Baseball dropped from Olympics

[Vanhalen 0]

No great loss as about 3 countries play the fucker, but its been dropped, along with softball

 

Baseball axed from 2012 Olympics 

 

Baseball and softball have been dropped from the Olympic programme for the 2012 Games - and could be replaced by rugby, squash, golf, karate or roller skating.

International Olympic Committee members held a secret ballot to decide which sports to axe from the existing list of 28 ahead of the London Games in 2012.

 

And both baseball and softball, which will remain on the Olympic programme for 2008, failed to get enough votes.

 

They are the first sports to be cut from the Olympics since polo in 1936.

 

The five sports which could be admitted for the 2012 Olympics will find out on Saturday if they have been successful.

 

The decision to exclude baseball and softball should save London around £50m as none of the other possible replacements would have the same cost implications.

 

Rugby union sevens would be played at either the Olympic Stadium in the first week of the Games or at Twickenham, karate would be in the ExCel arena, roller skating in the velodrome, and golf could be catered for at a number of venues.

 

Only squash would require capital outlay for facilities in the form of a small purpose-built arena in the Olympic Park.

 

Baseball made its first appearance in the 1992 Games, although it was only in 2000 that professional players were allowed to take part.

 

Softball was introduced in Atlanta in 1996 and has been dominated by the United States, who have won all three gold medals to be contested.

 

IOC president Jacques Rogge said baseball and softball could win back their place for future games.

 

  I don't want to say it's an anti-US thing, but they are two native American sports

 

Don Porter

American president of the international softball federation

 

"Needless to say, these sports are very, very disappointed, but it does not disqualify them forever as Olympic sports," he said.

 

Aldo Notari, the Italian president of the international baseball federation, acknowledged that the absence of major leaguers in the Olympics was the crucial factor in the sport's exclusion.

 

"The problem with baseball is the best players are not going to the Olympics Games," he said.

 

"But baseball is still in Beijing and it is still necessary to work for the future in 2016."

 

Don Porter, the American president of the international softball federation, said he was devastated by the vote.

 

"We thought that we had a lot of support," he said. "The members told us we were getting support, but obviously we weren't.

 

"I don't want to say it's an anti-US thing, but they are two native American sports."

 

The modern pentathlon was also tipped to lose its Olympic status but survived.

 

The IOC has pledged to keep the voting figures secret, much to the unhappiness of senior IOC member Dick Pound.

 

He said the decision undermined the IOC's moves for openness and added that it was in the interests of the sports federations themselves to know how they stand.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Olympic baseball was essentially the equivalent of AA baseball last season. With the exception of the Cuban and Japanese national teams, there is really no reason to watch. I would rather see baseball set up its own international competition.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I don't care about the Olympics, but it seems pretty lame to not include baseball in the summer games. But whatever. I guess this will make more room for ballroom dancing, frisbee golf or whatever hippie events are now in the Games...

[Precious Roy 0]

As long as the proposed World Cup of baseball goes down this is not any sort of loss, but I always enjoyed Olympic baseball, even though the games never got serious coverage. I mean fuck, at least it wasn't gymnastics...

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

You got a problem with chicks bending every which way in tight outfits?

 

Wait a second, most of them are 10. Shit...

[Crimson Platypus 0]

I don't care about the Olympics, but it seems pretty lame to not include baseball in the summer games. But whatever. I guess this will make more room for ballroom dancing, frisbee golf or whatever hippie events are now in the Games...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Frisbee golf should definitely be in the Olympics, seeing a bunch of stoned hippies get gold medals while finely tuned athletic machines can't win a bronze in their event would crack me the fuck up.

[nl5xsk1 0]

You got a problem with chicks bending every which way in tight outfits?

 

Wait a second, most of them are 10. Shit...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Correction ... most of them are 14 but look 8.

 

And I'd have no issues with new sports, as long as it's two of the following three: rugby, golf or karate. Fuck squash & "roller sports".

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

You got a problem with chicks bending every which way in tight outfits?

 

Wait a second, most of them are 10. Shit...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Correction ... most of them are 14 but look 8.

 

And I'd have no issues with new sports, as long as it's two of the following three: rugby, golf or karate. Fuck squash & "roller sports".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm only worried about the new rash of "This now means my father can win an Olympic Medal, and trust me, he's no athlete" stand up jokes.

 

 

As for golf, I can't see it drawing big names, certainly not in the summer, when the major tournaments are at their peak.

Also, none of the big names play in golf's World Cup ever fall, so...

[nl5xsk1 0]

As for golf, I can't see it drawing big names, certainly not in the summer, when the major tournaments are at their peak.

Also, none of the big names play in golf's World Cup ever fall, so...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I hope it struggles to draw big names. I might be in the minority, but I preferred it when the people that were competing in the Olympics weren't famous pros already.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

As for golf, I can't see it drawing big names, certainly not in the summer, when the major tournaments are at their peak.

Also, none of the big names play in golf's World Cup ever fall, so...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I hope it struggles to draw big names. I might be in the minority, but I preferred it when the people that were competing in the Olympics weren't famous pros already.

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Me too. But yep, we're in the minority.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

I am also against professionals being in the Olympics. In all events.

[Precious Roy 0]

You got a problem with chicks bending every which way in tight outfits?

 

Wait a second, most of them are 10. Shit...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Actually, I honestly used to dig the "women's" gymnastics when I was like 10, 12 yrs old, back when I was in the early stages of puberty and could relate to the girls on some level. I specifically remember being really into the 92 US team. Now? I may be perverted, but lusting after 15 yr old flat chested foreign chicks is not happening...

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Frisbee golf should definitely be in the Olympics, seeing a bunch of stoned hippies get gold medals while finely tuned athletic machines can't win a bronze in their event would crack me the fuck up.

 

Assuming anyone passes the drug tests...

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Drug tests? Whoa man.. I'm not going to the event thingys if they have those man. Dude.. is that a squirrel?

[Darthtiki 0]

Thnakfully I don't really give a shit about the Olympics save for the Basketball and Wrestling.

[Art Sandusky 0]

It's called Frolf, people.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I guess Grisbee was too hard for those stoners to say...

[The Czech Republic 0]

Ka-ra-te! Ka-ra-te! C'mon, say it with me now!

 

Only because what the hell is "roller sports."

[Jericholic82 0]

No more softball? What will all the lesbians watch in 2012 (Thanks to Jimmy Kimmel Live for that joke)

 

Hey It wasnt me who said it, I'm just posting a quote here.

 

Seriosuly though, what will they replace baseball with? Poker? Lazer Tag?

[Guest]

A bad joke from a bad show.

[Jericholic82 0]

A bad joke from a bad show.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well yea it was bad joke thats why I had to use it for fun, but bad show? its my fav besides Conan, so I disagree.

[snuffbox 0]

Maybe this means there will be more boxing coverage...

[Guest]

A bad joke from a bad show.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well yea it was bad joke thats why I had to use it for fun, but bad show? its my fav besides Conan, so I disagree.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Conan is much better, and I really don't like Jimmy Kimmel so that's my feelings about it.

[Jericholic82 0]

A bad joke from a bad show.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well yea it was bad joke thats why I had to use it for fun, but bad show? its my fav besides Conan, so I disagree.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Conan is much better, and I really don't like Jimmy Kimmel so that's my feelings about it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well I agree on Conan being a better host, but its cool that you dont like Kimmel, hes either hit or miss with alot of people.

[Guest]

Back to the subject, even though the quality of Olympic baseball wasn't too great, now they won't be able to expose the sport to the European audience in 2012.

[Jericholic82 0]

Back to the subject, even though the quality of Olympic baseball wasn't too great, now they won't be able to expose the sport to the European audience in 2012.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yea it sucks, Baseball is a traditional sport and is good for the olympics and goold for MLb as they have a chance to scout talent from smaller countries.