What Does Botafogo Mean Anyway?

Only

B12 Solipsism

to get me to blog during my coffee ritual. The question is on Botafogo. My sources are Mario Filho's book on soccer, Nelson Rodrigues' stories on soccer, and my general knowledge of the noble Britton sport, as the commentators like to refer to footch-boll.

In the old days of Rio de Janeiro, after the French invasions and after the Portuguese left, parcels of land were distributed to "nobles" who could develop that land. An Italian baron received this parcel and named it after his last name, which sounded like "Botafogo" = "set on fire" (imperative.) The verb is botar, fogo is fire.

At the beginning of the XX century, Charles Miller, from England, brought a football. The young men of high society fell in love with the sport. Fluminense, Botafogo and Flamengo were among the first to compete. The main sports, which were crew and sailing, became futebol.

Men of color were not allowed until sometime near the 30s. Then, a factory in the 'burbs, Bangu, and the Portuguese club, Vasco, went professional.

So, Botafogo is the part of the city between Flamengo and Copacabana. It was the first neighborhood I lived in, with a view to the Sugar Loaf. In 1957 Botafogo was champion. That was th eyear I arrived in Brazil. In 1958 Brazil was champion with several of the players the base of the National Team. In 61-62, 67-68 Botafogo was champion and in 1962 and 1970 Brazil won the Jules Rimet.

So the full nick for Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas is "O Glorioso Alvinegro da Estrela Solitária" The Glorious B&W of the Lone Star.

It's no longer what it was but neither is Brazil. Let people mock us and say we are thirteen fans. Botafogo makes me happy, losing or winning, my team reflects my life: ups and downs, black and white moments, guided by its star.
They say we are a Museum, for we linger in the past. Okay. In Cont. a video of Botafogo F.R. Back to my coffee.

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