Should Cuba play in the World Baseball Classic?
I wrote about the World Baseball Classic back in July, so I suppose I should comment on the recent low-level decision to ban Cuba from participating in the 16-game tournament, and whether this is the right thing to do or not. Short answer — yes, let the Cubans play even if they make a buck ...
I wrote about the World Baseball Classic back in July, so I suppose I should comment on the recent low-level decision to ban Cuba from participating in the 16-game tournament, and whether this is the right thing to do or not. Short answer -- yes, let the Cubans play even if they make a buck off of it. This is a post of obligation, however, because it requires me to talk about one of my least favorite topics -- the Cuba embargo. Some background: for the "Yes, let's ban them," go check out Roberto Gonz?lez Echevarr?a's op-ed in the New York Times from earlier this week (hat tip to David Pinto, who's been keeping close tabs on the issue). For the "let 'em play" argument, check out prett much any sportswriter you can find -- Sports Illustrated's Frank DeFord is serviceable enough here. Those who want to ban Cuba have a leg to stand on. There's no question that the Castro regime is pretty thuggish. And there's some evidence that denying them opportunities like participation in the World Baseball Classic could have a negative effect on the Castro regime. There's a scholarly literature out there that argues the apartheid regime in South Africa lost its base of support once they were banned from various sporting events, including the Olympics. The thing is, the World Baseball Classic is just getting started, so I don't think preventing Cuba from participating will have much of an effect on the regime -- whereas it would have a deleterious effect on the tournament itself. The International Baseball Federation is threatening to pull its imprimatur from the event, which could trigger the withdrawal of other countries. More importantly, denying them from participating is a self-inflicted wound. The WBC is a rare opportunity to highlight the common sports heritage the U.S. shares with Latin America and the Pacific Rim. It's an opportunity to popularize a sport that originated in the United States. It's even, dare I say, a chance for the United States to build up a little soft power -- if our pitching holds up. This is particularly true with regard to Cuba. Consider: 1) While their best players might be good enough for Olympic gold medals in baseball, they're going to face American and Dominican squads stacked with all-stars if they participate in the WBC. My hunch is that they won't do so well in the standings. 2) Their delegation is going to be obsessed with not having any of their players defect in the middle of such a sporting event. 3) Anyone who thinks the Cuban regime is loathsome should feel free to protest that fact at their games. Let the Cubans play ball -- and let them get their butts whipped.
I wrote about the World Baseball Classic back in July, so I suppose I should comment on the recent low-level decision to ban Cuba from participating in the 16-game tournament, and whether this is the right thing to do or not. Short answer — yes, let the Cubans play even if they make a buck off of it. This is a post of obligation, however, because it requires me to talk about one of my least favorite topics — the Cuba embargo. Some background: for the “Yes, let’s ban them,” go check out Roberto Gonz?lez Echevarr?a’s op-ed in the New York Times from earlier this week (hat tip to David Pinto, who’s been keeping close tabs on the issue). For the “let ’em play” argument, check out prett much any sportswriter you can find — Sports Illustrated‘s Frank DeFord is serviceable enough here. Those who want to ban Cuba have a leg to stand on. There’s no question that the Castro regime is pretty thuggish. And there’s some evidence that denying them opportunities like participation in the World Baseball Classic could have a negative effect on the Castro regime. There’s a scholarly literature out there that argues the apartheid regime in South Africa lost its base of support once they were banned from various sporting events, including the Olympics. The thing is, the World Baseball Classic is just getting started, so I don’t think preventing Cuba from participating will have much of an effect on the regime — whereas it would have a deleterious effect on the tournament itself. The International Baseball Federation is threatening to pull its imprimatur from the event, which could trigger the withdrawal of other countries. More importantly, denying them from participating is a self-inflicted wound. The WBC is a rare opportunity to highlight the common sports heritage the U.S. shares with Latin America and the Pacific Rim. It’s an opportunity to popularize a sport that originated in the United States. It’s even, dare I say, a chance for the United States to build up a little soft power — if our pitching holds up. This is particularly true with regard to Cuba. Consider:
1) While their best players might be good enough for Olympic gold medals in baseball, they’re going to face American and Dominican squads stacked with all-stars if they participate in the WBC. My hunch is that they won’t do so well in the standings. 2) Their delegation is going to be obsessed with not having any of their players defect in the middle of such a sporting event. 3) Anyone who thinks the Cuban regime is loathsome should feel free to protest that fact at their games.
Let the Cubans play ball — and let them get their butts whipped.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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