Escuela Cubana de Boxeo [Cuban Boxing School ]

[Underboss]

The Cuban Government bitches alot that their athletes defect to the US, but they fail to understand that when these athletes make it to the top they start sending their relatives money. The Government benefits from these so-called ''rats'' that defect. The same goes for the regular people.

They use their athletes for promotion and tourism for the country, when they win gold they (Government) gives them nothing but a small amount of money that with that money they can't even survive.

That's why many are leaving, they want to be treated as superstars when they ain't in their homeland.

[Sifo]

The Cuban Government bitches alot that their athletes defect to the US, but they fail to understand that when these athletes make it to the top they start sending their relatives money. The Government benefits from these so-called ''rats'' that defect. The same goes for the regular people.

They use their athletes for promotion and tourism for the country, when they win gold they (Government) gives them nothing but a small amount of money that with that money they can't even survive.

That's why many are leaving, they want to be treated as superstars when they ain't in their homeland.

you suck:3some:

[CubanGuyNYC]

If you want to know how the brainwashing works, we just need to tell the "cake and ice cream" story.

Please tell the story. I gotta hear this. lol

[CubanGuyNYC]

The Cuban Government bitches alot that their athletes defect to the US, but they fail to understand that when these athletes make it to the top they start sending their relatives money. The Government benefits from these so-called ''rats'' that defect. The same goes for the regular people.

They use their athletes for promotion and tourism for the country, when they win gold they (Government) gives them nothing but a small amount of money that with that money they can't even survive.

That's why many are leaving, they want to be treated as superstars when they ain't in their homeland.

It'll be interesting to see, amongst other things, how things will change when the current Cuban government drifts into oblivion. I don't think Cuba will produce as many great Olympic athletes, but that will be offset by the great professional athletes she produces. The same way that Mexico, for example, doesn't produce any champion Olympic boxers, but produces loads of professional champions.

Honestly, it feels like I've waited forever for the regime in Cuba to change/fall. I know there are many older Cubans that can say the same. The story of the athletes is just one sad element to the tale. I'm just glad that the dyke has burst. There have never been so many defections in the past. Pretty soon, there won't be many top-level athletes on the island. (I wonder how they'll do at this year's Olympics?) Common people are leaving in greater numbers, too.

[Bayamo]

Please tell the story. I gotta hear this. lol

OK my mother told me this story, but my father says it never happened to him. I have heard others who had similar experiences. Both my parents left in the early 60s (they did not know each other at the time) and I heard of people who came over in the 80s with a similar story. It is almost always the same. The teacher asks "Who likes cake and ice cream?". Of course kids raise their hands. "Well, do your parents give you cake and ice cream?" And no one gets that from their parents. "Well, let's pray to God, see if he gives us cake and ice cream..". And of course it doesn't turn up. Then the teacher says "Let's close our eyes and ask Papi Fidel and the revolution for cake and ice cream.." and soon enough a miliciano walks in with the goodies and everyone gets up like a good little pionero and starts chanting "Fidel, Fidel, Fidel.."

[Bayamo]

I tried to post a link to a post from a friend of mine who had a similar experience. I'm new though so I can't post links yet but if you google "babalu blog ice cream and cake" you should find it.

[Underboss]

It'll be interesting to see, amongst other things, how things will change when the current Cuban government drifts into oblivion. I don't think Cuba will produce as many great Olympic athletes, but that will be offset by the great professional athletes she produces. The same way that Mexico, for example, doesn't produce any champion Olympic boxers, but produces loads of professional champions.

Honestly, it feels like I've waited forever for the regime in Cuba to change/fall. I know there are many older Cubans that can say the same. The story of the athletes is just one sad element to the tale. I'm just glad that the dyke has burst. There have never been so many defections in the past. Pretty soon, there won't be many top-level athletes on the island. (I wonder how they'll do at this year's Olympics?) Common people are leaving in greater numbers, too.

The island is changing since Castro stepped down as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba last year. I see more and more tourism in the island, and now with all the political reforms being passed I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple of years it shifts towards a China type of Socialism.

Athletes in Cuba (especially in Boxing) won't be as dominating as they were in pre-Gamboa/Rigondeaux/Solis defection. In 08 Cuba didn't do so well in Boxing, so If many of their rising boxers defect they'll have nothing.

[CubanGuyNYC]

OK my mother told me this story, but my father says it never happened to him. I have heard others who had similar experiences. Both my parents left in the early 60s (they did not know each other at the time) and I heard of people who came over in the 80s with a similar story. It is almost always the same. The teacher asks "Who likes cake and ice cream?". Of course kids raise their hands. "Well, do your parents give you cake and ice cream?" And no one gets that from their parents. "Well, let's pray to God, see if he gives us cake and ice cream..". And of course it doesn't turn up. Then the teacher says "Let's close our eyes and ask Papi Fidel and the revolution for cake and ice cream.." and soon enough a miliciano walks in with the goodies and everyone gets up like a good little pionero and starts chanting "Fidel, Fidel, Fidel.."

Oh, no way! lmao! That's fucking amazing! It's genius, quite frankly (in an evil sort of way). lol I'm almost speechless. As I type this, I'm shaking my head over and over. lol

(Okay...it's taken me several moments to compose myself, but I'm back. lol) That story is just priceless. I knew, in a general sense, that the Cuban government (just like any tyranny) employed brainwashing techniques on the masses, but that little trick literally takes the cake! lol It's no surprise that they start in on the kids so early, but there's just no limit to how far they'll stoop.

You reminded me of something with that revelation. An uncle of mine used to tell a story about how poor and hungry he was growing up in pre-Castro Cuba. He would say, "It wasn't until I was already a grown man that I learned that a steak was something you ate...not something you drank." lol

[CubanGuyNYC]

The island is changing since Castro stepped down as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba last year. I see more and more tourism in the island, and now with all the political reforms being passed I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple of years it shifts towards a China type of Socialism.

Athletes in Cuba (especially in Boxing) won't be as dominating as they were in pre-Gamboa/Rigondeaux/Solis defection. In 08 Cuba didn't do so well in Boxing, so If many of their rising boxers defect they'll have nothing.

That's good to hear. Unfortunately, the damage has been done. Cuban society has been destroyed in many ways. In its place, another way of life has sprouted. But it was born of an unnatural necessity. Cubans have had to adapt to survive. They act different, they talk different. It's true that before Fidel the poor were truly poor and the rich had everything. However, Castro's "solution" essentially made everyone poor and a very few privileged. As in the United States, Cubans were in a position to rise up on their own merits. As painful as this process can be, it's the only way that people are motivated to excel. That has been lost on our people. Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong. The Russians seem to have adapted to change pretty well.

As for China, their circumstances are very different. They have a huge population, with great resources and a monster economy. Cuba doesn't have any of those things. Before Castro, the main economic recourse was sugar. How viable is sugar and tobacco production in today's increasingly health-conscious world? The Cubans are going to have to rely on tourism to an awful degree. (Watch the hated brothels of yesteryear make a comeback.) The biotech industry that Fidel tried to hang his hat on probably isn't gonna cut it.

The athletes will always be there, and they'll do well. I believe that there will be many more Cuban professional athletes than even before Castro. Before 1959, Major League Baseball's main source of Latin-American talent was Cuba. The teams turned to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela over the years. Once Cuba is again free, the MLB teams will return. Boxers will be more plentiful than ever before. Ironically, the system that spawned so many amateur fighters will have created many more professional possibilities than before communism.

[CubanGuyNYC]

(Just ran into this story.)

Teofilo Stevenson Out of Hospital
(Associated Press)


HAVANA -- Three-time Olympic heavyweight boxing champion Teofilo Stevenson says reports of his near-death in Cuba are exaggerated after spending two weeks in the hospital.

Stevenson says he was hospitalized Jan. 13 after doctors detected a clot in an artery near his heart. He spent 15 days in intensive care before being released last week.

Stevenson says Wednesday he is recovering well and plans to return soon to his position at the Cuban Boxing Federation.