Cuba banned from upcoming World Baseball Classic.

[WrongWay]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...14cubawbc.html

Cuba Out Of World Baseball Classic
By Alan Schwarz
December 14, 2005

NEW YORK--The upcoming World Baseball Classic, heralded as the greatest international baseball tournament ever, will probably be missing one of its most attractive participants: Cuba.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury denied Major League Baseball permission to let Cuba participate, the Miami Herald first reported on its website Wednesday. The news was confirmed to Baseball America by MLB president Bob DuPuy, who wrote in an e-mail message that he was “disappointed,” and that both MLB and the Players Association, joint coordinators of the tournament, were “continuing to try whatever channels may be open.”

An official announcement was forthcoming, DuPuy said. Officials from the U.S. Treasury Department were not immediately available for comment.

If Cuba is not permitted to play, a possibility for which World Baseball Classic officials have long prepared, it is expected that either Nicaragua or Colombia will be invited as the 16th participant.

Because Cuba would reap financial benefit from having a team participate in the World Baseball Classic, a license must first be approved by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which oversees the United States’ economic embargo against Cuba.

According to the Herald, several Cuban-American members of the Congress urged the Treasury Department to decline the license. The paper quoted a letter from Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart of Miami as claiming that Cuba’s participation would “allow a state sponsor of terrorism to use U.S. currency to finance its machinery of oppression.” The Herald reported that Díaz-Balart wrote to MLB commissioner Bud Selig last week claiming, “It is difficult to believe that major league baseball would have invited a team from apartheid-era South Africa to participate in a tournament.”

Meanwhile, New York Rep. José Serrano had issued a statement supporting Cuba’s inclusion. “Let's keep politics out of this,” he said.

The possibility of allowing players who have defected from Cuba, such as new Diamondbacks pitcher Orlando Hernandez and Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez, has been discussed. However, it is not clear whether such players would be interested in representing their former homeland. Livan Hernandez now lives in Puerto Rico and has stated his interest in representing that country in the Classic.

Any team from Cuba would have been considered a strong one, but not necessarily on par with powerhouses such as the United States, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Cuba has dominated all levels of international competition throughout the 1960s through the 2000s, continuing to win virtually every international tournament even after the inclusion of professionals. Its lone loss in medal-round play since 1999, when the U.S. began to send minor leaguers to international tournaments, was to Ben Sheets in the 2000 Olympic gold-medal game. The March 3-20 World Baseball Classic will be open to and mostly populated by major leaguers, however, almost certainly eroding Cuba’s longtime edge.

How is this different than the Olympics or The World Cup?

Will this hurt the United State's chances of land future International Events.

Didn't we learn anything from the 1980 Winter Olympics?

[MikeVic]

lol. Nice World Baseball Classic this'll be without Cuba then. :P

[sovereignstar]

stupid

[ScottVib]

This is different from the Olympics and the World Cup in that they are administered by international agencies.

The World Baseball Classic is administered by Major League Baseball, an American entity and is thereby bound by US rules, including the embargo.

[sovereignstar]

[tanglewood]

That's just fucking stupid.

[st.cronin]

I misread the title, thought it said "Cubs banned from upcoming World Series." Was going to post something like "does it matter."

[lungs]

This is fucking ridiculous. Too bad the fucking Batistianos from South Florida have a strangehold on American politics when policy toward Cuba is concerned.

Those votes in South Florida, a key swing state, are too important for any politician to grow a pair and allow something like this to happen.

[Logan]

OFAC is a bitch.

[oykib]

Livan Hernandez now lives in Puerto Rico and has stated his interest in representing that country in the Classic.

'That country' is part of our country. Dumb journalists.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by oykib

'That country' is part of our country. Dumb journalists.

Does Puerto Rico nationals hold any type of US citizenship?

[clintl]

Yes. They are full U.S. citizens. But they are sort of the U.S. counterpart to what the Ukraine was in the Soviet era with respect to international sports.

[Havok]

F*ck Cuba

until that dickhead finally dies, im all for this.

[sovereignstar]

Did we find ourselves a Cuban-American?

[Havok]

lol no.... but i live in FLA and i have talked to quite a few Cuban-Americans.

Its amazing how soon we forget what kind of man is running that country. Why don't we invite the North Korens to play in the tourney aswell?

[lungs]

Originally Posted by Havok

F*ck Cuba

until that dickhead finally dies, im all for this.

So a dickhead replaced another dickhead in 1959. We like the first dickhead but don't like the second.

So 46 years later the first dickhead's cronies live in Florida and keep pushing this crap down our throat.

[Havok]

Originally Posted by lungs

So a dickhead replaced another dickhead in 1959. We like the first dickhead but don't like the second.

So 46 years later the first dickhead's cronies live in Florida and keep pushing this crap down our throat.

huh yeah....

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Havok

Its amazing how soon we forget what kind of man is running that country.

We didn't forget ... we're just a nation chock full of people who don't really give a damn what happens as long as it doesn't interfere with our entertainment. Sad but true.

[lungs]

And the guy running the country before Castro was soooo much better.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by lungs

And the guy running the country before Castro was soooo much better.

Well that settles it. If the previous guy was horrible, then that excuses anything Castro does.

[BishopMVP]

Dola - If we're going down this path, can we ban Venezuela too? Chavez is basically a more active Castro at this point, and they're actually a threat to win.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Well that settles it. If the previous guy was horrible, then that excuses anything Castro does.

It doesn't excuse anything Castro has done. But this is bringing politics into a sporting event that's stupid.

So, yeah, should Venezuela seriously be excluded also?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lungs

But this is bringing politics into a sporting event that's stupid.

If it were just "a sporting event", I might agree with you ... but it isn't.

It's a business proposition, one from which Cuba would reap financial benefit by participating in.

And that's a lot bigger than some exhibition baseball tournament.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by lungs

It doesn't excuse anything Castro has done. But this is bringing politics into a sporting event that's stupid.

So, yeah, should Venezuela seriously be excluded also?

I don't think it's introducing politics ... I think it's just interpreting the embargo correctly. But if you think the embargo should go away, go ahead and say it.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I don't think it's introducing politics ... I think it's just interpreting the embargo correctly. But if you think the embargo should go away, go ahead and say it.

Yeah, I'm absolutely in favor of ending the embargo.

Embargo or not, hopefully I can take this trip in the next few years:

http://www.hellocuba.ca/cubaball/

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lungs

Embargo or not, hopefully I can take this trip in the next few years:

we're just a nation chock full of people who don't really give a damn what happens as long as it doesn't interfere with our entertainment.

Eerie, ain't it?

[lungs]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Eerie, ain't it?

You are correct. I don't give a damn.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lungs

You are correct. I don't give a damn.

Location:My Car
Interests:football, dope, drinking
Occupation:Criminal
Favorite Football Team:cowboys

I would never have guessed.

[lungs]

Well, I guess I just don't really give a damn what they do in Cuba. They sure as hell don't pose a threat to me.

[LionsFan10]

As a full-blooded Puerto Rican, I just want to know if the jerseys these guys wear during the tournament will ever be available. I'd like one

[Tekneek]

Why the fuck is a CHINESE team allowed in, but not a CUBAN team? This makes absolutely no sense to me. Apparently it is ok to do business with countries like that, as long as the US government endorses it. "Global economy" my ass.

[yabanci]

Just curious. Do americans even realize the entire world condemns the embargo? The most recent vote by a margin of 182-4:

Vote on Necessity of Ending Embargo against Cuba

The draft resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba (document A/60/L.9) was adopted by a recorded vote of 182 in favour to 4 against, with 1 abstention, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States.

Abstain: Federated States of Micronesia.

Absent: El Salvador, Iraq, Morocco, Nicaragua.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.as...0&Cr=cuba&Cr1=

[GoldenEagle]

When I first saw this thread, I thought it said "Cubs banned from World Baseball Series."

I thought, well that is nothing new.

[Tekneek]

Marshall Islands get a vote? Isn't that just a US puppet government?

[Tekneek]

It seems the embargo isn't working anyway. Isn't it time to invade the evil Cuban nation by now? We only gave Iraq a little over a decade to bow down.

[Havok]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

It seems the embargo isn't working anyway. Isn't it time to invade the evil Cuban nation by now? We only gave Iraq a little over a decade to bow down.

and now the threads gone to hell, thanks Tek, your a moron.

[lungs]

China is different. Cuba can't do much to fight back against our embargo so they get picked on. Vietnam also. They taught us a nice little lesson a few decades back, if I recall correctly.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lungs

China is different. Cuba can't do much to fight back against our embargo so they get picked on. Vietnam also. They taught us a nice little lesson a few decades back, if I recall correctly.

Yes, we learned what happens when we give far too much credence to those who possess neither will nor good judgement.

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Havok

and now the threads gone to hell, thanks Tek, your a moron.

It was a joke. You're a jackass. By the way, "your a moron" doesn't mean what you think it does. I hope english is not your primary/first language, because you do not really know it.

[Havok]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

It was a joke. You're a jackass. By the way, "your a moron" doesn't mean what you think it does. I hope english is not your primary/first language, because you do not really know it.

i gues i just arn't as smart as yu be

[WrongWay]

Originally Posted by yabanci

Just curious. Do americans even realize the entire world condemns the embargo? The most recent vote by a margin of 182-4:



http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.as...0&Cr=cuba&Cr1=

That is crazy. I see Canada on the list, and that is how I get down to Cuba for Scuba Diving. There is Mexico, and I know when I go down to Cabo I can buy a box of Cuban cigars.

So, what are these countries voting on? Are they voting on the US Embargo, because I know that some of those countries listed do not have an Embargo with Cuba.

Personally, I don't get this whole Cuba thing. With China out there I think Cuba should be the least of our worries.

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by WrongWay

That is crazy. I see Canada on the list, and that is how I get down to Cuba for Scuba Diving. There is Mexico, and I know when I go down to Cabo I can buy a box of Cuban cigars.

So, what are these countries voting on? Are they voting on the US Embargo, because I know that some of those countries listed do not have an Embargo with Cuba.

Personally, I don't get this whole Cuba thing. With China out there I think Cuba should be the least of our worries.

Uhhh.. do you not see United States on that list somewhere? Should kind of tell you who's on what side.

[WrongWay]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Uhhh.. do you not see United States on that list somewhere? Should kind of tell you who's on what side.

Sorry, I read that backwards. All those countires on the list are Against the U.S> and are NOT for the Embargo.

[JPhillips]

Yes, we learned what happens when we give far too much credence to those who possess neither will nor good judgement.

Worst. Understanding. Of. History. Ever.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Worst. Understanding. Of. History. Ever.

Spare me puh-leeze.

The lack of will shown by this nation, the disgusting acceptance of treason, and the utter lack of judgemental ability displayed during that era is the low point of American history in the past hundred years. Easily the most damaging event for the U.S. in the 20th century, largely because we allowed too much influence by a collection of "useful idiots". It was a blow from which we still haven't recovered, nor sadly, do I really believe we ever will. And we see the legacy of that every day

[Young Drachma]

Almost as dumb as a World Series that only includes North American teams.

[JPhillips]

No Jon that isn't what happened. You're trying to isolate Vietnam in world politics and you simply can't. You can have whatever view of demonstrators that you want, but in the end they had very little effect on the actual policy.

Remember that as Vietnam escalated we knew that China was likely to get heavily involved if we invaded N. Vietnam. It had happened in Korea and was likely to happen again. The general believe was that as long as we stayed in the South the Chinese would stay out. We could have never "won" Vietnam without invading the North and we couldn't invade the North without making a Chinese intervention likely.

The protesters made a lot of noise and were on TV a lot, but I don't believe the outcome woud have been any different without them. As it was the war continued for years after the explosion of resistance in 1968. Hell Nixon/Kissinger kept escalating bombing campaigns. But like I said, you can think whatever you want of the protesters, I'm not going to defend them.

Lastly, don't forget that one of the reasons mainstream America started to turn against the war was that the leaders of the military and the President kept lying to them. Escalated body counts, premature declarations of victory, coverups of mistreatment of civilians, etc. Americans will back a war they believe to be just, but as soon as that believe fades support will vanish.

[WrongWay]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

If it were just "a sporting event", I might agree with you ... but it isn't.

It's a business proposition, one from which Cuba would reap financial benefit by participating in.

And that's a lot bigger than some exhibition baseball tournament.

What are you talking about. This is what was mentioned in the original article. I do not think Bud Selig wants to get into Business with Castro. Were they going to take all the profit generated from the tournament and devide it between the teams then?

I am curious as to what will be so different between this tournament and say the World Cup? Where does the profit go from World Cup tickets sales, merchandising, and television revenuethen, if it is not allowed to go back to the team competing?

Can Major league Baseball create some kind of Organization like the Organization that puts on the World Cup to get around this law?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

No Jon that isn't what happened. You're trying to isolate Vietnam in world politics and you simply can't.

No, I'm isolating it as it affected the United States. There's a difference there (although I readily admit that I'm not sure that I've articulated it well with that simple sentence.)

We could have never "won" Vietnam without invading the North and we couldn't invade the North without making a Chinese intervention likely.

And I believe the consequences of failing to do so were worth the risk of Chinese intervention.

[cartman]

Looks like they are gonna let them play after all:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10943151/

Cuba gets U.S. permission to play in WBC
Treasury Department pressured by Major League Baseball, other officials

Updated: 11:27 a.m. ET Jan. 20, 2006

NEW YORK - Cuba will be allowed to play in the World Baseball Classic, after all.

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a license Friday allowing the Cubans to participate in the 16-team tournament, a government and a baseball official said. The pair spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made.

Baseball’s first application was denied in mid-December by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, but the commissioner’s office and the players’ association reapplied after Cuba said it would donate any profits it receives to victims of Hurricane Katrina.