A-Rod to play with Dominican team

Born and raised in New York city to Dominican parents, Alex Rodriguez announced he will likely play for the Dominican Republic in next year’s inaugural World Baseball Classic.

This is a good example of how we Latinos associate with our home country, even if we weren't born there. This sense of pride or nationalism is very prominent, and is an effective emotion to tap into for marketers seeking to target specific Latinos. I've already mentioned the World Cup next year, which we will no doubt go crazy over like we always do.

What am I talking about? Heed this quote from A-Rod in the AP story picked up by MSNBC.com:

“I think the Latino teams are going to have a major advantage. I think that American team might take it more like an exhibition and these guys are kind of playing for their religion down there, the pride of their country.”