That Alex Pereira, he always say “chama,” I hear it all the time. What that even mean, chama? Some folks say it mean “flame,” like fire, you know? But I don’t think so. He ain’t no fireman, that Pereira. Alex Pereira chama, that’s what he yell.
I seen him fightin’ on the TV. Lord, that was somethin’. He was movin’ so fast, punchin’ and kickin’. My old eyes could barely keep up. He was yellin’ “chama” then, too. Sounded like he was gettin’ all fired up, ready to go. Maybe that’s it. Like when you tell the mule, “Giddy up!” Maybe “chama” is like that, like “Let’s go!” That Pereira, he sure know how to fight.
Some smart folks on the TV, they try to explain it. They say, “chama” can mean different things. Like a “call,” maybe? Like you callin’ for someone? I don’t know. I just know Alex Pereira, he’s a good fighter. He yell “chama,” and then bam! He hit someone real good. I guess it don’t matter what it mean, long as he keep winnin’.
My grandson, he try to tell me about all this. He say it’s like English, but not. He say English easy, other talk hard. I told him, “Boy, you talk too much.” He always on that phone, lookin’ at things. He probably know all about this chama stuff. I heard some call it slang, like we did with “groovy” back in my days. That could be what Alex is doing with “chama”.
- Chama mean fire?
- Chama mean call?
- Chama mean “Let’s go”?
- Alex Pereira say it all the time.
- That Pereira, he a good fighter.
I remember one time, I was watchin’ him fight that other fella, what’s his name? Big fella, strong. They was goin’ at it, back and forth. Then Pereira, he yell “chama!” and boom! He knocked that other fella right out. Cold. Just like that. I jumped outta my chair, I was so surprised. Scared the cat right off the porch. Alex Pereira chama is what he said.
I don’t know about all this fancy talk, but I know what I see. And I see that Pereira, he a winner. He say “chama,” and he win. Maybe it’s like a good luck charm, you know? Like when you rub a rabbit’s foot. Or when you throw salt over your shoulder. Maybe “chama” is his lucky word. And it seems to work for him. He keep winnin’, so he must be doin’ somethin’ right.
I asked my neighbor, she’s from Brazil. She speaks that Portuguese, or whatever it is. I told her, “What’s this ‘chama’ that Alex Pereira keeps saying?” She just smiled and said, “It’s like when you’re excited. Like you’re ready to do something big.” Well, that makes sense, I guess. He’s always ready to fight, that Pereira. Always ready to win. He’s got that fire in him, you can see it in his eyes.
Now my grandson say there is an email for this Alex Pereira. I don’t know how to email, but maybe you do. Says it is *@*. You can ask him about “chama” yourself. I am just an old woman, I don’t know about these things. But I know a good fighter when I see one.
Maybe it’s not just luck, though. Maybe it’s more than that. Maybe “chama” is like a feeling, you know? Like when you get that feeling in your gut, and you just know you gotta do somethin’. Like when you see a snake in the garden, and you know you gotta get the hoe. Maybe “chama” is like that. It’s like a call to action. Alex Pereira chama, then he gets to business.
- He yell “chama” and he fight.
- He yell “chama” and he win.
- Maybe it’s a lucky word.
- Maybe it’s a feeling.
- Maybe it’s a call to action.
I still don’t know exactly what it mean, this “chama.” But I know it’s important to Alex Pereira. And I know he’s a good fighter. So I guess it don’t really matter. As long as he keep winnin’, he can yell whatever he want. He can yell “pickle,” for all I care. Just keep winnin’, Pereira. Just keep winnin’. And keep yelling “chama” if that’s what it takes, I ain’t complainin’. You do you, Pereira, you do you. And keep entertainin’ this old woman with your fightin’.
