Jordi Robirosa: "In three or four generations, Catalan will be a residual language."

BarcelonaThe great voice of Catalan basketball on television is retiring. Jordi Robirosa (Barcelona, ​​May 14, 1958), the beloved TV3 journalist who has been broadcasting basketball for 40 years, will call time on his career on May 14th. Today, he moves from interviewer to interviewee, choosing the Ona bookstore as his setting. It's no coincidence: he feels at home among books.

What does it feel like?

— I feel very good. The final stretch is proving to be a bit long. Almost eight months have passed since the Catalan Federation paid tribute to me in Tarragona. Everyone asks me about it, but my time is up. Nothing's happening. I'm facing it with complete peace of mind, and starting May 14th, I'll live a different life.

There are many tributes being paid to you. How are you handling it?

— Tarragona, Manresa, La Seu d'Urgell... It's a strange feeling because, after 40 years in television and almost 50 years in the profession, I'm going to places where I know it will be the last time I'll be. But the strangest thing was doing the last broadcast with Nacho Solozábal. After 30 years and hundreds of broadcasts... It's shocking. I sat down and told him it would be the last broadcast we'd do together. It's respectful.

You've done a lot, but people will remember you for the personality of your broadcasts.

— I've tried to have my own style, not imitate it. My basketball analyst is very good, and that's allowed me to avoid getting too involved in tactical matters. I've limited myself to calling the plays, but I've taken the opportunity to talk about things or make jokes, without overdoing it. I think I've managed to have my own style, but it's helped to always have the same analyst by my side. And the same person who complemented the broadcast, Víctor Lavagnini. This has given us stability and allowed us to put on very good broadcasts.

What point of yours do we know and what point is dramatization?

— I'm the one who imposes my voice. When we went to the NBA Finals, everyone knew me. Even Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Scottie Pippen. We once went to NASA in Houston, and the host compared me to an actor. I always think about who's listening, and so, without falling into absurdity or ridicule, I try to entertain.

You have introduced new words: the one that was most successful was apostolate.

— Yes, I've tried to maintain a broad range of Catalan, but not an anachronistic one. I've always liked to revive words or phrases that have fallen into disuse.apostolate It's a silly thing that worked. It's an expression I rarely use, two or three times a season, but people have caught on. I gave a talk on sports terminology at the Institut d'Estudis Catalans and asked for it to be included in the dictionary as an accepted barbarism. They laughed, but ignored me.

You're not particularly optimistic about the future of Catalan now.

— No, I'm a visceral pessimist. I don't have a problem. You just have to walk down the street and listen. When I was a child, during the Franco regime, you only heard Catalan, and now you only hear Spanish. In three or four generations, Catalan will be a residual language because the connection between parents and children will be lost. Young people aren't interested. I'm going to fight to prevent this from happening, but...

What do you think about the Catalan level of media professionals?

— It doesn't help. If we don't take care of it, who will? On TV3, especially in the news, there's a good level of Catalan. I don't think it's a problem for journalists, since even some Catalan-speaking politicians have a very poor level. The example being set is frightening.

How do you see the profession?

— I view it with both optimism and pessimism. What I don't like is the loss of the concept of special correspondent. It's not good that people don't travel to important events and that many broadcasts are done from the fishbowl of the studios. When I started, all the broadcasts were done from the scene. It loses rigor. In the late 1980s, we had up to 24 journalists traveling with Barça or Joventut. Optimistic? Technology allows you to work with greater immediacy.

What life do you imagine?

— A very full life. I love reading, the theater, concerts, and having coffee with my wife. I won't have any problems following the world of journalism, but from my armchair. I'll continue reading AHORA. I won't push myself to go on talk shows, but if they ask me for things I'd like to do, I'll do them. I've dedicated two hours a week to interviews with students. I suppose it will continue like that, but it will gradually fade away. Now everyone talks about me and it's all about parties, but when time passes, no one will remember me. I've come to terms with it.

Will you write?

— I write well, but I'm a bit of a slob, and that's a problem. I've already written books about my profession that have sold very well, but writing fiction takes more time.

Have you ever gone to a broadcast with your hands in your pockets?

— I prepare a lot. If a Catalan team is playing in Tel Aviv, I find out who the country's president is. When I travel, I go to bed early, wake up early, and explore the city. I've been to Istanbul about 40 times, but I always find new museums to discover. I like to know what I'm talking about and provide context.

But sports journalists have always been looked down upon.

— I come from a time when sports journalism was completely disdained. Now it is partially so. The situation has been changing. There are sports journalists who are real bores who have never read a book, but we can talk about anything. The disdain bothers me. I could dedicate myself to cultural journalism or become a correspondent in France tomorrow. No problem. My question is: could the Paris correspondent do a two-hour rugby broadcast? Sports people also have the best live shows because we're used to improvising.

Do you have many liturgies or manias?

Before games, I try not to drink alcohol so I don't arrive happy for the broadcast. Being late makes me very nervous, and I never arrive less than an hour and a half early. My only pet peeve is holding the microphone with my left hand.

How do you see the Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation?

— I find the loss of the TV3 name strange. I think it's a serious mistake because it's a recognized brand, even for those who wanted to make us disappear, but it's true that the 3Cat platform is a great tool. For three more years, I will be part of the advisory board and, therefore, I will oversee everything that is done. The loss of sports rights was also a mistake, and they've realized it. Sports rights are important for the language. A match between Manresa and Girona is broadcast on Tres Cantos in Spanish, and that makes no sense. The Sports Department has made great efforts, but some directors haven't understood. There are people who work very long hours. Resources must be invested. I will always want TV3 to do well because this will be good for the country.

How do you imagine the post-Robirosa broadcasts?

— We'll have Víctor Lavagnini for a few years, and he has no problem being the lead commentator. He's completely in control. They should try to have someone else cover the day-to-day basketball. If he's left alone, he won't be able to cover everything. The problem is that many people have folded or will fold soon. Imma Pedemonte, Arcadi Alibés, Xavier Bonastre, Enric López Vilalta, Xavi Valls... They need to find reliable replacements! My role models have always been my colleagues, who taught me how to do television. When I arrived, I was a pig in a garage.