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Baseball Primer Newsblog— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Years before Alicia Keys made it popular to set people on FI-YUR!, there was Uggie: Former Major League relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina, who last pitched in the majors in 2005 with the Phillies, was released from a Venezuelan prison after serving seven years of a 14-year sentence for attempted murder, according to multiple Spanish-language media outlets.
Months after his mother, Maura Josefina Villareal, was rescued by an elite Venezuelan anti-kidnapping unit in 2005, following a harrowing five-and-a-half month captivity, Urbina was involved in a violent episode on his sprawling Venezuelan property. Urbina allegedly doused several men with gasoline and set them on fire and hacked another with a machete.
He’s only 38, and according to Venezuelan news sources, he was hitting 90 mph with his fastball while incarcerated.
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1. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: December 26, 2012 at 05:51 PM (#4332635)A 14 year sentences seems pretty hefty for mere dousing and brandishing.
I would love to see some team reestablish the use of a fireman in the bullpen.
It would be a rare black mark for the Venezuelan justice system. It reminds me of the time Juan Uribe either shot a bunch of people and paid his way out of charges or didn't shoot a bunch of people and was extorted.
Venezuela isn't the Dominican Republic.
Those people are all the same, & you know it.
Nah. In the DR they arrest a rich guy to shake him down, in Venezuela they do it to make an example out of him.
Peter Brand: "I really would rather not."
Brad Beane: "This is the job. You have to learn how to do this."
Peter Brand: "Can't you release Jemile Weeks instead? I'll do that one."
If no murderers/attempted murderers, who is the (subjectively) "worst"? Michael Vick? Any rapists? Kidnappers?
To be clear, the person must have been known to be a murderer or whatever at the time the contract was signed. People who were murderers or whatever at the time the contract was signed but who were not known to be so at that time don't count, although feel free to mention them too.
Angel Villalona (allegedly) intentionally shot and killed a guy, (allegedly) paid the victim's family $139,000 to get them to ask a judge to drop the charges, and wound up back in the Giants system in 2012.
If no murderers/attempted murderers, who is the (subjectively) "worst"? Michael Vick? Any rapists? Kidnappers?
If soccer counts:
Lee Hughes got six years (served three) for a hit and run.
Martin Mutumba (Swedish footballer) was convicted of armed robbery, but he only got seven months.
Brima Koroma - a journeyman striker - was convicted of rape in Sweden, he is still playing.
Charles Smith (the Georgetown guard) killed people in a hit and run and went on to play for the Timberwolves and several minor league and foreign clubs.
Mike Danton (hockey, served a few years for conspiracy to commit murder) is playing overseas.
Craig MacTavish killed via drunk driving, served a year, played several more years and coached in the NHL.
Donte Stallworth did the same in the NFL, even winning an award his first season back for being a role model.
I'm with Meatwad on this one, though--seems like this happened two years ago.
I too am confused by the use of "allegedly" here. He was convicted of something, it shouldn't take that much legwork to find out exactly what the conviction was for and report that.
According to the NY Times, Urbina was convicted of attempted murder of five workers on his family's ranch, and also "found guilty of illegal deprivation of liberty and violating a prohibition against taking justice into his own hands." The attack was carried out by a "group of men" and Urbina denied being among them, admitting to arguing with the victims earlier but claiming to be asleep at the time of the assault. Gasoline was involved, but apparently no fire.
Also, while the incident occurred seven years ago, the conviction came in March of 2007 and Urbina served less than six years of his sentence.
Was there suspicion/speculation the two events were connected (such as Ugie believed the human kindling were part of the kidnapping)? It wouldn't make him any less guilty, but it would make his actions a little more understandable.
Don't recall ever seeing much along those lines. Which is kinda weird, since it would seem like a rather obvious angle to investigate.
I've always assumed they were connected in that UUU didn't actually do it, but refused to pay the extortion money.
Ray Lewis was pretty clearly an accessory to murder, but wasn't charged.
And I totally snuck in a fireman reference in one of my first things I did for ESPN a few years ago. I was still testing my limits of obnoxiousness at that point.
Ben Roethlisberger and Kobe Bryant had rape accusations (although Roethlisberger settled before it went to court) against them.
Josh Lueke is a convicted rapist.
Good thing you're not using your real name, so ESPN can't fire you.
And Reggie rogers killed 3 kids driving drunk (vehicular homicide)and came back briefly, beofre deciding to pick up another 5 DUIs. Also, Dani Heatley killed a teammate driving drunk (vehicular homicide).
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