Here is Real Madrid's schedule once they land in Chicago. http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/MLS/...ntent_id=36494&vkey=pr_chf&fext=.jsp&team=chf
That is an absolute jaw-dropper. Is baseball finally shedding its zenophobic attitudes towards other sports - particularly soccer? First it was the home-run contest by nationality, next year will be the first baseball world cup - and now Real Madrid throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game! Good for baseball.
Revolt, re: World Cup o' baseball, etc. I agree. This is a subtle clue as to the potential that soccer has in re-shaping the way Americans relate to their domestic sports in an international context. W/ so many of our citizens and residents from other countries, now that the US is beginning to succeed at the world's game, now that MLS is in its 10th season and is building stadia in European/international styles, now that the is forced to operate w/in a global context (transfer fees, international calendar, club vs. nation battles, etc.), now that cable t.v has brought the game to a very wide audience here in the US, now that the NBA and MLB have seriously looked at soccer as a guide to internationalizing their leagues and are seeking to transition themselves as not just advocates of their leagues but are becoming more aware of the need to be leaders in their sports... we will begin to see our major sports articulate themselves on a global level that is much more in line w/ soccer than the domestic-centric attitude that has prevailed up until now. In short: expect concrete changes in baseball and hoops as the big leagues begin to market themselves as thee leaders in their very global sports.
Remember, Mia and her daughters were also at a Cubs game to sing the anthem (I mean the real anthem, you know, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." ) So, with Nomar on board in Chicago and the Mia connection, it is not too surprising that the Cubs may be a little more welcoming to soccer than the average baseball club.
Landon and his girlfriend threw out the first pitch of a dodger game earlier this season. Apparently Landon has season tickets to the Dodgers...
Now that you ask that, I don't remember anything about it either. That is what the announcer said, but he was a baseball announcer and maybe he was just wrong.
Thanks for the pub, Cubs. Ten years ago I was talking with Richard Moss about the prospect of this coming to fruition. He had been general counsel for the Major League Players Association in the seventies, and was instrumental in winning the free-agency anti-trust case. He was overwhelmingly in favor of it, and did indeed use the success of the FIFA World Cup as a standard to look up to. It's nice to see baseball expand its horizons.
Thanks for the clarification. I probably just remembered incorrectly what I heard on a quick TV clip.
The baseball world cup thing has been a pet project of Selig's for a while now. The major obstacle always has been the understanding that this thing could make a whole bunch of money if done right. When a lot of money gets made in baseball, the fights about who gets it start up immediately thereafter. They finally came to an agreement with the players union, and they appear to be willing to give this a shot.
How does it work? Will the entire team stand behind the mound while one player (hmm, who?) actually does the pitch?
Chicago Tribune reports it will be roberto carlos,raul and guti. They may have all three throw or just one.
those pictures are funny. raul looks like he was taking it quite seriously. he was the only thrower? did the fans respond positively?