However, I can’t believe that, after the 2008 Olympic Games, softball will not be an Olympic sport anymore. I’ve played softball for a long time and it’s my favorite sport. So, I am definitely disappointed over this decision.
I dont think baseball & softball have caught on in the rest of the world like their popularity in the USA. In fact, American football hasnt either, as the rest of the world loves soccer. I think that there may be 2 reasons.
First, both sports in the USA involve a LOT of statistics. Batting average, earned run average, Home Runs, etc for baseball and Yards, Yards per carry, TDs, sacks, etc for football. With the rest of the world, it seems their are fewer stats. In soccer you have goals, assists, yellow cards, etc but its far fewer. It just seems that they like to just enjoy the game and not get carried away in analysis, and when they do analyze, its focused on the most important stat: goals.
Second, in American football the player is on offense OR defense. In baseball, although many players do have to play both, pitchers are really only concerned with defense. Yes they do have to hit, but thats considered secondary to how they pitch. In soccer, the only position that is completely defensive is the goalie. Even defensemen have to pass well at times, or know when to rush up to keep the ball in the oposing zone and help the offense.
Hockey is popular in other countries, but its a lot like soccer. Goals, assists, the dreaded +/- stat, minutes played, but again less stats, and the stats that exist tend to be focused on goals.
