While Cuba played the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, a spectator in the stands raised a sign saying: "Down with Fidel," sparking an international incident that escalated Friday with the velocity of a major league fastball.
The image of the man holding the sign behind home plate was beamed live Thursday night to millions of TV viewers _ including those in Cuba. The top Cuban official at the game at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan rushed to confront the man.
The brouhaha gathered steam Friday when Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma, called the sign-waving "a cowardly incident." Cuba's Revolutionary Sports Movement exhorted Cubans to demonstrate in Havana late Friday, saying U.S. and Puerto Rican authorities were involved in "the cynical counterrevolutionary provocations."
The Cuba situation has upset me for a long time, but can only smile when the Cuban government calls such a protest a cowardly act. We all know the cowardly act is a leader that won't allow dissent.
I was watched Bill Maher's new show tonight. It's the left wing version of Dennis Miller's CNBC show practically stealing his whole format minus the chimp. Maher was relentless about Bush, and Halburton and the war and not once did Bush's SS men run in and pull the plug. Castro loving Hollywood types should maybe take note.
The Cuban Baseball Federation, in a statement released Friday in San Juan, said authorities failed to provide security and preserve the spirit of the sporting event, and "evidently had no intention of doing so."
The Cubans considered withdrawing from the tournament because of "the lack of security and respect" but decided to remain after Puerto Rican promoters made guarantees, the federation said in a statement without elaborating.
An anti-Castro Web site, therealcuba.com, identified the protester only as Enrique, and carried his own account of the incident.
"The Cubans were upset with the incident that happened last night, and they want to make sure it doesn't happen again," said John Blundell, spokesman of Major League Baseball, which helped establish the tournament. "We are doing everything that we can to ensure the safety of fans and the delegations."
Anything funny about that quote from Blundell? "The Cubans were upset with the incident. . ." Which Cubans were upset? The ones losing their grip on the country or those under the tyranny?
But secondly, what does his last quote mean? That kind of brilliant double-speak is going to come in handy when major league baseball allows Barry Bonds to play baseball this year despite his cheating.
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