Little League World Series

Thought this might be interesting reading for some.

Transplanted Dominicans Find Success In The U.S.

By Gregg Sarra
Staff Correspondent

August 20, 2001

South Williamsport, Pa. -- The Dominican flag flew proudly in the first-base bleachers today at Lamade Stadium, waved by
fans of the Rolando Paulino All-Stars from the Bronx.

The official Dominican representatives never made it to the Little League World Series. They were ousted from the Caribbean
Region tourney by the Pariba Little League team of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.

But the Dominican Republic is well represented by the Bronx team that whipped the Iowa team, 7-4 ? 11 of its 12 players
were born in the Caribbean nation or have family from there.

The Dominican baseball connection has transformed the major leagues in recent years ? one town, San Pedro de Macoris,
has earned the label ?Land of the Shortstops? for sending so many to the big leagues.

That baseball culture has now taken root in cities like Miami and New York, home to many Dominican immigrants.

?Baseball is a way out of the Dominican,? said Sal Agostinelli, international scouting supervisor for the Philadelphia Phillies, who
plans to be at Lamade today thorugh the championship game, which President George W. Bush is also scheduled to attend.
?There are more Dominicans in major-league organizations than ever.?

The pipeline from the Dominican has produced such major-league superstars like pitchers Pedro Martinez of Boston and
Bartolo Colon of Cleveland, sluggers Vladimir Guerrero of Montreal and Sammy Sosa of Chicago and Mets bullpen specialist
Armando Benitez.

The Latin American influx is evident in U.S. Little League ball these days ? more American players come from the region that
any other part of the world. The large contingent of Davenport fans raised miniature American flags along the third-base line.

?The United States is a melting pot,? Davenport coach Matt Kolar said of the contrasting contingents. ?I think it?s terrific.?

Not all Iowa fans agreed with the coach.

?It?s an American team,? said Fred Gowey, an architect from Iowa whose son Alex Gowey plays first base for Davenport.
?You expect American flags.?

Copyright ? 2001, Newsday, Inc.

I'm Dominican

As far as the flag waving despute, I think everyone has the right to show their ancestry through flag identification. Yeah, I know we are in the US, but lets face it our faces do not represent Americans. If I go to Europe and I say am American, people will look at me like I'm a wanna be. If I go to Iowa and claine I'm American they'll look at me like I'm crazy. In a way I agree with them, none of my ancesters last names can be scene in the constituotion or the declaration of independence. So, I don't dare claime I'm American, thus taking credit for the success of this country. So as far as this fan saying " It's America we expect American Flags." There is no way to please them. If we wave the flag of our ancestry, we get scolded. If we wave an american flag they'll think to themselves "They wish they were Americans."

BTW I think Danny Almonte could be my cousin

My grand father always said that the Almontes in DR are only one family originating from Los Hidalgo/Puerto Plata area. I once read in the AOL geneological sight that the last name Almonte originated in DR. It said the name was term used to discribe to people where this family lived.
Example:
"Francisco donde vas?" asked fulanito.
"voy al monte," responded Francisco.
ALMONTE

Re: I'm Dominican

To tell you the truth, I didn't notice that part of the article since I just scanned it. The problem is, some of these kids are Dominican and probably legal residents and not citizens. I like to think of it as showing the diversity in the US.

Re: Not all American are political correct!

I said before it hard for a forigner in the US not all American are political correct, most are not. I am still a single Citizenship holder of DR after forty-six years here in the US.

In Miami its hard to be American

I live in Miami, and here if you are not blonde or black you are classified as cuban. It doesn't matter if you don't speak spanish or if you are a citizen; to them you are just a cuban. BTW Listin diario says Danny is from Moca, DR.

once upon a time

like when my grandparents came to the US from italy,they were very proud to say that they were AMERICAN citizens,i don't see that to much nowadays,it seems as though the majority of people just come here to get what they can and could care less about the US or their people.....jim