Because of coverage of the invasion of Iraq, it feels as if we're being spared the all-Matsui-all-the-time media blitz we were promised last fall when the former Yomiuri Giants slugger, Hideki Matsui, signed with the New York Yankees. We aren't. Matsui madness is everywhere, but because the war has engaged much of the media's attention it feels less intense than it really is.

All one has to do is look at NHK. Yankee games are given priority, not only over other Major League games that feature Japanese players, but over normal NHK programming. It helps that NHK has two satellite channels, and BS1 has been reserved for Major League Baseball.

There's method to this madness. Last Monday, BS1 broadcast the Yankees vs. Devil Rays game in a digest version that prioritized Matsui's participation, with general Yankee accomplishments given secondary attention and Devil Ray participation practically none. Immediately following the game, there was a further distillation that, again, concentrated on Matsui.