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Austin FC faces Tigres UANL, putting lots of fans through a moral dilemma of who to support. (Twitter)
Austin FC's Tuesday matchup against legendary Liga MX futbol club Tigres UANL may be just a friendly match. However, for many fans, it's a moral dilemma.
Loyalties will be tested, colors will mix and dreams will be fulfilled as Tigres, the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League winners, take on Austin FC at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Q2 Stadium.
When Tigres superfan Rigo Rodriguez joined the supporters' crew for his hometown's new team, he didn't expect his two worlds to collide so quickly. "To the club, I would say 'too soon,'" Rodriguez said.
Like so many others in Austin's futbol sphere, Rodriguez joined Austin FC's burgeoning fan club, which formed a melting pot of fans of leagues around the world. For the first time, fans of Liga MX and Premier League rivals stood side by side in Verde.
Rigo Rodriguez has been integral to Austin FC's lively supporters' section. (Rigo Rodriguez)
Although they're based in Monterrey, Tigres are aware of the large chapters of their fan base, including Libres y Lokos in Texas. They've played several friendlies in the Lone Star State, and they're known for their stadium invasions—most notably when they out chanted Houston Dynamo fans at their own stadium in 2019.
Christian Aguilar, president of Libres y Lokos' Austin chapter, said the match was announced too late for there to be a full-on invasion. Still, he said he expects at least 400 Tigres fans at Q2 come Tuesday.
"We are the biggest fans—the best fans—in Mexico, so we will be there," Aguilar said. "We'd like to have more... but we'll do whatever is best to support our team."
Those who support both clubs now have to decide who they'll root for in the friendly.
Tigres fans are known for invading stadiums on the road. (Libres y Lokos Austin)
For die-hard Tigres fans, it's going to be difficult for them to choose what side they'll be supporting. "Some of them have been fans of Tigres since they were children... that love for the team is ingrained," Chavez said.
Rodriguez, a lifetime supporter himself, has racked up around 70 Tigres jerseys in his lifetime, but his Austin FC collection is quickly catching up. When asked which color he'd wear to the friendly, Rodriguez sighed.
While he will never give up loyalty to his first love, Rodriguez, who can often be seen standing even with an injured foot and leading the supporters' section with a megaphone, said he has a responsibility to Austin's newborn franchise.
"I'm going to be dressed in all black, but I'm definitely sitting with my people in Austin FC," Rodriguez said. "Tigres has a fan base that doesn't need me, they're established... I feel responsible to be with our people and to help guide the experience. We have nothing to compete against in terms of our fanbase."
Even as loyalty runs deep for the Tigres fanbase, Aguilar said he respects those who choose to keep on the green. "When someone from Nuevo Leone decides to have a new life in the United States, it's a little more difficult," Aguilar said. "You love your team, your colors, for life, but now you have a new life. People want to be involved (and) we respect that."
The match has no meaning in the standings, but Head Coach Josh Wolff will be pressed with the difficult balance of keeping his injured roster rested and gaining the respect of a well-regarded international club as they suit up against Tigres at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
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(Austonia)
May's second election is here, in which voters will decide on the candidates to represent their party in the November general election after the winner in some March primary races was unclear.
Just like the March primaries, voters will choose which party they choose to vote in. Then based on location, each ballot will show which races are in a runoff.
In Texas, candidates must win at least 50% of the vote to be elected. In the races where the top candidate only received a plurality of votes, a runoff is being held.
Here's everything you need to know before heading to the polls.
Know before you go
Early voting for the Texas primary runoff election begins Monday and will last through May 20; Election Day is May 24.
The registration period for this election has passed; check if you're registered to vote here.
The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. As long as you're in line by 7 p.m., you can vote.
You'll need a valid photo ID to present once you're at a polling location.
Here are the early voting locations in Travis County.
View wait times at polling locations here.
Races to watch in Travis County:
Statewide
Lieutenant Governor
- Republican: Incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick won his primary in March.
- Democratic: Mike Collier and Michelle Beckley are vying to be the Democrat candidate on the ballot.
- Republican: Incumbent AG Ken Paxton is fighting for his seat against George P. Bush.
- Democratic: Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski will face off to be the Democratic candidate in this race.
View all the statewide races on the ballot here.
U.S. House of Representatives
View the district you live in here.
District 21
- Republican: Incumbent Chip Roy won his primary in March.
- Democratic: Claudia Andreana Zapata and Ricardo Villarreal are hoping to secure this vote.
- Republican: Dan McQueen and Michael Rodriguez are going head to head to be the Republican candidate in this race.
- Democratic: Former Austin council member Greg Casar won this race in March.
District 19
- Republican: Ellen Troxclair and Justin Berry are vying to be the Republican candidate in this race.
- Democratic: Pam Baggett won her primary in March.
Texas has been home to some of the country’s biggest celebrities of all time—think Amarillo resident Georgia O'Keeffe, Lubbock’s Buddy Holly and Corpus Christi’s famous singer Selena.
The Pudding’s People Map of the U.S., which shows each city’s “most Wikipedia’ed” resident, placed celebrities from all walks of life on the Texas map. As for Central Texas celebrities, there are some interesting (and not so surprising) names on deck.
(The Pudding)
Proving that Austin is “alright, alright, alright,” Minister of Culture Matthew McConaughey is both Austin’s and Uvalde’s top Wikipedia’ed resident. McConaughey, who was born in San Antonio adjacent Uvalde, has deeply ingrained himself in Austin by studying Radio-Television-Film at UT Austin, starring in the Austin-filmed movie “Dazed and Confused” and investing in Austin FC.
Heading down just a few miles south, San Marcos claimed former president Lyndon Baines Johnson as Texas State University’s most famous alumni, who graduated in 1930, and was also named in Fredericksburg. LBJ wasn’t the only ex-president on the map—George W. Bush was listed as the top resident in Dallas, Midland, Houston and Crawford.
You’ll see some other names with ties to Austin strewn around the state: Janis Joplin in Beaumont and Port Arthur; Stone Cold Steve Austin in Victoria and Edna; Dan Rather in his hometown of Wharton; and Waylon Jennings in Littlefield.
Venturing outside of the central areas, there are big celebrities who call Texas Home. Actress and artist Selena Gomez dominated search traffic in her hometown of Grand Prairie, musical artist Post Malone was most “Wikipedia’ed” in Grapevine, and Shaquille O’Neal was named in the city where he went to high school, San Antonio.
Plus, Thomas Haden Church, Angela Kinsey, Jessica Simpson, Chuck Norris, Roy Orbison, Ron White, Jessica Alba, Colt McCoy, Jimmy Dean and Johnny Manziel all had at least one city covered on the list.
Where’s Texas’ newest resident, Elon Musk? You’ll find him still in Los Angeles, as his foray into Texas living has just begun.
Click here to view the full map.