Many of you have written me to ask me who will win this year World Series. The answer, is “I do not know!” No one knows, not even this so-says-he called Spartacus. May be I should not say this, but he is what we call in Venezuela “a homely dog running around in the streets looking for a master or at least some food, but no one will give him any, so he sings a sad song in the streets.” (Do you have this idioma in Englis?) Plus, he is clearly insane, thinking that the Giants would win. Pobrecito.
As to who I want to win: well, that is a clear answer that you can pretty figure out if you are paying attention. There is only one team that is left for me — but the answer may surprise you!
A lot have said to me that, “I will be going for the White Sox because of my uncle.” It is true that Ozzie is a family member of me, and many is the time we have laughed and talked about beisbol and life together at suave resorts in and around our native land. But that does not cloud my judge. To me, the sport I love the most is más importante than all the family in the world. Also, Ozzie is a little weird and kind of crazy, although he deserves Manger of the Year award for 2005 and this is clear and iron-bound.
I would be happy for the Blanco Sox except that besides Ozzie there is only one other Venezolano on the team, Mr. Freddie GarcÃa. They will clearly beat the Rojo Sox, as Gonzalez is the only guy on their team from our beautiful land, and he is a scrubber. For all the Latin support for the Rojo Sox, no offense but those hitters are mostly Dominicanos and we all know about them. (Although, David Ortiz, call me!) So Blancos win there.
My favorite of teams left is the Los Angels of Anehim. Look at their roster: Frankie Rod! Kelvim Escobar, with his name of a scientist who also drug deals! Maicer Izturis, of whom I once shot with a balloon filled with mango jelly at his six birthday party and he cried, so cute! Juan Rivera, who is darkly handsome and can get in line for a cup of coffee in the bigs, if you whiff my meaning! They will obliterate the Yanquis, who have none of my countrymens at all, another dark chapter in Yanqui history.
(I think Presidente Chávez is correct about this. You perhaps saw me on his show, “Aló Presidente,” last Saturday? We talk for three hours about beisbol — quite a keen player as a kid! very knowledge! — and about politics, of course he is a master at that. He think that a curse has descended on the Yanquis for having the name Yanquis. He also think that even though he was treated liek a hero in the South Ebronx after his U.N. speech where he made Bush a bitch a little, the people there do not really support such a team. He calls for the Rojo Sox because he likes their color and scrappiness, but I point out their suck relief pitching and he suddenly wants to sing folk songs from the 19 century. So I sing. He is our leader! And very handsome caudillo, too.)
In the National League: it is a sorry state of affairs. Only two of the four teams left are laden with any people from my lovely place. Clearly, Ramon Hernandez will power los Daddys past the Aint Louis Cardinals, and likewise with Humberto “Humberto” Quintero and the Astros over the Braves, who are not so brave after all. (Although, Andruw Jones from Curacao, call me!) But I see that all the E$PN publicos say that the Astros will win the World Series, and this cannot be. In Venezuela, we root for the underdoggie. So it will be the Padres and you hear it here first of all.
In the Series, I predict that the Angeles will beat the Padres. I also predict that there will be party down here that last for days and weeks. We will alls end up in jail! Just like old times!
Ana Maria Collejeo Guillen is the top baseball writer for El Universal. She is also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work in the barrios of Caracas. Her newest album, “¿Donde Está el Amor Que Tu Me Prometió, Está Allà Algo Más Tu?,” is due in November on Luaka Bop.