The press conference after the Cuba-Honduras game began like any other. Grown men and women with tape recorders, notepads and pens crowded at the far end of a characterless room in the bowels of Raymond James Stadium. Two columns of chairs four seats deep stood in front of a table and podium. A cloth with the CONCAFCA logo was draped over the table and a soccer ball and two microphones placed on top of it. The same cloth hung like a tapestry behind the seated Cuban coach Raul Gonzalez.

"No political questions," said the bi-lingual moderator standing at the podium. "He will only answer questions about this game."

He said this, but only one question concerned every in the room.

The day before the Cuban team was sitting down to eat dinner at a hotel in Tampa, Fla. when seven members http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/13/State/Five_Cuban_soccer_pla.shtml left through the back door and disappeared. They reappeared on Spanish language television and said they planned to seek political asylum and play soccer professionally in the United States. The players claimed they crafted the plan before leaving Cuba for the tournament. As a result Cuba played Honduras yesterday afternoon with only 10 players on the field (11 is normal).

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/14/na-7-defections-leave-cuban-team-short-on-soccer-f

"Questions?" asked a the moderator in English and Spanish.

A reporter raised his hand and the moderator passed him the wireless microphone. Then he cleared the air.

"How difficult was it playing with only 10 players?" he asked.

With the last words of the question still leaving the reporter's mouth, Gonzalez slammed the table - Kevin Borseth style (watch the Borseth video) - and stormed out.

The press conference had ended before it even began.