Patriotism is dead and Miguel Tejada killed it.
I don’t know who the Dominican Republic has penciled in at starting shortstop for the World Baseball Classic, but he’s better than Miguel Tejada. Tejada has just left the team because they asked him to move from his customary position at short to first base.
On the roster for the DR are pro shortstops Jose Reyes and Hanley Rameriz, plus they’ve got this other guy A-Rod, who I think used to play short once upon a time. Guess that was too many guys better at short and so the request went out to Tejada to move.
Tejada refused to sacrifice on the grounds that he’d never played first. He’s expressing disappointment for not being able to play for his country and letting down his fans there. So, why doesn’t he play then?
Aren’t events like the Olympics or the WBC supposed to be about patriotism and sacrificing for your country? If you’re in the NHL and the top center on your team, you accept and realize that if Wayne Gretzky is picked for the same Canadian Olympic squad as you that you’re not centering the A line for Team Canada.
Clearly, when it comes to superstar athletes in baseball ego will trump love of country every time.
