If Yovani Gallardo is named to the NL All-Star team again next season the league likely will need a backup plan. The Milwaukee Brewers pitcher says he won’t play if the game remains in Arizona, because of that state’s immigration law.
“If the game is in Arizona, I will totally boycott,” Gallardo says.
Detroit Tigers reliever Jose Valverde is of a similar mind, calling the law “the stupidest thing you can ever have.”
“Nothing against Americans, but us Latinos have contributed so much to this country,” Valverde told the Arizona Republic. “We get our hands dirty and do the work gringos don’t want to do. We’re the ones out there cleaning the streets. Americans don’t want to do that stuff.”
The Republic also reports that about two dozen protesters marched and chanted outside the Anaheim Marriott where most MLB players and executives are staying for tonight’s All-Star game. They said they had with them a petition bearing more 100,000 signatures asking Commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 game.
