I dunno about you, but I'm really loving the World Baseball Classic, if for no other reason than the Asian nations are starting to Trash Talk. Perhaps that's a little harsh, Suzuki Ichiro is starting to trash talk, and perhaps it simply is the influence of too many years in the US not a deep character flaw, but it blew up in his face like a US snowboarder showboating with 50m to go and the gold medal in her purse.

You see, before their game, Ichiro (arguably the best leadoff hitter in the game today, and maybe ever) said something like: “I will teach Korea and other countries that they won’t be able to beat Japan in the next 30 years”

The Koreans were, as they say, upset at the comments. Upset enough to plunk Ichiro in his third at bat on a first pitch fastball into his clacker. The Korean manager had enough manners to remove the pitcher from the game who was all smiles as he left to receive hale and hearty handshakes from his team mates. As he should. Ichiro spent a lot of time standing in the box doing an impersonation of Barry Bonds before wandering to first where he was then tortured by the LHP who came into the game. That was enough for me, I had got my money's worth from this tidy game already (and there had been an outstanding defensive play ar right field which already saved Korea's bacon that was worth the price of admission alone).

Then a funny thing happened. Japan had the close game in hand at 2-1, so in the 8th Sadurahu Oh brought their No 1 closer in who then let in a single up the middle before falling 3-1 behind, and then hanging a slider that then made a brief trip straight to the rightfield cheap seats. 3-2. And the crowd is nonplussed.

Now in a twist that only sport can throw up, Park Chan Ho, who was suitably unhappy at the pre game comments of Ichiro, is one out away from closing out the game for a famous victory and all he has to do is get Ichiro out. Which he duly does - inducing a lame popup left side, before the field is invaded, and Japanese honour is shaky once more.

''I feel ashamed of this defeat,'' and "If I was satisfied with my performance, I should quit baseball,'' Suzuki said. Stay in baseball mate, I love your work, just quit the US influenced trash talk, and play the game like the fair dinkum bloke I'm sure you are.