MADERA -- In homage to Mexican hero Benito Juárez, hundreds of area basketball players gathered to compete in the La Copa Benito Juárez 2008 basketball tournament last Sunday.
Possibly unaware of the historic significance made by Juárez, most of the young adults in the 14-team tournament had their mind on enduring the 95-degree heat while competing on one of two blacktops at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.
As the players shuffled cross court, making passes and scoring from three-point land, fans and players along the baseline cheered in support of their favorite teams, while community organizers handed out fliers with a list of upcoming events.
"It's our 14th year doing this tournament La Copa Benito Juárez here in Madera. We want to use this event to bring information about the May 1 march for the legalization and immigration reform," said Rufino Domínguez of the Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales.
Domínguez called on the competitors through a bullhorn, whether they consider themselves "Latinos, hispanos or immigrantes," to play fair and represent themselves with dignity, and to advocate awareness of Mexican immigrants living in the United States.
In years past, the tournament attracted at least 25 teams, but Domínguez said a change in the date could have affected participation.
Madera was well-represented with San José Sabinillo taking the top prize after a 23-20 victory over fellow Maderans Amigos.
Mobb Squad, also of Madera, defeated Becerros to finish third after a 38-27 game.
Juárez is a recognized hero, born in 1806 in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca. He led the Mexican effort during the French invasion. He was also a lawyer, who defended indigenous people of México, and later became a congressional representative. Upon being named the governor of Oaxaca, Juárez called for elections, and was re-elected.
President Ignacio Comonfort refused to recognize the Constitution, which led to the imprisonment of Juárez. After the ensuing Reform War, Juárez assumed the office of the presidency in 1861.
To see more photos of the tournament, visit the gallery at vidaenelvalle.com. For more information on the Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales, call (559) 499-1178.