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View from Venezuela
October 7, 2007

Major League Baseball (click to enlarge)
Asdrubal Cabrera
 
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Baseball - Interrupted


Posted at 6:33 pm

Bottom of the sixth.

The New York Yankees were besting the Cleveland Indians, 5 – 3.

In Venezuela, a country of ardent baseball fans, eyes were straining at televisions for a glimpse of Asdrubal Cabrera, their countryman who is now a star for Major League Baseball’s Cleveland team.

Suddenly, the yellow, blue and red Venezuelan flag flashed across the screen.

It was the near-nightly Bolivarian news update – required broadcasting for all channels, whether or not a baseball game is on.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez likes his time in the spotlight.

In addition to a Sunday afternoon talk show, “Alo, Presidente,” an hours-long feature in which Chavez makes announcements such as today’s promise of a shorter workweek and sometimes even sings, the president makes certain that Venezuelan families relaxing in front of the tube after a long day get their regular dose of Bolivarian gospel.

A flick of the remote control shows that every channel broadcasts the same “breaking” announcement – this time a detail about tolls at the border between Colombia and Venezuela.

It only lasts a few minutes, then closes with another flourish of yellow, blue and red.
Then, it’s back to this country’s national pastime. For baseball fans, the moment away from the game can be excruciating, but that’s life in the Bolivarian Revolution.
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