If the United States does indeed open the gateway to Cuba, the sports world could change dramatically and for the better.

Cuba produces tremendous baseball players, and would become a new, open, hotbed for talent.

Cuba possesses more than 11 million people, almost all of them baseball fans. If baseball can expand to Canada, surely it can expand to Cuba ,which would probably offer more support to a big-league baseball team than Miami does.

The NFL is eyeing London as a franchise destination, hoping to carve a niche in a market dominated by soccer and even cricket. Cuba offers 11 million people who don't have a lot of other entertainment options.

Cuba could work for basketball. Hockey wouldn't seem to be a likely export, but if you can put a team in South Florida, you might be silly enough to put one in Latin America.

I've traveled extensively in Latin America and the Caribbean. I've always been told that if Cuba were open and economically vibrant noone would ever bother going to Hawaii. Cuba is supposed to be that beautiful.

I hope that in my lifetime, we see American professional sports, even if only baseball, taking residence in Cuba.

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Today I asked Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater what quarterback he wanted to emulate when he was young. ``Brett Favre," he said.

He loved Favre's toughness and production.

Now we just need to get Bridgewater to give Favrian press conferences.

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I'll be at The Local in Minneapolis tonight at 5 for a podcast with Twins great Roy Smalley, who is a great storyteller. Come by, or listen live or later at SouhanUnfiltered.com.

Thanks.

@Souhanstrib