Typical US arrogance and ignorance on your part 
isn't baseball the most popular sport?
baseball is a sport?
But in answer to your question, yes baseball is what Venezuelans are biggest fans of. They actually have a lot of players in the U.S. Major Leagues.
I've never quite understood why they haven't adopted a real sport - say football 
or hockey?
or hockey?
I fully agree with elliv (!)
or hockey? I agree. But given the local climate I'll give them a free pass on that one.
Sire, Ellivs comments were clearly meant sarcastically, not seriously.
There are around 140 major league players from Vzla. in the Grandes Ligas.
Sure baseball is the no. 1 sport but soccer is catching up and the Copa América will be a turning point.
During the draw of the groups in Caracas the President of Conmebol said that Venezuewa had to thank President Chavez for bringing this tournament to Venezuela.
An inspection team came about 2 months ago to inspect the stadiums being built and all was okeyed by them.
We're looking forward to it greatly.
elliv - learn about baseball - it's really interesting. I guess that some of the bloggers here, specifically Democratic Deficit is probably a cricket fan. What's that, you may ask?
Rubén
It is called football dammit
Too bad; I guessed it could be serious, given elliv is Euroepean
- "Sure baseball is the no. 1 sport but soccer is catching up and the Copa América will be a turning point."
I truly hope so. I cannot bear watching baseball :/
- "It is called football dammit"
Yep
Whats called football? Soccer?
When I googled "fooball pictures" it came back with things like this:
http://blog.gotuit.com/wp-conten...ball%5B5%
5D.jpg
Off topic,
Ruben - I notice Bernal is now up for recall. Any idea what that is about and if he is likely to be recalled.
For those who don't know Bernal is the pro-Chavez mayor of western Caracas. He has been an important figure in the government - among other things he helped turn back the A11 coup. But he has been contraversial due to is being a less than stellar administrator of the city. Now he may be forced from office through a recall referendum.
Baseball, chavez's favorite sport and dream career (before he discovered being a dictator) is an American sport and who brought it to Venezuela? Also who brought the first balls, bats and gloves to Venezuela? When and where?
About Freddy, he was a queer snitch during CAP2. Yep, Disip's snitch inside MVR (and queer too). How about that?
Believe it or not!
Real empty blogging Burnett ... Chavez built this, Chavez built that ... FYI dumbass, those are private CAPITALIST contractors you POS. CAPITALISM YOU FOOLS. Dont you hate the contradictions?
" FYI dumbass, those are private CAPITALIST contractors"
Where were they in the 90s? In hybernation?
jeez, ow...the quality of the trolls in this blog is at its lowest point. Where do you get them? Racist, homophobic and stupid beyond belief....
On your pooh-pooing of real Football, the most popular, exciting and important sport in the world, I just hope you are kidding. Nothing is more boring than looking at a bunch of steroid-enhanced fatsos hit a ball with a stick day after day after day, and the same goes for the oversized mountains of flesh clashing and piling on top of each other every... uhm...10 yards (9 meters, to use a more logical and universal unit of length
ok, I was kidding, except about the opposition being a bunch of whiners who for the most part never had it so good - that is true.
As to the trolls, ever since internet service finally reached Miami there seem to be a lot more of them around
Some interesting thoughts on the socialist unity party and party discipline:
http://lubrio.blogspot.com/2007/
...o.html#comments
I don't really like football but I am starting like it more recently, saw on TV the historic game where Caracas FC beat River Plate at Buenos Aires. Quite fun I say.
That said I do love college gridiron but the NFL sucks.
BTW a tip for picking an opo member out of a crowd: They used to be the only football fans a decade ago, they root for their european heritage at WCs (italy, spain etc). In other words, they go gaga for European teams but don't give a fig for the vinotinto (or even baseball to a degree). Quite telling.
Cross country skiing. There you have a REAL sport for non-whiners.
I did that for the first time in 20 years a few weeks ago. Problem is I rented the skiis and they give you these really skiny racing skiis that were hard to even stay upright on. Just trying to do a snowplow I fell over. Found out later I was supposed to ask for "touring" skiis.
Anyways, for cross country skiing you needs lots of natural snow which most placers don't have that much of - Venezuela included!
Actually, the real sport for non-whiners is going off those 120 meter ski jumps. I stood at the top of one once - looked totally insane.
Any comments on the video of the lider maximo of the "revolution" accusing some members of the Justice System of treason because they dared to do their jobs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x...om%2F0001330%
2F
Whats called football? Soccer?
For most people football is not US style "football".
In all the greenish countries football is #1 sport:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/
wiki..._popularity.png
I grew up playing baseball and will probably die loving soccer. Scoring a goal is about defying incredible odds, persistence, teamwork, and the willingness to carry on valiantly despite repeated unsuccessful attempts. Every goal is an unexpected miracle. And then you just start all over again.
Kind of like seeking social justice...
"Any comments on the video of the lider maximo of the "revolution" accusing some members of the Justice System of treason because they dared to do their jobs:"
I think its great that he says they are being jerks. By letting a bunch of rich people off the hook for a lot of their tax bill they are being idiots who are doing damage to the country. And it is absolutely right for Chavez to call them out on this.
BTW, any opinion on how this could have happened if Chavez controlls all the institutions in Venezuela.
I think its funny how the opposition has been blabbering for years about how there are no "checks and balances" in Venezuela yet not claim Chavez is being "checked" in his desire to reform the Constitution by the Supreme Court. So I guess the Supreme Court is independent after all, no?
Any idea who would win, ow? What would you say if Chavez gets his way, then?
What do you mean "who would win"? Are you talking about the decision being reversed? I hope the full court does reverse the decision. That is the right decision, not because Chavez or anyone else wants it, but because it would be right under the Constitution, at least as I read it.
Not taxing bonusses is simply absurd.
Calling the TSJ "traitors" is hardly a usual thing though
Actually, the terms I would use are less pleasent than that one.
A&B and Sire,
just listened to the video. As usual, it he didn't say what some claim.
He did not say that the TSJ were "traitors". He said they were "betraying the people and betraying the revolution".
Quite a big difference. Oh, and I agree with himm. I sure don't know whose interest the TSJ members were serving with that decision. It sure doesn't look like they were serving the cause of the constitution. Nor were they serving the cause of the people.
- "Quite a big difference."
No. The person that commits treason is a traitor, isn't it?
"treason is a traitor"
He said they were betraying the people which is an accusation or an opinion, nothing more. Yet our opposition friends have accused him of saying just that they are committing "treason" which almost always to the country and is a crime.
There is a reason A & B doesn't even paraphrase correctly or completely - they are trying to distort what he said and make it sound more ominous.
"BTW a tip for picking an opo member out of a crowd: They used to be the only football fans a decade ago, they root for their european heritage at WCs (italy, spain etc). In other words, they go gaga for European teams but don't give a fig for the vinotinto (or even baseball to a degree). Quite telling."
he he he So true, Flanker. I know many people whose lives could be entirely described by the paragraph above. Kinda sad if you ask me.
"No. The person that commits treason is a traitor, isn't it?"
Sire,
So what if Chavez called them traitors? Could you please give us your spin...ahem...opinion on this? Please tell us why you think the decision of the TSJ is correct.
Maybe I am wrong, but I thought Chavez's last patatuz was because the TSJ is questioning his desire to change the constitution to get him elected indefinetly.
Flanker, Ruben, and the other stooges?
http://www.juri.ucv.ve/cambio%5F...nal/
pagina5.htm
Apparently, he wants to change the meaning of the word "alternativo" as defined in article 6:
"Ariculo 6. El gobierno de la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela y de las entidades politicas que la componen es y seran siempre democratico, participativo, electivo, descentralizado, alternativo, responsable, pluralista y de mandatos revocables."
" Maybe I am wrong, but I thought Chavez's last patatuz was because the TSJ is questioning his desire to change the constitution to get him elected indefinetly"
The TSJ hasn't questioned that because nothing has even been proposed.
- "So what if Chavez called them traitors? Could you please give us your spin...ahem...opinion on this?"
Simply that's not a usual thing a Head of State does.
- "Please tell us why you think the decision of the TSJ is correct."
I am no constitutional lawyer. I have no authority to judge this definitely.
"I am no constitutional lawyer. I have no authority to judge this definitely."
None of us are, but you can still have an opinion And the Constitution isn't that difficult to read.
"Simply that's not a usual thing a Head of State does. "
Its a figure of speech I've heard fairly often. And even if it wasn't, who cares? Freedom of speach applies to all, including Chavez.
They'll probably double as detention centers when the people start to turn against Chavez.
jsb, people turned against Chavez to some extent in 2002 and 2003 and there were no dention centers.
I have to say Scott, it almost sounds as if you WISHED there was repression in Venezuela just so you could confirm your stereotypes of people on the left.
The chavista leaders: a bunch of mafiosi.
They are fighting the h... out of each other even
with so much money to steal:
http://www.notitarde.com/valenci.../
valencia3.html
On another context: Chavez's buddy Mugabe is going for a new term. Shall he go for it after all?
Ow, you posts pictures that remind me of the way some people used to portray the advances of Adolf Hitler's Reich: we built this, we built that, our Great Leader is so clever! Heil."
And the human rights go down the drain.
Detention Camps are a US phenomenon, jsb. Can you defend this?
http://www.oilempire.us/redalert.html
Wasn't there a thought about integrating Venezuela further into Latin America by taking up football/soccer? Building all these stadiums would then make sense if taken as part of a political-cultural strategy to promote integration. Right now, the biggest critics of the US, are ironically where baseball is King.
There's also a new documentary out about Bill "The Spaceman" Lee, relief pitcher for the Red Sox and Expos in the 1970s. An interesting character and great pitcher, he thinks Cubans play baseball for all the right reasons. The documentary covers his 2003 visit to Cuba.
Check it out at: http://spacemanincuba.com/
"And the human rights go down the drain."
Lets see, Venezuelans have freedom of speach, freedom of association, freedom of travel, freedom of worship, free elections, etc. Looks like human rights are in damn good shape in VEnezuela - not going "down the drain".
Unless of course you have evidence you want to share.
BTW, there are 87 days left until the games begin. It will be interesting to see them rush to complete all these stadiums by then.
sb, people turned against Chavez to some extent in 2002 and 2003 and there were no dention centers.
I have to say Scott, it almost sounds as if you WISHED there was repression in Venezuela just so you could confirm your stereotypes of people on the left.
BINGO.
I bet he won't whine when Bush takes a leaf from Pinochet's book and does that in the US, though.
...oops, he already did. Remember Katrina? The National Guard wouldn't let them leave!
PS: Sports aren't the only thing stadia are good for--how about CONCERTS? Or huge Chavista rallies?
Probably your first really awful post ow. "Soccer" around the rest of the world is called Football or Futbol. Your version of football is called American Football by everyone else cause nobody else plays it. Virtually in all Latin America, Europe and Africa (and large parts of Asia) football is the king sport. It probably won't be long before football replaces baseball in Venezuela.
You don't have to "remember" Katrina. In a very real way it's still happening. Before, they wouldn't let them escape. Now, they won't let them come back to their own homes, 'cause they want to bulldoze everything and make some fatcat developers a mint.
As to sports--I'm a hockey fan myself. Hockey's really a lot like soccer, only faster and people actually score goals sometimes. Well, and they can cream each other with bodychecks. I kind of enjoy *playing* baseball, but I don't understand how anyone can *watch* it. As to American football, the Canadian variant is kind of watchable--wider field and only three downs, makes it mainly a passing game, not so much of the stuff where this lineup of beefy guys run into each other and pile up and you wait patiently while they figure out that the actual ball moved three yards in the process.
its not soccer... its FOOTBALL...you play it with your FOOT...sucker. heh heh heh
You know what we are going to do with those stadiums after the Copa America? have concerts in them, cuz, we really suck at football
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