I told you, wrestling was only put on the chopping block to keep other sports out...ESPECIALLY baseball.
If you heard Rogge's interview in 08 when they eliminated baseball you know he'd go to any length to stop Baseball's return.
Baseball gained support from Non European reps so magically put a sport that has been around since the beginning and had high athlete participitation and country representation on the chopping block. Hmmm.
And to be far the major issue is except for Cuba. you're not even getting good 2nd tier players to play in the Olympics. Normally MLB teams (who own most of the talent pool) only release AAA retreads, semi retired players and maybe a hot prospect in A or AA to their respected teams. Its not even that you could see a harvey or trout in last year's Olys...most Olympic baseball players are mid grade have a good career or had a good career type players.
Find some way to at least get top prospects, then we'll talk...would selig agree to No 40 man expansion in Olympic years so baseball NTs could get the best of the best in Minor League talent at least...then Baseball has the slot.
As for softball it's such an american centric sport it's rediclious...I still contend that its a good posibility that the US threw the 08 final to try to save the sport a(as in see, the Americans CAN lose)...wouldn't be shocked if they didn't as well but that game stuck out as the lone "bad game" in 12 years of Olympic baseball...hmmm.
Unlike basketball, softball the 2nd tier is likely better than the US...you put a 2nd tier NBA team on the court, they lost badly in 04. Worse would happen In women's, even better teams like france are now knocking on the door of Austrailia and russia to complete a competitive 2nd tier...hell even canada with some good college players were exciting to watch and gave some spirited games. That doesn't happen in Softball.
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"Leave it to the NCAA women's basketball committee to turn a glass slipper into glass ceiling" Graham Hays
