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The prospect of enlisting Major League Baseball to push Arizona to unwind their immigration law is indeed quite tempting. Phoenix is scheduled to host the 2011 All-Star Game, but nothing is stopping the League from finding a new location in an act of official protest. The precedent here is the NFL's decision to move the Super Bowl out of Arizona until the state recognized MLK day. But in addition to the power of the commissioner's office—and I think I'm a little skeptical of Bud Selig's willingness to step into this mess—it's worth noting that a number of individual major league players could step up to the plate and make this into a serious issue. Albert Pujols is a naturalized US citizen. He went to high school in Independence, Missouri, but still speaks English with a noticeable accent. He's the kind of person who pessimists think will end up being pulled over for driving too nice a car.

If Pujols and other All-Stars (even the non-Latino ones!) threatened to boycott the 2011 game in Arizona, it would help bring unflattering attention on the state from a less political arena.

(cc photo by Hjelle)