WasWatching.com

Enh, where one was born (or even one's citizenship) doesn't necessarily reflect where they feel their roots are, or what nationality they consider theirs.

lets face it- he is going where he has the best chance to win...the DR will have a good team.

Rodriguez was born in NYC to Domincan parents and, if I'm correct, spent his formative years in the DR and has duel citizenship.

Now, I have one friend born in Bonn, Germany, one born in Libya and one born in Canada, but all were born to American parents, grew up in the US and are American citizens. Are they not Americans?

Who are you to decide?

Formative years?

A-Rod was born in NYC in 1975. In 1979, his family moved to the DR. Then, in 1983, he moved to Miami, FLA.

So, he lived in the DR from ages 4 through 8.

Again, I ask "Formative years?" Huh?

Did you see those flags waived, wrapped around people and otherwise displayed during the HR derby??? I thought I was watching a meeting of the OAS.

Geez, Steve, you've got an awful sharp axe to grind here. Do you need A-Rod to tell you that baseball been berry berry good to him before you call off the dogs?

A-Rod may have spent most of his childhood growing up in the US, but who are you to gauge the impact of his time in the DR? It's entirely possible he learned about and began playing baseball during that 4 to 8 window, in which case I'd say formative is quite appropriate. He's a dual citizen, but just because he doesn't speak broken English (a la so many other Dominican stars) or come from an impoverished background doesn't lessen his right to identify with his heritage.

Sorry. It's probably just me. When someone is born in this country, and has spent 26 of their 30 years alive living in this country. And, has chosen this country as the place to make their living and raise their children (who were also born in this country), I would *hope* that they would have enough pride in this country to consider themselves an American, and not want to declare that they were something else other than American.

But, I realize that's just me - and others may see/choose to do different.

That's fine. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Just like me.

I guess I missed where A-Rod said he DIDN'T consider himself an American, or that he didn't have pride in America. Dual citizenship means he can rightfully say he's an American AND a Dominican, and just because he expresses pride in one facet of his heritage doesn't mean he's denigrating the other.

I realize that some people might point to A-Rod and say, "Why now?" when it comes to identifying as a Dominican. The likely answer, from a baseball standpoint at least, is that he never had to choose a side before when it came to international competion. He'd have been too young for the '92 DR Olympic team, and by '96 he was already tearing up the majors, while the DR failed to qualify for the Olympics.

By not declaring "I'm an American" is he also not saying that he does not consider himself an American?

Well, this
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-sparod0714,0,6790703.story?coll=ny-baseball-headlines

sheds some more light on this

Yuck. Steve, maybe in your world you hold it against people when they fail to wrap themselves in the American flag. Personally my bullshit detector goes off on four alarms anytime a public figure declares they're Proud To Be An American, because chances are they're trying to sell me a war or a politician bent on taking away our civil liberties or implying that we should all sign loyalty oaths.

The world is full of enough nationalism-fueled friction -- too much of it coming from the good old U S of A -- without us requiring our athletes to thump their chests every time they open their mouths.

If A-Rod came out and said he was proud to play for the Americans in the World Games, do you really think that would mean he was trying to sell you a war or a take away your civil liberties, etc.?

Why?

All fair points on both sides...but let's face it-
do we really care? I mean really really care?

A-Rod is an adult and he should be free to do what he wants...I understand it could be perceived as a "snub" to the US- but you know what? I'm not about to start burning A-Rod's rookie cards in effigy over this.

Personally I care more that he, and others, will be missing most of spring training because of this.

Politics and baseball just do not mix.

**Politics and baseball just do not mix.**

Unfortunately, they have mixed far too much for my liking.

very true.