It’s on: Five Americans hit by pitches, three Chinese ejected in baseball showdown

Hot Air ^ | 8/19/08 | Allahpundit

[gridlock]

Did I mention two home-plate collisions, one of which knocked China’s catcher out of the tournament? NBC’s highlight reel very stupidly doesn’t show all five HBPs, but it’s painfully clear that the one that sent Matt LaPorta to the hospital with a concussion was intentional. HuffPo captured a brief clip from MSNBC showing another HBP from earlier in the game, too. Square in the back.

International-incident-generating bench-clearing brawl? Narrowly avoided. Heart-ache. Click the image to watch.

[McBuff]

I disagree. ..the second slide was clean. . .the catcher was waiting for the ball and was raising his glove to catch it. He’s blocking the plate and gets nailed. It’s baseball!

[HIDEK6]

Baseball is out because it is distinctly American.

And its being totally non-gay didn't help matters either.

[randog]

The IOC then voted from a waiting list of five sports: golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports.

Roller Derby would be a good substitute. I might actually watch the Olympics!

[bereanway]

I don't mind the volleyball so much because at least those are American teams (or what I've seen) but they're showing a lot of competitions in both gymnastics and track and field where not one American is involved. I find that boring especially when they could be showing US baseball or softball or at least a lot of highlights.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Baseball is out because it is distinctly American. We rule the game.

Actually, on a per capita basis, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico have the most players in the Majors, they are roughly tied in per capita terms. The U.S. is a distant second. (There's some Carribean country with two players and no population, Antigua, I think. I don't count them.) Canada is somewhere down from the U.S. Surprisingly, Mexico is really low, with percapita numbers similar to the Netherlands. Japan does well, of course.

[This Just In]

Big deal. Over all, we spank the competition.

Although, I can understand the Cuban’s talent. After all, what else do they have to look forward to besides refrigerators in every Cuban house.

[Tanniker Smith]

Baseball, which became a medal sport in 1992, has been vulnerable because of the performance-enhancing drugs problem in the United States and top major league players don't play in the Olympics.

Lack of major league players is A Good Thing, IMHO, I hate the pros in the Olympics. Then again, the amateurs aren't so amateurish anymore either (i.e., they're rakin' in the bucks, too).

But how exactly would the Boys of Summer participate in the Summer Games without halting the entire MLB season??

[BenLurkin]

Who won?

[johnthebaptistmoore]

A 24/7 “Women’s Beach Volleyball Channel” would probably do O.K. in the U.S.-at least for a couple of months.

[traumer]

[rlmorel]

I’m stealing that.

[Joe 6-pack]

www.engrish.com

[N3WBI3]

gotta make room for gymnast bouncing on trampolines dontcha know..

[Trailerpark Badass]

Not at the Olympics, we don't. It became a medal sport in 1992. That year the US didn't medal. They scored a bronze in 96 and gold in 2000, but in 2004 they didn't even make it to the games, losing the regional qualifier to Canada and Cuba.

How many current major-leaguers have or are playing for the national team?

[ican'tbelieveit]

I saw that and nearly choked... trampoline is an olympic sport? Really?

Or badminton, ping pong, and the list goes on.

I am sure the triathalon will soon follow baseball, another US sport... and basketball.

[Blueflag]

we did

9-1

it was a good ol’ fashioned a$$-whuppin’

[N3WBI3]

Badmiton, pig-pong, these I can see they are old sports which a relatively healthy international interest but I lost it when I heard baseball was out and trampoline was in..

The funny think is there is still room for two sports for the London games but its probably too late for baseball/softball there.

Maybe in 2016

[Hi Heels]

Yah! Go Thunderbirds!

[Teacher317]

I watched the women’s triathlon 2 days ago. The Aussies Emma and Emma took first and third, with Portugal claiming the bronze.