Fox announcer Jorge Perez-Navarro on the World Cup, U.S. politics, and his favorite rom-coms

The appeal of Jorge Perez-Navarro, Fox’s charismatic commentator during this Word Cup, is fueled by a quirky combination of facts. He loves romantic comedies and Joe Theismann. He adores his son and and can yell “goal” longer than you can sprint. The emotion never leaves his face, his voice, and tenor — except when for he’s drained and ready for long naps after games.

Perez-Navarro’s career trajectory intersects with the U.S. mainstream audience at an odd crossroads. A commentator who leans into his Mexican roots, his natural style confronts a pervasive American ideology unwelcoming to anyone non-white. His challenges start there, but don’t end — and are not all caused by outside forces. He’s received criticism for his calls, for how he’s depicted the Japanese national team, even for his excitement, a bravado running counter to the staid norms of traditional, big-game announcing.

Here he describes his upbringing, the love for his son, the criticism of his candor, and the apologies he’s had to make along the way. The “Spanish voice of soccer for the United States” has already captured your screen and isn’t looking for a pathway to your heart. After 31 years of calls and passion, he just wants to find the next good game.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

You always have a way when you express on air, whether it was at Univision or during Copa or now, the word “goal.” It’s something we commonly hear with some Spanish-speaking broadcasters when announcing soccer. So, what’s the longest you’ve every announced the word “goal?”

Jorge Perez-Navarro: Oh, wow. That’s a great question. The fact of calling a goal like that, anybody can do it, probably. The thing in this business is you have to find a way to make it your own call. Like, distinctively different from the rest of people so they can identify you. What I did, after 31 years of doing this, what I did is splitting it. Calling half of it and then mentioning the team. And the second half mentioning the player who scored the goal. I don’t know. One time I was playing with my girlfriend’s daughter and she timed me, like, close to two minutes.

Two minutes?!

Perez-Navarro: Yeah. But, again, I wasn’t working. We were at home. You breathe in and you go away. In the game, it’s a different dynamic. You’re breathing in, you’re breathing out, you’re calling, you’re going from one state to another one, raise your voice, go down, you have to make some changes. The key is when you do the breathing before you yell the goal, it’s how deep can you go? That’s going to give you a really long call.

A lot of what you’ve done in these games has been so different compared to Americans and English-speakers often get when they hear sporting broadcasts. During a game with Poland you made a “Cool Runnings” reference. In another game you sang “Dream On” by Aerosmith. You shush people at the start of broadcasts to get ready for soccer. You joke on air with Mariano Trujillo. What makes you bring a lot of your personality into these broadcasts?

Perez-Navarro: I try to be myself. I learned since my early days. I have a personal anecdote from my early years in my career. I was talking to one of my tutors, because one thing is calling it or being on the field working that microphone, day in and day out, night in [and] night out. That’s where you really start building your personality. I was a few years in the business and he asked me “How are you doing?” I told him fine. I was learning. And he asked me “How long have you been doing things?” I told him two or three years, I can’t remember. And he said “Oh, great! It’ll take you 10 years to build your personality and start, really, polishing yourself from there.” I was like “Oh! Man, really? That’s like, seven or eight years from now.” And it really took me 10 or 11 years to polish my personality on radio.

What is that really? When your sound, and people notice you don’t mention and phrases or lines from another announcer or repeat anything somebody else said, you are unique. People can [distinguish] you from other announcers. That’s when you stop viewing yourself as yourself. Now, I think, generations are changing. If we don’t evolve, we are going to fall behind. When I started my career, it was the old style. Then it became a more natural and casual style. You were able to make jokes on the air and be more like the people outside. That’s how I do it in Spanish. That’s how I do it in English. That’s really me. It’s sport but it’s also entertainment. We are like entertainers, you must keep the audience with you.

It’s a good thing you bring up audiences, because audiences are so split. When American audiences hear you, folks feel two different things. There’s a lot of Americans over your 31 years who have never heard you before. Some people feel like how I feel, thinking “Wow, this is unbelievable.” The other side is there’s a lot of fans who, for the last few years when you’ve done bigger games, feel offended. They’ve said you’re speaking “Spanglish,” they want you to take English classes, the said you were over-emotional and someone called you an “ear cancer.” Have you heard this criticism from American fans, white fans? Has that done anything to you or have you closed off that criticism?

Perez-Navarro: This weakness is not, like 100 percent, exact mine. I know I have many deficiencies. It has taken me a year and a half to prepare for this World Cup. I was not born in the states. I am from Guadalajara, Mexico. I came to this country when I was 30 years old. I married a girl from Texas. She never adopted to the Mexican life and life changed. I’m here. I’m trying to do my best. It’s a constant work. And it’s a different culture, the one we are trying to offer. I know it’s different. Change is always hard to accept. I’m working on the language issue. And, you know, you learn from every comment that’s said or written. It could be good, bad, but the key thing is balance. The good will never be that good and the bad will never be that bad either. I take everything in consideration. I try to learn from both comments. It’s just a style. It’s different. And, probably, my style breaks the way that teams have been called forever in this country, but, my God, I mean, when I was born in 1969, nobody had stepped in the booth. Probably, it’s a [thing] that’s going to change or evolve. We don’t know. That was one of the biggest questions around me doing this: if the audience was ready for it. I’m not telling you that I am the best. I am a work in progress. I’m trying to do my best. One of the things, I’m not trying to embarrass my 12-year-old kid. He’s has always been my harsh critic. “Papi, don’t say this.” “Papi, do this.” So, it’s a learning progress.

You’ve also been accused of homerism of Latinx teams: Mexico calls, Peru calls. I don’t think that’s even valid. But it’s something people have noticed during the World Cup because it’s so different. Have you noticed that? Does that affect your day-to-day?

Perez-Navarro: Every match I call, after it, I usually get to have a meeting with my producer. We go over key moments and key things and key comments and we evaluate our performance. So, it’s not a thing where it’s like “That’s it. Goodbye. Have a beer. See you later.” No. No. No. It’s not that easy. I have been accused of many things, even of racism. What I have realized is that people, when they are watching they are not really listening to what you are saying. Sometimes they get distracted. Sometimes they’re just hearing what you’re saying. They catch one or two words or part of the comment. I would never say anything that would hurt anybody. People have even said they like the nicknames that I use. We all have to be and stay positive. Some people, they hear some things and they interpret something else. They start something that becomes like a big snowball. I do the things that I consider are the best. I evaluate them with my producers and if there is something we have to change we will do it. But we will never do anything we consider wrong or offensive. Some people don’t like it, we probably find people who don’t like my calls. It’s like some people like sweets some people like [other] stuff. It’s like that.

You mentioned you were accused of racism. People made comments after the Japan-Columbia game about you adding “-san” to the end of many Japanese players names. Is that a thing that you’ve discovered when going over names? Is there a language barrier? Is that a mistake? How would you describe what happened? Did your producers come to you after the game as you’ve mentioned?

Perez-Navarro: Columbia-Japan wasn’t the first game that I’ve called in my career of the Samurai Blue. Myself, I am a karate student. I’ve been studying karate for 15 years now. I’ve always been a fan of the Japanese culture and their decency. I am an admirer of Japan. I have many good friends, karate teachers, karate partners. When I’m calling an international game, I do my research. And I always try to, the people from that culture, to learn the real culture. Sometimes when it comes here, like Japanese people have told me “the sushi you guys eat in America, it’s not really sushi for us in Japan.” Same thing as tacos here in the states. The tacos in Mexico don’t have cheese or lettuce. The way that it’s adapted to the market is loco. I did a conscious investigation, talking to people, to locals, the fans, and how they call themselves. For example, the names. The names should be pronounced [last name then first name] which is the opposite of America. I asked, if I call one player like that, and another player like that, then another player like that, is that offensive? And Japanese people told me “no, it hasn’t been done before.” So, probably that sounds like a lack of respect. They have never, ever heard it before. I’m just doing ... there are ways to say the same things but with different words. That has been, like, my key in my career in Spanish. And that’s just being myself in English.

It seems from a cursory look at your social media that you’re a huge movie buff. You like Star Wars and Marvel movies. What has been some of your favorite movies to come across?

Perez-Navarro: There’s an old movie called Dad with Jack Lemon and Ted Danson. It’s a movie that touched me and made me cry when I was a little kid. It’s very special to me. But I love The Lion King. I’m a very Disney fanatic. I love the superheroes, especially because I have a boy. If you ask me my favorite genre it’s romantic comedies.

Rom-coms?

Perez-Navarro: Romantic comedies. I’m a fan! One of my favorites is Tom Hanks, especially the ones he did with Meg Ryan.

Sleepless In Seattle?

Perez-Navarro: And You’ve Got Mail as well. Remember, there were two. With the shop around the corner, yes. I’ve watched those movies, I don’t know, 75 times. Every time it’s on cable I stop.

You’ve got a lot of sports everywhere on social media, too. You posted Tua Taigovailoa from ‘Bama. Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma. Joe Thomas from the Browns. Packers shirts. Adorations for Kirk Cousins. Who are your favorites? I hope you’re not a Browns fan.

Perez-Navarro: [laughs] No. No. No. Believe it or not, even coming from a country like Mexico where soccer is predominantly the most popular sport and most of my career I’ve called soccer matches, my favorite sport is football, American football. I seem like the weirdo among my friends because I love football. And the reason is Joe Theismann. I was watching a Sunday afternoon in the early eighties, a game on TV. And there was Joe Theismann with one bar as a face mask, number seven, leading the Washington [NFL football team]. I was like “Oh, my!” I’ve only had two or three real athletes as role models or people I wanted to be like. One was a tennis player from Sweden, Bjorn Borg. The other one is Joe Theismann. I had the chance to meet him the day before Super Bowl 50. I was with my producer and camera man. I asked if I could take them over there. They said “Why?” I said because “That’s Joe Theismann!” And I became a [Washington] fan because of him. He’s a highlight in my life. So I started yelling like a little kid, “Mr. Theismann! Mr. Theismann!” and said “Sir, sorry to interrupt. I’m a fan of yours and thanks to you, I became a [Washington] fan.” He was such a wonderful guy. He hugged me and laughed. He gave me five. He took all the pictures I requested. That was a very special moment for me. That’s the reason I’m a die-hard [Washington] fan. My kid is also [Washington] fan. He asked me, “Dad, do you think I’ll ever see [them] win a championship?” And, thank God, the Cubs did it and the Red Sox did it and if they did it, [Washington has] a chance to do it again.

Maybe. [Laughs] Maybe.

Perez-Navarro: You’re an Eagles fan?

I’m from Philly. I am an Eagles fan, myself. It’s gonna be awhile before y’all get past us.

Perez-Navarro: I’m sorry to tell you, buddy. I used to like you, not any more. I’m sorry. This just became personal between you and me. [Laughs]

You’ve posted on social media about the changing hands of the presidency between Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Obviously, there’s been a lot of issues between migrant families being torn apart coming to America for asylum and the comments the president has made shifting toward a large dislike of Mexican immigrants and citizens. I was wondering if you had any thoughts about that?

Perez-Navarro: That’s a tough topic. My code was for unity. I’m not picking sides of this thing. That’s the biggest strength of democracy. Democracy is probably the biggest strength in this country. If people who didn’t like President Obama for eight years with him in the White House, democracy called for Donald Trump to be president. The beauty of this country, like him or not, is to back him up. Because if he does bad, we do bad. We in this [thing] together. That is the key. United we have to stand. There are things we might not like it, but united we have to stand. That is my message.

On the broadcast for the Mexico game the other day, Mexican fans have been accused of using anti-gay chants in the crowd. You said it didn’t seem like there were any in their last game. Was wondering if you had any thoughts on the firestorm going around the team?

Perez-Navarro: I think that in any culture, the same word can have different meaning. You can use the same word and it can [mean] something else in another language. In Mexico, the word that is causing this commotion can be used as a derogatory comment, as a homophobic chant or even as a [word] among friends. Due to the interpretation, it has been used [in a poor way]. OK. Perfect. I disagree with that. I have even mentioned it on my broadcasts in Spanish and English. I disagree with that. Mexico has been fined several times and the people are doing it because they just want to go against the tide.

From what I was able to listen to the crowd say on that match against South Korea, I didn’t hear anything. They were singing “Cielito Lindo.” They were cheering for Chicarito. They were cheering for “Chucky” [Hirving Lozano]. There wasn’t [that] chant ... [if this happens again] the next thing will be a loss of points. And that’s stupid. I don’t think any fans, it doesn’t matter, they wanna be funny or not, would like to cost their own national team points, especially in a World Cup. That was one of the storylines around that team.

The Mexicans, not me, I’m not rooting for Mexico. And that’s a point I need to tell you. No. I asked my producers specifically after we finished the Mexican-South Korea [game] if he found a difference between my goal calls for Chucky and Chicharito compared to the South Korean players. He said no. It was the same spirit and strength. I’m not taking one side. And if I’ve had something working in the states, with such a diverse community among Hispanics, Argentinians, Columbians, Peruvians, Chileans, whatever country you wanna say it, I have earned the respect. I know what I see. I never take any sides. [Inaudible]. I’ve never waved a Mexican flag in my broadcast. That’s one of the most basic points in my profession: I always have to stay neutral. I leave my national colors outside the door. And nowadays, after 20 years of living in this country and becoming a parent of a proud kid who says he’s born in Miami and he roots for Team USA, my heart is with my son. And if that team goes to one, I’d root for Team USA over Mexico. And I was asked that publicly when I was working for another company. I have said it and I have no problem saying it. My heart is with my son. And if I have to pick a team I would pick USA.

How has radio, 30 years ago in Guadalajara, helped you prepare for this moment? You’ve said as recently as 2015, that you have to paint a scene for people who can’t see. In television people can see it, but the emotion is still there when you call these goals. How has radio laid the groundwork for what you’re doing now?

Perez-Navarro: Before social media, radio was the fastest way to communicate anything that was happening in the world. In the 21st Century, can you imagine life without a mobile phone or video games on your phone, or apps and stuff you could do? ... Radio is about painting a story. Before, we used to work with our imagination way much more than we do right now. Everything is graphic. Everything is visual. So, we don’t tend to use our imagination as we do before ... in radio, you have different scenarios to paint. And I still believe, especially if I call games in radio, I am the eyes of those listening to the radio. So, if it’s a hot morning, you have to make the audience feel hot. If they’re sweating, you have to make them sweat. And, if one team is desperate or angry because they are losing, you have to make them feel that. That’s what a storyteller does. Now we are called sports announcers. We were sports storytellers. That’s what we were. And that’s probably why you see different sports on my social media because I’m a sports storyteller. I’m not just for soccer. I call soccer, American football, basketball, baseball, mixed martial arts, I’ve done boxing. I’m a storyteller. A storyteller that does sports stories. That’s my style.

The exhaustive measures you’ve taken from radio and now to TV, to prepare for these games, you’ve mentioned it’s led to you taking naps after the games because you are so drained. What goes into that? How tired are you after you call the game when you leave all this emotion in the booth then leave?

Perez-Navarro: Sometimes, like in any sport, there are matches or games that are way more insane than other ones. Why? Because there’s more on the line or it was more physical or, you can leave that with your fans. You are so stressed about the game, and it was so close, or comes to the last play, it’s that intensity that you let them know. In our teams in the booth, we are trying to show you that emotion. We are trying to make you feel that emotion. So we have to save that energy for you. That’s how I picture it. We are trying to show you the excitement. If the guys are running back and forth and it’s an intense match, they going one speed and you have to speak to one side, and then you have to change and speak to the other one because it’s the other team attacking ... that sets the tone. Once you get to close the broadcast, you go. You’re tired just like the players. It’s like you played for your team.

Obviously, we are about to be done with the group stages. If you could pick, who is your World Cup winner or who do you wanna see in the big game?

Perez-Navarro: Oh, man. [Laughs]. Can I call a friend, go 50-50, or ask the audience? I tell you, my prediction at the beginning of the tournament, my four finalists were Spain, Brazil, France, and Germany. And my final was Germany vs. Brazil. The things that have happened, those are prediction breakers. Mexico beating Germany? That’s a prediction breaker. Matches like Iceland vs. Argentina, those are prediction breakers. If Argentina doesn’t make it through the group stage, that’s a big prediction breaker ... it’s been like, the big things aren’t as big as we thought and the small things aren’t as small, tiny as we thought they were going to be. Look at Japan. Look at Portugal. They have struggles. Fans have struggled. I mean, I have to stick to what I say: Germany-Brazil ... It’s a very surprising, but at the same time, very interesting and exciting World Cup. Because, if we don’t know what’s coming, well then, we have to wait for the games and be part of them to be part of the story and history.