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Cespedes "El Animal" and The American Dream

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Tomorrow the Tigers come into Oaktown and it's going to be tough. But for other reasons.

August 1st, 2014 seems like a distant memory when put in the context of how the season ended, and the offseason that followed it. However, for A’s fans—especially many of us in the Latino community—Cespedes was a tremendous loss. I will admit that my eyes were filled with tears. Some believe the perception that the "experience" of being an A’s fan makes one cold-blooded with no care for anything other than things such as market inefficiencies, selling high, and the World Series. However, at least for myself, that perception is a lie.

I knew the day Cespy was traded it would be the last time I would hear the one walkup song that always got me pumped and even made me dance. I knew it would be the last time I would see the ball get crushed and feel as if I hit that homerun.

But that walkup song is much more than a random song Cespedes enjoys. It represents something beyond baseball that many in the Latino community have personally faced or family and friends have faced: the immigrant journey to achieve the American Dream. "Gente De Zona" can be translated to mean "People of the Community." In essence, the Cuban band’s name symbolizes the humble and adverse upbringing many Cubans face in their everyday lives especially little kids that dream of coming to America to play in front of thousands under bright lights and beautiful stadiums. The lyrics of Cespedes's walkup song translate to, "Do you know who are the people of the community? Do you know what you have to do to be a person of the community? It is impossible. Because simply…you have to know the streets. You have to realize what it is to live in humble streets. You have to relate to the people and acknowledge that we are the people."

Those lyrics, admittedly, affect each of us differently. For me, I think of my parents who left their lives and family in Peru to try to attain opportunities that cannot be afforded in Peru. After years of naturalization and hardship, I am fortunate enough to reap all the benefits as a result of my parent’s hard work and perseverance. Cespedes and other Cubans face similar hardships. In fact, they probably face much more than we can imagine.

That is why when I heard Smyly criticize the big contracts Cubans earn, I was furious. But I did not stay angry at Smyly for long; I know he has no idea of what it is like to be in a country where food, money, and opportunity are scarce. It was simply an ignorant comment. Not only because it should have been targeted at the players’ union and minor league pay but because it showed that Smyly’s first reaction is to bring others down rather than finding the opportunity to improve the conditions of others.

Yet, this is the beauty of baseball. It is not only a difficult sport on the field but off the field as well. Baseball is America. It reflects our diversity, unity, and at the same time our continuing weaknesses as a society. Cespedes was the epitome of achieving the American dream. He defected his country, cleared the extensive immigration hurdles, and has already achieved the dreams that many other Cubans desire.

I will never forget Cespy. I will never forget the homerun derby titles, "the Throw," hitting Coco with a pie after a walkoff win, or the numerous other memories of him with the A’s. Cespedes reminded me how proud I am to be a baseball-loving American. But he also reminded me of how proud I am to be Latino and achieving my own American Dream.

Gracias Cespedes. It took me much longer to get over the trade enough to be able to write this, but I finally did. Anyways, baseball continues. LET’S GO OAKLAND!