Framing the Cubas narrative: The American dream and the capitalist reality

Communication Studies, Summer 2002 by Nomai, Afsheen J, Dionisopoulos, George N

The players are depicted in the media as vociferous about their belief in the freedom and opportunity offered by the United States. Quotes by players describing their reasons behind defecting feature the pursuit of freedom. For example, Osmani Fernandez said, "I wanted freedom, and not to suffer in the situation like we have at home" (Berkow, 1996, p. B 11). Orlando Hernandez stated, "I've never felt freedom and now I have it. And when you have freedom, it gives you many things. It gives you freedom to make choices" (Fainaru, 1998a). The importance of this freedom was put in dramatic terms by Francisco Santiesteban, who said that he realized he might lose his son by defecting, but "I knew it was important to live like a human being" (Fainaru, 1998b).

Often the players express their feelings about freedom as finally having an opportunity to fulfill their dreams of playing Major League baseball. For example, following his defection, Orlando Hernandez attempted to make it clear that he did not come to the United States for the $6.6 million contract. "I want to say to you that the most important thing for me was to gain my freedom, and to have an opportunity to play major league baseball, which has always been my dream" (Fainaru, 1998b, p. 1). Rene Arocha said that he defected because he "just wanted to be free and have an opportunity to play in the major leagues. It was always a dream of anyone on the Cuban National Team. We all want to know how we stack up against the best" (Gomez, 1997, p. 34). Osvaldo Fernandez is quoted in different articles as echoing the idea that he "wanted to pursue my dream of one day pitching in the major leagues" (Berkow, 1996, p. B1 11; Sneider, 1996). However he also emphasized the monetary rewards available for those who can compete "against the best." "To say the money isn't part of the whole lure would be a lie. But it's not the most important factor. Testing ourselves against the best players in the world is the primary reason to come" (Gomez, 1997, p. 34).

Even when a sense of balance is introduced into the Cubas Narrative, it quickly becomes recontextualized. For example, Arch Ritter, an economics professor at Carleton University, suggested that Cuban society is "very egalitarian compared to the rest of the world." However that statement was immediately qualified by his correction; "it's really not all that even" ("Baseball's secret agent," 1999, p. Al).

Interestingly, within the narrative it is never explicitly stated what the specific advantages to freedom are or what freedom means. Nor is it emphasized that any of these defecting ballplayers could have gained freedom and the ability to play Major League baseball if they had come directly to the United States instead of taking Cubas' more lucrative path through a third country. What the coverage does offer are images of an America portrayed as a "promise land" providing freedom, an opportunity to succeed materially, and to test oneself against "the best." The images of America are contrasted with a Communist Cuba characterized by repression, poverty and a lack of opportunity.