News » s. Self thinks hes the favourite for Big 12 player of the year

HAVANA, Cuba -- Could a new wave of Cuban baseball players be headed for the major leagues without having to defect from the communist island? Cuba announced Friday that athletes from all sports will soon be able to sign contracts with foreign leagues, a break with a decades-old policy that held pro sports to be anathema to socialist ideals. Its a step toward the day when the road from Havana to Yankee Stadium might mean simply hopping on a plane rather than attempting a perilous sea crossing or sneaking out of a hotel at midnight in a strange land. But American baseball fans shouldnt throw their Dodgers or Rockies caps in the air in celebration just yet. The Cold War-era embargo against Cuba means it may not happen anytime soon. If it does come to pass, it could increase -- astronomically, in some cases -- the amount of money Cuban baseball players can earn. Athletes wages are not made public in Cuba but are believed to be somewhere around the $20 a month that most other state employees earn -- a tiny fraction of the millions many U.S. big leaguers make. "Its the dream of many athletes to test themselves in other leagues -- the big leagues, if at some point my country would allow it," said Yasmani Tomas, who is one of Cubas top talents, batting .345 last season with the powerhouse Havana Industriales. Under the new policy, athletes will be eligible to play abroad as long as they fulfil their commitments at home, the Communist Party newspaper Granma reported. For baseball players, that means being available for international competitions as well as Cubas November-to-April league. "We have seen the press reports. This is an internal Cuban matter," Deputy State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. "Generally speaking, the United States welcomes any reforms that allow Cubans to depart from and return to their country." Major League Baseball said the impact of Fridays announcement cant be predicted. "Given that we do not have any details of this change in policy, it would be premature for us to speculate what effect it may have," the commissioners office said in a statement. "There are no provisions in the major league rules or bylaws that make it more difficult for Cuban ballplayers to play Major League Baseball, but MLB and its clubs have and will continue to act in accordance with the laws and policies of the United States government." President Raul Castros government hopes the move will stem defections by athletes who are lured abroad by the possibility of lucrative contracts, a practice that saps talent from Cubas teams. "I think this could help stop the desertions a little bit," said Yulieski Gourriel, a talented 29-year-old third baseman who batted .314 last year for Sancti Spiritus. "I dont even want to talk about how much Ive been offered, because every time we leave the country, there are these offers. Ive never paid attention because Ive always said Im not interested." A number of his countrymen, however, are interested. Cuban defectors now in the major leagues include outfielder Yasiel Puig, who signed a $42 million, seven-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2012 and had a sensational rookie season, helping Los Angeles win its division. Hard-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman signed a $30.25 million, six-year deal with Cincinnati before the 2010 season. If the policy change comes to pass, "its good for Cuba, for everybody, for the players -- more people in the big leagues, more experience for international tournaments," said Milwaukee Brewers infielder Yuniesky Betancourt, a Cuban defector who left his homeland aboard a speedboat in 2003. Texas Rangers outfielder Leoyns Martin was surprised Friday when told about the news "Really? Oh my gosh," said Martin, wearing his Cuba Baseball jacket from the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Martin defected after playing for Cubas national team in a 2010 tournament in Japan. "I dont want to talk about that," Martin said. "Thats a long history in my life." Professional sports were essentially done away with under Fidel Castro in 1961, two years after the Cuban revolution, and athletes became state employees just like factory workers and farmhands. Sport as private enterprise was deemed incompatible with the Marxist society Castro intended to create. In 2005, he railed against the "parasites that feed off the athletes hard work" in professional sports. Fridays announcement is part of a trend toward relaxing that stance under Castros brother, who became president in 2006. Earlier this year, Cuba ended a five-decade ban on professional boxing, joining an international semipro league where fighters compete for sponsored teams and earn $1,000 to $3,000 a month. Still, the biggest obstacle to, say, Tomas likeness showing up on a bobblehead doll in a major league park someday may lie not in Cuba, but in the U.S. Granma reported that Cuban athletes will have to pay taxes on any earnings from foreign clubs, an apparent conflict with the 51-year-old American embargo that outlaws nearly all U.S. transactions with Cuba unless they are specifically licensed by Washington. The economic restrictions were imposed after Cuba nationalized American businesses and aligned itself with the Soviet Union. They have been kept in place to try to pressure the authoritarian country to allow its people more freedom. "Our policy has not changed. Cuban players need to be unblocked by a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control in order to play for the MLB," said John Sullivan, spokesman for the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control. "In order to qualify, the players must prove that they have permanent residency outside of Cuba." Cuban players who defect establish residency in another country and become free agents, eligible for any major league organization to sign. While residents of the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada are the only ones currently subject to baseballs amateur draft, MLB management hopes to start an international draft in the next labour contract, which would start in 2017. In the interim, MLB and the union last year started a system of restraints on signing bonuses for international players. "The Basic Agreement is unclear as to whether theyd be subject to the international signing limits," said Jay Reisinger, an agent and lawyer for several major leaguers. Even if Cubans have trouble playing in the U.S., they might still be able to take the field in Mexico, Japan, Venezuela or other countries during their off-season, something that has happened in a few instances. Also Friday, Granma announced raises for island athletes, including bonuses for individual and team achievement. For example, in baseball, league leaders in hitting and other categories will get an extra $41. The team that wins the title will split $2,700. Thats small change by big-league standards, but sizeable in Cuba. "The pay raise is going to be a big help. It was time," Tomas said. "I think if wed done it even earlier, some athletes would not have left." Darrell Henderson Rams Jersey . With the players association in the midst of meetings in Las Vegas, a vote will be held on Friday to decide the CFLPAs presidency and other executive positions. Joe Namath Rams Jersey . -- Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the Dodgers starting pitchers in their two-game season-opening series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-Aaron-Donald-Jersey/ . The 23-year-old Poland international is back as first choice at Arsenal after losing his regular spot in the team on occasions over the last three seasons. Orlando Pace Jersey . Mitchell first announced on Twitter that he has signed with the Steelers and his agent Brian Hamilton confirmed the signing to The Associated Press. Financial terms were not released. The Steelers have not announced the addition of Mitchell. David Long Jersey . -- A deflected pass that landed in DeSean Jacksons hands.LAWRENCE, Kan. - Andrew Wiggins remembers sitting in the bleachers of Allen Fieldhouse long after the final whistle, watching as the crowd showered the departing Kansas players with love. It may not have been that exact moment that the nations No. 1 recruit decided he would play his only season of college basketball with the Jayhawks. But the outpouring of support on senior night certainly played a role in his decision, one that he doesnt regret for a moment. "It went too quick," Wiggins said late Wednesday after his own version of senior night, tucked away in a small room not far from those stands where he sat a year ago. "I wish I had more time to stay here and do my thing, just be here with the team and the coaches and all these wonderful fans," Wiggins said, thoughtfully. "Thats one of the reasons I committed here. I came here on senior night and the fans were so loyal." Kansas coach Bill Self stayed true to his promise after an 87-52 victory over Texas Tech, reserving most of the senior day traditions for his seniors. Tarik Black, Niko Roberts and Justin Wesley were honoured with framed jerseys prior to the game, and each of them was given a microphone afterward to address a sellout crowd that once again stuck around long after the game. But the coach who has guided the Jayhawks to 10 straight Big 12 titles also made sure to note what everybody already knew: The latest of them probably wouldnt have happened without Wiggins. So before turning the microphone over to the seniors, he asked the crowd to give the rest of the team a round of applause, and then told Wiggins and fellow freshmen Wayne Selden and Joel Embiid — both of whom will have their own NBA decisions to make after the season — to stand up and be acknowledged. The crowd stood with them, giving them a thunderous ovation. "I dont think its hit me yet. Thats how quick everything went by," Wiggins said. "It feels like just yesterday we had our late night, so I dont thiink its hit me yet.dddddddddddd." Wiggins arrived at Kansas with nearly unattainable expectations, yet hes lived up to just about all of them. Hes averaging 16 points and nearly six rebounds, numbers that may seem modest at first glance but are even more impressive considering the way he shares the ball. Then theres the Big 12 championship ring that will soon be slipped onto his finger. And there are still plenty of more memories to be made. The Jayhawks wrap up their regular season Saturday at West Virginia, and will have the No. 1 seed in next weeks Big 12 tournament, played just down the road from campus at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. Then the NCAA tournament, where Kansas is still in the running for a top seed. Along the way, Wiggins is sure to pick up a handful for awards. Self thinks hes the favourite for Big 12 player of the year, which The Associated Press will announce next week. "Its almost a logic no-brainer," Self said. "I dont believe his numbers will blow anybody away, but to be the best player on the best team thats had a fair amount of success in the league — I dont think you could go any other direction." To be perfectly clear, Wiggins has never led anybody on. He made it clear from the outset that he would head to the NBA next season, and after having one of the best freshman campaigns in Kansas history, hes certain to be a lottery pick if not the No. 1 overall choice. Still, in listening to him Wednesday night, it seemed for a brief moment that he wished he could put life on hold — the millions of dollars, the endorsements, the business that will become basketball — and keep playing the game with his close buddies a little while longer. "I think its all puddled up," Wiggins said. "Im happy, sad, my last game. But I just enjoy my time here. Im thankful for everything. I cant ask for more. Ive been blessed by a good team, great coaches and the greatest fans a team could ask for." ' ' '