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A recent video has emerged showing Giants legend Juan Marichal joining current icon Pedro Martinez in a little bout of cockfighting in their native country, the Dominican Republic. Apparently, Juan's cock took on Pedro's cock and won. Way to go, Little Juan. The video of it appeared on YouTube, but was recently taken down. This being the internet, a video in some form still exists. For obvious reasons, we won't post it but for those curious about it, you can see it here (warning-- site contains pictures of excessively well-endowed women.)
This is the kind of thing that would bring on the animal rights activists as well as PETA but even more so in light of the Michael Vick thing; in fact, the guys at KNBR were screaming for heads to roll last night. And for a team that has certainly taken a few PR blows lately, this is yet another one to deal with. It is, in fact, a statue of Marichal in the midst of his gravity-defying delivery that stands right outside the Phonebooth.
We have to admit it, but it's hard for us to get that sense of outrage over this. For one, this is a much bigger headache for the Mets with whom Pedro plays for than it is for the Giants. Also, cockfighting, as awful as it is, is actually legal in the Dominican Republic and part of their culture. So much so that it took place at an officially sanctioned stadium, the KFC Santo Domingo Cockfighting Coliseum (and, yes, we made up the KFC part). So, in order to be good little multi-culturalists, we have to back off. Or maybe it's because after the Hostage Brituation we're a little burnt-out on outrage lately.
Besides, it gives us an excuse to say cockfighting.
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Been to the Philippines and saw a couple of great looking cocks go at it. I also saw a few roosters fighting in a ring.
Been to Spain and saw a dude in tight yellow pants and a funny hat stick his sword into a bull.
Have yet to go to Texas or the Cow Palace to watch a good ol' boy in chaps ride a bull.
Humans fucking with animals sucks, but it's done in every single society and culture and country ever since since humans first learned to fuck with animals. I ain't saying it's right, but I am saying it's hypocrisy to call out Juan and Pedro if you had a hamburger for lunch. And if you're a vegan, dude! Joe's Cable Car. Mmmm.
It doesn't really matter if it's legal or not. There are many abhorrent practices that are legal in one country or another.
These persons can't be prosecuted like Michael Vick was, but it's still important to point out that they are engaging in a barbaric practice. It's important to expose them as supporters. They could have, you know, done something good or more admirable with their time and fame in the Dominican Republic. Just an idea. Especially if you buy into the "sport stars as example setters for kids" thing (which I don't).
For sure, commenter #1 is right about the hypocrisy part. But I (=vegan) am okay any progress and attention in animal abuse matters that I can get.
Bird fighting is a business!
Bird fighters in the U.S. and Dominican Republic (and other countries) are in business together.
They breed, sell, buy and ship birds to each other. And they attend each other's fights.
So what has Pedro been up to in the U.S.? And has he paid taxes on his gambling income?
"part of the culture" is no excuse. If I recall correctly, slavery used to be part of this country's culture, along with a lot of other nefarious practices. Thankfully, we've evolved.
Not everything "cultural" is worthy of preservation, and it's used to justify far too much lately, in my opinion.
Is where I should mention seeing the donkey show with the 15 year old puta in Tijuana? Ahhh, culture...
Maybe "get[ting] a sense of outrage over this" isn't necessary. Sounds like Jon vamping in front of the mirror, trying different poses. What's the right look for this? How much wry detachment goes with roosters made to torture one another for fun? Turns out, probably no insouciance would have been better. Never mind. It might not have been perfect, but the post got the point across: The thing pictures of millionaires torturing animals teach us is that the life of a fashiontude blogger is hard.
The kind of cock fights that should be encouraged are when guys are naked together in front of a camera.
I'll bet they don't allow that/videos in Dominican Republic, but it's OK to watch birds rip each other to death?
Screw "cultural sensitivity" in cases like this.
It's plain wrong to kill for sport.
"part of the culture" IS an excuse!
When in the fuck are we as Americans going to GET THE FUCK OVER the idea that we have to set the moral and legal standards for THE ENTIRE FUCKING WORLD just because a small minority or plurality or even a slight majority of people in the US agree or disagree with something?
I'm sure some people aren't being huge hypocrites here, (i assume there are quite a few vegans/etc) but holy crap have any of you SEEN a chicken farm and a chicken slaughterhouse? If you think cockfighting is cruel, you really shouldn't go have a a chicken sandwich any time soon because the treatment the food birds get is FAR worse than the sport birds. (here's a hint, they both die in the end.. but only one set actually got to live and it's not your McNuggets!)
If we're not going to get irate on a regular basis about politicians or celebrities or athletes eating at McDonalds, or owning stock in Tyson foods or anything like that, i think it's a bit absurd to get irate over this.
I think it's fine, so long as they eat the chicken afterward.
@masterdave:
I am not an American. This is not about Americans setting standards.
I'm not setting moral standards. I'm passing moral judgment. And I'd never eat anything out of a battery cage.