…Folks, the World Baseball Classic is back in full swing and I’ve been loving every minute of it…For those of you not familiar with the WBC, it’s an ‘international professional baseball tournament’ held every four years (uh, well, 3 years, I guess?)…The first “Classic” was held in 2006 —I guess that IT WILL be held every four (4) years from now on with the next ‘installment’ in 2013…
As a baseball ‘junkie’ I love everything about this tournament…When it was announced in 2006 that the finals would be held at Petco Park in San Diego, I immediately booked a flight (okay, okay, I thought team USA would have been there too)…
“16 Countries, 432 players, 1 game!”
Since my brother lives in “San Dog” it was easy for him to score tickets for the finals…Sadly, team USA failed to qualify that year but it really didn’t matter–there were more deserving teams for sure…
(gotta love this guy for having the nerve to show this in an American ballpark):
The final four teams at Petco in 2006 were Japan vs. S.Korea and Cuba vs.Dominican Republic…Japan eventually won it all over Cuba…A pretty good mix of ball teams and talent…
Now, I was a little bummed that I didn’t get to watch team USA in person…However, I’ve never had more fun at a baseball game(s) than I did at the WBC…There was a double-header played on that Saturday and it was amazing—Japan, Korea, Cuba, D.R—Wow, those folks take being a baseball fan to a whole new level…There was no sitting and there was no angst with 4 different countries (5 if you count for USA) teams and fans in the same ballpark…I talked with fans from everywhere; even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying…Everybody was courteous and friendly, it was pure joy and the cheering was non-stop…I was impressed and I thoroughly enjoyed it…
I walked away from the 06 WBC with a whole new respect for the game of baseball and an understanding of what the game means to other countries…
…I’ve heard nothing but (mostly) negative things said about this year’s WBC: “it screws up spring training,” “who cares, it’s our sport,” and “the Canadians play baseball?” Thank you media…
-Whatever-
All in all–I recommend supporting the WBC, it’s a beautiful thing…AND, as of this writing, team USA is still in it…
All I know is that I am very much looking forward to watching my beloved Crew beat up on the Flubs this year.
Go Team USA!! Where is this being held, JJ? I’m so out of the baseball loop, I had never even heard of this before…
Well, there were ‘pools’ (round 1) that were held in various locations (Tokyo, Mexico City, Toronto, Puerto Reeeeco)…
…Round 2 will be played in San Diego on Sunday (Japan v. Cuba and Mexico v. Korea)…
…and in Miami on Saturday (Netherlands v. Venezuela and USA v. Puerto Reeeeco)…
The final 4 championship will be at Dodger Stadium in LA on March 21-23…
I would go but I have my ‘vacation’ coming soon enough…I think team USA is going to have a tough time getting by the ‘reeeeecans,’ they’re pretty good…
Oh, the Brew Crew can Suck it dan…That Ryan Braun kid is pretty impressive though…There’s some serious offensive power in that line-up…
TONS of offense, but our arms still suck.
Here in the Great Midwest it has already been predicted that the Chicago Cubs will place first in their division and the White Sox will be last in theirs to end the 2009 season.
Know what that means? Good news for Sox fans. For the Cub fans? Another dry hump. Their 101st dry hump in a row. Sad really.
It happens every time. Book it!
GFV: It IS sad…Lots of dry humping while cheering for the Cubs and Mariners…I think the Brewers are going to win the NL central this year, just don’t tell dan I said that…
Oh, my ‘Nostradamus’ prediction came true: Team USA got SMOKED by the Reeeeecans in the WBC last night…How embur-sing…It was pretty pathetic…
They’re still in it though, barely…VS the ‘Nederland’ next in an elimination game…