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Marichal, Mets' Martinez Shown at Cockfight

Pitchers were honorary starters of event in Dominican Republic

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 7, 2008 3:46 PM CST

(Newser) – Video of Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal at a cockfight in their native Dominican Republic—where the practice is legal—was briefly available on YouTube today, the New York Post reports. The pair is seen enjoying themselves and even throwing the chickens into the ring as honorary soltadores. Martinez's rooster appears to die on the tape.

The video was taken in the biggest cockfighting venue in the Dominican Republic, where the activity enjoys a wide popularity. Marichal, 70, has been tied to cockfighting in the past: In a 1998 book, he said that he knew his father “lived for the gallos, for cockfighting. I think that's why I’ve got that in my blood,” he continued.

New York Mets' baseball player Pedro Martinez, center top, from Dominican Republic, poses for photographers  with victims of the flood caused by tropical storm Noel during a visit to a school used as a shelter in Monoguayabo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
New York Mets' baseball player Pedro Martinez, center top, from Dominican Republic, poses for photographers with victims of the flood caused by tropical storm Noel during a visit to a school used as...   (Associated Press)
New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez smiles as he looks toward a crowd watching him warm up on the field before going into the bullpen to pitch before a scheduled Mets-Atlanta Braves baseball game at Turner Field in Atlanta, in this Aug. 31, 2007 file photo. A video of New...
New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez smiles as he looks toward a crowd watching him warm up on the field before going into the bullpen to pitch before a scheduled Mets-Atlanta Braves baseball game at...   (Associated Press)
Pedro Martinez and Juan Marichal serve as honorary soltadores, who are assigned the task of dropping the animals into the ring.
Pedro Martinez and Juan Marichal serve as honorary "soltadores," who are assigned the task of dropping the animals into the ring.   (YouTube Screen Capture)
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