I like the state by state breakdown. It appears the states hardest hit by Katrina were blown back into the 1950's. They can pretend Red Barber is calling the game on radio and dream of being Micky Mantle. And Wisconson and Oklahoma want MLS teams. Screw em. Let them watch pitchers throw 50 non-breaking pitches in the "World Championships" and Biathlon. Carry Cali, NY, Texas and Fla and the WC will win.
One of the more colorful SportsNation maps I've seen in quite some time. The East Coast (minus Red Sox Nation) and the SouthWest and Cali (at 45%!) are for the World Cup. The SouthEast is all about baseball (some small samples, though), and the MidWest (hockeyland) is for the Olympics.
this is jioe six pack, average sports fan on espn... soccer #1... 10 years ago this would NOT have happened... who says the cultural dynamic is NOT changing in this country
Okay, World Baseball Classic. WTF? Do they mean world series, or is baseball now doing a World Cup version? Good for them if they are, but I've never heard of it (I don't live stateside though). I don't know if this shows a cultural shift, though. It might show that soccer fans take to the internet more than others. It also might reflect that in the list there are only two legit competitions, and the US has never been that big on the winter olys.
True. I have no doubt that there is tremendous demand in this country for soccer played at the highest level. And yes, the World Baseball Classic is essentially a World Cup of Baseball.
^I also believe that this is significant for the following reason: WC/MLS/USNTs are key players in making the transition from a soccer participant nation into a soccer spectator nation. I'm sure there's also ballot stuffing, however.
I wonder how much Real Salt Lake has to do with the World Cup leading the Winter Olympics by 1% in Utah.
As much as this is a pro-soccer vote, it's also a "we don't care about hockey anymore" vote and a "the World Baseball Classic is a farce" vote.
A little ballot stuffing but not enough to say that this is a bigsoccer get out the vote poll. 66k voted and the world cup is still leading.
Yes, baseball is now holding a world cup thingy. http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/index?region=global&news_item_id=158983 "Many of the world's leading stars will compete in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, World Baseball Classic Inc. announced yesterday. They include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez."
The World Baseball Classic is a good idea, but they have some really dumb rules. First, they will have pitch counts, to protect the star pitchers so their club teams don't get hurt by it. Dumb. And second, even worse, you can play for a country if your parent or grandparent came from there. Mike Piazza will be playing for Italy. Come on.
Actually, it also reveals the depth of a pitching staff, which is otherwise difficult to do in so few games. I'm in favor of it. Hi, I'm David Regis, pleased to meet you. A bigger problem is there's only 16 teams in the WBC, and even at that they're struggling to make up the field. US Vs Dominican Republic is a game I want to see. Australia-Italy? Not so much. At any rate, the WBC suffers from not actually having been played yet, but I think it's also true that after 94, most Americans appreciate the passion and true world-wide appeal of the World Cup, even if they aren't huge soccer fans.
Btw, I no longer see that poll on ESPN. Instead, it's "who will win?" with the US coming in first, so there's a big FWIW on that one.
Who will win the world baseball classic? I'd think the US has a very good shot. The basketball thing as well. Cup is a different matter.
I actualy really look forward to the World Baseball Championship. All the best will be playing. The pitch count is going to force strategy among the managers,. The only downside is that none of the great players are going to be any where near mid-season form since this will happen in March. it helps that I'm a baseball fan though
Impressive since the poll probably didn't include many people who speak Spanish as a first language. Yes, I know some of them would have voted for the baseball, but not most. Apples and Oranges. Is Piazza an Italian citizen? Maybe he is, I'm just asking. Regis became a US citizen via the most straightforward, uncontroversial and easiest path - marriage.