Japan To Cancel U.S. Tour (Reuters)

Slap them with a law suit.

Then find a real opponent to take their place.

 

What on Earth are they thinking here?

I'm racking my 7:45 am Saturday brain trying to figure out the reasons behind this cancellation, besides just "the danger". Here is a link I found that adds more to the story above:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2003/02/15/japan_us_ap/

The Japan Federation is saying that regardless of whether or not war with Iraq happens that they are cancelling. What? Say again? That means their friendly vs. Uruguay is cancelled too. I'm sure Uruguay appreciates that. Lots of people stand to lose $ here, and lots of people are going to be disappointed. What the hell is really going to happen? We just had the freakin' Superbowl 3 weeks ago with no hitch. The Daytucky 500 is this weekend. Nothing's going to happen there either. What are Japan really saying here? I hate it when politics and sports mix.

Does anyone buy their reasons given here?

How are the Japanese going to look if other national teams (regardless of the sport) choose to come over here, despite the "DANGER"? This smells. It could easily be argued that Japan is in just as much imminent danger every day from North Korean missles. Remember all the terrorist attacks in Tokyo in the 90's? This just smells.

I wouldn't be surprised if this story makes some national media outlets.

I think that the Japanese, our 'allies', are showing their lack of spine. Thanks for having our backs.

Schedule somebody else on those dates.

Japan can pound sand.

 

F'EM---schedule somebody else.

 

Good riddance. Let's find a real team to replace them... oh, wait, they've only given us a month to find a replacement...

 

Originally posted by USWins06
" It could easily be argued that Japan is in just as much imminent danger every day from North Korean missles. Remember all the terrorist attacks in Tokyo in the 90's?"

I agree, it sucks that the games are cancelled. But the guy with the gun pointed at his head, and therefore in immiment danger every day, is going to be cautious. Maybe they do remember the past terrorist attacks... Hard to criticize the JFA, but it does suck.

Politics has screwed up lots of sport before now, and if our government is going to insist on flying in the face of the will of the international community, well, it just might cost us a thing or two.

 

The little babies with their dyed hair and pouty, pop-star affectations can go play with themselves.

Bring in a man's team: Aussie or John Bull. INNIT.

 

Look at it this way, now we can replace them with a team that's actually good. What a bunch of pussies

 

And you mentioned England?


Please Unfortunately for their fans, I don't think England has been playing like a "man's team" lately...

 

Pussies. ************ them.

 

You got me there. But you know what I mean.

 

You first have to assume that they ever had a spine.

 

Have you been following the news? War wasn't nearly as imminent a couple of months ago as it is now. Think of the cancellation in part as a protest against the coming war. England's cricket team attempted to cancel their World Cup match in Zimbabwe for human rights reasons--how can you be playing a sport in a country where the govt. is starving its people.

Anything to stop this stupid war. Sorry guys, but I've gotta back the Japanese here.

Politics often trumps sport. You can't expect things to be any different.

 

This has nothing to do with the war..., that's the point.

 

I think we can expect to see more of this. A year ago a Mexican team refused to play Metro in NJ, citing the danger of flying at that time. KC's match in Jo'berg has been cancelled -- who knows why? Security risks? Too many people p.o.'d at the US to risk a riot at a soccer match?

Frankly, I wonder -- if we go it alone against Iraq -- if FIFA wouldn't be forced to suspend the US for political reasons, much as South Africa was exiled from international sports during the latter days of apartheid. I would at least expect the French and German associations to suggest it, not to mention their politicians, if only to embarrass us abroad.

In general we are perceived as arrogant, willfull, self-absorbed, a bully, and a threat to world peace and the global environment. And perceptions are hard to alter; it takes a lot of time.

Cancelled soccer matches could be the least of our problems in the days to come.

 

I agree. The global political situation, for which the US government has as much if not more responsibility as any other entity is bound to affect sports contests. Japan is doing what's in their best interests and those interests are more important than what we may want.

 

Before this gets moved to Politics, I must ask: You're not liking Bush to Mugabe, are you?

It's a bad move, pal. A real bad move.

 

Now you guys know how the Israelis feel. But the Israelis can't host any games.

 

Of course he isn't, Mugabe is probably brighter.

 

If the Super Bowl, which is the biggest event in the U.S. can go off without a hitch, why not a friendly between Japan and the U.S.?

I don't think we should go at it alone if the *************** UN doesn't agree, let Europe get ************ed later on so we can come back with the told you so. And all of these war protesters in Europe--************ 'em. Half of them are probably descendants of people who believed Hitler and then got their a$$es rolled over.

 

Good points. But who do you cite? Mexico. A country known for its empty foreign policy statements. France. A country who is commited to mulitlateralism only to gain influence that it can't get on it own. Germany. Utterly legless and lost on the world diplomatic stage with its attempts at influence.

There's plenty of fingerpointing to go around.

Let's play ball and not lump the US in with Milosevic and Mugabe. Politics and sport don't mix unless you have a chance to take a run at Uncle.

 

You probably thought Hitler was bright also.

 

Chivas de Guadalajara vs Metrostars- Copa Merconorte, Nov.21,2001

What frekin' chickens!
We could've whooped your ass then, and we can most certainly whoop your ass right now.

 

Yeah, imagine protesting against war - the shame of it.