Defending Rio Games

Over the past month in Brazil, a financial meltdown threatened its ability to put on the Olympics, a Paralympian was robbed at gunpoint, accusations of widespread corruption plagued the national government, the sitting president clawed for her political life amid impeachment proceedings, the specter of superbugs and polluted water loomed and, to top it off, a cop killed a rogue jaguar on the Olympic torch route.

Cleveland’s Yan Gomes is the first Brazilian native to play in the major leagues.

Gomes is the Cleveland Indians’ catcher and the first Brazil-born player to play Major League Baseball.

Though he moved from Sao Paulo in sixth grade, Gomes’ connection to the country hasn’t abated, especially when the Indians play the Kansas City Royals and it showcases just how far Brazilian baseball has come.

Manning right field these days for the World Series champions is Paulo Orlando also from Sao Paulo, also a phenomenal athlete and also hopeful Brazil somehow can avoid the embarrassment expected to descend on Rio de Janeiro when the Summer Games begin in early August.

Hopefully they can make a good Olympic Games and show the world Brazil can be a good country, too.” This is a constant struggle of the Brazilian athlete trying to stand up for his country while acknowledging the folly of the Olympics being held in a place so seemingly ill-suited to host it.

Paulo Orlando has pride and hope that Rio will pull off a successful Olympics.