Or just acknowledge the boneheadedness of the US stance and allow Cuba to play.

i second that motion

cuba si ~ bloqeo no!

I'm missing the problem. Who cares if Cuba can't play?

The last time I checked, Puerto Rico was an independent sovereignty of the United States. Why does Puerto Rico even have a team themselves? Likewise, I do care if Cuba participates. For many people, it is the only chance for Cuban ballplayers to shine on the World stage. Contrary to much popular belief, though some have defected from the team, how many have shined? El Duque, Livan Hernandez, Jose Canseco, Rafael Palmero, Jose Contreras? For every one of those types of players, you have players like Ariel Pietro and the likes who look good on paper and do not shine on the world stage. Likewise, it isn't like the Cold War is still existent anymore. Cuba isn't trading for nuclear arms from any country I know. (Likewise, if America wasn't so ignorant to the ways of the world, some countries with Socialism could work - not saying it works in Cuba). Let them come and play.

I'm missing the problem. Who cares if Cuba can't play?

Because it makes us in the US look like a bunch of vindicitive jerks.

"I'm missing the problem. Who cares if Cuba can't play?"

Lets put it this way: Having a WBC without Cuba is like having a World Cup without Brasil. Cuba has one of the richest baseball heritages in the world and has produced many quality MLB players.

I want to see how the cuban players stack up against the rest of the world, and I wish they would be able to play. But remember who the real bad guy in all this is, it's that viscious assasin Castro not the U.S. or the embargo.

funny you call castro an assassin...im not sticking up for the guy or anything but for as long as he has been in power every one of OUR presidents except carter has tried in some way to assassinate him. Our immoral blockade against Cuba hurts ordinary Cubans not Castro.

cuba did offer to give there money shares in the baseball classic to the hurrican katrina victums. nice start. i would let him in. can't hurt.

Is like a game without players. Viva Cuba

very well said hernan. Cuba Si ~ Bloqeo No

When the embargo was first established, it was the right thing to do. But now after 40+ years it hasn't worked and it's time that the embargo is lifted. I don't agree with it, but I also don't think it should be considered immoral. And if you think the embargo has done alot of damage you should see how much damage Castro and his government has done.

The unelected Mr Castro started the politicization of the thing by announcing that the Cuban major leaguers (some of whom left his little tropical prison state at great personal peril and continued peril to their family members and friends) would not be playing on his team and that they were dead to him. I'd like to Google to look up some of these "let 'em play" journos' positions on the (justified) boycott of South Africa in the days of apartheid. I may or may not bother, as I think I already know the answer.

If this is not about politics, then Cuba should allow the participation of their best Cuban major leaguers along with their best Cuban players. That is what other countries such as Japan and Canada are doing. That will be the only true showcase of the best talent available from Cuba.