Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
Earlier this week, Cuban player Yoenis Cespedes took home the trophy for Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby. But a moment off the field was also in the spotlight.
When ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez interviewed Cespedes after the game, he asked the native Spanish speaker a question in Spanish, then translated the answer in English.
Almost immediately on social media, people went to congratulate Cespedes, but also criticized Gomez for doing the interview in Spanish:
Not sure why we had to hear the Pedro Gomez interviews in Spanish. Put that crap on ESPN Deportes. We speak English in 'Merica.
— Dan Harris (@ItsGucciTime4)
Hey Pedro Gomez you're so cool speaking English and Spanish to Yoenis!!! New HR derby rule: you can't partake if you can't speak English.
— Cary Panichello (@CPanichello)
Some also responded positively to Gomez's grasp of both languages:
Watching
conduct an interview in English and then Spanish simultaneously is incredibly impressive. Trust me. Very difficult.
— Eric SanInocencio (@EricSan)
Watching @pedrogomezESPN conduct an interview in English and then Spanish simultaneously is incredibly impressive. Trust me. Very difficult.
— Eric SanInocencio (he/him) (@EricSan) July 16, 20133
What's wrong with Spanish on the field? Joining us is ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez and Adrian Burgos Jr., professor of history at the University of Illinois and author of, "Playing America's Game: Baseball, Latinos, and the Color Line."
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