GO TO MY BLOG TO READ PART 1 and 2!
Chapman was suspended by Cuban officials for being too cocky and complaining he could not pitch in a big international game. The officials decided that Chapman was a detriment to the team and therefore was suspended for a year. Enrique was ready for that curveball and made my day with his reply. I asked him some questions about Aroldis and what he was like. He told me that he was an amazing athlete. That he was always around the park and was actually annoying sometimes because he was always begging people to play baseball or have a catch with him. It wasn’t Chapman’s youth that I was enthralled about; it was the stories that Enrique was able to tell me. What he was telling me was exactly what I wanted to hear; Cuban baseball stories of success and even defeat. He told me about his job and how many kids he saw go on to pro careers. He admitted he wasn’t their number one coach but he had a hand in their youth. He was a humble man and I sat on the edge of my seat for the 1 hour drive talking to Enrique about baseball. To me this man was the man who made Cuban baseball what it is, a legend, a builder, a coach; he was baseball to me.
I hadn’t noticed the drive and the next thing I know we are in our resort. I had gotten to know Enrique on the drive and found out he has a 25year old son who uses a left handed glove but he is a lefty. Bingo again. I had a left handed glove in my suitcase. I brought two gloves, four baseballs, a baseball hat and a soccer ball to give away. Enrique was smiling from ear to ear when I produced the glove. He told me to ask for him and his tour to Holguin and then I was invited to his home to meet his son and see the stadium. He told me exactly how to get there and he would show me around Holguin personally. He even told me he would take me to his son’s work which was a cigar warehouse where we could smoke the best cigars on the East part of the island. All this hospitality because I gave him a glove! He shook my hand and made me feel lucky to have met him. It was only the beginning of my trip too! I had big ideas for the week and it started with a safari trip.
I did manage to get the safari trip. It wasn’t hard because my wife and friends are adventurous. I also knew that I was going to be watching for baseball games while the rest of the crew was looking at mountains, houses and the odd animals in the fields. I made it through the day without seeing a big game; then it happened. We had seen some small games in the middle of streets, intersections and the odd grass field but no real game on a real field. We were headed to the marina, going down a steep hill into a valley. The hill was steep and made the drive fast. As we came out of the hills and into the flat of the valley, I saw a baseball game to my right. I spun around in my seat like a kid who just saw Santa. It literally yelled out loud and pointed and asked my friends if we could stop but we were a part of the convoy and therefore we kept couldn’t. My heart sank and it hurts to write about it. Truly it does.
As I type this, I am getting the feeling that I missed out on exactly what I wanted to see and do in Cuba. I wanted to go watch real Cubans playing a sport I love. I wanted to see their uniforms with holes in them, their handmade gloves, bats, balls and their skill and their love for the game. Albeit I didn’t get to see some of things I wanted, I am more than happy to have started a story that I know I will build on as time goes by. I could not be happier I have these small victories to report. In two trips I met true baseball people, a real mentor to a pro and got to buy a glove that I will cherish as much as I cherish this great game.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Baseball- Man I love this game Part II
GO TO BLOG AND READ PART 1!!
I was on the bus with the other 50 people headed to the resort and was listening to Enrique our tour guide. He was bantering on about this and that and cracking jokes back at the drunks at the rear of our bus. One of the comments that wasn’t off color was about a baseball player that I forgot was from Holguin, Cuba. His name is Aroldis Chapman. I perked up. Thoughts raced though my head about seeing the stadium in Holguin and maybe where Chapman, a young man who just signed a $30 million contract in January, played his youth ball. I took the opportunity to talk to Enrique as soon as he was done.
I had to clarify what the yahoos in back were saying about Chapman because I knew if Enrique knew what they were saying maybe he would have some insight as to the baseball in the area. He might be able to tell me if there any games going on and where to see them. I leaned forward and said hello. We spoke about arriving in Cuba and how happy we were to be there blah blah blah. I had something to ask but was being polite. I sat fidgeting in my seat wanting to know about any games in or near Holguin. I was on a mission this trip and be damned if I couldn’t sit through some welcoming rantings to get some baseball info out of a local. Enrique interrupted me a couple times to answer some questions from the crowd but I still sat on the edge of my seat, arms hanging into his area so he knew I still wanted to talk. He started it up again and I jumped at the chance. I asked about any games or stadiums around that I could visit. Actually I asked him 300 questions in about 12 seconds and I think he registered them all.
Enrique turned in his seat and said “you came to Cuba for sun and drinks or baseball?”. My wife was beside me so I said with a laugh “drinks and sun but baseball too!”. I told him what the boys in the back of the bus had said and like Clint Eastwood in any of his movies he smiled and said in a gruff old voice “I know Aroldis Chapman”. I sat a little closer and asked how he knew him because I am a skeptic when someone tells me they know a famous person. He said he coached him as a child because his main job is a manager of a Holguin community centre where the baseball leagues are run. He acts as a manager/coach/coordinator/mentor for any kids that are involved. Chapman was one of these kids. I wasn’t convinced but I knew how to find out if he knew Chapman. I was going to say something that I knew was the opposite of what was true and see if Enrique knew the difference. I was doing my best Magnum PI work to see if this was legite and if it was I was going to be pretty stoked. I told Enrique that Chapman had such a great attitude and that he should do good in the US. Enrique called my bluff right away. He laughed out loud and told me Chapman has a bad attitude and that the Americans “will straighten him out”. Bingo. We have a homerun!
I was on the bus with the other 50 people headed to the resort and was listening to Enrique our tour guide. He was bantering on about this and that and cracking jokes back at the drunks at the rear of our bus. One of the comments that wasn’t off color was about a baseball player that I forgot was from Holguin, Cuba. His name is Aroldis Chapman. I perked up. Thoughts raced though my head about seeing the stadium in Holguin and maybe where Chapman, a young man who just signed a $30 million contract in January, played his youth ball. I took the opportunity to talk to Enrique as soon as he was done.
I had to clarify what the yahoos in back were saying about Chapman because I knew if Enrique knew what they were saying maybe he would have some insight as to the baseball in the area. He might be able to tell me if there any games going on and where to see them. I leaned forward and said hello. We spoke about arriving in Cuba and how happy we were to be there blah blah blah. I had something to ask but was being polite. I sat fidgeting in my seat wanting to know about any games in or near Holguin. I was on a mission this trip and be damned if I couldn’t sit through some welcoming rantings to get some baseball info out of a local. Enrique interrupted me a couple times to answer some questions from the crowd but I still sat on the edge of my seat, arms hanging into his area so he knew I still wanted to talk. He started it up again and I jumped at the chance. I asked about any games or stadiums around that I could visit. Actually I asked him 300 questions in about 12 seconds and I think he registered them all.
Enrique turned in his seat and said “you came to Cuba for sun and drinks or baseball?”. My wife was beside me so I said with a laugh “drinks and sun but baseball too!”. I told him what the boys in the back of the bus had said and like Clint Eastwood in any of his movies he smiled and said in a gruff old voice “I know Aroldis Chapman”. I sat a little closer and asked how he knew him because I am a skeptic when someone tells me they know a famous person. He said he coached him as a child because his main job is a manager of a Holguin community centre where the baseball leagues are run. He acts as a manager/coach/coordinator/mentor for any kids that are involved. Chapman was one of these kids. I wasn’t convinced but I knew how to find out if he knew Chapman. I was going to say something that I knew was the opposite of what was true and see if Enrique knew the difference. I was doing my best Magnum PI work to see if this was legite and if it was I was going to be pretty stoked. I told Enrique that Chapman had such a great attitude and that he should do good in the US. Enrique called my bluff right away. He laughed out loud and told me Chapman has a bad attitude and that the Americans “will straighten him out”. Bingo. We have a homerun!
Baseball- Man I Love That Game Part I
GO TO BLOG TO SEE PART II and III!
2 years ago I was in Cuba for a wedding and some relaxation. I was pretty excited for this trip because the wedding was my own and I knew I was going to the country where baseball has evolved into their national sport. The sport of baseball is like football in England and hockey in Canada. The communist country has made baseball players their pet project and many Cubans are heralded as trophies to be bred as stars and sent away as stars; with or without the regimes approval. I knew that this trip was going to be awesome and I was very excited to see anything baseball.
I will simply say that while in Cuba in 2008, I saw what I wanted and loved it. I met some employees that were baseball crazy, I met a couple internationals that were baseball crazy and I got to buy a Cuban hand made glove. Lets skip to present. I recently went to Holguin, Cuba. A resort where I knew I would have a better chance to see an actual game either in a pro stadium, in the street or a local village. I tricked my friends into a safari including horses, 'seadoos' and SUVs. This safari was my ticket to seeing a game one way or another and in the end I was disappointed but not completely. Here is the part that made my trip.
2 years ago I was in Cuba for a wedding and some relaxation. I was pretty excited for this trip because the wedding was my own and I knew I was going to the country where baseball has evolved into their national sport. The sport of baseball is like football in England and hockey in Canada. The communist country has made baseball players their pet project and many Cubans are heralded as trophies to be bred as stars and sent away as stars; with or without the regimes approval. I knew that this trip was going to be awesome and I was very excited to see anything baseball.
I will simply say that while in Cuba in 2008, I saw what I wanted and loved it. I met some employees that were baseball crazy, I met a couple internationals that were baseball crazy and I got to buy a Cuban hand made glove. Lets skip to present. I recently went to Holguin, Cuba. A resort where I knew I would have a better chance to see an actual game either in a pro stadium, in the street or a local village. I tricked my friends into a safari including horses, 'seadoos' and SUVs. This safari was my ticket to seeing a game one way or another and in the end I was disappointed but not completely. Here is the part that made my trip.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Fan or not a fan?
So here we go again. I of course need to make my fanaticism evident and say I am a proud Chelsea/Yankees/Leafs fan. Not a lot else to say except I know their are haters out there from all angles but then again I dont cheer for your team whoever you are so we agree to disagree.
Seems to be the trend these days. Even if a guy likes a player from another team its impossible to like that team because they are not [i]your [/i]team. I am not of this type of fan. I love to see my team win. I dont hate any other team (although I dont like the way teams are run and certain players). I love sport and I love seeing great plays and the great affects sport has on lives. I am a sports fanatic.
What I dont get is the hatred and I mean that literally, that a fan has for another team? Did they get cut from that team back in 2003? Did they lose a bet that was guaranteed to happen from that team? Did they run that team and they fired him somehow? The answer is no. The answer is there is a created hatred for other teams in a world that really is fantasy and made up. What does that mean? A person chooses to like a team either by acclamation (living in that area) or by love of all things 'that team'. For instance I chose Chelsea after seeing A) their history B) their uniforms C) I didn't like Ronaldo's whiny attitude on the pitch and found out that Man U was the opposite of Chelsea; decision made.
I love hearing a fan say "I $#@!@ hate those guys" like they know them personally?! I often ask why they dont like them and the first words out of someones mouth is "I dont know". Come on, you dont know why you hate someone? Thats not a fan, thats something else in your psyche that should be looked at.
Sports fans are creative, energetic, passionate fans that should be educated, informed and have arguments to share about why they love/hate someone. A true sports fan knows when the team was created, knows their victories, knows their stats and their future. They know the ups and downs and have celebrated their successes and shunned their loses. Sports is the best reality tv ever and nothing will ever change that. One thing that should change is when I ask someone why they hate someone, they should have a better answer then "I don't know".
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Waterloo Football Suspended-- Why?
Although Waterloo does not have a big influence on the AUS this is a big deal for CIS football. If anything this serves as a big warning shot over the heads of all programs and players concerning the issues of steroids and other drugs in the CIS game. Waterloo is not handling this right and surely someone can step in and tell them this.
Waterloo has suspended their own program due to 9 players who have tested positive for steroids of some sort. One player was pointed out as a supplier of these steroids and will be investigating heavy. This obviously does not bode well for the team, the school, the athletes or any living thing around this situation. There is a catch to all this though as the CIS has said that all drug free players can transfer to another school without issue. This means they can go play in September at a competitive school. Not good at all for anyone involved in Waterloo.
I like what the CIS has done here, allowing movement of players to allow them to continue their careers as football players. Good call CIS. Waterloo has dropped that long ball that needs to help the school win and they have dropped it in open field. All they had to do was think, catch the ball and score but they dropped it. The CIS should not have the problem of making this call but they do and they are doing the right thing. Although should the CIS could be the voice of reason here and tell Waterloo to keep the program moving?
For once the bad people have been caught and clearly ID'ed. So why hold the whole program up due to a few players? This is a big deal as there are usually 65 players on a team so that means 56 players are able to play and drug free. This is so cliche because a few bad apples are ruining the whole program and it does not have to be that way.
Do the right thing, continue on, move on, get that team on the field together and start to heal. Suspending the program will only make this painful and suffering program feel more pain and suffering for a year or two longer than needed.
Waterloo has suspended their own program due to 9 players who have tested positive for steroids of some sort. One player was pointed out as a supplier of these steroids and will be investigating heavy. This obviously does not bode well for the team, the school, the athletes or any living thing around this situation. There is a catch to all this though as the CIS has said that all drug free players can transfer to another school without issue. This means they can go play in September at a competitive school. Not good at all for anyone involved in Waterloo.
I like what the CIS has done here, allowing movement of players to allow them to continue their careers as football players. Good call CIS. Waterloo has dropped that long ball that needs to help the school win and they have dropped it in open field. All they had to do was think, catch the ball and score but they dropped it. The CIS should not have the problem of making this call but they do and they are doing the right thing. Although should the CIS could be the voice of reason here and tell Waterloo to keep the program moving?
For once the bad people have been caught and clearly ID'ed. So why hold the whole program up due to a few players? This is a big deal as there are usually 65 players on a team so that means 56 players are able to play and drug free. This is so cliche because a few bad apples are ruining the whole program and it does not have to be that way.
Do the right thing, continue on, move on, get that team on the field together and start to heal. Suspending the program will only make this painful and suffering program feel more pain and suffering for a year or two longer than needed.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
FASHION and SWEAT PANTS---
They DO NOT, DO NOT, go with anything other than sweat shirts, t shirts, sneakers and anything else sporty. They DO NOT go with leather jackets, jean jackets, or any jacket other than a SPORTS jacket (not a tweed elbow patched smokers sport coat). They DO NOT go with scarfs, 'done up' hairdos, black dress shoes, deck shoes, or ever should be worn as 'this is what I am wearing out tonight or today' type of thinking. If you are wearing sweat pants you are in relaxed mode. Not going-out-into-the-world-to-live mode. Bottom line is, sport clothes are the downfall of social handsomeness/beautifulness due to the acceptance of the above outfits. All I need to prove this statement is to say; spandex. TO BE SAID IN NAPOLEON DYNAMITE VOICE.....God people have some sense. Bettsee OUT.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Head shots- The NHL drops the puck
I am sitting in my bedroom with my coffee and toast watching my favorite sports show. I have been on vacation and haven’t had a chance to see much sports so it’s a much needed half hour. After a week off I see Chelsea in 2nd, MLB is back and Matt Cookee isn’t going to be suspended for his hit on Marc Savard. I nearly spit my coffee out; true story. Let me explain.
The NHL is a fast paced, hard hitting, energy filled game that deserves respect. Other sports are hardnosed (American football and Aussie rules football to name 2) but hockey is at speeds that are incomparable. The athletes are in shape and their bodies in tune with bruising and sore bones. That being said, these athletes are constantly beat up and tired. It’s just a fact. Their bodies take a beating and any ex NHL’er will tell you their knees hurt or their hands will never be the same and my personal favorite, “my back is a mess”. It’s a price to pay but after a career is over the player smiles and thinks “wow that was fun”.
Hitting is part of the game. Two players face to face hitting one another reminds me of warriors in battle, spirit versus spirit, muscle versus muscle and mind versus mind. It’s a beautiful thing. There is something majestic about two willing combatants, risking life and limb for personal reasons and for entertainment reasons. For the most part, the players are fine with face to face hits, face to face collisions and are against blind side or cowardly hits. The big hit is more exciting to me than fights.
Hits that are legal and that are violent are downright artistic. I use to do it and it doesn’t hurt as much as you think. The one hitting usually doesn’t get hurt and the one getting hit does; too bad so sad. For the most part, the gear guards you and no one gets injured. People get hurt when the hit is on the head. People get hurt when the hit is unexpected and near the head. As said before even the dirtiest player will tell you hitting someone that isn’t able to protect themselves is ‘greasy’ and should be abolished. It’s true oh its true. Even the Tiger Williams or Tie Domis of the NHL have ethics.
All that is out the window when on the ice as the brain doesn’t think ethically with all that adrenaline flowing. The NHL needs to change the attitude of the players so they understand their consequences to their actions on the ice. Players know there are no punishments per say for a nasty hit and so if a player truly hates that other player, he doesn’t care if he hurts him. The hitter shrugs his shoulders and thinks he will take his chances with a suspension so long as he gets that players back for whatever he did earlier in the game…whew. I need to breathe here. The way to make the players care is through attitude changing and discipline. Hits will continue to occur but it will sure cut them back.
Side note. In Korea a person is charged based upon the damage they do in a fight. So even if you started the fight but don’t win you are not as guilty. If you beat the other person up real bad, you are charged more severely. You are responsible for your actions even in a heated moment. This restrains individuals from going beyond reasonable force. Food for thought NHL.
This brings me to a short point about this situation where Mat Cooke is not being suspended. I can name three recent hits that were nasty blind side hits that warranted some sort of suspension. The reason? They were greasy dirty cowardly hits that were fueled by disrespect. Many players will tell you that respect is not a part of the game anymore. Players don’t like one another and don’t respect their opponent’s bodies and health. I sound like a broken record as I wrote about Patrice Cormier a while back and respect was the major issue their too. Certain players have disdain for their opponent and will do whatever it takes to hurt them. Matt Cooke, unfortunately, is one of these players. He has very little respect for his himself and his actions, not to mention his opponent.
The NHL has dropped the puck on this one. There have been many straws that have broken the back of the camel; Richards, Cooke, Hunter, Stevens, Kessler blah blah etc etc. I should be able to remember great goals and great games and not dirty hits that nearly ended or ended careers. In a man’s game where being macho is as important as being skilled, the NHL is the biggest wimp ever. They can’t/won’t control their own league and own game due to what? Red tape? Pressure from the NHLPA? Wannh…whine…boo hoo. Suspend him already! He tried to hurt Savard. He hit his head flush and with no body contact whatsoever. No warrior attitude, no honorable actions. Why is the NHL being so lacks? For the same reason the players commit dirty hits, no respect for the players.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Commentary on Patrice Cormier illegal hit
Sports and violence as a rule go hand in hand. It’s only that way because we allow it to be. We say things like "it’s a part of the game" or "well, things got heated and its hockey, it happens".
I want to make a couple points. One is that hockey is a game. We play because it’s fun to skate and shoot and it builds teamwork and camaraderie. We enjoy the competition and the challenge of winning but also feel good when we gave our all but lost.
From a man who has played hockey at high levels since he was 5 years old and as a man who encountered violence due to hits and fights, what Cormier did was dirty hockey. He suckered an unsuspecting opponent in a game that is supposed to be all those items I previously mentioned but which is unfortunately also a business. Business dictates rules and regulations in competitions such as hockey. These rules are made to make the game more attractive to the fan
so they spend money.
Patrice Cormier’s attitude and society’s hockey expectations have a lot to do with Cormier’s actions. Cormier is sitting on the ice and is thinking "I’m going to give the crowd something to cheer about, I’m going to get that guy back for what he did in the first period and I’m going to be cool and loved by my home town fans and teammates".
Ask any good hardnosed hockey player about those feelings and thoughts and I guarantee 9 out of 10 will admit having those thoughts. It’s the smart ones that don’t execute it on the ice and calm down. Cormier's actions are not a part of the game; they are selfish and dangerous and go against everything sport is suppose to be.
The people in power have got to understand this and stand up to simple schoolyard peer pressure and stop allowing it. If they allow it due to pressure then let is pressure them to change the rules to no tolerance and bring back the "for the love of the game" aspect and general respect.
What Cormier did was assault. Something beyond the rules, beyond respect and even beyond typical street fighting codes. Generally a street fight is one on one and is agreed upon by both parties; somewhat like fighting in hockey.
This type of violence is mildly more acceptable by some then the sneak attack that Cormier used. So that being said, if I was in a business meeting with several people, its big money involved, people around the business world are watching, I am trying to land a million dollar deal for my company, it gets heated because both sides want the best deal possible and it gets to the point where its personalities clashing and words are exchanged and I decide I want this deal so bad, I am so angry that I hit the opposition business man and knock him out; I lose my job, I’m going to jail or at best, paying a fine and paying some debt to society.
Sport is a game, something done for fun. It can be hard hitting, intense and exciting all within the rules. Assaults are not within the rules. But because this was done in a modern day game and in an atmosphere that it has been accepted for a 100 years, it makes it acceptable and what little attention it gets, is not enough to change it.
I am amazed that the powers in charge are that naive to right and wrong in this situation. These powers have children, have friends and have morals and I assume they know right from wrong. They know it’s wrong to allow it but do nothing about it. I believe these powers are gutless to say "NO, we won’t tolerate it in our arenas, in our society and you are banned from our league". Amazing.
I have been involved in violence before, either by choice or not by choice. I have seen the eyes glaring at me wanting to hurt me. Although I thought what that man was about to pursue was wrong, I at least honored his belief. I knew what he was doing was right in his eyes and wrong in mine but I also knew I had to defend myself if provoked.
I have been involved in violence before, either by choice or not by choice. I have seen the eyes glaring at me wanting to hurt me. Although I thought what that man was about to pursue was wrong, I at least honored his belief. I knew what he was doing was right in his eyes and wrong in mine but I also knew I had to defend myself if provoked.
For the most part, people know the difference between right and wrong. For those who do not, they should be and are punished for their actions. There is one person who should be punished for his actions and not based upon the rules of the game but the rules of society because what he did was beyond the rules of the simple game.
There is also a group that should be held accountable for their reaction to this. This group leading the way needs to step up and make people understand the difference between right and wrong, not only within their league but within our world. People of the world have to stop asking for violence. It’s an endless circle that is only endless because we allow it.
Steve Betts is a regular guest on Haligonia Sports episodes and colour commentator for Dalhousie Tigers hockey on ssncanada.ca
Steve Betts is a regular guest on Haligonia Sports episodes and colour commentator for Dalhousie Tigers hockey on ssncanada.ca
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Year In Jeju, Korea, playing baseball and teaching
DRAGONS BASEBALL
A Year In Jeju, Korea
by: Steve Betts
JUNE 4, 2006I was asking Dave to hook me up with a baseball team as I knew he knew a lot of people. I wasn’t expecting much from him because its not easy communicating here in Korea when you don’t know Korean. So finding a baseball player in the city was not going to be easy. I was doing my own thing too and was going to the field to try and meet people but it wasn’t working. I kept bugging Dave and on a Thursday night I got a call asking me to come meet a team.
Since that Thursday night about a month and a half ago, I have been the first foreigner in Jeju history to play baseball. That means I have been the first to do many things. I am first to play on that field, first to get a hit, first to get an out, first to hit a homerun, a triple blah blah blah. I had to mention those last two hits. Actually I have two HR and two triples but whatever…I am liking the idea of all that too as it sure is something I can tell my friends and kids about when I get older.The Jeju Dragons is a team of real nice guys that have been operating for ten years this summer. They are very similar to our rec hockey teams back home as they have leaders and guys that do most of the work and keep the things running. They are relatively the same age (mid 30’s so I fit in) and are typical Koreans. What that means is they work and drink and play hard. I fit right in. The team is a serious club. Uniforms are tailored and you have to have a uniform to play. I am having problems right now as I don’t have cleats but cross trainers and they wont let me play without an argument. The field is astro turf and my shoes are fine for it but it’s the way they do things here and I cant argue with it. There are lot of things I don’t agree with but my job isn’t to argue about tradition its to hit bombs and catch balls. I am doing that so far and loving it.
The leagues they play are tiered. Meaning that the have short seasons and then you are placed in a higher or lower league according to your performance. Its much the same as football in the U.K.. We have played many games so far but not in the league we are currently in. We have played one game in that season and we lost big time. Not sure why but might had something to do with the 5 errors (or 7 in my opinion) we had and the 5 measly hits we had and I had two of those. Well it should be an interesting summer.
There is much to tell about the differences in the game, the team atmosphere and the culture. I have had nothing but a good experiences other than the shoe issue but its early and Koreans are good at changing things in a hurry. I sound negative but its more cautious than anything. Wait till I tell ya about what the ump said to me. Wow...
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