José Luis Basulto: The Sports Commentator Silenced by the Regime

A voice, a style, a narration... a remarkable person, kind-hearted and honest! I had the pleasure of working alongside him for several years in the sports department of Cuban Television. Today, CiberCuba is delighted to feature José Luis Basulto, a distinguished Cuban journalist, commentator, broadcaster, writer, and sports analyst.

For many years, we haven't seen you on Cuban television or heard you on the radio. Tell us, dear friend, what have you been up to?

Life Beyond Cuba

I'm thrilled to be speaking with you, Julita, after such a long time. Since April 2019, I've been living in Mexico, where I first arrived as the press officer for the Pan American Cycling Confederation. A friend invited me to work for an online tourism company, and at the same time, two universities asked me to give lectures on radio broadcasting.

I've taken on many unexpected roles here. I served as editor and director for a coaching academy's newsletter and an online TV channel. I continue to write books about life stories whenever I can. Additionally, I create content for bachelor's and master's programs and have taught political journalism and communication at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León and the Higher Institute of Computing.

With time, I realized that job opportunities for people my age are dwindling everywhere, not just in Mexico. That's why I bought my first car at 62, which now serves as my work tool since I currently drive for Uber and Didi.

I live here with my wife Sonia, who has been by my side for nearly a decade. My son from a previous marriage resides in the United States.

Roots in Camagüey

I was born 63 years ago in the rural municipality of Najasa, Camagüey, where I lived until I was 13. My foster parents then moved to the outskirts of Camagüey city. Despite my love for sports, I lacked the talent to excel in any, which is why I always aspired to become a sports commentator.

Did you inherit this passion?

No, perhaps it came from my habits of reading and listening to the radio, even though we didn't have a radio at home. I would often ride my horse to my uncle's house to listen to Radio Reloj, Radio Rebelde, Radio Progreso, and Radio Cadena Agramonte, the provincial station of Camagüey.

My biggest passion was baseball, and I would narrate imaginary games. I loved listening to Eddy Martin, Bobby Salamanca, Pity Rivera, Héctor Rodríguez, and René Navarro on Radio Progreso and Radio Rebelde, along with provincial commentators.

The First Step to the Microphone

When did you first get behind a microphone?

My debut came in mid-1983 as a reader of the film schedule in a Cadena Agramonte magazine. I had just completed my military service, during which I met Franco Carbón. A friend took me to his house, and he handed me a newspaper to read aloud. After I finished, Franco said, "You have what it takes to be a broadcaster: you read very well."

He began teaching me broadcasting techniques until August 1983, when I had to return to Camagüey. At 21, I would read newspapers aloud on my porch, and eventually, a friend took me to Cadena Agramonte, where I expressed my desire to work, even if it meant cleaning floors.

I joined a course for audio editors and operators as an auditing student, and my dedication led to me being among the top students. During this time, my foster parents, already elderly, were caring for four younger siblings. My father was imprisoned for political reasons, and my mother had left us long ago.

Career Highlights and Challenges

Josefa Bracero, the station director, assigned me a position as a workshop assistant at Radio Cadena Agramonte after learning of my situation. This was my entry into the radio world.

Soon, the station started broadcasting 24 hours, and I became an audio operator. I began practicing announcing by reading three-minute bulletins at night. I approached sports commentators Pepe Cardoso and Carlos del Canto, who encouraged me to record innings at the Cándido González stadium.

My baseball commentary debut aired in February 1985 during a series between the Isla de la Juventud and Camagüey teams, although it was on Radio Caribe, not Cadena Agramonte.

How did you transition to television?

My television journey began in Camagüey, where I was among the first to host informative magazines and reports for the "Revista de la Mañana." In July 1998, I moved to Havana intending to join Radio Rebelde, but I ended up at COCO as a presenter until a vacancy opened.

At Radio Rebelde, I served as a sports commentator for "Haciendo Radio" and later as a temporary host for seven years. The station gave me the chance to travel internationally, covering major events such as the 1999 World University Games in Spain and the 2003 Pan American Games.

Due to internal conflicts, I left my position as deputy sports director at the station and moved to Tele Rebelde as head of the sports section. Sharing the screen with you in my first sports broadcast was a memorable experience.

However, the news director, who later lost his position, opposed me taking up that role because I hadn’t completed my degree in Social Communication, so I remained a commentator.

Facing Injustice and Moving Forward

One day, after returning from a contract in Panama, you faced unfair judgment and were practically expelled. How did you handle it?

First and foremost, I bear no grudge against anyone. Everything that happens should be weighed, and it turned out to be for the best for me. That meeting in November 2007 was a harsh day, yet it taught me valuable lessons. I realized that dedicating part of my youth to an exclusionary and archaic organization like the PCC was a waste. I also encountered a few examples of opportunism, and most importantly, I began my journey toward freedom and independence.

For over two years, I was unemployed in radio and television. After leaving Tele Rebelde, I was rejected by several stations. Fortunately, Esteban Ramírez Alonso of the Cuban News Agency gave me a chance to create a sports bulletin, which I did for nearly four years.

I also approached the ICRT president, Ernesto López, who sent me to Radio Habana Cuba, where I worked until 2012, hosting programs like "Formalmente informal" and "Nuestra América."

During this challenging time, I pursued a degree in Communication Sciences and a master's focusing on the role of broadcasters in radio news programs.

A Return to Radio Rebelde

Returning to Radio Rebelde took years due to political opposition. Eventually, I was invited back as the main host of the National Radio News. Upon my return, I also became a sports news announcer on Cubavisión Internacional and later transitioned to the sports department, where I worked for nine years.

Although I was never again involved in live sports broadcasting, I continued contributing to the National Television News (NTV) sports segment, writing notable pieces like the tribute to coach Ronaldo Veitía.

My time at NTV ended when a crony criticized my work, and I chose to resign rather than compromise my values. This marked the conclusion of my "second season" at NTV.

The State of Cuban Sports

The decline in Cuban sports mirrors the country's struggling reality. With an economy in shambles, it's unsurprising that other sectors, including sports, are also deteriorating. Cuba's economy, bound by outdated ideological beliefs, is stagnating, and the sports field reflects this.

Those in power have failed to adapt, and the consequences are borne by the ordinary citizens. It's a bleak outlook, with little hope for improvement.

Building a Cuban All-Star Team

Creating an all-star Cuban baseball team is challenging, but here’s my lineup:

SS: Luis Ulacia; 2B: Antonio Pacheco; 3B: Omar Linares; DH: “Cheíto” Rodríguez and Orestes Kindelán; 1B: Antonio Muñoz; RF: Luis Giraldo Casanova; LF: Lourdes Gourriell; CF: Víctor Mesa; C: Juan Castro; LHP: Jorge Luis Valdés; RHP: José Ariel Contreras; RP: Aroldis Chapman. Manager: José Miguel Pineda.

Do you believe that players like Omar, Kindelán, Pacheco, etc., who didn't play in MLB, can't be compared to Yordan, Chapman, and others?

Comparisons rarely yield anything productive or objective, Julita. The contexts are different, but I'm confident that the players you've mentioned possessed the talent to excel in the Major Leagues. Others like Pedro José Rodríguez, Rogelio García, and many more could have thrived there too. They played with unmatched passion and commitment.

Today, except for a few, players avoid getting dirty or retaliating against pitchers. While Cuban baseball still showcases individual talent, the overall team quality has declined.

As I bid farewell to my colleague and friend José Luis Basulto, or "Basultico" as I call him, I admire his resilience in overcoming life's obstacles. Wishing him a bright future in Mexico, where growth isn't restricted!