Vlad Guerrero turns himself over to the police

[mythoughts]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/v...ncident-041012

[CharmCityCrab]

Kind of sad to see that happen to the guy, whether he actually did it or not. If he did it, it's really a shame that a guy who's accomplished so much and has been a hero to so many people would get himself in that situation. If he didn't do it, it's sad that some third world cops would falsely accuse someone famous of something like that just because they can as some sort of power trip or who knows what.

Honestly, after seeing what happened to Alfredo Simon on those gun charges, and that Nationals player who actually got kidnapped in his home country, if I were a major league baseball player from Latin America, I think I'd just set up shop in the US. Buy a nice house in a gated community with good security, pay to bring over family and friends who want to visit every so often (Maybe even move some family over permanently).

It seems like when these guys go back to their home countries, they're a target for everyone from corrupt police to criminal elements. I'm not saying that those things don't also exist here (Of course they do), but it's to a lesser degree, and these players can find places to live where they'll be among people of similar economic statuses and won't stand out as much as "the guy to mess with" as they do as like the one famous rich guy in a country full of mostly anonymous poor people.

Of course, I understand people having an emotional attachment to their homeland and not wanting to leave it for good. I might feel the same way in their position, and wind up staying, too. To me, though, it's starting to become almost undeniable that the safe smart thing to do for a ball player from some of these places who's made some big money and gotten famous is to live in the USA full-time, taking emotions out of it. Of course, you can't always take emotions out of it. But if I were friends with one of these guys, I'd at least broach the topic with him and see what he thinks.

And in Vlad's case- wherever you live, stay out of nightclubs. So many players get into trouble doing the night life thing, even the night life thing in the US. Ray Lewis almost wound up on trial for double murder for breaking up a fight in an Atlanta night club. Just stay home. Heck, some of these guys have enough money that they can build their own little bar or club on their own property with private security and a carefully screened guest list if that's really something that's important to them. No need to go downtown and take the risk of someone recognizing you and making trouble.

[hector]

Kind of sad to see that happen to the guy, whether he actually did it or not. If he did it, it's really a shame that a guy who's accomplished so much and has been a hero to so many people would get himself in that situation. If he didn't do it, it's sad that some third world cops would falsely accuse someone famous of something like that just because they can as some sort of power trip or who knows what.

Honestly, after seeing what happened to Alfredo Simon on those gun charges, and that Nationals player who actually got kidnapped in his home country, if I were a major league baseball player from Latin America, I think I'd just set up shop in the US. Buy a nice house in a gated community with good security, pay to bring over family and friends who want to visit every so often (Maybe even move some family over permanently).

It seems like when these guys go back to their home countries, they're a target for everyone from corrupt police to criminal elements. I'm not saying that those things don't also exist here (Of course they do), but it's to a lesser degree, and these players can find places to live where they'll be among people of similar economic statuses and won't stand out as much as "the guy to mess with" as they do as like the one famous rich guy in a country full of mostly anonymous poor people.

Of course, I understand people having an emotional attachment to their homeland and not wanting to leave it for good. I might feel the same way in their position, and wind up staying, too. To me, though, it's starting to become almost undeniable that the safe smart thing to do for a ball player from some of these places who's made some big money and gotten famous is to live in the USA full-time, taking emotions out of it. Of course, you can't always take emotions out of it. But if I were friends with one of these guys, I'd at least broach the topic with him and see what he thinks.

And in Vlad's case- wherever you live, stay out of nightclubs. So many players get into trouble doing the night life thing, even the night life thing in the US. Ray Lewis almost wound up on trial for double murder for breaking up a fight in an Atlanta night club. Just stay home. Heck, some of these guys have enough money that they can build their own little bar or club on their own property with private security and a carefully screened guest list if that's really something that's important to them. No need to go downtown and take the risk of someone recognizing you and making trouble.

A very thoughtful post, CharmCityCrab. Thanks.

[weird-O]

Kind of sad to see that happen to the guy, whether he actually did it or not. If he did it, it's really a shame that a guy who's accomplished so much and has been a hero to so many people would get himself in that situation. If he didn't do it, it's sad that some third world cops would falsely accuse someone famous of something like that just because they can as some sort of power trip or who knows what.

Honestly, after seeing what happened to Alfredo Simon on those gun charges, and that Nationals player who actually got kidnapped in his home country, if I were a major league baseball player from Latin America, I think I'd just set up shop in the US. Buy a nice house in a gated community with good security, pay to bring over family and friends who want to visit every so often (Maybe even move some family over permanently).

It seems like when these guys go back to their home countries, they're a target for everyone from corrupt police to criminal elements. I'm not saying that those things don't also exist here (Of course they do), but it's to a lesser degree, and these players can find places to live where they'll be among people of similar economic statuses and won't stand out as much as "the guy to mess with" as they do as like the one famous rich guy in a country full of mostly anonymous poor people.

Of course, I understand people having an emotional attachment to their homeland and not wanting to leave it for good. I might feel the same way in their position, and wind up staying, too. To me, though, it's starting to become almost undeniable that the safe smart thing to do for a ball player from some of these places who's made some big money and gotten famous is to live in the USA full-time, taking emotions out of it. Of course, you can't always take emotions out of it. But if I were friends with one of these guys, I'd at least broach the topic with him and see what he thinks.

And in Vlad's case- wherever you live, stay out of nightclubs. So many players get into trouble doing the night life thing, even the night life thing in the US. Ray Lewis almost wound up on trial for double murder for breaking up a fight in an Atlanta night club. Just stay home. Heck, some of these guys have enough money that they can build their own little bar or club on their own property with private security and a carefully screened guest list if that's really something that's important to them. No need to go downtown and take the risk of someone recognizing you and making trouble.

there are hundreds (that's a guess-timate) of MLB players from/in Latin America. If you include retired players that number grows. I wouldn't be too quick to say that a handful of incidents represents the broader population (which in this case is MLB players who live in Latin America).

also, it's all relative. if you grow up in a poor neighborhood with chronic crime problems, you don't think it's so unusual. but if you live in a more affluent neighborhood, an act of crime or violence stands out more. Trust me on this, I live in baltimore city. my in-laws are horrified to hear when someone gets mugged or assulted here and there around our part of the city. but for us, it's not that unusual.

Vlad came up hard, so it's not unusual for him to see these things. the guy didn't want to sign with Baltimore because he can't speak english and presumably doesn't know how to live on his own. he isn't about to move to a country where english is the primary language.

as for your idea of building a nightclub on their property. take a minute to think about how impractical that is.

first of all, the player has to get zoning approved. that's not likely to happen if they live in a wealthy gated community. that's the type of place you usually find other wealthy people. and wealthy people tend to have political clout that they will use to prevent someone from building a nightclub in their back yard on their street.

then you need to give out the password to that protective gate. this is necessary if you're going to give access to the club to that segment of the general public you've deemed safe to come to your club. and what if any of those guests want to bring a friend with them, but that friend needs to drive separately. now you're secret password is floating around the city you live in. you can't realistically keep it a secret. and if it's a gate operated by a human, you need to add him to your payroll. and one gatekeeper isn't enough. you need a relif gatekeeper for shift changes and sick days. you probably need a minimun of 4 gatekeepers.

then you have to hire security and a staff for your nightclub. you need entertainment, so now you need to apply for a license for that. don't forget the permits to sell booze. that can be tricky. and all these things and people need to be paid for. especially the staff. you may only want to go to your backyard club on Fri and Sat night, but you need to pay them for Sun-Thurs., even if they aren't working those days. otherwise, they'll get other jobs and you'll be left with a club, but no staff.

and your neighbors are going to love all the cars parked up and down the streets. and you know how impatient people can be when they're looking for a parking spot in a limited parking scenario. they tend to park illegally. in this case, that means your neighbors driveways. you're quickly becoming everyone's favorite neighbor.

and what about the nights that you don't want all the traffic and cars parked in your driveway. too bad, you own a club now, and you need to keep it open because you need to cover the overhead of utilities and staff. and rich people get drunk too. rich people like pretty people, and pretty people tend to be younger people. and younger people tend to cross lines of acceptable public behavior. even if they are in an exclusive, private club in a gated community.

I could go on and on, but I trust you see how impractical this idea is.

[hector]

there are hundreds (that's a guess-timate) of MLB players from/in Latin America. If you include retired players that number grows. I wouldn't be too quick to say that a handful of incidents represents the broader population (which in this case is MLB players who live in Latin America).

also, it's all relative. if you grow up in a poor neighborhood with chronic crime problems, you don't think it's so unusual. but if you live in a more affluent neighborhood, an act of crime or violence stands out more. Trust me on this, I live in baltimore city. my in-laws are horrified to hear when someone gets mugged or assulted here and there around our part of the city. but for us, it's not that unusual.

Vlad came up hard, so it's not unusual for him to see these things. the guy didn't want to sign with Baltimore because he can't speak english and presumably doesn't know how to live on his own. he isn't about to move to a country where english is the primary language.

as for your idea of building a nightclub on their property. take a minute to think about how impractical that is.

first of all, the player has to get zoning approved. that's not likely to happen if they live in a wealthy gated community. that's the type of place you usually find other wealthy people. and wealthy people tend to have political clout that they will use to prevent someone from building a nightclub in their back yard on their street.

then you need to give out the password to that protective gate. this is necessary if you're going to give access to the club to that segment of the general public you've deemed safe to come to your club. and what if they want to bring a good friend with them, but that friend needs to drive separately. now you're secret password is floating around the city you live in.

then you have to hire security and a staff for your nightclub. you need entertainment, so now you need to apply for a license for that. don't forget the permits to sell booze. that can be tricky. and all these things and people need to be paid for. especially the staff. you may only want to go to your backyard club on Fri and Sat night, but you need to pay them for Sun-Thurs., even if they aren't working those days. otherwise, they'll get other jobs and you'll be left with a club, but no staff.

and your neighbors are going to love all the cars parked up and down the streets. and you know how impatient people can be when they're looking for a parking spot in a limited parking scenario. they tend to park illegally. in this case, that means your neighbors driveways.

and what about the nights that you don't want all the traffic and cars parked in your driveway. too bad, you own a club now, and you need to keep it open because you need to cover the overhead of utilities and staff. and rich people get drunk too. rich people like pretty people, and pretty people tend to be younger people. and younger people tend to cross lines of acceptable public behavior. even if they are in an exclusive, private club in a gated community.

I could go on and on, but I trust you see how impractical this idea is.

I'd hate to think how long your post would have been if you did "go on and on."

[weird-O]

I'd hate to think how long your post would have been if you did "go on and on."

it is long, but it is also full of interesting points. not everything can be chopped down for fast-food intake. quality takes time.

and I know you will agree that your life is better for having read it.

[18-87-44-29]

Look like in just one year there the local football team seemed to rub off on old Vald.

[hector]

it is long, but it is also full of interesting points. not everything can be chopped down for fast-food intake. quality takes time.

and I know you will agree that your life is better for having read it.

You're right - the deep thinking and wisdom from your post will be treasured and never forgotten. Have a good day and try not to get mugged in the neighborhood.

[weird-O]

You're right - the deep thinking and wisdom from your post will be treasured and never forgotten. Have a good day and try not to get mugged in the neighborhood.

thanks for the well wishes