From Bullpen to State Pen for Closer Urbina

During a baseball game, the team's closer awaits the ninth inning of each game to make his dramatic entrance, hopefully to save the game.

Ugueth Urbina has been in this position several times. He must have built up ice water-like veins -awaiting the call- during his 11-year career. After all, Major League Baseball fans have seen only 29 firemen earn more than Urbina's 237 career saves. The lights-out ability in his right arm made him unhittable at times. His relief abilities have left fans of five teams scratching their heads when wondering why the 6-0 star switched uniforms. (Make that six now)

On March 27, Urbina got the call again. However, this call had nothing to do with baseball. As he had done so many times before, the bullpen ace waited to hear his name. Unfortunately for Urbina though, he was not waiting to save his teammates, he was waiting for a judge to save him. Urbina's personally-anticipated verdict never came. Instead, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison after his role in an October 16, 2005 incident.

Under Venezuelan law, Urbina was not only charged with attempted murder of five men, but he also had two additional charges brought against him. First, the 32-year old was convicted of "illegal deprivation of liberty." Next, Uggy faced another not-so-common-in-America law, "violating a prohibition against taking justice into his own hands."

Though most Americans are not familiar with the latter two crimes, every healthy, legally-aged person can understand the attempted murder charge. A former attorney called the sentence too severe. (Former?) This wasn't Urbina's first rodeo with law enforcement. Considering the fact that the court proved Urbina doused five employees with gasoline, threw a match on them, and (yes "and") attacked the employees with machetes -if anything- the punishment was not severe enough.

According to his lawyer, Jose Luis Tamayo, Urbina, with a group of other men, found five employees of his in his ranch pool, without permission. He then spoke sharply to the men and returned home to sleep. Urbina himself claimed he had no part in the attack.

However, the five men had a different account of the happenings. The victims' attorney, Wuanyer Perez, was able to prove that Urbina did, in fact, have a hand in this horriffically-cruel scene. He basically called the verdict a strike for all of humanity--when a star athlete does not receive preferential treatment.

The 205-pound star had said prior to the sentencing that he might want to permanently live in the United States because of his escapades with the law. He discussed the possibility of residing in his Miami, Florida home--full time. However, if the appeal-which Urbina will undoubtedly pursue-does not go his way, those plans will be put on hold--at least temporarily (14 years).

The two-time all star may even have to switch positions. There is a chance that -behind bars- Uggy could be forced to become a catcher.