The U.S. soccer team will face off against Cuba this Saturday in Havana for a World Cup qualifying match. While the team and a few U.S. journalists have been granted permission to land on Cuban soil, U.S. soccer fans won’t be able to see the game. Bill Littlefield explores the reality of politics and sports in Cuba.

 Ken Shulman visited a sumo match in Japan to find out about the tradition and pageantry that goes along with the ancient form of martial arts.  Check out some of Ken’s photos from his time spent taking in the sport.

Audio for http://www.bu.edu/wbur/storage/2008/03/onlyagame_0329.mp3

This Week on Only A Game, a report from Japan, where the Red Sox and A’s recently opened the 2008 Major League Baseball Season.  Also, an NCAA Hoops update, and the Sons of Ben Franklin declare their love for Philadelphia’s MLS squad just two short years before their first game.

Listen to the Full Show:Audio for http://www.bu.edu/wbur/storage/2008/03/onlyagame_0322.mp3
This week on Only A Game, early signs of madness in the NCAA and NIT Tournaments.  Also, how the Cal Tech Beavers lost each of their conference games for 22 years while engineering the dammedest losing streaks imaginable, and the seasonal migration of the Blue Jays in spring.

Soccer doesn’t get a whole lot of press here in the United States. However, after catching a glimpse of F.C. Barcelona in action earlier this week, Bill Littlefield observes that soccer truly is an art.

Listen to the Full Show:
Audio for http://www.bu.edu/wbur/storage/2008/02/onlyagame_0209.mp3

This week, the NBA at the season’s middle, a trip to the US Table Tennis Olympic Qualifiers and don your funny hats and grab your muzzle loaders, it’s the primitive biathlon!