I think the decision of letting Cuba play it is a victory for sports. I bet
in Washington DC if they read Hal Bodley's column yesterday at the USA TODAY
and two days ago a column published at The New York Times they were
convinced that this matter should have never ocurred.

Hope never ever politics are involved with sports.

VIVA EL BEISBOL !


>From: Kevin Saldana <sabrkev@...>
>Reply-To: latinobaseball@yahoogroups.com
>To: latinobaseball@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [latinobaseball] World Baseball Classic
>Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 08:50:28 -0800
>
>It is being reported this morning that Cuba is in!!!!
>
>On 1/13/06, Tony Menendez <menendeztony@...> wrote:
> >
> > I have been reading lately in few websites and I have noticed almost
> > everybody is in favor Cuba should play.
> >
> > Enclosed link to my own column:
> > http://www.lasgrandesligas.com/bll/id308.htm
> >
> > I also think Cuba should play. Leave politics aside.
> >
> > Also, even though I think Alex Rodríguez should have been great to be
>seen
> > in the Dominican Republic uniform, it must be respect it his decision if
> > he
> > wants to play for the USA. Afterall he was born in the United States,
> >
> >
> > >From: Alberto Rondon <titorondon2002@...>
> > >Reply-To: latinobaseball@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: latinobaseball@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [latinobaseball] World Baseball Classic
> > >Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:17:38 -0800 (PST)
> > >
> > >If the US does not allow Cuba to play:
> > >1) IBAF would not sanction the event.
> > >2) The individual federations no longer would have
> > >anything to do with their national teams.
> > >3) This, in turn, would not allow players who are not
> > >active in pro ball to play, and many who do would not
> > >participate.
> > >4) Which in turn means that only countries with enough
> > >pro players would participate: the US, Japan, Korea,
> > >Taiwan, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico,
> > >Canada. Maybe Panama would participate with lots of
> > >Rookie League players (Canada uses lots of Indy
> > >Leaguers). Venezuela would boycott, I don't know if
> > >enough players would defy Hugo Chavez. Panama also
> > >would boycott, but they could still make it.
> > >Nicaragua, which is supposed to substitute for Cuba,
> > >would lose most of its team, and would have to use
> > >rookie leaguers, as the non pros need to play year
> > >around, and the national federation controls the
> > >Summer league. Maybe South Africa, Holland and Italy
> > >would declare their leagues professional, but would
> > >remain weakened for international competition for
> > >years to come; and maybe they would not want to pay
> > >the price. Red China would probably boycott, but they
> > >could participate as they have enough pros (even one
> > >playing in Japan).
> > >5) The USBF might pay a price, and the US Olympic
> > >Committee for sure.
> > >6) A strong possibility is that the MLB-Players' Union
> > >board in charge would postpone the event, waiting for
> > >a more auspicious year...
> > >By the way, I believe that Cubans are right in
> > >fighting to get rid of Communism in their country by
> > >all means available except terrorism (see article by
> > >Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria), so Diaz-Balart and the
> > >other congresspeople did the right thing in trying to
> > >exclude Cuba. But I also believe that the US should
> > >respect international sports law and allow Cuba to
> > >play. Jurisprudence for this comes from the ancient
> > >Olympic Games and from God's Truce in the Middle Ages.
> > >Sports is not the right arena for politics nor war.
> > >
> > >--- Anthony Salazar <salazar8017@...> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Does anyone have a sense of what would really happen
> > > > if Cuba does not play, and what would happen if the
> > > > IBAF does not sanction the World Baseball Classic
> > > > with
> > > > a missing Cuban team?
> > >
> > >
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> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

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