What is Digg?53 Comments
- Ramenhood, on 07/06/2008, -1/+17"Baseball as a second language"
What? - inactive, on 07/06/2008, -4/+15And soccer isn't popular in America yet in just about every other country it's the biggest sport. Different cultures buy into different sports. With that said, it's America's ***** pastime. Go play some Halo or something, you obviously never leave your computer anyways.
- lordmike, on 07/06/2008, -4/+15People who deride baseball, obviously don't understand the game at all... I'm not going to try and convince you why you should understand this cerebral game steeped in history, but know this... everywhere the sport has been "exported" to, the game has enjoyed significant success. Even in places like the Netherlands, they are mad about baseball... Why? 'Cos it's obviously a better game than you give it credit for... it's a game that completely pulls you in if you are open to its unique place in the pantheon of sport... Obviously, I love baseball... but, the game wouldn't have lasted 150+ years if it really is as bad as you think. Next time you go to a game, take and educated fan with you to explain to you the details of the game. You'll find that baseball is way more interesting, and exciting, than you think.
- Hiltonizer, on 07/06/2008, -1/+8As a native Bostonian (probably the most fanatical baseball city in the US), and a hardcore Boston sports fan.... I sense fail.
baseball does not really televise well... it's only mildly entertaining if you're at a live game... or actually playing. I don't see any other countries getting into it unless there is a significant investment in creating local teams (Japan?) (or, if you're from China, a Chinese team with that plays Japan and/or Taiwan.)
American Football is actually quite successful in Canada (CFL) and in Europe (NFL Europe League). Especially considering its relatively short existence in both countries. Any resistance in proliferation can probably be attributed to an anti-anything-american culture both in Europe and Canada. American football is far more popular in Europe than Soccer/Futbol in North America.... because it telvises well.
I don't think baseball is a good cultural fit in China, but the NFL is having great viewership abroad. - SitPoMk, on 07/06/2008, -0/+6Your sense doesn't make logic
- Falldog, on 07/06/2008, -2/+8Sounds like some people need to actually go watch a baseball game with friends. At the very least it's a great opportunity to drink and chat it up with random people.
- Xihix, on 07/06/2008, -15/+20protip: *****'s boring
- TheEclipse, on 07/06/2008, -2/+6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_baseball_o ...
in East Asia (outside of Japan it's a big deal in S. Korea and Taiwan), Latin America (esp. Mexico) and The Caribbean. - SweatyGooch, on 07/06/2008, -0/+3I was the same way when I first got into soccer/football, I thought it was extremely boring. But, I watched a few live games and got hooked. I've seen it on TV before, and all the local kids played it, but I never fully appreciated it.
To all the people who are being as close-minded as I was, watch the game live. Who knows, maybe you'll have a different perspective on the game and it might change your opinions. - lordmike, on 07/06/2008, -1/+4Baseball televises just fine.. better than ever before, really... it depends on what you are looking for when watching. I actually prefer to watch games on TV.
As for the NFL in Canada, please remember that it was the Canadians who brought football to the U.S. when McGill played Harvard in rugby-style football rules. The CFL is a much older league which even predates the NCAA. - 8randon, on 07/06/2008, -0/+3American football really isn't successful outside of the NFL. The NFL is trying to outsource and play internationally, but still they are cutting back in NFL Europe, and the CFL is doing pretty poorly too. The reason why there's such a different fanbase between NFL, CFL, AFL (Arena), the old XFL, NFL Euro, is the quality of the players. If the players suck, then nobody would go watch them play.
The same is true about Chinese baseball. While there are no (I'm almost certain) foreign players in the Chinese league (which, by the way, get televised every day during the season), the Japanese league have tons of American influence, players and coaches, and therefore a much better fan base. I think therefore it isn't just investment in creating local teams (as China already has 6 or so teams in it's "major league"), it's investing on player development like MLB is doing in Latin America.
I'm not sure what you are getting at with "televising well" and your comment that "any resistance in proliferation can probably be attributed to an -anti-anything-american culture". If this is true, then why is basketball, with deep American roots(even invented by an American), popular around the globe (especially in China)? - Asianwaste, on 07/06/2008, -0/+3If you want to go see a surreal experience, go to a Japanese baesball game. The spirit of enthusiasm is so strong there you'd swear you back in your highschool pep rally and for some reason you actually give a damn.
- LLamaStar, on 07/06/2008, -2/+5Wow there's a lot of hate for baseball here on digg. My guess is you guys sucked in little league.
- flashingcurser, on 07/06/2008, -0/+2Actually soccer is quite popular in America. In Washington, Oregon, and California there a more youth soccer teams than little league baseball teams. The reason professional soccer will likely never take off here is that there isn't any tradition for it here. Baseball, basketball, and American football all have 100+ year traditions. (150+ year in the case of Baseball). These can more than saturate our need for professional sports. Besides we don't even play the sport very well, we have to import douchy people like David Beckham. If we really want to watch the sport, we watch world cup.
- TheMikeStone420, on 07/06/2008, -0/+2what's up with the thumbnail?
- flashingcurser, on 07/06/2008, -0/+2Football (soccer) is about speed and aggression, baseball is about timing, strategy and precision. Anyone who doesn't understand a sport will find it boring. Baseball is a very complex sport so I'm not surprised if some find it boring. I think, because of the nature of the sport, that Chinese will find as enjoyable as the Japanese and Koreans. The fact that it is non-aggressive and that any size person can be an excellent player should appeal to Asians.
- lordmike, on 07/06/2008, -2/+4Baseball is popular in North America, South America, East Asia (mostly the pacific rim), and parts of Europe, Russia, and Eastern Europe (believe it or not). That's probably about 40% of the world. It's not like curling or Australian football that is enjoyed primarily in one or two countries...
Yeah, cricket is pretty popular in the rest of the world thanks to the British empire. India and the surrounding areas, Africa, Australia... I'll even say that it's probably even more popular... but, not by a whole heck of a lot... give baseball the credit it's due... - trispear, on 07/06/2008, -0/+2Ever see that South Park episode called "The Losing Edge"? It should about explain some peoples' feelings.
After 2 years of little league, I was in a soccer league myself. It just had more action on the field for me as a player... - 8randon, on 07/06/2008, -0/+2what the *****?
- Asianwaste, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1I would love to see a World Footbal League one day. I really wish it was as popular in other countries as Soccer, the other football, is.
- 8randon, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1I actually question the validity of that statement. Why else would so many other "western" sports, like soccer and basketball thrive in China? I can't find the fact online from a credible source. Mao encouraged exercise and activity, and all nations take pride in athletic competitions(especially Communist/Socialist ones like the Soviet Union + China). What else would the Olympics be for, if not for showing off each country's athletes? I would want to see if this "baseball banning" was actually true.
- Owwmykneecap, on 07/06/2008, -1/+2"In the 1960s, Mao Zedong banned baseball in China because of its Western roots."
What the ***** is this western eh?
And what about all the other "western sports" it has competed in, be it in the olympics or a sports own games? - Asianwaste, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1Not true. It's just the ones that get all the attention.
- Owwmykneecap, on 07/06/2008, -1/+2Baseball is not popular in europe.
It's popular in Us, Canada, Cuba & Japan.
It has people playing it all over the world.
so does Hurling and Gaelic football, sports you probably have not heard off and are definitely only popular in Ireland.
just because some people play a game somewhere does not make it popular. - lordmike, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1Well,C-3PO did speak the game of bocce... it was like a second language to him!
- flashingcurser, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1If I were to take one of these Chinese baseball players, any Japanese person, and go to the Dominican Republic a person from the Dominican Republic could show us a box score and we would all know what has transpired in the game.
- kidathinnes, on 07/06/2008, -1/+2I for one love baseball. It is my favorite sport to watch and play. I hope other people enjoy it all over the world just as much. It's a shame all you haters out there have to bash it constantly. I really don't understand how there is such a troll anti-baseball following here on digg. Every baseball article has so many dumbass "it's boring", and "who gives a ***** about baseball" comments. If you don't like the sport, don't click on the article. And just because you don't understand it, doesn't mean it sucks. You ignorant *****.
- inactive, on 12/03/2008, -0/+1Baseball is one of the best sports in the world dont hate
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http://www.triplecrownnewsletters.com - toastjam, on 07/06/2008, -0/+1oops, meant to reply to someone above...
- googleabcd, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1Baseball is a slow sport for old men. I think most Chinese would prefer soccer, basketball, table tennis and badminton.
- camilos007, on 07/06/2008, -2/+3Baseball is a beautiful sport, you just need to understand it. MLB on the other hand is an extremely capitalist money hungry organization that should be banned and outlawed. MLB Team salaries = Destruction of all that is good and pure.
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www.botoxturkiye.com - philippineexpat, on 12/05/2008, -0/+0So how do you buy food or things which you cannot say the name/s in Chinese? You hit the seller with the bat? Or throw the ball at the waiter?
- Buckeye17, on 07/06/2008, -1/+1Well, it's the third most widely-used language in the US after English and Spanish...
- chillypacman, on 07/06/2008, -9/+9Why are you being downmodded? Like cricket, baseball is a game you only 'enjoy' watching while drunk with a bunch of mates around, it's not really the sport people like but the event surrounding it.
If the chinese are rejecting baseball it's not because of xenophobia or a communist past, it's because it's a ***** sport that only Americans watch. - Murdats, on 07/06/2008, -15/+14it didn't catch on not because of its western roots but because its a crappy game.
where do they play baseball besides america? and a bit in japan imported from america? - fatas, on 07/06/2008, -3/+2Mao was right on this, it's ***** boring.
Confucius say, Baseball got it all wrong — man with four balls cannot walk. - skiiper, on 07/06/2008, -4/+3Never caught on in China because of the same reason that it didnt catch in a lot of other places:
Its ***** boring. - d0ct0rzeaus, on 07/06/2008, -2/+1All sports except secks are boring.
- nobleexperiment, on 07/06/2008, -3/+1Baseball is a Second Language to us in the States as it is to everybody in the world... In Bed.
- blanketfury, on 07/06/2008, -2/+0THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL
- toastjam, on 07/06/2008, -5/+3Yeah, and so is tentacle porn... (Note that I don't have anything against japan--I just don't think it matters that they enjoy the same stupid sport as the USA)
Baseball is boring. Bravo to the chinese! - Owwmykneecap, on 07/06/2008, -7/+4Yeah baseball is real popular world wide.
oh no wait it's not, even something ***** like cricket is much more popular than it.
If you like it cool, be happy with that, but don't talk nonsense. - inactive, on 07/06/2008, -4/+1what a troll comment. Baseball is massive in Japan and in South America also.
- passedoutghost, on 07/06/2008, -5/+2Baseball like cricket is more or less fun to play, but never really fun to watch.
- notjasonlee, on 07/06/2008, -5/+1if anybody can have a 300 million player baseball team it's china. go china!
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