April 02, 2008
Wednesday "What If?"
Can you imagine what would happen if the Cuban national baseball team played in Miami? Dolphins Stadium would be packed with 60,000+ loud fans, at least half of which would be holding up some sort of poster or flag. Ticket prices would be through the roof on the secondary market. Assuming Cuba is still under communist rule, the entire stadium would certainly break out in unison, chanting "Cuba Libre!" The media frenzy would be ridiculous. Security would be insane. Defections? God only knows.
Well, it might happen as soon as 2009. Miami is making a bid to host the second round of the 2009 and/or 2013 World Baseball Classics as part of its efforts to revive baseball in South Florida. If this actually happens and Cuba once again advances to the second round, then that, my friends, will be tremendo show cubano. Somehow, I doubt MLB will let this take place in '09, but it is still an interesting "what if?"
What would you do if the Cuban team showed up in Miami in '09? How would you feel, how might you act? Let's hear it in the comments.
Posted by Monica at April 2, 2008 09:09 AM
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Comments
If Cuba is still under communist rule in 2009, you know the reality, the government of cuba would not let the players come to Miami because "of their safety" and will blame us. And the liberal press will blame us too towing the line of the communist dictatorship. And Chavez will keep Venezuela out too unless of course Barack is in the White House...
oy vay the thought
Posted by: Cigar Mike Pancier ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 2, 2008 09:21 AM
Oh yeah, Cuba would definitely throw a hissy fit to get the venue changed and they'd probably get their way too. If they were upset by a few "Abajo Fidel" signs in Puerto Rico, imagine what would happen in Miami...
Posted by: Monica at April 2, 2008 09:36 AM
It would be lovely if it could happen that way.
Posted by: emily_nelson at April 2, 2008 10:24 AM
Oye, nos botan del estadio...
Posted by: La Ventanita at April 2, 2008 10:25 AM
Oh they'll let Miami host games but they will NEVER allow Miami to host games in which the Cuban national team plays. They will structure the brackets of the tournament so that Cuba will play its second round games as far away from Miami as possible. I have no doubts about that. MLB has already shown that it does not want any pesky disruptions of a political nature during the WBC.
Posted by: Henry "Conductor" Gomez at April 2, 2008 10:42 AM
My poster would read "Cuban Baseball, SI! Castro, NO!"
Posted by: jsb at April 2, 2008 10:43 AM
Monica,
Interesting what if. I remember an interview that ex-Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda gave to Radio Marti (he speaks Spanish) in the 1980s.
In the interview he did a "what if" of no castro and that Cuba would have had a major league team or at least a AAA minor league team, maybe even several by that time.
To go of course with all the other what ifs.
Some day.
Posted by: JackW at April 2, 2008 11:55 AM
I would rent one of those big vans and stand at the gate offering rides to those who wish to defect to freedom.
Posted by: pototo at April 2, 2008 12:19 PM
La Sorda was right, the team probably would have been the SUGAR KINGS. Undoubtedly, they would have at least 2 World Series Appearances by now - assuming they would have been worse overall than the METS. -S-
Posted by: Dr.Shalit at April 2, 2008 12:28 PM
I'm with pototo.
And even though I know Henry's right, Miami would never be allowed to host if the Cuban team was playing, it's a fun "what if..?"
Posted by: Marta at April 2, 2008 12:58 PM
I would drive down from orlando and fly in all my family from jersey and we would be there with signs ready. It would be nice if that actually happened.
Posted by: Cuban Dan at April 2, 2008 01:31 PM
So what if not in Miami! "Ain't no mountain high enough, Ain't no river wide enough
Posted by: Firefly at April 2, 2008 05:42 PM
A major league team or two in Cuba. Kyooool...
Posted by: Zhangliqun at April 2, 2008 08:29 PM
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