Oh, my God, NOMAH!
Posted on 01/20/2006 8:13:00 PM PST by doug from upland
01/14/2006 10:06 PM ET
Garciaparra to suit up for Mexico
Dodgers' new acquisition also working on learning first base
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
LOS ANGELES -- New Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, a native of Whittier, Calif., but the son of Mexican parents, will play for Mexico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. "He's honored to be asked and to participate," general manager Ned Colletti said of Garciaparra.
Colletti said that Garciaparra will report to Spring Training on Feb. 14 with the pitchers and catchers, and will work with new hitting coach Eddie Murray on making the transition to first base before he leaves for training camp in Arizona with the Mexican national team.
Colletti expressed no reluctance over Garciaparra's desire to participate, even if it takes him away from training camp while learning a new defensive position.
"He's called me every step of the way," Colletti said. "He didn't want it to distract from his learning curve during the spring."
Mexico is in Group B of the world tournament, playing against the United States, Canada and South Africa. The Aztec team includes pitchers Oliver Perez of Pittsburgh, Rodrigo Lopez of Baltimore and Luis Ayala of Washington.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Maybe he ought to take his American paycheck in pesos now. But I doubt he would.
So......................does that make him a "Wet-Bat"?
Sorry!!
I could not resist!!
Racist!!!!!!!!!!!
:) Hehe!
I've always liked Garciaparra, but this lowers my opinion of him.
This points to the exact problem with multiculturalism. How can you call yourself an American when you are willing to play against your own country? I guarantee you that his parents fly a Mexican flag at their house and can't remember three words of the Pledge of Allegience they took when they became American citizens and were extended all the freedoms and protections that come along with that.
He is the Jane Fonda of American baseball.
Well, since this move is obviousy not about winning, and he is a US citizen, it has to be about money !!!!
This is a move to increase merchandise sales, no question about it.
Maybe a few commercial deals in Mexico...You never know.
This move could be a big money maker for Nomar.
If he stays and plays for the USA team, what`s he get, a medal?
I have to disagree, if you are a baseball fan you know that "Nomar" has really struggled to even play at the major league level the last two seasons. I give him credit to want to play, in the WBC, with whichever team he can.
Besides I doubt he would even make "Team USA" at this point in his career.
Let him play baseball, that's all it is anyway, Baseball.
More accurately, it points to the problem with the World Baseball Championship.
In order to field enough teams -- and make them at least semi-competitive -- they relaxed the eligibility rules. A player can play for a.) the country he was born in or b.) the country that his ancestors came from.
Thus, for example, Nomar Garciaparra will be playing for Mexico; Mike Piazza will be playing for Italy.
Thus, The Netherlands will be fielding a team. The Netherlands!
What was his reply to the US team when they asked him to play for them?
"This points to the exact problem with multiculturalism. How can you call yourself an American when you are willing to play against your own country? I guarantee you that his parents fly a Mexican flag at their house and can't remember three words of the Pledge of Allegience they took when they became American citizens and were extended all the freedoms and protections that come along with that."
Once he goes back to the Land of the Big Burrito, then we can send his parents to join him.....permanently.
Mexicans!! Go Home!
Posting HTML
This is what's so awful about the World Championship of Baseball...or whatever... It should be if you moved to the US after age 11, you should have to play for the United States. This is such a farce.
Where is the international gay team?
Fine, don't come back and take your salary in pesos instead of dollars.
The reason was they were so proud of being Americans that they insisted their children learn only English.
All these Mexican immigrants see themselves as Mexicans first and Americans not even at all. OK, I know that Mexicans are technically Americans.
Don't worry he sucks and LA Dodgers suck this season LOL!
I didn't know that..I thought the Central American countries and Mexico could at least field a competitive team on their own. I just thought that Nomar might consider it an honor to represent his country by playing for his own national team, but I guess I was giving him a little too much credit. What do I expect from a professional athlete though? At least he is willing to represent some country unlike some pro basketball players I seem to recall.
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