Venezuela's vino tinto earns respect in 'the country of baseball'

Its men's soccer team won just its second Copa America game in more than 40 years of the tournament.

from the July 12, 2007 edition

Page 2 of 2

Page 1 | 2

There are growing pockets of interest, mostly in the areas near soccer-mad Colombia and Brazil, but Venezuela is still proud to call itself el pais de béisbol.

Unlike in the rest of the continent, there is a vibrant baseball league and baseball culture – and so many talented players that many play in the US major leagues, 42 according to one recent count.

But the arrival of the Copa America, the oldest international soccer tournament in the world, has popularized soccer. Venezuela has spent more than $1 billion to build, among other things, three new stadiums and renovate six others.

More and more Venezuelans are enjoying the game and supporting their team, known as the vino tinto, or red wine, because of its distinctive claret-colored shirts. And thanks to a new coach who has instilled some passion and respect in the national side, it is no longer a pushover.

Venezuela won just its second Copa America game in 40 years last week, and in doing so qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time ever. The team was eliminated by Uruguay, one of the region's powers, but fans were nevertheless proud.

"People used to wear baseball shirts on the street. But now that the vino tinto is doing so well, people are also buying soccer shirts and are happy to wear them on the street," says Mr. Ordaneta.

Venezuelans have even adapted their baseball chants to the new game. Fans at baseball games often chant "Home Run!" when a big hitter comes to the plate. Here, at free kicks and corners, fans have chanted, "Un Gol!"

The Copa America might be the first step in convincing baseball fans to change the channel, but Ordaneta says there is a still a long way to go. For no matter how much vino tinto they enjoy, in Venezuela nothing compares to the flavor of baseball.

"People who didn't know about soccer are now aware of it thanks to the Copa America," he says. "I hope one day we will be good at both sports. But football will never be bigger here. This is Venezuela, the country of baseball."

1 | Page 2