Sibling Rivalry To Take Center Stage
Written by admin, May 27, 2009, 0 Comments
Webb County Commissioner Frank Sciarrafa, Pct.1; Webb County Judge Danny Valdez; City of Nuevo Laredo Mayor Ramon Garza Barrios; City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas; and City of Laredo Council Member Cindy Liendo Espinoza jokingly fight over the Founder’s Day Softball Tournament, in anticipation of this Sunday’s event.
Laredo, TX—May 27, 2009—Isn’t it fun beating up on your siblings sometimes?
While this year’s Second Annual Charity Softball Tournament, hosted by the City of Laredo, City of Nuevo Laredo and Webb County, is meant to promote and foster the Sister City relationship between the communities that has existed now for 254 years, the real reason is to say, “We beat you! We’re the champions! You’re the loser!” Fun and excitement aside, bragging rights will be on the line in this Sunday’s tournament, when sister cities ties are thrown out the window and sibling rivalry is the theme of the day.
“We’re in it to win,” says City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas. “Defeat is not an option.”
However, his counterpart across the street, Webb County Judge Danny Valdez gleefully proclaims, “The City of Laredo is going down – AGAIN!”
In fact, a good-natured bet between the three heads of state means that the loser has to provide 100 biscuits to the winning team’s administrative staff.
This year’s Second Annual Charity Softball Tournament will be on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the Benavides Sports Complex, located at 600 South Bartlett. The opening ceremonies kick-off at 4:00 p.m.; immediately at 4:30 p.m. the excitement and fun of the round-robin tournament between the government entities begins.
The real competition of the law enforcement double-elimination bracket begins at 12 noon. The City of Laredo Police Department, City of Laredo Fire Department, City of Nuevo Laredo Police Department, City of Nuevo Laredo Fire Department, City of Nuevo Laredo Traffic Police and Webb County Sheriff’s will each boast a team that will finally prove who truly is the bravest and finest.
The City of Laredo still has the bitter taste of losing to not only Webb County, last year’s champions, but also, to the City of Nuevo Laredo. Salinas hopes that the addition of the law enforcement bracket will help bring glory back to the City’s crown.
“I’m cheering for both our men in blue, as well as our men in red to come out on top of this law enforcement battle,” said Salinas.
However, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar is betting on his team! “ Our team is ready for the challenge and will come out on top,” said Cuellar. “This is also an excellent opportunity for all law enforcement agencies to come together and enjoy the sport.
Both City of Laredo Police Chief Carlos Maldonado and City of Laredo Fire Chief Steve Landin look forward to the camaraderie the tournament will afford all law enforcement
agencies, even though Landin jokingly teases Maldonado that this will be just another competition that the Fire Department beats the Police Department.
Win or lose, the real winners of this event will be the residents of both community. The tournament itself will feature fun for the entire family, with free food (while supplies last), games, park jungle gym and slides and prizes for the kids. Residents are also welcome to come out and bar-be-que their own picnic; a limited number of bar-be-que pits are already at the park, available on a first come, first serve basis. Parking is free and available around the complex.
But the real attraction is the entrance fee, which is only $1 per person and will be donated to the South Texas Food Bank and Niño Vulnerable, an organization in Nuevo Laredo that also feeds the community’s neediest residents.
“We are always so thankful of the community support that we receive in our very important mission of feeding the hungry,” said Salo Otero, community outreach manager for the South Texas Food Bank. “On behalf of the 18,000 families we feed on a monthly basis, I want to invite the community to come out and have a good time, while supporting this wonderful cause of feeding your neighbor, your brother in need,” he concluded.
City of Nuevo Laredo Mayor Ramon Garza Barrios couldn’t agree more.
“The teasing is good-natured competition, but also, done in the spirit of fun and sisterhood, just like in a real family,” said Garza Barrios. “This is going to be such a great event for the residents of both of our communities, and while I would really like to win, what I hope for more than anything is that we collect tons of money for both of these organizations,” he concluded.
