why did rigo and lara defect cant they cant turn pro?

[- Ram Raid -]

Castro banned professional sports in 1961 for what was seen as its corrupt and exploitative nature. Prior to the revolution class played a key part in sports participation with many having an air of exclusivity, such as tennis, fencing, golf, etc. For instance, one of Cuban sports governing bodies at the time, the Union Atletica Amateur de Cuba demanded that a photograph be submitted by prospective members so that skin colour could be verified.

Interest in sports such as boxing derived in good part from ******** and of course was inherently corrupt. As well as banning pro sports, in "61 the 'National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation' was set up with the task of diversifying sports and eliminating exclusivity. Legislation was passed in "66 that guaranteed workers paid leisure time for recreational activities and in "67 entrance charges to sports stadiums and arenas were abolished. It was all part of bringing sport to the people for health and national good and away from the hands of agents, managers, promoters etc. who profiteered off the back of athletes.

There has always been a number of defectors though (particularly in baseball), but the number of boxers defecting in recent times is in part due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Communist bloc is no longer there to subsidise Cuba and the American trade embargo keeps the country at a level of virtual economic crisis. The system of rewards that was once in place for amateur athletes has necessarily shrank so there's a bigger temptation to defect.

[MODAPHUKA]

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

Just conflicting people. The Government "labeling" people. Throwing dirt at their own people. I see that a lot here in Miami

Hard to say. Cuba would never have received subsidies from the Soviet Union. On the other hand, she would've enjoyed trade with the most powerful country on earth. I'm inclined to believe that Cuban people would've enjoyed a better life. Most wouldn't even have considered leaving. The very thing that was intended to undermine Castro made him stronger.

What do you think would've happened? And where are you from?

I think Cuba would be enjoying a much better quality of life. This was something an old guy told me a long time ago. He said that there's some hypocrisy because some Cubans love to just point the finger at Castro's regime ignoring the embargo thing. I neve looked st it that way before.

He told me this because we to work at a mechanic shop and there was this other Cuban guy who use to say that he will never send money to Cuba because Castro benefits from that. And use to say that he wished he was never born there and how U.S was his home and "el pais que lo recojio y le dio una Vida". And that he would never go back as long as Castro was in powe. And he use to get pissed and they use to go at it almost everyday over this ****. It was crazy.

I'm Puerto Rican.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Castro banned professional sports in 1961 for what was seen as its corrupt and exploitative nature. Prior to the revolution class played a key part in sports participation with many having an air of exclusivity, such as tennis, fencing, golf, etc. For instance, one of Cuban sports governing bodies at the time, the Union Atletica Amateur de Cuba demanded that a photograph be submitted by prospective members so that skin colour could be verified.

Interest in sports such as boxing derived in good part from ******** and of course was inherently corrupt. As well as banning pro sports, in "61 the 'National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation' was set up with the task of diversifying sports and eliminating exclusivity. Legislation was passed in "66 that guaranteed workers paid leisure time for recreational activities and in "67 entrance charges to sports stadiums and arenas were abolished. It was all part of bringing sport to the people for health and national good and away from the hands of agents, managers, promoters etc. who profiteered off the back of athletes.

There has always been a number of defectors though (particularly in baseball), but the number of boxers defecting in recent times is in part due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Communist bloc is no longer there to subsidise Cuba and the American trade embargo keeps the country at a level of virtual economic crisis. The system of rewards that was once in place for amateur athletes has necessarily shrank so there's a bigger temptation to defect.

The increase in defections has a lot to do with Castro's decline in health. He's the reason for the Cuban system. He ran the show. Anyone that comes after him, like his brother, is a pale imitation. It's become easier to leave the island. Governmental control is eroding. Additionally, as with anything else, people respond highly to inspiration. The more defectors there are, the more there will be. There has never been such a surge of Cuban athletes leaving the island. Hopefully it's a sign of broader changes to come.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Just conflicting people. The Government "labeling" people. Throwing dirt at their own people. I see that a lot here in Miami

The Castro era has been traumatic for the Cuban people. He brought a lot of major change -- some good, some terrible. It's caused a lot of conflicting views, lots of finger pointing. Look at what happens here in the US, with our recent presidents: Bush and *****. The politics have been intense. Just try to imagine what it would've been like with a figure like Castro.

I think Cuba would be enjoying a much better quality of life. This was something an old guy told me a long time ago. He said that there's some hypocrisy because some Cubans love to just point the finger at Castro's regime ignoring the embargo thing. I neve looked st it that way before.

I can agree with that. But there's usually more than one way to look at things. In my opinion, the embargo was a mistake that didn't hurt Castro one bit. It hurt the common people and strengthened his regime. But one should not overlook what a son of a bitch he's been.

He told me this because we to work at a mechanic shop and there was this other Cuban guy who use to say that he will never send money to Cuba because Castro benefits from that. And use to say that he wished he was never born there and how U.S was his home and "el pais que lo recojio y le dio una Vida". And that he would never go back as long as Castro was in powe. And he use to get pissed and they use to go at it almost everyday over this ****. It was crazy.

I'm Puerto Rican.

Sadly, it's true that Castro and his government benefit from every dollar that goes into the country. Did you know that the Cuban government keeps 20% of every dollar sent from Cubans living in the US to their relatives on the island? On the other hand, what is one to do? Let your loved ones suffer without offering a helping hand?

Again, Castro has been a source of trauma. Trauma drives a wedge between people. Cubans are passionate to begin with. Talking about Castro and the Cuban experience is like throwing gasoline on a raging fire. I love the US and I'm grateful for the opportunities she's given me. She's like an adoptive mother. Many people that are given up for adoption don't hate their biological mother, but some do. Regardless, your true mother is the one who loves and nurtures you. I may not necessarily agree with what your co-worker said, but I understand.

[- Ram Raid -]

The increase in defections has a lot to do with Castro's decline in health. He's the reason for the Cuban system. He ran the show. Anyone that comes after him, like his brother, is a pale imitation. It's become easier to leave the island. Governmental control is eroding. Additionally, as with anything else, people respond highly to inspiration. The more defectors there are, the more there will be. There has never been such a surge of Cuban athletes leaving the island. Hopefully it's a sign of broader changes to come.

It would be a shame if the now rampant-capitalism-at-all-costs that has become the global norm infected Cuba in future generations the way it has other countries. Sadly it's become difficult to imagine any other alternatives, even a capitalism kept-in-check that serves the needs of people rather than people serving the needs of capital.

Hopefully the country can move onwards and keep some of its ideals in tact, rather than selling them for trinkets like the rest of us. Unfortunately though Harry Truman's quip was more insightful than we'd like to acknowledge: "if we could put a Sears catalogue in every Russian's mailbox on Friday, communism would be dead by Monday morning".

[CubanGuyNYC]

It would be a shame if the now rampant-capitalism-at-all-costs that has become the global norm infected Cuba in future generations the way it has other countries. Sadly it's become difficult to imagine any other alternatives, even a capitalism kept-in-check that serves the needs of people rather than people serving the needs of capital.

Hopefully the country can move onwards and keep some of its ideals in tact, rather than selling them for trinkets like the rest of us. Unfortunately though Harry Truman's quip was more insightful than we'd like to acknowledge: "if we could put a Sears catalogue in every Russian's mailbox on Friday, communism would be dead by Monday morning".

I don't know. Call it the lesser of two evils, if you will. Nothing is ever perfect. Better to take the less damaging option. Things were bad in Cuba for the less privileged before Castro. It allowed him to succeed with his promises of change. (Sound familiar?) Trouble is, the cure was worse than the disease...if you ask me, anyway.

By the way, great Truman quote. It's an insight into the inherent materialism of human nature.

[DannYankee]

Ustedes los Cubanos no son faciles. And it starts right at the top , goddamn. People have to be smarter than that , to go along with the government and call someone a traitor. Right?

Let me ask you something. If United States had never put the embargo on Cuba , how do you think your country will be doing today?

Well Castro is a hero and always will be to Cubans especially older generation and they teach that to their kids, he liberated the island from a ******* government sure we ended with a different type of dictator traded one evil for a lesser one. Without the embargo Cuba would be better economically but politically Castro and the people on top have had to be the smartest most cunning people to have that system survive in a chokehold from the United States like it has.

And like I said not everybody falls into the propaganda trap and stigmatizes the athletes but in any country a big chunk of the population are azzholes. In Cuba you have indoctrination from birth so you end up with a chunk of the population staying indoctrinated azzholes so there you go. Trust me that **** is not simple.

[MODAPHUKA]

I don't know. Call it the lesser of two evils, if you will. Nothing is ever perfect. Better to take the less damaging option. Things were bad in Cuba for the less privileged before Castro. It allowed him to succeed with his promises of change. (Sound familiar?) Trouble is, the cure was worse than the disease...if you ask me, anyway.

By the way, great Truman quote. It's an insight into the inherent materialism of human nature.

I was told that before the revolution Castro was apprehended with a small group or rebels and almost everyone was shot except for him. And that he told an officer to kill him or he will regret it. And the officer didn't kill him , instead sent him off in a small boat which reached Mexico. There he regrouped and gathered another group of rebels and went back to Cuba and that's when he took over.

Is that true? Because if it is , that officer really ****ed up...

[DannYankee]

I was told that before the revolution Castro was apprehended with a small group or rebels and almost everyone was shot except for him. And that he told an officer to kill him or he will regret it. And the officer didn't kill him out , instead sent him off in a small boat which reached Mexico. There he regrouped and gathered another group of rebels and went back to Cuba and that's when he took over.

Is that true? Because if it is , that officer really ****ed up...

Actually if Castro wouldn't have toppled the Government someone else would have. Furgensio Batista was a ruthless dictator he was whoring the Island and killing anybody who opposed him. Cubans where illiterate and living in extreme poverty, mostly back then the sole interest of that government was to whore out the Island make it into the Vegas of the Caribbean. That didn't sit well with Cubans and since he was US backed that's where the hate comes from.

The U.S has had this ****** bad policy of having stong men and keep them in power as long as its their strong men that they can control which has backfired all over the world just creates hate. So Castro has always had the US to use as scapegoat and blame and he plays on the sense of nationalism and independence Cubans have a lot over the years. Cubans would rather die than become a common-wealth of the US so he plays into that fear with b/s propaganda all that combined to being seen as a hero and liberator to the Cuban people is the reason while he stayed in power so long, and why the majority of people who grew up in Cuba the past 50 years cant really hate the guy everyone is taught about what he did from childhood.

[Kris Silver]

Cuba belongs to the tourists and ignorance is bliss always has you obviously dont know what you're talking about I lived there. Is not as bad as people in miami make it out to be but is no rose petals like people who go visit think it is. In every block there is a C.D.R leader which is pretty much a guy who snitches on everybody on the block a defectors family wont be flogged but the government will label the defectors traitors to the country on national news. Now you tell me if your dad would have been called a traitor in your country it wouldn't impact your life? Do you really think so?

Where did I say it's rose petals or deny some of those things? I take your point about it appearing better to tourists,but visiting a few spots and seeing it at least enables a view point having seen both sides. It has moved on and broadly saying defectors and families are ****** and stuff is just over the top and better suited for north Korea.

That's all dude. It's no theme park but no entire slave ground either. Every country has its wrong doings.