Originally posted by herman Last time I looked there weren’t many Liverpudlians playing for Liverpool or a majority of locals in any other city team playing most sports but that doesn’t stop them being called after the cities name.
Don’t know Football. Do know that in North America we can recognize the distinct difference between the the Montreal Canadiens “professional” hockey team and Team Canada. That’s why I brought up the professional vs Olympics comparison - they are not the same.
As I said, you like it and the company shrugs its shoulders, so there’s nothing to be done. You’re talking a marketted version of practical reality, I’m being idealistic. I understand what you’re saying, I’ve read little evidence that it goes both ways. I guess if we’re neither listening nor thinking, we’re left to trying to out-shout or out-clever the other guy. Since neither of us are Americans, that leaves out the shouting…and since we both drink beer and play magic sword games with dragons, I suspect the analysts would take issue with any claims to cleverness
Even the Olympics will allow nations to compete even though their athletes shouldn’t be there as they are nowhere near competitive enough. (Eddie the eel from the Sydney games is a perfect example) To refuse the country entry would diminish the spectacle.
We will agree to disagree on this issue.
At least when our countries have a “World series” competition it involves more than two countries. Will you guys ever get a cricket team organised?, even Bangladesh are playing these days. (9 for 290 something Vrs us Aussies on the first day, bloody good effort)
Originally posted by herman We will agree to disagree on this issue.
Um, I have to disagree with that!
You mentioned the Olymipics. So, find 12 Australians who’ll play for beer and if the quality of your team goes down. Well, you just explained it yourself. Lots of players, and your National Team will more likely be better than the Nation who has 1/3 as many players. See Jamaicain bobsled example, or Eddie the Eagle skijumping for Britain at Calgary Olympics ('88?). Lots of money to buy free agents, and your Team (note the lack of the world “National”) can dominate the League.
You mentioned some unknown competitive endeavor named for a chirping insect. Well, when those countries compete in these “world championships”, than are not the players on the Bangladesh team considered nationals of Bangladesh? More agreement.
So you obviously know what I’m talking about and agree that what I’m saying is true, but as I’ve pointed out, you don’t give a fig because it’s allowed. Lots of things allowed, depending on what part of the world you’re in. Bureaucratic regulations have nothing to do with ones ideals. So we agree entirely on everything, it would actually seem (except agreeing) and really aught to simply meet in the middle (Hawaii?) for a cold beer and kill some Freeps…
Originally posted by herman We will agree to disagree on this issue.
Um, I have to disagree with that!
You mentioned the Olymipics. So, find 12 Australians who’ll play for beer and if the quality of your team goes down. Well, you just explained it yourself. Lots of players, and your National Team will more likely be better than the Nation who has 1/3 as many players. See Jamaicain bobsled example, or Eddie the Eagle skijumping for Britain at Calgary Olympics ('88?). Lots of money to buy free agents, and your Team (note the lack of the world “National”) can dominate the League.
You mentioned some unknown competitive endeavor named for a chirping insect. Well, when those countries compete in these “world championships”, than are not the players on the Bangladesh team considered nationals of Bangladesh? More agreement.
So you obviously know what I’m talking about and agree that what I’m saying is true, but as I’ve pointed out, you don’t give a fig because it’s allowed. Lots of things allowed, depending on what part of the world you’re in. Bureaucratic regulations have nothing to do with ones ideals. So we agree entirely on everything, it would actually seem (except agreeing) and really aught to simply meet in the middle (Hawaii?) for a cold beer and kill some Freeps…
No, I was poking fun at the Yanks for their World Series Baseball which involves… uhh America and uhhh can’t seem to place many other nations in that ‘World Series’.
As for Cricket and Rugby (Roll on the World Cup!) there are several other nationalities playing for teams other than their country of birth as it is usually the country you live and play your first senior games in that count most, not just the country of birth. There are several Australian and English citizens that are eligible to play for either England or Australia.(Born in one country, grew up playing in another) Tony Greg was a South African who went and played for England. Keppler Wessels was a South African who played for Australia and then went back to South Africa and represented them. Rod Marsh is an Australian coaching the English national junior side.
(He is secretly playing subliminal tapes telling the players they are duds!)
Our Yank and Malay compatriots are happy to play for Australia and we consider them honorary Aussies.
If a team is comprised of ¾ of a specific nationality and there are not enough players from that country to fill the vacant positions I cannot see any problems with them filling the blank posts with adopted players as long as the team remains constant it should be considered fine to be a “national” team.
Herman, technically World Series baseball can involve teams from Canada too - and features players from many countries. As I’m sure Brad knows. Although the Blue Jays are slipping well behind the Sox now.
As for the argument of who should be in a national team the answer is easy - those who fulfil the selection criteria of that nation. National teams consist exclusively of people who have a right to play for the team (by birth, residency, or parentage). One you’ve decided to play for one team, you can’t change your mind. Many players can choose between playing for, say, England or Oz because they fulfill selection criteria for both, but you can’t play for both.
Should that strictly apply to national teams in this game? Probably not. Countries like Oz and Scotland would struggle to get 12 players together. I think there’s only 4 or 5 of us Scots playing.
Still - we’d take you all.
<paints face blue> “You may take out lives, but you’ll never take our… (etc)”
Actually, is there any interest among some of you to form up some teams? I’d sure like a chance to take on the Aussies … er, I mean … yeah, Aussies! What the hell. Even if they promptly return my ass to me, it’ld be good to spill some of their blood!
“Bring on the sexy stewardess.”
“Actually, we’re called flight attendants now.”
The rest of the world still has a giggle every time we hear about the World Series Baseball, at least you could have the decency call it the Northern America series but World, that’s drawing a very long bow. :rolleyes:
(bunch of sissies, the fielders need a glove to be able to catch the ball.)
(before you yanks howl me down I have played baseball at high school, It’s not as challenging as cricket and is nearly as booring as cricket to watch as a spectator)
I’m also a proud member of Red Sox Nation, exiled in Minnesota. My wife loves the Twins, but at least she hates the Yankees! The quip about the rest of the world snickering everytime North America has a World Series: As soon as anyone else in the world can field a baseball team that can compete with us, do so. Otherwise…
Can we start getting a list of names for teams or what? There seems to be plenty of interest. Or are we just going to talk about it and go off on wild tangents?
I’m really a Red Sox nation immigrant - baseball’s not that big in Scotland! I was at Fenway last night. Great game but - bah, Yankees suck. Still there’s always today…
Wild tangent over - I’m game to be in a Scottish/British/Red Sox-loving team, whatever.
Instead of International Teams , perhaps what we need is a champions league of teams…with made up names: Not “Stags Kinda Aussies”, something stupid like THE FLAMING HAMSTERS! or ELVES SUCK! More in the spirit of a few of us old-time role-players and less jingoistic. except on the boards
I`m sure a few of my regular team-mates like [whispers softly] Ben Min, Fletcher Brown & Russ Floyd and I have had a discussion about this in the past…the trouble is our teams seem to change so much due to alienating allies…
Hmmm, what would you call yourselves given artistic freedom?
i think our g222 or g225 teams might become “THE EVENTUAL LOSERS”…
Name the number of countries that ‘regularly’ play competitive international baseball? Is there any sort of annual international competition for baseball?
Cricket has 8 regulars and twenty something during the World cup. Most of them are easy beats though.
Mind you it is the only game in the world that can go for 5 days and still end in a draw. That’s dedication for you!
Just as an aside if you Yanks want to see a real mans sport check out the Rugby World Cup being played in Australia soon. These guys hit each other harder than your Grid Iron blokes and without the protection of all the armour and helmets. I personally think these guys are insane!! :eek:
Still there’s always today…