Let's add this to the "Not-News" pile. Because its not, Cock fighting is huge in Latin American Countries, and is legal, just because he is on tape, now its a problem? Sorry, chickens killing each other with Baseball "legends" watching is not news.
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Bob,
I've seen that comment elsewhere ... the point is not whether it's news by anyone's definition ... there are overarching issues of right and wrong that professional sports leagues have to deal with now more than ever before because information is so fluid and public reaction so swift and emphatic. I pointed out that where the event occurred, it is legal and popular. But the player makes his living in a country where it is not legal and where many people believe it is inhumane. You would have to be tone deaf to the realities of our society not to realize this can be a problem.
-- Bill O.

Apples and oranges. As you wrote it is legal in the Dominican Republic and it was in a public venue. Dog fighting is illegal in the U.S and it was done in a clandestine location. Dogs are pets; chickens are food. Some people may find it reprehensible (PETA) but I can't get too worked up over a chicken, an animal we eat routinely here. Do I advocate cruelty and torture of animals? No and I admit this is a double standard. But the world is full of them. Not everything is equal.
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Mike,
Thanks for writing. I won't repreat the response I gave to a prior comment but you can check it out. Maybe it'll amount to nothing.
-- Bill O.

This will be talk about in the media, until the NBA all-star game in the big easy. I look for another circus like the Vegas all-star week..
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I hope for New Orleans' sake, it's a good experience.
-- Bill O.

Martinez broke no law. They are just chickens. If you don't like it then don't watch!

Double standards - yes our world is full of them but that doesn't mean we have to perpetuate them, nor defend them. Simply because in North America we eat chickens and cuddle dogs (who by the way are no more protected than a chicken), how does that make torture alright? I suggest you study up on all the gory details of cock fighting sir before you consider it acceptable.
Quite disgusting that this is news, I agree - but we apparently disagree on why this is so.
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Pedro involved in the raising of living beings to fight and kill other innocent beings? Who does he think he is, George Bush?

From a legal standpoint you are right, he did nothing wrong. Eating dogs in Korea is normal, so I guess if Pedro goes to Korea and is seen chopping up a lab puppy and eating it, it’s OK. Or maybe he goes to Saudi Arabia and is an honorary executioner, beheads a bunch of people in a public square and it’s OK because it’s legal there. Or he takes a trip up to Canada and clubs a bunch of baby seals on tape, that’s OK because it’s legal and he did nothing wrong.

Funny thing is that the lives those cocks live are probably better than the lives lived by the billions of broiler chickens we raise and kill for food. They definitely live better lives than the anemic veal cows that suffer in wooden stalls so small they can’t turn around or groom themselves. They certainly live better lives than the millions of monkeys, dogs, cats, etc. that are brutally tortured for needless tests in the name of science each year in labs and universities across the country.

I guess if you look at the big picture, Pedro didn’t do much wrong since there is a lot of wrong doing done to animals and humans all over the world that is looked at as normal and is accepted. It is just another example of how we all, as humans, need to continue to evolve.

Yes, it was legal in the DR. That doesn't give Pedro a pass in the court of public opinion; there are plenty of things that are legal in other countries that are considered immoral in this one. He'll take a public relations hit for his poor judgement, and if the outrage is loud enough, he'll probably even face some sort of punishment from the League. Just because he didn't break the law doesn't mean he won't suffer any consequences.

This practice is legal in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and even in the US (Louisiana)...why is this even in the news. This players grew up in that culture it is just another sport for them; it is just like making a big deal because professional athletes appear in ultimate fighting or event

Who are we to judge some for something that is a legal sport in his home country? He is not Michael Vick, I highly doubt Pedro is out electrocuting his chickens or giving them steroids....Roger Clemmons. Lets face it, with The Rocket and Andy in the news baseball has a lot more important things in the news to worry about other than Pedro Martinez fighting some chickens.

Taking steroids outside of the US is legal too, does that mean it is OK if they do it in the Dominican Republic during the off season? Here is a thought...ever wonder why many Latin American players go "home" for the off season? Ask Sammy Sosa if he knows. He happened to lose a duffel bag with a load of cash in it during the off season in Venezuela once. I wonder what that was for.

Bird fighting is a business!

Bird fighters in the U.S. and Dominican Republic (and other countries) are in business together.

They breed, sell, buy and ship birds to each other. And they attend each other's fights.

So what has Pedro been up to in the U.S.? And has he paid taxes on his gambling income?

Would you fine him for attending bullfights in Spain? Doesn't anybody have anything more interesting and relevant to report on?

Animal fighting is organized crime business, and these athletes make big money in it.

That's why they do it.

And again, no taxes paid on that illegal business income.

They get rich on our money (which we pay taxes on) and then get richer in these illegal businesses (and they don't pay taxes on it.)

They are spitting in the faces of honest Americans.

It seems to me that culture now comes into play. Well people, In DR, Cock fighting is part of our culture. Now, your job is to respect that. It does not matter where he works. Come on, leave Pedro alone. I enjoy cock fighting and no one is goin to tell me that is inhuma, give a freaking break. Go ahead, tell a spanior that bull fightiing is wrong, he is going to laught in your face. Now, I will laugh at you if you tell me that cock fighting is wrong in DR, go ahead they will laught at you. Respect someone's right in his own country. Lets have some FREEDOM.

Educated and civilized people in the Dominican Republic also oppose bird fighting http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/opinion/2008/2/8/26970/Dominicans-murder-animals-for-sport

It is very racist for Americans to assume that the people of the Dominican Republic are uncultured savages.