Cuba Loses Pitcher Miguel A. González
HAVANA TIMES — On his second try to flee the island, one of Cuba’s top line pitchers in recent years, Miguel Alfredo González, succeeded in reaching Costa Rica, reported DPA news.
González, from Artemisa, dreams of making it to the US Major Leagues as numerous other Cuban players. He had also tried to leave Cuba in January 2012, in search of a professional baseball contract, but was surprised by the Cuban coast guard.
As a result of his first try to leave the island González was suspended from playing in the Cuban league and did not appear on the roster of his team Artemisa during the last two seasons.
indeed wish the Cuban players could leave and pursue MLB…the only problem I have is MLB will not pay Cuban baseball for develping players….no way they want to pay and HELP Cuba in iny way shape or form…
It is hard to resist the temptation of moving on to the big bucks of the BIG SHOW, especially since most Cubans have such difficult daily struggles. (even with the unofficial, off-the-record, perks for ball players for such teams as the Industriales), Still, they’re not in the same league as the Majors. Younger Cubans leaving their island has little correlation with the particular system the Cubans have chosen. Other Third World nations suffer from the same emmigration. (Some time back I was watching a documentary about such emmigration. As the woman being interviewed walked down a suburban street of a provincial Mexican city, she mentioned that family members from almost every-other-house had migrated North. Even tonight (5 Feb.’13) on NPR, there was a similar story on the huge out migration of Puerto Ricans from the island to Florida and other states on the mainland (likewise, due to the limited economic opportunities on their island).
Although I can understand the reasons for emmigration to the mainland (for Cubans, for Puerto Ricans, for Mexicans, etc.), nevertheless, I have greater admiration for those folks who remain behind by choice, seeking to improve their Fatherlands, rather than abandoning them (although the two are not mutually exclusive, as those who migrate to America often send back remittances which are of great help both their families and their homeland!)
Many years ago, when China permitted Yao Ming to play in the NBA, they did exactly that. Castro’s sphincter is not that enlightened.
They could continue the honorable policy of non-professional sports (IE, not making athletes mere ‘things’, commodities in the market) within the island and make those seeking for the big bucks outside pay a fee out of their millionaire salaries, for example.
Continuing to bar athletes from pursuing their dreams outside of Cuba is just a dumb policy. Pretending they never existed after they leave is even dumber.
Thanks to the Editor here at HT, readers have an opportunity to read fantastic articles about every facet of Cuban life and to express opinions from every point of view. Who is right and who is wrong? No one really knows. What is without question is that one out of every five Cubans who have been born since the Castros took control have decided to leave Cuba by whatever means possible. This young man’s future is far from being certain and he is still at least a year from even having the possibility of trying out for a spot in the major leaques. He may not return to Cuba for at least 8 years under tne new law. Yet, despite the sacrifice and uncertainty, for this young man, anything is better than living in Cuba. Viva Fidel!