December 7, 2007 | Sex & Society

Japan forgives pitcher's porn past

In 2002, pitcher Kazuhito Tadano was shunned by the Japanese baseball league. Even as a star pitcher at Rikkyo University he couldn't convince anyone in the country to let him play on their team. It was a sad case of appearing-in-porno-phobia.

Tadano, the league discovered, had shown off his "ball handling" skills in a one-off adult video shoot he made while in university. The gay video shows Tadano in a dog collar, being serviced by one man while French kissing another. He is even fingered and fucked with a dildo, before turning the tables and topping one of his "friends."

To pursue his passion for baseball, Tadano came to the US and joined the Cleveland Indians. He hoped to keep his porn past behind him. News leaked, as it will, and though he was really nothing more than a minor-leaguer, the press published the scandal anyway. Tadano apologized during a press conference. [more]

How we imagine most baseball players relax after a hard game.

"I did participate in a video and I regret it very much," he said. "It was a one-time incident that showed bad judgment and will never be repeated. I was young, playing baseball and going to college and my teammates and I needed money." He quickly added that he was not gay.

In an interesting turn, Japanese baseball officials have now asked Tadano to return to play for the Nippon Ham Fighters. Apparently they have finally watched the video and feel that his skills could really come in handy for all those away games.