Oaxaca, Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Friends,

      Mark Brand's posting of an item forwarded to him (with, as usual, no
comment), led me to discover that the Chicago White Sox won the so-called
World Series in baseball last Wednesday.

      The "guilty" article that led me astray was in an excellent Venezuelan
website called Venezuela Analysis, at http://venezuelanalysis.com/ (which
reprinted the item from the New York Times). Despite that small lapse, I
still recommend this website for those who want to get away from relying on
the corporate media as much as possible. Of course it's solidly pro-Chavez,
which might disturb some of those seeking more "intellectual diversity", but
it's "my (English language) cup of tea" for Venezuela. Actually one of my
preferred cups.

      A few bits of the article (which is at
http://venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1588) follow:

"The best baseball player in the world is from Venezuela, our Oswaldo
Guillen," said Luis Alberto Martínez, 38, who sells clothing on the street.
"He's the best of the best."

Those who know Guillen - and many who do not - say his down-to-earth style
is reflected both on and off the baseball field.

"Ozzie's managing style is not to build a team of all-stars looking to hit
home runs," said Angel Vargas, president of the Venezuelan Professional
Baseball Players Association. "His philosophy is one of teamwork and making
sure everyone does their part."

Jacobo Villa, 39, an accountant who was having lunch in a Caracas shopping
mall, said he met Guillen 10 years ago in a bank.

"He was humble and personable even though he was already a famous major
league player," Villa said. "He's the greatest man in Venezuela."

But Guillen's comments on television after Game 4 served as the best
reminder that his homeland was an inescapable part of the 2005 World Series.

"I feel very happy," he said in Spanish, his voice cracking as he held back
tears. "Viva Venezuela."

      OK, that's it for the moment. --George