The musician James Rhodes at the Pavón theater in Madrid. Jaime villanueva
James Rhodes defines himself as a "musician, writer and Spaniard".
He was born in London 47 years ago and in 2020 he obtained Spanish nationality.
He is the author of
Instrumental
, a book in which he narrates the abuse he suffered from his teacher when he was a child and actively participated in promoting the law for the protection of children.
He says that in 2016 he saw Betis play for the first time and fell in love: "They are poets and fighters with a ball."
Ask.
What are your favorite teams this World Cup?
Response.
Any team that has the balls to wear an LGBTQ armband.
P.
Bring out the coach that we all have inside.
Who do you miss?
R.
Joaquin.
Obviously.
Q.
Have you ever asked for an autograph?
R.
Not a footballer, but I haven't met Iniesta yet.
A lot of musicians: Pogorelich, Sokolov, Kissin, Argerich...
Q.
Whose would you have liked to have it from?
R.
From Channels.
Q.
Messi or Maradona?
A.
Messi.
As far as I know, he does not have sex with underage girls.
Q.
Three things you know about Qatar.
A.
The only thing I really need to know is your terrible record on human rights and persecution of homosexuality and women's rights.
Q.
An own goal, something you regret.
R.
Attempting suicide.
Q.
And a goal in 1990. What was your big lucky break?
A.
Moving to Spain.
Q.
Your first game on the field.
Where did he go?
Who took him or who did he take?
R.
Chelsea against Arsenal in London.
I was invited by a friend of Abramovich's.
It was incredible.
Q.
What is the best game you have seen?
R.
Betis-Valencia of the Copa del Rey.
Q.
Have you ever shunned any commitment because of soccer?
A.
No!
I mean not a serious commitment.
Who would do that?
Q.
The rarest place or circumstances in which you have consulted the score of a football match.
R.
While signing books after a concert.
P.
Del Bosque - Luis Enrique.
1, X, 2?
R.
Luis Enrique.
It's nicer than pesetas.
Q.
Any superstitions before going out into the field?
Rituals for big occasions?
A.
A lot.
But I can't tell you or they will stop working.
Q.
He gets caught offside...
R.
When I innocently, naively, got into politics.
Q.
I would wave to...
A.
Anyone from Betis.
Q.
Ask the referee for the time when...
A.
When I wake up at 5 in the morning.
Q.
Three moments that you remember from the World Cups.
A.
The hand of God.
Everything else pales into insignificance.
Q.
Complete the sentence: "If there were no football...
A.
I would have to spend more time reading.
But he would be a much sadder human being.
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