Olympic boating vs. Baseball/Softball

[CycloneWanderer]

So, I hear that baseball and softball are no longer going to be part of the olympics after this year and was wondering why on earth would they get rid of those two sports when there is a ton of boating sports I've never even heard of. Does anyone know?

 

[BigSkyCy2]

So, I hear that baseball and softball are no longer going to be part of the olympics after this year and was wondering why on earth would they get rid of those two sports when there is a ton of boating sports I've never even heard of. Does anyone know?

They are getting rid of Softball because it is the USA killing everyone and it's getting old.

 

[tman24]

all the boating sports have to be the worst things to watch atleast in softball there are hot chicks!!!

 

[cyfreddy]

So, I hear that baseball and softball are no longer going to be part of the olympics after this year and was wondering why on earth would they get rid of those two sports when there is a ton of boating sports I've never even heard of. Does anyone know?

How about badmention over baseball/softball? What a joke ?

 

[Bubbahotep]

I heard they are adding cricket and rugby in 2012

 

[cmoneyr]

I heard they are adding cricket and rugby in 2012

I don't know if that's serious, but Rugby would be cool. Cricket would be hard since those games take so long to play.

 

[cybsball20]

I don't know if that's serious, but Rugby would be cool. Cricket would be hard since those games take so long to play.

Agreed, the qualifying wold basically have to wind it down to the final four, those Cricket matches last for days...

 

[DaddyMac]

They are getting rid of Softball because it is the USA killing everyone and it's getting old.

That, and baseball being widely considered "America's pastime" (softball equivalent), there's alot of US backlash for policies abroad and a lowbrow way to take a shot at the US (as per Real Sports on HBO).

Want another WTF sport???

Trampoline.

 

[cycloneworld]

Want another WTF sport.

Trampoline.

I will add Handball to that list too.

It looks like something you would play in PE in grade school.

(That being said, I watched both this weekend)

 

[cybsball20]

I will add Handball to that list too.

It looks like something you would play in PE in grade school.

Let's send our baseball team as our handball team. We would probably dominate then...

 

[Bubbahotep]

why not tether ball, I thought it would take off after Napoleon Dynamite

 

[scottie33]

Let's send our baseball team as our handball team. We would probably dominate then...

I was saying this a couple days ago. Have some pitcher in the bigs that throws high 90 heat in there and see if they stand in his way cause that ball would hurt like a son of a *****.

 

[dustinal]

That, and baseball being widely considered "America's pastime" (softball equivalent), there's alot of US backlash for policies abroad and a lowbrow way to take a shot at the US (as per Real Sports on HBO).

Nothing personal directed at you, DaddyMac, because I realize you're just talking about something you heard on Real Sports, but I think the notion that they're dropping baseball because it's "America's past-time" is laughable.

Basketball was invented in America, so why don't they get rid of that? And before anybody says it's because the rest of the world is getting better at basketball and the USA isn't the only powerhouse anymore, remember that the USA doesn't exactly send a powerhouse baseball team to the Olympics.

And people can't really make it an either-or situation with getting rid of sports. ("Either get rid of baseball or badminton/trampoline/handball.") That makes it sound like a budget issue, which I don't think it is. I think there's just not as much worldwide interest in baseball as in many of those other sports.

America isn't the center of the world. Just because we think certain sports are stupid doesn't mean everyone else does.

 

[cybsball20]

The reason baseball and softball are on the chopping block is because Europe isn't into them. North America, South America and SE Asia love baseball but Europe, with the exception of Italy, hasn't bought in...

 

[throwittoblythe]

Don't forget there is now the "World Baseball Classic" which actually draws major leaguers that play in the US. It seems that the olympic baseball games are just minor leaguers/collegiate players.

 

[CloneFan03]

I will add Handball to that list too.

It looks like something you would play in PE in grade school.

(That being said, I watched both this weekend)

And people can't really make it an either-or situation with getting rid of sports. ("Either get rid of baseball or badminton/trampoline/handball.") That makes it sound like a budget issue, which I don't think it is. I think there's just not as much worldwide interest in baseball as in many of those other sports.

America isn't the center of the world. Just because we think certain sports are stupid doesn't mean everyone else does.

I agree that it's not a budget issue here, just that the interest isn't as high anymore.

As for "America hating some sports," I don't agree with that statement. I actually enjoy handball, its really just like a mixture of basketball and water polo. You may not enjoy some sports (becasue its not extensively played professionally or in college in USA), but you can't say that America hates them.

 

[jdoggivjc]

The reason baseball and softball are on the chopping block is because Europe isn't into them. North America, South America and SE Asia love baseball but Europe, with the exception of Italy, hasn't bought in...

That's the whole reason right there. Whatever Europe considers a sport is what takes place in the Olympics, not what's popular in most other places in the world. I would expect that American Football isn't popular enough around the world to warrant being in the Olympics, but saying that baseball/softball isn't popular enough around the world is downright misinformation - and more likely a political statement. After all, with the exception of Europe, Canada, and a handful of American cities, especially those near the Canadian border, hockey isn't that popular around the world. Yet I don't see the IOC fastening it into the guillotine...

 

[aeroclone]

I've heard that part of the issue facing baseball is that the best players don't participate. MLB isn't going to let its players leave to play in the Olympics mid-season, and I guess Japan doesn't let its pro players go either. Hockey and basketball allow the top players to play.


I do, however, agree that we could drop a couple of the rowing events. That is just like watching paint dry.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I've heard that part of the issue facing baseball is that the best players don't participate. MLB isn't going to let its players leave to play in the Olympics mid-season, and I guess Japan doesn't let its pro players go either. Hockey and basketball allow the top players to play.


I do, however, agree that we could drop a couple of the rowing events. That is just like watching paint dry.

This would seem like a logical assumption as well.

I guess I just remember a time (and it wasn't too long ago) when the Olympics were about amateur athletics (however sponsored they may be) and not about trying to bring in as much money as possible by bringing in as many big names as possible. For instance (turning in man card as I type), as soon as a figure skater were to go pro they would no longer be eligible for Olympics. And you would never see a pro basketball or hockey player compete in the Olympics (unless they were Soviet). But then again maybe I shouldn't be too surprised or jaded...

 

[Bubbahotep]

There is no such thing as an 'amateur' athlete anymore, unless you count us poor schlubs who play in co-rec softball leagues, golf, bowl, ride bikes, etc.