Cockle Doodle Don’t

Well, the team is finally all at Mesa now that Aramis Ramirez has arrived.  Of course it was a little uncomfortable for him, considering he was part of a New York Times article covering the topic of cockfighting (yes, the 12 year old boy in me giggles everytime someone says cockfighting).  It began when Pedro Martinez and baseball legend Juan Marichal were seen on a video on You Tube, participating as honorary "soltadores," the word used to describe the person who puts the animal to fight.  This lead to the Times article, which found out that Aramis is very heavily involved in cockfighting.  Ramírez is prominently featured in a recent issue of a Dominican cockfighting magazine, En La Traba, in which he is pictured with several roosters that he raises for fighting. Of roosters, he said in the magazine, “When I’m in the Dominican Republic, I’m dedicated entirely to them.” 

Jason Carr, a Cubs spokesman, said the team did not know that Ramírez was associated with cockfighting in the Dominican Republic.  Ramirez apparently didn’t tell the Cubs of his side gig in the offseason.  Fellow Dominican Carlos Marmol knew, saying

“A lot of guys do this. It’s just normal.  Aramis, he’s every day.’’

Aramis quickly cut off any questions about cockfighting when he spoke to the media today

`I’m not going to talk about that. That’s personal. It’s a different culture down there. I’m from the Dominican, so let’s talk about baseball.’’

He added "I’ve just got to say this: It’s a different culture in the Dominican, and that’s it.’’

Cockfighting is legal in the Dominican and is the second most popular sport after baseball.  Now MLB has been trying to market itself as a worldwide sport, but in doing so, people need to realize that there are accepted practices around the world that people in this country may be opposed to.  As long as Aramis is not breaking any American laws, or laws in general, then this shouldn’t be an issue.  Maybe Aramis can have a bunch of his roosters chasing him around the bases when he starts lolly-gagging!  In honor of this silly "news story"  I have some dialogue from the classic Seinfeld episode "The Little Jerry"

JERRY: Kramer, Marcelino wants us to sell him Little Jerry Seinfeld.

KRAMER: Well, that’s out of the question.

JERRY: But Kramer, cockfighting is an illegal and immoral activity.

KRAMER: Yeah, if you got a loser. But Little Jerry was born to cockfight!

JERRY: No, no more cockfighting. Let’s just sell him to Marcelino the cockfighter and be done with it!

KRAMER: You know, I think you’re jealous.

JERRY: Of what?

KRAMER (points at Jerry like he’s found him out): Yah, yah! You see in Little Jerry Seinfeld the unlimited future you once had. Now, just because Jerry Seinfeld is a has-been, don’t make Little Jerry Seinfeld a never-was!

JERRY: Kramer, give me that rooster!

KRAMER: Never! You hate him because he’s doing more with your name than you ever will! Yah-yah! <Kramer leaves.>