Cuba booted from Baseball's World Cup

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

The US government won't grant the necessary permission for Cuba to play in the World Baseball Classic. Cuba requires a permit to play in Puerto Rico.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

The US government is playing petty politics here. Cuba is a serious baseball contender. This move tarnishes the image of the tournament.

While Cuba's politics leave much to be desired, Castro has been a source of embarassment after managing to survive 10 different U.S. Presidents.

[Cheese]

What a farce IMO. You are 100% right about it being petty politics Fuzzy! Can you imagine if the same politics were played in the 70s? We would never have had the Canada Russia series of 72.
Its nothing more than fear of the good ole boys losing the Series.

[habernac]

chicken **** move by the Us govt, but then again, the embargo is bull**** too.

[Footscray]

Ya that kind of taints the tournament - politics seems to be invading everything lately. Everything in our society is classified as right or left and the political ramifications can't even be left out of sport anymore.

[troutman]

Can't the games involving Cuba be played in Canada or Mexico or San Juan?

[habernac]

the US won't deal with Cuba, but deal freely with communist China. Only because of the huge market opportunity there. Brutal.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Well the Chinese don't have a rabid ex-pat community in Miami that persistantly lobbies the gov. The height of hypocricy in the war on Terror is the US Gov support for a terrorist errr..freedom fighter group called Alpha 66 a BBC Report here.

The irony is, IMO, that without the sanctions Cuba would have probably kicked Castro out decades ago.
________
LIVE SEX

[moon]

From what I have read Cuba will eventually be let in and this is more of a political statement than anything that actaully will end up meaning anything. And good for the States for making Cuba sit out even if it is for a bit. They should be meant to atone for their behaiour even if it is symbolic. Cuba is a horrible nation and if they are punished for it, I for one do not complain.

Plus when it comes to the tournament Cuba will be no threat to medal anyways.

[Gord Wappel]

Thats the dumbest post I have read in a while "moon". I wonder what closet you have been raised in.

[Resolute 14]

We should kick America out of the NHL until they atone for their behavior. The US is a horrible nation, and if they are punished, I for one, will not complain.