IOC tells Baseball & Softball "You're Out!"

[Minnesota Mike]

The IOC has voted to remove both Baseball and Softball from the Olympics.

link (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=678&e=2&u=/usatoday/20050708/sp_usatoday/baseballsoftballbumpedfromolympics)

[smoak]

Insane. Baseball is very popular worldwide, and with some of the jerk-smack events they have, I just don't get it.

[SkinsKY]

But what about Jennie Finch?

[whitskins]

But what about Jennie Finch?

Maybe she'll take the extra time off to do more of THESE (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/swimsuit/collection/issues/2005/05_jfinch_01.html) . :)

[smoss]

How soon before skateboarding becomes an Olympic sport? :sleep:

[chrisbcbu]

I have always thought that the Olympics just keep getting worse and worse everytime. They just arent really inspiring me to watch.

[Minnesota Mike]

I have always felt that if winning at the Olympics isn't the Ultimate goal of the people who play a sport, that sport shouldn't be in the Olympics. Kids don't grow up playing baseball, hoping to win the Olympics. They grow up hoping to win the World Series. Ask any pro out there what is the ultimate prize in Baseball. I'll bet none of them say "Olympic Gold".

And that is largely true for tennis and golf and soccer and several other sports also. Obviously, athletes is these sports don't clear their calendars, or set up their training schedules to prepare for the Olympics, like they do for Wimbledon or the Masters or the World Cup.

The same cannot be true about Track and Field and Swimming and other sports. I think those are the ones the Olympics need to focus on and support.

[chrisbcbu]

While i agree with you on the point that some sports dont consider the Olympics a big deal. I just wish they would do something to liven it up. You can only watch so many ppl running. Maybe have a dog chase them or something.

[SkinsKY]

I have always felt that if winning at the Olympics isn't the Ultimate goal of the people who play a sport, that sport shouldn't be in the Olympics. Kids don't grow up playing baseball, hoping to win the Olympics. They grow up hoping to win the World Series. Ask any pro out there what is the ultimate prize in Baseball. I'll bet none of them say "Olympic Gold".

And that is largely true for tennis and golf and soccer and several other sports also. Obviously, athletes is these sports don't clear their calendars, or set up their training schedules to prepare for the Olympics, like they do for Wimbledon or the Masters or the World Cup.

The same cannot be true about Track and Field and Swimming and other sports. I think those are the ones the Olympics need to focus on and support.

I agree in general, but I think sports like Basketball and Hockey should still remain because I think it's always good to see the best of the world compete. If we're not seeing the best (like baseball) we shouldn't have it. We don't put out our best in Basketball, but it's fun to watch the other countries who do.

[rskinsfan10]

Are you trying to tell me that syncronized swimming and table tennis are more popular sports then baseball and softball?

[skinfanjon]

it appears someone thinks so.... :rolleyes:

[dj_stouty]

Sorry I'm late...I just got back from syncronized swimming practice. What did I miss? ;)

[suppitty]

It's a CHinese conspiracy. In a few days expect an announcement that they will expand olympic badmintton(Sp?) into 10 weight divisions, so the Chinese can come out on top in the medal count.

[chrisbcbu]

I wonder when hot dog eating will be in the Olympics.

[RedskinRyan]

I just wish they would do something to liven it up. You can only watch so many ppl running. Maybe have a dog chase them or something.

:lol1: you should be on the suggestion committee

this is pretty dumb. baseball is such an international sport now, about every continent is brining in allstars to the MLB.

[Minnesota Mike]

I wonder when hot dog eating will be in the Olympics.

Maybe when they hold the Olympics in Coney Island. They can also add the Cyclone marathon.

[AGibbsGirl]

Hmmm... I can see it...they obviously need more room for great World wide sports like Archery and Handball...~sigh~

[GeneralDisorder]

Are you trying to tell me that syncronized swimming and table tennis are more popular sports then baseball and softball?

Table tennis is way more popular than baseball and softball. It may not be so in the US, but think of the Far East.

Baseball is popular where...? USA, Japan, Cuba and bits of Mexico. 4 Countries - and on that basis alone, baseball should never have been an Olympic Sport.

[GeneralDisorder]

:lol1: you should be on the suggestion committee

this is pretty dumb. baseball is such an international sport now, about every continent is brining in allstars to the MLB.

No it isn't. Name 3 Europeans at the All-Star game...? Or 3 from Oceania, Or the Middle East, or Africa...?

[suppitty]

Andruw Jones is Dutch! I just learned that. Baseball is played in the US, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican, Venezuela, Japan, and Korea. Arguing that nobody in the Middle East or Africa plays it is a bad argument because they only compete in soccer and long/middle distance track.

Softball is less of a problem because that is basically exclusive to the U.S.

[GeneralDisorder]

Andruw Jones is Dutch! I just learned that. Baseball is played in the US, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican, Venezuela, Japan, and Korea. Arguing that nobody in the Middle East or Africa plays it is a bad argument because they only compete in soccer and long/middle distance track.

Softball is less of a problem because that is basically exclusive to the U.S.

So Baseball played in the US, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican, Venezuela, Japan, and Korea makes it a truly international sport...?

North America, Central America and the Korean Peninsula is hardly worldwide.

There's more people on this planet that play Cricket. And Rugby. Both of which are played at far higher levels across more continents than Baseball - the only real exception being North America. Yet neither of these are Olympic sports...

[ryflan47]

So tell me which countries play handball?

[gravesUKRedskin]

......Baseball IS played over here in Europe, it just is only played by amateurs and obviously has no press coverage. That does not stop a Euopean Championship being played by national teams every year, and I personnally are very P****D at Baseball being kicked out of the Olympics. I was really looking forward to watching games at the Oval Cricket Ground, where I have watched the UK National Championship game played.


LONDON ROCKS!

:Peace:

[GeneralDisorder]

So tell me which countries play handball?

I'm not defending Handball. I'm merely putting Baseball into context as a truly international sport. Which, at a competitive level globally it's nowhere near as international as other sports.

Softball might well have been dropped due to lack of serious competition for the Gold Medal. I've read somewhere the US women outscored their opponents 51-1 on the way to gold in Athens...

......Baseball IS played over here in Europe, it just is only played by amateurs and obviously has no press coverage. That does not stop a Euopean Championship being played by national teams every year, and I personnally are very P****D at Baseball being kicked out of the Olympics. I was really looking forward to watching games at the Oval Cricket Ground, where I have watched the UK National Championship game played.


LONDON ROCKS!

:Peace:

They play Aussie Rules Footy at an amateur level in London. Let's get that in the Olympics too...