The worst part of this is that by pushing wrestling into the last chance pile they stole the chance to have baseball/softball added to the 2020 Olympics. Which are in Japan. Where baseball is kind of a big deal.
I'm not saying that baseball should have got in over wrestling (it shouldn't) but baseball should have been a part of any Olympiad that Japan was hosting. Too bad the IOC decided they really needed some attention a few months ago.
Best pro wrestling storyline in Olympic history: US men's basketball gets screwed out of championship at '72 Games by a tyrannical authority figure with arbitrary powers; does a reallllly slow burn for 20 years and unleashes absolute vengeance.
88 games was the final straw moment. NBA players couldn't play but the Russians and Yugoslavians were playing pro players including guys like Sabonis and Marciulionis for Russia and Petrovic, Kukoc, Divac for Yugoslavia. Guys who weren't just pros but elite level pros (even if Toni and Vlade were super young in 1988). It was patently unfair to let them play but not let NBA players play.
Even saying all of that though. We still should have won. We had Danny Manning and DAVID ROBINSON. If not for John Thompson being a bad coach and an even worse judge of talent we would have still trucked them.
It all worked out in the long run. Bill Simmons made an excellent point that John Thompson being a bad coach was the best thing to ever happen to basketball as a sport. The Dirk/Pau/Ginobili/Parker generation of international players doesn't exist if not for the Dream Team.
To be fair, dropping wrestling caused a lot of changes in the rules of international wrestling to make it more interesting for fans and more palatable for television broadcasters. They will never take their place in the Olympics for granted again, and that's good for everyone.
And, being in Japan, I'd say that more people here wanted wrestling back than baseball/softball. Wrestling is huge here, with lots of women winning gold medals, something that Japan doesn't get a whole lot of compared to a country like America. Especially in the Tokyo Olympics, they will want to rack up as many medals as possible. With wrestling back in, they can win another 9 or 10 medals; with baseball/softball, they could win no more than two.
That said, I see no reason why wrestling AND baseball/softball couldn't be held, as Japan already has plenty of acceptable venues for hosting baseball games...
Baseball doesn't need the Olympics. I've been a proponent of the idea that if a sport's biggest stage is NOT the Olympics, it shouldn't be there.* A baseball player's dream is the World Series, not an Olympic gold medal. A tennis player's dream is a Grand Slam event, not an Olympic gold medal. A golfer's dream is a major title, not....you get the point.
* = the exception is hockey, since I'm Canadian. And I guess basketball, since it has more of an international presence than baseball does and it takes place during the NBA offseason.
That's a male centric opinion. For women, an Olympic gold medal would be bigger than any other sporting honor available to them (with the possible exception of soccer)
Not unless they make "being an untalented skank" an Olympic sport. And even then, there's a few hundred reality TV stars that'll make sure she NEVER medals.
You have a good point and everything you said is right so I can't necessarily disagree with you, I just think it doesn't have to be this way.
I think basketball is a good example of how exciting international competition can spark great things for the sport. Basketball was a much smaller game in the 70s and 80s and the Dream Team and David Stern's constant attempts to grow the game internationally have paid off huge. 40 years ago China and the majority of Asia as a whole had no real history. Now basketball might be China's #1 spectator sport even ahead of soccer/football.
Baseball is in that same position now. It's strong in the few strongholds (east Asia, North America + Caribbean) but a minority sport (at best) in other parts of the world. If Bud Selig was as forward thinking as David Stern he would have been pushing for this and working with the IOC for 10 years.
The worst part of this is that by pushing wrestling into the last chance pile they stole the chance to have baseball/softball added to the 2020 Olympics. Which are in Japan. Where baseball is kind of a big deal.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that baseball should have got in over wrestling (it shouldn't) but baseball should have been a part of any Olympiad that Japan was hosting. Too bad the IOC decided they really needed some attention a few months ago.
Best pro wrestling storyline in Olympic history: US men's basketball gets screwed out of championship at '72 Games by a tyrannical authority figure with arbitrary powers; does a reallllly slow burn for 20 years and unleashes absolute vengeance.
ReplyDeleteGotta leave room for C-list sports like archery, water polo, and synchronized swimming.
ReplyDeleteIOC: "Kneel before the majesty of table tennis!"
ReplyDeletePerson: "You mean ping pong?"
IOC: "I mean go fuck yourself."
The first two I'll argue... the last one I'll agree with 100%. And Rhythmic Gymnastics can also be in that discussion. Along with Equestrian.
ReplyDelete... losing at the '88 Games fits where?
ReplyDeleteVince is so behind the times, he's only getting to that storyline now.
ReplyDeleteKURT ANGLE FOR 2020 OLYMPICS
ReplyDeleteBROCK LESNAR FOR 2020 OLYMPICS. IN ALL EVENTS.
ReplyDeletethe difference is the 88 team lost fairly. The 72 team was robbed.
ReplyDelete88 games was the final straw moment. NBA players couldn't play but the Russians and Yugoslavians were playing pro players including guys like Sabonis and Marciulionis for Russia and Petrovic, Kukoc, Divac for Yugoslavia. Guys who weren't just pros but elite level pros (even if Toni and Vlade were super young in 1988). It was patently unfair to let them play but not let NBA players play.
ReplyDeleteEven saying all of that though. We still should have won. We had Danny Manning and DAVID ROBINSON. If not for John Thompson being a bad coach and an even worse judge of talent we would have still trucked them.
It all worked out in the long run. Bill Simmons made an excellent point that John Thompson being a bad coach was the best thing to ever happen to basketball as a sport. The Dirk/Pau/Ginobili/Parker generation of international players doesn't exist if not for the Dream Team.
Don't forget whitewater canoeing. Which is basically just an amusement park raft ride that they throw canoes into.
ReplyDeleteWater Polo ain't a C-Sport. Shit's huge in south-east Europe.
ReplyDeleteBut how do they get the horses in the water?
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, dropping wrestling caused a lot of changes in the rules of international wrestling to make it more interesting for fans and more palatable for television broadcasters. They will never take their place in the Olympics for granted again, and that's good for everyone.
ReplyDeleteAnd, being in Japan, I'd say that more people here wanted wrestling back than baseball/softball. Wrestling is huge here, with lots of women winning gold medals, something that Japan doesn't get a whole lot of compared to a country like America. Especially in the Tokyo Olympics, they will want to rack up as many medals as possible. With wrestling back in, they can win another 9 or 10 medals; with baseball/softball, they could win no more than two.
That said, I see no reason why wrestling AND baseball/softball couldn't be held, as Japan already has plenty of acceptable venues for hosting baseball games...
What about women's events?
ReplyDeleteSABLE LESNAR FOR 2020 OLYMPICS. IN ALL EVENTS.
ReplyDeleteThey use seahorses. Duh.
ReplyDelete4 squads of replacement horses.
ReplyDeleteBaseball doesn't need the Olympics. I've been a proponent of the idea that if a sport's biggest stage is NOT the Olympics, it shouldn't be there.* A baseball player's dream is the World Series, not an Olympic gold medal. A tennis player's dream is a Grand Slam event, not an Olympic gold medal. A golfer's dream is a major title, not....you get the point.
ReplyDelete* = the exception is hockey, since I'm Canadian. And I guess basketball, since it has more of an international presence than baseball does and it takes place during the NBA offseason.
That's a male centric opinion. For women, an Olympic gold medal would be bigger than any other sporting honor available to them (with the possible exception of soccer)
ReplyDeleteIt is a C-Sport.
ReplyDeleteamirite? :D?
Fine, we'll make cleaning an Olympic event.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, try the veal, it's delicious.
Sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to explain the joke on this one.
ReplyDeleteNot unless they make "being an untalented skank" an Olympic sport. And even then, there's a few hundred reality TV stars that'll make sure she NEVER medals.
ReplyDeleteC, Sea. See?
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point and everything you said is right so I can't necessarily disagree with you, I just think it doesn't have to be this way.
ReplyDeleteI think basketball is a good example of how exciting international competition can spark great things for the sport. Basketball was a much smaller game in the 70s and 80s and the Dream Team and David Stern's constant attempts to grow the game internationally have paid off huge. 40 years ago China and the majority of Asia as a whole had no real history. Now basketball might be China's #1 spectator sport even ahead of soccer/football.
Baseball is in that same position now. It's strong in the few strongholds (east Asia, North America + Caribbean) but a minority sport (at best) in other parts of the world. If Bud Selig was as forward thinking as David Stern he would have been pushing for this and working with the IOC for 10 years.
TGGI
ReplyDeleteHey, that shit is awesome to watch when NBC shows it at 3am in the morning. It's super underrated, like Olympic handball.
ReplyDeleteBut it isn't played in the sea. It's played in a pool. I don't get it.
ReplyDelete