Intergalactic Play May Be Just Around the Corner

Internationalization, it’s coming: The New York Yankees’ Hideki Irabu lives up to his billing in his debut. A Mexican left-hander wins for the Dodgers and a Japanese right-hander for the Angels on the same day. The 50 all-stars included a Panamanian, two Canadians and eight Puerto Ricans.

“Somewhere up there, Roberto [Clemente] was watching us and smiling, saying ‘My guys,’ ” said the Yankees’ Bernie Williams, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, before the All-Star game.

Of course, as Mike Piazza suggests, diversity carries its own challenges.

Not all Yankees welcomed Irabu, pitcher Kenny Rogers questioning the acquisition openly and several others agreeing discreetly.

“Throughout much of the clubhouse,” wrote the New York Times’ Malcom Moran, “an interest in foreign affairs is limited to recommendations of good Mexican restaurants.”

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Add international: Then there was Fox’s decision not to air the McAuley Boys’ rendition of the Canadian national anthem, after carrying LeAnn Rimes singing of the U.S. anthem before the All-Star game.

Canada’s TSN did a pregame feature on Canadians in the major leagues but Fox, supplying the game feed, put on two minutes of commercials before Rimes sang, then cut away from the McAuley Boys.

“Due to time constraints and since we’re a U.S.-based broadcaster, the decision was made just to air the Star-Spangled Banner,” a Fox spokesman said.

However, no one carried the Canadian flag upside down, as the Marine color guard did at the 1992 World Series, so things may be getting better.

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Trivia time: San Francisco 49er quarterbacks have finished first in nine of the last 13 NFC quarterback rankings. Which team is second over that span?

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A world safe from Albert: After Albert Belle refused to play in the All-Star game, work out or even pose for a picture with teammates, American League President Gene Budig says they may have to enact rules for participants.

“We’re going to review that for next year,” Budig said. “If you’re elected or selected, what are your responsibilities?” Hold still for one little team portrait?

While teammates posed happily, Belle strolled frowning into the clubhouse where he ate yogurt and read a newspaper. When AL officials asked him to come out, he cursed at them.

“There’s something really wrong with him,” a high-ranking baseball official told Newsday. “This may be the last All-Star team he ever makes. He’s not going to get voted in, and it would be tough to see the league select him.”

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Trivia answer: The Minnesota Vikings, which won twice, in 1986 with Tommy Kramer and 1988 with Wade Wilson. The other non-49er winners were the New York Giants’ Phil Simms in 1990 and Green Bay Packers’ Brett Favre in 1995.

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And finally: Belle’s White Sox teammate, Frank Thomas, didn’t attend the All-Star game, saying he had to rest his sore ribs, even though he had been playing.

Of course, everyone has his own idea of rest. The day before the game, Thomas was making an appearance to promote a rap record he had cut.

To borrow a line, this could never have happened if Judge Landis or Bud Selig were still alive.