More players are speaking out against the Arizona immigration law
May 3, 2010, 10:16 AM EDT
Over the weekend Drew noted that Adrian Gonzalez said that he would not attend next year’s All-Star Game if selected due to the Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration law. Gonzalez is not the only player speaking out.
The Padres’ Yorvit
Torrealba told the San Diego Union-Tribune “Why do I want to go play in a place where
every time I go to a restaurant and they don’t understand what I’m
trying to order, they’re going to ask me for ID first? That’s bull. I
come from a crazy country. Now Arizona seems a little bit more crazy.”
Mets catcher Rod Barajas told The New York Times, “If
they happen to pull someone over who looks like they are of Latin
descent, even if they are a U.S. citizen, that is the first question
that is going to be asked. But if a blond-haired, blue-eyed Canadian
gets pulled over, do you think they are going to ask for their papers?
No.”
You can expect more players to weigh in on this. If nothing changes (i.e. if the Major League Baseball remains silent) the logical conclusion of all of this is (a) a wildcat strike of the All-Star Game by Latino players and those who sympathize with their position; and (b) a presumed backlash by other players who either support the law or who don’t feel it appropriate for baseball to wade into the political arena like this. In other words: ugliness.
As I said the other day, the only way to head this off is for Bud Selig to show some leadership on the matter. He need not come out in sharp opposition to S.B. 1070, and he need not make any decisions regarding the fate of the 2011 All-Star Game at this time, but it seems essential to me that he publicly acknowledge the feelings of the ballplayers, acknowledge the controversy and offer something approaching an official position for baseball.
If he does that — even with one of his patented “we’ll wait and see how it all plays out” statements which, in this case, may be the best bet — at least the players and the public will know that baseball is paying attention and may dial down the rhetoric for a bit. If he doesn’t, a good many of those same people are going to think that Bud doesn’t care, and it’s going to draw baseball further into the firestorm than it already is.
Yeah, that’s a political calculation, not a business one, but in this case the business of baseball and politics are on a collision course, so that stuff matters.
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- paul - May 3, 2010 at 11:49 AM
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Live in AZ before you comment. Why do people think it is okay for an illegal alien to come in and do whatever the hell they please. IT IS A HOT BED FOR TRAFFICKING from Mexico. If people don’t like it – TFB. AZ will be run by drug cartels, if the status quo does not change, within 5 years. Should we apologize for being white, black or asian? No, we should not. The people who are calling Bill ignorant – look in the mirror. As for Adrian Gozalez – FU.
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- StJames1949 - May 3, 2010 at 11:52 AM
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My fathers ancestors came to the New World in 1541 in the service of the king. My mother’s (relative newcomers to the country) in the 1750′s during the famine in Scotland. We are all immigrants and to ascribe all crime to the Hispanic immigrants is not only racist but shows and amazing ignorance of American history.
If you go back into any newspaper archive (try it you might find out something!) depending on the decade it will be the “drunken” Irish who caused all the crime, followed by the “drunken” Italians, followed by the “drunken” Poles, Checks, Cubans and Puerto Ricans.
A huge majority of the immigrant population is here to work and build a better life. If you want to stop it then arrest the factory owners, the farm managers and all the other employers who profit from their cheap labor. But remember, $1 tomatoes and more expensive housing, restaurant meals and a reduced way of life are right behind.
One last thing, based on my fathers linage you are all illegal so get the hell out of my country, unless you are prepared to pledge alligence to King Juan Carlos!
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- Jeannie - May 3, 2010 at 11:53 AM
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How many of those expensive box seats are illegal aliens sitting in? Major League baseball players better stop taking their million dollar contracts for granted. They are at the top of the “food chain” as far as salaries go, and yet I hear many of them backing a federal government that wants to tax them to the limit. In addition, sticking your finger in the eyes of those citizens who do not favor illegal aliens crossing our borders with impunity is not the smartest choice of action. Shut up and play baseball.
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- sheinla - May 3, 2010 at 11:55 AM
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I have gone to Spring Training for over 20 years. I WILL NOT go in 2011 or thereafter if MLB does not come out STRONGLY against this ‘law’. I save my money all year for my Spring Training trip; I’m not rich but for the week I am in Scottsdale I spend alot of money in Arizona. I would not be able to, with a clear conscience, continue to that.
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- tim - May 3, 2010 at 11:55 AM
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I’m from Arizona. Lived there for 21 years. How many snow bird repulsicans voted for the law? Don’t know but I bet the old white vote was out in favor. So, stop your “live in Az” crap. This law affects us all.
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- Old Gator - May 3, 2010 at 11:55 AM
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In other words, it’s about three years too late to affect baseball players? Nyuknyuknyuk….
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- oompaloopma - May 3, 2010 at 11:55 AM
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Let them go home makes as much sense as telling you to go back to Europe because your not native american. No its not, its really about expelling illegal immigrants.
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- spiro - May 3, 2010 at 12:00 PM
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A bit of irony in that AZ Bill 1070 specifically renders racial profiling as ILLEGAL, but those protesting against it will never acknowledge that crossing a sovereign border is ILLEGAL?
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- Eric - May 3, 2010 at 12:00 PM
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I show my ID and/or SSN to the state when I am pulled over.
- I had forgotten my drivers license at home, when I went to pick up my child. The racist who pulled my over, actually asked for my SSN. The bigot, after verifying my identity and the status of my drivers license gave my a ticket a warning. I mean, seriously, you can’t use SSN, without using “SS”…am I right?
I show my ID to the state when I aqcuire an occupancy permit to live in my home. I must give my SSN to the state when I make a payment on my student loan over the phone. There are MANY instances when a citizen present proof of themselves.
And those are some of the “not so right wing” times one may be forced to show an ID or papers as we Nazi’s like to say. Other times include when I withdraw a C-Note from the state run banks, or perhaps when I trade my ride in to the state-run General Motors.
I suggest you take a look at the direction of the federal government before you start using phrases like Communism and Facism.
Returning to the law in question, it is almost a complete copy of the federal law that is on the books. That has held up to Constitution pretty well, I would say. It is unfortunate that the state of AZ has had to resort to what should be a federal issue.
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- Virgin - May 3, 2010 at 12:06 PM
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Billy bobby -
You should go with them and double your salary. That is, once you’re out of prison.
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- Phil - May 3, 2010 at 12:07 PM
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Rod Barajas is from California…
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- Steve in Dallas - May 3, 2010 at 12:08 PM
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What Bud has not ever shown as commissioner is a) leadership or b) decisiveness. Good luck with him stating any kind of position on the matter.
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- The Common Man - May 3, 2010 at 12:09 PM
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Oh…my…God. How are we talking about this for four days in a row and the comments have actually gotten stupider. Gator must be too exhausted from yesterday to come in and clean health.
For what it’s worth:
The bill does not just affect illegal immigrants. This debate shouldn’t be over whether illegal immigration is ok. It’s not, and those here illegally, when identified through legal means should be sent home. Our borders should be more secure. However, this bill also makes suspects out of legal American citizens and residents simply because of their proximity to the border. The recent changes to the bill help to alleviate some of the confusion that would have definitely made the bill unconstitutional. That said, the bill does nothing to support local law enforcement financially, making it likely that departments will have to cut back in other areas, and that Arizona streets and neighborhoods will be less safe. It is an unfunded mandate designed to score cheap political points and is intimidating Latinos, who have every reason to be afraid of how this law will affect them.
Frisky, certainly you don’t think that there is a lack of Irish and Italian pride from the descendants of immigrants. There is a lot of flag waving that did go and still goes on in those communities. Also, many Italian and German immigrants came to this country and chose not to learn English, because they neither wanted nor needed to. It’s a tradition. You should like that, seeing as how concerned you seem to be with our past.
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- tim - May 3, 2010 at 12:09 PM
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Like I said, the state already has way too much power to ask me where I am going and what i am doing. Evidenced by your post. You proved my point. As far as you being a racist and the law stinking of Communism and Fascism I stand by that as well. Look at the history of Nazi Germany. There is absolutely no difference in this law and the laws forcing Jews to submit to the government. As far as the Soviet Union (and many other countries) I lived there and know exactly what sort of power the government had. Go live in a communist/dictator state and then tell me you enjoy that control. And what about your right wing nut job views on the Feds? Now you actually want the feds to get involved? You can’t have it both ways. either there is government involvement or there is not? You are a hypocrite plain and simple. Again, wait until the government starts asking you for your papers. See what you think then. BTW – a drivers lic. means crap. Try carrying around a passport/birth certificate. Then we’ll talk.
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- Old Gator - May 3, 2010 at 12:11 PM
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Horrible thing, that march towards socialism implicit in the federal bailouts of imploding banks and manufacturing giants. Especially horrible when those bailed out businesses pay back their loans and revert to private ownership as most of ‘em have been doing this past year or so – what with all the credence it lends to “socialist” policies, right? How much better to let the economy crash into a full-blown depression, put another couple of hundred thousand people out of work (for starters), drive the crime rate through the roof while starving workers who are already armed to the teeth under their “sacred right” to own machine guns and grenade launchers do what they have to do to feed themselves and their families, but maintain our ideological purity in the process? After all, isn’t ideology the important thing? People shouldn’t count for shit.
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- oompaloopma - May 3, 2010 at 12:12 PM
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Perfect world: If illegal immigrants looked like playboy models. Also, we need to move Toronto Blue Jays to Mexico City.
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- Eric - May 3, 2010 at 12:14 PM
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What is the big deal with this legislation, Az should be acknowledged for having a “set of balls” to be the first to take a stand against the “illegal population” . Why should the illegals get to come here , take jobs from legal citizens , not pay taxes since they are paid under the table in cash. They also place a burden on the police, fire and every other public service they use or have access to ….again since they don’t pay taxes like the rest of us! If they want to freeload …simple ..go HOME!! Go and put the burden your own government….Every state that borders a foreign country should enact the same rules….It about time Americans stand up for THEIR COUNTRY….take it back and protect it from the illegal population. If you want to come here , simple…DO IT THE RIGHT WAY or else stay the hell out!
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- oompaloopma - May 3, 2010 at 12:18 PM
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I am really scared how this will affect everyones weekly dining out to mexican restaurants. Screw all of you if it affects my mexican food.
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- Jane Doe - May 3, 2010 at 12:22 PM
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Tim, please tell me you did not just compare this situation in Arizon to that of Europe and the Nazis?! The Jewish people were asked for identification for completely different reasons. The Nazis were taking their belongings, enforcing ridiculous curfews, sending families to ghettos, and event worse, death camps.
Although I am not sure how I personally feel about this immigration law, I do know that in this case they are asked for identification and if they fail to provide it, legal (and fitting) actions will be the consequence.
As an American Jew I am quite offended by your comparison!
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- judi - May 3, 2010 at 12:23 PM
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Comparing Arizona’s law to Nazi Germany? Seriously? Um, the Jews were legal citizens of Germany. Illegal immigrants are NOT legal citizens of our country. Jews were put to DEATH for being Jewish. Illegals will be deported back to their home country. Your hyperbole makes you sound like a raving lunatic.
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- tim - May 3, 2010 at 12:25 PM
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The old “leave it or love it” slogan doesn’t hold weight or water. I’m an American and I want the illegals here. They perform a service (i.e working crap jobs for little pay and being subject to extortion), that has been proven to not be met by white citizens of this great land. They aren’t taking jobs away from anyone. They are doing the jobs no one else will do. Are you, Eric, working in a $5/hour job right now? I didn’t think so. If you were unemployed, would you work that crap job? I didn’t think so. Would you be willing to pay far higher prices for most foods and many services than you do now just to keep the “illegals” out? Probably not. How far would you’re paycheck go or your retirement account go if “illegals” were “sent home”? Not very far. So you say send them home but you have no idea what that would do to the economy. It has always been the immigrant population (whether Latino, or otherwise) that has performed the crap jobs. Send them home and you might be forced to do those jobs. I still say you’re a hypocrite as are most if not all republicans.
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- michelle - May 3, 2010 at 12:27 PM
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All this discussion about this immigration law in Arizona – most articles to me are completely biased toward letting ILLEGALS come in this country to do whatever they want. When is a reporter going to do some REAL fact-checking: Like how much does it cost for the legal, American taxpayers to support ILLEGALS in areas such as emergency room service, welfare help, etc. Not to mention that the one group that the USA SHOULD focus on, & those are ex-offenders in this country who truly want to do the right thing, don’t even get a wink and a not from our ‘great’ gov’t. Case in point: When an ex-offender goes for an interview, he or she usually gets the ‘we’ll let you know – thank you for coming in’, script, just to find out later that, ‘we’ve found someone more qualified ‘ – code words for “you don’t belong here”. Meanwhile, the employer hires the person who is here ILLEGALLY because he/she can save money, yet the ILLEGAL broke the law just like the ex-offender did at one time. Now if that isn’t hyprocritical, I don’t know what is.
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- Skids - May 3, 2010 at 12:27 PM
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I agree Bill. They aren’t citizens, if they don’t like it here, go back.
If people would read this bill before commenting, they would see it is not what the left has jumped all over and making it out to be.
We as a country cannot afford to keep taking care of the whole world. They have to start helping themselves some. Sports should be seperate from politics anyway.
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- DOCK - May 3, 2010 at 12:31 PM
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(1) I agree we have to do more to secure our borders. we need actual reform and a solution to the current mass of people here illegally
(2) Bill- articulate your argument or keep you peace. When you throw blanket statements like “they should all go back to their home countries”, it dilutes your argument and show the measure of ignorance. Let’s ask one question- where does your family hail from? I know it’s not from America unless you’re a Native AMERICAN-hence you were here first before any Europeans. And to use the old argument- if you do know your history, Arizona should be asking Bill for his papers because he’s actually stepping foot in Mexico when he’s in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada or Texas! If I’m wrong let’s debate the facts
(3) The bill stokes the racial divide- yes there is crime by legal immigrants, American citizens and yes- illegal immigrants. I wish the US could do what the Canadians do and stripe people of the right to be in the country. Undesirable people get asked to leave. We don’t do that, we lock them up and once their time is served their back on the streets
(4) Latin players have the right to voice their disapproval and should be allowed to have their own silent protest to show solidarity. You pay them to perform and as such…you could always protest too! Don’t pay to watch a baseball game. The sad part is the Mexican immigrant is the face of the immigration debate but it’s not only our problem. You have a lot of Asians, Russians, Europeans and even Canadians here ILLEGALLY. So it’s an actual melting pot of problems which turn out to be true to form since this country was conceived by immigrants, protected by immigrants for the benefit of immigrants. This isn’t a racial fight it’s a fight for justice. If we had actual immigration reform we’d see much more support from everyone
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- Gerry - May 3, 2010 at 12:31 PM
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I really don’t give a darn what these OVERPAID rubes have to say. I guess they think it’s a problem that they have to go through some steps when they bring all of their relatives to the US.
Ball players and actors – WE DON’T NEED YOUR OPINION. We are perfectly capable of coming up with our own. PROTECT THE BORDERS FIRST. Then we will sit down and deal with all of the ILLEGALS.
