Softball in the 2016 Olympics

[Killer Rabbit]

It is not a sport if your offical uniform is street clothes.

[anonlooker]

There are 3 or 4 golf tournaments on tv almost every weekend, supported by the deep pockets of banks, investment houses, big pharma, automobiles, etc. The advertising revenue alone gets golf in.

Add the U.K. has some of the most venerable courses in the world.

Add Tiger Woods.

Golf was a no brainer.

Compared to fastpitch, rugby has a world-wide following. And it's even fun to watch. You'll see.

Fastpitch has a very small following, practically zero outside the fastpitch community. And a huge PR dilemma with the general populace, even here in the U.S. It begins with the word "softball", which invokes slow pitch beer leagues, weekend company leagues, etc. Fastpitch is nothing like that.

Prior to my kid getting into travel ball, I, like most folks, thought fastpitch was all pitching and 1-0 games.

Even within the game, how many teams or players stick around to watch the championship of tournaments you go to? Hardly any. My kid loves staying and watching, and it's like a ghost town out there. There are far more people watching pool play than championship play! That's just wierd!

If we, the most avid of fastpitch fans, don't stick around a few hours and watch our best teams play each other, how can we expect the rest of the world to give a rat's ass?

And to add insult to injury, "fastpitch" comes up as a misspelled word when I use it on Hey Bucket!

[GSB]

To add golf is unbelievable. I know a lot of you play that sport - to me, it is an activity, not a sport. Sports typically mean you must expend some sort of energy to play it, like rugby, tennis, basketball, etc. A sport where you spend the majority of your time sitting on your ass in a cart, no. There is nothing more boring than golf - to watch golf, unreal. The epitomy of non- activity was divo-ing golf to watch it over and over.

I think I actually agree with Chavez here.

I'm saddened to see softball excluded again from the Olympics, but I have to disagree with your assessment that golf is not a sport. There is a mental and physical stamina aspect to golf that is essential to success in tournament play. Very similar to auto racing in that respect.

Auto racing and golf a sport? I would rather watch grass grow.

[Gorilla]

I told you what was going to happen. If a sport requires that a venue be built, it likely doesn't belong.

Hell, you put in football and most cities wouldn't have to build a stadium.

Golf is truly international.....rugby....oh, well.

You always seem to be right how do you do that?

[fungodude]

Fastpitch was also hurt due to the fact that the IOC is pissed at America and Chicago's 2016 bid is not looking good. The USOC and Ueberroth announced they want to start a competing Olympic TV network. Don't slap those Limeys in the wallet, whatever you do...
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/spo ... avors.html

[90066DAD]

To add golf is unbelievable. I know a lot of you play that sport - to me, it is an activity, not a sport. Sports typically mean you must expend some sort of energy to play it, like rugby, tennis, basketball, etc. A sport where you spend the majority of your time sitting on your ass in a cart, no. There is nothing more boring than golf - to watch golf, unreal. The epitomy of non- activity was divo-ing golf to watch it over and over.

I think I actually agree with Chavez here.

I'm saddened to see softball excluded again from the Olympics, but I have to disagree with your assessment that golf is not a sport. There is a mental and physical stamina aspect to golf that is essential to success in tournament play. Very similar to auto racing in that respect.

Auto racing and golf a sport? I would rather watch grass grow.

Watching grass grow is just about all the speed your brain can handle.

[Skarp]

Golf is a phenomenal sport.

Skarp has spoken.

[Skarp]

Are you asking me?

[fasterpitch92701]

ok, since we need to take into account media coverages of sport, and what they do cover, I suppose that now includes Texas Hold'em.

Regarding golf... if you don't think it's a "real" sport, try doing it. If/when you get to a 2-3 handicap, let me know and we can do a little $5 Nassau.

Nevertheless, I have no intent on watching syncronized diving, rhymic dancing, ice skating in any form, polo (or anything with a horse) or any of the other 93 inane sports at the Olympics. While I admire the dedication of the athletes the Olympic organization is not in my book, any better than politicians, prostitutes or used car salesmen. Just sleezeballs taking revenue off of a 5 ring logo. All, of course, IMHO.

[Donnie]

Just because someone cant golf and someone else can doesnt make it a sport. So your argument there stands no ground. I for one love golf but I would rather not have it in the olympics. So is bowling next? I have a 200 avg. that doesnt make it a sport because I am good at it. Does it???? We all are softball fans that is clear, but it is more and more odvious that we are the minority not the majority. So what! It's a great game that will flourish with or without the olympics..my 2 cents!!!!!