There is no such dream team as a basketball team
Aug 13, 2024
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Is it the same for baseball. Major leaguers stimulated by the Olympic gold medal are insisting on allowing them to participate in the Olympics. Professional athletes were allowed to participate after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but many major leaguers are still not interested in the Olympics. However, the mention of superstars' participation in the Olympics has a great impact on clubs and players.
Shohei Ohtani stepped up first. On the media day of the All-Star Game held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on the 16th of last month (hereinafter Korean time), ahead of the opening of the Paris Olympics, he said of participating in the 2028 LA Olympics `If I can personally, I would like to participate in the Olympics" he said.
Ohtani said "International competitions are always special. The Olympics will also be a bigger opportunity for sports fans in non-baseball countries to watch baseball. In that sense, I think participating in the Olympics is very important for baseball" he said.
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What would MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred think. Coincidentally, the day after Ohtani's remarks, Manfred sent a message positively considering participating in the Olympics. In an interview with the BBWAA (National Baseball Journalists Association) on the day of the All-Star Game, he said "Owman gave a very convincing explanation. We're open about what's possible, what (Big Leaguer's participation in the Olympics) will look like and what needs to be agreed over the course of the season" he said.
Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA Olympic Organizing Committee, gave a presentation in front of Manfred and the owners in February, expressing his wish to allow big leaguers to participate in the LA Olympics.
Among the players, Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper and LA Angels Mike Trout are representative players who insist on major leaguers participating in the Olympics.
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Baseball, which was excluded from the Paris Olympics, will be included in the official list at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. There are four more years left. MLB and the players' union are likely to put their heads together to come up with the most realistic plan. MLB, which led the creation of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), cannot be unaware that the Olympics are the only opportunity to attract the attention of the world.
As it will be held in the summer, the season suspension period, including the All-Star break, should be set. Just by agreeing to participate in the Olympics, the issue of recognizing service time and paying annual salaries that can be caused by the suspension of the season can also be solved.
If major leaguers participate in the Olympics, which country will be the strongest. There is little disagreement that it is the United States. Among the fWAR top 30 are 17 U.S. nationals. Aaron Judge and Harper as hitters, Bobby Wit Jr., Gunner Henderson, Tarik Scubal, Colagans and George Kirby as pitchers can represent the United States.
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American baseball is hard to wield as much power as basketball. This is revealed in the case of Japan beating the U.S. with Ohtani at the WBC in March last year. Japan has won three of the five WBCs in history, while the U.S. has only won once in 2017.
jhno@sportschosun.com
