# A rant about the government, but not Bush or Democrats. (Cuba baseball ban) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 15, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686 "2005-12-15T03:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/41 "2005-12-17T03:33:18Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Do you see where it might make the US look petty to the other countries participating? > > Jim I agree completely with this view. I mean, really, this seems like a good chance to extend some good will and make ourselves look just a little better in the eyes of the world, and yet we still hold on to our petty little grudge against little, poor, (and most importantly) communist Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/42 "2005-12-17T03:59:32Z")
> [@AndyPolley](#): > > Disappointment? Did you stop watching the playoffs last year after the Yankees were ousted? You’re talking about the same Contreras that was the ace of the World Series champion’s pitching staff, right? > > I think Piazza on the Italian team is just to help that team. If Italy’s team is somewhere in the AA range talent-wise & could use the help, I don’t have a problem with it, especially after learning what **brianjedi** shared about requirements to play Euro soccer. I’d rather see A-Rod playing shortstop for The Dominican republic than 3rd base for America. It’s more interesting that way. As a lifelong Yankees fan anything Contreras has done in the last two years is too little, too late :D. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/43 "2005-12-17T17:14:23Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > As a lifelong Yankees fan anything Contreras has done in the last two years is too little, too late :D. Agreed completely. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/44 "2005-12-17T20:39:06Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Agreed completely. Contreras was 15-7 for the Yankees, so one can hardly point a finger of blame at him for, well, anything. They handled him stupidly, and gave up on him for no good reason. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/45 "2005-12-18T17:39:02Z")
They’re Yankees fans, anything below 20-0 is a disappointment 😛 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/46 "2005-12-18T19:39:47Z")
> [@JimSox5](#): > > They’re Yankees fans, anything below 20-0 is a disappointment 😛 No 18-2 would have been fine. Actually his record is deceptive. He couldn’t pitch against Boston at all and that is what basically made the Tampa portion of the Yanks Panic and exile him. Yanks completely screwed up on Contreras as they did with Trading Lilly for Weaver. Contreras should have spent a few months in the minors kicker butt and getting mentally ready for the States, insteads Connors and George decided he was good enough to start the season and Stott was the wrong Pitching coach to help him. Jim ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/47 "2005-12-23T16:47:37Z")
[From NY Times:](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/23/sports/baseball/23classic.html) > [@](#): > > Paul Archey, baseball’s senior vice president for international matters, said the revised submission would guarantee that Cuba would not receive money from the United States for playing in the 16-team tournament. Archey said baseball and Cuban officials were investigating ways to distribute the money that Cuba would have made. It will probably be donated to charity. > “I’m very optimistic that we’ve addressed the concerns that the Department of Treasury had given us,” Archey said. “We believe we’ve addressed them to fall within the guidelines they asked.” I hope this works, because there is also a story that Puerto Rico wishes to withdraw as a host sight if Cuba is not allowed to play. Jim ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/48 "2005-12-23T17:01:49Z")
That seems like it would fix the problem that the Treasury Dept. had. And good on Puerto Rico. I would like to hear some uproar about it from the other nations involved in this. Or even if they aren’t, actually. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/49 "2005-12-23T17:12:54Z")
> [@JimSox5](#): > > That seems like it would fix the problem that the Treasury Dept. had. > > And good on Puerto Rico. I would like to hear some uproar about it from the other nations involved in this. Or even if they aren’t, actually. I assume you are a Red Sox fan, is this true? If so I would like to present to the rest of the Baseball World that a Yankee Fan and a Red Sox Fan really can get along and agree on things “Baseball”. Not often but sometimes. Jim ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/50 "2005-12-23T17:14:33Z")
Nah, I’m a Cubs fan. I hate both the Yankees and the Red Sox, actually. We can still be happy about agreeing, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/51 "2005-12-23T17:17:26Z")
Last summer there was a Cuban soccer team in the Gold Cup, which was held across the United States. I’m sure there was money involved, although no idea how it was distributed. But given that it was soccer it probably flew under the WH radar. And their baseball is much better than their futbol. As for Livan Hernandez, etc. AFAIK Cubans who request asylum in the USA are never deported. Not just baseball players and celebrities, but any that reach US shores. It’s my understanding that it’s policy and they also grant immediate work visas. It’s a special Cuban deal. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686/52 "2006-01-20T23:58:35Z")
Update: [The Treasury Department has officially okayed the Cuban team](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2299485) participating as Cuba will not be getting paid, but donating their earnings to Katrina Relief. > [@](#): > > “Working closely with World Baseball Classic Inc. and the State Department, we were able to reach a licensable agreement that upholds both the legal scope and the spirit of the sanctions,” Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said. “This agreement ensures that no funding will make its way into the hands of the Castro regime.” Hooray for Cuba & MLB & WBC. About time to the Treasury. Jim [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rant-about-the-government-but-not-bush-or-democrats-cuba-baseball-ban/335686.md?page=2)