“…Una piedra del caminome / enseñó que mi destino / era rodar y rodar…” “…A stone in the journey / taught me that my destiny / was to roll and roll…” From the song “El Rey” by Jose Alfredo Jimenez Having received an assignment to cover the World Baseball Classic (WBC) first round series […]
Foot Note to 2016: In the Valley There’s A Rock
“He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.” – I Samuel 17:40 – New Living Translation After watching Chicago Cubs first baseman, Anthony Rizzo catch the final out to […]
The Dominican Republic… Big Baseball, Big Designs and Big Papi
Of the countries I most often visit, the Dominican Republic is a fascinating thermometer of the rising international temperature of baseball. Situated two and a half hours by flight from Miami in the Caribbean alley known as the Greater Antilles, the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with its western neighbor, Haiti. Its history […]
The Argentina Tango
In the latter part of the 19th century along the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay was born the most intimate of partner dances, the “Tango”. The organic growth of the tango from the lower districts of Buenos Aires to fashionable cities outside South America is testimony to the kinetic property of connecting people and […]
The ABC’s of Curacao Baseball
Just off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea lies the tropical island paradise of Curacao. Known as the C in the ABC islands that make up the Leeward Antilles, Curacao along with its sister islands Aruba and Bonaire capture the rich history of European colonial influence. But it’s the influence of North America […]
In Search of Andes Diamonds
I’m looking out my window upon the initial decent announcement from the captain as the feint outline of Santiago, Chile comes into view. I’m immediately struck by the amazing picture of the orange glow of a new day breaking over the majestic Andes Mountains. Yes, it’s a new day for Chile amidst the shining snowcapped […]