RSSTwins Baseball Pitcher Sidney Ponson … “he stayed away from his biggest problem, Aruba.”
So what does Sidney Ponson know that the rest of of us should? Aruba is his biggest problem. This is hardly an endorsement for the ATA. We have never seen this quote on all the Aruban travel brochures. How can an island relatively so small be such a distraction and problem? A rather telling comment indeed.
(Ponson Freed from Aruban Jail: WAPO)
Sidney Ponson stated that this off season he stayed away from his biggest problem, Aruba. What he meant is that in Aruba he knows many people and the lifestyle he lives by in Aruba is not the best for a Major League pitcher trying to revive his career. (Aruba Zone)
Sidney Ponson according to all accounts has been given one last shot to make the best of a once promising career. Ponson has decided to give up his past destructive life style. Its a make it or break it year. The destructive life style Ponson refers to … Aruba?
He’s fresh off an offseason in which he lost weight, had minor elbow surgery, got engaged and, most important, decided to ditch the destructive lifestyle that derailed his once-promising career.
“As soon as the offseason came, I put it behind me,” Ponson said. “You have to leave the bad habits in the past. It’s a clean slate. My personal life is (in order). You guys know what happened in the past, and I’m not going to do that again. I’m not going to put my mom and family and friends through that, and especially the organization.”
It’s worth noting that Ponson has made similar promises before, only to backslide into his bad habits. For instance, Ponson said he was a changed man after spending 11 days in jail in his native Aruba stemming from a Christmas Day 2004 altercation with a judge on a beach. But Ponson’s life went into a tailspin after that. (Pioneer Press)
This is the effect that Aruba has on an individual?
Swearing to never embarrass his friends, family or employer again, Ponson spent only three weeks in tiny Aruba – where he is a knight and a national celebrity – this winter instead of his usual six. He got engaged. And he tried to stay out of trouble by hanging out at his home in Fort Lauderdale. (West Central Tribune)
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27 Responses to “Twins Baseball Pitcher Sidney Ponson … “he stayed away from his biggest problem, Aruba.””
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It would be interesting to get his thoughts on the Natalee Holloway case, and what he thinks should be done now. If anyone knows the inside scoop on Aruba, it sounds like he would be the one. Too bad we can’t contact him.
Meanwhile, here’s an article that appeared today in the Miami Herald as a straightforward news article. It is nothing but an ad, an obvious, blatant ad. I wonder how much Aruba had to pay to get this in as an article?
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/travel/16755060.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_travel
Posted on Sun, Feb. 25, 2007
VISITING ARUBA
• Best for: Beachgoers, water sports enthusiasts, anyone looking for a tropical getaway outside the hurricane zone.
• Getting there: American Airlines flies nonstop from Miami to Aruba, a trip of two hours, 40 minutes. You can fly via connecting flights from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, but most trips are seven hours or longer.
• Cost of a weekend getaway: Roundtrip air fare starts at $445 from Miami, $499 from Fort Lauderdale. Online travel agencies were offering three-night air/hotel packages for mid-April starting around $775 per person, double occupancy.
• When to go: It’s dry and sunny almost year-round. Rainy season is November-January. Aruba doesn’t get hurricanes but there’s less breeze in that season so it feels hottest June-September.
WHERE TO STAY
Rates below are for standard double rooms in low season, April to December.
• Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Suites, L.G. Smith Blvd. 55-B; (011-297) 583-1100; http://www.bucuti.com. This 41-suite low-rise resort is renowned for its environmental efforts, including extensive recycling programs and wildlife and indigenous plant preservation. Doubles from $210.
• Amsterdam Manor, J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 252; (011-297) 527-1100 or 800-932-6509; http://www.amsterdammanor.com. This Dutch-owned resort on Eagle Beach has 72 rooms, a unique Dutch Colonial appearance, freshwater pool, minimarket, bar and two restaurants. Rooms from $159.
• Talk of the Town, L.G. Smith Blvd. 2; (011-297) 582-3380; http://www.tottaruba.com. This two-story hotel is the most economical choice on the island. It has no beach of its own, but a huge pool; beach access is across the street. Located one mile from the airport and a 10-minute walk from downtown Oranjestad. Rooms from $142.
• Brickell Bay Beach Club, J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 370; (011-297) 586-0900 or 888-790-5264; http://www.brickellbayaruba.com. Located in the Palm Beach area, this 97-room hotel has a freshwater pool with swim-up bar and is within walking distance of bars and restaurants. Rooms from $115.
• Marriott’s Ocean Club, L.G. Smith Blvd 101; (011-297) 586-9000; http://marriott.com. Located on Palm Beach, this luxury five-star hotel includes 218 one- and two-bedroom oceanfront villas plus bars, a health spa and casino. Rooms from $390.
WHERE TO EAT
• Marina Pirata, Spaans Lagoenweg 4; (011-297) 585-7150. Located over the Spanish Lagoon, this seafood restaurant is ideal for a starlit dinner. Entrees, $6-$24.
• La Promenade, Zeppenveldstraat 15; (011-297) 584-3131. With three locations on the island, this affordable gourmet restaurant offers savory dishes, including lobster and giant shrimp. Entrees, $7-$11.50.
• Old Cunucu House, Palm Beach 150; (011-297) 586-1666. Serves up traditional Aruban fare, including keshi yen (a baked cheese and meat dish), funchi and Aruban pan bati bread. Dinner entrees, $16-$23.
• Moomba Beach, J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 230; (011-297) 586-5365. Offers elaborate dishes or simple snacks, with tables right on the beach and live music and dancing every night. Dinner entrees, $19-$25.50.
• Pinchos Grill & Bar, L.G. Smith Blvd 7; (011-297) 583-2666. This chic restaurant built on a dock over the ocean offers fancy food and drinks with live music on weekends. Entrees, $16-$27.
WHAT TO DO
• Snuba Underwater: De Palm Tours offers these as well as other island tours. L.G. Smith Boulevard 142, Oranjestad. From $89.50. (011-297) 582-4400; http://www.depalm.com.
• Snorkeling: 2 ½ hours long tour, on a boat or catamaran with music and open bar. Pelican Adventures, from $40, goes to the ruins of the Antilla. (011-297) 587-2302 weekdays; (011-297) 586-1455 weekends; http://www.pelican-aruba.com.
• Scuba diving: Mermaid Sport Divers offers excursions from $115, including equipment, snacks, and instructors. Courses from $70. (011-297) 587-4103; http://www.scubadivers-aruba.com.
• Atlantis Adventure: A 1-hour and 45 minutes submarine ride that takes you down 150 meters under the sea, past reefs and shipwrecks. $99. (011-297) 588-6881 or 866-546-7820; http://www.atlantisadventures.com.
INFORMATION
• Aruba Tourism Authority: 954-767-6477 or 800-TO-ARUBA; http://www.aruba.com.
this was in a miami paper? what is advertised there, and it is purely an advertisement bought and paid for, that you can’t do in miami? all the illegal stuff available on aruba is probably available in miami also. really, the only thing that comes to mind is permanently terminating relationships without fear of prosecution, and rape would be another easily overlooked petty violation on aruba. hell, they don’t even prosecute the gangrape of l6yr. old locals on the island even when they know the rapists and have photos to prove it with.
dennisintn
Another testimonial to the crap that is on the island.
What Judge did he punch? lol
He’s a Knight?
I hope Sidney gets his game together.The majors need pitching.which league,if Atl. game,I will ask him.I got a call from the Marriot about their specials,I said I was from MB.and she hung up
Richard, I for one have some influence on dive stores’ dive trips in my area. Trust me…Aruba has been off the list since all this happened. And I will continue to change destinations for our groups, plus…the diving in Aruba bites as is. Some folks want the dive/party trip…many islands to do so. As long as i have some input,…Aruba is off the list.
Great, Diverboy, and everyone else. Let’s all pull together and enforce the slogan: “No justice for Natalee … no tourists for Aruba.”
Got to write to the Miami Herald asking them why they don’t write about the “real” Aruba. Or do they just sell out to anyone who waves the bucks?
For the Boston protest, I’m planning on three handouts:
1. A list of lies, evasions, actions/inactions that Aruba has done since day one on this case. Obviously, there’s way more stuff than I could begin to list. Just some of the key ones, with references, will have to do.
2. Other problems with Aruba (such as the ‘one murder a year’ lie, the guy on the ship who Aruba said died of a heart attack and another island proved didn’t, the guy in the cave, the rape of that girl by her schoolmates, the intimidation of witnesses, the other kidnappings and rapes that remain unsolved, the charge that Aruba removed from its tourist blog all references to crime, etc., etc., etc.
(Not to mention Joel Gove on Saba, where the family has to come up with $75,000 to search for his body, as with Natalee.)
3. ECONOMIC reasons why Aruba is NOT a competitive choice.
Prices are higher; crack addicts are roaming; etc., etc.
Please post ideas on this. I want to make it clear to tourists who might go there are shooting themselves in the pocketbook.
All ideas welcome!
Or for a cheaper alternative right on the beach, you can stay with Boeti. Plenty of fresh ocean air. The view, well you can see the ocean and at night, you can see right into the rooms at the nearby Holiday Inn. Close to all the action.Call for reservations NOW 1-800-Tent-In-the Bushes.
#9, katgram, it’s 4:43 am and you’ve made me smile for the first time today. i love it. tent in the bushes sounds like one of the most desirable places on aruba.
dennisintn
He was sent to the minors and most likely this is his last chance to stay in organized baseball, so he has been forced to face the truth. His misconduct in the past is indication of a weak character, susceptible to servile flattery. Blaming Aruba for his behavior is also indicative of his unwillingness to accept responsibility for his lack of control and harmful behavior. I feel sorry for Ponson…he’s off to a bad start. He needs the 12 steps.
Richard, Inside this forum is over 16 pages of crime in LIERUBA. Msmarple and some others have written them all down. Just press print and highlight. Its real good. I wish you could order buttons at that cafe website with Natalees face on it and pass them out. I could help with the expense of that. If you want to, I am able to receive PM’s at BFN. I am not able to post on the inside of this forum. I messed up my passwod, or something. Let me know if you need my help. I post @BFN under buttafly22.I want to help anyway I can. If I wasnt in florida I would be there.
#9-kat, that was great….
To the bloggers, please try to increase the quality of your postings because these postings are just too silly…
You’ll be losing readers who truly want quality…
SL Gloria, as I read this, he didn’t blame Aruba for what he has done. He said the atmosphere on Aruba is conducive to, shall we say, falling into harm’s way. Not hard to imagine, is it?
Dutch guy, please instruct us on how to meet the quality standards.
Vicki, I’m not registered on BFN, but some people have already gotten in contact with me through this forum. If you ask Red to forward a message, I’m sure he will. Same goes for anyone else.
#13-Ditchboy…what is your problem…you are the silly one to think that you can come on here and tell us about ourselves…how about you try and clean up your own country before you can give us any advise.
LIERUBA,SATANS ISLAND, whatever you want to call that sink hole, SUCKS big time and will never recover unless JUSTICE FOR NATALEE is served. Do something for your beloved fellow man and solve this instead of acting like a dog[BI--H]in heat…
Ponson may indeed need the 12 step approach to his substance addiction.
Aruban LE and authorities need the 12 step approach also, to their addiction to covering up and lying.
Hey Dutch Boy, you talking to me?
Because in my silliness, there is some fact.
Boeti Naar is Gerald Dompig’s ex brother-in-law.
Place of residence : A tent in between the Mariott and the Holiday Inn.
Career / Hobbies : Drugs.
Been caught : Yes
Prior residence : Jail for ten years.
He provided infomation in the case to the ALE.
He knows more, but would need some CASH to tell.
..
In addition to Boeti, there are others who live right on the beach. In the hi rise tourist district.
Kat_Gram nice theory out of Alabama ?? Arkansas ?? Georgia ?? Nancy Grace or Greta…
Please state your theory more specifically…
Hey Kat_Gram!
The post #9 gave me a chuckle too! I can’t believe anyone would still want to go there knowing they are probably being secretly video taped in their rooms aswell as all the crackheads looking thru hotel windows & sliding glass doors.
#15, vickie,
Dutch Guy is referring to what we have all seen happen: a drastic decrease in the number of blog participants, as a direct consequence of lack of merits and inherent value of the essence of the comments…statements like “what is your problem…you are the silly one to think that you can come on here and tell us about ourselves…how about you try and clean up your own country before you can give us any advise.
LIERUBA,SATANS ISLAND, whatever you want to call that sink hole, SUCKS big time and will never recover unless JUSTICE FOR NATALEE is served. Do something for your beloved fellow man and solve this instead of acting like a dog[BI-H]in heat…”.
That type of expression says more about the addresser than the addressee and it doesn’t contribute to stimulate any type of valuable discussion about the case. So, as more people refuse to respond to repetitive, undignified comments, polarization diminishes, opinions concentrate on one side and incentive to participate disappears. Who are the present dominant posters going to respond to eventually? Themselves?
So don’t take Dutch Guy’s comment so lightly…think about it!
Kat: “Boeti knows more but needs cash to tell”…….
How typical and Aruban like! Everyone looking to get paid. Between the HI & Marriot; perfect position to witness a drop-off…or…not. Natalee fall….or….not. A drugged/anebriated Natalee escorted to A room…or…not. Abused and unconscience, removed from said room early in the AM; abducted…or…not. Maybe FEB meant exactly what she said…..Maybe the hotel/casino mgr x-fer is exactly what it looks like… a pay-off. Maybe Patti’s right, Natalee was taken back to the Hotel, of course, I’ll be twisting her words. Just out of curiosity, any idea how far from the hotels McDonalds is?
#18 Why don’t you give us your theory as to why Dompig stated “THESE THREE (J2k ARE GUILTY AS HELL”.
AND BE SPECIFIC.
#20-first its vicki,second, I really dont give a rats behind if you like my post or not…dutchguy is a stupid troll and you sound like one also. if you want to defend him,thats your business but I will write what I want as long as Tom, Red and klaas allow me to. DUH
What merit or value is there when people come here and say Natalee isn’t bright for being in Deepak’s care but WILL NOT address what their own people stated about the suspects?
Dompig: We’ve looked in other directions but ALL roads ALWAYS lead back to these 3 suspects
Dutch Guy;
I am not from the USA. Just been following this case from the beginning. Anything I said came from Joe Tacopina,
Gerald Dompig, etc. I might have seen the interview on Nancy Grace, but not on Fox.
I do not believe Boeti was involved in any way shape or form, but it was Mr. Tacopina who tried to push him forward. The point I was making was that right in the middle of the hi – rise tourist district on Aruba, people without any visible means of support live in the shrubs and bushes in tents or not in tents.
When I call you Dutch Guy I know that sounds impolite, but it is what you call yourself so I have no other way of addressing you.
The reason we seem to be fewer bloggers is simply because evrything that needed to be said has been said. Consesus is that there are a whole bunch of people on that horrible island responsible for Natalee’s disappearance and we have pretty much solved the case and named names. We, well, I am never far away from this site. There comes a time when you just have to hope that it is now time for someone to act and put the creeps behind bars……chris
#26, excuse the typos, when I’m mad my fingers don’t function so well…..chris