BS: Baseball/Softball

Subject: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Torctgyd
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 10:13 AM

It seems like these two sports will not be at the London Olympics in 2012. It further seems likely that one of the replacement sports will be golf (£%$&#~!!!@!?!!!!!!!!!!). As if those highly paid, countryside ruining, dressed as pimps (to quote Robin Williams), namby-pamby, hoity-toity good-for-nothings actually play a sport, let alone one worthy of the olympics. Good Grief! they'll have tennis and synchronised swimming next!!!

Oh they do already don't they? Damn and blast!!!!!!!

T

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 11:34 AM

Yeah.....I'd suggest Sprint Cars or maybe SuperModifieds. Maybe stick with 2 wheels and go MotoGP............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 12:09 PM

Crokinole (sp?). But, all players must undergo substance testing prior to every game. No one with a blood alcohol level under 0.10 will be allowed to play.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Amos
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 12:40 PM

I fink they orter have Segway Polo....


A

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 01:30 PM

Karaoke? Beer drinking? Egg eating?

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 01:49 PM

As long as the eggs are hardboiled, we could combine those with Crokinole.

Then, the next morning... wait for it... Spaw could win a gold medal in his best sport.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Raedwulf
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 03:21 PM

Well, baseball & softball are out (Hurrah! World sports indeed! Only by the Yank definition of "world"...), nothing else is in. Nope, not even golf. Bloody good job too. A bunch of individuals who routinely play for themselves & for huge wodges of money, not for their country or for the glory. What's that got to do with the Olympic spirit? Chuck out tennis too, as far as I'm concerned!

I know professionalism & cash has crept into most Olympic sports, but I find the the thought of obscenely well paid, entirely professional, & 99% playing-for-themselves sportsmen being allowed the privilege of competing for an Olympic medal against the devoted pauper amateurs rather sickening. Wrestlers, gymnasts, weightlifters, sailors, fencers, swimmers... And so on & so forth. Where's their bloated pot of gold?

And someone thinks Tiger Woods et al ought to be allowed to compete for an Olympic gold that has little concrete meaning compared to the money available elsewhere? The ironic thing is that one of the reasons cited for the demise of baseball in the Olympics is that they have been unable to attract the big names. Presumably they'd all rather soak up the big dollars in the US. An Olympic medal is a nice piece of flash, but it just don't pay the bills the way an MLB contract does, boys...

When will they do us a favour & dump tennis as well? At least in football (soccer for the Yanks), they have rules that stop the big money full internationals from competing.

Bring back something like amateurism! (Yes, I know. Even "something like" is a never to be fulfilled fantasy... :( )

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 04:08 PM

They don't have cricket for that matter, or rugby, both of which have a far better case for being regarded as a world sport than baseball. And I see that they've decided not to have golf. Which would be about as much in the Olympics as darts or snooker.

Maybe they could have a supplementary Olympics for Silly Games to take in those kinds of activities. They could hold them in Paris or New York or Madrid or Moscow... And I can think of a few current Olympic sports could be moved over to take part in that with no loss. Maybe most of them - they could keep the athletics and a handful of others for the main event.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Mooh
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 05:08 PM

I think the lumberjack sports would be better. Splitting cordwood, sawing logs, and general woodsmanship and survival skills. Pretty international basic training, and if Trinidad (or wherever) can have a bobsled team..."I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay...".

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 05:19 PM

Lumberjacks and Rugby. Curling. Sync swimming. SYNC SWIMMING!!! Where does it end?

Right after Rugby, I hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 05:22 PM

More people die playing golf than any other sport.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 05:49 PM

"World sports indeed! Only by the Yank definition of "world"..."

hHre's the list of members of the international baseball federation:

American Samoa American Samoa Baseball Association ASA
Argentina Federación Argentina Béisbol
ARG
Armenia Baseball Federation of Armenia ARM
Aruba Amateur Baseball Bond Aruba ARU
Australia Australian Baseball Federation
AUS
Austria Osterreichischer Baseball & Softball Verband
AUT
Bahamas Bahamas Baseball Association BAH
Belarus Belarus Baseball & Softball Federation BLR
Belgium Koninklijke Belgische Baseball en Softball
BEL
Bolivia Federatión Boliviana de Béisbol y Softbol BOL
Brazil Confederacão Brasileira de Beisebol e Softbol BRA
British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands Baseball Federation
IVB
Brunei Darussalam Brunei Amateur Softball & Baseball Association BRU
Bulgaria Bulgarian Baseball Federation BUL
Cameroon Cameroon Baseball & Softball Federation CMR
Canada Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball
CAN
Chile Federación de Béisbol de Chile
CHI
China Chinese Baseball Association
CHN
Colombia Federación Colombiana de Béisbol
COL
Cook Islands Baseball & Softball Cook Islands Association
COK
Costa Rica Federación Costarricense de Béisbol Aficionado CRC
Croatia Croatian Baseball Association CRO
Cuba Federación Cubana de Béisbol CUB
Cyprus Cyprus Amateur Baseball Federation CYP
Czech Republic Czech Baseball Association
CZE
Denmark Danish Baseball Softball Federation DEN
Rep.Dominicana Federación Dominicana de Béisbol DOM
Ecuador Federación Ecuatoriana de Béisbol ECU
El Salvador Federación Salvadoreña de Béisbol ESA
España Real Federación Española de Béisbol y Softbol
ESP
Estonia Estonian Baseball & Softball Federation EST
Fiji Islands Fiji Islands Baseball Association FIJ
Finland Finnish Baseball & Softball Federation
FIN
France Fédération Francaise de Base-ball Softball et Cricket FRA
Georgia Baseball Federation of Georgia GEO
Germany Deutscher Baseball und Softball Verband e.v.
GER
Ghana Ghana Baseball & Softball Association GHA
Greece Hellenic Amateur Baseball Federation
GRE
Great Britain British Baseball Federation
GBR
Guam Guam Baseball Federation GUM
Guatemala Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Guatemala GUA
Honduras Federación Hondureña de Baseball HON
Hong Kong Hong Kong Baseball Association
HKG
Hungary Hungarian National Baseball Federation HUN
India Amateur Baseball Federation of India IND
Indonesia Indonesia Amateur Baseball & Softball Federation INA
Iran Baseball Federation, Islamic Republic of Iran IRI
Ireland Baseball Ireland IRL
Israel Israel Association of Baseball ISR
Italia Federazione Italiana Baseball & Softball
ITA
Ivory Coast Federation Ivoirienne de Base-ball & Softball CIV
Jamaica Jamaica Baseball Association JAM
Japan Baseball Federation of Japan
JPN
Kazakhstan Baseball and Softball Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan KAZ
Kenya Baseball Federation of Kenya KEN
Korea, D.P.R. Baseball & Softball Association of DPR Korea PRK
South Korea Korea Baseball Association
KOR
Lesotho Lesotho Baseball and Softball Association LES
Liberia Liberia Baseball & Softball Association LBR
Lithuania Lithuanian Baseball Association
LTU
Malaysia Federation of Baseball Malaysia MAS
Mali Fédération Malienne de Base-Ball et de Softball MLI
Malta Maltese Association Baseball Softball MLT
Mexico Federación Mexicana de Béisbol MEX
Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia Baseball Federation MCR
Moldova Association of Baseball & Softball of the Republic of Moldova MDA
Mongolia Mongolian National Federation of Baseball MGL
Morocco Morocco Baseball Federation MAR
Myanmar Myanmar Baseball Federation MYA
Namibia Namibia National Baseball Association NAM
Netherland Antilles Netherlands Antillean Baseball Federation AHO
Netherlands Koninklijke Nederlanse Baseball en Softball Bond NED
New Zealand The New Zealand Baseball Federation NZL
Nicaragua Federación Nicaragüense de Béisbol Asociada
NCA
Nigeria Nigerian Baseball & Softball Association NGR
Norway Norges Soft-og Baseball Forbund NOR
Pakistan Pakistan Federation Baseball & Softball PAK
Palau Palau Major League PAL
Panama Federación Panameña de Béisbol Aficionado
PAN
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Baseball Federation PNG
Perú Federación Peruana de Béisbol PER
Philippines Philippine Amateur Baseball Association PHI
Poland Polish Baseball & Softball Federation POL
Portugal Federação Portuguesa de Basebol e Softbol POR
Puerto Rico Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico PUR
Romania Federatia Romana de Baseball si Softbol ROM
Russia Russian Baseball Federation RUS
San Marino Federazione Sammarinese Baseball Softball SMR
Singapore Singapore Baseball and Softball Association SIN
Slovakia Slovak Baseball Federation
SVK
Slovenia Baseball Softball Association of Slovenia SLO
South Africa South African Baseball Union
RSA
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Amateur Baseball & Softball Association SRI
Sweden Swedish Baseball & Softball Federation SWE
Switzerland Swiss Baseball & Softball Federation SUI
Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei Baseball Association TPE
Thailand The Amateur Baseball Association of Thailand THA
Togo Fédération Togolaise de Base-ball et Softball TOG
Tunisia Fédération Tunisienne de Base-Ball et Softball
TUN
Turkey Turkiye Beyzbol Federasyonu TUR
Uganda Uganda Baseball and Softball Association UGA
U.S.A. USA Baseball
USA
U.S. Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Baseball Federation
ISV
Ukraine Federation Baseball Softball Ukraine UKR
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Baseball Federation UZB
Venezuela Federación Venezolana de Béisbol VEN
Western Samoa Western Samoa Baseball Association SAM
Yugoslavia Yugoslave Baseball Association YUG
Zambia Zambia Softball & Baseball Association ZAM
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Baseball & Softball Association ZIM

PROVISIONAL MEMBERS

Luxembourg Luxembourg Baseball Federation LUX
Marshall Islands Republic of the Marshall Islands Baseball Federation IMA
Saipan Saipan Major League Baseball Association NMI

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 05:53 PM

So, what's your point?

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 05:54 PM

I'm reminded of Bush's magnificent "coalition of the willing"...

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 06:20 PM

Baseball sure seems like it might be a 'global' sport to me, is the point....

d'uh

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 06:26 PM

Happy for the decision, if only because they were going to use Regent's Pk for two huge temporary arenas/grounds, whatever they play those sports on? Would've spoiled the park for the summer. Where's a person meant to eat their sarnies.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 06:46 PM

Reeetoricle bud. I am stretching in the seventh, man.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 07:23 PM

Does anyone one have any semi-serious ideas for an British sport for the Olympics, that's not just played seriously by a few countries?

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 09:43 PM

Field sports don't really fit into the format of the Olympics. Compare   the football in the Olympics with the World Cup - it's just not in the league.

Who won the football in the last Olympics? Who won the last World Cup? How many people could answer the first question correctly copmpared to the second?

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 03:23 AM

Not true, McGrath. Hockey works quite well in the Olympics, and is a field sport. Of course, it has no money in it.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Raedwulf
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 12:37 PM

Exactly, Bunnh. I confess to being ambivalent about football. Allowing the likes of Beckham, Ronaldo, Figo, et al to compete would be completely against what there is left of the Olympic ideal IMHO. As it is, it has the redeeming features of barring the moneyed superstars, & of being a team sport.

Even in today's jaded money-driven world, surely the last remnant of the ideal is still about the competition? Not the money. And, ultimately, what football, tennis, golf, et al, are about is the cash on offer. Sure they're top sportsmen, but which sport do they choose? Denis Compton was one of the last greats who could excel at more than one. Nowadays you're not allowed the choice, there is no option to pursue both/all. I don't doubt that if Denis were 17 tomorrow, he would be choosing football over cricket as a career - there is far more on offer for even a moderate pro footballer.

I'm an incurable romantic, I know! :-/

Clinton - Chess is played all over the world too. Far more of the chess playing countries could put up a candidate who would provide some sort of real competition against the "top countries" (I'm thinking Russia, America, & a few others that have produced acknowledged Grand Masters). Should chess be in the Olympics?

Despite your impressive list of member associations, who could provide any genuine competition to an All-Star US baseball team? It isn't a global sport in any meaningful sense. You know exactly what I'm getting at, so stop being juvenile & puerile. You're better than that!

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 01:58 PM

"...surely the last remnant of the ideal is still about the competition? Not the money."

Let's ask Keane or Rudzinski. Now, if their clubs told them they could NOT compete for their countries or they would lose thier big salaries, I could understand. But, to lie about it...? Well, maybe not Keane, technically (Although, why did the others from ManU play while he did not? What's the difference between England and Ireland in this case?). But, Rud'y? I was ashamed to be a Canuck when he didn't play for Canada due to his injury, but showed up on the pitch the next week in England looking rather healthy, especially when he scored. Funny how $$$ can cure an injury so quickly.

Oh well, it's just a game eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 02:14 PM

OH. MY. I just heard the All Black cry from the TV in the living room. And they are playing the British & Irish Lions. Must hit the VCR! REAL sports!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 04:37 PM

...who could provide any genuine competition to an All-Star US baseball team

Maybe Cuba could give them a fair run for their money.

But I grant, it'd be a bit like sticking Hurling in the games. Or Sumo wrestling.

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: robomatic
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 05:55 PM

On a peripheral note, been enjoying viewing Ken Burns series on 'Baseball' which identifies it as the quintessential American sport, although Clinton Hammond's post is well taken.

On the broad front I regard the Olympics as such a corrupt and 'removed from the real world' organization of fat freeloaders that I don't really follow it anymore. As the CBC once described it: Faster, Stronger, Richer...

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: Torctgyd
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 11:55 AM

For one I'd say that Olympic sports should be unjudged. By which I mean the result is obvious and not based on the whim of a judge who may, or may not give an unbiased marking of a performance. Further, Faster, Higher indeed not marks out of 10 for artistic interpretation. We might as well have ballet, at least that is open about being art and not a sport!

I'm certainly saddened by the loss of Baseball from the 2012 Olympics: it would be coming to its home (not Cooperstown) but England. And I'm glad if golf has been refused and long for tennis to go too.

Alternative sports are played at the Costwold Olympicks and includes shin-kicking (a comeback sport for Nancy Kerrigan? - or was it her rival whose name I've forgotten).

I don't see why darts couldn't be included, its as much a sport as archery or target shooting.

But my choice of a British sport would be (or at least an event) would be fell running although sadly lacking any fells in or near London.

Didn't the host nation once have the choice to include a sport of its own choosing, perhaps as an exhibition gold medal?

Subject: RE: BS: Baseball/Softball
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 12:31 PM

"who could provide any genuine competition to an All-Star US baseball team? It isn't a global sport in any meaningful sense. "

Wake up and look around and get over this Yank-a-phobia. The Dominican Republic, Korea, Japan, and even Australia have all produced MLB players.   MLB could not exist in any meaningful way without their contribution. Just like the Brits would have an dull and boring Premier League if not for the contribution of all the foreigh stars.