I know what you’re thinking.

“Baseball is America’s national pastime… perhaps they feel the same way in the Dominican Republic.”

No sir (or madam).  Being one of the few Latin American countries in which soccer isn’t popular, the Dominican Republic has filled the void with baseball.  The emphasis is not on watching it (though many people do), but on playing it.  Seen by many Dominicans as the only way out of poverty, children are encouraged from an early age to practice their batting and fielding skills.  Many families cannot afford gloves, but this does not deter them.  Sammy Sosa often shares his anecdote of playing baseball while using a milk carton as a catchers mitt.  Sound serious enough for you?  Ask a Dominican about the popular children’s game vitilla, in which players practice batting by hitting a bottle cap …with a broomstick.

Major League Baseball has had approximately 500 Dominican-born players.  This is more than any other country in the world, and it doesn’t even count players of Dominican descent that were born outside of the Dominican Republic.

Another interesting fact:  Dominican loyalty always trumps team loyalty.  As a child, I recall being confused watching Dominican Yankees fans cheer for Pedro Martinez (a Red Sox player at the time).  In most places, this behavior will seem confusing, idiotic, or even blasphemous.  Yet, in a Dominican household, this is quite common.  Dominicans will always show support a Dominican player, even if he is on a rival team.  Unless the player is Alex Rodriguez… for some reason, most Dominicans don’t like him.

Jack Veneno is a Dominican icon.

To Dominicans he is Brett Farve, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hulk Hogan rolled into one.  The frequent Dominican Heavyweight Champion even had a major feud with wrestling legend Ric Flair.  The first match ended with Jack as the victor and NWA World Heavyweight Champion.  In the subsequent rematch, Flair was scheduled to win the title back, but decided to throw the match because he feared the crowd would riot if they saw their champion lose.  The NWA doesn’t officially recognize Jack Veneno as ever holding the title, but Dominicans have never forgotten what they saw… a Dominican World Champion.

Recently Jack, whose real name is Rafael Sanchez, campaigned to become Mayor of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.  Interestingly enough, his campaign posters said “Jack Veneno” on them, instead of his real name.

In every Dominican home there is Vicks Vapor Rub.  Guaranteed.  It might be a small coin-shaped tin, in a huge tub, or in some cases a generic version with a name like “Lander’s Menthol Rub”.

Much like the old Chris Rock joke about black people and Robitussin, Dominicans believe that this magic concoction could cure pretty much any disease.  Firsthand, I have witnessed it being used to treat mosquito bites, headaches, toenail fungus, sore throats and muscle pain.  A good friend of mine told me that when his uncle gets a fever, he rubs Vicks Vapor Rub all over his head, puts on a wool hat, and sits in a dark room.

If you ever find yourself not feeling well in a Dominican home, don’t be alarmed when you are offered “vivaporu”.  Even if it does nothing for your migrane, you should act thankful and smile politely.

Good luck washing the smell of menthol off of your temples.