The "growing presence of Cubans in the major leagues
took a political turn" yesterday, as "more than a dozen
players missed games in sympathy for the one-day work
stoppage" in the Miami area over the plight of Elian
Gonzalez, according to Kepner & Nobles of the N.Y. TIMES,
who report that 13 Marlins and Giants players and coaches
"did not dress" for last night's game at Pro Player Stadium.
Cuban-born D'Rays DH Jose Canseco "elected not to play"
against the Royals, and Mets SS Rey Ordonez and 3B coach
Cookie Rojas, both Cuba natives, were "given the day off"
against the Reds (N.Y. TIMES, 4/26). Meanwhile, the Marlins
"agreed to the off day with pay for playing and non-playing
employees" (USA TODAY, 4/26). In N.Y., Andrew Marchand
writes that Mets GM Steve Phillips "realized that this was
an interesting precedent that was set" by allowing Ordonez
and Rojas "to not participate with pay, because of political
beliefs." Phillips also called the MLB league office
yesterday "to see what people there thought was the best
course of action" (N.Y. POST, 4/26). During a lecture
sponsored by the Morgado Fellowship at Yale Univ., MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig supported the Marlins players who
honored Gonzalez by sitting out: "It's absolutely the right
thing to do. We encourage them to do that. I respect them
for that, and I couldn't agree more." Asked if he was
concerned if baseball "mixes with politics," Selig said,
"(The Marlins) live in that community. One thing you have
to understand in sports is that teams become a community.
Parts of a community. ... If those people feel that way and
I can feel the strength of their convictions, I encourage
them to do it" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/26).
POLITICAL MANEUVER? In Ft. Lauderdale, Michael Mayo
questions the Marlins' "acceptance" of the players'
protests: "One can only hope the next time anybody of any
ethnicity or political bent wants to take a day off to
support a cause, the Marlins will be equally as
understanding." Marlins President Dave Dombrowski, asked
why the team didn't take away a day's pay from the
protesting players: "If you did that, then you're basically
penalizing them and this is not a penalizing situation.
You're involved in a community and you have to be aware of
your community." But Mayo writes, "The whole thing is a
little fishy, smacking of pandering and opportunism. Is it
coincidence that the Marlins are angling for a new stadium
in Miami, a city where politics is dominated by the Cuban
community?" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 4/26). In DC,
Wilson & Witt write that the Marlins' "endorsement" of the
protest "was viewed as a smart public relations move in a
community with a large Hispanic population." But Marlins
Dir of Media Relations Eric Carrington said, "I don't think
it had anything to do with PR. It had to do with the
emotions and sensitivity of the staff" (WASHINGTON POST,
4/26). In N.Y., Filip Bondy wondered why protesting players
were getting paid: "Where was the sense in that? ... What if
another player came to [Yankees manager Joe] Torre next
week, next month, and asked to sit out in solidarity with an
anti-abortion protest? What if yet another one asked to sit
out because he objected to gun control?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
4/26). Also in N.Y., George Vecsey writes, "Yesterday's
protest will surely lead to the justification of another
protest by somebody else. But that is down the line" (N.Y.
TIMES, 4/26). NEWSDAY's Jon Heyman writes that the Mets
"made the right call, the only call" (NEWSDAY, 4/26).
HEAT GIVE OPTION: The Heat allowed event staffers for
the team's home playoff game the choice to observe the work
stoppage. Heat President Pat Riley: "Whatever our employees
wanted to do today, we supported that. We overstaffed the
arena here tonight, in case people want to support what
their convictions are" (PALM BEACH POST, 4/26).
