Dan Maroone

Fidel Castro Cheers on Cuba?s Baseball Team SAN DIEGO. - President Fidel Castro has congratulated the Cuban baseball team for their efforts so far in the 1st World Baseball Classic (WBC), said manager Higinio Velez in a press conference on Friday. The Olympic champions faced teams stacked with US Major League players in Rounds 1 and 2 of the WBC, while playing in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Now, they face off with the Dominican Republic in a one-game semifinals match on Saturday afternoon in San Diego, California. Velez told reporters that before leaving for Puerto Rico the Cuban players met with President Fidel Castro, who loves baseball and is considered to be their leading fan. ?Before we left for the Classic, he got together with us, bid us farewell and did not demand that we win this tournament,? said Velez in San Diego. ?He just asked us to play good ball, do our best as a baseball team, and show the world the kind of baseball we play in Cuba." http://www.periodico26.cu/english/sports/fidel031806.htm this takes away every inch of pride one feels after a win. :banghead :confused um.. how??? for obvious reasons, this man destroys the country my family's from and destroys so many lives and then is reminding everybody this is HIS team which it really is. you aint cuban, how do you get off questioning what i feel? i know i aint the only one feeling this. i want to root for this team but its hard when they remind you who controls this team, when the cuban government's going all crazy trying to get all anti-castro sh*t banned and its manager is claiming "this is for the revolution". And besides, it's easy for us Cuban Americans to root against Team Fidel just because his son is the "doctor" in the team. I just don't want to see that commie a**hole (which by the way, wears an Armstrong band hooraay communism!!!) celebrating in front of the world. Amen brother!!! Go Japan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually was sick to my stomach watching so many communists in the stands. If they love team FIdel and the revolution for which they are proudly playing then why did they leave to come here? My family lost everything when they left Cuba in 1961 in search for freedom. F--- Fidel and all his fans.

Who is this Boogeyman fellow? I haven't watch RAW/Smackdown for a while. He was a part of one of the Tough Enoughs if I'm not mistaken.

Their is still Pirates out there? Are you $hitting me? Their? Is this some kind of internet slang? Or just bad grammar? I'm just curious, not being sarcastic or anything.

I'm keeping this one year long. I hate the new slogan.

I can't believe people read the bible literally enough to think this is even remotely true. You're telling me all those animals got along on that boat? That looks as much like a giant whale as any kind of ship. OOH, EVIDENCE NOAH'S ARK EXISTED! Hey, what about those videos that were out three years ago where they claimed to have "found" the Ark? I'm skeptical until proven otherwise. Thank you! Religion is something that has to be taken on faith because if you try to prove something as true, then it must be capable of disproof. What happens if this isnt a ship? Or what happens if this is a ship but it could not have held all those creatures? Well then the scientists involved have either formed an anti-christian conspiracy or we can just substitute the holes with faith. It's like when people see the virgin Mary in their maple syrup. FM, Why would you be talking about Anti-Christian conspiracies? Last time I checked Noah lived way before Jesus. Do you hate Christians that much that can't resist thowing jabs at them? ....and yes, Noah is a historical character.

Noooo! I park at Sawgrass all the time. Reason for the new fee: safety concerns and the traffic delays caused by fans darting through traffic, said Michael Yormark, Panthers chief operating officer, in a letter to season ticket holders. Yet they've said the fees are going to charity, so why are they charging if it's not paying for anything? I don't think $5 is going to deter people from doing it. This will bring attendance down. You are thinking $5.00 per car. It is actually $5.00 per person. What do you think will happen when a family of four starts getting charged $5.00 per person and the alternative is to pay $15.00 in the arena? They will stop going.

eh... Iran is something to worry about too... hopefully, the brightside to Iran jacking up oil prices or cutting off oil period would be mass production of hybrid automobiles... ...hybrids use gas too...... The answer to the oil problem is nuclear energy in the US and Ethanol. so what happens when the nuclear reactors have the meltdown. The acutal best answer is renewable energy. Ethanol is a great idea, but Ethanol fuels also use gasoline. Call me crazy but having nuclear energy does not mean automatic meltdowns...... I have'nt heard of any recent meltdowns in France or South Florida. Have you? I think nuclear technology is safer than ever. And yes E85 uses 15% gasoline... a whole 15% which is better than our current 100%. Add that drop in gas use to the oil savings with nuclear energy, solar power, and wind power. That pretty much cuts our oil dependency.

eh... Iran is something to worry about too... hopefully, the brightside to Iran jacking up oil prices or cutting off oil period would be mass production of hybrid automobiles... ...hybrids use gas too...... The answer to the oil problem is nuclear energy in the US and Ethanol.

Well we all knew how the guys thinks. What I did not knew was that he was a Pat Robertson fan. I mean, how does his statement differs from what Roberton said about Ariel Sharon?

Phish Phan, how many times have you been kicked out of this board? Don't you have any self respect whatsoever?

She's a frickin rich movie star and she'll drink if she damn feels like it. Especially when she's screwed into doing three more damn Harry Potter movies. Yeah she's made millions with the Harry Potter movies, and she will make many more with the other three. She would be a nobody if it wasn't for the Potter series. You're right she is sooooo scrwed....... By the way, you guys are gloryfing a 15 year old who's already drinking beer. Are any of you old enough to remember how Drew Barrymore ended when she became a teen alcoholic / addict?

Sex Services in Prostitution Probes Banned Sat Feb 18, 4:46 AM ET SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. - The sheriff said Friday he will no longer allow detectives to receive sexual services while investigating suspected prostitution after they spent $1,200 at massage parlors last month and sparked a public outcry. Spotsylvania County Sheriff Howard Smith defended the practice as necessary to obtain a conviction but told his department he was suspending it. "As sheriff, I understand the feelings and concerns the citizens of this county have expressed," Smith said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Friday. "And I empathize with those feelings. Because of the public's express response, I have suspended this practice." Court documents show that four times last month, county detectives allowed women at Moon Spa to perform sex acts on them ? once leaving a $350 tip. A total of $1,200 was spent during the visits, Smith said. He said multiple visits were necessary so detectives could build trust with the operators. Detectives shut down Moon Spa last month. The two suspected operators and three women accused of working there face several charges, including prostitution and sodomy, Smith said. Smith maintained the sexual contact was necessary to obtain a conviction. But law enforcement officials say undercover officers only need to get an offer of sex for money to move the case forward. The practice has been used in Spotsylvania since at least 2003. Earlier this week, Smith told The Washington Post that sexual contact is needed during the investigations because most professionals know not to say anything incriminating. And conversation is difficult, he said, because masseuses at the Asian-run parlors in the northern Virginia county speak little English. But several members of Spotsylvania's Board of Supervisors have spoken out against the methods used in the investigation. "All of us ... have been worried about this episode tarnishing the county and making us a laughingstock of the nation," board chairman Henry "Hap" Connors told the AP Friday. "That's why I came out early on and asked the sheriff to cease using these tactics." Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney William Neely said he respects Smith's decision to end the practice, but refused to apologize for the officers' tactics.

There are other States with anti abortion laws still in the books. Of course the laws are meaningless. They just want them in the books in case Roe ever gets overturned. Remember that if Roe gets overturned it will be up to States Legislatures to regulate abortion.

What if the person breaking in was a teenager? Does he deserve to get shot? I don't agree with allowing people to shoot someone until their life is clearly in danger. As in the intruder has to be lunging for you or something. It seems this granny was justified because the guy cut the phone lines and, although the article doesn't describe what happened in too much detail, it seems it was the same guy that beat her previously. To Accord I ask: Would it be ok to shoot a trespasser in the back? Someone breaks into my house, I don't care who you are, how old are you or how you look. My wife and daughters' life are more important. I would not even give them the chance of demostrating any threat. I would drop the guy immediatly. Someday you kids will understand that. In the mean time keep living in your fantasy world.

Cindy Sheehan already managed to get arrested.

Not surprising at all. The "liberal" crowd of MB.com insulting religion. How tipical. If you don't like it or if it does not mean anything to you then bash it, insult it and make fun of it. But don't anyone dare mess with anything that means something to them. You are so pathetic and ignorant it's not even funny. It's because of intolerant people like you that the world if so f'd up. Grow up already and respect what's important to others. I pity you all, especially this Buckeye guy. You have so much hatred in you. You must really be miserable inside. What's your problem with the world? Were you abused or something? No love from your parents? Can't find a girl friend? Please tell me because I realy don't understand it. And GM you have to learn that one's personal beliefs is nothing to "lighten up" about. That key chain was made with the sole purpose of insulting religious people that's it. And it's not funny. So long to you all. Grow up. Don't bother replying. I'll be ignoring your asses.

How the crap would this actually work considering huge-ass magnets will rape electronics? I assume special computer will have to be made. Also, how would the human body be able to physically handle that fast of a trip? They better figure out a way to make a better human. Just get Chuck Norris to go. A flaw in your logic: Chuck Norris doesn't believe in Mars, therefore it doesn't exist. Is Chuck into some kin of wierd religion?

Maybe they got the New World Order idea from the nWo? Yanevaknow. LOL, that would be funny. Especially thinking about the Pope watching wrestling. When you're nWo, you're nwo 4 life...... ....Voodoo Child starts playing....

...I don't know about the online version but the paper version has a lot of great pictures.... I'm having a really hard time finding the Herald anywhere in Palm Beach County today; all the stores that normally carry it are closed. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could scan the pics and post them here. Go to the Stop n' Go in PB Lakes Blvd. (Behind Ocwen). They always carry te Herald, plus right there in the corner of the strip mall (in from of Subway) there is on of those machines that sells the Herald. Also the machines outside The Pointe apartments in Village sell the Herald.

www.sunsentinel.com Puerto Rico May Bow Out of World Classic By LUIS R. VARELA Associated Press Writer Posted December 22 2005, 6:50 PM EST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Baseball officials reapplied Thursday for a permit that would allow Cuba to join next year's inaugural World Baseball Classic as Puerto Rican athletic officials said San Juan should withdraw as a host city if the Cubans aren't allowed to participate. In Miami, a congressman who opposes Fidel Castro's communist government met with several major league players, hoping to form a team of Cuban defectors that could play in the 16-team tournament. The U.S. Treasury Department last week denied a permit request from Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The permit is required because of U.S. laws and regulations governing certain transactions with Cuba. Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said a new application was submitted Thursday to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The commissioner's office and the union had said they planned to address government concerns and ensure that no money would go from U.S. entities to the Cubans. "OFAC turns around all license requests as quickly as they are able to," Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "We don't comment on individual license requests." Israel Roldan, president of the Baseball Federation of Puerto Rico, and Hector Cardona, president of the U.S. island territory's Olympic Committee, opposed the decision by the Treasury Department. "What we are saying is that we should renounce our position as host if Cuba is not permitted to compete," Roldan said. Roldan sent a letter on Wednesday to International Baseball Federation president Aldo Notari saying the island would decline to be a venue because of the U.S. government's decision. "We have not heard that directly from the federation," Courtney said. Antonio Munoz, a businessman who agreed to pay millions of dollars to bring the games to Puerto Rico, would not comment on Roldan's announcement, but said he was not part of the decision. Notari said he sympathized with Roldan's view but said it was up to Major League Baseball to move the games out of Puerto Rico, which is scheduled to host games during the first and second rounds. "I won't enter into a problem with the national committee," Notari said. "The position of Roldan is very good and very clear." Cardona said he was talking to other Latin American athletic officials to enlist their support in persuading the U.S. government to change its position. Cuba is set to play Puerto Rico, Panama and the Netherlands in Puerto Rico in the first round of the tournament. Each of the 16 teams in the classic are to receive 1 percent of the earnings and the champion is due up to 5 percent, according to Roldan. In Miami, former Boston bullpen coach Euclides Rojas spoke at an announcement by a group that included Osvaldo Fernandez, Eddie Oropesa and Rene Arocha, the first Cuban defector to play in the majors. "We would like to represent the team of free Cuba," Rojas said. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican who was born in Cuba, backed the new group, which hopes to recruit pitchers Jose Contreras of the Chicago White Sox, Livan Hernandez of the Washington Nationals and Orlando Hernandez of the Arizona Diamondbacks. "The lineup is ready," Diaz-Balart said. Courtney said MLB is dealing only with groups recognized by the IBAF. "The IBAF sanctions this events under Olympic-type rules. We don't independently recognize federations," he said. * __ Associated Press writers Ronald Blum in New York, Jessica Gresko in Miami and Chris Lehourites in London contributed to this report. Messed up while editing and posted twice. Someone delete thi one. Sorry.

www.sunsentinel.com Puerto Rico May Bow Out of World Classic By LUIS R. VARELA Associated Press Writer Posted December 22 2005, 6:50 PM EST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Baseball officials reapplied Thursday for a permit that would allow Cuba to join next year's inaugural World Baseball Classic as Puerto Rican athletic officials said San Juan should withdraw as a host city if the Cubans aren't allowed to participate. In Miami, a congressman who opposes Fidel Castro's communist government met with several major league players, hoping to form a team of Cuban defectors that could play in the 16-team tournament. The U.S. Treasury Department last week denied a permit request from Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The permit is required because of U.S. laws and regulations governing certain transactions with Cuba. Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said a new application was submitted Thursday to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The commissioner's office and the union had said they planned to address government concerns and ensure that no money would go from U.S. entities to the Cubans. "OFAC turns around all license requests as quickly as they are able to," Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "We don't comment on individual license requests." Israel Roldan, president of the Baseball Federation of Puerto Rico, and Hector Cardona, president of the U.S. island territory's Olympic Committee, opposed the decision by the Treasury Department. "What we are saying is that we should renounce our position as host if Cuba is not permitted to compete," Roldan said. Roldan sent a letter on Wednesday to International Baseball Federation president Aldo Notari saying the island would decline to be a venue because of the U.S. government's decision. "We have not heard that directly from the federation," Courtney said. Antonio Munoz, a businessman who agreed to pay millions of dollars to bring the games to Puerto Rico, would not comment on Roldan's announcement, but said he was not part of the decision. Notari said he sympathized with Roldan's view but said it was up to Major League Baseball to move the games out of Puerto Rico, which is scheduled to host games during the first and second rounds. "I won't enter into a problem with the national committee," Notari said. "The position of Roldan is very good and very clear." Cardona said he was talking to other Latin American athletic officials to enlist their support in persuading the U.S. government to change its position. Cuba is set to play Puerto Rico, Panama and the Netherlands in Puerto Rico in the first round of the tournament. Each of the 16 teams in the classic are to receive 1 percent of the earnings and the champion is due up to 5 percent, according to Roldan. In Miami, former Boston bullpen coach Euclides Rojas spoke at an announcement by a group that included Osvaldo Fernandez, Eddie Oropesa and Rene Arocha, the first Cuban defector to play in the majors. "We would like to represent the team of free Cuba," Rojas said. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican who was born in Cuba, backed the new group, which hopes to recruit pitchers Jose Contreras of the Chicago White Sox, Livan Hernandez of the Washington Nationals and Orlando Hernandez of the Arizona Diamondbacks. "The lineup is ready," Diaz-Balart said. Courtney said MLB is dealing only with groups recognized by the IBAF. "The IBAF sanctions this events under Olympic-type rules. We don't independently recognize federations," he said. * __ Associated Press writers Ronald Blum in New York, Jessica Gresko in Miami and Chris Lehourites in London contributed to this report.

Anyone else think that it was pretty classless by the WWE to be disrespecting Terry Gordy like that? I mean the guy died years ago... let him rest in peace. Shame on Michael Hayes for perticipating in it too. If they want to build an angle of leyends vs the new generation (which is the impression I got), don't be bringing out the dead. On another thought, anyone think that this may be the beginning of a final run by the surviving Freebirds? I think Buddy Jack is a mess but Jimmy Garvin can still wrestle. Maybe Vince can join them with Kevin Von Erich for a god old fashioned World Class Championship Wrestling six- man brawl.

He has no credibility since he's Mormon, but I've seen a lot in the past on this. Very troubling if its true. And Sandroimbuto, the bombs in question would not have been planted by terrorists... Let me guess....Bush did it........Your left wing garbage is getting old. Never mind that the buildings were made of steel and the burning jet fuel caused the temperature to heat the steel to how many thousand degrees..? Maybe that had something to do with the buildings collapsing? .....

Intriguing... imagine a mb.com group in Texas. I have been monitoring both Rangers and Astros sites since they announced the games. As soon as they start selling individual games for ST and regular season I'm buying them. I will probably go to both ST games and to the season opener in Houston. I'll tell Beetle to PM you if you want to do a group thing or something. Imagine a Marlins cheer section in Frisco, Arlington and Houston.

If Das can get a week off work and be my driver and tour guide I'll go to Texas for a week I think. Imagine that Das, me and you hitting 5 fish games in 1 week. Come on you know you want to. Admin, Beetle will most likely be there too.