Cabrera speaks out on suspension

This letter is way overdue, but like the old saying goes, it is better late than never

I would like to state it clearly that the issue at hand is of great concern to a lot of players and coaches from both the past and present. In no way am I doing this to assassinate characters, or to do harm to the basketball program in the CNMI. As a matter of assurance, by addressing this issue, I think that it will resuscitate, if not, invigorate the sport.

Let me just take this time to praise the present board of BANMI for the direction that they have set forth to address pending problems of the past so that this league can flourish, and for providing the guidance that it needed.

I would like to let you all know that I am doing this because it is way too long and way overdue that we come out with the truth. As unpopular as it might be, the only way to find a solution is to come out with the truth.

On the merit of my suspension, I am man enough to accept the harassment charge, but me being charged for threatening an official is biased and untrue. Never at once did I threaten the official during that game. I said some words that might not have been acceptable to him, but I never threatened him. As a matter of fact, it was the official who confronted me and asked me for a fight. He told me very clearly to wait for him outside at halftime so that we could settle the issue. Now, tell me who was threatened.

I had stayed away from basketball since 1995, four years to be exact. It only took our first game of the season for me to witness the continuation of unfair officiating, disrespect and mistreatment being repeated and still occurring in this league up to this very moment from certain officials.

We all know that we don’t live in a perfect world, the same goes for basketball officiating. I have lived through this and I can tell when a spade is a spade, and from past experience, not only myself, but even a second grader would tell you, that the rug was being pulled right below us that evening. This is not a spur of the moment reaction, this is an uncountable collection from years gone by.

I could not take this any longer that’s why I reacted that evening. This is what broke the camel’s back. As wrong as I might have been, I feel like a parent to my players. I have to stand up for them. For them to be treated discriminately while they are out there on the court sacrificing their body and their pride are inhumane and unjustifiable. They leave their loved ones at home, some even reshuffle their work schedule just to promote the game of basketball for two hours at a given night and to subject them through this is unacceptable and immoral.

As I slated earlier, only the truth will bare fruit for a solution. I will not mention names because you people know who you are. We, from the other side of the street know who you are, and it’s time to shape up. But because, we, the innocent chose to be silent and patient, which was our biggest mistake from the start, you made the choice to continue victimizing us. We are sending a statement that we will not tolerate such practice any longer. It is not fair for the sponsors because without them this league would be extinct; it is not fair for the players, spectators and everyone else involved because the level of participation would be greatly affected. And last but not least, it is simply down right wrong.

Daniel Muna Cabrera