Well, the news of Uggie Urbina just came down, that he has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in Venezuela for his alleged role in violently assaulting 5 workers on his property.  I think this is kinda awful news.  Why?  Well, normally I am a person that says if someone does something as awful as Urbina is accused of doing, he should be locked up and the key should be thrown away.  But the problems in Venezuela, as told to me by many players who have been there is the corruption.  Often players are blackmailed or extorted.  Urbina’s mother was kidnapped a couple of years before this incident.  Maybe he’s not a nice guy. But the trial came down to 5 very poor guys word against Urbina’s.  There have been various people, including Uggie who have said that this could all go away if Urbina pays money.  That money might need to go to Judges, or to the 5 victims or to the guys who actually did the assaulting to say that Urbina was not a party to it.  Urbina apparently didn’t pay the money, which says something to me, and not that money is the most important thing.  It says that he believed he would be found innocent.  Instead he is looking at 14 years in a prison that we (American citizens) would not allow anyone to spend a day in.  Can anything be done for him?  Maybe its not too late to pay some money, and get out.  But then what.  Where do you go?  Do you stay in Venezuela?  Do you move your entire extended family to the United States?  Its been two years since he was able to pitch, could he hope to resume a career, and would we as fans ever be able to look at him again.  Could we believe that Urbina was actually innocent, or would we have to think that he was one of the most despicable people around.  I don’t know if he is innocent, and I know our own court system is flawed.  But, at least we know, more often then not, the innocent get set free.  Not sure I can say that about Venezuela.  What do you think?  Lets get a little conversation going on the message board.