Hemingway's Grandsons Statements
The two grandsons of US writer Ernest Hemingway, John and Patrick, said in Havana that they are happy with the new stage of relations between Cuba and their country.
John and Patrick arrived here boarding a yacht along other US citizens to participate at the 65th International Bill-fishing Tournament named after their grandfather, which begins today, May 25th, and will run until Saturday, the 30th.
John said that the announcement by President Barack Obama to work for the normalization of relations with Cuba came as a big surprise.
John and his brother had to apply for special permit from the Department of the Treasury to visit the Island due to the travel restrictions imposed by Washington on Cuba.
John Patrick, a writer, and Patrick Edward, a photographer, are the children of Gregory Hemingway and grandchildren of Pauline Pfeiffer, 2nd of 4 wives of the US writer.
Cuba-USA Joined in Wrestling
A team of wrestlers from Cuba recently wrestled a team of wrestlers from America in the most American, least Cuban place America has to offer: Times Square.
The Cubans were there for a pretty good reason. This is the annual blowout of Beat The Streets NY, a charity providing wrestling resources to New York youth. Each year, the organization hosts a wrestling exhibition in a notable New York location. Last year, it raised $1.5 million in a match up between the U.S. national team and "World All-Stars." In 2013, the Americans wrestled Iranians and Russians in Grand Central Station. In 2010, matches were held on the deck of the USS Intrepid.
The organization needed an "other" to stand in so wrestling fans can get to see America's best face off against somebody else's best. Cuba was a nice fit though gets most of its medals from fighting sports instead-- at the London Olympics in 2012, 10 of Cuba's 14 medals came from boxing, judo, wrestling and taekwondo.
And of course, Cuba and the United States are working to re-establish diplomatic relations. And there's no better way to be friends than through sports! Now that travel restrictions are easier between our countries --a Cuban team official reports the visa process only took a day-- the Cuban team happily made the trip to help out children on the streets of New York City.
Baseball
The Class of 2015's remarkable ball players are joining the original 12 Honored Members, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Sadaharu Oh, Roberto Clemente, Ferguson Jenkins, Juan Marichal, Shigeo Nagashima, Bobby Avila, Minnie Minoso, Viktor Starffin, Albert Spalding and Harry Wright.
The Class of 2015 remembered and honored were Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Cy Young, Lou Gehrig, Rod Carew, Nolan Ryan, Omar Linares, Dennis Martinez, Martin Dihigo, and Pete Rose.
World Baseball Hall of Fame induction events are planned for later this year.
