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As regular readers of The Pacific Pearl will know, this publication has
been leading the English-speaking community in helping a young gymnast named
Martin Quintero. The talented but needy youngster, who brings home gold
and silver medals from every youth competition in the gymnastics field that
he enters, has received little support from the Mexican Sports Federation.
For example, when he was selected to compete in a national tournament in
Merida, Yucatan, Martin received just one airline ticket. His coach had
to travel across all of Mexico to the competition by bus. Now, the new Sports
Saloon has gotten into the act. At the first Monday Night Football gathering
after the saloon got its liquor license, John Amrock (wine writer for the
Pearl) made soup for the NFL fans. The second week, the Saloon’s owner Maricha
Veselik, made chili. Then along came Martin Armstrong, a professional chef
from Montana, with 22 kilos of |
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ribs and a great idea: He would cook the ribs on Monday Night and give the
proceeds donated by the crowd to Martin’s piggybank. The result was a succulent
success — hundreds of pesos for a Mexican named Martin, thanks to a gringo
named Martin and his coconut papaya-marinated ribs. So enthusiastic was
the gathering, the Sports Saloon’s owners have decided to make a tradition
of Mondays for Martin. Each week a guest chef will come up with the food,
in exchange for piggybank donations. But customers aren’t going to be locked
in. Those who want more or different kinds of eats need not participate.
They can order pizza or pasta from nearby restaurants, and have it brought
to them at the bar while they watch the game. It seems fitting that a bunch
of fans of one sport — American football — could lend financial assistance
to a youngster who is good enough at his sport — gymnastics — to become
an Olympic champion some day. |
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Martin in Action
Martin says,
done!
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