Venezuelans are "bitterly divided" over a government decision to pump millions into baseball while basic food and medicines are in "short supply in the crisis-rocked South American country," according to William Crisp of the London DAILY MAIL. Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro is making $10M available to the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) as the season gets "set to open next week." The money is being used to "subsidize the transfer of players and buy equipment" ahead of the start of the popular eight-team national league. But the move has "angered many fans who believe the money should go to help alleviate shortages caused by the deep economic and political crisis" after months of protests cost at least 125 lives. Javier Hernandez, 45, said, "They should instead opt to buy medicines, food, things we don't have. The fact that the government is giving money to the league is absurd." Hernandez believes the LVBP "'should be suspended' -- an idea supported by baseball figures" such as former Caracas Lions Manager Alfredo Pedrique. Pedrique said, "We should be conscious. We should have no baseball. For human reasons, for the children who are dying for lack of food and medicines" (DAILY MAIL, 10/4).
