All-Star Speak Out: Baseball Players Pledge to Boycott Arizona All Star Game

[marmar]

via CommonDreams:




Published on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by The Nation
All-Star Speak Out: Baseball Players Pledge to Boycott Arizona All Star Game

by Dave Zirin


If Major League Baseball’s 2011 All-Star Game is held as planned in the anti-immigrant “meth lab of democracy” otherwise known as Arizona, players are letting it be known that the show will go on without them. On Monday's media day for this week's 2010 game in Anaheim, several Latino All-Stars were asked for their thoughts about next year’s game taking place in a state being monitored by the justice department for racial profiling.

''If the game is in Arizona, I will totally boycott," said Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo. Kansas City reliever Joakim Soria and Detroit Tigers pitcher Jose Valverde seconded that emotion. ''They could stop me and ask to see my papers. I have to stand with my Latin community on this,” said Soria.

The three have now joined San Diego Padres all-star Adrian Gonzalez, and his teammates Yorvit Torrealba, and Heath Bell along with Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen in stating that they would stay away from Arizona next summer.

Other even more prominent players didn’t call for a boycott, but they made their feelings exceedingly clear. Major League home run leader, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista said, ''Hopefully, there are some changes in the law before . We have to back up our Latin communities.''

The biggest star in the game, Albert Pujols, came out in direct opposition to his Arizona-law-loving manager Tony LaRussa, saying, "I'm opposed to it. How are you going to tell me that, me being Hispanic, if you stop me and I don't have my ID, you're going to arrest me? That can't be.'' ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/13-7

[Radical Activist]

1. I expect white players to join the boycott

if it comes to that.

[blondeatlast]

2. In Arizona, if you want something to change, target tourism. The boycotts WILL

work--they did in the '80s regarding the MLK holdiay.

This is GREAT news.

[HockeyMom]

4. They are working with BP gas AND Gulf Seafood

Not any organized boycott, but just private citizens saying "No, thank you."

[blondeatlast]

7. In the '80s, many, many conventions cancelled--that's what we need to have happen again.

Getting the MLB all-star game moved would be a GREAT start.

[HockeyMom]

8. It's the SUMMER All Star Game.

Not the World Series. They could hold the All Star Game just about anywhere in the country.

[saigon68]

3. Get ready boys ------they are out to WHITEN UP arizona

[Bozita]

5. I'm thinking Miguel Cabrera will join the boycott.

After all, he donated to the election coffers of Chavez in Venezuela.

[EFerrari]

6. Great news!

:woohoo:

[cojoel]

9. It had to come from the players

And I'm glad to see it. The owners (and Comissioner) wouldn't do it, but there won't be much of an "All Star Game" without the stars.

[tabbycat31]

10. I'm part of an organization pushing to move the game

you can get involved at www.azmlbb.com

[AsahinaKimi]

11. Some how I can't imagine Big Papi wanting to play in Arizona

David Américo Ortiz Arias (born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)


or

Hideki Matsui (born in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan)