Delgado won't stand for "God Bless America!"

MIAMI (AP) -- Carlos Delgado is willing to stand up for his beliefs -- or,
in his case, not stand up.
At his introductory news conference Thursday with the Florida Marlins,
Delgado said he'll continue to not stand up this season during the playing
of ``God Bless America.''

An opponent of the war in Iraq, Delgado refused to stand when ``God Bless
America'' was played last season at games involving his Toronto Blue Jays.
Instead, he would stay on the bench or go into the dugout tunnel.

``I wouldn't call it politics, because I hate politics,'' Delgado said
Thursday after finalizing his $52 million, four-year contract. ``The reason
why I didn't stand for `God Bless America' was because I didn't like the way
they tied `God Bless America' and 9-11 to the war in Iraq in baseball.

``I say God bless America, God bless Miami, God bless Puerto Rico and all
countries until there is peace in the world.''