I Think They're Not Turning Japanese, I Really Think Not

Major League Baseball announced tonight that the season opener scheduled to start in Japan has been canceled due to a looming war with Iraq.

If the war-to-be lasts a week and induces no terrorist activity, then baseball will be viewed as skiddish by future generations--especially given that its announcement comes on the heels of the NCAA's announcement that they will not cancel nor postpone their championship tournament. However, they are thinking of the players' safety and that is a good thing. Imagine how traumatic it would be for the US and Japan if something terrorist-related were to happen. I guess the rationale is not that Japan is a less safe environment in which to host a baseball game, but rather that the players competing would be targets all the more if participating in a high-profile international baseball event.

I think it's being overly cautious, but erring on the side of caution when it comes to the ballplayers' saftey isn't the worst thing that could happen, especially when there will be enough soldiers putting their lives on the line should there be a war.