explain why, there seems to be alot of people on here that agree with me that he should play for D.R. or not play at all........Maybe you just don't get it

 

 

LOL, there has not been a single person in here that has agreed with you.

 

He was born in America, therefore he is an American and will play for Team USA. How difficult of a concept is this for you to grasp?

My parents are Cuban, but I was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Broward, I've never been to Cuba for obvious reasons though I still have family left on the island.

 

Does anyone really think that a farmer in Camaguey or a taxi driver in Habana is going to count me as one of THEM? Hell no! Wherever you grew up, you should play for that country unless your life is SO segregated from the rest of the country proper. A-Rod was BORN here, grew up here, there should be no discussion where he should be playing.

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with ARod playing with the DR. Wouldn't have a problem with him playing for the US. If he considers himself Dominican-American instead of just American, then that's his mindset. Say what you want, but there's a difference between growing up a certain way and growing up in a certain place. Think you get the same kind of culture in Miami as you do in Nebraska? Not to say the Nebraskans are more American than others, but in certain parts of the country you grow up sharing cultures. It happens in the Bayou, it happens in Chinatowns, it happens in Little Koreas, it happens in heavily Hispanic areas. It's not as easy for some to appreciate this because they've grown up American in America, but not everyone grows up American in America. Some people grow up Dominican and American in America, or Japanese and American in America, etc.

 

It's very convenient to say that ARod should be playing for the United States now that it is important to have his bat in the lineup and his glove in the field, but when a victory in a tournament isn't on the line he doesn't have the benefit of being just American. His last name is Rodriguez, he speaks both English and Spanish, he has always been labeled a Hispanic American. He's not the only one. You want him to play for the United States and consider himself fully American? How about people start considering atheletes like him fully American then. Everyone wants him to wave America's colors now, but he always comes up when people are thinking of best latin baseball players. If the media and the fans can't even pick a side for fans like him, how is he supposed to?

 

All that aside, my problem is that he made a choice and now he backed off his choice for some reason that he isn't letting us in on. Garbage.

I think Steinbrenner has a huge part in A Rod playing for the US team over the Domincans, as well as Posada, Matsui, and Rivera not participating...you notice how the three notable Yankee players in the WBC will all be representing the US team?

AROD is a dominican (hispanic), but you know what, he was BORN in the US, so am all for having him represent us in the World Baseball classic....He is an American, because he was born here period, whether he is from a hispanic heritage, he was brought up here just like me, and we are full fledged americans!

not everyone grows up American in America.

Amen. There are so many communities in America where it is not only possible but COMMON to live your entire life without ever learning English.

 

Think about any large Chinatown, for example. These kids can go to a Chinese or Japanese or Korean speaking school, read newspapers in their own language, view television programs in their own language, conduct business in their own language. These communities can become very insulated. Obviously, this is an extreme example, but it happens.

 

I am not a big fan of allowing guys to play for teams because their PARENTS were born there for a number of reasons. Geography is the least of them.

so it is arod and bonds back to back? hmm nasty

 

My parents are Cuban, but I was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Broward, I've never been to Cuba for obvious reasons though I still have family left on the island.

 

Does anyone really think that a farmer in Camaguey or a taxi driver in Habana is going to count me as one of THEM? Hell no! Wherever you grew up, you should play for that country unless your life is SO segregated from the rest of the country proper. A-Rod was BORN here, grew up here, there should be no discussion where he should be playing.

 

 

I agreewith you completely.

I think Steinbrenner has a huge part in A Rod playing for the US team over the Domincans, as well as Posada, Matsui, and Rivera not participating...you notice how the three notable Yankee players in the WBC will all be representing the US team?

 

 

From what I understand Mr. Steinbrenner has strongly suggested that all of the Yankees refrain from taking part in the tournament. There is nothing more he can do than that. It's not like he is going to tell Torre to bench A-Rod, Damon or Jeter...or tell Brian Cashman to trade Posada, Rivera and Matsui. It's really up to the players, George has just made a recommendation.

 

Everything just has to be a conspiracy, you are really off your nut if you think Steinbrenner has any real power over whether or not the Yankees play in WBC. All of them are too powerful themselves to be benched or traded just because they played in the WBC.

 

BTW, I could not agree with Juanky's first post more.

I agree with Juanky. If I were in A-Rod's shoes, I would play for DR. And, Accord, I believe he is also a Dominican citizen. Most countries grant citizenship to people born outside the country to two parents that are natural born citizens. Both his parents were born in DR. He's probably also a Dominican citizen.

Not so fast kids....rumor today has it that he is again undecided as to what country he wants to represent???? I just wish he would make up his mind....

Not so fast kids....rumor today has it that he is again undecided as to what country he wants to represent???? I just wish he would make up his mind....

 

 

Actually, word is he won't be playing at all. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor..._bob&id=2284007

 

The Union Chief is pissed at him for not playing. The Major League Players Association wants this tournament to a be a big success - that's why they want the best players participating. A-Rod's such a joke. This is why he'll continually choke in the playoffs. The man has no balls.