Defection

[Guest Edgy DC]

David Ortiz has apparently let it leak that Alex Rodriguez intends to play por la Rep�blica Dominicana in the World Baseball Classic.

Having played for the US the first time out, this sort of thing would be right out in soccer (among other international sports), where once you compete for one nation, that's your flag for life.

My thinking is that he'll explain that he feels loyalty to both countries, played for the US three years ago and wants to represent the birthplace of his parents. My thinking further goes that he has a way of trying to be inoffensive that's going to make him one of the most disliked guys in sports.

[metirish]

Rodriguez should not be allowed to play for another country , that goes for all players.

This guy is just so annoying on so many levels.

[nymr83]

I agree, one country per person.

[Willets Point]

="Nymr83":284lle58]I agree, one country per person.[/quote:284lle58] Except for Obama, who will be elected President of Kenya in 2016.

soupcan Dec 05 2008 08:43 AM

I was under the impression that ARod was Cuban. Not the case?

Edgy DC Dec 05 2008 08:47 AM

Alex is an American born to Dominican native parents --- Victor and Lourdes Rodriguez --- in Washington Heights, Manhattan. When he was four, the family moved back to the DR. When he was seven, they moved to Florida. At about ten, he and the family were deserted by Victor, who moved to New Jersey and probably became a Yankee fan.

holychicken Dec 05 2008 10:24 AM

He is American, was born in the US, played for the US already, makes (effectively) all his money in the US, and lives in the US. I see absolutely no reason why he would even consider playing for another team at this point or how he should possibly be even eligible for another team at this point. His ability to ride the fence in an attempt to not offend anyone all the while offending everyone is unparalleled. I almost feel bad for him. . .it is like the harder he tries not to be a douche, the more he becomes one.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 05 2008 10:31 AM

At least he lived there for three years. (And attended a Muslim pre-school, if I have my facts straight.) Him playing for the DR makes a little more sense than Mike Piazza playing for Italy last time around.

Edgy DC Dec 05 2008 10:38 AM

Mike Piazza playing for Italy was at least somewhat consistent with some long-established Olympic and Copa Mundial standards. He hadn't previously competed for the US. The US wasn't interested in his services.

Centerfield Dec 05 2008 12:20 PM

It may be similar to those standards but it's still a dumb rule. If your passport says United States, that should be the only team you're allowed to play for.

Edgy DC Dec 05 2008 12:26 PM

Do you approve of the US incenting (yeah, it's a word) the Freddie Adus of the world to get US passports in order to play under our flag?

Centerfield Dec 05 2008 12:38 PM

I don't know who that is, or anything about that situation, so I can't comment. I will say that if Freddie is willing to become a US citizen, and meets the requirements therefor, he should be allowed to play for the United States.

Edgy DC Dec 05 2008 12:40 PM

You don't knoow Freddy Adu?

Willets Point Dec 05 2008 12:44 PM

What Edgy really meant to say: "You don't know Freddy? I do!"

Edgy DC Dec 05 2008 12:47 PM

Hat-trickin' Poland

Benjamin Grimm Dec 05 2008 12:53 PM

I don't know Freddy either. I think, as CF said, that if someone decides for whatever reason to become a U.S. citizen and then does so, sure, he can and should be eligible for the country's Olympic team. But if the U.S. Olympic committee is luring athletes to become citizens so that they field a better team, then I don't like that. A big country like the United States has a huge population from which to draw quality athletes. We don't need to be stealing the best athletes from smaller countries. I think a gold medal win means a lot more to a country like Poland than it does to us.

Edgy DC Dec 05 2008 12:57 PM

Or Ghana. In Freddy's case, it's not about a gold medal, but a World Cup trophy.

[soupcan]

I was under the impression that ARod was Cuban.

Not the case?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Alex is an American born to Dominican native parents --- Victor and Lourdes Rodriguez --- in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

When he was four, the family moved back to the DR. When he was seven, they moved to Florida. At about ten, he and the family were deserted by Victor, who moved to New Jersey and probably became a Yankee fan.

[Guest holychicken]

He is American, was born in the US, played for the US already, makes (effectively) all his money in the US, and lives in the US.

I see absolutely no reason why he would even consider playing for another team at this point or how he should possibly be even eligible for another team at this point.

His ability to ride the fence in an attempt to not offend anyone all the while offending everyone is unparalleled. I almost feel bad for him. . .it is like the harder he tries not to be a douche, the more he becomes one.

[Benjamin Grimm]

At least he lived there for three years. (And attended a Muslim pre-school, if I have my facts straight.)

Him playing for the DR makes a little more sense than Mike Piazza playing for Italy last time around.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Mike Piazza playing for Italy was at least somewhat consistent with some long-established Olympic and Copa Mundial standards.

• He hadn't previously competed for the US.


• The US wasn't interested in his services.

[Centerfield]

It may be similar to those standards but it's still a dumb rule. If your passport says United States, that should be the only team you're allowed to play for.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Do you approve of the US incenting (yeah, it's a word) the Freddie Adus of the world to get US passports in order to play under our flag?

[Centerfield]

I don't know who that is, or anything about that situation, so I can't comment. I will say that if Freddie is willing to become a US citizen, and meets the requirements therefor, he should be allowed to play for the United States.

[Guest Edgy DC]

You don't knoow Freddy Adu?

[Willets Point]

What Edgy really meant to say:

"You don't know Freddy? I do!"

[Guest Edgy DC]

Hat-trickin' Poland

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't know Freddy either. I think, as CF said, that if someone decides for whatever reason to become a U.S. citizen and then does so, sure, he can and should be eligible for the country's Olympic team.

But if the U.S. Olympic committee is luring athletes to become citizens so that they field a better team, then I don't like that. A big country like the United States has a huge population from which to draw quality athletes. We don't need to be stealing the best athletes from smaller countries. I think a gold medal win means a lot more to a country like Poland than it does to us.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Or Ghana.

In Freddy's case, it's not about a gold medal, but a World Cup trophy.