Ubaldo Pena:  

Our younger days in the Barrio were so full of events that we hardly had enough time to stop and breath. If Tito, Cano, or Tanis were not calling us for a game of Barrio tackle football, The Curieles were throwing a party at El Rancho, or at Cano's house, or fishing at the canal with Pepe, or out with the little barrios kids teaching them to play football or basketball. It was not a slow or eneventful childhood. it seemed we had very little idle time. I remember watching Barrio stars like Tito Castañeda run with the football and inwardly wish that I had that skill. He could put moves on you that boggled the mind and faked people out of their shoes. Seeing Cano direct a drive the length of the football field and hearing him think in the huddle every play was a lesson in and of itself, but then to watch him perform topped it all. Seeing Shooter throw one of those infamous cross body blocks was a thing of wonder. HOw could he make people flip up into the air as effectively as he could, man, I still am amazed. Or seeing Duane run precise patterns, jump up and bring down an otherwise uncatchable ball. Then there was Booner, playing middle linebacker and devastating running backs and receivers that tried catching or running the ball through or in his area. Also, I recall Tanis, when it came to passing downs, not a single soul coul...Expand for more