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Cuba to World: Screw All Your Riches and Freedom

Written by Dan McGowan
Published March 19, 2006

Because I don't mind being completely cliché, I'll say it. Cuba is pulling off a miracle at the World Baseball Classic. Too bad nobody is watching.

The Cubans continued their stunning run in the tournament by advancing to Monday's championship game with a 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic. They'll meet Japan, who defeated previously unbeaten Korea in the other semifinal.

In order to draw more attention to the final game, I wouldn't be surprised if ESPN tried to build this up as baseball's version of the "miracle on ice," only without the Americans and with communism toppling the free world.

The description might actually be fitting.

This is a team that, unlike any other country in the WBC, has no player that is affiliated with professional baseball in the United States. And while Cuba has succeeded on an international level in the past, this is hardly the same team that won Olympic gold. They actually designed the team around players they thought would not defect.

It was one thing for them to beat Venezuela last week. That team was the Caribbean champion and had a roster stacked with major leaguers. But for Cuba to take down the Dominicans was absolutely shocking. That lineup featured major league all stars Miguel Tejada, Albert Pujols, Davis Ortiz, Adrian Beltre and the starting pitcher, Bartolo Colon, was the defending American League Cy Young.

Frankly, Cuba didn't belong on the field with that team. If they played 99 more times, it's possible the Dominicans would win every game.

Fortunately, they only played one.

Dan McGowan is a 19 year old journalism major from Connecticut. He loves to talk sports and has a true passion for writing, which is why he launched Dan's Take in November 2005. He is currently struggling to write his first novel, which will undoubtedly go unpublished and unread by millions, though he is not bitter.
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Cuba to World: Screw All Your Riches and Freedom
Published: March 19, 2006
Type: News
Section: Sports
Filed Under: Sports: Baseball
Writer: Dan McGowan
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Comments

#1 — March 19, 2006 @ 11:43AM — Andy Marsh [URL]

I was thinking the fact that Cuba plays all year round and the major leaguers are just getting into spring training might have a little to do with Cubas' playing so well...

#2 — March 20, 2006 @ 18:37PM — Earl

I wonder if the Mafia had anything to do with the start of Cuban Baseball?

#3 — March 20, 2006 @ 20:29PM — RedTard

I think this proves without a doubt the superiority of the communist system.

Viva la revolucion!

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