Thursday, May 16, 2002
'I thought you were a lefty'
From the Page 2 mailbag
Did Jimmy Carter go to Cuba just to get help on his delivery from a former Washington Senators prospect?
We'd like to know what's up with the former president and Fidel Castro, so we asked you to tell us what's going on in this week's Mystery Photo.
Below are the best caption suggestions from the nearly 600 e-mails we received.
Jimmy Carter, always an open book and on the straight and narrow, learns how to throw a curve by a man who's done it for almost 50 years.
Wally Shoe
Providence, R.I.
"Watch where you throw that ball, Jimmy. It's the only one we have because of that damn embargo."
Peter Hong
Dunwoody, Ga.
Castro: "We could use an arm like yours, after so many of our star players defected."
Wilson Li
Queens, N.Y.
In a fit of rage, right-hander Jimmy Carter throws the ball into the third row when manager Fidel Castro brings the hook to the mound.
Wayne Buck
Seattle
"Now, Jimmy, I think if you go ahead and pull your pants all the way up to your armpits ... that should add another 10 mph to your fastball."
Matthew Mobley
Clarksville, Tenn.
"Dubya got to throw out the first pitch at the World Series. How come I got relegated to throwing out the first pitch in Cuba?"
Eric VanSickle
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Fidel: "Two boxes of Cubans and 50 political prisoners that toss doesn't reach the plate on the bounce."
Matthew Wallace
Springfield, Va.
During the "Old World Leaders" All-Star Game, opposing players are allowed on the pitching mound to talk trash, a rule originally added by former Indian insurgent Mahatma Ghandi.
Scott
Boston
"Now you can go back to your America and tell Selig to stop calling. I don't have time to tell him how to run baseball anymore. I've helped him all I can."
Todd Reid
Charlotte, N.C.
"We've decided to keep you here as compensation for El Duque."
Terence Kane
Washington
Carter: "... and I believe in long, wet kisses that last three days."
Castro: (swooning) "Oh, Jimmy ..."
Matt Ronski
Hartford, Conn.
"Put your legs into it, gringo, you throw like a peanut farmer."
Chase Edmondson
Reston, Va.
Thanks to a laundry problem, Jose Rijo is forced to begin warming up for his next start in his street clothes.
Todd E
Jacksonville, Fla.
"Jimmy, if I ever would have seen John Kennedy throw like that, I would have tried to put missiles as far north as Cleveland."
Scott Stout
Louisville, Ky.
Castro: "That's right, Jimmy. Just throw the pitch. If it's a strike, you will replace Danny Almonte on our Little League team. If it's a ball, you will face the firing squad."
Shiloh Shannon
San Antonio
You have much to learn about The Force, my young padawan."
Duke Newcomb
Glenale, Ariz.
Jimmy Carter is playing Fidel's favorite game -- hit the Cuban defector.
Mike
Cleveland
"If Jesse Orosco can still do it, maybe we've got a shot."
BG
Spartanburg, S.C.
Next on ESPN Deportes: Los Pares Impares.
Daniel Lilavois
Dover, N.H.
"It's all right, Fidel, you had me at 'hello.' "
Mark Griffin
Melbourne, Fla.
With the players' strike looming, tryouts for replacement players are under way in Cuba.
Ben
Boston
Carter: "All you have to do is get this throwing part down, and you will officially be better than any pitcher on the Texas Rangers!"
Jake Martin
Bedford, Texas
"Jimmy, after the game I would like to talk to you about how you rationalized your 'lust in the heart' comments to your wife."
Dave
Lewisville, N.C.
Castro: "Oh, my God! Then in comes Janice, right when Ross and Rachel are thinking, 'How can this get any worse?' I thought I was gonna die!'
Pedro
Lower Allston, Mass.
"Say, 'Hello,' to my little friend!"
LC
Phoenix
"Do all capitalist pigs throw like a girl, or just you, Jimmy?"
Dan Davis
Jacksonville, Fla.
Carter: "You see how the bottom drops out on this curve ball ...it's kind of like our economy did during my presidency."
Justin Houk
New Castle, Pa.
Fidel Castro looks on as Jimmy Carter begins the first round of "Hit the Dissident."
Brendon
Pittsburgh
"Hey, Fidel! I think 'Havana Expos' has a nice ring to it, si?"
Clint M McCue
Mulberry, Ark.
"Baseball, $10. Glove, $45. Cuban All-Stars baseball cap, $25. Chin music to Fidel for not dying when I was in office -- priceless."
Steve Malbasa
Fort Bragg, N.C.
And here is the real caption from The Associated Press: Former President Jimmy Carter, right, accompanied by Cuban President Fidel Castro, warms up before throwing the first pitch in an all-star baseball game May 14 at the Latinamerican Stadium in Havana, Cuba. (AP Photo/Cristobal Herrera)
