A sports journalist from Santiago de Cuba, Brita García Alberteris, recently reported being verbally attacked by umpire Luis Felipe Casañas during a National Baseball Series game held at Guillermón Moncada Stadium. According to her Facebook post, the incident occurred at the conclusion of the fifth inning of the third game between Las Tunas and Santiago de Cuba.
Casañas allegedly insulted García Alberteris, calling her "brazen and impertinent" and claiming she "knew nothing." The journalist stated that this exchange took place in full view of the Game Commissioner and all those in the lower stands of the stadium.
In her response, García Alberteris asserted her professionalism, telling Casañas, "Respect me, I am a professional, and you supposedly are too!" She added, "I usually don't let such situations provoke me, but this was entirely uncalled for!"
Reflecting on her career, García Alberteris recalled, "In 2012, I graduated with honors and have been covering sports for Tele Turquino Santiago de Cuba for the past 11 years. Throughout these years, I've experienced a variety of professional situations, both positive and negative, but this incident was the last straw."
She further expressed her frustration, stating, "If you can't handle even mild criticism, perhaps you shouldn't work in the National Baseball Series or any event involving the press! Those who know me understand that such incidents only drive my pursuit of professionalism and personal growth."
Following her initial complaint, García Alberteris shared in a subsequent post that Casañas offered a formal apology. "Luis Felipe Casañas requested a meeting with me, the other umpires, his supervisor, and the Game Commissioner to apologize. He appeared remorseful for his actions. His colleagues expressed respect for my work and emphasized their commitment to supporting Cuban baseball, a National Heritage," she explained.
The verbal attack stemmed from a previous post by García Alberteris criticizing Casañas' decision to eject Santiago player Jeison Martínez. She highlighted that the umpiring team "often finds itself in contentious situations and their displayed quality is not ideal."
García Alberteris recounted that Casañas nearly escalated the situation to physical confrontation during the player's protest. "While the young player's reaction might have been excessive, the judges are expected to uphold higher ethical standards. The gravest error is compromising a team awaiting analysis, especially when the Avispa team is in a crucial phase," she concluded.
Key Questions About the Incident at Guillermón Moncada Stadium
What led to the verbal altercation between Brita García Alberteris and umpire Luis Felipe Casañas?
The altercation was sparked by a post from García Alberteris criticizing Casañas' umpiring decision to eject player Jeison Martínez, which she believed was handled inappropriately.
How did Brita García Alberteris respond to the verbal attack?
García Alberteris asserted her professionalism, telling the umpire to respect her as a professional. She also expressed her determination to continue seeking greater professionalism despite such incidents.
Did Luis Felipe Casañas apologize for his behavior?
Yes, Casañas formally apologized to García Alberteris during a meeting with her, the other umpires, his supervisor, and the Game Commissioner.