World Baseball Classic 2013

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by cub killer

Twice as many viewers? Are you comparing game vs game or game vs series? Game vs series is apples vs oranges. If it's CL Final vs Stanley Cup clincher, then I highly doubt it's twice as many viewers, or even more viewers at all. Please provide a link to back up your claim.

I misread the ratings. Last year's Stanley Cup Final averaged 3 million viewers throughout the series and the clinching game got 4.6 million, while the last 2 CL Finals have garnered 2 and 2.6 million viewers, respectively.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...t-year/138091/

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...d-ever/135730/

[TDog]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

Spivak:

I fully suspect (and expect) that in 20 years (I won't be around though) soccer fans will continue to be harping about how "the sport is ready to break through in the U.S.!!!!!!"

Bet on it, for real, it's gonna happen! LOL

The "sport of the 70's" will morph into "the sport of the 30's"
(as in 2030...)

Lip

There is a strain of arrogance among many American sports fans that rules out soccer as un-American. Many were upset when CBS tried to force soccer down their throats in the 1960s, telling them it was the sport of the future (despite its history as an evolutionary predecessor for both American football, hockey and basketball -- the first basketball game in Springfield, Mass., being played with a soccer ball). There are Americans today that deny its growth in popularity in the U.S. But I was in a Las Vegas casino a few years ago watching a White Sox game on a small screen among a large, loud crowd watching a World Cup match on the big screens.

If you want to smugly talk about the future of sports in America, you might consider that more American kids are growing up playing soccer now than football or baseball. Soccer is cheaper and simpler to play at any level. Fewer kids are playing organized football because of associated health risks, which former NFL players are vocally making the public aware of, and youth leagues and schools are facing higher insurance costs. Major League Baseball has has had to take steps to get more kids to play baseball. Basketball and soccer are the sports with the biggest growth potential.

This is only relevant to the discussion tbecaue he WBC is an effort to get more people interested in baseball worldwide, to maximize the interest in the sport, the sort of global interest enjoyed by soccer and basketball. Obviously, the WBC is a long way fom the World Cup or even the world basketball championships. For that matter, there are too many non-Ameican teams have too many Americans on the field. But I believe a baseball World Cup is a great idea fro the future of the game.

I'm not going to be around in 100 years, but it would be nice to think baseball will be. If I find myself propelled at speeds approaching the speed of light and wind up in the next century, it would be nice to take in a White Sox game.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by TDog

This is only relevant to the discussion tbecaue he WBC is an effort to get more people interested in baseball worldwide, to maximize the interest in the sport, the sort of global interest enjoyed by soccer and basketball. Obviously, the WBC is a long way fom the World Cup or even the world basketball championships. For that matter, there are too many non-Ameican teams have too many Americans on the field. But I believe a baseball World Cup is a great idea fro the future of the game.

Agree 100%. Look at how well the NBA has used the international platform to propel basketball's popularity worldwide.

[aryzner]

Nice to see Rios have a good game for Puerto Rico. 2 for 4 with a 2-run HR.

[amsteel]

Fun night at AT&T park, Japanese fans know how to have a good time.

[thomas35forever]

Originally Posted by aryzner

Nice to see Rios have a good game for Puerto Rico. 2 for 4 with a 2-run HR.

Here's to many more such instances with us this season.

[cub killer]

2 White Sox will be in the Final, 1 on each side. Congrats to them.

An all-Hispanic Final, after the last edition was all-Asian. Let's hope the game continues to grow.

Hmm, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to watch the big game in the Humboldt Park area. The atmosphere there should be off the charts.

[Madvora]

Wait, this final bracket is double elimination, but I don't see anywhere saying the PR has to beat DR twice to win the championship. Is it really just one game for the championship?

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by Madvora

Wait, this final bracket is double elimination, but I don't see anywhere saying the PR has to beat DR twice to win the championship. Is it really just one game for the championship?

Yes, the semifinals as well were single-elimination.

[Brian26]

When you lose, say little; when you win, say less.

[DSpivack]

Alejandro de Aza and the Dominican Republic are champs!

[TomBradley72]

A very entertaining few weeks of baseball- the joy of the DR team was very cool.

12 days to Opening Day!

[Madvora]

I thought it was pretty cool that the PR team came out of the dugout to congratulate the DR on the field after the game. Has that happened in the previous two WBCs? That's something I don't think I've ever seen before. I couldn't imagine the US team doing that after losing in the final.

[cub killer]

Originally Posted by DSpivack

Alejandro de Aza and the Dominican Republic are champs!

Now let's hope he can be a world champion twice in 1 year!

Congrats to the DR. DR winning the WBC is like Brasil winning the World Cup. It just feels appropriate.