Renowned Cuban umpire defects to United States

Renowned Cuban umpire defects to United States
(AP)

MIAMI — A top Cuban umpire has defected to the United States.

The Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Herald reports that Nelson Diaz
arrived in Miami on Sunday with his wife and two daughters.

Diaz worked in the Olympics and the 2006 World Baseball Classic. His
26-year career supposedly ended after he was picked to work the 2009 WBC
in Japan but was told by Cuban baseball officials he couldn't go because
they didn't trust him.

Diaz said one of the first things he did in the U.S. was place flowers
at the tomb of his mother, who died in Miami before he could see her.

In 1999, Diaz called the exhibition game between the Cubans and Orioles
in Baltimore. He helped restore order after a Cuban umpire body-slammed
an anti-Castro demonstrator.

Diaz also participated in World Cups and the Pan American Games, among
many other international tournaments.

The Associated Press: Renowned Cuban umpire defects to United States (1
December 2009)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRWaujDqQVrUsngvTss5qNxUnGqwD9CA4LE01