JAPAN!!!!!!!!!! WTF??????

Schmika · 03-21-2006, 10:52 AM

I am ROFLMAO!!!!

The U.S. gets knocked out early and JAPAN wins the WBC over 11 countries. That's gonna put a damper on our World (I mean National) series.

Betelgeuse · 03-21-2006, 11:04 AM

Yeah. The thing that amused me so much was not that the US didn't win, but that there were only two major league players in the champoniship game. There are a ton of great players from outside the US, but I really thought that most of them played in the major leagues. So, while I'm not so surprised that the US didn't win, I am surprised that a team like the Dominican Republic (with all its MLB stars) didn't make it to the finals.

flareak · 03-21-2006, 11:32 AM

why is that so funny? Japan really likes baseball.

DaveinOlyWA · 03-21-2006, 12:50 PM

the reason the americans didnt win is obvious.... they werent paid enough to play

ghostofjk · 03-21-2006, 01:17 PM

I think we're seeing the intersection of two very obvious---and,in retrospect, predictable---trends that reach back about 50 years, in both baseball and basketball.

1. Other countries where the US is/was well-respected, or (Cuba) where there were historic ties, or (USSR, China) where there was great motivation to beat us at our own games, gleefully---or grudgingly--- adopted "our" sports and made great efforts to school some of their most promising athletes in them. We encouraged this, sending them coaches to help teach them and superstars or whole teams to generate interest and conduct clinics.

2. As Big TV money fed pro sports here and ultimately created a new class of superstars paid ridiculous amounts of money and attention, many of our own athletes, while blessed with skills, have become less coachable and more attuned to money and fame than to performance. Paralleling this, individual accomplishment has superceded the team concept (basketball, hockey), and motivation for US superstars to represent their country is sorely lacking (with notable exceptions).

Other countries now take international competition far more seriously than we do.

03-21-2006, 01:17 PM	#5
ghostofjk Unrepentant Nattering Nabob of Negativism (V.P. Spiro T. Agnew) Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 981 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I think we're seeing the intersection of two very obvious---and,in retrospect, predictable---trends that reach back about 50 years, in both baseball and basketball. 1. Other countries where the US is/was well-respected, or (Cuba) where there were historic ties, or (USSR, China) where there was great motivation to beat us at our own games, gleefully---or grudgingly--- adopted "our" sports and made great efforts to school some of their most promising athletes in them. We encouraged this, sending them coaches to help teach them and superstars or whole teams to generate interest and conduct clinics. 2. As Big TV money fed pro sports here and ultimately created a new class of superstars paid ridiculous amounts of money and attention, many of our own athletes, while blessed with skills, have become less coachable and more attuned to money and fame than to performance. Paralleling this, individual accomplishment has superceded the team concept (basketball, hockey), and motivation for US superstars to represent their country is sorely lacking (with notable exceptions). Other countries now take international competition far more seriously than we do. __________________ Imagine the "Desiderata" here. Pointy-headed ex-hippie elitist liberal '04 silver, '06 red

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03-21-2006, 10:52 AM	#1
Schmika Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 1,622 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I am ROFLMAO!!!! The U.S. gets knocked out early and JAPAN wins the WBC over 11 countries. That's gonna put a damper on our World (I mean National) series.

03-21-2006, 11:04 AM	#2
Betelgeuse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northampton, MA, USA Posts: 1,457 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 2 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 1	Yeah. The thing that amused me so much was not that the US didn't win, but that there were only two major league players in the champoniship game. There are a ton of great players from outside the US, but I really thought that most of them played in the major leagues. So, while I'm not so surprised that the US didn't win, I am surprised that a team like the Dominican Republic (with all its MLB stars) didn't make it to the finals.

03-21-2006, 11:32 AM	#3
flareak I've sold more than 4 Prius! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Flint, MI Posts: 756 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	why is that so funny? Japan really likes baseball.

03-21-2006, 12:50 PM	#4
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	the reason the americans didnt win is obvious.... they werent paid enough to play