As I sat in Miami International Airport's Customs gate waiting area awaiting the arrival of a beloved family member who I hadn’t seen in almost two decades I had plenty of time to think. For 5 hours I stared at entire families pressing their faces against the glass security divider hoping for a glimpse of their loved ones. After hours of waiting, one by one that glimpse would come, followed by tears, screams, and a mad dash for the opening at the exit of the gate and a happy hug and tear-filled reunion.
As I witnessed family reunion after reunion my initial emotion was of sadness for all of the families that have been torn apart by the Castro regimes stubborn policies and lack of compassion for the Cuban people. But when I would see a young Cuban walk through the gate I couldn’t help but smile. There stood one of my countrymen whose potential would no longer be limited by an oppressive government. He or she now stood on U.S. soil and their futures and their prospects would now more than ever be a result of their talents, determination and diligence.
The Cuban system shackles its people’s potential in an effort to control and manage the populace. Nowhere is this more evident than in its athletes. World class baseball players, boxers, volleyball players and track & field athletes are one of the islands greatest resources. In reasonable countries such talent is developed, nurtured and set free to reach its highest potential. Often leading to riches and fame for the athlete, and just as often and in the true spirit of capitalism, resulting in that athlete giving back both through charity, re-investment and by serving as a role model and inspiration to his/her people. Heck, even China released Yao Ming to reach his full potential by allowing him to come to the NBA and play against the greatest competition his sport has to offer.
Yes, Yao has become monstrously rich and famous. But, in doing so he has aided his country in ways he otherwise couldn’t of. He’s given back financially. He’s served as a great inspiration to his people, evidence by his prominence in the recent Olympic Opening Ceremonies. And when his country was devastated by disaster his fame, money and love for his countrymen lead the efforts in raising aid from all around the world to assist.
Cuba, in contrast shackles its athletes. It’s become more and more evident especially in this years Olympics. The Cuban teams have been depleted by defections and more athletes where not allowed to compete for fear of the same:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/sl_price/08/14/us.cuba/index.html
It’s a microcosm of what the Cuban Government does to its entire people. For it’s not just those with the potential for world class fame and riches that try to escape and realize those dreams. Those are Cuban mechanics, gardeners and teachers who walk up to the beaches of Cuba and dive into the perilous waters of the Caribbean and Florida Straits in search of a land that will allow them to realize their potential. Those are Cuban carpenters, nurses and students who walk through the security gate at Miami International Airport to hug the families they’ve been torn apart from, in many cases for decades.
I long for the days when the shackles are removed from the Cuban people so that the world can be witness to their true, unrealized potential. The day when the traffic in the Florida Straits is reversed and instead of rafters risking their lives to come north, the exiled sons and daughters of Cuba are headed south. To re-invest, to donate, and to serve as capitalist role models during Cuba’s resurgence.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
As Cuban athletic teams take on and defeat their counterparts from the Little Leaguers of Vermont to the world stage in Beijing, Tony Gomez complains.
He writes that he longs:
"for the days when the shackles are removed from the Cuban people so that the world can be witness to their true, unrealized potential. The day when the traffic in the Florida Straits is reversed and instead of rafters risking their lives to come north, the exiled sons and daughters of Cuba are headed south."
SOME PROBLEMS HERE:
Cubans, like people from all over the world, strive to come to the United States in search of a better material life. No one can fault them for that. It's certainly one possibility for a number of them.
Yet Cubans have an advantage which Tony doesn't mention. Unlike the citizens of any other country on the planet, the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 GUARANTEES that they will be permitted to remain, while virtually all others are arrested and deported.
Even more, Cuban-American business people who want to do business with Cuba, are confronted with a pair of interesting things.
A small handful are able to do so through activities licensed by the United States government.
Even more are denied any opportunity to visit family and friends because U.S. law prevents them from doing that.
In the face of all these things, today the United States is Cuba's FIFTH largest trading partner, according to a REUTERS report just posted today:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/89647
It's time and overtime to normalize relations with Cuba today.
Walter,
Thanks for the comments.
True Cubans have an advantage in coming to the U.S. And yes trade with Cuba has been increasing.
I tried to contest neither of those facts. I intended my post to focus on the hurdles that the Cuban Government places in front of it's own poeple when it comes to their careers and prosperity.
Obviously the the embargo hurts Cuba's economy. But the largest detriment to the country's well being is the ideology under which it functions.
My point is the Cuban Government needs to get out of it's peoples way and allow them to prosper. The island will be far better off for it. And I assure you far less Cubans will be risking their lives in the ocean if that were to happen.
Thanks again,
Tony
Good post, Tony.
Let's give a little bit of historical context here. For a country of its population size, Cuba's athletic performance in international competitions like the Olympics, Pan Am Games, etc., has historically been impressive. They have consistently finished at or near the top 10 in the final metal count in many of those competitions. Notwithstanding the drain in the talent over the years, they again find themselves in a familiar position and as at today are ranked #13 overall in the metal count (see below).
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/medals
The above notwithstanding however, I cannot agree more with your overarching point, Cuba's athletic prowess much like the nation and its people as a whole could be so much more! And contrary to Walter's suggestion, the blame largely lies with their suffocating and insuffrable government. It is more than "over time" that their demagogic political hacks and oppressors concede this, if they truly care about the lot of their people. But you know what, unfortunately their egos continue to prevent them from doing so...
I would however disagree with your comparison to and characterization of the Chinese government's handling of its athletic talent like Yao or before him Wang Zhizhi who was the first Chinese basketball player to play in the NBA although not very successfully.
Behind the scenes the truth is that those players were allowed to play in the NBA after much negotiation between their Chinese clubs, their agents, the NBA and -- last but not least -- the Chinese government who reportedly requires athletes abroad to turn over at least half their pretax earnings, including endorsement income, to Chinese government agencies for the length of their careers (see below).
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01EEDA143EF936A15757C0A9649C8B63
Cuba treats its athletes who compete abroad in much the same fashion (except those athletes are rewarded for their exploits by the regime and permitted access to basic things in Cuba that ordinary Cubans are denied).
And so the more fitting goal is one day for Cuban athletes on the island if they so desire to perform on the world stage and be compensated their just deserts like Beckham, Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James are and fellow country men like Livan Hernandez, "El Duque" Hernandez and younger Cuban born / U.S. raised future stars like Yonder Alonso.
How did Cuba stand in the sports field prior to 1959? This is not a field where I have special knowledge, but beyond Minnie Minoso and Capablanca, how did Cuba do back in the day when Tony and Lincoln Manuel seem to think things were better?
Walter,
I want to preface by saying that I think intelligent debates originating from varied points of view are valuable to any discussion. However, in this case I think you are uncharacteristically being intellectually lazy.
You responded to my original post by referencing the Cuban Adjustment Act and trade statistics. Then to my response you take the creative liberty to interpret my thoughts and state that I feel that Cuba was better off prior to Castro.
I’d love to debate those subjects with you but in this particular case I was simply making this point (I’ll put it in bold so that you can read it clearly) THE CUBAN PEOPLE AND CUBA ITTSELF WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF THEIR GOVERNMENT STOPPED LIMITING THEIR POTENTIAL IN THE INTEREST OF SELF PRESERVATION.
I seriously doubt that you could argue that point. I actually suspect that the reason you put words in my mouth and tried to direct the discussion in different directions is because you cannot argue that point.
Step up your game Walter.
Regards,
Tony
Tony started this threat with the idea that the Cuban athletic teams have really degenerated. However, the results today don't quite confirm that notion.
Tony wrote:
"Cuba...shackles its athletes. It’s become more and more evident especially in this years Olympics. The Cuban teams have been depleted by defections and more athletes where not allowed to compete"
But today's results don't quite reflect all of that negativity, and even the Cuba-hating Miami Herald has to admit it:
MIAMI HERALD
No excuses: Cuba powers past Americans in semifinal, 10-2
Posted on Fri, Aug. 22, 2008
By MICHELLE KAUFMAN
McClatchy Newspapers
BEIJING – This time, there were no accusations coming from the U.S. bench. Only admissions that Cuba was too good, too powerful, too experienced, and too determined to win what could be the final Olympic gold medal in baseball. The Cubans hit four home runs, pounded their archrivals 10-2 in Friday's semifinal and advanced to their fifth straight Olympic final.
Alexei Bell and Frederich Cepeda each blasted a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and none of the five U.S. pitchers who took the mound could quell the Cuban bats. Bell showboated as he rounded the bases with his index finger raised to the sky, and then he and his teammates celebrated in the dugout. That did not sit well with the U.S. team.
"This is not the first time," said U.S. manager Davey Johnson. "They have a lot of fun and do a lot of things we don't condone in the U.S. But it's over."
And it could be over forever. Baseball was dropped from the menu for the 2012 London Olympics, so Cuba's gold-medal game against South Korea takes on extra importance, and the U.S. team, which plays Japan for bronze, is left with the sick feeling that it may never again win another gold medal.
Cuba has won three of the four gold-medal games since baseball was introduced to the Olympics in 1992, and dominated again this time. Over its past two games, Cuba outscored China and the United States 27-3.
"I never imagined we would win like that against a team like the United States," said Cuban manager Antonio Pacheco. "I didn't expect so many runs. If you had told me before the game that we'd win by such a big margin against such good pitchers, I'd say you were crazy. It was a great offensive game for Cuba."
Johnson went with 20-year-old pitcher Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State, the only collegiate player on the roster and the likely No. 1 pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He boasts a 97 mph fastball, and had allowed only one hit, one walk and 11 strikeouts in seven innings against the Netherlands earlier in the tournament. Johnson figured he'd give the team the best chance. But the Netherlands is no Cuba.
Strasburg lasted four innings, and gave up a long solo homer by Alfredo Despaigne. It was the U.S. relievers who felt much of the brunt of the Cuban batters. They allowed three home runs between them.
"They seem to find the hole a lot," Strasburg said, in the understatement of the evening.
MLB scouts were in the stands at Wukesong Baseball Field, and no doubt they were taking notes on some of the Cubans. Outfielder Bell, for example, is the tournament's batting average leader (.520) and known for his quick wrists. He is 24 years old, and broke the home run record (31) and the RBI record (111) in the Cuban national league this season.
"They've got a lot of talent," said U.S. designated hitter Matt Brown. "They can hit. They can pitch. And they beat us fair and square. As far as if they can play in the major leagues, I'm sure a lot of them can."
Pacheco agreed. "I'd say almost all our players have major-league quality, but that's not for me to evaluate. That's for the scouts to say."
Not that it makes a difference what scouts think because unless they defect, Cuban players are not allowed to play professional baseball. Pro sports were banned by Fidel Castro in 1962, which is why amateur baseball, and the Olympics in particular, are so dear to the Cubans' hearts and why their players stick around.
The combined age of Cuba's two pitchers Friday was 71. Starting pitcher Norge Luis Vera is 36, and closer Pedro Luis Lazo is a 35-year-old four-time Olympian.
The experience proved valuable. The U.S. threw five pitchers over the course of the game but none seemed to faze the Cubans.
Of course, things would probably be much different if the U.S. sent its major leaguers. But that is unlikely, as the Olympics falls during the baseball season. Johnson said the minor leaguers did just fine, and just happened to run into a hot Cuban team. When the teams played in the first round (a 5-4 extra-inning victory for Cuba), Johnson accused Lazo of throwing at Jayson Nix's head, causing an eye injury. The Cubans vehemently denied it.
This time, Johnson merely lamented that the U.S. isn't able to send its best players.
"We've more than held our own in this tournament and the World Cup and the Olympic qualifiers," he said. "It's very different for the United States because Major League Baseball is big business. It's the off-season for NBA, so they can send their players. If it was during the season, I would be amazed if they would be allowed to come."
.
Cuba's gold medal count was way down these Olympics, as was there total medals ranking. But worse still, they'll most be remembered for the disgusting and totally unsportsmanlike display by taekwando competitor Angel Matos.
And while the world's sports fans and journalists sang the chorus of his misdeeds, his actions elicited the applause of one man. None other than reknown dirty trick and shameful lie specialist, Fidel Castro, Cuba's bully in chief.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D92PESQ80&show_article=1
Castro defends athlete who kicked judge in face
HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro on Monday defended the Cuban taekwondo athlete who kicked a referee in the face at the Beijing Olympics, saying Angel Matos was rightfully indignant over his disqualification from the bronze-medal match.
Taekwondo officials want Matos and his coach banned for life from the sport. But Castro expressed "our total solidarity" for both Matos and his coach Leudis Gonzalez.
Matos was winning 3-2 in the second round when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov, and was disqualified for taking more than his one minute of injury time.
Matos angrily questioned the call, pushed a judge and then pushed and kicked referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden, who needed stiches to repair his lip. Matos then spat on the floor and was escorted out.
Taekwondo officials called Matos' behavior an insult to the Olympic vision. Matos' coach countered that the match was fixed and accused the Kazakhs of offering him money.
Castro said the alleged bribery attempt gave Matos good reason to expect the judges to treat him unfairly.
"They had tried to buy his own coach," Castro wrote in his essay published in state media. "He could not contain himself."
Cuba is accustomed to winning golds in boxing, but settled this year for four silver and four bronze medals. Overall, Cuba took home only two golds, down from nine in Athens four years ago.
"I saw when the judges blatantly stole fights from two Cuban boxers in the semifinals," Castro wrote. "Our fighters ... had hopes of winning, despite the judges, but it was useless. They were condemned beforehand."
The ailing, 82-year-old ex-president also noted that defections have taken their toll, blaming "the repugnant mercenary actions" of promoters who lure Cuban boxers off the island with lucrative contracts.
And Castro hinted that big changes could be in order for Cuban sports, pledging a serious review of "every discipline, every human and material resource that we dedicate to sport."
"Cuba has never bought an athlete or judge," Castro wrote, adding that Cubans need to begin preparing now for London in 2012. "There will be European chauvinism, judge corruption, buying of brawn and brains ... and a strong dose of racism," he predicted.
Walter,
I argue that the Cuban Olympic baseball team supports my point:
1. The Cuban baseball team should beat the USA baseball team. The best baseball players from most countries (US, Dominican Republic, Japan, Puerto Rico, Etc…) don’t play in the Olympics because they are on Major League Baseball clubs and in the stretch runs of their seasons. Cuba is one of the few countries that prevent its athletes from playing professional sports so their team is made up of veteran ballplayers as opposed to the amateur and lower tier players that make up the majority of the other teams.
2. There are currently 14 Cuban born players that play in major League Baseball. All have defected from Cuba. Six in the last 6 years. Four washed up on Florida beaches in rafts. Amongst them are several Cuban National Team Players, Cuban Athletes of the Year, Olympic Gold medalists, Major League Baseball All-Stars and my personal favorite a player nicknamed “The Cuban Missile” for his combination of speed and power. I don’t see how one can argue that the Cuban Olympic baseball team is better off without these players.
3. Add to the mix the players that Cuba left off the team for fear that they would attempt to defect during the games.
4. Add to the list the American born descendents of Cuban exiles that would likely be contributing to Cuban baseball.
Cuba’s athletes are undoubtly weakened by the constant defection of its athletes in search of a better life. I don’t see how that is arguable.
If you want to analyze medal counts I put together the numbers for you:
Year Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank Amongst Countries
***************************************************
2008 2 11 11 24 28
2004 9 7 11 27 11
2000 11 11 7 29 9
1996 9 8 8 25 8
1992 14 6 11 31 5
1988 DNP
1984 DNP
1980 8 7 5 20 4
1976 6 4 3 13 8
1972 3 1 4 8 14
1968 0 4 0 4 31
1964 0 1 0 1 30
As you can see Cuba was ranked 28th in total medals, its lowest ranking since 1968. It also only won two Gold Medals, also it’s lowest since 1968.
I am very proud of my Cuban brothers and sisters who have displayed incredible athletic ability in the Olympics, as the numbers above show. I just wish their government wouldn’t operate out of fear of defection and dissention and truly allow their athletic potential to be realized.
Post a Comment