"Operation Iraqi Baseball": Rachel Maddow Spearheads Support For National Team (VIDEO)

When Rachel Maddow reported a McClatchy story on Monday night about the Iraqi national baseball team, she didn't expect her brief mention of the team's dire financial straits "to be a huge deal."

However, in the days since the initial report, offers of financial assistance and shipments of much-needed uniforms and equipment came pouring in.

On Wednesday's show, Maddow called the response "overwhelming and honestly heartwarming." Her show, in conjunction with donors and the assistant coach of the team, is currently at work shipping the equipment to the team by Friday.

While the outpouring of support more than provided for the gear the team needed, Maddow urged viewers not to let "the generous impulse [they] had towards these Iraqi baseball players go to waste." To that end, a link has been posted on the show's website to Operation Give, an organization which provides humanitarian aid to combat zones.

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Comments

[rimofheaven]

She is a champion and my hero.

[Usama]

Folks, certain things are passed on from the colonizing power to its colonized people. Recreation and sports are one of them. Cricket, a native British game, is famous in India & Pakistan because the British empire brought it and taught it when ruled.
Baseball is not native or common in the Middle East since its generally an American game. In fact, its very likely that it was not financed and supported in Iraq because it IS a cultural trait of the American imperial power that destroyed Iraq and is trying to rebuild it.

Quite frankly, Maddow is reenforcing an age old imperial trait of cultural imposition. If the Iraqi people are not supporting baseball and only a few young men are playing it, so what?


Maddow uses the opportunity of American imperialism to reenforce cultural imposition on Iraq by financing a baseball team which otherwise has no place in Iraq. Its condemnable. And given that Iraq needs serious foundational requirements like public utilities which America destroyed and failed to rebuild, supporting baseball is quite imperious, conceited, and selfserving.

[victorsays]

As a minority in America, I think sport is just sport. Kung Fu and Martial art was created in Asia, but it is pretty popular in the US. Judo is an Olympic sport.

If it is fun, it is fun. I would worry if golf become popular, not that culture imperialism.

Although, I do agree with you that this news story is self-serving to make American feel good, while people are still dying.

[Westof405]

How about some support from the war profiteers like Halliburton, KBR and Blackwater? These capitalist criminals made off with billions of US tax dollars in overcharges (Halliburton and KBR) and killed unarmed civilians (Blackwater). The least they could do is help repair our image in Iraq with a few bucks worth of sports gear.

I doubt we hear a peep from these and the other companies who made fortunes off the war. During WWII, war profiteering was a crime and in fact, Harry Truman headed the agency that monitored profiteering before being chosen as FDR's running mate. Under Bush, war profiteering was business as usual-these huge companies ripped off the taxpayers as well as the Iraqis with no consequences whatsoever.

[Whitley2009]

I can just imagine going to the first Sunni versus Shiite baseball game.

[The Albany Kid]

Can you imagine how dramatic a "suicide squeeze" would be in that game?

[hollyhund]

Dr. Rachel Maddow is just the greatest! Someone on this string asked why Iraq with all its oil couldn't provide this? You know..that did not cross my mine..I just saw the need and pitched in.Hope the players and other kids enjoy this small gift from us!

[Jeff Cunningham]

She's a doctor?

[Whitley2009]

Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford University, England.

[Whitley2009]

Majored in Political Science.

[springsm]

This is a nice gesture but it is hard to believe that Iraq with all their oil money can not field a well equipped team....but it is also a good sign that the USA will step up to the plate and be generous and "empathetic".
But aside from baseball.....did any of you hear or see Rachel with Pat Buchanan tonight...wow he must have been wounded somewhere along the way with affirmative action. I think Sotomayor was too honest on that one and didn't think she had to spell it all out for these bigots. It was a shouting match and I hope we don't have to suffer PB anymore on RM's show...stick to Joe's.

[Jeff Cunningham]

I saw that, and actually thought Rachel was remarkably reserved and calmly stated her points. She only raised her voice so she could be heard. It's her show, and Pat threatened to take it over with his misguided, hate-filled opinion. The fact that she was able to hold her own in this debate while keeping her wits about her is impressive -- and more evidence that of all the primetime cable news political fare, she's the best.

[biglover]

Wrong thread. This is not about Rachel and Pat. It's about raising money for the Iraqi baseball team

[Jeff Cunningham]

Not to mention, calling out a colleague of hers for something he wrote on the air? Ballsy move.

[greymom]

Rachel is one of the most articulate, educated political commentators on TV. I hope her ratings grow so more people hear of her and tune in. She is a class act, especially compared to the FOX thugs who only bombast, interupt and cut off anyone who doesn't agree with them. She treats her guests with respect, even when they don't deserve it.

[jimrs6]

A shameless attempt to get 9 more viewers to double the ratings.

[LongInTheTooth]

So don't watch. You won't be missed.

[medicontheedge]

perhaps major league baseball, with all its go-zillionaires will "step up to the plate".

[Manx]

I love Rachel but I don't think we should impose our culture on the Iraqis. That sounds like part of the Bush/Cheney plan.

[pc1022]

I think sharing or creating a curiosity about our culture is more the case - read the article at McClatchy that started this

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/71740.html

[MED1025]

It may never be a popular sport in that part of the world, but the Iraqi Olympic team has given the team enough money for entrance fees to qualify for the next Olympics. There is no money for any more support. I think Rachel and her viewers should be commended for helping these athletes try to make it to the London.

[Jeff Cunningham]

Rachel and her viewers aren't imposing anything; Iraq has a team already, just no funding for equipment. Rachel's just trying to help them out.

[osusana]

I watched Rachel last night, and I want to rush out and buy some baseballs or mitts or cleats and send them along. She's just a dynamo with this incredibly wonderful project. Love ya, Rachel!

[johnnynyc]

Yeah, like there's no kids without balls and bats in the good old USA.

This is just dumb.

[michyh]

Rachel can't help but attract goodness. LOVE HER!

[josephbua]

Yeah, Rachel and her staff are mensches, but I wish you would have linked to her further coverage of the religious cult that is entangled with the infidelities of Sanford and Ensign.

Because this stuff scares the bejeebees outta me.

http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/2009/07/maddow-video-more-on-republican-philanderers-ensign-sanford-and-their-christian-cult.html

[Whitley2009]

Great site. Good reporting by Dr. Maddow and a former member of The Family. Scary people. Where is the F.B.I. and Homeland Security as to pulling the top secret security clearances of the cultists who are members of Congress?

[desertdweller]

Yeah Rachel!

Before I travelled to Cuba a few years ago, I went around collecting baseball gloves, baseballs, etc. Someone gave me an entire set of catcher's equipment (including cup). I brought a total of 23 gloves to Habana. When I passed these out to kids, they were thrilled. Generosity trumps bellicosity anyday.

[zenmonkman]

So, let me see if I have the basic concepts under my belt:

1. Exchange the joy of sport through the fair admittance of players regardless of financial position.
2. Level the playing field by giving everyone access to the essential tools and equipment of the game
3. Then allow players to engage in the true spirit of sports competition
4. And then soon ... yep ... very soon ... everyone (regardless of background) will be sitting around a restaurant table discussing "the game" while drinking their beverage of choice.

Ping-Pong Diplomacy ... works for me!