Credit Where Credit Is Due

The World Baseball Classic game between Cuba and Puerto Rico wasn't on TV last night, so I had to follow it "live" on the internet. It's kind of strange to follow a game that way, watching dots and names move around on the screen with a text description of each pitch.

It was a good thing I didn't watch it on TV, because I think I would have had a fit. Cuba won 4-3 to advance to the semifinals in San Diego where they will face the Dominican Republic.

I have to give the Cuban players credit, they held their own against pros and they deserve to move on in the tournament. I didn't think they would get this far, but they surprised me and a lot of "experts" out there.

A side issue during the tournament has been the anti-castro protests at several of the Cuba games. Many people have openly wondered why politics and sports should mix. Baseball is baseball, and politics is politics, they say. In an ideal world, they would be correct.

However, we don't live in that world. Politics and sports co-exist and often mix.

Want proof?

Look no further than this quote by Cuba manager Higinio Velez after the game yesterday (I guess he was in a mood to talk last night as opposed to when his team loses):

"They're (Cuban players) not interested in millions,'' Velez said. "We don't have prisoners. Simply, our athletes are besieged because people want to turn them into merchandise, but they want to play for their country.''

It doesn't get much clearer than that, folks.

Read the rest of the Miami Herald article here.