[Marxism] [CubaNews] Re: Third Cuban ball player " defects" in Edmonton

[Shane Mage]

On Aug 3, 2008, at 5:58 PM, Karen Lee Wald wrote:

> Subject: Cuba Inside Out A matter of words?: Third Cuban ball player  
> " defects" in Edmonton
>
> Unfortunately we live in a world where athletes are bought and sold  
> like any other commodity. Sadly, even Cuban athletes fall into this,  
> certainly thinking: "Others who aren't even as good as I am are  
> living a comfortable life, making millions of dollars -- for a few   
> years anyway-- so why shouldn't I?"
>
> What's interesting, though, is that while this goes on all over the  
> world, with richer countries buying athletes from poorer countries,  
> when it happens with an athlete from Cuba, the media always says  
> "defects"...
> ...Just a matter of semantics, or something more repugnant? klw


Athletes are not "bought and sold."  They are hired under freely  
negotiated contracts (and contracts can be  bought and sold) just like  
any other worker and paid according to the economic value of their  
labor power.  Except in Cuba, where they seem to be treated as state  
property rather than as free workers.  And why are only Cuban athletes  
properly called "defectors" when they choose to sell their labor power  
to the highest bidder?  Because only Cuban athletes are called  
"traitors" by their country's Supreme Leader when they choose to work  
elsewhere.


Shane Mage

"Thunderbolt steers all things...it consents and does not consent to  
be called Zeus."

Herakleitos of Ephesos