| Can you imagine Bowie Kuhn -- who
| |
| | Sammy Sosa and Manny Ramirez, and that
|
| confronted boycotts, expansion and other
| |
| | Pedro Martinez has indicated he may be
|
| big-time labor issues during his 15
| |
| | available after Round 1, but Internet
|
| tumultuous years as Major League
| |
| | stories indicate all three have hinted
|
| Baseball's commissioner -- dealing with
| |
| | they might sit out the Classic.The
|
| something like this?New York Yankees
| |
| | designated hitter rule will be in play
|
| owner George Steinbrenner is still alive
| |
| | and there are set days of rest for
|
| and he's spinning in his grave over
| |
| | starting hurlers who throw an established
|
| it.The first World Baseball Classic --
| |
| | number of pitches.A driving force behind
|
| the Olympics of baseball, sil vous plait
| |
| | the World Baseball Classic is the sport's
|
| -- involving 16 teams from throughout the
| |
| | thumbing from the Summer Olympics.MLB
|
| world gets underway next week.One giant
| |
| | won't let its stars play in the Olympics
|
| step for brotherhood, global harmony and
| |
| | and problems abound with minor leaguers,
|
| single-world thinkers.Ho hum, sports
| |
| | including drug-testing issues.Other
|
| bettors say.Spring training will outdraw
| |
| | Olympic standards will be prevalent and
|
| it and the Classic has to deal with that
| |
| | the event is slated to be held every four
|
| annual phenom known as March Madness that
| |
| | years.The 16 invited teams have been
|
| drives Sin City into a frenzy.Still, the
| |
| | assigned to four pools; the United States
|
| WBC boasts potential."We've had very
| |
| | and Canada are in Pool B with Mexico and
|
| minimal action on it," said Las Vegas
| |
| | South Africa.Japan, Korea, China and
|
| Hilton SuperBook oddsmaker and spokesman
| |
| | Taiwan are in Pool A; Puerto Rico,
|
| Jeff Sherman."One big problem is the
| |
| | Panama, Cuba and the Netherlands comprise
|
| early games are in Japan."Maybe we'll see
| |
| | Pool C and Venezuela, Australia, Italy
|
| more betting when they play here (United
| |
| | and the Dominican Republic make up Pool
|
| States)."Because MLB has both hands in
| |
| | D.Four sites will host Round 1 games; two
|
| this pie, it sets the rules.Players can't
| |
| | teams from each pool will advance to the
|
| be forced to participate (Where have you
| |
| | quarterfinals.The semifinals, which
|
| gone Paul Konerko?) and teams can't
| |
| | features the four winners -- one from
|
| refuse to let them, though it's apparent
| |
| | each site -- and championship game will
|
| pressure has been applied in some
| |
| | be played at the San Diego Padres' Petco
|
| cases.The Yanks' Gary Sheffield was
| |
| | Park.Competition starts March 3 and the
|
| quoted in one recent Internet story
| |
| | championship will be decided March 20,
|
| asking, "Can you imagine George
| |
| | avoiding a head-to-head TV clash with
|
| Steinbrenner's reaction if one of his
| |
| | NCAA Tournament Sectional play.America
|
| multi-million dollar players gets
| |
| | goes into action on March 8.While some
|
| injured?"Still, The Boss had to ease
| |
| | bet shops, like the SuperBook, have
|
| back.Roger Clemens is one of four
| |
| | posted WBC futures odds, others, such as
|
| starting pitchers on the American team
| |
| | the Stardust and additional Boyd Group
|
| and will open the inaugural series for
| |
| | properties, haven't bothered with
|
| the United States; Derek Jeter's on the
| |
| | them."We'll probably book the individual
|
| crew too.He has Bernie Williams on Puerto
| |
| | games," Stardust supervisor Jake Kolleth
|
| Rico's roster, which also contains
| |
| | said.He also hasn't heard much about the
|
| standouts Carlos Beltran and Carlos
| |
| | Classic, but points out that doesn't mean
|
| Delgado of the New York Mets.Others doing
| |
| | there won't be interest by the time the
|
| patriotic duty include Ken Griffey Jr.
| |
| | U.S.A. actually swings into
|
| and Derek Lee.Some foreign-born players
| |
| | play."Nobody's asking about it, but they
|
| welcome an opportunity to play for their
| |
| | will be when things get going," Kolleth
|
| homelands.The Puerto Ricans originally
| |
| | said.ESPN and ESPN2 will handle American
|
| had 60 players to choose from and have
| |
| | and Canadian Classic TV coverage and its
|
| been having difficulty getting down to
| |
| | affiliates will be in charge in foreign
|
| the mandated 30; their first list
| |
| | countries.Lynda Collins is a documented
|
| included 40 MLB All-Star selections.The
| |
| | member of the Professional Handicappers
|
| Domincans say they have commitments from
| |
| | League.
|
