Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez defended Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez on Sunday, slamming baseball fans who booed the major leaguer at the World Baseball Classic. Chavez lamented that his friendship with Ordonez led to the catcalls from the mostly Venezuelan crowd during the team's victory over the Netherlands on Saturday. "Everyone has the right to think about politics," Chavez said after reading an article about the incident from The Associated Press. "This is shameful. "Viva Magglio, and all our patriots!" Chavez added.