You read last week where the National Football League is coming back to Japan next year, having scheduled an American Bowl exhibition game between the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins in Osaka on Aug. 3. Let's hope this will be the first of several announcements of major international sports events in Japan during the year 2002.
Of course, we already have World Cup soccer in June, but other games, particularly those of the four major North American sports leagues, have been uncertain because of the world situation and possible complications with the Major League Baseball Players Association and management over contract negotiations and contraction (more on that later).
If we are lucky -- very lucky -- 2002 could be the first time for all four leagues to play in Japan in the same year. My understanding is that movement toward announcement of the anticipated Seattle Mariners Japan opening games in March is awaiting that contract agreement. It should also be the year for the National Hockey League to play its Japan openers in October, as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators began their 2000-2001 season at Saitama Super Arena.
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