Last night, after Corinthians training, when the team came back the day after Libertadores' disqualification, Ronaldo was asked by a radio reporter why there was so much lack of commitment by him about getting in shape.
That was the first time I saw Ronaldo crying. We don't see tears rolling, but he's holding them really tight in his chest.
It's a terrible lack of respect. Ronaldo replied, among other things: 'I'm 33 years old now, I went through eight surgery procedures, many pains...and I have to hear this from you. Anyway, the people is with me. The Corinthians' people is with me'.
'I truly admire US for it. In US, idols are almost untouchable, they talk about Michael Jordan like a God On Earth. I don't want that for me in Brazil, but I think the respect for an athlete's carrer should exist. We're quite delayed in Brazil about it, we should improve that, respect the professional and the citizen's carrer. Evolve, people. We should evolve, not hold still in time'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLMJjzIw91U&feature=player_embedded
Coward. Damn coward media. No player is unvulnerable to critics, but limits can't be crossed. Ronaldo is 250 million euros rich. He could have stopped playing yesterday, after that question if he wanted, and it wouldn't change a thing in his life, his money. He does it because he ENJOYS. And the damn, the evil, the mean brazilian sports media, specially São Paulo's, is crude straight to the bones through the flesh when they want to. It gets me sick.
Now, the chubby bastard will celebrate with his fellows. He'll pretend he was constrained by Ronaldo's crying. Then, he'll go to the next bar, have a beer and brag. His friends will love him, because he gave all the media vehicles the chance to bring the news up to discussion. And possibly, today, when the radio show starts, he won't be mentioned. We won't even listen his voice making the question. Just Ronaldo fighting back. Fighting like a lamb, btw. He holds his cry, a cry of anger, of sadness because of ingratitude. If he wanted to bite like he was bited, he would play the villain. His picture, his words would stamp every goddamn headline of every goddamn newspaper. Mean bastards.