Robert Flores, the ESPN anchor who has been at the center of several on-air verbal missteps, was interviewed by the folks over at Deadspin recently. Here is the locally relevant portion of the proceedings:
DS: When I first talked to you on the phone, I mistakenly referred to you as the “Most popular Mexican sports anchor in the world.” You corrected me and said something about the “Hispanic community” or something. Either way, do you feel like you’re some sort of a trailblazer for some ethnic community?
RF: Yep I’m Mexican American. Earlier this year I was asked to speak at this function in Dallas. The organizers asked if I was the first Hispanic to anchor Sportscenter. I thought to myself, “you know that’s a good question.” I asked our PR department and they weren’t sure..at any rate if I am the first then I’m honored. If not, it’s nice to be among the first. …
Earlier, Flores mentioned that he continues “to enjoy quite a following in West, Texas” — which, as everyone knows, is where I’m from. Seems like a strangely specific place to mention. I don’t recall a Robert Flores from West (and since there are very few people there, and only a percentage of them have Hispanic surnames, I doubt I would overlook that). If he is from West, though, go ahead and install him right after Scott Podsednik — former World Series hero with the ChiSox, and the guy who relegated me to sixth-man duty on the b-ball team — as the second-most-famous resident from the home of the fightin’ Trojans. Time to update the billboard.
