Olympic Games : Baseball Vs. Cricket

[SolkaTruesilver]

I just heard something on the radio, that left me thinking..

Why is Baseball at the Olympics? Why isn't Cricket?

Cricket is played by a lot more people, by a lot more countries around the world. It should be an Olympic sport by it's own right. It sure has more country playing it that Baseball, which IS an Olympic sport..

Who choose the sports played there?

[Emperor Ing]

wait...baseball's an olympic sport? When did that happen? I recall they were talking about maybe implementing it in the not-so-distant future....

[SolkaTruesilver]

Wikipedia is your friend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_baseball_outside_the_United_States#Olym pic_Baseball)

Sure is

[Rare Pink Leech]

Well, according to your own Wikipedia link baseball and softball will no longer be Olympic sports in 2012, so I think you need to find a new sport to compare it to :smallwink:

According to this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket#International_structure) Wikipedia article, cricket is now an Olympic recognized sport, which I believe is the first step to making it a sport played at the games.

As to why it isn't already, who knows? I don't know anything about cricket, but maybe there hasn't been enough interest among the community to play at the Olympics? I'm sure there's at least one prestigious international cricket tournament that makes the Olympics somewhat redundant. It might be like tennis - I was surprised yesterday when I found out it's also an Olympic sport, since I hadn't heard anything about it before. When you already have Wimbledon played every year, the Olympics are somewhat of an afterthought, methinks.

[Tirian]

The IOC decides what is an Olympic event or an exhibition event. Amusingly enough, baseball has been de-listed; this is the last Olympics that will give a medal for it.

It's probably much more of a hassle then saying "Hey, cricket is popular!" Among other things, you'd be forcing the host country to build an extra arena. And just because a sport is popular in 120 nations doesn't mean that tens of millions of people would want swimming or gymnastic coverage to be pre-empted by a cricket match.

[Mr. Mud]

It would take several, several, several days to have a relatively big... or atleast olympic sized cricket game. And what about all the other sports? It would just take up a lot of time, and not many would watch it because of the HUGELY important swimming with Phelps, and the Chinese Gymnastics... Although if they added it, I would be something I'd watch... Its just too many games and too little time....

Well hindsight, I guess if it was only a few games then It might work out... but when would they program it :smallconfused: I'm watching picture-in-picture-in-picture-in-picture as it is :smallredface:.

[snoopy13a]

Baseball (and softball) probably shouldn't lose its Olympic designation. It is a very popular sport in the Americas and in Asia. Cricket probably should be an Olympic sport as well.

If water polo and team handball are olympic team sports then baseball, softball, and cricket should be.

[Emperor Tippy]

Baseball (and softball) probably shouldn't lose its Olympic designation. It is a very popular sport in the Americas and in Asia. Cricket probably should be an Olympic sport as well.

If water polo and team handball are olympic team sports then baseball, softball, and cricket should be.

The only reason softball is going away is because no one can compete with the US. Although if they are using that reason then Womens Team Archery should be gone as well (The South Koreans have never lost it).

[chiasaur11]

The only reason softball is going away is because no one can compete with the US. Although if they are using that reason then Womens Team Archery should be gone as well (The South Koreans have never lost it).

The USA is higher profile.
And South Korea needs the archery team to fight off giant monsters.

[Tirian]

Only eight nations are invited to send baseball and softball teams to the Olympics, so it's a little bit lame by international free-for-all standards. Plus, like I said above, the host city has got to find the space and expense to build a fairly sensible baseball stadium that seats ten thousand fans even if they won't have any use for it afterwards.

The Olympics got into a bind after the Atlanta games when the new events were growing out of control and the host cities were losing money trying to match Atlanta's spectacle, so the IOC made the decision to scale back on the events. And, hey, we can do without baseball. There is already a well-publicized international championship which gives lots more opportunity for the teams to compete. I can go either way on softball, since I've never heard of a similar competition for the women.

[Theodoriph]

Nobody really plays baseball or softball, which is why they're disappearing. They're just not true global sports.

Cricket should be an Olympic sport, if it's logistically feasible since Cricket is an extremely popular sport worldwide.

That's the main difference between baseball, softball and cricket. Baseball/Softball are mainly North American, Japanese and Latin American sports (outside of those countries, they're generally niche sports), whereas cricket is pretty popular globally.

(As an aside, I've always found it rather odd that three of the most popular team sports globally: Cricket, Field Hockey and Soccer, aren't really played much in North America.)

The other other problem is of course that since baseball/softball aren't really popular globally, players in other countries don't get much funding and so there isn't a good pool of competitive teams from which to draw from. This is especially true for women's softball (less so for baseball).

[chiasaur11]

Nobody really plays baseball or softball, which is why they're disappearing. They're just not true global sports.

Cricket should be an Olympic sport, if it's logistically feasible since Cricket is an extremely popular sport worldwide.

That's the main difference between baseball, softball and cricket. Baseball/Softball are mainly North American, Japanese and Latin American sports (outside of those countries, they're generally niche sports), whereas cricket is pretty popular globally.

(As an aside, I've always found it rather odd that three of the most popular global team sports: Cricket, Field Hockey and Soccer aren't really played much in North America.)

The other other problem is of course that since baseball/softball aren't really popular globally, players in other countries don't get much funding and so there isn't a good pool of competitive teams from which to draw from.

Mainly, however, in non USA former british territories.

Besides, it's in terrible taste.

[SolkaTruesilver]

Mainly, however, in non USA former british territories.

Besides, it's in terrible taste.

Naa.. Almost every sport are absolutely terrible to watch when you haven't grown the habit. Don't let me get started on Basketball, I can't stay awake for 10 minutes. But then, you couldn't drag me away from a Hockey game (Go Habs Go!).

Some games are more rule-heavy than others. I know Cricket is.. somewhat.. complicated. The whole point-system is kinda weird, and you have to know the rules to appreciate the game, while a good match of Soccer is pretty straightforward.

[Nerd-o-rama]

The USA is higher profile.
And South Korea needs the archery team to fight off giant monsters.Yeah, they've got an excellent Bunker array. Three archers and one footballer in each, as well as a few missile turrets in case of a Guardian/Lurker rush.

[chiasaur11]

Naa.. Almost every sport are absolutely terrible to watch when you haven't grown the habit. Don't let me get started on Basketball, I can't stay awake for 10 minutes. But then, you couldn't drag me away from a Hockey game (Go Habs Go!).

Some games are more rule-heavy than others. I know Cricket is.. somewhat.. complicated. The whole point-system is kinda weird, and you have to know the rules to appreciate the game, while a good match of Soccer is pretty straightforward.

You don't get it? Hitting a round, red ball with a stick and calling it Cricket?
Might as well call it "Let's replicate the worst interstellar genocide ever" while you were at it. And you use the word "Belgium" outside of serious art. No wonder most of the galaxy shuns you in polie society.

[turkishproverb]

Cricket? Nobody understands Cricket. You've gotta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket.

:smallamused:

[Linkavitch]

Personally, I think they should both be at the games, but that's just my opinion.

[DraPrime]

(As an aside, I've always found it rather odd that three of the most popular team sports globally: Cricket, Field Hockey and Soccer, aren't really played much in North America.)

Well we (Americans) do consider field hockey to be a girls game, so that doesn't get much attention.

[Kane]

I think that the host country of every olympic is allowed to add a single sport to the roster; America added baseball, and I think India may have added cricket. Anyway, the sport is played for that olympic, and kept around for a few after, (kind of grace period) before either being dropped back off or made a regular event.

At least, that's what I know.

Edit: 3X win points for the Douglas Adams reference.

[chiasaur11]

I think that the host country of every olympic is allowed to add a single sport to the roster; America added baseball, and I think India may have added cricket. Anyway, the sport is played for that olympic, and kept around for a few after, (kind of grace period) before either being dropped back off or made a regular event.

At least, that's what I know.

Edit: 3X win points for the Douglas Adams reference.

Thanks. I try.

[Hawriel]

This was on the news the other day. I was listening to NPR when one of there interveiw shows was on. They where interveiwing a former womens softball champion. Sorry I dont remember who. The reason that softball is being kicked out of the olympics is becouse of mens baseball. All of the drug scandels that turned baseball into a joke is what killed baseball. Softball being a large amarican basball like game was lumped in with baseball. Guilt by assossiation. Needless to say the woman, both soft and hard ball players, are pissed. Its also true that the only compative team in woman events is the U.S.

Cricket in its treditional form will most likly never be an olympic sport. It takes like a week to play one game. This makes soccer look fast. However Cricket 20/20 had a damn good chance of becoming an olympic sport. Its freakin huge in India. Its so huge that India came to amarica to hire peaple, such as the clevland indian cheerleaders, to amaricanize there sporting events. It shortens a game down to like 3 - 5 hours. Very vast paised. the even bigger IF is whether or not 20/20 can catch on in Europ. It will most likly be a long time befor that happens. Of and when that happens will set the stage for cricket getting into the olympics.

I honestly am kinda glad that baseball is being kicked out. It has no buissness being an olympic event. I also include any US pro sport, basketball is the other thats sickens me. I hate these sports being (have been) olympic sports becouse the sole perpus was to stoke U.S. ego. These are not true sporting games any more. ITs greedy ego porn. ITs way for big name basball players that already get payed millions to show off to the whole world. They already have the world series, basketball already has the championships. I honestly thing pro sports like these detract from the hard work and dedication a true olympic altheat, and ones who didnt quite make it, posess. Beside the olympics are not supposed to have pro athletes in them. ok end rant I can go on. I think this about any sport that is way to big on its own. Football (soccer), American football, Nascare...ok I cant think of eney thing els.

I do have a big bias with hockey. Damned if it ever will be kicked out of the winter olympics. Why? Because no matter what country wins a cold medal. There will always be a handful of Detroit Redwings wearing gold!:smallbiggrin:

[Myshlaevsky]

If we ain't playing cricket in 2012 I won't be happy. :smalltongue:

[KilltheToy]

I'm American, and I barely understand cricket. Even then, I only barely understand it thanks to http://www.dangermouse.net/cricket/ and various online games. So I'd be part of the 99% of Americans who'd have barely any idea what was going on if we watched an Olympic cricket match. I'm not against cricket, as long as it doesn't take forever to play one game.

[Gavin Sage]

Would someone explain to me how one is supposed to run a tournament where the games can last for days. The last World Cup lasted a month and a half. The Olympics is only a few weeks long. You'd have to put restrictions on the game simply to get it accomplished.

Also there is no versus about this, baseball was only introduced in 1992 at the Olympics, and is finishing in Beijing. No 2012 baseball or softball.

[Totally Guy]

Squash isn't in the olympics either. That surprised me.

[Ubiq]

About 112 countries have baseball in some form or other, though only a handful of them have large scale professional leagues. The notion that it is a dying sport is, to be blunt, patent nonsense. Slightly more countries have cricket, but the difference there is that there are only two variants of baseball (standard and Finnish) while there are a whole host of different types of cricket. Sure, there about roughly 120 countries that play cricket, but there are plenty of local derivations of it.

Of the various sports in the world, baseball is within the top ten in terms of popularity and is far, far more popular than many of the sports that will remain after it is dropped and any of the sports proposed to replace it. Cricket is higher on the list and is played by more people, but a lot of that has to do with its widespread popularity in India, where baseball has only a limited presence. Again, it's not really played in that many more countries than either softball or baseball.

Far as it's history with the Olympics goes, baseball was played at eight or more Olympics during the 20th century as an exhibition sport with Finnish baseball also making an appearance at Helsinki. Since it was officially recognized as a medal sport at Barcelona in 1992, the United States has won two medals (though they have won all three gold medals awarded in softball since it was added in Atlanta): a gold in Sydney and a bronze in Atlanta. The other three golds were won by Cuba, who received the silver in Sydney.

[Maelstrom]

As an American, I can completely understand the move to oust Baseball (or basketball for that matter) out of the Olympics. While we're at it, get rid of water polo, softball, and every other team sport out there.

I watch the Olympics to see the outstanding individuals stand up there on the pedestals and be rewarded for their excellence.

Keep team sports where they belong -- where the culture embraces them.

[purple gelatinous cube o' Doom]

Yes, as has been stated, this is the last year for baseball and softball for the forseeable future in the Olympics. But that's not to say it won't ever return. The reason for this change is very simple, not enough of the world plays baseball. All the teams are from North America, Latin America/Carribean, Japan and Korea. I suspect this is the same reason that cricket is not an Olympic sport. Very few countries in the world actually play cricket, so the number of teams is so few it wouldn't be much of a competition to watch. Not to mention nobody understanding the game or the fact that it takes days to finish games. Getting back to baseball for a second though. I think another reason it's going away is the level of competition. None of the major league players are used on any team due to being in season, nor do they stop the season for two weeks like the NHL does during the Winter Olympics. Consequently, minor league players are used and the level of quality play goes down considerably. I personally, am a very big baseball fan, and would much rather watch my Twins or the ESPN game on rather than Olympic baseball due to the aforementioned level of play issue.

[TheThan]

Cricket? Nobody understands Cricket. You've gotta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket.

:smallamused:

dang it... someone beat me to it...

:smallannoyed:


I’m still waiting for Olympic dodgeball.
(Come on you know you’d watch it).

[Telonius]

Baseball gets the heave-ho, but Curling is still up there? :smallbiggrin:

In all honesty, though, I think Maelstrom's on to something. There have been some really classic team sport matches at the Olympics - 2002 US vs. Canada in ice hockey comes to mind. But team sports should really not be there.

There are a few exceptions I'd keep. Swimming relay, rowing squads, sailing, bobsledding, *possibly* synchronized swimming/diving. (I think it's a silly event, but it wouldn't make sense with just one person there). Basically the racing sports that wouldn't be possible without more than one person might be allowed.

[Rare Pink Leech]

Beside the olympics are not supposed to have pro athletes in them.

I don't think the "amateur" requirement has been part of the Olympics for a long time now. While most of the athletes don't participate in professional sports leagues like the NHL, NBA, MLB, etc., many of them receive funding to train year-round and aren't really amateurs anymore.

[Theodoriph]

And the American women's softball team lost! Japan won the gold medal. :smallconfused:

Don't get it into your heads though that it means the world is caught up in softball.

This time, the U.S. outscored the field 57-2 through eight games. The Americans batted .348, their opponents .054. They threw two no-hitters, a perfect game and gave up zero earned runs in 48 innings.


It's still not really competitive. Though congrats to Japan...especially their pitcher who pitched two days in a row (to beat the Aussies...and then the Yanks).

[Gavin Sage]

I don't think the "amateur" requirement has been part of the Olympics for a long time now. While most of the athletes don't participate in professional sports leagues like the NHL, NBA, MLB, etc., many of them receive funding to train year-round and aren't really amateurs anymore.

If you have an endorsement deal as an athlete, I'd say amateur goes right out the window. And that certainly happens.