Sunday 17 September 2000
 |
| 00:25-04:00 |
| Major League Baseball Live |
|
Mark Webster and Todd Macklin present more action from North America's Major Leagues.
|
| 04:00-06:00 |
| Major League Baseball Extra (Repeat): Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees |
|
|
Olympic
Baseball
Considering
the bizarre egocentricity of American sport, it is perhaps not very surprising
that Derek Jeter, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr. won't
be making the trip over to Sydney to represent their country - but will rather
be fighting it out in the major leagues for a place in the play-offs.
However,
the US will still be sending a powerful team made up of players from the
minor leagues - and several hitters with real experience of the big time.
And Dave Fanicchi of Team USA is certainly confident about their chances:
"We are putting a team together that will be good enough to take home
the gold."
Of the other
teams, Cuba - which retains a strong amateur league - and Japan will present
the biggest obstacles to a US victory. But despite the whisperings in the
domestic press that great ex-players such as Wade Boggs, Chili Davis and
Tim Raines may be involved - baseball at the Olympics is still something
of a non-event in the United States. The best players aren't going and the
country is far more interested with the race for the play-offs and the start
of the gridiron season.
Only Japan, Cuba, South Korea and a handful of other countries play baseball with any real seriousness and the introduction of the event in the Olympics was just another American ego-trip at the Atlanta games (not that they won). Anyone for a game of Olympic cricket?
|
