Manuel Rivera Morales was a Puerto Rican sportscaster, radio announcer and marketing sales executive. Rivera Morales is considered by many to be the best sportscaster in Puerto Rican history. "The achievements of 'El Olimpico' have given him national and international regard and have left huge prints in our hearts." Rivera Morales was born in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico on May 14, 1923. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame for Puerto Rican Sports on November 22, 1992. In 1998 the Government of Puerto Rico honored Rivera by naming a main highway after him: PR-181 Road, "Expreso Manuel Rivera Morales", also known as "El Expreso de Trujillo Alto". Manuel Rivera Morales gained nationwide fame in Puerto Rico during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, when he covered BSNbasketball games live, first on radio, and later on television, for various broadcasters, along other famous Puerto Rican sportscasters such as Johnny Flores Monge, Rafael Bracero and Fufi Santori. Rivera Morales became a cultural icon in Puerto Rico: His phrases, many of which he invented, were commonly repeated by many Puerto Ricans and became part of colloquial Puerto Rican dialogue. When he accompanied the Puerto Rican team that played the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo to broadcast the games through radio, his style was so colorful and attracted so much attention that a local Japanese newspaper covered him. In Japan, he was also recognized with a medal as "The World's Best and Most Dramatic Narrator". He started as an Olympic sportscaster in the 1960 Olympics held in Rome and continued during the following games: 1964 Tokyo, 1968 Mexico, 1972 Munich y 1976 Montreal. Due to this vast Olympic experience, he was nicknamed "El Olimpico". He also was a narrator for the Pan-American Games and for the famous "Roller Derby" television show. Morales was also recognized for giving nicknames to some of Puerto Rico's basketball players. José Ortiz, for example, was nicknamed "El Concorde" by Rivera Morales. Mario Morales became "El Quijote", José Sosa"El Galgo", Angel "Cachorro" Santiago "El Orgullo del Caserio", Hector "El Mago" Blondet, Rolando Frazier "El Principe", Mario Butler "El Expreso Panameño", Ruben Rodriguez "Sharp Shooter", and Martín Ansa got the nickname "El Señor" from Morales. During the 1970s and 1980s, local laws established that boxing fights held in Puerto Rico could not be transmitted live on television; this to encourage fans to pay tickets to see the fights live. They were, however, transmitted live by radio, and Rivera Morales also became a well-known boxing commentator on the Puerto Rican radio stations. In the 1970s he also announced professional wrestling. Some phrases popularized by Manuel Rivera Morales include: - "¡Apuntenlo!!" - His trademark phrase, and a reminder to the radio crew's scorer to write down the latest successful two-point basket. - "¡Manos Arriba!! Manos Arriba!" After a three-point shot had been made, alluding to the gesture that basketball referees do after a three-point basket. - "¡Que juego señores... que juego!" - "¡Me va a poner a gozar... y me puso a gozar!" Referring to a dunk. - "Yo lo conozco... va a tirar..." Anticipating a play. - "¡Miralooooooooo!" Anticipating a basket. - "¡Ayúdanos, divina Pastora, a salir de aqui con vida!" A religious imploration used by him in a playfull tone when a basketball game was close enough for the visiting team to steal a win during the closing minutes. - "Wonderful!!" - "¡Sensacional!" He'd say this after an impressive play. - "Mi abuela decía: '¡Son de goma, Manolo, son de goma!'" - Said after a player fell dramatically and recuperated quickly. - "¡Wes... Wes... Wes... WES!!" -Whenever local player Wesley Correa charged to the basket. - "¡Este juego es no apto para cardiacos!" - Said during close games, particularly those that ended up in overtime.
