[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by EdJW
Why suggest that Congress has anything to do with the Olympics? Because, the United States Olympic Committee was established by an act of Congress and exists in its present form solely as an expression of the will of the American people through this act of Congress.

So what? The USOC is not the IOC which was the target of YOUR post.

Why suggest that we let all involved with the olympics, including sponsors, that we want the money associated with olympic softball put into the hands of an organization that will spend it to promote international softball? Because the money is already commited to the USOC and the IOC for the 2012 games. Don't take my word for it. Go to the current audited annual reports of these organizations. These reports tell you precisely how much money is already commited to the 2012 olympic games.

Which is exactly why other sports have started asking for more of that already budgeted money as I stated in my post.

Why should American softball umpires be so cavalier with the loss of so much money for women's fastpitch softball over the next several years? Money that would have gone to promote international women's softball competition. Frankly, the IOC and several national olympic committees have already accounted for income through 2012, and they are not about to go back to contributors and sponsors with a "give back" because the IOC has cut softball and baseball out of the olympics. Rather, they will spend more money on the remaining 26 sports. Even though this is money that the 26 sports do not need. They already have plans and budgets through 2012. They might love the thought that they might get the softball and baseball money as freebie add ons to their income streams, but they do not need this freebie money.

Once again, information to which I have already alluded.

Would you like to know who needs the money, money already commited to olympic games that include softball and baseball. In my opinion, its international softball. I'll let baseball speak for itself.

Again, you point out what I have already stated, the money budgeted was for the 2012 Olympics, not for softball or baseball specifically. The ISF does a great job at promoting softball world-wide. There is an on-going project which the ISF will accept donated softball equipment and send it to member countries to help their programs. Members of Team USA, players and coaches routinely give clinics to international players and coaches. Many of the foreign coaches, and some players, are citizens of the U.S. The ISF, with the help of ASA/USA Softball spend thousands of dollars in an effort to improve this sport in any country willing to give it a shot at developing a competitive softball program.

To be honest, the Olympics provides great exposure, but is more of a tool in teaching outsiders how popular the game is, as opposed to providing a champion. International softball is in pretty decent shape and has a fair amount of money pushed in it's direction completely independent of the IOC/USOC. Look for the ISF and ASA to provide some great tournaments in the future, beginning with this weekend in OKC, that will draw almost as much attention to international softball as the Olympics can.



But, this is an officials forum. So go ahead and do your LOL thing. Even though its difficult to LOL when you realize how much money will disappear in the next few years in funding softball internationally. [/B][/QUOTE]