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Baseball Among 7 Sports Being Considered For 2016 Olympics

aol.com.au — "Baseball, Softball, Golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports will also be considered for the two openings on the 2016 schedule. All five had failed to win admission into the London Olympics in 2005." Roller sports? Like Rollerball? Now, THERE's a reason to watch the Olympics!

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  • jggube, on 04/26/2008, -11/+25That would be cool, it's played all over the world, specifically in South America and Japan.
    • darkchild82, on 04/26/2008, -6/+13Really? I thought it was actively played only in the US & Japan.... and wherever Derek Jeter's from (I forget).
      • EwMo, on 04/26/2008, -0/+7You're kinda right. Its played a lot in the Caribbean, and Japan has a successful league. It seems to be popular in northern South America (Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, maybe Peru) as well.
        • nymphetamine, on 04/27/2008, -4/+1Northern South America? You a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fan?
      • Anubis2051, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4Derek is from the states, born in NJ, moved to Michigan. And baseball is gaining popularity in europe, specifically italy and scandinavia, and is starting to be picked up in china.
    • Owwmykneecap, on 04/26/2008, -3/+16that's not all over the world...
    • 1021, on 04/27/2008, -6/+7logged into digg after a few months to point out... what about the more popular format of Baseball (where it was derived from in the first place): Cricket... it's watched by more people than Baseball or any of these other sports being considered.
      • goomba323, on 04/27/2008, -4/+6Really though? More people watch Cricket than Baseball?
        • cazlar, on 04/27/2008, -4/+10India with its 1b+ population is cricket-crazy. Sorry to tell you, but not many people outside the US (maybe I should say N and Central America, and maybe Japan) watch or care about baseball.
          • stubear, on 04/27/2008, -2/+6The countries represented in the World Baseball Classic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_World_Baseball_C ... argue otherwise. Perhaps YOU don't watch or care about baseball but I doubt you really matter in the greater scheme of things.
          • jebudas, on 04/27/2008, -1/+4How can they not add baseball to the olympics but still have sports like curling?!?

            PS+ Link fix from above:
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_World_Baseball_C ...
          • cazlar, on 04/27/2008, -1/+3Having a team, and having the populous of a nation care is a different thing, You're right, I don't watch or care about baseball, and I don't matter in the big picture, but all those people in countries around the world like me add up. They aren't exposed to baseball on TV and only get to see it in movies, the 5 second clip at the end of the sport segment saying who won the World Series, and every 4 years at the olympics.
            My point is that sports are generally regional, especially in terms of TV audience. For example, European Handball (which I used to play) is shown on TV in Australia basically once every 4 years (at the Olympics). But in much of Europe, it is the biggest sport after football (soccer). Does that mean it shouldn't be in the Olympics because it isn't big in Australia? - of course it should be included. I don't mind having baseball in there too (my first live baseball game was at the 2000 Olympics). I'm just saying that most of the world doesn't care in the slightest about if the Dodgers beat the Angels, etc.
          • Y2JCrisis, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Do you care about most of the olympic sports? And who outside of countries that used to be part of the British Empire care about Cricket?

            "Cricket? Nobody understands Cricket. You gotta know what a crumpet is to understand Cricket."
        • over900000, on 04/27/2008, -0/+5Cricket is watched in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, England and other countries. Add their population up. You will be surprised.
      • stubear, on 04/27/2008, -0/+16Ummm, wrong. Baseball derived from another British sport called Rounders, NOT Cricket. All three games derived from earlier folk games with similar attributes. Baseball as we know it today, and as it was formalized in the late 1800's was a wholly different sport from Rounders. A quick search of Wikipedia will give you the rest of the story, suffice it to say that Cricket was NOT the forerunner to Baseball so quit being a wanker and telling others that it was.
        • stubear, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4I should add that Ken Burns "Baseball" and a visit to the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY would be other great sources of Baseball history information, and far more entertaining than wikipedia.
        • mooseontheloose, on 04/27/2008, -1/+3Um, no. Baseball is complex, it shows evidence of an intelligent designer. No way it evolved from lesser sports. Next you'll be telling me hockey comes from swimming
      • lordmike, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2Cricket games last days! They could never fit it into the Olympics!
        • prophetpimp, on 04/27/2008, -1/+2ever heard of twenty20? those matchs are over in 4 hours. and its a heck of a lot more entertaining then baseball.
    • leonidas333, on 04/27/2008, -5/+4Um, no, its not played all over the world, just in a handful of nations. Just because it says the World Series doesn't actually mean the world plays Baseball.
    • EarlOfLade, on 04/27/2008, -5/+1Oh please, spare us the torture!
      Golf is nerve wrecking compared to baseball. Baseball is so boring, my TV falls asleep!
      • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -1/+4i hate this arguement for baseball. people seem to need constant stimulation all the time. they can't sit around and watch a game of baseball or soccer anymore. and then they go around and say they like football. i find football waaay more boring than baseball. they play for 10 seconds...stop for a long time... then play again. how is that much different than baseball? (not that you said you like football, but i'm just putting it out there).
        anyways, i like cricket, i like baseball, i like soccer, i also like football (sometimes), but if you are going to say you hate baseball...just don't say its boring. because it isn't.
        • EarlOfLade, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1It is b-o-r-i-n-g. it's a total waste of time, money and energy.
      • darkchild82, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Yeah, I don't know about Golf being an Olympic sport. That'll be one LONG event for a multi-nation tournament. Elitist sport anyway.
    • lordmike, on 04/27/2008, -1/+5to everyone who thinks that Baseball is not played all over the world... Here are a list of countries that have active professional or amateur leagues: http://www.baseballnews.com/international/allcount ...

      I know it's popular in weird places like the Netherlands (very popular there) and Russia... So, it's as global a sport as anything else!
    • GregFD3S, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2The reason its not in the Olympics, is because the Olympics falls in the middle of the summer. I am sure MLB wouldn't allow players to play in the Olympics mid-season.

      However, I would still watch it (for sure) even if it was played by minor league ball players from around the world.
      • Y2JCrisis, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1So have Amateur players play in the Olympics. That's how it's supposed to be anyway. I'm sure that we could round up enough College players to make a team.
  • DermDoc, on 04/26/2008, -7/+23Baseball. Though, I'm sure the US would get killed.
    • Pake, on 04/26/2008, -4/+4Only by Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, but I'd still love to see baseball in the Olympics.
      • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -2/+1and japan
        • Holle, on 04/28/2008, -0/+0 2006 World Baseball Classic USA finished 4th in Pool 1 behind Korea, Japan and Mexico.
    • stubear, on 04/27/2008, -0/+5We didn't do so well in the World Baseball Classic because there's been a lot of "out-sourcing" of talent from the South American and the Carribean in recent years. Growing up I recall far more African American players in the leagues that there are currently and a few prominent Hall of Famers are a little disconcerted about this situation.
    • dan222555, on 04/27/2008, -2/+13Baseball would be a ***** show because no MLB players would play because the Olympics fall right in the middle of the season. That's why they dropped it in the first place.
      • barfooz, on 04/27/2008, -2/+3There's college players and minor leaguers, you know...
        • dan222555, on 04/27/2008, -2/+5When people go to the Olympics they want to see the best athletes in the world compete you know...
        • mnky9800n, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1I thought it was the best amateur athletes. I have never understood why they have allowed people to "quit" the team for the Olympics and then come back.
        • dan222555, on 04/27/2008, -2/+1"I thought it was the best amateur athletes. "
          Where have you been for the past like 40 years? The rules about amateurism were made out of archaic pretext and rightfully done away with a long time ago.
  • Croecop, on 04/26/2008, -8/+28I'm shocked MMA isn't one of the seven and is much more exciting then watching a karate match
    • Owwmykneecap, on 04/27/2008, -12/+9MMA is not a sport.
      And the UFC is a joke.

      At lest K1 has some semblance of fighting and fairness to it.

      UFC is two big guys, one thumping the other as he is on the ground.
      If i wanted to see that I'd go to the pub.

      If I watch Martial Arts or Boxing, I want to see; Athleticism, tactical brains, technique, agility, power, speed, grace.
      • goomba323, on 04/27/2008, -3/+8So you wanna watch Martial Arts....but not Mixed Martial Arts....riiiiight. And MMA fighters are usually trained in a certain form of ju jitzu or karate, which means they learned the athleticism, tactical brains, technique, agility, power, speed, and grace. But I agree with you that most of UFC seems to be a bunch of big dudes smashing each other. People used to comment on the Kimbo Slice street fight videos saying "if he fought MMA fighters he'd get his ass kicked", and after 3 matches he's succeeded in destroying each of his opponents in the first round (all by KO).
        • ZzFDKzZ, on 04/27/2008, -1/+2LMAO Kimbo Slice has been training under MMA Legend Bas Rutten for the past year or 2. Kimbo is a legit MMA fighter but he still hasn't fought a good MMA fighter since they are building him up. He fought a former World Boxing Champ Mercer, some can name Bo, and a 43 year old Tank Abbot.
      • Croecop, on 04/27/2008, -3/+6You are the most misinformed person I have ever met regarding MMA. I can already tell since you only referenced the UFC.

        Since you watch the UFC, go watch some Georges St Pierre and tell me there is no athleticism, tactical brains, technique, etc.

        You are in your own world man.
      • Syphon8, on 04/27/2008, -5/+3Karate is a worthless martial art.
        • over900000, on 04/27/2008, -1/+5You couldn't be more wrong. Sure there are bullshido dojo's but if you get a good trainer in a strong branch of karate like kyokushin then you're set for life.
          • Syphon8, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1Unless your life involves you starting MMA.
      • jabbar, on 04/27/2008, -0/+6i used to think MMA was lame until i started watching WEC wreckage on versus. holy *****. the technique involved and split second decisions made when the athletes are at the height of exhaustion is mind blowing. the WEC is apparently like a minor league for UFC, but goddamn those dudes can fight.
    • over900000, on 04/27/2008, -0/+5Actually there are offshoots of traditional karate that look very much like MMA.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01_kQd8pOus

      They should really consider sambo as well.
    • bieber, on 04/27/2008, -0/+3I'm guessing the Olympic committee wants to steer away from that level of violence. Don't get me wrong, it's an intense sport, but Karate would definitely appeal to a much wider audience, as it tends to stay under the "family friendly" level of violence....
    • toph2223, on 04/27/2008, -3/+1why so that ***** dana can make more money?
  • EwMo, on 04/26/2008, -17/+32Baseball is boring as hell.
    But it IS played all over the Americas and Japan... So a lot of people might watch it. I wouldn't tho.

    And golf? Even worse idea.
    Rugby would be fun to watch/learn about.
    • GregFD3S, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Baseball isn't boring if you know how the game is played.
  • letsnotlisten, on 04/26/2008, -3/+9roller sports ftw?
    • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Ah, if only you could capitalize questoin marks for extra emphasis.
  • SitPoMk, on 04/26/2008, -8/+6They'll have to build a pretty big stadium

    GO CUBS!
    • toph2223, on 04/27/2008, -2/+2cubs fans stay out please... we want DISCERNING FANS WHO KNOW A GOOD PRODUCT, NOT BLIND FOLLOWERS.
    • DeRose05, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2GO CUBS indeed...and i am going to guess toph2223 was picked last in PE....dont be a hater...
    • GregFD3S, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Cubs and the Giants have the most loyal fan bases. The Giants, Indians and Cubs are the last 3 teams that haven't won world series titles in over 50 years (100 years in the Cubs' case), yet Wrigley Field and AT&T Park still routinely sell out.
      • DeRose05, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2i completely agree and the Cubs and the Giants are the only teams that have 10,000 wins....
        • GregFD3S, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Correct! Although the Giants have the most wins by any franchise in MLB history :)
      • groberts1980, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1And that's great. Devoted fans are a great thing. The problem is, many Cubs fans are assholes to fans of other teams. I know a girl who went to a game at Wrigley wearing the jersey of the away team and got spit on by a Cubs fan. Many Cubs fans are so smug about their team, while refusing to acknowledge they haven't won a world series in a century.
        • GregFD3S, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Well who were they playing? It all depends on the rivalry.

          If you wear a Dodgers hat or jersey at a Giants game, you will get food thrown on you, booed, and possibly spit on.

          Its better than if you go to a Dodgers game wearing a Giants hat or jersey, where in most cases you would get stabbed.
  • Cattywampus, on 04/26/2008, -5/+45I can't understand that sports like baseball and softball were cut from the Olympics in the first place, while events like synchronized swimming, trampoline, and rhythmic gymnastics seem to have a solid place in the Olympic lineup.
    Of course, tug-of-war was an Olympic sport in the past...
    • DarkLance, on 04/27/2008, -4/+3Amature sports, that would be my first guess. And I bet you're saying, "...but basketball". Well, our NBA is filled with a bunch of amature complaining wussies.

      Tug-of-War is way cooler than most of the current events. Lets hear Tug-of-War FTW!!!!
    • Owwmykneecap, on 04/27/2008, -3/+20Do you have any idea how unbelievably hard synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics are?

      That's like saying why not cut weightlifting, it's just picking stuff up.
      • goomba323, on 04/27/2008, -0/+9What I believe he was getting at is Baseball, Golf, and Karate are wayyy more popular than synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics.
        • Cattywampus, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1Thanks, that was exactly what I meant. Synchronized swimming in particular I think is extremely demanding and difficult, but I just don't see how that is considered a more widespread sport than some of the others that have been cut.

          As for rhythmic gymnastics (I think), I remember commentators saying that in some cases one competitor's relative was also a judge, because it's such a small community of people who are involved in the sport.

    • abortionsforall, on 04/27/2008, -2/+12Baseball and softball are not what one would consider a "world sport". Baseball is basically only played in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Japan. What is the point of having baseball in the olympics when the sport is not even played by the majority of the world?

      As boring as synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics are, they have a much wider participation rate worldwide.
      • rocketman42, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4Australia won the silver, and Korea also has pretty good teams. So we have four continents where is played. Just because Europe doesn't play much baseball doesn't mean it isn't a "world sport". Have you ever seen organized table tennis? Do you really think that is a larger organized sport than baseball?
        • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2hmm well... i think it's safe to say the ping pong is played in more countries than baseball. but when you look at what countries have the best players..it is alot less diverse.
          • rocketman42, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1Is it in more countries as an organized sport? I seriously doubt it. Granted my media coverage is US-centric, but I don't know of many professional table tennis/ping pong leagues.
      • Cattywampus, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1The Americas and the Caribbean is a pretty huge part of the world, when you think of all the players from Central America, etc. And it's not just Japan, baseball is big in Korea too.

        I don't know that synchronized swimming has all that big a rate of participation worldwide. I'm sure there are participants in many countries, but not a huge number of people or a huge percentage of athletes.
    • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -12/+2Baseball isn't played in that much of the world. If a country from Europe or Africa or wherever baseball isnt played should want to form a team (which won't happen because they are reasonable people who know babeball is *****) they would need to basically build an entire baesball infrastructure, while for events such as synchronized swimming or gymnastics all you really need is a pool/gym and a few competent trainers.

      Also, baseball is hardly a sport. Let's look at what it involves. 1) You sing a bat at a ball (yes, involves some athletic ability). 2) Jog on over to some predetermined location not very far away. 3) Stand there and wait a few minutes catching your breath from the oh-so-grueling run while someone else gets ready for and repeats part 1. 4) While they are on part 2, you slowly jog to the next predetrmined location 5) Continue the process until you reach the final predetermined location and can take a long break, although why you would need one is beyond me.
      • goomba323, on 04/27/2008, -2/+8"You sing a bat at a ball" EPIC FAIL
        • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -3/+1Okay, one, that was pretty obviosuly a typo. And two, "EPIC FAIL" really makes me question your intelligence. In fact it shows me, beyond reasonable doubt, that you have very little of it.
          • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -1/+2baseball is more of a thinking game anyways. kinda like football is such a thinking game, with all the time outs, plays, pauses... running to "predetermined areas".

      • Anubis2051, on 04/27/2008, -2/+8Have you ever heard of the World Baseball Classic? 16 teams compete, with even more being considered for the next one (China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Australia, Cuba, Mexico, South Affrica, Canada, Italy, The United States, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, with the considered additions being Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Brazil, Colombia, the Philippines, Russia, Ireland, Israel, France, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, and Germany) Thats a global audience right there! And as for being a sport, I think baseball requires more intelligence and athletic ability than soccer, the so-called worlds most poplar sport (and thus the one most people argue as hardest). Soccer: Run. Kick Ball. Any idiot can do it. Baseball: Pitcher Decides which pitch to throw and where. Pitch Delivered, usually in excess of 85mph. In a Fraction of a second, the batter has to decide if the pitch is a ball or a strike, and make his decision to swing. If he makes contact, which in and of it's self is very difficult EVERY SINGLE PLAYER on the field has to react appropriately, and cover a base or park themselves under the ball and make the catch. If there were players on base, then the ball has to be thrown in to the right base to make the out. The batter and base runners all have to know what to do, weather they're going to need to tag up, slide, etc, in order to try and either score, advance, or just prevent an out. It requires a significant level of thinking, as well as incredible strength and endurance. Oh, and just in case you need even more proof that it is indeed a sport, ESPN did a ranking of the top 60 hardest sports, and guess what? baseball is ranked 9th, above the worlds "most popular sport". see for yourself: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills
        • Owwmykneecap, on 04/27/2008, -2/+1Ireland? We are *****.
          and most of the rest are too i'd bet...

          As for ESPN: well they are Yanks and that list is nonsense.

          Try the worlds fastest field game: Hurling.
        • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -3/+1Well thanks for proving baseball is inferior as a sport. The actions required to perform well are so finite compared to soccer, basketball, hockey, and even american football. You say the pitcher throws a ball at 85 mph (tennis serves are significantly faster by the way). He does this standing in the same location, throws at the same location, and has time to prepare his throw. In soccer, which you obviosuly have never even seen played, players don't have time to stand there and prepare a shot, they have to take shots/pass from wherever they are and with whoever is there blcoking them. I don't think you'll actually read this so I'll stop, but if you want I can continue later.
          • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4tennis? wtf? you are hitting a ball with a racket, that is no where near as close as pitching a ball 85 mph. i'd like you see you try throwing 80 pitches in a 3 hour span, every 5 days, for 6 months. not to mention in the tiny strike zone.
            i'm not going to take away from soccer, hockey or basketball, because i love all of those sports. but really, you should play baseball because it'll help you understand how hard it is.

            i don't really think this arguement will matter, because changing someone's mind on baseball is like changing someone's taste in music. so whatever. thats my 2 cents.
            and also... did you really have to throw in the bit about how he probably never saw soccer been played? come on, that was brutal.
      • wellyuk, on 04/27/2008, -2/+9You started off with reasonable commentary and then ruined it with "baseball is hardly a sport" when it obviously is a sport. That you don't find it interesting doesn't stop it from being a sport.

        So for your excellence in failure, I award you a Gold bury.
      • mooseontheloose, on 04/27/2008, -0/+5Yeah, and why is running a sport? I mean, you run from one spot to another. That's it. Easy peasy. Just like baseball. That's why you're currently making $20m/year "swinging a bat" in the majors, right?
      • lordmike, on 04/27/2008, -0/+6But, ping pong and badminton are REAL sports... you can get medals for both in the Olympics!
    • poopdigger, on 04/27/2008, -0/+8Every society, and every individual has different tastes in sports. And it just so happens that while baseball is very popular here and in some other regions, a good portion of the rest of the world finds it boring as hell, and its barely played in many countries. And us baseball fans will have to deal with that.
      Even if random gymnastics and swimming competitions only have mediocre fan bases around the world, as mostly single-person sports, its much easier for enthusiasts all around the world to practice and compete.
  • mreff, on 04/26/2008, -4/+52ultimate frisbee.
    • Tigerbot5, on 04/27/2008, -3/+5That would be orgasmic.
    • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -5/+3Even though its kind of retarted (but still really fun) and isn't played very widely around the world, it would still make a better candidate than something like baseball or american footeball or softball.
    • shakbhaji, on 04/27/2008, -2/+4I would totally watch that.
    • h4mx0r, on 04/27/2008, -5/+1That's something I'd definitely catch the Olympics for.

      Hell, there would be alot less olympic boycotting too!
    • vermax, on 04/27/2008, -1/+3holy ***** ***** exactly YES!!!!!! when are those stoners ever going to make that ***** happen???
      nothing like watching a woman go flat out for a dive...
    • ahoy, on 04/27/2008, -3/+2***** Ultimate, play DISC GOLF!
    • poopdigger, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4in time I think it is inevitable, but the world moves slowly on such things.
    • invinciblechunk, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2Ultimate Disc in the Dark!
    • bobmugulie, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1I logged in just to digg you up
  • isiz, on 04/26/2008, -3/+7Here's hoping they choose karate.
  • Icecream, on 04/26/2008, -2/+3I used to play squash when I was a kid, I'm very surprised to see it being considered. It had never really been that popular. I would like to see any of these sports make it into the Olympics.
    • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2i don't really have many statistics to back this up, but it is pretty big amoung middle eastern countries as well as some european countries. i play squash too, and its pretty big here in canada.
      also, i saw a world squash tournament on tv once...and it was freaking awesome. even if you don't like squash... it would still be entertaining.
  • Owwmykneecap, on 04/26/2008, -8/+6Women's boxing should be in it.

    And Softball used to be in it, didn't it?
    Baseball and softball aren't exactly world sports... at least rugby has started to really grow worldwide.
  • Harrison88, on 04/26/2008, -16/+11US Citizen 1: Hmm. We've failed at sports everyone else in the world plays. What should be do?
    US Citizen 2: We'll play sports no one else plays so we can say we're the best in the world!
    US Citizen 1: Fantastic idea! Baseball, basketball and American football it is then!
    • ichbeineinrcg, on 04/27/2008, -0/+10The global origins of NBA players pretty much blows your theory about basketball out of the water.
    • Brandoskey, on 04/27/2008, -1/+2yup i'm sure that's how it went, i mean they didn't evolve the way ALL other sports did
    • whataboutdave, on 04/27/2008, -4/+10The US has won more Olympic medals than any other country. So That pretty much blows your "failed at sports everyone else plays" theory out of the water.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-time_Olympic_Game ...
      • over900000, on 04/27/2008, -1/+5that's like saying USA has more houses than all the other countries. Look at medals per capita.
        • whataboutdave, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1Your comment might make sense if America were most populous country competing. Ever heard of China Brazil India etc etc?
    • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -1/+5I actually think that makes sense, with a relatively minor adjustment about how america got destroyed in basketball in the last olympics. As they probably would in baseball and american football.
      • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1well maybe not baseball. but yea, i think football is only played in america, canada and there are some random leagues in europe.
  • Mannyy, on 04/27/2008, -3/+4I hope rollerball will be better than the 2002 remake!
  • shondell, on 04/27/2008, -10/+4can video games be considered for the olympics? or is playing video games not considered a "sport"?
    because i think it should be.
    • vermax, on 04/27/2008, -2/+3no, and masturbation won't ever make it in either. sorry dude.
    • wellyuk, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2No, it's not considered a sport. Video games is not a physical activity.
    • JulyZerg, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2Those are the World Cyber Games, held annually.
    • Epik, on 04/27/2008, -0/+3Gaming will probably become an olympic event within the decade. Not just your average gaming like Halo, COD4, or Counter-strike but a game like Starcraft would be good enough. The concentration, speed, accuracy, and stamina of pro SC players is pretty incredible. 400 actions per minute? It's not as physical as Swimming but it's definitely skill based and somewhat physical like Archery, shooting, or Equestrian.
      • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1i guess... maybe a driving simulation game? that's kinda skill based as well.
        nevertheless... i don't ever think that video games would be in the olympics. ever
  • jimmyisprollyth, on 04/27/2008, -5/+21anything where judges pick who wins cannot be a sport
    • Owwmykneecap, on 04/27/2008, -9/+3Really, then I, someone who is crap at most sports, should be great at Figure Skating, Synchronised Swimming, Gymnastics and Slam Dunk competitions.

      Great!
      • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -2/+8That logic doesn't make sense. Your basically saying that since your not good at sports, you should be amazing at everything that isn't. Try to make sense next time.
        • Owwmykneecap, on 04/27/2008, -7/+1Oh My God.

          You actually a real person?

          *headesk*
        • JulyZerg, on 04/27/2008, -2/+6What? He made a perfectly honest point. Your logic makes no sense.
    • Enfenestrate, on 04/27/2008, -0/+8So we won't be seeing presidential elections in the olympics if you get your way I guess
    • eggsovereasy, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4I agree, an objective scoring system should be a requirement.
    • Epik, on 04/27/2008, -1/+2Starcraft at the 2012 olympics!
      • JulyZerg, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1I agree with the sentiment, but that would be counterproductive, I think.
        WCG FTW!
    • yacks, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Well everyone knows Gymnastics are only in the Olympics to show teenage girls running around in tight tight leotards.. The also have Men's Gymnastics to hide the fact we are watching little girls in tight leotards..
  • darcyp, on 04/27/2008, -5/+4I would love to see a rugby sevens tournament in the olympics. Much more exciting than baseball or softball.
    • isiz, on 04/27/2008, -4/+2Agreed, baseball is equal to golf as far as the bore of watching it on tv is.
  • Enfenestrate, on 04/27/2008, -1/+11Here's a silly thought: They should go back to having amateur athletes.
  • DarkLance, on 04/27/2008, -2/+32I vote for underwater basket weaving!
    • Owwmykneecap, on 04/27/2008, -2/+1YES!

      and underwater 10 pin bowling.
    • MattNF, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1Personally, I prefer zero gravity chair building.
  • whataboutdave, on 04/27/2008, -1/+4My vote would be for rugby 7s. I think it'd be competitive and exciting.
  • Roaming, on 04/27/2008, -4/+11baseball's not already in the Olympics? Really? What the ***** is wrong with people...... and, where have I been?
    • darcyp, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2It is, but it won't be in 2012.
    • rocketman42, on 04/27/2008, -2/+2It used to be, but everyone voted out baseball and softball as a political statement to get back at the US.
      • lordmike, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1BINGO!
      • feliks2, on 04/27/2008, -4/+2Or because they are boring as hell. Except more boring, really.
        • defska42, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4feliks...9 comments in the same article? Do you really hate baseball that much? Get over yourself you troll.
          Just because you do not understand baseball does not make it a bad sport. There is much more strategy going on within a game of baseball than you seem to realize. But whatever, no one is forcing you to like the game; so why do you seem to be so upset that other people do like it?
          • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2thank you for saying that. i think he's commented on every baseball thread so far.
        • GregFD3S, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1^^ Seriously! If you don't like it then that is your problem. Don't try to convince other people not to like it, just because you don't understand it.
  • AntzNZ, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Roller Sports and Rugby!!!

    I'm guessing by Roller Sports they mean inline hockey or something?
  • mcool119, on 04/27/2008, -1/+2Dominican Republic will dominate.
    • stubear, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1Not necessarily. MLB won't allow the Olympics to distract players and if you think the Dominican players are going to choose to play for their own country over being paid millions of dollars to play for the MLB you're high. Allowing professional players to play in the Olympics should Baseball be added will be the straw that breaks the union's control over the sport.
      • mcool119, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1That probably helps Japan more than anyone, but the US and the Dominican still probably have tons of great players who aren't pro.
  • Ydoc, on 04/27/2008, -1/+7I really wish they'd consider MMA. I'd really give a crap then.
  • ELCad, on 04/27/2008, -1/+3Bring back bridge! If men's field hockey is in the Olympics then so can baseball, bridge and badmitton. I can't believe that roller derby is going to be in the Olympics.
    • lordmike, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2Badminton is already a medal sport... so is ping pong...
  • Anubis2051, on 04/27/2008, -1/+7Olympic baseball will never work unless the MLB authorizes a mid season break, which will never happen. Thats the reason why the baseball world cup (yes, it exists, look it up) has never gained popularity, without the pros playing, its like watching a minor league game. This is the whole reason behind the world baseball classic, to produce a way for the best baseball athletes in the world to compete without having to stall the highest level of baseball in the world. Still, I would love to see baseball back in the olympics.
    And as far as it being a world sport, I think that the 16 teams competing in the classic, along with the others that were speculated as possible additions for '09 (China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Australia, Cuba, Mexico, South Affrica, Canada, Italy, The United States, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, with the considered additions being Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Brazil, Colombia, the Philippines, Russia, Ireland, Israel, France, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, and Germany) indicate that the sports has grown to the point that it can be considered a truly global sport, and it is time for international competition.
    • uziko, on 04/27/2008, -7/+1is that why football isn't in the olypics either
      • stubear, on 04/27/2008, -1/+5Football is is in the Olympics, American Football is not. This, however, is not the reason as American Football's schedule would not interfere with the Olympics. it might cross over the pre-season but who cares and it would most certainly interfere with team training camps.
        • uziko, on 04/27/2008, -3/+3obviously i'm talking about american football, don't play wordgames with me
      • Anubis2051, on 04/27/2008, -1/+4I think football is at the point where it is still only really being played in the states and canada, and isn't ready for international competition, but with time it may work its way up to where baseball is now.
        • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1well, it is played in europe kind of. but i think rugby is too en-grained in the rest of the world (well, where people would look to play football) for football to get a solid hold on a market.
      • GregFD3S, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1Fail.
  • uziko, on 04/27/2008, -7/+2if synchronized swimming can be in the olympics then, football, baseball, and ultimate fighting championship need to be to
    • JulyZerg, on 04/27/2008, -1/+5UFC is a TV show, not a sport...
      • uziko, on 04/27/2008, -4/+2fighting is a sport, who cares what it's called
        • JulyZerg, on 04/27/2008, -2/+2So you're saying that boxing and karate are the same thing because they are "fighting"?
          Sorry, that's not correct. "Fighting" is not a sport.
  • NeoCortex, on 04/27/2008, -0/+5Well, we've already got the World Baseball Classic. As long as they keep that going, I'll be happy.

    And with Judo and Tae-Kwon-Do already represented, they might as well just combine it into a mixed martial arts competition.
  • Pigeon, on 04/27/2008, -5/+1Yet the rejected skateboarding for 2012 :(
  • LifeIsARhythm, on 04/27/2008, -1/+3roller sports is skateboard. Skateboarders have said in the past that they want the X-games to be their biggest event and weren't interest in the Olympics, but that was years ago.

    Having it would make sense considering the popularity of snowboarding in the winter olympics.
    • rasalibre4life, on 04/27/2008, -3/+2unfortunately, skateboarding will end up in the Olympics, and that is near fact. Even the X games is still ***** up skateboarding. Their two-day decision to cancel Vert, which was immediately met by threats from professional skateboarders refusing to take part in ANY event (that means Tony refused to be a commentator and numerous street skaters threatened to drop out as well...hence the reason the decision was reversed almost immediately after it was announced), was just another example of how mainstream media will never get skateboarding right. It saddens me to think of skateboarding in the Olympics.
  • VibhuC812, on 04/27/2008, -1/+9Roller sports?

    like this kind of rolling? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU
  • lennybird, on 04/27/2008, -0/+9Golf? An Olympic sport? Everybody knows Golf is a game, not a sport.
  • br0wnstar, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1SLAMBALL needs to be in the Olympics.
  • mecole21, on 04/27/2008, -8/+3Just as long as we can throw out soccer. Who gives two ***** about that crappy sport.
  • ReDoEr, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Olympic golf would be interesting, but probably not as good as Ryder Cup.
  • codemonkey314, on 04/27/2008, -1/+4I vote rugby, straight up!
  • billpyle, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4With only two slots open, I don't see skateboarding getting one of those slots. And if it does somehow, nobody that actually skates will care about it just like they don't care about any other contest.
  • Syphon8, on 04/27/2008, -1/+6Just add more insane track events. Mix it up a bit.

    Backwards 200m dash.
    10,000m High Hurdles
    Javelin Pole Vault


  • mlvassallo, on 04/27/2008, -1/+2I wonder why Baseball and Softball were cut. I kinda enjoyed Women's Olympic Softball...
  • cheekybastard, on 04/27/2008, -6/+8Baseball - medal padding sport for Americans
    Softball - medal padding sport for Americans
    Golf - a skill is not a sport
    rugby - definitely a must have, summer Olympics version of hockey, womens rugby will be popular
    squash - racquet sports already represented with tennis and badminton
    karate - another must have, a decent substitute for MMA, be realistic we're not going to see MMA in the Olympics for a while, so this is as good as it gets
    roller sports - are you kidding? Is NASCAR included? Rick Roll included? ( you clicked VibhuC812's link even though deep down inside, you knew)


    • nanded, on 04/27/2008, -0/+4Golf - a skill is not a sport

      By that definition, how would you describe the diving events? Diving is a skill just like a golf swing. Personally, I'm more inclined to believe that golf is a sport as it has a quantitative score of how many strokes it takes to sink a hole, rather than whether the Russian judge decides to screw you on his qualitative judging score.
    • rocketman42, on 04/27/2008, -0/+6Apparently you don't realize that Cuba generally wins the gold. In fact, in the last four Olympics, Cuba has three golds and one silver. The US has just one bronze and one gold. But if you consider that "medal padding" whatever.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_at_the_Summe ...
    • DeRose05, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1i have to agree with rocketman...my guess would be that Japan or a Latin country would win it..and Americans don't NEED padding. as for golf...THAT WOULD be an easy gold...because the US has a "tiger". The one sport on this list that i would really like to see is oddly rugby. I played it in high school and it is a hell of a lot of fun. Granted, the US team will very likely get their asses handed to them, i would enjoy watching it. It could very well help the sport become very popular over here.
      • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1the U.S. team would easily win golf. isn't the world classic (or whatever its called) just the Americans vs. the rest of the world? I.e. the Americans have the same amount of good players as the rest of the world combined. even if it's widespread... which it really isn't (it's more of a luxury thing imo) then america would still own.
  • fatas, on 04/27/2008, -5/+2No we don't want this boring *****.

    Fat white guys in tights.
    • DeRose05, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2what are you talking about....what sport here has nothing but fat white men in tights???
  • espowari, on 04/27/2008, -2/+2Like anyone on a baseball team could pass the IOC drug screening...
  • Jude007, on 04/27/2008, -6/+3In the UK it is called Rounders, and most people stop playing when they get over 12.
    • Enderplayer1, on 04/27/2008, -4/+6in the USA thats what we call soccer that's funny.
    • nationalist, on 04/27/2008, -0/+6rounders is not baseball
      do your research
  • Enderplayer1, on 04/27/2008, -0/+6Baseball actually has been an Olympic sport and i believe it still is. But Both baseball and softball were set to be removed in the following Olympics.Hence why major league base ball has gone through such and effort to prove that baseball is a global sport with things like the World Baseball classic and all of the games overseas.which was one of the reasons baseball was being removed because it was considered to be a sport only played seriously in north America rather than a global event.It seems like MLB's efforts have begun to pay off because the Olympic panel is now considering baseball again. Also for people wondering where the players from the USA come from. The majority of the players who play for the USA are minor league players.
  • shawnanigans, on 04/27/2008, -1/+8Please, lets add more sports to the Olympics. I cannot take any more medals for swimming (which has over 40 events and gives out 120 medals, and requires pools to be competetive, something that only industrialized nations can provide thus keeping 90% of the countries out of eligibility for ove 120 medals.)
    • brownsound00, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1yeah, didn't ian thorpe (i'm too lazy to look up his name) but that australian swimmer with the huge feet, didn't he get like 7 medals or something? in one olympics? it's kind of ridiculous. i even think speed skating has too many events, although canada owns alot of them... so i stay quiet about it :)
      • shawnanigans, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2The guys with the most medals are swimmers because it's so similar. For every set distance, you have different styles, relays, relays of different styles and all that times two for men and women. It's crazy, but if you think speed skating is bad think of it as ice running which still has more medals.
  • mecole21, on 04/27/2008, -1/+10Olympic Beer Pong!
    • DeRose05, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1hell what about international drinking events...yay
  • Rhenthalin, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Ultimate frisbee without drug testing?? Or making allowances for any level of THC or alcohol content would be awesome
  • theurge, on 04/27/2008, -2/+1Dodgeball
  • Bamshackle, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2Baseball was once in the Summer games...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_at_the_Summe ...
    • koosh, on 04/27/2008, -0/+3I am glad I am not the only one to notice that. It has been in the Olympics since 1992. It will be in 2008. For some reason it was left out of 2012.

      I don't see how it is too American. Japan and Cuba have won more medals than the US. Cuba has dominated with 3 gold medals out of 4 Olympics.

      Breaking news from 2005.
      http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/8504326/site/2168347 ...
  • nationalist, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1meme-sport: leading internet celebrities compete to create the next internet phenomenon...use diggers as judges
  • rustedcage, on 04/27/2008, -1/+0I'm all for adding skateboarding to the games. The U.S. has so many talented skaters that could win us a lot of medals :)
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