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Japan beats Cuba for WBC championship

The World Baseball Classic, the new international tournament had been in the planning stages for two years, when the games finally kicked off on March 3 continuing to March 20, 2006 when the Japanese team ultimately made history to take the title.

And if you think basketball fan's March Madness had a lock on early spring, baseball fans caught the fever a little earlier than usual that year, despite all the scepticism.

At home, the action was covered on ESPN & ESPN 2 throughout the month as 16 international dream teams competed for the world title in Japan, Puerto Rico and the U.S.

The U.S. WBC roster included such names as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., Johnny Damon and Roger Clemens.

Mike Piazza, meanwhile, helped Italy to get on the world baseball map by suiting up to play for the Italian team.

Buck Martinez, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 2001 - 2002, managed the U.S. team. Tommy Lasorda, who managed the U.S. team to a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics, was appointed as official American WBC ambassador.

As teams were eliminated, coverage heated up in the pool-play tournament right up until the semifinals and final were held March 18 and 20 at San Diego's Petco Park.

On the Web, there were more details on the new international baseball fest, the 2006 World Baseball Classic, with news that the inaugural World Baseball Classic will be followed by another in in 2009, and then every four years after that.

ESPN - World Baseball Classic - The official television network of the WBC serving up the latest headlines, pictures, video reports, international roster, rules, FAQ and complete TV schedule on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.

World Baseball Classic - From Wikipedia, with the complete rundown of teams in contention, pool format, rumors, news and rosters, related links.

Yahoo! News - World Baseball Classic - The latest news off the major wire services on who's in and who's out, daily picture round-up, links to related blogs.

WBC Team USA Roster

also in Sports -> World Series Baseball | Winter Olympics | 2006 World Cup

also see in Sports Idols -> Jason Giambi | Ken Griffey, Jr.

Derek Jeter | Mike Piazza | Alex Rodriguez