VENEZUELA SPORTS

BASEBALL

• It is the most popular sport in Venezuela
• On October 22, 1941 the Venezuelan baseball team defeated the Cuban baseball team
• in the World Amateur Baseball tournament.
• A week later when the team returned to Venezuela
• Over 1/3 of the countries population greeted them

BASEBALL

• One of the major reasons that it's so popular is that over 200 have gone pro
• The Luis Aparicio Award was established in 2004, in honor of Luis Aparicio
• the only Venezuelan player to have been introduced into the National Baseball Hall of Fame
• The award is giving to the best Venezuela baseball player in the MLB

BASKETBALL

• Behind baseball, basketball is the most popular sport.
• The national team has been one of the three elite teams in South America.
• The Liga Professional de Baloncesto is the main Venezuelan Basketball League, which features 14 teams.

Greivis Vásquez

• The only basketball player in the NBA
• He was a 4 year started at Maryland
• His senior year he won AAC player of the year
• He got selected in the first round of the NBA
• He plays for the Toronto Raptors now

OTHERS

• Oscar Torres- became the first Venezuelan-born player in NBA history
• He signed with the Houston Rockets for the 2001-02 NBA season.
• Richard Lugo- was Venezuelan player of the year in 1998
• Carl Herrera- was a 2 time NBA champ

SOCCER

• Soccer has become more popular lately.
• Venezuela has a dark history in soccer.
• The national team has never qualify for the World Cup
• They were so bad they were called the whipping boys

FAMOUS PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA

HUGO CHAVEZ

• Was the president of Venezuela from1999 until his death in 2013
• Was considered a great helper for the lower classes.
• From prisoner to president in 1998

ALICIA MACHASO

• Won the Miss Universe crown in Las Vegas
• Fourth women from Venezuela to capture the crown
• Is a actor, tv host, singer

OZZIE GUILLEN

• Manager of the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011
• Became manager of the Miami Marlins for a year in 2012 before being released.
• In 2005 he became the first Latin manager to win the World Series

OSCAR D'LEON

• His nickname was El Señor del Mundo
• His claim of fame was his salsa music
• First Latin to have a contract with the BBC

GUSTAVO CISNEROS

• He is considered the richest man in Venezuela
• Owns the Venevision international
• It is the global television network which broadcasts Spanish content

PEDRO LEON ZAPATA

• He is a cartoonist
• He works for El National newspaper for over 50 years
• His greatest rival was former president Hugo Chavez