quote:

Originally posted by Nadi And we sent a team without most of our good players =/ If the top American Players played vs the top players from any other country we'd kick there ass, gaurenteed.

You're always on about how patriotic americans are, if so, wouldn't most of the top players see it as an honor to be selected to play for their country?

In short, why didn't you field your best team?

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"You're always on about how patriotic americans are, if so, wouldn't most of the top players see it as an honor to be selected to play for their country?

In short, why didn't you field your best team? "

Thats an excuse why they lost.

Let see , America doesnt send his best player to the olympic games.

Why not? Usually every ****ry pick the best players out of the league, and send it to the Big competitions? Just remeber the American Basketball team at the 94 olympic games, they kicked every teams ass. But at the Basketball world cup, they wasnt even in the top 3, i believe they were number 6th.

So when Brasil goes to the world cup, don't they pick the top football players, just to make sure they wont fail?

quote:

Originally posted by arctic You're always on about how patriotic americans are, if so, wouldn't most of the top players see it as an honor to be selected to play for their country? In short, why didn't you field your best team?

I'm pretty sure its because the start of the tournament was during our playoff season. I didnt follow it to closely, as it was hardly reported but I do know that the majority of the team was made up of minor leaguers.

I see...

I find that strange because to the best of my knowledge, when anything to do with the olympics/wc comes around, we always field our bets possible team, people want to play for their country.

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quote:

I see... I find that strange because to the best of my knowledge, when anything to do with the olympics/wc comes around, we always field our bets possible team, people want to play for their country.

Yes, that is a horrible excuse for not qualifying in olympics. since america is so good in baseball, you fail to make the olympics, and your excuse is, you didnt send your best players?? Bullsh*t...i guess the mexicans are playing better now than americans. better catch up yanks, 3rd world countries are beating you in everything these days.

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I'm not sure how its an excuse. Its a fact. The roster consisted of 24 players and exactly one of them had major league experience. Infact it seems to me that the fact that we almost won the whole thing with only one major league level player shows how dominant we our in the sport.

quote:

I'm not sure how its an excuse. Its a fact. The roster consisted of 24 players and exactly one of them had major league experience. Infact it seems to me that the fact that we almost won the whole thing with only one major league level player shows how dominant we our in the sport.

If thats the case, why not send major league and not minor league??

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quote:

Originally posted by Heinz If thats the case, why not send major league and not minor league??

Because to the best of my knowledge we've never had trouble qualifying with them.

Also remember, unlike other sports in which the rest of the world sends their "professionals" to qualify and play, the U.S. sends Amateur players...i.e. college, or in baseballs case minor league players (which are pros I guess). Not until the "Dream Team" of Basketball, did the U.S. starts sending "Pros" to the Olympics, and in other team sports expanded that to the World Hockey Championships in '96.

Now that's no excuse for not qualifying...we are the defending olympic champs (correct me please if I'm wrong) and that was won with a team made up of non-major league players as well...so we probably should have qualified.

Unfortunately, we are a country made up of professoinals that look at money over national pride, and in some cases, Contracts that don't allow players to compete outside of their own team, and in this case, the qualifying began well before the end of the season, and thus all MLB players were active on their teams that "own" them.

Same reason for the 100 years before the US/Canadian Hockey teams were never made up of Pros, while the Russians played their. Red Army Team. The Olympics was in the middle of the season, the pros stayed playing in the NHL, and we sent a field of college/juniors to the big show, while other teams were comprised of there best of the best players (they didn't come over and play in the NHL back then). Now days, they stop the whole season for 2 weeks, send all the pros (except those with contract restrictions not allowing it...it happens, but I don't feel like looking up some of those players...some were European, if I recall) and play Olympic Hockey. They may not stop it for Italy in 2006...there would be less money in it for North American media due to the time differce for "live coverage" etc. But, the World Championships next year and Vancouver 2010 will definately field pros.

As you can see... It's still all about the money.

Finally...very good points...media doesn't cover baseball elsewhere, it's not followed (or liked) so it doesn't catch on etc. Its the same as footy in the states. No media coverage, a lot of competition with other, more established sports, and thus less following for it.

The media covers where the interest...and thus, the money is. Money money money money.

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Baseball will never catch on anywhere in Europe because to the average person it is boring. The games do not "seem" at all interesting, and its one of those games that even if u played it you would bat and then go read a newspaper or something lol. Its like rounders but lasts longer!

With regards to media, i disagree. The Premiership is shown on fox sports, i think it was, when i was in usa during February this year. It also showede the Champions league and the UEFA Cup, coz i watched Liverpool play, i think, Marseille or some french team in white lol. Now this was on everyday at a certain time. So it is covered. For American football we have rugby. U at least have a team in that as uv won ur first ever (congrats ) match against Japan i think this year Down under.

Your sports players are, well money grabbers, but then all sports now days are like that.

World Series? U can say all u like about u have the best players around the world, but Real Madrid have SUPERSTARS all in one team, but that does not mean they are the world champions. And in reference o ur players not playing for ur nation baseball team, there really is a loss of national identity amongst ur players, because if i ever got the chance to play for england in the world cup, well i know any football fan would DREAM, yes every little boy, who recreates a goal from their team, in the playground at school during dinner (lol yup meee) would relish the opportuniety to play in a england match...and id have read the contract id sign for my club so i wouldnt be told off if i did play lol.

p.s. to the person who said football is boring. Yes some games are 0-0 and some are sooooo fucking boring u feel u just wasted 2 hours of ur life, but football is unpredictable, because with 10 mins to go, that boring 0-0 could change and the whole game would be looked upon differently, the only way a reaction like that happens in baseball is if the crowed try and help their team but fuck up