You probably already know my thoughts on this since I’ve opined on the World Baseball Classic before. Still, let’s present the facts of the case first. Over the weekend around 11,000 fans showed up to watch the U.S. play Netherlands at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida (still about 10,000 more than show up for Marlins games). For the game against Puerto Rico, the attendance was around 30,000, about half of whom were fans of the island team (you can see how many people were there on Tuesday in the picture at right). Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis who’s been carrying the U.S. offensively in the WBC isn’t too happy about all this:
“I don’t think we have enough pride in this. It’s kind of a sad day – and I know it’s a tough time (economically) to buy tickets – when you see that. I don’t think there’s as much pride in the USA as there is for these other countries. There was a whole section of Dominican fans (Sunday) night just here to watch baseball. I think we’re losing a little bit of pride for, quote, ‘America’s national pastime.’ ”
…
“It definitely hurts a little bit to know that you’re always the away team in your own country,” he said. “There are some good people out there, but it would be nice to have a lot more of those people chanting ‘USA,’ holding up American flags. That’s the one thing we didn’t see much of the other night – there were more Puerto Rican flags than American (flags).”
You want to know why, Mr. Youkilis? It’s because this isn’t a real event. Just be happy that your Red Sox games always sell out and that you have a packed house with rabid fans who live and die by each at-bat you take. What do you really expect from the fans, to go head-over-heels for a fake, made-for-TV event? Fans are already committed to their teams, isn’t that enough? You’ll also notice that the U.S. isn’t getting too patriotic because the whole world already acknowledges the best baseball is already played here. What is there for us to prove, that we shared a popular game with the rest of the world? Fantastic, let’s all celebrate! The day this event goes away wouldn’t be soon enough for me.
(via Ben Maller)
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More Hot Stories at larrybrownsports.comThis entry was posted on Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 and is filed under Baseball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Well, dammit, make the WBC mean something. I suggest the Commissioner propose a policy whereby the World Series team with the most players from the winning country in the WBC gets home field advantage .
Hey Mr Youkilis,
I want to give you some benefit of the doubt for 2 reasons, 1 you are a fellow jew, and #2 you helped my fantasy team make the playoffs the last 2 years, but I have to disagree with you on this. The reason no one cares about this phony baseball classic is 2 reasons. 1, like Larry said, its not a real event. We have the Olympics to root for our favorite Team USA. Secondly, were too busy watching this great NBA season play out, and we’re filling in our brackets for the NCAA tourney. No one gives a rats ass who wins this Baseball classic. I’m more concerned with my favorite player getting injured and jeopardizing the upcoming MLB season as you just did today with your ankle sprain. I hope your insurance policy isn’t with AIG.
I think it’s important to get to the real essence of the complaint:
Red Sox Fan is better than the rest of the people who live in America.
Just ask them!
If it was in Chicago I’d go. Spoiled players and greedy owners want itto be played in the sun. Don’t blame the fans!