Veteran baseball commentator helps big leaguer Miguel Cairo out of political gaffe

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, June 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuela's senior baseball commentator and columnist, Juan Vene, who lives in the USA,  has been attempting some damage repair to help major league baseball player, Miguel Cairo quoted as saying that he is afraid to return to Venezuela because of public insecurity. 

Cairo had told Vene that  he would be prepared to play for the Cardenales de Lara in Venezuela's winter league for less money but put his big foot in a quagmire commenting that if anyone says anything against the Venezuelan President, s/he runs the risk of being kidnapped and murdered ... "afterwards they'll say it was a crime of passion ... The President is the only one who rules in Venezuela ... insecurity will be  problem for all baseball players." 

Vene's piece obviously caused a downpour of angry emails and Cairo says his family in Anaco (Monagas) is very worried as a result ... "a friend in Barquisimeto asked me whether I didn't want to come back to Venezuela." 

The first thing Vene clarifies is that the Venezuelan government has prohibited no one from entering Venezuela ... " people talk and exaggerate because there is freedom and democracy inVenezuela." 

Retracting on his political gaffe, Cairo says he doesn't like party politics and just wants to play baseball in Venezuela. 

Vene supports Cairo, saying that " we are all responsible for the horrible situation that has gripped Venezuela ... we have to respect each other ... the ideal is that I, for example, am interested in the Chavist process and support it ... my wife is completely against it, while her brother is open to talk and discussion ... that's what will make Venezuela great ... what ruins things is the uncivilized way of discussing things head on or with guns." 

The respected baseball expert and father figure forecasts that Cairo will play in Venezuela this winter and his action will encourage other players  to lower their economic aspirations to get the winter league back on its feet again.