As Mayor of Guaynabo, Cruz put emphasis on the city's sports programs, and, in 1983, the Mets Pavilion (named after the city's BSN basketball team; later renamed Mario Morales coliseum) was opened.
Then, he had another fight in Puerto Rico, this time at Mario Morales Coliseum, and the fight was telecasted all across the island.
Mario Morales became "El Quijote" (was better known by his nickname than by his real name), José Sosa "El Galgo" (The Greyhound), Angel "Cachorro" Santiago "El Orgullo del Caserio" (The Pride of the Housing Projects), Hector "El Mago" Blondet (The Magician), Rolando Frazier "El Principe" (The Prince), Mario Butler "El Expreso Panameño" (The Panamanian Express), Ruben Rodriguez "Sharp Shooter", and Martín Ansa got the nickname "El Señor" from Morales.
During that era, games were shown on Puerto Rico's national television almost daily (on weekends, twice a day) by WAPA-TV, helping Butler, Frazer, Mario Morales, Georgie Torres, Jerome Mincy and a number of other BSN players to become household names there.
The coliseum opened in 1983 and is named after renowned basketball player Mario Morales.
Mario | Super Mario Bros. | Evo Morales | Mario Testino | Mario Vargas Llosa | Mario Lemieux | Mário Soares | Mario Lanza | Mario Botta | Mario Cuomo | Mario Andretti | Mario Monti | Mario del Monaco | Mario Batali | Mario Balotelli | Esai Morales | Mario Winans | Mario Savio | Mario Puzo | Mario Bava | Mario Van Peebles | Mario Sorrenti | Mario Merz | Mário de Andrade | Morales | Mario Morales | Mario Martone | Mario Lopez | Mario Borghezio | Super Mario Bros. 2 |
In 1981, Meléndez returned to the finals, this time coaching the Bayamón Cowboys, who, helped by stars such as Rubén Rodríguez, Jose Sosa and Roberto Valderas, won the national championship by defeating Fico Lopez, Mario Morales and the Julio Toro coached Guaynabo Mets.