The Tamesis
Text and images by Cheril Sanchez
The first time I recall my connection to Brazil was when I was eleven years old. It was 2002, and I was watching “O Clone,” a Brazilian novella that aired in Spanish on Telemundo in the evening. I looked at it religiously. Two years later, during the World Cup, I discovered Ronaldinho. He was the first person I had a deep crush on. It wasn’t until recently that I realized what really drew me to him was the energy he exudes on the court. His movements were distinctive, fluid and fun, breaking into a samba in celebration. The term “joga bonito” was originally popularized by Pelé and describes a style of play that values beauty and performance over victory.
