LatinoSports.com sportswriter Andrew Rosario believes we are witnessing the birth of a fraud thanks to LeBron James' latest move. PHOTO COURTESY OF NIKE
NEW YORK – LeBron James will now be known as “LeFraud James,” and this has nothing to do with the fact that he didn’t sign with the New York Knicks or the New Jersey Nets.
The minute he announced that he would hold his press conference in Connecticut, everyone knew he would not be returning to Cleveland, his hometown and the only team he’s played with since coming out of high school.
The only question was would he sign with Miami or Chicago. With the Bulls signing Carlos Boozer, it appeared the pendulum had swung in favor of the team he idolized as a kid.
But no, “LeFraud” took the easy way out by signing with Miami and Dwayne Wade to go along with Chris “Dreadless” Bosh.
This banner at the Palace of Champions represents an appeal for accountability (Photo WGR)
El Bronx, NY: A Thursday noon press conference in front of Yankee Stadium’ Babe Ruth Plaza situated in front of the main gate entries, on an otherwise perfect afternoon for baseball, a conference not to be confused with an outright protest rally – but one that had a number of grievances – the South Bronx Community represented by the For the South Bronx Coalition (4DSBxCoalition) and the Urban Justice Center met the press to hash out their complaints on the lack of transparency on the delivery of promises by the team management to support local residents, organizations and businesses when the new stadium was to be built.
San Antonio Spurs Versus Los Angeles Clippers in Mexico City Preseason Game -
NEW YORK, July 15, 2010 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that preseason basketball will return to Mexico when the San Antonio Spurs face the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 12 in Mexico City. This marks the NBA’s 17th visit to Mexico City and the league’s 19th game in Mexico overall, the most NBA matchups held in any country outside the United States and Canada. Game tickets are available for purchase starting Friday, July 16 through Ticketmaster.
“NBA Mexico Game 2010 and the appearance of NBA teams in Mexico for the 19th time shows the league’s ongoing commitment to grow the game of basketball and engage fans in the region,” said Raul Zarraga, Mexico’s Country Director for the NBA. "We arethrilled that with the support of our partners, including HP and game promoter Ocesa, our local fans can experience NBA excitement live.”
NBA Mexico Game 2010 presented by HP will give fans in Mexico the chance to see two exciting teams and some of the league’s biggest stars compete in the Palacios de los Deportes. The four-time NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs currently feature two-time MVP Tim Duncan and international All-Stars Tony Parker (France) and Manu Ginóbili (Argentina). The Los Angeles Clippers are a young team on the rise, whose lineup currently features the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft Blake Griffin, All-Star point guard Baron Davis and 2010 All-Star center Chris Kaman.
With the NBA Mexico Game 2010 presented by HP, the NBA is making a concerted effort to bring a marquee event to the Olympic Sports Festival that Mexico’s Sport’s Ministry, CONADE, is holding On Oct. 9-17 in Mexico City as part of the bicentennial celebration of Mexican independence. In addition to the oncourt NBA action, the league and its game partners HP, Corona, Gatorade, Sprite and Wonder will conduct community events and programs to bring the game closer to fans.
“HP is a leader in technology innovation with an incredible range of computers for every kind of user,” said Carlos Cortés, GM for HP Personal Systems Group Mexico. “We are pleased to present the NBA Mexico Game 2010, and we are sure that the fans will be amazed with the deployment of HP technology that they will see in the arena and through the game’s TV broadcast.”
With NBA Mexico Game 2010 presented by HP, the NBA has announced five preseason games that will be played outside the United States and Canada this October. The Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks will play a series of preseason games this October in Barcelona, London, Milan, and Paris as part of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™.To date, the NBA has staged a total of 98 games outside of the U.S. and Canada in 32 cities in 17 countries and territories.
The league first visited Mexico City in 1992, when the Dallas Mavericks defeated the San Antonio Spurs. Mexico became the only international country other than Japan and Canada to ever host an NBA regular-season game, when the Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks in front of the sold-out Palacio de los Deportes on Dec. 6, 1997 in Mexico City. In October 2009, the NBA staged its second game in Monterrey and the 18th game in Mexico overall.
For additional information about NBA Mexico Game 2010 presented by HP, please visit www.nba.com/enebea.
About the NBA in Mexico
For the 2009-2010 season, NBA games reached nearly every household on a weekly basis via television and broadband. NBA postseason games were available in 50 Cinépolis Theaters across 37 cities in Mexico for the first time ever. In addition to 18 games that the NBA has staged in Mexico since 1992, the most NBA games held in any country outside the United States and Canada, the league also reaches fans and consumers through regional NBA merchandise licensees. This year, for the first time, Panini launched collectible NBA stickers and trading cards, which are currently sold – along with other NBA merchandise – at retail outlets throughout the country.
The 2011 All-Star Game can draw a record crowd that can applaud the game, or protest it. (Photo Bill Menzel)
Anaheim, CA: While I was sitting in the Press Box at the Angels Stadium watching the Home Run Derby I remember thinking how pleased I was sitting in the stadium that is home to the only franchise in baseball that is owned by a Latino, Arte Moreno. Un Latino who worked his way to the top in his Billboard business and eventually buying the team from Disney.It was refreshing to walk through a major league stadium that had a Latino tinge everywhere. From the parking lot attendant I met on my first entrance to the stadium, a Cuban American, who recognized my Boricua accent, to local police, security, media, custodial, and as is too often the case everywhere else in the kitchen.
I saw Latinos employees everywhere throughout the stadium and while I was in the Press dining hall I was hearing a good mix of back round music that included several popular Latin songs. When I stayed after the crowd had left to write a few pieces, I thought I was in Puerto Rico as all I heard was the cleaning crew, majority women speaking in Spanish.
It could be this times several thousand in Arizona in 2011 if the All-Satr game is held there. (Photo LSV)
That fact is that the entire South West is one big Latino enclave since in was once part of Mexico. Therefore, Southern California is one big concentration of Latinos. Mexicans being the majority, but like the parking lot attendant who was Cuban I have been staying and visiting many Puerto Rican friends that also live here (many from the Bronx, what’s up with that?). It was also interesting to see several cars with a Puerto Rican decal, or flag hanging from the rear view mirror while driving in Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim.
Speaking of driving, you can’t help but notice how almost every Freeway sign, every street and road sign are in Spanish. San Miguel, Santa Ana, San Izidro, Ortega St., San Diego, Los Angeles, Vista, Las Mesas, etc, etc. And there are still some folks that cannot accept that we are a bi-lingual (Spanish – English) country.
So there I was in Anaheim celebrating the 81st All-Star Game of a sport that has approximately 30% of its players that are Latino, in a part of the country that is overwhelming Latino, in the stadium of a team that is owned by a Latino. Therefore, it was no surprise that the finalist of this Home Run Derby were two Latinos from the Dominican Republic. Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox DH, David “Big Papi” Ortiz. The winner being Big Papi who proved that he still has his home run stroke.
The All-Star National League starting pitcher was Colorado Rockies, Ubaldo Jimenez, who was followed by another 9 Latino players out of the 40-man roster. The American League fielded a total of 15 Latino players. Out of the total 80 player rosters, twenty-five of them were Latino. That is not including the coaches. Baseball is definitely a Latino game and in the Southwest it’s a Latino game in a Latino turf.
All of this makes me wonder why hasn’t any of Commissioner Selig’s close advisors, or inner circle confidants advised him on the pending problem that MLB will face if they don’t make a statement about the Arizona SB 1070 and show some support to the concerns of the overwhelming Latino population in the country? The corporate media has not covered this issue with the seriousness that it deserves. Right now this issue with Arizona and the fact that the President himself has weighed in and taken a stand against Arizona’s action is a testament to the importance this issue is not just to Latinos, but also to the very fabric of the Constitution. I would surely hope that someone reads through all the media hype and see the reality that is before the Commissioner, having an All-Star game in 2011 in Arizona with all conditions being what they are is quite ludicrous to say the least, or as my mother used to say: “Esa gente estan loca.”
MLB puts on some memorable All-Star performances, it will be so unfortunate that the 2011 memory might not be a positive one at all. There is still plenty of time to do the right thing. Move the game.
New-York Historical Society and El Museo del Barrio present:
LOS METS VETS AND RISING STARS
MONDAY, JULY 26
6:30pm–7:30pm
El Museo del Barrio
1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th St.
Featuring
Rod Barajas
Alex Cora
Fernando Tatis
Ruben Tejeda
Julio Pabón, Moderator
In anticipation of our upcoming fall exhibition Nueva York (1613-1945), the first showcase to explore the long relationship between New York and the Spanish-speaking world, El Museo del Barrio and New-York Historical Society present “Los Mets Vets and Rising Stars,” an evening celebrating Latinos' extraordinary contribution to baseball, culture, and the New York City community. Participants include baseball luminaries Rod Barajas, Alex Cora, Fernando Tatis, and Ruben Tejeda, who will discuss their life in baseball, their rise to the major leagues, how they joined the Mets, and what they love most about New York, as they are interviewed by Julio Pabón, President and CEO of Latino Sports.
Rod Barajas, a 12-year Major League Veteran, plays catcher for the New York Mets. He was a member of the World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. Born in California, Mr. Barajas is of Mexican descent. Alex Cora, the Mets' second baseman, is a native of Puerto Rico and is playing in his 13th Major League season. Fernando Tatis is a Mets' utility player and the only Major Leaguer ever to hit two Grand Slams in one inning. He was born in the Dominican Republic. Ruben Tejeda is a 20-year-old Panamanian infielder who made his MLB debut with the Mets in 2010. Julio Pabón (moderator) is President and CEO of Latino Sports.
Angel Pagan also might surprise us with a visit on this evening with "Los Mets" (Photo Bill Menzel)
Admission: $20 General, $10 for N-YHS and El Museo Members
TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Online: www.elmuseo.org
By Phone: Toll-free OvationTix line at 866-811-4111
In Person: Visit El Museo’s Store, La Tienda, Wed–Sun, 11am-6pm
Advanced purchase is required to guarantee seating.
The New-York Historical Society Nueva York series of programs is generously supported by American Express.
