Cuba, US improve relations, but sports defections continue

Cuba, US improve relations, but sports defections continue
By STEPHEN WADE (AP Sports Writer)
AP - Sports

TORONTO (AP) -- The manager of Cuba's baseball team at the Pan Am Games
wanted nothing to do with questions about defections to the United States.

Cuba has acknowledged that two players defected during warm-up games two
weeks ago in the United States, and last week four rowers at the Pan Am
Games in Canada left the team and crossed the American border.

Cuban athletes have a history of defecting, and that hasn't changed even
as the United States and Cuba open embassies on Monday in the other's
country, ending more than 50 years of separation.

''I'm not interested in talking about this,'' said Roger Machado,
manager of Cuba's baseball team. ''Talk to me about baseball.''

Roberto Ramirez, Cuba's media representative at the games, declined
comment about the rowers.

''We're not speaking in regard to this,'' he told The Associated Press
on Sunday. ''This is a right that we have.''

Many Cuban athletes at the games declined to talk on the record, and
those who did defended the government and criticized those leaving.

Cubans living in Canada and attending Pan Am events spoke more openly,
acknowledging the pull of big money. But some declined to speak, showing
hostility at being asked about an act that some regard as treason.

At a Gold Cup soccer game on Saturday against the United States in
Baltimore, Cuba listed five players as absent and gave no reason.

''They've chosen their path,'' Cuba coach Raul Gonzalez said, without
giving details.

Mijain Lopez, the two-time defending Olympic gold medalist in
greco-roman wrestling, was reported almost five years ago to have
defected to the United States. It's a rumor he denied at the time, and
again this week.

''I never thought of leaving Cuba,'' he told The Associated Press at the
Pan Am Games. ''I love my people, my country. Those guys (that defected)
have betrayed our revolution. I hope they're happy. They have left
something beautiful behind, which is socialism and our country's
dignity. Let them do what they can in other countries. We will continue
doing what we can for the revolution.''

A fellow Cuban gold-medal wrestler at the Pan Am Games used a similar tone.

''I don't stick my nose in politics,'' said Reineris Salas, after
defeating American Jake Herbert for gold in freesytle in the 86-kilogram
class. ''All I know is I won gold and dedicate it to my family, to Fidel
Castro and all of Cuba.''

Cuba-born Rafael Borrell attended a Cuba vs. United States baseball game
at the games. He wore a white Cuba baseball jersey with No. 10 on the
back, and a red cap with ''Cuba'' written in script above the bill.

Borrell immigrated to Canada 20 years ago and works as a carpenter.

''Maybe in two or three years it won't matter,'' he said. ''People can
go back and forth like in any other place so then they won't have to be
killed by sharks going to Florida.''

Borrell said many Cubans were unaware of defections, since the
government doesn't publicize them, and some people are too busy to care.

''In a couple of years, maybe these baseball players can sign a contract
to play with the Yankees and come back (to Cuba) and just be normal -
like in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. They can go back and forth
like human beings.''

Cuba-born Enrique Montana showed off a foul ball he caught at the
Cuba-U.S. game. He immigrated to Canada five years ago and now has a
Canadian passport.

''I think people should be able to choose the path they want,'' Montana
said, drowned out by chants of ''CU-ba, CU-ba.''

''If people want to stay, they stay. If they want to leave, they leave.''

It's not that simple. Dozens of baseball players have defected,
including stars like Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox, Yasiel Puig of
the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds.
They leave family behind, and reunification is never easy. The Cuban
government also loses millions in training athletes who eventually flee.

''It doesn't upset me,'' said Montana, who works in construction in
Canada. ''Maybe it upsets somebody else. It's not my problem. Everybody
has a right to choose whatever they want. If I had a chance to play on
the grass in the United States and make those millions, I'd go.''

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AP reporter Luis Ruiz contributed to this report.

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Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP

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