[Brock Landers]

Seems like it was a great sport to have, even if the US was barely able to win a gold medal in it.

What was the reasoning for getting rid of it??

[Dank_Fire]

Probably the networks that televise it (NBC networks) realized that there is more money in another sport. Since baseball is on every night during the summer

[Brock Landers]

Probably the networks that televise it (NBC networks) realized that there is more money in another sport. Since baseball is on every night during the summer

i doubt seriously this had anything to do with it

[stevenash]

Baseball and softball were voted out in 2005, beginning with the London games in 2012.
The reason pretty much was lack of interest globally.
Baseball can earn it's way back in however.

Baseball and softball will be replaced with golf and rugby.

[kramerthekid]

Brock when are you releasing your plays pal?

[jjgold]

Brock MLB is dead so of course Olympic baseball would be 100x worse

[Roxxyfish]

because its no sport landers. nobody except some yanks care

[convick]

Cuba, US, Japan and South Korea were the only teams worth a damn.

Really, who wants to watch Spain and Italy play baseball?? Baseball not really big in Africa or Europe...

[Kelloggs]

Seems like it was a great sport to have

No, no and no.

[k13]

"To be on the Olympic program is an issue where you need universality as much as possible. You need to have a sport with a following, you need to have the best players and you need to be in strict compliance with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). And these are the qualifications that have to be met. When you have all that, you have to win hearts. You can win the mind, but you still must win hearts."

[konck]

Brock remember in 2009 you bet
Olympic baseball 2012 yes -280
MUSHED

[str]

because its no sport landers. nobody except some yanks care

Unreal

[The Bet Master]

World baseball classic.

[HoulihansTX]

None of the players would pass the Olympic drug tests.

[PickWinnerAllDay]

the same reason football is not an olympic sport... not enough countries play it.

Still the best sport there is to play. I will agree that football is better to watch.

[KGambler]

It has nothing to do with lack of interest. It is a much bigger global sport than most of the crap they have in the Olympics.

It was a power play by the IOC to try and force MLB to suspend their season and send the best players in the world (professionals). MLB said **** you.

People have no idea what the IOC is and what their actual purpose is. Hint: they only care about money. If they can get the professionals to play, it will be a huge windfall for them. The people who think baseball is only a North American sport are morons. It is also the national sport of the two largest economies in the world (unless you believe Chinese bullshit, then it is the 1st and 3rd largest economies).

Anyway, it has recently been in the news that the NBA is working on gutting Olympic basketball (no NBA players over 23 years old allowed to participate). They have finally figured out what FIFA has known all along... you don't need the IOC to run a world championship. You notice Olympic soccer means very little, right? Cause FIFA has already laid down the law to the IOC.

And MLB and NBA can do the same (MLB's World Baseball Classic is pretty pathetic as currently organized). The NHL probably needs the publicity though.

Edit: Just so you guys understand, the IOC openly says that baseball will have a great chance of being added IF MLB is willing to allow the top professionals to participate. So it is blatantly about money, not because dumbass Euros think handball is more popular.

[darkhat]

fuk baseball.. can't stand watching it.

[neel]

It has nothing to do with lack of interest. It is a much bigger global sport than most of the crap they have in the Olympics.

It was a power play by the IOC to try and force MLB to suspend their season and send the best players in the world (professionals). MLB said **** you.

People have no idea what the IOC is and what their actual purpose is. Hint: they only care about money. If they can get the professionals to play, it will be a huge windfall for them. The people who think baseball is only a North American sport are morons. It is also the national sport of the two largest economies in the world (unless you believe Chinese bullshit, then it is the 1st and 3rd largest economies).

Anyway, it has recently been in the news that the NBA is working on gutting Olympic basketball (no NBA players over 23 years old allowed to participate). They have finally figured out what FIFA has known all along... you don't need the IOC to run a world championship. You notice Olympic soccer means very little, right? Cause FIFA has already laid down the law to the IOC.

And MLB and NBA can do the same (MLB's World Baseball Classic is pretty pathetic as currently organized). The NHL probably needs the publicity though.

Edit: Just so you guys understand, the IOC openly says that baseball will have a great chance of being added IF MLB is willing to allow the top professionals to participate. So it is blatantly about money, not because dumbass Euros think handball is more popular.

The NHL is only interested in the Olympics when they're in North America and the games are on tv in prime time. Otherwise, it's not worth the hassle of breaking up the sked. Besides, the Winter Olympics needs the NHL more than vice versa. It will be interesting to see what happens in Sochi because you know the NHL doesn't want any part of it, but Russian stars like Ovechkin have said they'll play regardless of what the NHL's position is.

Golf should be a good addition to the Olympics. Rugby as well, but I find it hard to believe the IOC argues Rugby is to be included over baseball because of worldwide popularity. What about cricket? (not that i care to see it)

[bruceBRUCEbruce]

It has nothing to do with lack of interest. It is a much bigger global sport than most of the crap they have in the Olympics.

could not be more wrong if you were trying.

[InTheDrink]

could not be more wrong if you were trying.

Ironic post alert!

You ever go thru the list of sports?

Is speed walking bigger than baseball and someone didn't tell me?