ESPN to Discuss 1994 World Cup Soccer Tragedy

*Taboo*

Taboo means forbidden. A taboo is something barred, shunned or excluded by a society or a group.

andresescobar swGW3 16298

*Definition in a sentence*

From Reconstruction to the 1970s, interracial marriages were considered taboo in the Deep South. Doing so meant risking long, prison terms and even death.

However, defying taboo meant nothing to writer/director, Jerry Zimbalist.

He embarked on telling the world about a different Colombia. In the past, global media painted the Latin nation as a "Wild West" country with no laws to protect its citizens or tourists. They also stereotyped its people as drug addicts, drug couriers, drug pushers or hit men. Television played its role in further bashing Colombians with their "Miami Vice" and "Law and Order" cop shows.

Zimbalist took a different route. While in Colombia on another project, ESPN Television approached him for a controversial project.

During the 1994 World Cup, the Colombian National Team suffered an inexplicable loss. Their star player, Andres Escobar scored a goal in his own net. It was a horrible mistake. And, that mistake cost him his life.

Days later, the athlete was gunned down. Rumors had the person who ordered the hit was drug lord, Pablo Escobar.

During the late 1970s to mid 1990s, Pablo Escobar rose from street criminal to the world's most dangerous billionaire. He was personally responsible for about 6,000 murders in Colombia. He manipulated the authorities by committing horrendous acts of violence. He ordered the takeover of Colombia's main government office. His paid paramilitary forces killed around 100 judges and politicians.

Escobar also unleashed a bombing campaign when the U.S. pressured Colombia to extradite him on drug trafficking charges.

But, his crimes notwithstanding, the murder of Andres Escobar kept Colombians quiet for almost two decades.

Until now...

Zimbalist used his contacts to get access former, Medellin cartel enforcer, "Popeye". He confessed to at least 250 contract killings on Pablo's orders. Allegedly, he was the one who shot the soccer player.

Zimbalist's film "The Two Escobars" discussed the "marriage" of soccer with narco-trafficking. Narco-traffickers in Mexico, Medellin and Cali (Colombia) used their drug monies to own private, soccer clubs. They paid the nation's best athletes to play for them. Many of these franchise players, including Andres, spent time in the drug lords' expensive villas.

Andres Escobar took the money. He knew his employer was a homicidal maniac who killed without malice. Escobar ordered a referee killed after his team lost a match on controversial calls. That referee was executed in the stadium parking lot.

Zimbalist's account was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. It received rave reviews. And so far, Colombians embraced the portrayal. But, a lot of details weren't added due to the sensitivity of the topic.

CHECK OUT THE DEVELOPING STORY ON ESPN 30 FOR 30 TUESDAY NIGHT.