The IBAF, the International Baseball Federation, has threatened to withdraw accreditation for the World Baseball Classic if Cuba is not allowed to participate. If there is no IBAF approval of the competition and the WBC were to still take place, all participating nations would be declared ineligible for future international competitions.
If you're ever in Lausanne, Switzerland, you can drop by the headquarters. Malta is a member. The 2005 Maltese champs were the Melieha Northenders. Man, I hate that team, always buying up all the good Maltese players. When I was a kid, I remember when there were real pennant races in Malta.
Um. What future international competitions? Can the IBAF shut down the Dominican Winter League? Disband the Blue Jays? Assuming the Olympians let baseball back in (which, I don't see why they should, and hope they don't either) would they defer to the IBAF? Or is this like Pat Robertson's withdrawing G-d's protection from that Pennsylvania town?
The IBAF can pound sand. Was it around in the days of apartheid South Africa, and, if so, what was its position on boycotting and excluding South Africa from competitions? Probably didn't have one. Like I said, the IBAF can pound sand.
Re 3, I think the IBAF operates under a consensus of its members like other international organisations. In regards to SA I do not know, but apartheid was widely seen as a violation of basic human rights while the exclusion of Cuba is essentially politically motivated.
In my opinion, this act by the IBAF was one of solidarity (which it should be understood is of critical importance for international organisations) and that is why the IBAF has threatened participating nations with future ineligibility.
As a baseball fan, I was really looking forward to this competition. It would be really disappointing if it did not happen because of politics.
Who knows though, something good might come out of this. About fourty-five minutes down the road from the IBAF, there are the headquarters of many other international organisations, whose focuses are much more important than baseball. We can only hope their leaders are paying attention.
My slinking shame was short-lived. As I demonstrated earlier, there's no way I'd be following this story, if not for Bob's coverage; thanks Bob. I wasn't looking forward to the WBC. It's better than the All-Star game in that it wouldn't disrupt the real baseball season. But it's still exhibition baseball.
My only interest in this slapfest is that it be as funny as possible. I can't decide whether that would be the WBC turning in to an America vs. Canada, three country tour, or the end of the baseball segment of the Pan Am games.
"As a baseball fan, I was really looking forward to ..." seeing Cuban major leaguers play for their home country, but, alas, they cannot and are "dead" to Castro -- an "essentially politically motivated" position of the perennially unelected Jefe. I think it would be disgusting to allow him to have his way. No human rights problems in Cuba, eh?
How soon we all forget. A mere three years ago the Socialst Party won a 97% share of the votes in a sqeeker of a parlimentary election. Mr. Castro won his sixth consecutive five year term as the representative of the Santiago province.
Hey, and there should be an opening for a new member. Although, Cuba? Doesn't really have the panache of the other two. Does Syria have any ball players? Maybe Malta could loan them some.
Axis of Bill O'Reilly's antipathy bracket:
Aruba
France
Canada
Mexico
What's the deal with baseball and communism, anyway? Cuba, China, DPRK, and Venezuela: all members of the IBAF. Looks like the IBAF endorses the One China policy, too. Chinese Taipei? Oh well.
There is a baseball World Cup every four years. As well as competitions in events like the Pan Am Games and Asian Games.
The IBAF is trying to appease the IOC in any way it can.
In my opinion, this act by the IBAF was one of solidarity (which it should be understood is of critical importance for international organisations) and that is why the IBAF has threatened participating nations with future ineligibility.
As a baseball fan, I was really looking forward to this competition. It would be really disappointing if it did not happen because of politics.
Who knows though, something good might come out of this. About fourty-five minutes down the road from the IBAF, there are the headquarters of many other international organisations, whose focuses are much more important than baseball. We can only hope their leaders are paying attention.
My only interest in this slapfest is that it be as funny as possible. I can't decide whether that would be the WBC turning in to an America vs. Canada, three country tour, or the end of the baseball segment of the Pan Am games.
Axis of Evil bracket:
Zimbabwe
Burma
Iran
DPRK
Axis of Bill O'Reilly's antipathy bracket:
Aruba
France
Canada
Mexico
What's the deal with baseball and communism, anyway? Cuba, China, DPRK, and Venezuela: all members of the IBAF. Looks like the IBAF endorses the One China policy, too. Chinese Taipei? Oh well.
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