International Sporting Rivalry

So the World Baseball Classic is rolling along. As a baseball fan from Cleveland and an American I was really disappointed when Cleveland Indians pitcher CC Sabathia pulled out from the US squad. Now that the games have started, I'm sure he is as well.

The nice thing about the Olympics, the World Baseball Classic, and the FIFA World Cup being played in the same year is how the international rivaly can carry over. In 2002 - after Apolo Anton Ohno had a South Korean speed skater disqualified in the Olympics, the US met South Korea in the first round of the World Cup in South Korea. After scoring against the US, South Korean striker Ahn Jung Hwan celebrated his goal by doing a speed skater dance.

We're fairly likely to see some World Baseball Classic rivaly spill over into the World Cup now. The US Mens National Soccer Team may play Japan in the second round and yesterday the two nations baseball teams played in the World Baseball Classic. Controversy erupted in the 8th inning when the umpires ruled that a Japanese player hadn't tagged up from 3rd base properly - negating the leading run for Japan. Complete BS call that I'm sure if I could read Japanese I'd be able to see it all over the Japanese press today.

Anyhow, the US went on to win by a run, setting up a possible Ahn Jung Hwan moment during the World Cup in Germany in June, stay tuned.