Friends bid farewell to Voice of the Galaxy Rolando ‘Veloz’ Gonzalez

The Los Angeles sports world has cried the loss of one of his most popular voices, Rolando “El Veloz” González, the long -standing broadcaster of the galaxy and pioneer of the Spanish sports radio, died on June 25.

Its heritage transcends generations on the microphone.

González’s career has started almost accidentally. Although his dream was to play football, life had other plans for him and transformed him into a storyteller.

“One day, on March 6, 1962, I played football in the local league and the radio broadcaster Play-By-Play which was attributed to this game of my Escuintla team against Universidad, Dr Otorrino Ríos Paredes, had a car accident,” said González in 2017. “The owner of the station ran to me”, “[get dressed, get dressed]”And I replied,” Who are you to tell me to dress me? ” Let the coach tell me. He said, “I need you because they told me you were telling football”. I replied that I am doing this there among the guys.

He then moved to Los Angeles, where the former advertiser of the Dodgers Jaime Jarrín gave him his big break during the 1984 Olympic Games.

“I met him, I think that in 1984, shortly before the Olympic Games. I needed sports writers for a Spanish language cover and I was impressed by his stability, his knowledge, his diction and his voice of voice for football,” Jarrín told Times in Español. “He worked with me for three weeks, which opened a lot of doors to him in Los Angeles.”

Jarrín’s call surprised him.

Friends and colleagues join Rolando “El Veloz” González, in the center, in a broadcast stand in a galaxy match. He called his last match on May 31.

(Armando Aguayo)

“It was Jaime Jarrín,” recalls González. “He asked me if I told football [González ] From 6 p.m. to 12 p.m. on a program. I left the factory at 4:30 p.m., all dirty with painting, and I could not miss this opportunity. »»

Jarrín highlights González’s commitment to ESPN Deportes Radio 1330 Am de la Galaxy, a González team covered by two long stays in which the team won five of the six MLS Cup titles. The last time González called a match was May 31 when the Galaxy won his first game of this season against Real Salt Lake at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“He gave everything to the team, as I did to the Dodgers,” said Jarrín. “His heritage is an example for young people. He defined what he wanted to be, and he did it with his heart, with 110% effort.”

With Hipolito Gamboa, González scored an era on the radio with their program “Hablando de Deportes” on KTNQ-AM (1020) and finally on Kwkw-Am (1330). The show focused mainly on football and easily overshadowed other sports programs that tried to copy the format with a more aggressive touch in their conversations.

The duo González and Gamboa presented a more complete analysis without depending on the fireworks.

“I always had something that made you laugh in the” Hablando de Deportes “stands,” said Gamboa. “It was not all good all the time because there were moments of tension. It’s a reality, but we have always finished well. ”

Gamboa described González as someone ordinary.

“He was one of the first to broadcast football in the United States. His unique style, his energy, his speed … No one equaled,” said Gamboa. “This is why they called him” El Veloz ” [‘The Swift’]. “”

They worked together in difficulty the Gold Cups, Liga MX matches and international matches. Despite his serious voice, Gamboa underlined the cheerful character of González.

“He said with impressive clarity at an incredible speed. People recognized him by his voice,” said Gamboa. “During a party, my little girl, only 1 year old at the time, heard her and said:” Objective! ” Because we grew up when he heard the pink Bowl, at the Azteca stadium, in so many stands. »»

Armando Aguayo, who became the boss of González, said he was more than a colleague.

“He was my teacher. What I know about the narration, I learned from him,” said Aguayo. “He taught me to get into the narrator’s rhythm, not to interrupt, to adapt to his speed. He was demanding, but trainer.”

Aguayo remembers the two stages that he shared with González, first as a producer of “Deportes en Acción 1330”, then as teammates in the second era of the Galaxy under Bruce Arena.

Armando Aguayo, who became the boss of Rolando González, said that he was more than a colleague: “He taught me to enter the narrator’s rhythm, not to interrupt, to adapt to his speed. He was demanding, but formative. “

(Armando Aguayo)

“We said together the finals, the titles, the big games,” said Aguayo. “And in the air, we talked about the family, the future of radio, life.”

According to Aguayo, who calls Lafc and Clippers games, González had an admirable discipline.

“It would arrive an hour earlier, prepares, made lists with queues,” said Aguayo.

During his career, González, called the World Cups, the Olympic Games, the Panamérican Games, the Games of his Beloved Guatemala national team, as well as the US national team. He covered football, baseball, basketball and football.

“The only thing he did not say was the golf course because he said it was annoying him,” said Aguayo, laughing. “But he even told a ball competition in Guatemala.”

González was known as a big storyteller.

“He always said,” Let me tell you, in such or such a year … and he would give you exact dates. He was a historian with a storyteller, “said Aguayo.

Beyond professionalism, González has left a deep human imprint.

“We called it” Don Rolis ” [and] “Papa Smurf. He was like everyone’s father. Always with a good comment, always concerned about others, ”recalls Aguayo.

Rolando González, on the left, joined Armando Aguayo while calling a galaxy match.

(Armando Aguayo)

González was still active until a few weeks ago. He called the Galaxy’s last game against Real Salt Lake.

“He arrived two hours earlier, prepared his Tecito, sat down to tell and when he finished, he got up and left, as usual,” said Aguayo. “It was Rolando. Professional, punctual and simple. “

Aguayo spoke with González shortly before hearing the news of his death. Although González recently had a heart attack, he always answered calls, his tired but optimistic voice.

“He said to me,” I’m fine. Thank you for calling. It’s very useful for me. You are one of the few calls me. He told me about the future of his family, “said Aguayo. “Even in his last days, he thought of others.”

For Jarrín, González represented the image of the immigrant who works hard, the passionate communicator, the dedicated professional.

“He has never caused any problems. He has always served the Hispanic community in Southern California with interest. His voice will remain engraved in our memories, and his inheritance will live in each young person who wants to devote himself to sports dissemination,” said Jarrín.

González’s voice will no longer resonate in stadiums, but his echo will live in the memories of his colleagues and in the passion of those who listen to him.

“I was deeply injured by his death, because we were great friends,” said Jarrín. “We have had a lot of mutual respect, and I liked it very much since the start because of its simplicity and its responsibility in everything. So I think that sports fans, and in particular football fans, he will miss him a lot. … He served the Hispanic community in the south of California with great interest, with great enthusiasm. And I will miss it very well.”

This The article appeared for the first time in Spanish Via Times in Español.