U.S.

Cuban Ball Player To Stay In Miami

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

May 9, 2000 / 10:06 AM EDT / CBS

The Cuban college baseball player who suddenly left his teammates shortly after arriving in Minnesota this past weekend announced in Miami that he wants to defect to the United States.

CBS News Correspondent Drew Levinson reports that late Monday, Mario Chaoui turned up with a sports agent, his grandmother and uncle at his side, and spoke from the office of an agent, Joe Cubas, who has helped other Cuban ballplayers after they fled the communist country.

"We never planned it, neither here nor in Cuba, it was my own decision," said Chaoui, who left behind his parents and a sister. Chaoui, 20, said he made his decision in a matter of seconds.

But Chaoui's uncle, Arturo Espinosa, said he drove to Minneapolis Saturday to persuade his nephew to defect.

"When I found out that he was coming to play baseball here in the United States, my feeling was to immediately go see him," said Espinosa, who lives in Miami. "I tried to convince him to stay."

Chaoui agreed, jumped in the car and they drove to Chicago to catch a flight to Miami Saturday. "It was very difficult for me, but I had to do it, because I felt a bit tired and it was a decision to have liberty, to reconcile with my family here," Chaoui said.

The baseball player's family contacted agent Cubas for advice, but he was not representing the player -- yet. "Considering he was part of a Cuban national team, he has a certain level of talent to compete internationally, which means he has sufficient talent to play professional baseball in the United States," Cubas added.

Chaoui said he will apply for asylum and wants to attend college and eventually play professional baseball in the United States.

Chaoui and his Caribbean teammates came to the United States for another set of games with the Minnesota school St. Thomas. "Team Caribbean" is made up mostly of students from the University of Havana and some students from a technical institute in the Cuban capital.

Some teammates were surprised and angry by his abrupt departure. Some even called him a traitor, but said it won't affect their play against St. Thomas.

Chaoui was considered the most flamboyant member of the team. He had become friends with many of the St. Thomas players, even e-mailing them. But the Americans say they had no idea he had plans to defect. Officials say the INS had warned the school this might happen.

Legally, Chaoui is on a 30-day visa, so he's not breaking any laws. He's only breaking the team's rules, by being absent without permission.

He's an economics major and wants to concentrate on finishing his degree. "First thing I'd like to learn is the language and study later. And of course, the dream of every Cuban ball player is to play in the major leagues, to play professional baseball. But first comes study," he said.