By RICARDO KLEMENT
Staff Writer
PHOENIX, Arizona - In 1993, when the State of Arizona slogged through its decision on whether to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday as a holiday, the National Football League did something it had not done before in the history of the game, and has never done since - it supported a boycott of Arizona by moving the Super Bowl to Pasadena, California. It was widely believed that the NFL did it because of its many Black players.
Things are shaking in Major League Baseball as it ponders moving the 2011 All-Star Game out of Phoenix following Arizona's decision to pass a harsh anti-immigrant law. MLB knows Hispanics make up a good percentage of league rosters.
The local MLB franchise - Arizona Diamondbacks - is in a public relations lurch, although the politics of management is not exactly one the league would want to see made public.
There is this from Dave Zirin, a columnist for The Nation magazine: The Diamondbacks organization is a primary funder of the state Republican Party, which had for months been driving the measure through the legislature. The National Republican Senatorial Committee's third-highest Contributors in 2010 were Diamondbacks executives, who donated $121,600. They also contributed $129,500 to the Republican Party Committee. Team boss Ken Kendrick and his family members chipped-in a staggering $1,023,527 to Republican candidates.
The governor of Arizona - Jan Brewer - is a Republican.
No official boycott of anything Arizona is currently in play, but rumblings moving across the country indicate many are not happy with Arizona's decision to authorize police officers to stop, question and arrest undocumented immigrants. The City of San Francisco is on record as saying it is reviewing business dealings with Arizona, including travel to conferences and seminars in Arizona by its employees. Scathing editorials have been published in, among others, The New York Times, Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times - all questioning Arizona's actions.
It'll be interesting to see how the Arizona Diamondbacks players handle this. The photo atop this story is of team pitcher Juan Gutierrez, said to be among the most popular players on the squad...
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20 comments:
crown and coke, please, with a twist of lime ~ Claire
Claire, this early? Hmmmmm. Well, let's see what Room Service can do for me... - Editor
I do not intend to speak for the motivations of the electorate in Arizona, but there is one major missed point in all of this. That point is the manner that foreigners, especially Americans, are treated as they travel through Mexico. Not by the people, but by law enforcement and government.
We haven't driven down in two years because of the violence, but I hear that it has only gotten worse.
You will rue the day you drive any appreciable distance with Texas plates.
ANON: Those are two separate issues. We totally disagree with Arizona, but agree with you on Mexico. We have written extensively here about the mess going on south of the border, a country suffering through a presidency held by a drunkard and a rumored accomplice of several drug cartels. That is truly sad, for Mexico, away from the horrible border, is a beautiful country with many, many good people. I am sure the same can be said about Arizona's commonfolk... - Editor
(I do not intend to speak for the motivations of the electorate in Arizona,)
As a former ICE agent, I have to admit that Arizona sure has it's fair share of conjones.
Jude.
Jude: Unfamiliar with the term "conjones." Explain. Do you mean "cojones," and if so, in what context do you use it here?... - Editor
(cojones)
Your correction was exactly what I first meant. Just in the fact that they obviously do not care about public opinion. BTW, I really feel that the immigration law in question in Arizona, should be made into a federal law. JMHO.
Jude.
JUDE: It's a bold attempt, but history (Supreme Court decisions) is against it standing. As for it being something for the entire nation, well, ask yourself this: Is it fair? Do not ALL of our laws apply to EVERYBODY? Plus, we've never really been good at whipping any one ethnic group down. You remember the earlier waves of Italians and Irish and Poles and Russians and how they, too, were targeted in a harsh manner. In my opinion, the Arizona Law is short-sighted and an easy-reach solution. I think we're bigger than that in this country... - Editor
With due respect..., the law in Arizona does nothing more than prohibit the action (being or entering illegally) which is already a crime under federal statute.
That's it. Nothing more. The law is not racist, but the implimentation of the law may very well be.
The law can be challenged, but it will not be easy. It is not unconstitutional, unless (possibly) through preemption or even void for vagueness.
However, you have have to understand that if the feds claim preemption, they will be hard pressed to explain all the assitance they have requested from all the state and locals for this and other issues that impact the border.
I think it is another way to get federal funds for the state. Arizona has been whining (rebuttable, but likely correctly) of the feds inaction on immigration and the disproportionate impact on that one state for some time.
ANON: On paper, it sounds better than in practice. Yes, we're all for immigration compliance - from all ethnicities and nationalities, however. We're unquestionably being selective here. Arizona knows full-well who will bear the brunt of this initiative. Would we feel as good about it if, say, Arizona said it was doing it to protect itself from Middle Eastern terrorists? Perhaps, but that too would be prejudicial, because not all Middle Easterners are terrorists. Arizona - and the U.S. as a nation - can and must do better than this. It smacks of the worst in us. Are we doing it just because we can?... - Editor
(Plus, we've never really been good at whipping any one ethnic group down.)
Patrick, you presume that only Mexicans will be "harassed" with this law. But an alien is anybody who is in the US illegally. They could be white, brown or black. I'm of Mexican decent and I always carry some kind of proof that I am a citizen, and if not, I can call a relative to retrieve them for me. To me it just makes sense.
Jake.
ANON: It's Arizona! I'm not assuming anything; I'm saying it outright. Not that many Blacks, Asians, Poles, Russians in Arizona. Heck, the Native Americans are in reservations! If this makes sense to you, then sense has left the building. I respectfully suggest that you revisit this particular bill's history. It all sounds grand when couched in terms of solving our nagging immigration problem, but this stuff in Arizona goes way beyond seeking a solution. There is true and open hatred for Mexicans in the Grand Canyon State. And it has been there for years. This is just more ammo against a certain segment of the population. Read a bit on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Read a bit on the millions contributed to the Republican Party by enterprises such as the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball club. If all it took was one (1) law to resolve this issue, then it would have surfaced long-ago, wouldn't you agree? Still, I'm not here to educate you or to persuade. You were given a full brain to analyze and decide. And it goes without saying that I respect your position, because we can only arrive at the best answers when we discuss these things. Feel free to shoot back at me... - Editor
(Read a bit on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.)
I've read about him and if I was a resident I would vote for him for Governor. Ain't gonna shoot back at you(uncle sam retrieved my weapon upon retirement), just know that some US citizens are all for Arizona and their immigration reform.
Jude.
Say Patrick, check out J. Montoya's blog. You two share similar thoughts on Arizona's immigration status. You both should go to the Palm lounge and have some beers. At the same table, I mean.
Jude.
JUDE: You are certainly free to vote for whomever you wish. Mr. Arpaio is of Italian descent and perhaps he forgets what his fellow Italian immigrants went through in this country. It wasn't pretty and it, too, stands as a stain on our history. But it's what they say, Jude, you can't see yourself above others unless you're putting them down. When it's true, it works; when it isn't it, it's merely lying to yourself. Arpaio as governor would be the equivalent of Arizona getting an Italian Conrado Cantru. I trust you know that name. (2.) I don't have the "grudge" gene so prevalent in the RGV, so drinking a beer with Juan Montoya wouldn't be entirely out of the question. My problem with him is his ethics as a so-called journalist, or, more precisely, lack of ethics. I don't visit Brownsville very often and perhaps I should. There is a certain friend I'd love to see once again. I believe she knows it and is, apparently, waiting for the right moment to engage; that, or some nice evening rain falling as if chased down by the loveliest of music, violined notes dropping as if roses, the symphony shaking her drink glass just enough to make her get up and say, to me, "Let's go dancing before I cry."... - Editor
(There is a certain friend I'd love to see once again.)
Clair? 10-4 good buddy.
Jude.
Jude, Jude, Jude. Don't go stirring the rumor mill. You guys can be vicious and I will never be party to such a thing as it relates to friends. Now, watch, she'll go off for a few months and torture me for several more. I once told her of a scene I had written in one of my books about some car crashing into a metal light stanchion outside my window and, at hearing the jingle-jangle of metal crunching and glass breaking, I said, as I looked back at her while pulling the drapes open: "Hey, they're playing our song..." There, I've said too much... - Editor
Jude, you are nothing but a bigot, go back to el reci, thats more your style.
Jude, are you known on El Rocinante? Hmmmmmm. Well, we gave you the benefit of the doubt... - Editor
(Jude, are you known on El Rocinante? Hmmmmmm. Well, we gave you the benefit of the doubt... - Editor)
Hmm. Well, alright.
Jude.
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