I understand the underlying concept behind it. I can even see where all the enthusiasm comes from (mostly not north of the Rio Grande). Maybe I'm just a northeast pro-sports biased hack, but it just doesn't do it for me. Regardless of the reason, you can plant me firmly in the "No professional athletes in international competition if it interferes with their season" camp.

First of all, let me get this off my chest: I am not anti-Olympic or anti any international competition. It's a good thing for athletes to be representing their country against the best in the world. Even if that means they have to do it in non-sports like the skeleton. To come home with that gold medal around your neck is still one of the most sought after accomplishments in an athlete’s life. However, if you don't accomplish this feat before you sign a professional contract, you're, as the kids say, SOL.

Let me amend that slightly. I don't have much of a problem with NBA players in the Olympics or other international competition. These tournaments take place after the season is over. It's basically what they do in their spare time, in a sense. So basketball gets a pass from me. That's it though. OK, maybe soccer too, that's a sport that's built on international competition. Besides, its pro leagues aren't near the same level as the MLB or even the NHL. But that's it.

Back to the topic at hand though. With the Winter Olympics just ended and the World Baseball Classic about to begin, it seems to be an appropriate time to discuss this. I’ll start with hockey.

When you sign a contract to play for a professional hockey team, well, I'm sorry, but that's your team. You're no longer a player for Team USA or Team Canada. You're a player for the Red Wings or Canucks. An All-Star break is one thing. That's a league sanctioned three day rest that celebrates the players playing the best in that season. The two-week Olympic break is a different story though.

Yes, I'm aware that the NHL sanctioned their players’ appearances in this year's Olympics. I just thought it was a dumb move, and I think they did, too, since they have yet to take the same action for the 2012 Games. It is an unnecessary risk for teams who have very good players to lose those very good players who qualified for their country's Olympic team to an injury while not playing for them. Any injury is possible during any given game, but when it happens in a game that's not for your team who's paying good money for your services, it is preventable.

The list of injuries for this year's tournament isn't exactly miniscule. Dominic Hasek hurt his groin during the first game. Two players for the surprising first place New York Rangers got hurt, with Darius Kasparitis probably missing a game or two with a broken toe. Jaromir Jagr got banged up first with an elbow to the head and then a sore groin (although he's probably not going to miss any games). Patrick Elias, a star for the New Jersey Devils, whose return triggered their comeback from a bad team earlier in the season to a decent team now, is missing a week because of an Olympic injury.

Injuries aren't the only problem. Team Sweden didn't make it back in time because of celebrations. Five players on the Detroit Red Wings missed their 5-1 loss, which undoubtedly would have ended differently had they been there. Rangers' rookie goaltending sensation Henrik Lundqvist is being rested for an important game against the Flyers tonight. Then there was Colorado's goalie David Aebischer, who was so used to two weeks of international rules that he forgot he couldn't handle the puck outside the designated area behind the goal line for the first penalty of its kind I've seen all year. All of this could have been avoided by using amateur players like they used to.

Now, Baseball is about to embark on a similar misadventure, the World Baseball Classic. This tournament is going to be a joke for various reasons, and I contend that it is much worse than the NHL players in the Olympics.

When the NHL stopped its season for two weeks, it was in the middle of the year, when the players were all in shape. It doesn't make that much of a difference for position players, although some of their hamstrings and such might not be sufficiently ready for a 100% effort competitive game. Pitchers, on the other hand, are in much more danger of injury.

As a New York Mets fan, I couldn't have been happier to see that Pedro Martinez (injury) and Billy Wagner (not physically ready) pulled out. Spring Training for a position player is basically about timing, getting back into the swing of things. For a pitcher, it is getting your arm in proper shape to be able to pitch 150-200 innings. All pitchers do in spring training is work on certain pitches, gradually working towards 100% by opening day. Getting batters out is of secondary importance.

In the WBC, however, getting batters out will be of primary importance. In 1990, a labor dispute threatened the season. It was settled, but they were forced to cut spring training short. As a result, pitchers began throwing 100% before they were ready and certain pitchers were hurt, most notably Orel Hershiser who was forced to get season-ending surgery and basically killed the Dodgers chances for contention.

These are not my only concerns with the WBC though. Major, major players are pulling out for reasons other than injury. Some because they just don't want to play (Manny, Mariano Rivera, Melvin Mora) and some for personal reasons (Vlad Guerrero). The fact remains though, that regardless of the reason, the players competing are not necessarily the best in the world. The tournament is, to put it mildly, a farce. It is inherently flawed.

You also cannot overlook some of the absurd rules. First on the list is the fact that you're allowed to play for a country where you've never even been to because your ancestors were from there (i.e. Mike Piazza playing for Italy). Then there's the "game over after 14 innings no matter what" rule. That isn't baseball.

I believe it was Alexander Cartwright who coined the phrase "a tie is like kissing your sister," while he was writing the rules, right after his ingenious idea of making the bases 90 feet from each other. OK, maybe he didn't, but he certainly agreed with the spirit of it. Even hockey got rid of ties! They're so rare in football it hasn't been addressed, but that's ok because of said rarity. Finally, there's the more understandable rule of pitch counts. That's another rule that's un-baseball-ish. I can see why it’s been implemented, because of the aforementioned injury concerns, but it doesn't make the games any more watchable.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I feel I make some valid points. Professional athletes are just that: professionals. They compete in games for the owner that gives them their paychecks. But I'm just a northeast pro-sports fan hack, what do I know?

Think I'm a visionary who should become commissioner of the MLB or NHL and stop the madness, agree with me that I'm a pro sports fan hack, or any other questions/comments, or just something you want to say, e-mail me at dan@culturestew.com.

Article courtesy CultureStew.com (www.culturestew.com)