By Fernando Rodriguez
Twitter: @rodriguezefe
Instagram: ferodriguez_
(Extension of the note published in the printed edition)
Every other week he traveled as a medical visitor; He came back, trained, played … His legs, at this point, already reminded him of the fast guard, with a good shot and a firm defender.
Basketball was no longer a priority. He married in ’81, two years later Leandro (later Julián) was born. He was already 31 years old. And made the decision.
“It cost me,” acknowledges Norberto Laguzzi.
On October 24, 1985 – exactly 35 years ago today – Tatita had mixed feelings when, at Néstor Damiani, Bahia basketball met to fire him.
“They came from all the clubs and that must be valued,” he acknowledges.
Very well accompanied at the farewell. Tatita, along with Carlos Croceri (president of July 9), Atilio Fruet and Beto Cabrera.
It had to be there, on July 9, where he spent a large part of his life.
“I was born in Charlone 661. The club was my home,” he says.
Atilio Alberto, his father – “he was partner number 1”, he points out-, did not choose to go see him play, instead his mother, Irma Espinosi was a faithful follower and even fought often, according to Tatita, whose nickname derives from Tatá, as recognized. they called Oscar, their older brother.
“It never crossed my mind to go elsewhere,” he assures. Although I had opportunities from abroad and, here, they called me from Villa Miter. But if you left … Holy Mother! They didn’t say hello to you anymore! “
Tatita was champion of Infantiles (1966), Reserve of Third (1970), Third (1970), Junior Cadets (1970), Second (1972) and Senior Cadets (1972).
At the age of 15 he made his debut in the superior team (they were in Third), under the technical direction of Alberto Cabrera.
“They had a very good litter.” Do you consider that the level was acquired by spending many hours at the club?
“That litter was all from the neighborhood.” We grew up inside the club. Besides, I had the key and ball. The field was free for us.
July 9, standing from the left, Rubén Dialuce, Horacio Traverza, Horacio Marziali, Darío Miranda, Horacio Noya and Alberto Facetti. Bottom: Norberto Laguzzi, Alberto Severini, Guillermo Noya, Horacio Pérez, Juan Carlos Borelli and Daniel Libardi.
“What did Elsio Tarabelli mean?”
—He was very demanding with us and a forward with the 1-2-1-1 pressure, which he took from a book by (Joseph) Vancisin (American DT who visited Bahia four times).
– That demand and the innovations were respected or did they think that he was crazy?
“We respected him very much.” We were a very small team; we had no plays and Tarabelli made us play for two hours with the hoops covered. We threw and logically it did not enter. Also, in preseason, at least an hour we played with sand vest. Do you know what that was?
—What did you think when he told you they were going to defend the pressure zone?
“It seemed crazy at first.” It took us a year to develop it. There were parties that we asked him to change it, but he insisted. And in ’72 he told us: “This is the year.” And we were promoted to First. We were flying!
– The small field also favored them?
-Yes, a lot! Of course, after two or three years we had to change, because they had grabbed our hand.
“In what position did you defend?”
-Ahead. He ran and stole the ball. It was a revolution. We complicate Olympus and Students. But we had a tremendous preparation with Raúl Richotti, Marcelo’s brother. We ran to the canal, from there to Mayo Park, we did gymnastics and when we came back, we went up the stands.
“Is it true that you and someone else like Fefo Facetti were hiding on the way?”
—No, heh, although I admit that I never liked the physical part.
Juvenile Provincial of Punta Alta, 1970. Bahía, unemployed, from the left, Hugo Matrichuk, Adolfo Scheines, Héctor Maidana, Eduardo Diez and Javito Correa. Bottom: Carlos Ovejero, Luis Castro, Guillermo Faure, Norberto Laguzzi and Cosmas Boltsis.
—How much did it benefit you and how did it harm you having belonged to a time of very good players?
—Between 70 and 80 approximately there were very good bases. I had a lot of prominence on July 9 and in minors I was captain and sub captain of the Province. In Córdoba, we played the final …
“When you were expelled.”
“Yeah, I threw a jerry can of water at the referee.”
“You were horny.”
“Yeah, I was horny … But I got fired three times in my career.”
—Another was against Villa Miter.
-Is…
Laguzzi, with less skilled hands, walked to the basket.
—In the 1980 tournament they were the only team that did not have foreign reinforcement. Did you force yourself to add any?
“No, because there was no money.” The only reinforcement was Esteban Frisón.
“They still got out of the descent.”
—In the first round we beat Villa Miter without Jimmy Hearns, in the second they had him and we lost by beating. We reached the final instance and two dates before the end they threw me out.
—The Puerto Rican referee Otero.
“That, heh.” I ran it all over the Pacific court. The referees passed the report and then went to their country. At that time, Channel 7 filmed the games and the leaders asked for the filming, but after seeing it they preferred to hide it, heh. They gave me three games.
Slap? Tatita demands Ariel Medina. Behind, Gerald Cunningham.
“They lost the first.”
-Yes. That day Esteban (Frisón) was getting married in Monte Hermoso and he did not play. They told me that on Monday being present at the Association I could sign the sanction and I would play automatically. The people of Villa Miter were very angry when they saw that he was playing. In the first half we lost ugly; We couldn’t stop Jimmy Hearns. In the second Horacio Noya grabbed it, I think he scored three points and we won.
Tatita grows big, trying to contain Jimmy Hearns.
—And the third they solved easily: 77 to 48.
—It’s that Hearns had his tickets taken away, because the parties were coming. And he left.
“Did your temper hurt you?”
“No, because he knew how to locate me.” I wanted to win. Yes I must highlight the woman I have (Silvia Gabellini), who gave me passion and my bad mood when I lost.
– The biggest injury was being left out of the 1973 South American youth?
“I have two wounds.” That was one, because a very good Argentine had come from playing in Córdoba. Together with (Carlos) Raffaelli we were elected the best players of the tournament.
“And why do you think you were left out?”
– (Abelardo) Dasso was the technician and assistant (Adolfo) Lista. It was played in Bahia and I had just come from doing a spectacular tournament. I went with my eyes closed. Although the three from Olimpo remained (Héctor Santini, Daniel Zalguizuri and Daniel Allende), where Lista was a technician. In ’76 we had a talk, we reconciled and I played the Provincial in Chivilcoy.
Buenos Aires province. Standing, from the left, José Luis Pagella, Daniel Morando, Jorge Panisse, Héctor Santini, Marcelo Dalimier. Rubén Scandroli and Adolfo Lista (DT). Bottom: Cosmas Boltsis, Daniel Allende, Norberto Laguzzi, Luis Castro, Daniel Zalguizuri and Juan Carlos De la Vega.
“And the other wound?”
—Playing against Olimpo, on the Estudiantes court, the semifinals of the Ciudad de Bahía Blanca; a terrible brawl broke out that even blew up chairs. The game was stopped for 25 minutes and when it resumed, tied and without time, I had two free games and I missed them. We went to supplemental and lost. I was shocked. It was terrible. It was another success for the club.
“Did you ever get paid to play?”
-Charge? We put money! Yes, I was lucky enough, like many of us who became known for basketball, to go to work at the bank (Odone).
Norberto “Tatita” Laguzzi hung up his shirt at age 31. Anyway, his career continued on July 9, enjoying and suffering as president; smiling and crying from outside the court; playing bocce ball, working and, fundamentally, sharing with friends, like that day of retirement 35 years ago, in the club of his loves.
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