to his stories is always an education. Former Ch11 Mets game announcers, Dave O'Brien and the great Tom Seaver helped me understand how to transfer interesting information gathered in my reporting into complete sports segments (taking statistics that apply to my information and combining the two features).
I continue to learn and grow. Please note, I take nothing for granted and understand how lucky I am to do something I love for a living.
Hi Lolita!
First of all, I'm not Hispanic and have no Hispanic heritage whatsoever... but I would like to remind all of your detractors that the United States of America has no official language -- yes, English is the most widely used language and is the language that most official government business is conducted in, but we have no de jure official language. Therefore, anyone saying to you that "" is sorely mistaken at best, and simply bigoted at worst.
"Ghetto" Spanish? Please. Like it or not, Spanish is the fastest growing language in our multi-cultural, multi-lingual country. Sprinkling a few Spanish phrases makes this "an ethnic sports segment"? What in the world does that mean? What is "ethnic" sports? And how does the use of Spanish "make us look bad to both spanish and non spanish Americans"? How is the use of a few Spanish phrases which are appropriate to the situation (although I have to admit I scratch my head when you say "light the lamp" LOL) make you look bad?
To your detractors, I say: Lolita Lopez is a television personality. As such, she has to try and display some personality during her sports broadcasts, otherwise she would be just another sportscaster. I actually look forward to her injecting her personality into her sports spots, through the use of the thing that makes her unique: her Puerto Rican heritage.
If Katy Tong were to start saying "ni hao", or if Sukanya Krishnan were to begin her morning news spots with "namaste", I wouldn't bat an eye. I know they wouldn't, though -- not because it's bad, but because that's not their thing.
There are only four sportscasters on local New York TV that I watch(ed) every night that they're on: Scott Clark, Dr. Marvell Scott (both of WABC), Sal Marchiano (who, I seem to remember, has interviewed many players in ITALIAN and no one is giving him grief!), and Lolita Lopez. They embody professionalism, dedication and strong personalities that come through on the air.
Quincy Jones had a song called "Back On The Block" which had a lyric that went:
"He told me: "Ice, keep doin what you're doin, man
Don't give a damn if the squares don't understand
You let em tell you what to say and what to write
Your whole career'll be over by tomorrow night."
Lolita, don't mind the haters. Keep doing what you're doing. I will keep watching.
Lolita, I enjoy when you add Spanish phrases to your sportscasts. It displays your wonderful personality and disposition. We are a diverse and multi-cultured city and area. This is no different than my family uttering Italian phrases during sports events. I realize we are not doing it on television, but the point is made. In Italy, the Caribbean or another country, if an English phrase is used to descibe an event, sports or otherwise, is there an uproar or further discussion? I tend to doubt it. You are proud of your heritage and language. The fact that this becomes an issue in the greatest city in the world may be a sad commentary on America. I just don't get why someone would have a problem and make an issue of your use of Spanish phrases. Keep on doing a great job. You are the finest sports anchor in the New York Metropolitan Area.
I agree with anonymous. Yes, we should teach pride in heritage, (although someone like Clarence Thomas might sniff it suggests some deficiency to be compensated for), but I don’t think any group should be pushy about promoting their language, culture, etc. as for example the Spanish newscasters (e.g., the reporter, “What-I-assume-to-be-Thalia-something-I-can-never-quite-make-out”) who alone insist on pronouncing their names au natural. (It’s interesting how insistent you are enunciating the “T” in your name.) If you pronounced “Notre Dame” in authentic French, you would come across as pretentious and unintelligible to most of the country. Hideki Irabu wasn't particularly hellbent on getting us to pronounce his name as would his mom and many Chinese actually will exchange their multi-tonal names for something the admittedly linguistically challenged Americans can handle. Kaity and Jim (who are great and informative while delivering a full measure of their personal color) never oblige us to any lectures in language or heritage. You get the job done, and I have no complaints about your work, but I would miss Sean K less were you less pushy with the lessons.
"Jose Cruz and Dickie Thon" -- Blast from the past! I am old enough to have seen them play, w/ the worst manager in recent NY memory, Art Howe.
Good to know, and good enough!
i am so disappointed in you, lolita. quite a promising potential you have, but instead you sink to this? and really, you're pathetic explanation included in my disappointment.
what ever happened to objective reporting is a whole other issue, but i happen to have run into you once at shea stadium, and back last summer, i got the distinct impression from how you treated a number of us there, that you thought you were better than the regular beat guys.
maybe it's this sports pedigree you try to "humbly" wear, or maybe it's just your generation which seems to think of itself as the celebrity and not your subject. either way, your stooping to use your ethnicity as a "gimmick'" your brattish behavior at shea, and honestly just reading your replies to us, well, i think this new yorker has had just about enough of lolita lopez. please go back to texas or wherever they think you're nonsense is valid.
oh, and ps, no reply needed, you already look bad enough in my book, just save the effort & get on travelocity and book a trip outta here.
hi Lolita
I am also an english speaking american.But, you go girl i love your broadcast.I'ts just to bad that people make such a big deal out of entertaining t.v. news.reguards and keep up the good work
We agree with anonymous. Cut the Spanish. We shut the T.V. when you're the one reporting the sports. We want the sports info. only, not the Spanish lessons. The sports is what is important. "Light the lamp" - give us a break!!
Lolita---'
What's with the comment, echoed by Jim and Kaity (I think), tonight (Feb 12), about hopin' Plaxico gets through it. As if, he should be playin' football next season and doin' no time!!? Does that go for the rest of us dopes, or just for the super stars, e.g, the Burresses and the Madoffs and the Chris Browns? Is that what the news staff at PIX is rootin' for? Jim knows better, I'm sure. Where's the 3 1/2 year sentence that's supposed to be mandatory, and, apparently, has been meted out to ordinary folks more often than not? So, what's your take on justice, Lolita? And, while we're on it, what about the doctor who didn't report the bullet wound? Can I assume that she got off with much less than a slap on the wrist? i.e., no penalty (she has disappeared from the news, has she not?). Does any of this concern you? How disappointing to hear that tonight.