The U.S. and Cuba are "basking in the afterglow of the
globally televised" exhibition game between the Orioles and
a team of Cuban All-Stars, according to Schmuck & Strauss of
the Baltimore SUN, who write that following the "success" of
the game, "the streets of Havana were buzzing with talk of
more American visits." The Angels have requested a license
from the U.S. State Department to "pursue a similar venture
-- probably next spring -- and major-league officials have
hinted" that an exhibition game in Cuba "could become an
annual affair" (Baltimore SUN, 3/30). MLBPA's Tony
Bernazard said that negotiations with Cuba regarding future
games "will begin again in a very short time" (Jeff Blair,
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 3/30). MLB Commissioner Bud Selig
said that "given the sensitivity" of the visit, he "thought
it went well." Selig: "If you view this as part of a sports
cultural exchange, I think it went remarkably well"
(WASHINGTON POST, 3/30). Selig said the game "did what the
State Department and everybody connected with the game
wanted it to do." He added that "one of the most emotional
moments" for him was during the playing of the Star-Spangled
Banner. Selig: "I sang it very robustly" (USA TODAY, 3/30).
FOR WHO, FOR WHAT? In N.Y., Murray Chass writes that
Fidel Castro's baseball system "has failed his favorite
people," the Cuban players, but that "does not stop" MLB
from going to Cuba "in an effort to open a window, to
improve relations between the countries." Chass: "But what
good is improving relations if the plight of the Cuban
players is not improved?" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/30).
VERMONT HOSPITALITY: U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), a
trip participant, said that "he knew baseball was big" in
Cuba, but "didn't realize how big" until he saw children
playing in a sandlot. Leahy said that he passed out
souvenir caps of the Single A VT Expos (USA TODAY, 3/30).
LAUGH TRACK: NBC's Jay Leno, on the Orioles-Cuba game:
"One embarrassing moment, when the fans started doing the
wave, three Cuban players tried to ride it to Florida"
("Tonight Show", 3/29)....David Letterman's Top Ten list was
"Top Ten Fidel Castro Baseball Jeers." From the list: 10)
"Get a raft!" 6) "Castro will whip your astro." 4) "No
batter, no batter, and no bat since Russia stopped sending
aid." 3) "I'm not paying you $6 a year to strike out." 1)
"You throw like a capitalist girl" ("Late Show," 3/29).
