We’re getting to the end of the Winter Olympics, which have been going on in Vancouver, Canada for the last couple of weeks. I have to admit that I haven’t watched any of it–I can’t get worked up about a “sports festival” that includes ice dancing and curling in the winter games, and synchronized swimming in the summer, but doesn’t include one of the world’s most popular games, baseball. Nevertheless, I want to salute our Canadian friends for their accomplishment. The occasion calls for a song, courtesy of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
MST3K fans will recall this from the episode, “The Final Sacrifice” (one of my favorites; it included the immortal line offered by Crowe as he watched the director’s name, Tjardus Greidanus, scroll across the screen: “that’s an anagram for ‘straight to video,’” as well as one of the all-time best movie character names, “Zap Rowsdower”):
February 27, 2010 at 4:31 pm
By “world” I assume you mean Latin and North America + Japan and Korea.
Cricket is far more popular worldwide than baseball.
February 27, 2010 at 5:10 pm
If this is correct, and I’ve no reason to think it isn’t, you’re exactly right. All the more reason to think the IOC silly for including stuff like synchronized swimming instead of sports that millions of people might actually want to see.
February 27, 2010 at 5:34 pm
I don’t see how baseball can fit on this list. Especially since the vast majority of people on the earth do not play it. Including all of Europe, Africa, South America, (excepting Venezuela) and Asia (excepting Japan and Korea and Taiwan).
I am a massive baseball fan but know that sports most Americans don’t know anything about (like Handball and Field Hockey) are more popular worldwide than Baseball.
Track and Field as well as cycling are very big in Europe.
February 27, 2010 at 5:42 pm
There are many, many people who play baseball through the Americas, Japan, and Korea, and it is growing in popularity in Australia and China. Even in Europe I think baseball is growing, at least in certain areas. And if baseball doesn’t belong on the list I linked, I don’t see how American football possibly can.
February 27, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Yeah no one outside of the lower 48 cares about “Gridiron”.
February 27, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I object to your characterization of curling. Curling is a game, rather than a sport, much like chess with an infusion of physical skills and chaotic interactions between granite and ice. It is, however, not a judged game. It also has very high demonstrated ideals of sportmanship and respect for your opponents.
Your other mentions are judged sports. Axe them. Freestyle skiing – gone. Half-pipe – gone. Gymnastics – gone. Diving – gone. Then add snowshoe races, cricket, rugby and baseball to replace them.
March 13, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Och, and you a Presbyterian, dismissing curling?? Have ye no respect for your denomination’s Scottish heritage?
March 13, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Kate, I’m a Polish Jew by heritage. The closest I’ve ever come to Scotland is my daughter’s haggis recipe (which I didn’t try).
March 14, 2010 at 6:48 am
But still…. you’re a Presbyterian! Some respect for things Scottish is surely in order…
March 14, 2010 at 6:49 am
Don’t forget the beer, Bill!
March 14, 2010 at 6:50 am
There’s always a bar in a curling club, after all…