The Dominican home-run king, Sammy Sosa, met with President Hipolito Mejia yesterday in the President?s office in the National Palace. Following the meeting, which lasted some forty minutes, Sosa answered reporters? questions and announced that he had told the President he was
willing to participate in a publicity campaign in support of Dominican tourism. Sosa was especially eager to combat what he described as ?a dirty campaign? to damage the image of the DR as a tourist destination.
Sosa also said that he had suspended his contract negotiations with the Chicago Cubs after learning that Carlos Delgado, of the Toronto Blue Jays, had signed a contract for US$20 million, making him the highest paid Big Leagues player. Sosa hopes to negotiate a contract that will top
Delgado’s. Sosa, who is ?at home? in the DR following the Cubs? no-show performance in the Big League play-offs was also asked about problems at the non-profit foundation that bears his name. The slugger – upon whom the press has bestowed the sobriquet ?Caribbean Bambino? –
said that the foundation?s former director has committed ?many errors? in his management, and that he (Sosa) needed to provide some US$130,000 to cover debts incurred by the former director.
