EXCUSE THE INTERJECTION WHEN SUN COLUMNISTS COLLIDE

Friday, March 24, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:

Should the World Baseball Classic become a regular event?

Although many American baseball fans were slow to embrace the World Baseball Classic, the games featuring international teams drew big crowds and created massive interest in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

RON KANTOWSKI'S TAKE: Oh, yeah. And not just every four years. Every year. I didn't know what to expect from this concept, either, but the first time I tuned in, I was hooked. These turned out to be highly competitive games played before throngs of passionate fans during springtime, and when was the last time that happened in the Cactus League?

JEFF HANEY'S TAKE: Although I fell into the "slow to embrace" crowd, most relevant factors - including the all-important bottom line - indicate the event was a hit. It should be back, but let's find a way to attract more big-name stars from the United States.

RK: What, A-Rod and Jeter and Griffey Jr. aren't big enough for you? Maybe A-Rod should have played with the Dominican Republic. That way, Ozzie Guillen would have cut him some slack, and he actually would have made it to the semifinals. Let's see, our guys lost to the Canadians, lost to the Koreans, lost to the Mexicans and should have lost to the Japanese (if the umpires weren't on Bud Selig's payroll). Can you say wake-up call?

JH: Clearly the major leaguers aren't in top form this time of year, but I don't see that changing in future editions of the classic. Taking time out from the middle of the major league season to conduct the WBC isn't realistic, and holding it right after the World Series would be worse. While it's great to see such passion for baseball in other countries, I think this event could remain a tough sell for the average U.S. fan.

RK: But the biggest reason I found the WBC so endearing is the non-U.S. fans. They were so into it. When the Korean players planted the flag in the pitcher's mound after beating the Japanese, you should have seen the expressions on the faces of their fans. It was like Baseball Stratego. (Although the Japanese players didn't seem amused.)

JH: The major leagues were barely represented in the final game, with Ichiro Suzuki by far the most prominent name, followed by a big drop-off to Akinori Otsuka (both playing for Japan). Yet I can't argue with the 42,000-plus who packed Petco Park for the championship game.

RK: If nothing else, these games showed that baseball played by 5-foot-9 guys weighing 160 pounds is still a pretty good game. It sure was nice to see guys with nonbulging biceps hit the cutoff man and bunt runners into scoring position.

JH: Nothing against the worldwide brotherhood of baseball and all that good stuff, but here are the two reasons the event will return: TV ratings, and money. Commissioner Selig claimed to be ecstatic about viewership overseas, especially in Korea. And the event turned a profit of $10 million to $15 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, a sum that will be whacked up by MLB, the players' union and the participating countries. WBC, we'll see you in 2009.