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Chris Bosh says his ‘health is great,’ still ‘thinking about playing’
Despite his career being interrupted more than once by blood clots, Chris Bosh has never really given up on playing basketball.
It still appears he feels that way. Thursday, a TMZ camera man caught up with him and he made it sound like he still has plans to play.
When asked what he has been up to, he said “Basketball … and stuff.” When asked if he is thinking about playing again, he said “Always thinking about playing.”
Bosh’s 2014-15 season was shut down at the All-Star break by a blood clot, and then it happened a year later at the break. He then failed his preseason physical before last season began.
Bosh told TMZ that his “Health is great, feeling great.”
The Maimi Heat waived him earlier this month so it could get $25.3 million in salary-cap space this season. But, that doesn’t mean he still can’t play again, if another team was willing to take a chance on him.
“I do (miss playing). But a part of me doesn’t,” he told the Palm Beach Post in April. “I’ve come to enjoy different aspects of life. There’s a lot of life out there. I mean only because as basketball players – we do that – that’s really it. But I’ve enjoying spending time with my kids. I’ve enjoyed spending time with my wife and just kind of relaxing and working on my mind and my soul.”
When he wrote his open letter to the Heat after he was waived, he never mentioned what he was thinking about in the future.
Bosh was a big part of the Heat championship teams in 2012 and ’13, with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. In his last season, he was still playing well, averaging 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in 53 games.
The ACC is college football’s best conference, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher says Nicole Auerbach , USA TODAY Sports
CHARLOTTE — The Southeastern Conference’s football coaches usually are the ones tossing around phrases like this, bold statements boasting about their league’s place at the pinnacle of the sport.
But, Thursday at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher did the bragging on behalf of the ACC — and backed it up with a rather convincing argument.
“We’ve established ourselves as, I think, the premier conference in college football,” Fisher said, unprompted, in a news conference.
When asked to elaborate, he pointed to the ACC’s two national championships in the past four years (Clemson in 2016 and Florida State in 2013) and two Heisman Trophy winners (Louisville’s Lamar Jackson and the Seminoles’ Jameis Winston) in the past three years.
“Two of the last four national championships have come from here; we`ve played for three of them,” Fisher said. “We’re 8-3 in (College Football) Playoff games … Our non-conference records against the SEC, the Big Ten and everybody else, we have the winning-record Power Five wins. You have two Heisman Trophy winners and also the runner up last year. You have six coaches in the top 20 all-time winning percentage in college football. You go down the list of everything, and I think the importance of it.
“I coached in the SEC for 13 (years) — I think it’s a tremendous conference. I think the Big Ten is a tremendous conference. I think they all are. But I think right now what we`ve accomplished in the last five years and you’re talking about major wins, big wins, national championships, Heisman Trophy winners, coaches, everything that goes involved, I think the ACC is as good a league as there is in football, I really do.”
Fisher’s division — the ACC’s Atlantic — could even lay claim to be the toughest division in the sport, at least at the top, considering how strong Florida State and Clemson have been over the past five years, along with Louisville’s recent surge. While there are valid points to be made, the Big Ten East may quibble with that distinction, and the SEC West would never give up that claim without a fight, either.
Earlier on Thursday at SEC media days, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn even went so far as to say “The West right now is the best league in college football; it’s a man’s league.”
Alabama certainly is, and remains, among the best individual programs in the country. But no other SEC team (West or East) finished last season with fewer than four losses.
Conor McGregor faces financial penalties if he uses MMA tactics vs. Floyd Mayweather
NEW YORK — If Conor McGregor gets the urge to do anything but box when he faces Floyd Mayweather, he’ll have a lot of reasons to think twice.
An agreement has been put in place that would cost McGregor significant financial damages if he reverts to mixed martial arts tactics when the two face off Aug. 26 in a pay-per-view boxing match in Las Vegas.
“He would get sued beyond belief if he does anything but hit Floyd Mayweather with his hands to the head and body,” UFC president Dana White told reporters Thursday in a press conference. “It would be very bad. That can’t happen. That can’t happen. There’s actually language in the contract that that can’t happen.”
Mayweather is an undefeated 49-0 in his professional boxing career. McGregor is a UFC fighter, where hand-to-hand grappling, choke holds and kicking are customary.
White said that if McGregor does anything aside from legal boxing attacks, it would “100%” affect McGregor’s portion of the purse he would receive from the fight.
“When you go to court, any lawsuit is about damages,” White said. “And the damages on Mayweather if something like that happened — that can’t happen.
“Forget about the contract, (Mayweather) would just sue (McGregor). And it would destroy Conor’s life because Mayweather would win.”
White spoke at the Barclays Center, which was the third stop of the so-called “Money Tour” that is drumming up interest in the fight. The first two events took place in Los Angeles on Tuesday and in Toronto on Wednesday. The tour concludes Friday in London.
“Conor is a bit of a wild man,” White said. “But he likes money as much as Floyd does. If he wants Floyd to have all his money, that’s the way to do it.”
All-Stars back countryman Miguel Cabrera on Venezuela crisis
MIAMI – Miguel Cabrera is missing from the All-Star Game for the first time in eight years. However, his presence looms large among his Venezuelan colleagues at the midseason showcase and among his aggrieved countrymen.
The two-time AL MVP, who has shied away from political statements throughout his Hall of Fame-worthy career, has joined the ranks of Venezuelan players speaking out against the rule of President Nicolas Maduro.
In a series of videos posted on his Instagram account, Cabrera denounced government corruption in Venezuela and the death threats on his family that prompted him to pay bribes, and he expressed support for the protesters who have taken to the streets in his native land.
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“The first advice I was given was not to get involved in politics and I never have,’’ Cabrera said in Spanish. “But right now we have to get involved, because they have kidnapped our country.
“I am tired of having to pay bribes. I am tired of hearing that they are going to kidnap my mother, and I don’t know whether it is a policeman or a bad guy, I don’t know who they are. All I know is if I don’t pay, those people disappear.’’
Cabrera, a four-time batting champion who’s immensely popular back home, is regarded with near-reverence by his Venezuelan peers. He’s the most prominent player to publicly express his disapproval of Maduro’s government amid the nation’s economic and political turmoil.
And he did it less than a week before Sunday’s unofficial referendum, organized by the opposition, in which Venezuelans will vote on Maduro’s plans to rewrite the constitution to expand his powers.
Cabrera decried a political system he says has turned into Communism, and publicly lent his support to the opposition.
“This is a greeting to the people of the resistance,’’ he said. “You are not alone. We will continue to support you.’’
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte, a first-time All-Star, and Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli have been among the Venezuelan major leaguers who have publicly voiced their dismay over the unrest and deteriorating conditions back home.
Luis Aparicio, Venezuela’s only Hall of Famer, publicly sided with the opposition as well. Aparicio skipped Tuesday’s pregame ceremony honoring Latin-born Hall of Famers, and in a Spanish-language tweet he said:
“Thanks @MLB for the tribute at the #ASG2017 but I can’t celebrate when young people in my country are dying fighting for freedom ideals.’’
Once one of South America’s most prosperous nations thanks to its ample supply of oil, Venezuela has been ravaged by shortages of basic necessities under Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chavez when the socialist president died in 2013.
In a June 29 Twitter post, Inciarte wondered why police and the military were not enforcing the constitution “instead of torturing Venezuelans.’’
“We don’t want to see people continue to lose their lives because of people who think differently than the rest of the country does,’’ Inciarte told USA TODAY Sports in Spanish. “I pray to God that the situation changes. This is going to be a crucial week to define the country’s future, and we hope things go well.’’
On Saturday, Maduro released opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez after a three-year incarceration as a political prisoner in what was regarded as a goodwill gesture toward his critics.
It’s unclear what impact that will have, but it’s unlikely to reduce the rampant crime and kidnappings that have become part of daily life in Venezuela. Last year, shortly before signing a $52.5 million contract extension, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez endured the anguish of having his mother carjacked. She was eventually released unharmed.
Inciarte said he hasn’t dealt with such an ordeal or with bribes, but pointed out kidnappings are common in his native Maracaibo.
“I try to keep my family here (in the U.S.) as much as possible, but it’s tough to see what’s happening,’’ he said. “That’s all part of the corruption that prevails. When you see people calling to demand money under the threat of killing members of your family, that’s something no Venezuelan should have to experience.’’
An estimated 2 million Venezuelans have fled the country in the last 18 years, and census data show 40% of who moved to the U.S. settled in Florida, with a large number choosing the Miami area.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia, another first-time All-Star, is planning to follow suit and move his growing family to Miami. He said the decision wasn’t all that difficult because conditions back home are so dire.
“We have nothing in Venezuela now. It’s contradictory because it’s such a wealthy country, but there’s nothing available,’’ Garcia said, going on to list what he loves about his country. “The weather, the beaches, the food, the people. It’s perfect, except for the government.’’
Luis Aparicio, Venezuela’s only Hall of Famer, publicly sided with the opposition as well. Aparicio skipped Tuesday’s pregame ceremony honoring Latin-born Hall of Famers, and in a Spanish-language tweet he said:
“Thanks @MLB for the tribute at the #ASG2017 but I can’t celebrate when young people in my country are dying fighting for freedom ideals.’’
Beam me up? Scientists teleport first object ever from Earth into space
Chinese scientists successfully teleported an object from the Earth’s surface to an orbiting satellite for the first time ever.
A photon — a tiny sub-atomic particle — was “transported” from the Gobi Desert to China’s Micius satellite some 310 miles above the surface.
The Guardian reported it’s a new record distance for quantum teleportation, which occurs when the complete properties of one particle are instantaneously transferred to another — in effect teleporting it to a distant location.
The technique has been in use since the 1990s, but it’s the first time this has been done from Earth to space over such a long distance.
It’s hard to fully comprehend, but the photon wasn’t physically transported, Oxford University physicist Ian Walmsley explained to the BBC. Instead, he said the information from one photon on Earth was transferred to a second photon up in the satellite.
“It’s certainly a scientific breakthrough,” Walmsley said.
Teleportation like this is a building block for a wide range of technologies, the study said.
There are a number of applications for this procedure, according to Walmsley: “Everything from secure long-distance communications through perhaps eventually using it as part of a cloud-based computing network, that allows you to send the information from one party to another in a way that’s secure and can’t be tapped into.”
Teleportation has become a standard operation in quantum optics labs around the world, according to the Massachusetts of Technology.
The technique relies on the strange phenomenon of entanglement, MIT said. This occurs when two quantum objects, such as photons, form at the same instant and point in space and so share the same existence.
Physically transporting anything large, like a human, however, is still a long ways off.
“To construct an entire human being from scratch — to say nothing about whether that human being at the destination is even the same person as the one you began with at the source — is a different problem entirely,” astrophysicist Ethan Siegel said in Forbes magazine.
The electric car maker that would rival Tesla is running out of time
GARDENA, Calif. — The headquarters of Faraday Future is a hive of activity, 1,000 workers buzzing away on a powerful electric car that seems to have more in common with a private jet than anything on the road.
But the coming months will show whether this company has produced the next automotive milestone or if it stands as an example of yet another tech startup that promised more than it could deliver.
Between plans to cancel a billion-dollar Nevada factory build-out and increasing competition in the electric vehicle space from start-ups and auto manufacturers alike, the signs are ominous.
Three years ago. Faraday Future launched with a vow to pick up where Tesla left off, offering a 1,000-horsepower beast that could cruise up to 400s between recharges, at an undisclosed price.
Backed by Chinese tech billionaire Jia Yueting, FF started hiring engineers from BMW, Tesla and other rivals, rolled out a sleek if puzzling race car prototype at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, and announced it would spend a billion to build a sprawling factory in Las Vegas.
On Monday, the company announced it would scuttle that factory build and instead was on the hunt for warehouse space in California or Nevada where it could begin manufacturing its first car, the FF 91, in time for a 2018 rollout.
“Our focus now is on one single car and its success,” Peter Savagian, FF’s vice president of propulsion, told USA TODAY during a headquarters tour earlier this week.
Savagian, an 18-year veteran of General Motors, admitted that recent times have been tough, largely the byproduct of the faltering financial foundation of Yueting’s LeEco tech empire.
More: Faraday Future to unveil production car at CES 2017
Last week, Chinese authorities froze nearly $200 million in assets belonging to Yueting and his wife due to unpaid loans. There have also been reports that FF has been missing vendor payments. And some high-profile hires have not stuck around, including former Ferrari North America CEO Marco Mattiacci, who left his chief branding officer post at FF after just seven months on the job.
For Savagian, FF represented a place to lead a bold experiment without endless bureaucracy. On the flip side, where a GM venture would be met with cash and staff, Savagian has had to rely on the enthusiasm, goodwill and creativity of its employees to make a technological breakthrough.
“Scarcity brings a focus,” said Savagian, explaining how a small FF team worked nights and weekends to prepare a FF 91 prototype for the grueling race up 14,000-foot Pikes Peak in Colorado. “That taught us that we could push our batteries to the limit and not have them overheat. It was invaluable, and we’re grateful people gave up their free time for it.”
On the hunt for $1 billion
But free time and youthful enthusiasm do not a global automotive powerhouse make. And the clock is ticking.
Global CFO Stefan Krause, formerly of BMW and Deutsche Bank who was hired in March, is currently on a world tour to try and secure $1 billion in Series A funding from wealthy individuals willing to roll the dice on FF’s mobility vision.
“How do we get FF 91 to market by 2018 – that is the lens through which we have to view all of our management decisions,” Krause told USA TODAY in a statement. “Using that approach, identifying an alternative that provides us with the ability to be up-and-running, fast, was the right decision to make.”
Krause has pit-stops planned for China, the Middle East and Europe, and the goal is to raise $500 million by the end of September and the other half by early 2018.
The money would go toward moving manufacturing equipment into whatever building it finds in the U.S., continuing research and develop on the FF 91 and, ideally, building a factory in China, according to FF officials.
But while an FF 91 would be a bit of a rival to Tesla’s Model X SUV, the company may not actually be focusing on producing cars for individual ownership. Instead, officials say they’re intrigued by a subscription model that would find consumers renting time with an FF 91.
That mobility reality, however, is a long ways off, says Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Cox Automotive.
“In many ways, being too far ahead is far worse than being behind, and I don’t see any situation where car ownership goes away anytime soon,” he says.
For Brauer, FF’s story has echoes in other Chinese-backed auto ventures that often are big on hype and short on execution.
Currently, that list would also include NIO, formerly NextEV and helmed by former Cisco CTO Padmasree Warrior and Lucid Motors, whose Air sedan aims for the same luxurious footprint and wicked speed as FF 91. (FF has not said what a top-end FF 91 would cost, but the Lucid Air is slated to cost around $160,000.)
“Chinese companies who set up here just tend to overpromise and underdeliver,” says Brauer. “Add to that the fact that ultimately it’s far easier for an existing car company with a vast dealer network to go with an electric model than it is for a new company to come in a get market share.”
Brauer notes that countless automakers are on the EV hunt, even though at present those vehicles represent just 1% of U.S. sales. They include Volkswagen with an EV Golf, a revamped Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet’s Bolt, BMW’s i3 and Porsche’s coming Mission E sedan.
And, of course, there’s Tesla, which later this month begins rolling out its first mass-market sedan, the Model 3. The company is pinning great hopes on the model and aims to roughly quintuple production to 500,000 units a year. Tesla’s ultimate success could also undermine FF even if it managed to get a car into the market.
“We may see great things from Faraday in the next months, or this all could be a sign of an unraveling,” Brauer says.
A real company, hoping for a future
Inside FF’s cavernous headquarters, formerly Nissan’s U.S. HQ in an industrial district south of Los Angeles, workers man computer monitors as they design virtual parts and systems. In that sense, it resembles just about any other tech start-up, from Google to Facebook.
But two particular areas — a 3D and virtual-reality equipped design studio and a sprawling prototype-filled garage — make it clear that those computer-based designs are in fact being turned into a real product, notable given that FF’s longtime corporate stealth mode gave rise to questions about whether its cars were in fact vaporware.
The design studio features a 20-foot-wide glass screen that allows engineers to not only see their computer-generated designs at full scale and at high resolution, but also to interact with them via virtual-reality goggles.
Such innovation drastically cuts down on the time it takes for a design concept to become a physical reality, said Steve Oates, FF’s virtual reality specialist.
“This tech allowed us not only to do dozens of design iterations quickly, but it also helped us create a new car in 18 months where traditional methods might have taken three years,” he said.
Not far away, a dozen or so builders and fabricators are busy tweaking a half-dozen test cars, one of which was used for that Pikes Peak assault. Sub-assembly lines are packed with batteries, power inverters, motors and gearing, some of them vendor-sourced and other parts designed and built in-house.
If CFO Krause manages to round up some funding, the resulting car seems like a curious fit for the U.S. market.
As it turns out, the FF91 is more of a fast, large limousine rather than a than a nimble commuter EV, as revealed by inspection of the show car’s interior as well as a short, low-speed ride around FF’s HQ in a test car. With its massaging rear seats, individual sound zones and mood lighting, the back seat of an FF 91 seems like something rivaling a Rolls-Royce. That means hire a chauffeur.
Technology abounds inside the FF 91, from myriad screens to fast WiFi connectivity to the potential for full autonomy thanks to radar, ultrasonic sensors, cameras and a LiDAR disc that pops out of the front hood when operational. Initially, the FF 91 would use these features to park itself only.
“When you think of a company like Waymo (Google’s self-driving car venture, which is aiming for full autonomy), they have unlimited funds and we are a start-up, so we need to be more realistic,” said Hong Bae, FF’s head of Advanced Drive Assisted Systems, who keeps a model of David Hasselhoff’s self-driving and talking Knight Rider KITT car on his desk.
Bae added that Tesla’s stated mission of having a car drive itself cross country by the end of the year is “a bit ambitious, maybe pushing the envelope too much. Our point is to focus on safety and redundancy.”
At least Tesla, with its controversial Autopilot system, has an envelope to push. Right now, Bae and his colleagues just have to hope there is future for a company with future in its name.
What remains in doubt is whether FF’s devoted workers will be given the financial leeway to see the fruits of their three-year labors hit the road.
Johanna Konta’s win against Simona Halep at Wimbledon ends on awkward note
Johanna Konta became the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since 1978, beating Simona Halep in three sets Tuesday. But it was match point that created buzz among tennis commentators and fans.
While Konta celebrated the 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory, the match ended on an awkward note.
On match point a spectator screamed out, causing Halep to stop playing the ball and look up at the chair umpire. She hit the ball into the net.
Halep was asked after the match why she didn’t make a stronger challenge.
“I thought he’s going to repeat the point,” she said. “I think it’s normal to repeat the point when someone is screaming like that.”
Halep’s reaction on the point drew criticism from TV commentators.
“It’s a very sad way, bad way to finish a match like that,” said Patrick Mouratoglou, who is Serena Williams’ coach, on ESPN’s broadcast.
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ESPN’s Chris Evert added, “I think we’ve all been through it … you just have to keep playing through every single noise that you hear.”
Konta, who will play Venus Williams in Thursday’s semifinal, was asked about the outburst in a post-match interview on the BBC. She said the scream occurred “actually when I was hitting my ball.” She attributed it to emotions running high in the crowd.
The loss cost Halep the No. 1 ranking, which will go to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic next week. Current No. 1 Angelique Kerber lost to Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round.
Dana White believes Mayweather-McGregor bout will break pay-per-view records
LOS ANGELES — Dana White believes that the much-hyped superfight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will confound the critics and become the biggest selling pay-per-view boxing match of all time.
White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, was part of the discussions that got UFC lightweight champion McGregor and former pound-for-pound boxing king Mayweather to agree to a highly lucrative bout on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas.
While many boxing purists have poured scorn on the matchup, insisting it will be a one-sided dud due to McGregor’s lack of experience in the ring, White has been overwhelmingly encouraged by the publicity the contest has received.
“I think we beat the (Manny) Pacquiao fight,” White told reporters on Tuesday, referring to Mayweather’s clash with Manny Pacquiao in 2015. That fight generated 4.6 million PPV buys, far outstripping all previous records. According to White, Las Vegas bookmakers are currently predicting this fight sells 4.9 million.
“I think globally it is a much bigger fight,” White added. “I agree that Mayweather-Pacquiao was a very big fight. But globally, with Conor’s popularity in Europe, Australia, Brazil, Canada, I think this is a much bigger fight. I think we do really well.”
The PPV market has been uncertain in recent times, believed to be partly due to a malaise caused by the disappointment of the Mayweather-Pacquiao clash, which produced little action and entertainment following years of anticipation. White insisted that McGregor’s desperation to cause a monumental upset will ensure far more appeal this time around.
“I don’t think anyone is going to be bummed out by the result of this fight,” he said. “I don’t see Floyd running into the middle of the ring and trading with Conor and trying to knock him out but I see Conor going after him and Floyd being defensive.
“I hope it is a good fight. I want it to be a good fight. I want people to leave the arena and turn off the TV and they say it was a good fight.
“Anything is possible in a fight when two men go in there and start throwing punches. Conor is going to go in there and try to knock him out. We are not begging people to go and by the PPV. If you want to watch it, buy the fight. If you don’t, find something else to do.”
AP Source: Lakers sign Caldwell-Pope for 1 year, $18 million
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $18 million contract.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal hasn’t been announced.
Caldwell-Pope was among the top handful of talents remaining on the free agent market after spending his first four NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons. The former eighth overall pick from Georgia averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season while starting 75 games.
The 6-foot-5 Pope could play a major role next season for the Lakers alongside point guard Lonzo Ball, the second overall pick. Los Angeles traded D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn last month, and Nick Young signed with Golden State.
Caldwell-Pope also is a strong two-way player who should improve the Lakers’ defensive competence. Los Angeles became a solid offensive team last season under first-year coach Luke Walton, but only two teams allowed more than the Lakers’ 111.5 points per game.
Detroit renounced its rights to Caldwell-Pope last week after acquiring Avery Bradley in a trade with Boston. Caldwell-Pope has been a starter since his rookie season with the Pistons, but they elected not to award him a lucrative long-term deal to stay.
By agreeing to a one-year deal with the rebuilding Lakers, Caldwell-Pope will be able to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent in 2018 when a longer-term deal could be available from the Lakers or another club.
Los Angeles appears to be using all of its available salary cap space on Caldwell-Pope. He will be their second highest-paid player next season behind newly acquired center Brook Lopez, who also will be a free agent next summer.
General manager Rob Pelinka has said the Lakers are firmly committed to preserving enough cap space in 2018 to sign two free agents to max contracts. Luol Deng and Jordan Clarkson are the only veterans on Los Angeles’ roster with a contract beyond the upcoming season.
Caldwell-Pope is suspended for the first two games of next season. He was arrested in March, and he pleaded guilty last month to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Krawczynski reported from Las Vegas.
All-Stars back countryman Miguel Cabrera on Venezuela crisis
MIAMI – Miguel Cabrera is missing from the All-Star Game for the first time in eight years. However, his presence looms large among his Venezuelan colleagues at the midseason showcase and among his aggrieved countrymen.
The two-time AL MVP, who has shied away from political statements throughout his Hall of Fame-worthy career, has joined the ranks of Venezuelan players speaking out against the rule of President Nicolas Maduro.
In a series of videos posted on his Instagram account, Cabrera denounced government corruption in Venezuela and the death threats on his family that prompted him to pay bribes, and he expressed support for the protesters who have taken to the streets in his native land.
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“The first advice I was given was not to get involved in politics and I never have,’’ Cabrera said in Spanish. “But right now we have to get involved, because they have kidnapped our country.
“I am tired of having to pay bribes. I am tired of hearing that they are going to kidnap my mother, and I don’t know whether it is a policeman or a bad guy, I don’t know who they are. All I know is if I don’t pay, those people disappear.’’
Cabrera, a four-time batting champion who’s immensely popular back home, is regarded with near-reverence by his Venezuelan peers. He’s the most prominent player to publicly express his disapproval of Maduro’s government amid the nation’s economic and political turmoil.
And he did it less than a week before Sunday’s unofficial referendum, organized by the opposition, in which Venezuelans will vote on Maduro’s plans to rewrite the constitution to expand his powers.
Cabrera decried a political system he says has turned into Communism, and publicly lent his support to the opposition.
“This is a greeting to the people of the resistance,’’ he said. “You are not alone. We will continue to support you.’’
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte, a first-time All-Star, and Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli have been among the Venezuelan major leaguers who have publicly voiced their dismay over the unrest and deteriorating conditions back home.
Luis Aparicio, Venezuela’s only Hall of Famer, publicly sided with the opposition as well. Aparicio skipped Tuesday’s pregame ceremony honoring Latin-born Hall of Famers, and in a Spanish-language tweet he said:
“Thanks @MLB for the tribute at the #ASG2017 but I can’t celebrate when young people in my country are dying fighting for freedom ideals.’’
Once one of South America’s most prosperous nations thanks to its ample supply of oil, Venezuela has been ravaged by shortages of basic necessities under Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chavez when the socialist president died in 2013.
In a June 29 Twitter post, Inciarte wondered why police and the military were not enforcing the constitution “instead of torturing Venezuelans.’’
“We don’t want to see people continue to lose their lives because of people who think differently than the rest of the country does,’’ Inciarte told USA TODAY Sports in Spanish. “I pray to God that the situation changes. This is going to be a crucial week to define the country’s future, and we hope things go well.’’
On Saturday, Maduro released opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez after a three-year incarceration as a political prisoner in what was regarded as a goodwill gesture toward his critics.
It’s unclear what impact that will have, but it’s unlikely to reduce the rampant crime and kidnappings that have become part of daily life in Venezuela. Last year, shortly before signing a $52.5 million contract extension, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez endured the anguish of having his mother carjacked. She was eventually released unharmed.
Inciarte said he hasn’t dealt with such an ordeal or with bribes, but pointed out kidnappings are common in his native Maracaibo.
“I try to keep my family here (in the U.S.) as much as possible, but it’s tough to see what’s happening,’’ he said. “That’s all part of the corruption that prevails. When you see people calling to demand money under the threat of killing members of your family, that’s something no Venezuelan should have to experience.’’
An estimated 2 million Venezuelans have fled the country in the last 18 years, and census data show 40% of who moved to the U.S. settled in Florida, with a large number choosing the Miami area.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia, another first-time All-Star, is planning to follow suit and move his growing family to Miami. He said the decision wasn’t all that difficult because conditions back home are so dire.
“We have nothing in Venezuela now. It’s contradictory because it’s such a wealthy country, but there’s nothing available,’’ Garcia said, going on to list what he loves about his country. “The weather, the beaches, the food, the people. It’s perfect, except for the government.’’
Luis Aparicio, Venezuela’s only Hall of Famer, publicly sided with the opposition as well. Aparicio skipped Tuesday’s pregame ceremony honoring Latin-born Hall of Famers, and in a Spanish-language tweet he said:
“Thanks @MLB for the tribute at the #ASG2017 but I can’t celebrate when young people in my country are dying fighting for freedom ideals.’’
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