A sports commentator at the Hotel Sauce: Interview with Raúl Ruiz

Professional sports sometimes offer us stories that transcend the competition itself. Our guest in this edition of interviews knows this well. Of all the athletes who, after hanging up their boots, dedicate themselves to commentating on games on television or radio, our friend is undoubtedly one of the most special.

His story begins in a Copa del Rey tie between a Numancia in the second division B and the almighty F.C. Barcelona. Armed with a video camera, he showed us the point of view of a modest soccer player who one day, like Cinderella, is invited to the ball in the best possible setting. His self-confidence and grace conquered us all and today he works as a sports commentator in various media. We are pleased to introduce you to Raúl Ruiz.

Everything that surrounds the soccer game sometimes becomes more important than the game itself. Happiness lies in balance.

It all started in 1995 when, while playing in the ranks of Numancia, he faced an entire FC Barcelona team and Canal Plus commissioned him to do a report with a homemade camera. How do you remember that experience?

I had never picked up a video camera, it was all new, a fun for me, I recorded everything that came my way, I remember the Camp Nou locker room, the huge jacuzzi, and in the locker room tunnel already dressed as a soccer player to play, and Figo’s face was amazed and then my surprise was that Canal Plus called me to work with them.

The Day After represented a radical change in sports journalism in Spain. It went from the classic program of match recaps to reports on football, to exploring the recreational side of the beautiful game. Don’t you think that nowadays everything that surrounds football is much bigger than the game itself?

The Day After what he did was turn the cameras, we were used to only seeing what was happening on the field, but with the section of what the eye does not see, the spotlights went to the stands, curious amateur characters were seen suffering etc. …and they also began to be protagonists of the show, it is true that everything that surrounds the soccer game sometimes becomes more important than the game itself, happiness lies in balance.

And if we talk about the recreational side of football we cannot fail to mention Carrusel Deportivo. Are they having as much fun as it seems when you listen to them?

I believe that the secret of the carousel is good vibes, and it would be unfair not to mention Paco González and his team, who capture that good atmosphere wonderfully. Sport is important but it is not something that is life or death, we must give it the value that has.

It all started in 1995 when, while playing in the ranks of Numancia, he faced an entire FC Barcelona team and Canal Plus commissioned him to do a report with a homemade camera. How do you remember that experience?

I had never picked up a video camera, it was all new, a fun for me, I recorded everything that came my way, I remember the Camp Nou locker room, the huge jacuzzi, and in the locker room tunnel already dressed as a soccer player to play, and Figo’s face was amazed and then my surprise was that Canal Plus called me to work with them.

The Day After represented a radical change in sports journalism in Spain. It went from the classic program of match recaps to reports on football, to exploring the recreational side of the beautiful game. Don’t you think that nowadays everything that surrounds football is much bigger than the game itself?

The Day After what he did was turn the cameras, we were used to only seeing what was happening on the field, but with the section of what the eye does not see, the spotlights went to the stands, curious amateur characters were seen suffering etc. …and they also began to be protagonists of the show, it is true that everything that surrounds the soccer game sometimes becomes more important than the game itself, happiness lies in balance.

And if we talk about the recreational side of football we cannot fail to mention Carrusel Deportivo. Are they having as much fun as it seems when you listen to them?

I believe that the secret of the carousel is good vibes, and it would be unfair not to mention Paco González and his team, who capture that good atmosphere wonderfully. Sport is important but it is not something that is life or death, we must give it the value that has.