Doctor Sócrates
dies
BRASILIA.— A moment of silence was
observed in all of Brazil's soccer stadiums,
accompanied by much applause, during the last day of
the National Football Championship in memory of the
former player and doctor Sócrates, who died during
the dawn hours December 4, at 57 years of age, as a
result of an intestinal infection. Players on the
Corinthians team, additionally dedicated their fifth
title to him with their right fists raised, just as
he celebrated his goals as the celebrated captain of
the team during the World Cups of Spain '82 and
Mexico '86.
President Dilma Rousseff and her
predecessor Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva mourned the
loss of a "prime example of citizenship,
intelligence and political consciousness" before
concluding with the phrases heard all over the
country that day, "Thank you, Doctor."
According to a report on BBC, the
majority of soccer fans his age would have named
Pelé or Garrincha as their idols. Sócrates had
others on his list. Among them were Fidel Castro and
Che Guevara, who led the Cuban Revolution and the
former Beatle and anti-war activist, John Lennon.
Just like these three, Sócrates participated in
political activities, considering it an obligation.
