UPDATE: ESPN's website has a news article with a video clip of Mariner's CEO and former Nintendo exec Howard Lincoln commenting on the situation. To find the video (in both low- and high-bandwidth versions), hit this link, scroll halfway down, then look to the right.

Thanks to one of our readers for the heads up!

In January we reported that ex-Nintendo president and current majority owner of the Seattle Mariners, Hiroshi Yamauchi, was going to finally see the team he owned. Major Leauge Baseball has scheduled its opening series in Tokyo, between the Mariners and the Oakland A's.

However, due to the impending war against Iraq, MLB commissioner Bud Selig thought that it might not be a good idea to send planes full of MLB stars on their way to Japan while our troops in the Middle East are fighting terror, as there might be no telling what could happen.

We don't have an official comment out of Yamauchi, Howard Lincoln, or anyone else associated with the Mariners, but we do have the entire press release from Major League Baseball, which can be read below:

MLB reschedules opening series

Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today that next week's two-game opening series between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners in Tokyo, Japan will be rescheduled stateside because of the tense world situation. The first game of the 2003 championship season will now feature the World Champion Anaheim Angels against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, March 30th, in Anaheim, CA. All other games will be played as scheduled.

"I have consulted with Don Fehr, the Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, which is our partner in this event. Given the uncertainty that now exists throughout the world, we believe the safest course of action for the players involved and the many staff personnel who must work the games is to reschedule the opening series," Commissioner Selig said. "It would be unfair and terribly unsettling for them to be half a world away -- away from their families -- at this critical juncture.

"Baseball is a social institution with enormous social responsibilities and it is with that in mind along with great regret that I take this action. I hope our fans and business partners in Japan understand that this difficult decision is only made in response to the most serious of circumstances. While I don't doubt the exemplary security efforts that the city of Tokyo and the government of Japan were prepared to provide for our players and personnel, I had to weigh those security precautions against a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous set of variables that go along with a nation on the brink of war.

"Major League Baseball and the Players Association value our relationship with Japanese baseball and have looked forward to Japanese stars Ichiro Suzuki, Kaz Sasaki, and Shigetoshi Hasegawa returning to their homeland to compete in regular season games. Our principal sponsor, Yomiuri, is always a most gracious host and we hope to return to Japan as soon as next season."

Fehr said: "With world tensions so high, this is the prudent course of action. We do regret, though, having to take it. As the Commissioner has observed, everyone in Baseball looks forward to playing in Japan and appreciates the most gracious hospitality always extended to us. We will be back, and soon."

The games, both of which were Oakland home dates, will be rescheduled in Oakland on April 3 at 12:35 p.m. PT and June 30 at 7:05 p.m. PT. Also, both Mariners and Athletics spring training schedules will be modified to account for this change of plan.