Alomar says Puerto Rico needs the relief help
Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar has long been embraced as one of Puerto Rico’s favorite sons, the most accomplished member of a family regarded as baseball royalty in the island.
An Alomar appearance would typically elicit jostling for autographs or photos among his star-struck countrymen, but these are obviously not normal times in the hurricane-battered U.S. territory.
Neither was the reaction Alomar got during last week’s fourday visit to his homeland, where he checked on relatives and brought relief supplies to people deprived of basic necessities in the aftermath of the devastating storm.
“At first they would look at me like, ‘Is that Roberto Alomar?’ But they’re so desperate, what they look at is the water,” Alomar told USA TODAY Sports. “Then they would recognize me and thank me and hug me.
“I think it’s good to do this, because it’s one thing to donate but it’s another one to be there and feel what they’re feeling.”
Alomar, a 12-time All-Star who finished his career with a .300 batting average, is trying to spread the word about Puerto Rico’s dire need for help in recovering from the impact of Hurricane Maria, which struck with 155 mph winds on Sept. 20. The vast majority of residents still don’t have electric power.
On the day President Trump visited Puerto Rico, nearly two weeks after the hurricane made landfall in the island of 3.4 million American citizens, Alomar resisted joining the chorus of criticism about the president’s response to the catastrophe or his disparaging Twitter remarks.
Instead, he wanted to focus on the need for manpower and equipment to clear roads that remain impassable because of the number of fallen trees and power posts.
“Things are slowly getting better, but the improvement has been really slow. That’s why I sent a message to our president,” Alomar said, appealing for military personnel to help clear the roads. “I don’t want to make this a political issue. This is all positive. I know the president has a lot on his plate right now. I just want to send him a message so he understands we need that help.”