After years of the Baseball 'World-Series' being nothing of the sort ...

... the merkins get a tatering by Mexico, Canada and the might of South Korea.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/othe...ll/4816000.stm

Rumblings have now started coming from the American camp that they didn't take the inaugural World Baseball Classic seriously anyhow.

Maybe they had mandatory drug tests there or something :huh:

Fuck off...


bd

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Originally Posted by brotherdoobie

Fuck off...


bd

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:O

So what is it - are you rubbish or apathetic.

Mexico had a burrito salesman playing for them :lol:

:glag: well now we know where ziggy's been the last week or so :smilie4:



yesh, ziggy = every mexican evar

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brotherdoobie

Fuck off...


bd

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:O

So what is it - are you rubbish or apathetic.

Mexico had a burrito salesman playing for them :lol:

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i'm just about copied and soon...i will be pasted. i'm also bummed about
american baseball. surely...you feel empathy?

Peace bd

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

... the merkins get a tatering by Mexico, Canada and the might of South Korea.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/othe...ll/4816000.stm

Rumblings have now started coming from the American camp that they didn't take the inaugural World Baseball Classic seriously anyhow.

Maybe they had mandatory drug tests there or something :huh:

---

Eh? Many of the best players on other teams play play MLB.

I don't know about the American team but Americans in general didn't take it seriously. That's why many of our best turned down going (similar to our Olympic basketball team).

America played against many fellow MLB players in the WBC so I'm not surprised they lost. The fact is America always cares about American "leagues" more than world competition 'cause there's no real money in it. Hurt yourself in some world competition that pays nothing and then career at home goes to shit.

I do think that any American player that went over and played needs to STFU, however. You step on the field, you play your best and don't give fucking excuses about it.

It reminds me of Olympic skier, Bode Miller. After HE LOST, he said he didn't care about medals.:dry:

Not a very good rod, btw mank

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Originally Posted by brotherdoobie

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Originally Posted by manker

:O

So what is it - are you rubbish or apathetic.

Mexico had a burrito salesman playing for them :lol:

---

i'm just about copied and soon...i will be pasted. i'm also bummed about
american baseball. surely...you feel empathy?

Peace bd

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Well, you're a nice chap and normally I would feel some empathy.

However, in this case - with you not letting anyone play Baseball properly for such a long time ... the irony, and glagworthyness, of the situation supercedes any empathy.

Sorry :dabs:

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Originally Posted by manker

However, in this case - with you not letting anyone play Baseball properly for such a long time

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What does that mean?:huh:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

... the merkins get a tatering by Mexico, Canada and the might of South Korea.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/othe...ll/4816000.stm

Rumblings have now started coming from the American camp that they didn't take the inaugural World Baseball Classic seriously anyhow.

Maybe they had mandatory drug tests there or something :huh:

---

Eh? Many of the best players on other teams play play MLB.

I don't know about the American team but Americans in general didn't take it seriously. That's why many of our best turned down going (similar to our Olympic basketball team).

America played against many fellow MLB players in the WBC so I'm not surprised they lost. The fact is America always cares about American "leagues" more than world competition 'cause there's no real money in it. Hurt yourself in some world competition that pays nothing and then career at home goes to shit.

I do think that any American player that went over and played needs to STFU, however. You step on the field, you play your best and don't give fucking excuses about it.

It reminds me of Olympic skier, Bode Miller. After HE LOST, he said he didn't care about medals.:dry:

Not a very good rod, btw mank

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I like your disclaimer, however, it's not a rod. I've been following the competition (on the BBC website) because it interested me that the 'World Series' jokes would have to stop. I find it totally ironic that Team USA have been humbled by part-timers and Minor league players.

What you're saying there is that money > national glory.

You'll find many, if not all, soccer fans disagreeing with you. In the World Cup, the players get paid a pittance c.f. what they get from their clubs but the attention focused on the World Cup will dwarf anything domestically.

I find it completely strange that you believe the internal competitions are more important than a global one because of money.

Kinda sad, too.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

However, in this case - with you not letting anyone play Baseball properly for such a long time

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What does that mean?:huh:

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Test themselves nationally in global competition.

It was a joke, more than anything.

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Eh? Many of the best players on other teams play play MLB.

I don't know about the American team but Americans in general didn't take it seriously. That's why many of our best turned down going (similar to our Olympic basketball team).

America played against many fellow MLB players in the WBC so I'm not surprised they lost. The fact is America always cares about American "leagues" more than world competition 'cause there's no real money in it. Hurt yourself in some world competition that pays nothing and then career at home goes to shit.

I do think that any American player that went over and played needs to STFU, however. You step on the field, you play your best and don't give fucking excuses about it.

It reminds me of Olympic skier, Bode Miller. After HE LOST, he said he didn't care about medals.:dry:

Not a very good rod, btw mank

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I like your disclaimer, however, it's not a rod. I've been following the competition (on the BBC website) because it interested me that the 'World Series' jokes would have to stop. I find it totally ironic that Team USA have been humbled by part-timers and Minor league players.

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Eh? All nationalities play MLB. Our World Series is not just made up of Americans.

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Originally Posted by manker

What you're saying there is that money > national glory.

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Hmmm...one is a person's job, the other isn't. Many say that Americans think that the rest of the world doesn't matter. In some instances that is true. America is a huge country that has it's own competitions. Baseball has a large market and payout in America, not elsewhere. It's the best come here to play. A MLB team made up of mostly foreigners could win The World Series.

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Originally Posted by manker

You'll find many, if not all, soccer fans disagreeing with you. In the World Cup, the players get paid a pittance c.f. what they get from their clubs but the attention focused on the World Cup will dwarf anything domestically.

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...and that's soccer, which has small market here. I do see that The World Cup will be shown here on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. I probably watch some before I get bored like I did with the World Baseball Classic.

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Originally Posted by manker

I find it completely strange that you believe the internal competitions are more important than a global one because of money.

Kinda sad, too.

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Maybe it's about a person's job versus a country's ego. Look at America last Olympic basketball outing. You do know who Shaquille O'Neal is. He didn't go. Kobe Bryant...absent...them and a host of many other "elite" players over here.

Tbh, I think a poor player from Mexico does have a lot more to play for than say a Roger Clemens who gets to retreat to his gated home and playing for millions of dollars...at home.

Actually Roger Clemens was probably a bad example 'cause he is talking about retiring (don't know many players in the Classic). The Mexico game is feasibly his last baseball game. Maybe a better example would be A. Rod.

My belief, irregardless to your qoute above, is quite logical.

That there is a whole vinyard of sour grapes! I've seen you making posts about the Winter Olympics and being proud when America win - and now you're saying that cash is the be all and end all.

Don't make me laugh. You seeing people representing your country being the best in the world is more important than them earning more money playing some internal competition.

Altho' this is something I found interesting enough to post on its own anyway, some misdirected and low-grade pathos is always welcome.

You got stuffed by teams who have minor league players playing for them - and people who aren't good enough to play minor league - but it doesn't matter because the prize money was poor.

Bollocks - see Paul's reaction for how a real American Baseball fan feels.

Note too that he was secure enough to be honest about how he felt about America losing at something :smilie4:

Everything is about it's monetary value, really is a rather sad outlook on life.

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Originally Posted by JPaul

Everything is about it's monetary value, really is a rather sad outlook on life.

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Even sadder that he doesn't really mean it.

See the GO TEAM USA HOCKEY!!111 (I paraphrase) posts when the Winter Olympics were on.

I doubt they were getting paid a great deal. Certainly not as much as in the NHL, anyhow.

Sad that he feels he mustn't let us think that there is something better than the USA in the whole wide world.

I genuinely mean it. How culturally redundant do you need to be to argue that international competition is less important than domestic competitions, purely on the basis that there is less money involved.

Like you said, no domestic competition compares to The World Cup, just as an obvious example. The same goes for just about any sport. Except darts obviously.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

That there is a whole vinyard of sour grapes! I've seen you making posts about the Winter Olympics and being proud when America win - and now you're saying that cash is the be all and end all.

Don't make me laugh. You seeing people representing your country being the best in the world is more important than them earning more money playing some internal competition.

Altho' this is something I found interesting enough to post on its own anyway, some misdirected and low-grade pathos is always welcome.

You got stuffed by teams who have minor league players playing for them - and people who aren't good enough to play minor league - but it doesn't matter because the prize money was poor.

Bollocks - see Paul's reaction for how a real American Baseball fan feels.

Note too that he was secure enough to be honest about how he felt about America losing at something :smilie4:

---

I'm not a baseball fan so I'm kinda indifferent when they lose. I am a basketball fan and I was pissed when America lost in the Olympics. I can talk about how high our Olympic medal count is yet don't like all the events within it.

I bet it would different in the WBC if there was tons of prize money involved. You'd see all our best players going.

Oh and there is a difference between playing a game for nothing besides country pride and playing for your livlihood.

I'm surprised you can't grasp that.

I can't imagine our football being in the Olympics and all our best players being in it...for little money. In contrast, other countries send their very best players in basketball (and many other sports where there's a local market).

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Originally Posted by JPaul

I genuinely mean it. How culturally redundant do you need to be to argue that international competition is less important than domestic competitions, purely on the basis that there is less money involved.

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Apparently, 'Americans think that the rest of the world doesn't matter'. This must be the reason.

In this instance it can be for one of two reasons, they're scared of getting beaten (like when England stopped playing soccer friendlies against the Welsh in the early 80s) or they think that there is no competition.

Obviously, the latter can't be true because they got beaten three times. For any American to say it now, must be sour grapes, surely.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

I'm surprised you can't grasp that.

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People can grasp it, mate. It's just a bit pathetic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

That there is a whole vinyard of sour grapes! I've seen you making posts about the Winter Olympics and being proud when America win - and now you're saying that cash is the be all and end all.

Don't make me laugh. You seeing people representing your country being the best in the world is more important than them earning more money playing some internal competition.

Altho' this is something I found interesting enough to post on its own anyway, some misdirected and low-grade pathos is always welcome.

You got stuffed by teams who have minor league players playing for them - and people who aren't good enough to play minor league - but it doesn't matter because the prize money was poor.

Bollocks - see Paul's reaction for how a real American Baseball fan feels.

Note too that he was secure enough to be honest about how he felt about America losing at something :smilie4:

---

I'm not a baseball fan so I'm kinda indifferent when they lose. I am a basketball fan and I was pissed when America lost in the Olympics. I can talk about how high our Olympic medal count is yet don't like all the events within it.

I bet it would different in the WBC if there was tons of prize money involved. You'd see all our best players going.

Oh and there is a difference between playing a game for nothing besides country pride and playing for your livlihood.

I'm surprised you can't grasp that.

I can't imagine our football being in the Olympics and all our best players being in it...for little money. In contrast, other countries send their very best players in basketball (and many other sports where there's a local market).

---

Of course there is a difference between playing purely for national pride and your livelihood. Your livelihood is what you do week in, week out and you represent your country a few times a year IF you're good enough.

You try just as hard for both, but when you represent your country, it's that little bit more special a) Because you don't do it that often and b) because all of your countrymen are behind you, wanting you to do well.

Why do you think I can't grasp it and what point are you trying to make :blink:

The bit about having to get paid a ton of money to represent your country is also very, very sad to read.

I'm not surprised America sucks at global team sports.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JPaul

Everything is about it's monetary value, really is a rather sad outlook on life.

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Even sadder that he doesn't really mean it.

See the GO TEAM USA HOCKEY!!111 (I paraphrase) posts when the Winter Olympics were on.

I doubt they were getting paid a great deal. Certainly not as much as in the NHL, anyhow.

Sad that he feels he mustn't let us think that there is something better than the USA in the whole wide world.

---

Wanting your team to win based purely on that it's your country playing is an entirely different matter. Hell I wanted the US Curling Team to win and I think it's shit sport. I thinks darts is a shit parlour game but if there was a World Darts Championship, I'd want the US to win.

I'm more of a fan of individual sports than my country playing in sports.

Again, you still don't get that their is a difference between job and competition. America is THE biggest market for basketball, football, and baseball.

Millions of dollars > Global competition. Fact

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

I'm not a baseball fan so I'm kinda indifferent when they lose. I am a basketball fan and I was pissed when America lost in the Olympics. I can talk about how high our Olympic medal count is yet don't like all the events within it.

I bet it would different in the WBC if there was tons of prize money involved. You'd see all our best players going.

Oh and there is a difference between playing a game for nothing besides country pride and playing for your livlihood.

I'm surprised you can't grasp that.

I can't imagine our football being in the Olympics and all our best players being in it...for little money. In contrast, other countries send their very best players in basketball (and many other sports where there's a local market).

---

Of course there is a difference between playing purely for national pride and your livelihood. Your livelihood is what you do week in, week out and you represent your country a few times a year IF you're good enough.

You try just as hard for both, but when you represent your country, it's that little bit more special a) Because you don't do it that often and b) because all of your countrymen are behind you, wanting you to do well.

Why do you think I can't grasp it and what point are you trying to make :blink:

The bit about having to get paid a ton of money to represent your country is also very, very sad to read.

I'm not surprised America sucks at global team sports.

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Me either, at least certain ones. Because of the money doohicky, we usually don't manage to send our best players. In baseball, we probably aren't the best even if we did send our best. For much of the world Latin demographic, baseball an soccer are their main competitions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JPaul

I genuinely mean it. How culturally redundant do you need to be to argue that international competition is less important than domestic competitions, purely on the basis that there is less money involved.

---

Apparently, 'Americans think that the rest of the world doesn't matter'. This must be the reason.

In this instance it can be for one of two reasons, they're scared of getting beaten (like when England stopped playing soccer friendlies against the Welsh in the early 80s) or they think that there is no competition.

Obviously, the latter can't be true because they got beaten three times. For any American to say it now, must be sour grapes, surely.

---

Sadness upon sadness.

The rest of the World doesn't matter and everything is based on it's monetary value. If that weren't so pathetic it would be laughable.

That would be analagous to a spoiled 10 year old. I suppose that they are young, as nations go. Hopefully they will grow up before their adolescent behaviour causes irreparable damage to the rest of the World.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Millions of dollars > Global competition. Fact

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:no2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

Even sadder that he doesn't really mean it.

See the GO TEAM USA HOCKEY!!111 (I paraphrase) posts when the Winter Olympics were on.

I doubt they were getting paid a great deal. Certainly not as much as in the NHL, anyhow.

Sad that he feels he mustn't let us think that there is something better than the USA in the whole wide world.

---

Wanting your team to win based purely on that it's your country playing is an entirely different matter. Hell I wanted the US Curling Team to win and I think it's shit sport. I thinks darts is a shit parlour game but if there was a World Darts Championship, I'd want the US to win.

I'm more of a fan of individual sports than my country playing in sports.

Again, you still don't get that their is a difference between job and competition. America is THE biggest market for basketball, football, and baseball.

Millions of dollars > Global competition. Fact

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You're more a fan of individual sports?

I don't believe you.

You go nuts over football and basketball and I cannot believe that golf/athletics/9-ball would send you into the same raptures.




As has been written. It's very sad that you think that money in domestic competition is more important than international competition.

You say it almost as if there being more money in domestic competition isn't true of anywhere else or other sports.

You're so insular that you're becoming a bit of a joke.

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Wanting your team to win based purely on that it's your country playing is an entirely different matter. Hell I wanted the US Curling Team to win and I think it's shit sport. I thinks darts is a shit parlour game but if there was a World Darts Championship, I'd want the US to win.

I'm more of a fan of individual sports than my country playing in sports.

Again, you still don't get that their is a difference between job and competition. America is THE biggest market for basketball, football, and baseball.

Millions of dollars > Global competition. Fact

---

You're more a fan of individual sports?

I don't believe you.

You go nuts over football and basketball and I cannot believe that golf/athletics/9-ball would send you into the same raptures.





As has been written. It's very sad that you think that money in domestic competition is more important than international competition.

You say it almost as if there being more money in domestic competition isn't true of anywhere else or other sports.

You're so insular that you're becoming a bit of a joke.

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Certain individual sports, mank.:ermm:

I'm not a joke. I'm a realist.

Here's a good one for any American. Let's apply it to the fan of that particular sport.....

Which are they more likely to watch....the WBC or the World Series?

The NBA Championship or the World Championship/Olympics?

Those (besides football) are our big three sports marketwise.

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Originally Posted by manker

You go nuts over football and basketball and I cannot believe that golf/athletics/9-ball would send you into the same raptures.

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I have to take excepotion to that. The chap's posts re golf/ athletics/9-ball are legendary. He rarely mentions basketball or football, just look in Sports World.

Warning - Irony above.
@Chewie :P

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

You're more a fan of individual sports?

I don't believe you.

You go nuts over football and basketball and I cannot believe that golf/athletics/9-ball would send you into the same raptures.





As has been written. It's very sad that you think that money in domestic competition is more important than international competition.

You say it almost as if there being more money in domestic competition isn't true of anywhere else or other sports.

You're so insular that you're becoming a bit of a joke.

---

Certain individual sports, mank.:ermm:

I'm not a joke. I'm a realist.

Here's a good one for any American. Let's apply it to the fan of that particular sport.....

Which are they more likely to watch....the WBC or the World Series?

The NBA Championship or the World Championship/Olympics?

Those (besides football) are our big three sports marketwise.

---

You said that you were 'more a fan of individual sports' - I took that to mean that you were more a fan of individual sports. Not that you are more of a fan of some individual sports over, say, kabaddi or something.

You see how confusion can arise if you write down words that do not properly express what you want the reader to think you mean.

Maybe this is an American thing - since you're no good at team sports, perhaps domestic competitions in team sports (which pale into insignificance when compared with international competition for the rest of the world) mean more to you.

Perhaps earning vast amounts of money is more important than the acheivement of being able to say - 'we're the best team in the world'.

Then again, maybe it's just you.

I think the whole thing is silly, if the sport is not bikini beach volleyball with hot women playing it's not worth watching..............IMO

I'd rather see this http://www.livingroom.org.au/olympic.../K081720AU.jpg



than this
http://www.lionstour.com/images/gall...ns%20Scrum.jpg

Can't imagine why:lookaroun

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Certain individual sports, mank.:ermm:

I'm not a joke. I'm a realist.

Here's a good one for any American. Let's apply it to the fan of that particular sport.....

Which are they more likely to watch....the WBC or the World Series?

The NBA Championship or the World Championship/Olympics?

Those (besides football) are our big three sports marketwise.

---

You said that you were 'more a fan of individual sports' - I took that to mean that you were more a fan of individual sports. Not that you are more of a fan of some individual sports over, say, kabaddi or something.

You see how confusion can arise if you write down words that do not properly express what you want the reader to think you mean.

Cool glad it's cleared up.:happy:

Maybe this is an American thing - since you're no good at team sports, perhaps domestic competitions in team sports (which pale into insignificance when compared with international competition for the rest of the world) mean more to you.

Perhaps earning vast amounts of money is more important than the acheivement of being able to say - 'we're the best team in the world'.

Then again, maybe it's just you.

---

Nah, it's the real deal.

Global competition earns a pittance and even owners and manager's don't like it.

So an indvidual player would weigh that when deciding to play.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

You said that you were 'more a fan of individual sports' - I took that to mean that you were more a fan of individual sports. Not that you are more of a fan of some individual sports over, say, kabaddi or something.

You see how confusion can arise if you write down words that do not properly express what you want the reader to think you mean.

Cool glad it's cleared up.:happy:

Maybe this is an American thing - since you're no good at team sports, perhaps domestic competitions in team sports (which pale into insignificance when compared with international competition for the rest of the world) mean more to you.

Perhaps earning vast amounts of money is more important than the acheivement of being able to say - 'we're the best team in the world'.

Then again, maybe it's just you.

---

Nah, it's the real deal.

Global competition earns a pittance and even owners and manager's don't like it.

So an indvidual player would weigh that when deciding to play.

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Only in America.

Elsewhere, players are particularly proud to represent their country and would do it for nothing. Fact.

Owners and managers don't like it, they don't much over here either because it doesn't make the owners any money and the managers might end up with injured players - especially the foreign owners and managers. However, it's the friendlies they take issue with, not competitions.

Anyway, they don't participate - the players that play and the public that watch absolutely love it.

Over here, that is.

Ryan Giggs. Fact.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vidcc

I think the whole thing is silly, if the sport is not bikini beach volleyball with hot women playing it's not worth watching..............IMO

I'd rather see this http://www.livingroom.org.au/olympic.../K081720AU.jpg



than this
http://www.lionstour.com/images/gall...ns%20Scrum.jpg

Can't imagine why:lookaroun

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Well, I'd much prefer to see the Lions playing rugby than some hawt women jumping around in bikinis.

I can watch Aerobics Oz Style every morning, if I like. The Lions only play once every four years.


If you want to spam, go to Sports Club :blink:

So let me get this right, vid wants to watch hawt burds jumping about on t'telly. Using this as a form of sexual gratification.

Whilst you want to watch double hard bastard sports with your mates, in the pub. Then go home and have a fulfilling adult love life with Mrs manker.

Are you a poove or something.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Nah, it's the real deal.

Global competition earns a pittance and even owners and manager's don't like it.

So an indvidual player would weigh that when deciding to play.

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Only in America.

Elsewhere, players are particularly proud to represent their country and would do it for nothing. Fact.

Owners and managers don't like it, they don't much over here either because it doesn't make the owners any money and the managers might end up with injured players - especially the foreign owners and managers. However, it's the friendlies they take issue with, not competitions.

Anyway, they don't participate - the players that play and the public that watch absolutely love it.

Over here, that is.

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Only in America...maybe so. America has a different dynamic than the rest of the world. It's a little more "self-contained". Foreigners may talk bad about America 100x more than we may talk about them. Our daily grind is more a topic to others than vice-versa.

1. Fans of the individual sport will watch it's world competition counterpart.
However, they are less likely to watch that versus the country competition counterpart. Maybe the world competition would be watched more if our country was smaller. I dunno :idunno:

2. World competition holds less importance for our professional players than our league competition for obvious reasons. I only can speak on baseball and basketball. It could be the same for other major sports as well.

3. The players that play are proud to represent the country. There are individuals with ego problems that talk out the side of their neck. If you made the trip to play, stfu if you lose.(except when America lost to Russia in Olympic basketball, what a travesty)

On a side note, I heard on the radio on the way home that Roger Clemens is retiring and that the USA lost 2 to 1 to Mexico.

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/7235/bullshit7cm.png

I can't be f*cked going back and quoting anyone,
but I'd just like to point out that this^ isn't quite
the "B" roster that some would have you believe.

Granted, some of the best aren't there, but why?
Because they are on other teams, representing their countries.
Once all the Dominicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc. went to play for thier countries,
this is about what we had left.
Still, not too shabby of a roster.

re: motives of the players...
One may wonder what, if not pride, would compel someone to join international play.
Seeing as how the money's shit and all....
I haven't seen the report on the USA excusing themselves due to lack of motivation,
but if that's what they are saying, it's pathetic.

That's coming from a pissed American baseball fan.

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manker

Only in America.

Elsewhere, players are particularly proud to represent their country and would do it for nothing. Fact.

Owners and managers don't like it, they don't much over here either because it doesn't make the owners any money and the managers might end up with injured players - especially the foreign owners and managers. However, it's the friendlies they take issue with, not competitions.

Anyway, they don't participate - the players that play and the public that watch absolutely love it.

Over here, that is.

---

Only in America...maybe so. America has a different dynamic than the rest of the world. It's a little more "self-contained". Foreigners may talk bad about America 100x more than we may talk about them. Our daily grind is more a topic to others than vice-versa.

1. Fans of the individual sport will watch it's world competition counterpart.
However, they are less likely to watch that versus the country competition counterpart. Maybe the world competition would be watched more if our country was smaller. I dunno :idunno:

2. World competition holds less importance for our professional players than our league competition for obvious reasons. I only can speak on baseball and basketball. It could be the same for other major sports as well.

3. The players that play are proud to represent the country. There are individuals with ego problems that talk out the side of their neck. If you made the trip to play, stfu if you lose.(except when America lost to Russia in Olympic basketball, what a travesty)

On a side note, I heard on the radio on the way home that Roger Clemens is retiring and that the USA lost 2 to 1 to Mexico.

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I think you're painting a bad picture of Americans.

You're saying that American sport fans haven't as much national pride as people in the rest of the world.

I call bullshit.

I know more American people watched the Ryder Cup than they did when Tiger Woods wins a major. Your soccer team was watched by millions more when they got to the quarter finals of the WC in 2002 than any given game in the MLS.

This was the inaugural baseball World Cup, it hasn't found it's feet yet - bball hasn't been in the Olympics for long, football hasn't even got a national competition. Give it time.

A national team competition appeals to a MUCH wider audience than a domestic competition ever could. Americans are no different to anyone else and they WILL get behind their nation in droves, once they get used to it - just like they have with the Ryder Cup.

All your bluster about the US being insular and somehow 'different' to the rest of the world in this sense is rather derogatory. Americans are just as nationalistic in a sporting sense as anyone else.

Some of you just don't know it yet ;)

I saw wales won the table tennis today:dabs:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fkdup74

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/7235/bullshit7cm.png

I can't be f*cked going back and quoting anyone,
but I'd just like to point out that this^ isn't quite
the "B" roster that some would have you believe.

Granted, some of the best aren't there, but why?
Because they are on other teams, representing their countries.
Once all the Dominicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc. went to play for thier countries,
this is about what we had left.
Still, not too shabby of a roster.

re: motives of the players...
One may wonder what, if not pride, would compel someone to join international play.
Seeing as how the money's shit and all....
I haven't seen the report on the USA excusing themselves due to lack of motivation,
but if that's what they are saying, it's pathetic.

That's coming from a pissed American baseball fan.

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The words in bold speaks volumes.

As far as who didn't go, I just remember a number of A list players declining going. It might equate to what I thought about our basketball team. Sure the players were good....but they weren't our elite by any stretch.

I really can't comment too much on the roster since I'm not a fan and don't know the game as well as you do.

I'm sure that when England got knocked out of their first World Cup by USA they used similiar weak-arsed excuses. The whiney cunts.

Disclaimer: I only read the second post.*

* Sort of.

Oh yeah btw, welcome to our world. You invent a sport and then the rest of the world beats you at it. We invented all the good sports and all we have ever won is a world cup for each and some sort of egg cup with a bunch of ashes in it. :dabs: