MY BOOKS
This is a must-read book. Learn about the history of a Latino tournament that reunited the community through the game of basketball every year. The richness of the Latino flavor doesn't get any better.
In 1986, Victor Alvarado founded the Oregon Latino Basketball Tournament in Woodburn, Oregon. After the fifth year, the tournament paused for five years. Anthony Veliz revived this mega event and continued what Victor had started. The tournament continued for ten more years under Anthony's leadership, then Rolando Ramirez stepped up as the director for the next thirteen years. The challenges and successes are incredible. This annual event must continue for the younger generations.
The tournament started with ten teams, then grew to thirty-six teams! Latinos and Latinas were motivated to play their best to showcase their talents. Many went on to play college basketball, and some even professionally. Inspiring Latino stories and more are inside. The resiliency is extraordinary.
The festivities, authentic Mexican food, and exciting games were so inspiring that this became like a family reunion every year in March. Relationships were built and memories were developed to where they had become life-long lasting.
Raised in a poverty lifestyle, as a five-year- old boy, I was traumatized due to a life-changing accident. I was later confined to a hospital bed at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo, Texas. I lost half of my eyesight, but that was only the beginning of my challenging experiences. Growing up was a living nightmare as I discovered how lonely life could be. Kids made fun of my appearance. The jokes continued throughout grade school, junior high, and even high school.
I had doubts about a lot of things in life until God surprised me with yet another talent, or another person in my life. God put opportunities in front of me. God gave me gifts in the world of sports, which became my counseling during my youth.
As a young adult, I faced yet another nightmare. I lost my wife to brain cancer and became a single dad instantly. This was one of the toughest challenges I dealt with. When things happened to me, sometimes it was because of human error, or evil in this world.
And yes, sometimes God allowed certain things to happen for His reasons. God was always there to help me overcome and rise above my darkest hours. When I actually started getting to know Jesus Christ, my faith grew and things started turning around for me.
I didn't write my life story to glorify me, I wrote it to glorify God. Jesus Christ (God the Son) was always there for me, even when I didn't know it. My story is about resilience.
The number one reason kids go out for sports is to have fun! In today's competition world things have really changed. The focus seems to be on winning at all costs. Parents are pressuring their kids. Athletes are transferring out of their schools as coaches try to build powerhouses. This book will help you, as a parent, avoid the dark side that could leave your child depressed and unhappy. The author has pinpointed crucial issues and resolutions. Read about helpful tips, for you as a parent, to guide your child in a fun adventure in sports. Learn about what it takes to be a good sport as a parent or as an athlete. The author writes about true experiences that will be of value as you discover a successful and productive ride with your children in the world of sports.
This is a must-read book for tearing down the walls of stereotyping, and battling discrimination based on skin color and poverty. Diversity is a reality in our current world. A very poor kid from Dimmitt, Texas (Carlos) is surprised by his large family packing up one day and moving to Oregon. He meets a very wealthy boy from Gervais, Oregon (Harv) in the berry field. Carlos is a very gifted quarterback, but when it comes to grades, well, let's not talk about that. Harv is not a great athlete, but he's very smart. Harv has a very bright sister (Liz) who takes a liking to Carlos. The only problem is... her dad (Ted) does not want his kids around Hispanics - find out why. Carlos and Harv square a deal to help each other become successful behind their parent's back - find out how. Can the two cultures come together? Can Carlos and Harv help the Gervais Cougars make it to state? One of the friends gets kidnapped, who is it? How do we measure wealth - is it really always about money? This fiction story has true places. It is also full of sports, humor, first love, and mystery.
Spiral back to 1980 when kids were talking to each other instead of texting. In this Gervais High School story it’s senior year. Carlos has several life-changing decisions to make. The Edmonton Eskimos, from the Canadian Football League, offer him a great deal. Liz Bradford has acquired two new friends, Kalin Jensen and Brianna Harper. Liz doesn’t agree with him going pro right out of high school. She feels that a college education is more important. Her brother, Harv, feels differently. Dirk Newman has graduated and continues to be the antagonist – a prejudiced bully that lingers around wanting Carlos to fail. This realism-fiction novel is about two high school sweethearts growing up and diving into the challenges of the world. The classroom, senior skip day, graduation, airports, a lost love, and the big game are all brought to life. After graduation day, Carlos and Liz are tested on how strong their love is for each other. Will Carlos accept a two-year contract to play professional football in the Canadian Football League?
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The Salceda family is from the Rio Grande Valley. The Salinas family is from Southwest Texas. They are migrant workers. The low-income families travel up to the Texas Panhandle, searching for work in the hot farm fields.
Dave Salceda meets Vee Salinas while chopping weeds in a field just outside of Dimmitt, Texas. These two boys have a passion for basketball and after the summer are excited to get back to their teams in the South.
Legendary Coach Kenneth Clyde has lost all of his talented seniors after a Bobcat-state-championship run. He will need to rebuild. His assistant coach has quit on him, and he can’t hire anyone to join him – he’s lost for options.
Alicia Collins is struggling with her dysfunctional family and is in danger. When she meets Dave Salceda it doesn’t start well, however, Dave decides he wants to help her.
Life throws unexpected situations to the two families from the South. Not by choice, the two freshman boys end up remaining in Dimmitt – they enroll at Dimmitt High School.
Will the kids from the South help the Dimmitt Bobcats? Entering a new school, there are all sorts of fears facing a different culture mixed with some kids that have a problem with the transfers.