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Castro picks up on web trolling USA baseball team, is angry by Ice Cream Jonsey 01/18/2006, 3:13pm PST
HAVANA (AP) -- Fidel Castro suggested the United States doesn't want to play Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, which is awaiting word on whether the U.S. government will let the island's players take part.

"We aren't afraid of anything," Castro said in a wide-ranging speech late Tuesday. "It's very difficult to compete against us in any area ... not even in baseball do they want to compete with Cuba."


Cigars, for instance - I understand they're killing us there. Castro also preemptively tells his US counterpart, who traded Sammy Sosa, that no matter what you say, he's not afraid of it. On the other hand, since you can't get traded from the Cuban teams I'm counting successful raft missions as transactions. Considering Sosa was really only good thanks to corks and steroids, I've got to throw myself into Bush's corner.


Castro's comments appeared to refer to the inaugural World Classic, a 16-team tournament scheduled for March 3-20 and organized by Major League Baseball and its players' union.

The U.S. Treasury Department last month denied MLB's application for Cuba to play its scheduled first-round games in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. Later rounds are to be played on the U.S. mainland.

The license is required under 45-year-old American sanctions against Cuba aimed at preventing Castro's government from receiving U.S. currency.


45 years is also the average real age of the defectors once we get them over here and do some carbon dating.


After Cuba promised to donate any money it received to victims of Hurricane Katrina, MLB reapplied for a license a second time and is awaiting a response.

Tuesday was the deadline for teams to submit preliminary player lists. Each team initially will present a list of 60 names that will be reduced to 30.


Sixty players! Let me spin my Wheel of Irony... one sec... it came up "Canada." Hmm... OK. I hope they let Cito Gaston manage the Canadian team, as the embargo on (two-time World Champion) Cito is even more strict than the one the US has on Cuba.


The International Baseball Federation has said it will not sanction the tournament if Cuba isn't allowed to play.

MLB senior vice president Paul Archey and union lawyer Doyle Pryor visited the island last week to review plans with Cuban officials in case the second license application is approved.


Every player who comes over here is going to request asylum anyway, so I don't see what the problem is.


ICJ
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Castro picks up on web trolling USA baseball team, is angry by Ice Cream Jonsey 01/18/2006, 3:13pm PST NEW
 
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