No Baseball or Softball in the 2012 Olympics

[MavrckMngr]

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

SINGAPORE (AP) -- Baseball and softball were dropped Friday from the Olympic program for the 2012 London Games, making the two American-invented sports the first events cut from the Olympics in 69 years.

Each of the 28 existing sports was put to a secret vote by the International Olympic Committee, and baseball and softball failed to receive a majority required to stay on the program. The other 26 sports were retained.

``I think they've made a big, big mistake,'' said Tommy Lasorda, the former Dodgers manager who managed the U.S. team to the gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Games. ``Baseball is played by all countries now and softball, too. I think that's really going to hurt the Olympics. I don't want to knock the other sports, but I think this is a big mistake. I am very disappointed.

``I was fortunate enough to coach the U.S. Olympic team in Australia. The parks were full at all times. How can they take away a sport like that?''

The IOC will consider replacing them with two sports from a waiting list of five: golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports. That decision will be made Saturday.

Baseball and softball, which will remain for the 2008 Beijing Games, are the first sports eliminated since polo was dropped in 1936.

``That's a shame,'' said Arizona third baseman Troy Glaus, who played for the U.S. team that won bronze in 1996. ``Baseball is one of the more global sports. There's not too many countries around who don't play it at some level.''

Seattle pitcher Ryan Franklin, who won three games for the U.S. in 2000, said, ``It's our national pastime, so it's sad to see. There's a lot of guys up here who would like to represent their country by playing baseball. It was a great experience, and probably one of the reasons why I was able to get to the big leagues and stay.''

Baseball, which became a medal sport in 1992, has been vulnerable because it doesn't bring top major league players to the Olympics. Softball, a women's medal sport since 1996, has been in danger because of a perceived lack of global appeal and participation. The United States has dominated, winning all three gold medals.

``Needless to say, these sports are very, very disappointed,'' IOC president Jacques Rogge said. ``However, I have to emphasize the fact that they should not fear this purge. The fact is that they shall not be included in the program of the 2012 Olympic Games, but it does not disqualify them forever as Olympic sports.''

On Monday, Major League Baseball and the players' union plan to launch the World Baseball Classic, a 16-nation tournament that will begin in March and feature players on big league rosters.

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.

``One is not happy when one is in this situation,'' he said. ``The problem with baseball is the best players are not going to the Olympics Games. 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.''

Porter said the decision goes back to Mexico City in 2002 when Rogue tried -- but failed -- to get baseball, softball and modern pentathlon removed.

``They wanted us out,'' Porter said. ``They didn't get us out -- it took them three years and now they got us out. I just think the IOC wanted some opportunity to introduce several new sports ... and in order to do that, they had to remove a couple of sports and that's what they did today.''

Baseball and softball are sports rooted in American tradition.

``I don't want to say it's an anti-U.S. thing, but they are two native American sports,'' Porter said.

He noted that modern pentathlon, which has been on the program since the first modern games in 1896, had tradition and European support on its side.

``Europe has strong voting power in the IOC,'' Porter said. ``They worked hard, they did the right thing to get enough to stay in.''

The IOC will keep the voting figures secret. Not even the IOC members or sports federations will learn the totals. The secrecy was requested by the international federations in order to avoid any ranking or embarrassment for any sports that just barely make the cut.

Rogge said the figures will be seen only by an independent official, who will send the results by sealed envelope to an IOC notary in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rogge will only open the envelope in the case of a voting dispute.

Senior IOC member Dick Pound of Canada harshly criticized the secrecy, saying it undermined the IOC's moves for openness. He said it was in the interests of the sports federations themselves to know how they stand.

``What kind of message does the IOC send when there is complete secrecy on an issue that is important to the world?'' Pound said.

[WordsSayNothing]

I have to say, this surprises and saddens me.

Still, I suppose it could have been worse. New York could have received the 2012 Olympics and then lost baseball and softball, which would have been a huge embarrassment.

[Bronco]

Originally Posted by MavrckMngr

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

Kinda kills the steam for MLB to make this a worldwide game. I'm upset about seeing them drop baseball and softball, but what I'm more upset about is that it's a legitimate sport played in the western hemisphere. Badminton an Olympic sport. Baseball, and Softball not a sport. That's crap.

[MavrckMngr]

Maybe, but did anybody really take New York City's bid seriously?

[WordsSayNothing]

Originally Posted by MavrckMngr

Maybe, but did anybody really take New York City's bid seriously?

I don't know. I'm just saying it could have been worse.

[whiplash529]

i've never been a huge fan of baseball but if golf is called an olympic worthy sport over it, well you may as well just shoot me because the world is pretty much coming to an end anyway

[mattyt02]

I could see golf in the Olympics. But over baseball and softball? Hardly.

[MavKato]

So ping-pong and dancing with friggin ribbons are olympic sports, but not baseball and softball?

[kbranch]

Originally Posted by MavKato

So ping-pong and dancing with friggin ribbons are olympic sports, but not baseball and softball?

...add trampoline to your list of non-sports...

Here is a quote from olympic.org:

Climbing, bridge, golf, roller skating and surfing are sports that are recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The International Sports Federations (IFs) that administer these sports must ensure that their statutes, practice and activities conform with the Olympic Charter.

[BigPieps]

Gives the home-side a way to not embarass themselves, I suppose...

[Nathan]

Well, this screws up Kalyan's chance of playing ball for the UK in 2012.

[Bobo]

I think the problem with baseball and softball is they require a very specific and expensive stadium that really can't be used for anything else. (Expensive white elephant facility for a sport Europe, Africa, South America, and most of Asia couldn't give a crap about.)

And MLB doesn't release its players for the Olympics. (If baseball doesn't care about the Olympics why should the Olympics care about baseball.)


Cricket is more popular and more widespread worldwide yet it's not in the Olympics either.

[JohnN]

Originally Posted by Bobo

I think the problem with baseball and softball is they require a very specific and expensive stadium that really can't be used for anything else.

This was my first thought as well, but I don't think it holds water. Olympic baseball doesn't require a 40,000 seat stadium. In most places where baseball isn't popular, a field with 6,000 basically temporary seats would be fine. The size of a sports venue really depends on its popularity in an area. Using Ice Hockey as an example, if the Olympics are held someplace like Canada, an 18,000 seat arena is necessary, but if the games are held in Norway, a 3,000 seat arena will do.

I think the Olympics are missing out.

[Bobo]

Originally Posted by JohnN

This was my first thought as well, but I don't think it holds water. Olympic baseball doesn't require a 40,000 seat stadium. In most places where baseball isn't popular, a field with 6,000 basically temporary seats would be fine. The size of a sports venue really depends on its popularity in an area. Using Ice Hockey as an example, if the Olympics are held someplace like Canada, an 18,000 seat arena is necessary, but if the games are held in Norway, a 3,000 seat arena will do.

I think the Olympics are missing out.

That would still be an expense to convert some hs stadium to having a mound, infield, fences, seats.

And if you went too cheap you'd get all that "disrespecting baseball" and "it's unsafe" stuff.

And you also need practice fields.

All for a sport most of the world doesn't play.

[jmh]

Originally Posted by kbranch

Here is a quote from olympic.org:

Climbing, bridge, golf, roller skating and surfing are sports that are recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The International Sports Federations (IFs) that administer these sports must ensure that their statutes, practice and activities conform with the Olympic Charter.

Wait a minute... bridge, like, the CARD GAME? Seriously?

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by jmh

Wait a minute... bridge, like, the CARD GAME? Seriously?

So my Grandma could be an Olympian? Hmmm.

[HumRsky]

I don't mind having team sports in the Olympics and they've provided some great moments (the Miracle), but I don't mind seeing them go that much either. My dad put it to me this way, and I agree...You could be the worst player on the baseball team, the 200th best player in the world, and not have your life entirely devoted to the sport to win a gold (or any) medal. On the other hand, a gymnast must devote their life to the sport so that they can be THE best gymnast in the world (or top 3) or they won't win a gold (or any) medal.

[Rhett]

Originally Posted by Dirty

So my Grandma could be an Olympian? Hmmm.

Actually, I don't think she could be. The IOC oversees alot of sports that aren't medal sports (games) at the olympics. The recognize their international federations and try to monitor their competitions and standards should adding the sport to the full roster become attractive at a later time. I'm sure baseball and softball will just be added to this list.

Also, if New York had won the vote to host, then baseball and softball, because of their popularity in America, would have won the right to stay... unless the IOC decides that it hates money. Baseball will probably be reinstated about a week after a North American site is selected to host again.

[FerrisLives]

Screw the Olympics. Which is bigger in soccer, the World Cup or the Olympics? Exactly. Let's get this whole World Cup of Baseball/Softball thing up and running. They play so many useless games in the MLB regular season I would be fine if they got rid of say 15 games once every 4 years and had a Baseball World Cup in July instead of the All-Star game.

You throw together USA, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and a few sacrificial European countries and hold a Baseball World Cup. A 24 nation tournament would be a huge television and fan event.

[Buff]

What was once touted as the world's greatest showcase for amateur athletics drops baseball because not enough professionals participate? Call me a troglodyte, but I liked the amateur Olympics better, even if the Russians cheated.