World of views on Iraq from Phillies dugout
www.phillyburbs.com By RANDY MILLER phillyBurbs.com
Phillies outfielder Ricky Ledee, Puerto Rico; pitcher Rheal Cormier, Canada; second baseman Placido Polanco, Dominican Republic; pitcher Vincent Padilla, Nicaragua; and infielder Thomas Perez, Venezuela.
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Phillies pitching coach Joe Kerrigan says he's no longer talking to reliever Rheal Cormier. "I'm French,'' the veteran lefthander said with a crooked smile.
Cormier is of French Canadian decent, which makes him a target for razzing because France isn't supporting the United States in the war with Iraq.
Even though they're busy preparing for a baseball season that opens a week from Monday, everyone in the Phillies clubhouse knows what's going on in the Middle East. Most players and coaches back the U.S., some have mixed opinions and a select few aren't paying much attention.
The 2003 Phillies represent six countries - the United States, Canada, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. What might be surprising is that the players' opinions on the impending war aren't tied to their citizenship.
Manager Larry Bowa, reliever Jose Mesa and outfielder Ricky Ledee - an American, Dominican and Puerto Rican - are passionately committed to a war against Iraq if that's what it takes to end all possibility of Saddam Hussein using weapons of mass destruction.
Pitcher Joe Roa only has to roll the sleeve on his left arm to show his support. There, an American flag was tattooed following Sept. 11. "I'm always going to support whatever my government does,'' he said.
As expected, some Phillies players are worried about the consequences of war. Pitchers Randy Wolf and Cormier - one a Californian, the other a Canadian - fear war will lead to more terrorist attacks on the U.S.
Then there are players such as first baseman Jim Thome, an American, and right fielder Bobby Abreu, a Venezuelan. They say they support the United States government, but really haven't paid close attention to what's going on.
"It's the most critical thing going on in our nation,'' Bowa said. "Anybody that says they haven't been following it has their head in the sand.''
Ledee agrees. Although Puerto Rican, he's a United States citizen who speaks feverishly about ousting Saddam.
"Get him out,'' said Ledee, who has been following the crisis nightly on TV. "Saddam's not admitting he has weapons of mass destruction. He's lying, so get rid of the guy. If we don't get him out, maybe we could have another day like Sept. 11.''
Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu, Venezuela; pitcher Hector Mercardo, Venezuela; and pitcher Jose Mesa, Dominican Republic.
Mesa believes everyone earning a living in the United States should support all decisions made by the government.
"I live here most of the year, my kids were born over here and they go to school over here,'' Mesa said. "I have to support the United States 100 percent.''
Still, Mesa lives in fear, especially when traveling to and from the Dominican Republic.
"Anytime I get on a commercial flight I'm scared to death,'' he said. "After 9/11, you've got to worry about what terrorists are going to do. It's a little safer when you fly charter like we do during the season, but anytime my family is going to leave on a commercial flight, you better believe I'm scared.''
Pitcher Kevin Millwood is worried about his cousin and brother-in-law, both of whom were recently reinstated into the U.S. Army. So far, neither has been sent to the Middle East. Regardless, Millwood is pro war.
"My opinion on this is we have a good reason to think Iraq is a big threat and something's got to be done about it,'' Millwood said. "If we don't and Iraq drops a bomb over here, everybody is going to be wondering why we didn't.''
Fear is the reason Cormier and Wolf have different views. They wonder if removing Saddam is worth it.
"I'm probably against the war,'' said Cormier, a native and lifelong resident of New Brunswick, Canada. "I don't think there's anything [America] is going to accomplish with this. I know there are a lot of things wrong with Saddam, but I don't have a good feeling about this.
"When 9/11 came, I was devastated. I wanted to go back to Canada where I feel like I'm safer. If the United States attacks [Iraq], you know something is going to happen here eventually.''
Wolf says he doesn't completely trust the government.
"As a public, we can be led to believe anything,'' he said. "I'm mixed. It's not that I'm anti-war, but my personal opinion is that I think this war opens [Iraq] up as a martyr and us as a hired target for terrorists. America has never really been the aggressor in any war. All of a sudden, we're picking a fight because we think Saddam might have weapons of mass destruction.
"At the same time, after Sept. 11 the [United States] government probably feels the need to be on alert. So I guess if Saddam gets hold of a nuclear bomb and drops it on Israel, there would be outrage.''
Bowa is a strong supporter of President Bush.
"To me, when you make decisions like [declaring war], you're not going to get 100 percent backing,'' he said. "That's why this is such a great country. Everybody has opinions and you are allowed to voice that opinion.
"But I'm sure the Bush administration knows exactly what they're doing. It's been well thought out and planned. Let's see how it plays out. Obviously, it's not a good time right now.''
A baseball junkie, Bowa has been distracted in the days leading up to war.
"When you go to bed at night now, you spend a little less time worrying about some guy's batting stroke or some guy's pitching technique,'' he said.
Even though he's against war, Cormier has figured out a way to solve this mess. He'd like to pitch to Saddam.
"I'd drill him,'' he said. "I would take the fine.''
Randy Miller can be reached at randarino@aol.com