- Aug 21, 2008
- 2,359
- 113
2020 being in Japan is reason enough that men's fastpitch wouldn't even be considered and possibly laughed at if the ISF even suggested it. Japan LOVES their baseball. Japan LOVES their women's softball. Men's fastpitch is not as popular for them. Not knocking men's fastpitch at all. Just saying if you were the ISF and trying to get your sport in the olympics, even if it's only a one time thing, you would play in to the interests of your host country. I know ISF is both men's and women's softball, however the fact that Japan beat USA in the olympics and took gold still burns a lot of people, and those people are waiting for that rematch. If they have to include baseball to get that rematch, they'll do it. Baseball with or without the MLB and steroids sells more tickets in Japan's olympics than men's fastpitch. Right or wrong, money and marketing talks a lot more these days.
I think it would be interesting for the ISF to make a push for men's fastpitch, however if they market anything like the NPF, they are in trouble. ����
As far as baseball being the opposite of softball in the eyes of the IOC, that's starts in little league in America. Boys play baseball, girls play softball. I have no idea how other countries are, but here is a guy says he plays softball, it's in a church slow pitch league after work.
Once again not knocking men's fastpitch. I find the sport fascinating, and you can't deny what it's done for women's softball, just pointing out the obvious American culture.
I'm going to 1/2 way disagree with you about men's fastpitch in Japan. Do you realize 16 nations compete at the isf men's world? That's the same number as women. And just like the women, it seems the same teams dominate. Although men's FP has had some newcomers to the bigtime: Venezuela and Argentina to name a few. Argentina has won the boy's world ISF the last 2 times, I think. Anyway, you're right... $$ wins and baseball would win in Japan. But there is pro men's FP in Japan just as there is for women. Keep that in mind.
I cannot argue, baseball puts more butts in seats in Tokyo. But, again, we're talking about a country with established fields to play on. If softball was in Brazil this year, theyd have had to make both fields.
MOST countries outside North America fancy men's FP to baseball strictly on land mass size. New Zealand, which is always 1 or 2 in the world, doesn't have room for major stadiums for baseball. It's only been the last 5 years that Baseball has really pushed in that country thanks to the World Baseball Classic. But in softball, they dominate and play it in school (boys too) from 10 years old on up.
japan winning the Gold was the best thing ever. Venezuela coming in 2nd at the recent men's world is the 2nd best thing. It shows other countries are improving. Pitching coaches will have their phones ringing off the hook when the 2020 vote comes down and the Olympic money is funneled to softball programs.
I'll probably work for Aruba. they have no shot at qualifying over Cuba, Dominican, etc. but can you think of a nicer place to spend a few years training softball????????
Bill