Iraqi baseball team checks out America's pastime on U.S. visit

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/17/94314/iraqi-baseball-team-checks-out.html

Iraqi baseball team checks out America's pastime on U.S. visit

By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — The players on Iraq's premier national baseball team saw a baseball stadium for the first time on a recent 10-day visit to the United States, courtesy of the State Department.

It was also the first time they had an appreciation of why the game is considered America's pastime.

"We had this idea that (Americans) loved baseball, but not to this extent," said Ali, a 15-year-old from Baghdad who, like all the players quoted in this story, didn't want his full name used for fear of retribution back home. "We thought we were coming here to learn the basic rules of the game."

snip//

The team visited a training camp sponsored by Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., and met Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners. Often, the names were lost on the Iraqis, many of whom had heard only of the New York Yankees.

The trip also included some non-big-league venues. They met the baseball team at Fairmont Heights High School in Seat Pleasant, Md., attended their first prom and took in Washington's monuments.

State Department officials said the trip was sport serving as public diplomacy. The hope is that the team will speak wistfully of baseball and the United States back in Iraq.

Based on the interviews here, they probably will. Ali said he was surprised by Americans' commitment to law and order. Farah said she was surprised at how easily Americans lived.

"What is not to like here?" she asked. Americans "live their lives. They don't need anything because they have it all."

[madrchsod]

1. we bitch and moan about our country...

and they say "what is not to like here?"....

[NJmaverick]

2. good point