This seems ridiculous to me. Why keep boring unpopular sports that few countries even participate in, and get rid popular sports that a majority of the countries in the IOC plays and gives high attendence to.
Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
The reasons that I remember being given were:
1. The stigma of steroid-use in professional baseball.
2. Lack of participation by any major US ball players.
3. Lack of true competition (softball).
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
4. Watching baseball is more boring then watching someone watch baseball.
5. Europeans are out to get at America... by getting rid of baseball... because baseball is only big in America... as has been said...
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
quote: Don't get me wrong, I'm all for badminton. Any sport you can play with a cold beer in one hand and a racquet or ball in the other is OK by me.
What kills me is that it would be much easier to drink a beer while playing baseball than playing badminton.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
quote: Lack of participation by any major US ball players.
that's ridiculous. So only if big-name Major Leaguers come and play is it a worthhile sport? I thought the Olympics were supposed to be about amateur competitions anyway.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Well that doesn't make them GOOD reasons. There's just as much a stigma of steroid use by other sports, just like the author of that article said.
I don't think lack of competition really counts as a viable excuse. Plenty of sports are dominated by a few countries, no one complains about them. Besides, like the article states, there are more than a hundred other national softball teams.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I think the point is that the best players in the world don't even bother to compete in the Olympics.
Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
quote:that's ridiculous. So only if big-name Major Leaguers come and play is it a worthhile sport? I thought the Olympics were supposed to be about amateur competitions anyway
I was only repeating the reasons that I remember being given, not what I personally think. Put away the torches and pitchforks!!! Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
The amateur thing has been dead for over a decade, since the "Dream Teams" were allowed.
-Bok
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
What sports AREN'T amateur, so far as the United States goes. Only NBA players are allowed in to play basketball. Pro MLB players aren't, Pro NHL players play, but they are from such a diverse array of nations that it doesn't matter. Football isn't even a major sport, and the MLS isn't really big enough or powerful enough to make a difference.
And those are the pro teams. Everything else is either college men and women, or veterans.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Uh. That article, while long on rhetoric and a little short on support, made some sense until the end, when he implied (I think?) that the IOC should drop soccer instead of baseball, just because Americans don't like it as much as Europe? Soccer/football is the favorite sport of the world. Not just Europe. I mean, I guess I get where he was going with that, but it's not a very well-written closing.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
He wasn't saying that soccer should be dropped. He was saying that Europe should suck it up and stop using the IOC to take a swing at the US.
And that the US never said that the IOC should drop soccer cause they don't play, Europe shouldn't get the IOC to drop softball just because they don't play.
Posted by Zamphyr (Member # 6213) on :
Wow, that guy didn't read the IOC press release did he ? Steroid scandal, get real.
It's all financial. What's Greece (or any other country that doesn't play) supposed to do with a baseball stadium after the Olympics ?
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
This article is one of the worst editorials I have run across. The rhetoric is over the top.
The U.S., Cuba, and Japan are the only countries that play softball or baseball in any substantial way. Other countries may field teams for the Olympics, but those teams are similar to U.S. teams for cricket - they exist, but few people know or care about them. Baseball is the American pastime, but it really can't claim to be an international sport. There's only one nation that plays in the World Series.
Cricket, in comparison, has ongoing major games between 10 different nations, with 32 other countries playing minor games. And soccer is the international sport - South America, Europe, and much of Asia is crazy about the game.
I think it's pretty stupid that baseball and softball were ever included in the Olympics.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Please.
PING PONG is an Olympic sport? But not softball?
And give me a break, most of the softball games weren't played in stadiums at the Athens games, did you actually WATCH any of them? They were played on the equivilant of a high school baseball diamond.
Not building a baseball stadium for one sport is a worthy argument, but lack of teams to play the sport is not. Most of Latin America plays baseball in fairly substantial ways. Look at the last names of half the stars in the MLB.
Field Hockey had few if any participants from Africa, Oceania or Asia, but it's still in there, and requires a field to be played on. Same thing for Handball.
Equestrian is EXTREMELY expensive, and lacks real popularity or competition outside of Europe.
In 2000 and 2004 there was low overall worldwide participation in most water sports, especially synchronized swimming, water polo and diving.
There are far more niche sports that currently are IN the Olympics, and plenty more that want in as well (i.e Squash, Karate, Rugby and Golf). If those that are in, are still in, softball and baseball should be able to stay.
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
Hey Lyrhawn, everyone's out to get you.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Lyr, I got what he was trying to say. Although I think his logic is flawed. But he didn't say it well, and it ended up with him looking even more irrationally angry and rather stupid. He needs a good editor.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Hey jebus, you seldom say things of substance or value.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Oh well I'll certainly grant you that KQ. He went about making his point entirely the wrong way.
But I think his point, when you get through the layers of crap he shielded it with, is still a valid one. I'll join in the bashing of his article. It was funny, but other than comedic value it was poorly written.
When you remove the rhetoric from the point though, the point still stands.
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
Your paranoia is funny.
Better?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Slightly.
It's more insulting, less creepy.
But at least mildly entertaining.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
jebus, may I stroke your neck? Nice kitty...
*laughs creepy cat lady laugh*
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Better phrased, just still lacking in substance...
as usual.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Just so you know, fencing was also on the chopping block of the IOC.
Meaning, the fencing community has been fairly concerned for quite awhile that our sport would be eliminated from the Olympics. Fencing!
Posted by johnsonweed (Member # 8114) on :
MLB has announced the 2006 World Baseball Classic. We will still be able to see International baseball, with professional players!
Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
quote:Wow, that guy didn't read the IOC press release did he ? Steroid scandal, get real.
It's all financial. What's Greece (or any other country that doesn't play) supposed to do with a baseball stadium after the Olympics ?
I never claimed to read the IOC press release. The information that I remembered hearing came from (I believe) CNN or MSNBC. I'll try to find it just to make sure that I didn't inadvertently merge two articles in my mind. Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
quote: The lack of the MLB players - I think people have looked and said, "Well, all right, if there's to be a change, that seems to be the logic of it," British IOC member Craig Reedie said.
Baseball's steroid problem in the United States was cited as another factor. While Major League Baseball has toughened its drug-testing programs, they still fall far short of Olympic standards.
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