Yesterday marked the first time I have ever witnessed another country express their political discontent during a baseball game. Do you remember the events that transpired in Puerto Rico during the first World Baseball Classic? Cuban exile fans attended Cuba’s games with anti-Castro signs and the Cuban government essentially flipped out when they saw those images stream across their television sets. Before yesterday, the vast majority of baseball fans associated fervent political activism exclusively with Cuban exiles.
But on March 14, 2009 that all changed. The Venezuelans that flocked to Miami to avoid living under the tyrannical, socialist regime of Hugo Chavez came out in droves to support *most* of the Venezuelan team at Dolphins Stadium. I say most because there is one Venezuelan player that many Venezuelan-Americans cannot bring themselves to cheer for. Magglio Ordonez, an All-Star outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, has openly expressed his support for the Chavez regime on multiple occasions. So yesterday, from the second he was introduced on the field, during every at bat, and I’m sure during every minute he was out patrolling right field, Magglio was boo-ed by his own people… on international television.
When Endy Chavez tripled in his first at bat, the Venezuelans erupted in cheers. These cheers, however, quickly developed a political tone: “Endy, Si! Chavez, No!”
The announcers were dismayed; they couldn’t believe why politics had to be mixed in with baseball. Why can’t everyone just support their country and leave the politics aside? Easy for them to say. They have ALWAYS HAD a country. They have never seen their country taken over by ruthless tyrants who throw away productivity, creativity and free speech for inefficient, fearful and shackling communism/socialism. Our countries, Cuba and Venezuela, are no longer free countries; they have morphed into assets belonging to an elite ruling class. When Castro and Chavez took our countries away from us, they scarred us politically — they changed our lives forever. We can no longer think about Cuba or Venezuela without being painfully reminded of the politics, even during a baseball game. We can’t cheer for someone who actively supports the destruction of freedom in our country of origin.
Do they think we WANT to boo our own players? Do they think we ENJOY letting politics distract us from the game? I wish SO BADLY that I could wrap myself up in a Cuban flag and wholeheartedly throw myself behind the Cuban team. But I can’t and neither can the vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles. Venezuela can’t either. Don’t blame us for that, Mr. Sports Writer, blame Castro and Chavez.
This is a great piece, Monica. Although I’ve never experienced these forms of repression, I support the anti-Castro and anti-Chavez crowd that show disdain for tyranny. Nobody deserves their freedoms to be taken away by one person.
Sadly it seems that we have to add El Salvador where that CNN anchor Funes has just won. Now it will be next to impossible to get him out of power.
the game was a blast and the “Chavez No! Endy Si!” chant actually started when he came to the plate. That being said while no one is going to deny Chavez is a tyrant I can not help but note that he was elected and that when he first won – it was an overwhelming victory. Venezuela should have known better – they just had to look at our example. Anyway how do you elect a former putschist? Of course he’s going to destroy democratic institutions.
As for Ordonez he’s done much worse than openly expressed support for Chavez…he’s appeared in pro-Chavez commercials, public events and has even parrotted his lines
Very interesting article Monica and very true. Although you would like to stay away from politics, you have to react, it’s just too much to hold in. Ordonez is a total hypocrite, for every time he opens his mouth and shows his support to Chavez he is expressing exactly what the people in Venezuela cannot do. If “any” ball player in Venezuela expresses “any” disapproval towards Chavez, he would be persecuted and harassed. Just another useful idiot, reminds me of the Hollywood Castro lovers.
“They have always had a country” oh I hope we are going to keep our country.