Cool Paso Sports Blog
Balloon Release Honoring Bulldogs Coach Duncan
Northeast Bulldogs release balloons at El Paso’s Ascarate Park Saturday. Pictures by Nia Grey
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Vanessa Castaneda Herold
Cool Paso Sports
EL PASO, Texas - Youth football coach Anthony Duncan died last week and his team, the Northeast Bulldogs honored him by organizing a balloon release. All three football fields stopped at halftime for this important event at Ascarate Park Saturday at 1:00 p.m.. Many football teams from the league participated in honoring Coach Duncan, not just the Bulldogs.
The owner of the Dream League, Bobby Martinez, said a few words, played taps, a moment of silence, and offered the game ball to Duncan’s son before the league let the balloons fly. All the NE Bulldogs signed the game ball used at Saturday’s game. He said, “He was only 40 years old,". Martinez said, losing Coach Duncan was a huge loss to the El Paso community.
Rosie Martinez, Bobby’s wife and co-owner of the league, said the coaches' team, family, and all teams playing Saturday joined together to do something for the kids. She said “He has sons that play football.”. His four children and his wife are left behind. On Monday, the star on the mountain will be lit in honor of Coach Duncan. Anyone who would like to help the family with expenses, Cashapp #BADTDUDE915. You can also purchase a Coach Anthony Duncan t-shirt by contacting the Northeast Bulldogs on Facebook.
Vanessa Castaneda Herold is a senior at UTEP majoring in Multimedia Journalism and minoring in Spanish. If you have any questions please email your questions to: vacastaneda2@miners.utep.edu
Dr. Ruja, Chiropractor & Former Refugee from Romania
Dr. Marius Ruja passes out medals to the marathon finishers at the El Paso County Coliseum. (Pictures by Vanessa Castaneda Herold)
February 19, 2023
Vanessa Castaneda Herold
Cool Paso Sports
EL PASO, Texas - On Sunday, Doctor Marius Ruja passed out medals to 2023 Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon, Raiz Federal Credit Union Half Marathon, and Spine & Rehab Specialists 5K Run/Walk finishers. Dr. Ruja stated that this race was a preliminary qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Dr. Ruja is a Chiropractor in El Paso and has been healing bodies for 30 years. The Doc said, “Chiropractic is all about balancing and calibrating your body, both physical, neurological, and neuromuscular. It's about prevention, recovery and performance. Chiropractic is all about non-invasive care that is all natural. And at the end of the day, everyone needs it all the way from people who are sitting working bus drivers, truck drivers, athletes, pro athletes, if you're moving, you need to get calibrated.”
I asked Dr. Ruja about his journey in life before El Paso. He said he was originally from Romania, and when he was eight years old his family had to escape as political refugees. He said they left the communist dictatorship by escaping 3 countries. He lived in a refugee camp for 2 years in Austria, outside Vienna. Doc said,”I grew up in a barracks for two years, no school, two bunk beds, communal showers, communal baths and were turned down in four countries.” Finally, the United States and Canada gave them political asylum after being processed. Ruja grew up in Brooklyn NY.
Dr. Ruja described his life in a new country, learning English as a second language. Ruja stated “I went through ESL English second language in Brooklyn, New York, learn conversational English for four to six months and after that it's on you.”. His mother worked in a textile factory and his father worked in a sweatshop. Both Parents used to be professors and spoke four languages, but not English so therefore you do what you need to do to survive to make it happen. He said,”It doesn't matter where you start. It matters the vision that you have today and the work you put in to get there.”
I am always curious about why people move to El Paso. All 5 of his children were born here. Dr. Ruja describes El Paso as a bi-national city. He said it’s a Pinnacle, it’s the pass. I had to look up the word pinnacle to understand what he meant. It said Pinnacle is the highest or culminating point, as of success, power, fame, etc. I asked the Doctor what inspired him to be a Chiropractor. He talked about his days as a Soccer player in College. He got into a serious car accident and was looking for a solution to his pain problems. He tried everything until a friend introduced him to a Chiropractor that finally was able to help him with his pain, without the use of opiates.
Now, Dr. Ruja is licensed in 3 states, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, as a Chiropractic Physician. He is one of the physicians on the VA panels, taking veterans off of opiates, oxy fentanyl, and giving them a higher quality of life. You can make an appointment with Doctor Marius Ruja by calling: 915-494-4468
Vanessa Castaneda Herold is a senior at UTEP majoring in Multimedia Journalism and minoring in Spanish. If you have any questions please email your questions to: vacastaneda2@miners.utep.edu