Luis Chaluisan (El Extreme) on 60 Minutes Salsa Magazine
One of the most exciting times in my life is when I returned to Hartford CT in 1997 and hooked up again with Tony Gonzalez of Orq Espada) plus ended up landing on the Champion Slam Poetry Team representing the State in Austin, Texas (accompanied by brother Ronald Chaluisan Batlle) and Chicago, Illinois. Long before Def Jam Poetry on HBO, The National Slam Championships were the benchmark events recognizing poets throughout the United States. The Ct. teams I was on landed in 5th place (1997) and 7th Place nationally (1998) out of two hundred teams each year with Scott Goetchius as the best anchor we ever had on those two teams along with Eileen Albrizio Dan "Un Segreto Bello" and Nick Stargu. The other great thing that happened is that CBS 60 Minutes filmed the 10th Anniversary Slam in Chicago and I appeared in the report. My dad saw the report plus the folks at my then job in Bridgeport also caught it. When I lived in Puerto Rico in 2007 I helped coach the University of Puerto Rico Slam Poetry Team in Mayaguez and one of the members of that team had a VHS of the report. But as for me, all I ever had was a photo of me competing in the Hartford Trials (see attached.) Well, Maria Hernandez did some research and found we could still order the report from 60 Minutes. And today, they contacted me and forwarded an invoice so I can order a DVD. I cannot use the program other than for personal viewing and I've signed off on it that is exactly what I will do. I intend to make it a gift to my mother Ana Chaluisanso she can put it with the other mementos she has kept of her children's careers. Thank you God for this great development.
