Lawmakers: Let Cuba play ball

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sun, Dec. 18, 2005

Lawmakers: Let Cuba play ball

The debate about which players should represent Cuba in the upcoming World Baseball Classic rages in Congress.
BY FRANCES [email protected]

At least 100 members of Congress have weighed in on the controversial U.S. decision to deny Cuba a license to play in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Most of them want Cuba to play ball.

Eighty members of Congress signed letters to Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary John Snow urging them ``not to take international politics to the ball field.''

Major League Baseball and the Players Association organized an international baseball tournament to be played by 16 teams this March. But Treasury denied Cuba a necessary license because making money in a baseball tournament would violate the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
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New York Democrat José E. Serrano said through a spokesman Saturday that he expected to get another 20 members of Congress to sign the letter this weekend. In Florida, only Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) signed it. ''The World Baseball Classic should not be tainted by our grudge against Cuba's government,'' Serrano said in a statement. ``Cuba produces some of the finest baseball talent in the world, and they deserve to participate.''
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/13433582.htm