Pastime or Waste of Time.

The article examines media coverage and narratives concerning the 2006 tournament the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The author argues that the lack of popularity of the WBC among U.S. baseball fans and members of Major League Baseball (MLB) suggested an unwillingness to admit that baseball was not exclusively or uniquely American. It discusses media narratives concerning the origin of baseball in the U.S., the history of international baseball, and the globalization of baseball. The article also discusses the organization the International Baseball Federation (IBAF).