04/25/24
August 31, 2009
Is Tejada tipping the scales in favor of his friends?: The Oakland A's held a closed-door meeting in 2001 to discuss the possibility shortstop Miguel Tejada was tipping pitches to and letting up on grounders by his friends on opposing teams. Tejada denied (and denies) it, but several major leaguers insist it happens -- and is happening.
For once, I'm with Deadspin:
"There's a persistent and especially odious stereotype in baseball that suggests Latino players lack a certain loyalty to their teams, that they act as a sort of free-floating junta within the game . . . Nearly a half-century later, you find no less than Keith Hernandez accusing the Mets' Latino faction of conspiring to get Willie Randolph canned. There's a vast and fetid history of this, and it has never been more than a lot of racist hooey, and so forgive me if I'm a little skeptical of a Times story whose every paragraph rings with echoes of Alvin Dark."
Gammons said much the same last night on Baseball Tonight, something along the lines of, "Why is it only Latin players that get accused of this?"
posted by yerfatma at 02:30 PM on August 31, 2009
I would not be surprised to hear that there is an element of truth in the story. Much the same way I would not be surprised to hear that there was an element of truth in it when A-Rod was accused.
The idea that the Latin players are sticking together does not come as a shock, as the idea that they have more of a pride in their individual identity in our melting pot society has been well documented and it is not limited to just the Latinos. I live next to a city that has a nearly 41% Latino population, compared to the national average of 12.5%, so you see a large number of cars with mini Puerto Rican flags hanging from their rearview mirrors. If they are living hear and most have never even been to Puerto Rico, why are they flying that flag when they could be flying an American flag, or a mini Massachusetts flag. That is where they live, why do they not identify by that? I can see where the misconception comes from, particularly with the number of Latino players playing shortstop and second base, the positions that could most likely tip the hitter off.
However, the idea that this is limited to just Latinos is ludicrous. For years we have heard such accusations about other groups of people. In the case of the OJ Simpson trial, the lines were divided by race with many people believing that many African Americans stood behind OJ only because he was black. There have been accusations that there are Jewish US citizens who have a higher concern for the state of Israel than the state of the US.
posted by Demophon at 07:54 AM on September 01, 2009
No one out in Western Mass flying an Irish flag in front of their house anymore?
posted by yerfatma at 10:21 AM on September 01, 2009
The Irish flags would be another perfect example. People seem to be more concerned with where they came from than they are with they are now.
I have Irish heritage, but I do not identify myself as being Irish. Do not get me wrong, I do not have a problem with the Puerto Ricans having a Puerto Rican flag flying from their front porch or the mirror of their car, but when they recognize it as the only item that defines them, then I have a problem with it.
posted by Demophon at 12:21 PM on September 01, 2009
I do not have a problem with the Puerto Ricans having a Puerto Rican flag flying from their front porch or the mirror of their car, but when they recognize it as the only item that defines them, then I have a problem with it.
Do you really think it matters what anyone thinks if I decide to hang a PR flag from the rear view of my car or my front porch? I was born in the states but I am Puerto Rican and proud of it. If I was Jamaican, African, Dominican, Irish or any other nationality, I would be proud of that too just as much as I'm proud to be an American as well.
The point of this post is that Tejada may or may not have let a few balls get by him in order for his friend that's on the other team get on base. Is it fair to say that their friends because of their nationality? Sure. Is that the only reason that they're friends? I wouldn't bet on it.
I played baseball all of my life and was on my way to college ball in Florida I tore my knee sliding into 3rd. I can't speak for Tejada but never in my life while playing ball did I ever try to assist a player on the other team just because of his heritage. It could've been Roberto Clemente up at bat and the only thing on my mind was getting the out.
This has nothing to do with ones heritage, ignorance is ignorance in any race.
posted by BornIcon at 01:27 PM on September 01, 2009
I hate to be the one that breaks this to you, but tribalism is an innate part of human life. We all define ourselves by groups we belong to, whether it's ethnic, religious or something more mundane like being a Ford driver. Go tell the next guy you see with a big Ford sticker that you think he's un-American.
posted by yerfatma at 01:28 PM on September 01, 2009
I also hate to break it to you, Demophon, but Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Flying the flag is surely no different from putting a state flag on your vehicle.
posted by owlhouse at 04:06 PM on September 01, 2009
I happen to be well aware of the status of Puerto Rico and have no issue with anyone having pride in their heritage. As I stated I am Irish and very proud of that, my wife is Puerto Rican and she is very proud of that. My issue is when people put the concerns of their heritage ahead of the common good of the community they are now a part of or individuals in their current community.
In this particular case it would seem that the accusation is that Tejada put the interests of helping a fellow Domincan ahead of the interest of his own teammate. While he may not be costing the team a win, he was not helping Mark Guthrie when a 1-2-3 inning may have been helpful to his statistics and could have improved his chances in arbitration or free agency.
Yerfatma is right that tribalism is an innate part of human life, however putting ones vehicle affiliation on par with their ethnic, religious or national affiliations is a stretch. A Ford sticker is no different than a baseball or football team bumpersticker, my issue is with the fact that people will associate themselves with the heritage before they do with their current community.
posted by Demophon at 09:19 AM on September 02, 2009
My issue is with people who assume the expression of pride in one's heritage is indicative of somehow putting their heritage ahead of their country. I'm proud to live in a country that doesn't (yet) require loyalty oaths. And I believe patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
posted by yerfatma at 09:39 AM on September 02, 2009
My issue is when people put the concerns of their heritage ahead of the common good of the community they are now a part of....
I don't understand your meaning. What does someone that has pride in their heritage has to do with the community they live in? I'm absolutely proud of being Puerto Rican as well as being American but that does not mean that I put my heritage in front of the community I reside in. I honestly don't know where you get your information from but regardless if someone is the same nationality as me and they're causing chaos in my community, the proper authorities will be called upon.
How did this post get sidetracked anyways?
posted by BornIcon at 11:11 AM on September 02, 2009
I apologize if this came off as a indictment to all, I was just using it as an example of situations where some people in some groups are more concerned with their heritage than their current community. In no way am I saying that his is limited to Puerto Ricans that was just the example that came to mind because there was a situation in a near by town a couple of years ago where people were concerned about not allowing something positive to happen in their town because it may have a negative effect on another industry back in Puerto Rico. In the end the people in the town here, (Puerto Ricans, Whites, & blacks included) were hurt because some people were more concerned with the interests of Puerto Rico than Holyoke. If I could have had another example come to the forefront of my mind, I would have used that instead.
posted by Demophon at 02:31 PM on September 02, 2009
It's impossible to use something that happened in your area as an example for a whole culture. I can only speak for myself but there's really no need to apologize as I was not offended. Like I said, I am Puerto Rican but my main concern is about my family, friends and my neighborhood. I cannot worry about Puerto Rico and what negative effect on an industry that's located there would have to do with me and my community when they're not worried about the community here.
posted by BornIcon at 03:51 PM on September 02, 2009
All the Dominican guys teaming up together? Seems more like xenophobia than cheating.