: mark sánchez,
de zacatecas a nueva york
El principal producto de exportación (si no es que el único significativo) de mi pueblo, Zacatecas, es la mano de obra barata que mandamos a EEUU. El estado, de hecho, prácticamente se mantiene así. Con las remesas que los braseros envían de Estados Unidos. Lo más inteligente que puede hacer un zacatecano desde siempre y como harán las genearaciones que vienen, es largarse de ese lugar en cuanto aprendan a caminar, cruzar el Río Bravo y ponerse a pizcar tomate hasta ganar la lotería para una Green Card y, entonces sí, inscribirse en una escuela. Como Mark Sánchez, el nuevo quarterback estrella de los Jets de Nueva York, de ascendencia zacatecana, cuyos abuelos se fueron muy a tiempo de ese agujero perdido. Podrán ahora sentirse muy orgullosos, pues su nieto tiene las oportunidades que ninguno de nosotros, hacinados en el culo del semidesierto, pudo haber imaginado siquiera. Para los que se quedan, las posibilidades son contadas: a) volverse alcohólico, b) burócrata, c) narco, o d) todas las anteriores y pegarse o que le peguen a uno un tiro. ¿Así o más brillante el futuro? Por eso este día me quito el sombrero frente a mi paisano Mark Sánchez.
Debut de Mark Sánchez en la NFL, 2009.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez was the Jets' first-round selection in the 2009 N.F.L. draft, having left the University of Southern California after his junior season. He was named the team's starting quarterback on Aug. 26, winning a competition with Kellen Clemens.
Sanchez is seen as the quarterback of the future for a team that has struggled to fill that marquee position since Joe Namath in the 1960s and early 1970s. Sanchez may also be the closest thing the team has to a quarterback with Joe Namath glamour potential.
Sanchez has magazine-cover good looks, curly hair, electric smile, and an easy manner with the news media. He is polished, bright and well-spoken, and is also well-versed in the big-market media after being a star in Los Angeles at U.S.C.
The Jets entered the draft with the 17th pick in the first round, a position that appeared to be too low for them to select Sanchez. But the team's general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, made a trade with the Cleveland Browns and the coach he fired after the 2008 season, Eric Mangini, to acquire the fifth overall pick. Then the Jets made Sanchez the team's highest-drafted quarterback since Namath was selected first over all in the 1965 American Football League draft.
On June 10, Sanchez signed a contract with the Jets for five seasons and at least $28 million. The deal, which could pay up to $60 million with incentives, makes Sanchez the highest-paid player in team history.
Sanchez made only 16 starts in his college career, 13 of them in the 2008 season. Southern Cal Coach Pete Carroll had indicated that Sanchez was not ready for the N.F.L., but later said that his hesitation was more because of what he called a 62 percent failure rate for quarterbacks who leave college early.
In his final season at U.S.C., Sanchez completed 65.9 percent of his passes. He threw for 34 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions, and the Trojans finished 12-1 and ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll. He passed for 413 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 38-24 victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
In his first game with the Jets on Sept. 13, 2009, Sanchez did not play like a rookie. He threw for 272 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass, and led his team to a 24-7 win over Houston.