With the Olympics in full swing, one might think that this new swell in patriotic pride would carry over into next spring's World Baseball Classic and make the event even better than its inagural version in 2006. But patriotism alone isn't going to sway Johan Santana back to the WBC. Better food, however, might.

Echoing complaints made by the Tigers' Carlos Guillen and other Venezuelan big-league stars, Santana said how the players were handled two years ago was "really, really bad." That included no hotel rooms, no tickets to games and even a postgame meal of Burger King takeout.

"If they're not going to do anything right, then there are a lot of us who aren't going to go," Santana said.

"They need to be more serious about it and take care of their players. If that changes, I would definitely consider playing. But this is very serious. If I'm going to do my best, then I expect the other people involved to do the same. If not, then I'll just sit home and get ready for the season."

I know we think that ballplayers are spoiled. But Burger King? Sounds like a post game meal for a little league team? Did they get ice cream too? No wonder Santana's upset. Can they at least get Wendy's next year? I hear their burgers are fresher.