Good news for the womens Olympic softball team.

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Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
This is great news. Pro fastpitch needs new marketing and management. They need to use the the Olympics as a springboard to bolster their goals. Growing the game to the point whereas players could make a living playing the game. Top pitchers earning 25 million or so per year. Gotta dream big!
I am not sure how to do it but. fp needs a better long term and robust marketing strategy. Have MLB pony up the money to hire the best marketing firm out there.
Unlike the NBA and WNBA, baseball and softball are much more different sports I believe fp could different themselves from baseball.
Try watching a baseball game after watching the college world series. Its like watching paint dry.
As long as Cheri Kempf remains commish it will always be more of the same. She has no vision and zero business acumen.
 
Last edited:
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Softball is currently the fastest growing sport in college!
Also ESPN has more viewers watching College softball world series than baseball.
This may be true, but lets keep it real - It is still unable to sustain itself at the college level and it survives on the back of football and Title IX. The reality is that it is a niche sport and that is not going to change any time soon. Enjoy it for what it is, but do not expect it to turn into something it is not and never will be.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
Here is some softball history
( if memory serves)
This was 1983.
International softball tournament
To expose fastpitch to the Olympic Commitee.
Held at Whittier Narrows Park in California.
These were womans teams competing.
They included one exhibition game of younger talent to show up-incomming athletes.
Those two teams were
Bat Busters- Original Coach Joe Grubbs
( I was on the Original BB. Had just aged out. :) This was my first official coaching of a team at the exhibition game added to coaching roster with HC Joe Grubbs, Pitching Coach Bill Owens )
Vs.
Raiders- still original coach Phil Bruder

ENJOY

20200124_083031.jpg20200124_083051.jpg
 
Last edited:
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
Yes, for some there is softball after college. But you will find that group is much smaller than for b

As long as Cheri Kempf remains commish it will always be more of the same. She has no vision and zero business acumen.
I have no idea who Cheri is but she needs help
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
One of the best things fastpitch softball can do is to quit playing the game on baseball fields. That is what will happen in Tokyo. In fact they are quite proud that they are playing both baseball and softball at the same venue. To the casual observer it will be seen as an aberration of baseball. More of an exhibition or stunt than its own unique sport. That said, I know of many baseball fans including former MLB players that have great respect for fastpitch and love watching. They respect the speed of the game and the athleticism. But that in and of itself will not grow the sport.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
Here is a great article and
#'s showing softball as a
revenue sport.
Compares to football ect...






Screenshot_2020-01-24-09-15-17.png
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
One of the best things fastpitch softball can do is to quit playing the game on baseball fields. That is what will happen in Tokyo. In fact they are quite proud that they are playing both baseball and softball at the same venue. To the casual observer it will be seen as an aberration of baseball. More of an exhibition or stunt than its own unique sport. That said, I know of many baseball fans including former MLB players that have great respect for fastpitch and love watching. They respect the speed of the game and the athleticism. But that in and of itself will not grow the sport.

This is a good point you make!!!!

In Tokyo softball has grown tremedously.
They love the game there no matter who plays either sport!!!
Softball is being played at a top marketing venue there.
Pays our u.s. womans athletes better .....

Ahhh Ohhh brought up
pay scales......
 
Last edited:
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
More history for you.. I'm fairly certain 1988 was the first time the "national champion" was not considered the National team, and tryouts were put in place, for the men's team. There used to be an event called the US Olympic Festival, held in different cities for all Olympic summer sports. For the men, the 1993 Olympic Festival in San Antonio was used to select the Men's National team for the Pan Am qualifier tournament later that year in Mexico. The women played in the 1993 Olympic Festival and I think they selected for the 1994 ISF World championship from there. 1994's Olympic Festival in STL was used to selected the men's and women's Pan Am teams to be played in 1995 in Argentina. I am fairly certain the 1995 Festival is where the 1996 Olympic team was selected. In both men's and women's softball the top 60 players were selected and put onto 4 different teams, where a mini-tournament was held and the National team selectors watched. ASA was getting money from the US Olympic committee and had to abide by their rules and regulations for selections. Example, a player who didn't make the team could "appeal" the decision. As is standard practice in ASA, they would use political appointments for the selection committees, instead of getting people who actually know the game. ASA commissioners with ZERO men's fastpitch in their area would be on the Men's selection committee because they have clout in the ASA and wanted some prestige. It was ridiculous. Being as softball was going into the Olympics, the Women's team selection committee was an even bigger honor and I'm sure they had some "interesting choices" for that committee too. The head coach did not get to select his own team, they had to follow the USOC rules. The coach got a vote but he could be out numbered by those ASA people who "know better". Of course, in 1996 the USA was so far above the rest of the world that you could throw darts at names on a board and select the Gold Medal team. Not so much anymore.....
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
One of the best things fastpitch softball can do is to quit playing the game on baseball fields. That is what will happen in Tokyo. In fact they are quite proud that they are playing both baseball and softball at the same venue. To the casual observer it will be seen as an aberration of baseball. More of an exhibition or stunt than its own unique sport. That said, I know of many baseball fans including former MLB players that have great respect for fastpitch and love watching. They respect the speed of the game and the athleticism. But that in and of itself will not grow the sport.

This is one of the biggest issues I have with watching most NPF games (when they are actually televised). Playing softball on a baseball field looks "less". It's a terrible visual and detracts from the spectacular level of play. This is not a visual sensation I get watching televised college ball. IMO, playing NPF on proper softball fields would be a step in the right direction.
 

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