League Notes

Atsuya Furuta, Chair of the Japanese baseball players union, said that Japanese players “will not take part” in the World Baseball Classic next March. Furuta added that there are “too many problematic issues” with the event. Furuta noted the “unilateral nature of the tournament’s organization and a March timeframe that would hinder players’ preparation for the season.” Furuta: “This tournament principally serves the long-term interests of the major leagues. They are organizing it with their future in mind” (DAILY YOMIMURI, 7/23).

Smith’s Contract Could Have Repercussions During Upcoming CBA Negotiations

NFL: NFL.com’s Pat Kirwan said 49ers QB Alex Smith’s six-year, $51M contract “is so big that when they finally sit down to negotiate the (CBA) extension, I think (it is going to be) in the back of the minds of not just the owners who are putting this kind of money out there, but (also) the players. ... You’re going to see some impetus — finally — to take care of controlling rookie spending” (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 7/26).

LPGA: In Ft. Worth, Jimmy Burch reports TV viewership for the LPGA’s first three majors this year is up by 44% over last year, while attendance has risen by 14%, including a tournament-record 131,298 for the U.S. Women’s Open (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/27).