THE SIDELINES : Japanese to Skip Ariz. Training

The Yakult Swallows of the Japanese baseball league, who trained in Arizona each spring since 1978, are not coming this year because of the Persian Gulf War.

Mayor Bob Tippett said the team told him they felt that they would not be showing proper respect if they sent their young players to play baseball when the United States has sent its young men into war against Iraq.

“Their major concern was not the safety of their ballplayers, terrorism or anything,” Tippett said. “And they stressed to me they will be back next year.”