Maybe those statements are all true TODAY, but what
about five or seven years from now?
With yesterdays stunning rejection by ST. Pete City
Council of the Rays Memorandum of Understanding all bets are on the table.
Sure, there are mountains of issues, from real politics
to baseball politics but stop and think about it for a minute.
What better way to build a bond between two countries
that have little in common.
- Baseball is a stand out example of something both countries love.
- Team travel is really not that big of an issue.
- It would increase tourism for both countries dramatically.
- Baseball would put the US in Cuba and Cuba in the US.
- Baseball would give both countries a common metaphorical starting point for future relations.
All of this may sound a little crazy, but Sternberg or
the new Rays Owners might just want to take a look south about 90 miles off
shore and think about this: the Rays would be a logical choice for offshore
baseball expansion.
Getting the Cuban State to provide funds and resources to
build what would likely be one of the most beautiful baseball parks in the
world should be no problem.
It would be a full house for years to come.
Every team in the league could offer baseball travel
packages to Cuba. Baseball tourism would explode.
Player recruiting would be a snap.
Once in place there would be no way to put a value on
the franchise.
Television rights would border on priceless.
The thing about baseball is it is harmless. It generally
doesn't take political stands, it doesn't pollute, its players don't get their
brains beat out, for the most part its players and business people behave
themselves and it has a long history in both countries.
Can you imagine the US Secretary of State setting down
with the Cuban Secretary of State and beginning a serious meeting with a
discussion about last night's Cuba /Yankees Game?
It may just be time for Sternberg and MLB to think
twice about a fanatical desire to immediately move the Rays. Sitting tight here
in St. Pete for a few more years might just provide baseball with a very unique
hemispherical opportunity.
Who knows, it might even breathe a little new life in
to the old game.
My guess is a baseball stadium anywhere in Cuba beats
the hell out a stadium anywhere near Tampa.
E-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net. Or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb)
Friend request. Twitter@DOCONTHEBAY. Please comment below, and be sure to share
on Facebook and Twitter. See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay
Post Photos
No comments:
Post a Comment