OT: And the NY Yankees are World Champions!

[Doc Milo]

Sitting here after getting home from work, drinking a few beers and toasting my team, the NY Yankees in the win over the cross town rival NY Mets. The first Subway Series in 44 years goes to the Yankees, the new Dynasty of Baseball.

Three in a row. Four of the last five. All in a time where it takes going through two levels of playoffs before even reaching the Series!

My congratulations to the NY Mets for giving us a great series, three of the five games decided by one run, the other two decided by two. The series could have gone either way, and I'm just so happy that my nightmares of losing to the Mets in the World Series haven't come true :)

Oh yeah, did I mention this is off topic :)

[Dutchy]

They're not WORLD Champions, they're only champions of AMERICA. America is not the world, ya know?

Doh!

[DvdJervs]

What sport is this? Is it football?

And I agree with Dutchy - only Americans would be pigheaded enough to name something entirely within the US as World Series.

[ReaperFett]

*WHISPER*To Americans, that IS the world*WHISPER* :)

[Jedi Master Carr]

First off I have to admit that I do not like the Yankees, I am an avid Red Sox fan so I better not but I wanted to point out that the Yankees are World Champions in Baseball. And I do not think it is piggish to say that as an american. America is the best Baseball country in the world, we did invent it and almos no other country plays it except for Cuba, Japan, and few other Asian nations. Now I admit soccer is a different matter but when it comes to baseball, basketball or American football I think these teams deserve the right to be called world Champions because no one else even matches us in those sports.

[ReaperFett]

Pah! We play a mans sport- Rounders :)

Most peoples gripe is that WE DONT GET INVITED! Let us get whupped, and then you would get accepted

[Jedieb]

We've been talking about the WORLD SERIES over in the collecting forum for the last week. My Yanks have done it again! I grew up watching Mr. October treat Dodger pitching like it was his favorite bitch. And for the last half decade I've been reveling in Yankee dominance!

And of course it's called the WORLD SERIES. We're the biggest, baddest kids on the block, we get to call it whatever we want! Tough tits soccer boys! :p

[ReaperFett]

I wondered why people called Yanks arrogant :)

And it is BEEFburger, not Hamburger

[Jedieb]

Holy crap, I've been eating beef and not ham all these years! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jjwr]

LOL Jedieb...damn that beef!

Actually while most of the teams are in the U.S(and a few in Canada)the players are from all over the world, a large percentage are from the U.S, but there are others too.

I think Hockey is the one that has the most from other countries, quite a few Europeans in that one.

[JonathanLB]

I am a big fan of New York baseball, I really like both teams, but I've been a Yankees fan for years now. We do not have a team here in Oregon, so people just choose their own pretty much. I'm sure there are plenty of Mariners fans, but I hate the Mariners, I was really glad to see NY kill their sorry "Who let the dogs out" loving a$$es!

Dutchy, others, don't be stupid, please, I've had enough stupidity for one day. The WORLD SERIES is called that because the United States has ALL of the best baseball teams, obviously the Yankees are the best team in the world. What, do you think Holland or something could take the Yanks on? Yeah I'd like to see that.

Baseball is an international sport and there are people on these teams from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Japan, the United States, etc. Nevertheless, they are United States citizens and no other team could even come close to matching our skills in a game like baseball, which we invented.

Obviously we're the best at basketball, we just sent our lesser players to the Olympics and it was never all that close. There were a few "scares," but come on the games ended up being like 10 points or whatever. The U.S. rules, other countries are just not as good, plain and simple. That's why we win the most medals, other countries don't.

I have a very similar problem at my high school, which is easily the best in the state. All of the other wannabe students at other schools always taunt us, "Oh the rich kids school, you greedy b*stards!" Well, yeah, they have a reason to be mad, because we win at everything, we have all of the hottest girls (well, I guess guys too but I wouldn't know), the most talented kids in every way. We are the best. We win the blue ribbon award every time it is given and other schools are just not even close. In fact, our girl's soccer team has won 125 games IN A ROW and has not lost since 1993, before anyone there now even was THINKING about high school. The team has outscored opponents 65-2 this season, which is utterly embarassing. You see why other schools are so jealous, then. Our football team is undefeated, never giving up more than 14 points, never scoring less than 30 (only twice less than 45). We lost our starting QB, but that hasn't made any difference either. Utter dominance, you walk down the halls and that's all you see, trophy cases.

The same is true of the United States. We are clearly the greatest country in the world, but obviously you can't expect the poor saps in any other country to recognize that, why should they? They have to be "proud" of their country, which is great! Everyone should be proud, but it's not too hard to see that the U.S. is the #1 country. Nobody intelligent would deny that, we are the dominant world power and have been now since World War II.

Be proud of your country, that is great, but don't ever say that the World Series winner is not truly the best in the world, because you know that is utter BULL!

"People should know when they're conquered."

[RHJediKnight]

Ewwww, I can't believe people I actually know like the Yankees. ::shudder:: You people need to root for a team who deserves it.

Go Red Sox!!!

[DvdJervs]

And I do not think it is piggish to say that as an american.
Hehehe, I was only having a joke before. Sorry. :)


We are the dominant world power and have been now since World War II.
I don't deny that the US is one of if not the most powerful nations in the world, but it owes its position a lot to many of its allies. Do you think America would be so influential in world politics and the like without the UN, NATO, ANZUS and god knows how many other organisations and treaties? Even during the Cold War the US was dependant on Western Europe, Australia and other strategically placed areas to help them fend off Communism. Just recently the US tried to convince Australia to allow the US to extend its intelligence forces in Australia since the US fears it is losing control in south-east Asia (especially with the way things went in East Timor - the US could do squat), partly helped by the fact that New Zealand told the US to butt out a few years back, which effectively putting the ANZUS treaty into dead water and threatened the previously nice and cosy position the US had enjoyed in the Pacific.

When it comes down to it there is no country in the world that can safely claim to be No. 1 (as much as they like to) - they always need some mates to back them up.

[Doc Milo]

Red Sox? No comment.

Oh, there was a great shirt I saw in a bar in Queens (and just think of the guts this guy showed wearing this shirt in a bar in the Mets home borough!) --

My
Entire
Team
Sucks

Personally, I think that's a little harsh; they have a good team. But hey, I'm a Yankees fan, and this year especially, there is no such thing as a fan of both! (Well, if you're living in NY, anyway) :)

Anyway, I heard that some Yankees mocked the Mets' "Who Let the Dogs Out!" theme (I guess it was the Mariners theme too, Jon?) By singing "Who Put the Latch On!" I personally would have gone with "Who Shut the Dogs Up!"

Sports talk radio here before and during the Series had a lot of Mets fans with the attitude that if they won, it somehow negated the 25 (now 26) World Series Chamipionships the Yankees have won in the last 96 years. Shutting them up is just extra sweet -- and celebrating in Shea Stadium just made it all so much better!

Boy, living in NY during this time (and being a Yankees fan) was so much fun!

Ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes on Monday. They're expecting 3 million people to line the streets -- which is about a million more than last year.

[ReaperFett]

Would it me fair if all world competitiions banned America? No, it isnt the world then. It is false advertising.

Anyway, anyone can hit a ball with a stick :)

[ReaperFett]

But when the US can't compete, they go sulky. Like with Concorde. The US couldn't make a better plane, so they banned the COncorde from US airspace, because 'Supersonic planes are dangerous'. Wow. S are normal plane, handguns and cholesterol. Ban them too!

[Dutchy]

Dutchy, others, don't be stupid, please, I've had enough stupidity for one day. The WORLD SERIES is called that because the United States has ALL of the best baseball teams, obviously the Yankees are the best team in the world. What, do you think Holland or something could take the Yanks on? Yeah I'd like to see that.

Yes, the USA has the best baseball teams in the WORLD. And? It still only makes them AMERICAN champions. Duh. We for instance have the best speedskaters in the world. When we have Dutch championships the winner is champion of HOLLAND and not of the WORLD.


The same is true of the United States. We are clearly the greatest country in the world, but obviously you can't expect the poor saps in any other country to recognize that, why should they? They have to be "proud" of their country, which is great! Everyone should be proud, but it's not too hard to see that the U.S. is the #1 country. Nobody intelligent would deny that, we are the dominant world power and have been now since World War II.

Yes, the most powerful country hands down. But the greatest? In what ways? In a whole lot of ways it's NOT.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Dutch, almost no other country outside of the Western Hemphisphere plays Baseball except for Japan and a few other asian nations. So the Baseball Champion is the World Champion because there is no other team outside of America they can play. I also would like to reiderate the point made by another poster that Baseball is not just made up of Americans but include many foriegn born players. Until some other country comes up with a professional league we can play I do not see the point of changing the name of the world series to the American series.

[Jedieb]

We were having so much fun until some people decided to take this way too seriously. Lighten up! It's just a name, (World Series). It's been called that for so long that to change it just wouldn't feel right. And when it was first called the World Series it really was because no one else in the world was really playing baseball. I'm sure if the Japanese champions would play the World Series champs every year the Japanese would occasionally win a series. The Japanese play some good ball and they have a passion for the game. It's just a name and most people don't even think twice about it, it's nothing to take offense over.

And reaper, there is NOTHING harder in sports than hitting a 95 mph fastball with a piece of wood. At least that's what Bob Costas and George Will keep saying. ;)

BTW, is there anyone here who actually plays baseball?

[ReaperFett]

Nah, just get a big stick :)

Or throw your body in the way :)

I was Ok when we palyed Rounders at college, but never prperly played Baseball

[DvdJervs]

Australians invented Australian Rules Football, which is now also being played in Japan, Ireland, England (a bit), New Zealand, Papua New Guined and many other nations, yet Australia is the king at the sport.

I guess that would make us the WORLD CHAMPIONS at Australian Rules Football then, but then every other country would say 'Who the hell cares? It's your own sport - stick to your own country'.

I guess the same thing applies to American baseball - Americans go nuts over the WORLD SERIES, while the remainder of the world doesn't give a rats arse. :)

[ReaperFett]

Aussie rules It is played little over here, but is growing

At least you gave it an original name(you added Aussie rules) :)

[Bromine]

"We are clearly the greatest country in the world,
but obviously you can't expect the poor saps in any other country to recognize that,
why should they? They have to be "proud" of their country, which is great! Everyone
should be proud, but it's not too hard to see that the U.S. is the #1 country. Nobody
intelligent would deny thatWe are clearly the greatest country in the world"

This statement is both arrogant and ignorant. The U.S. ranks relatively low in many things, including education (if you go by test scores), fiitness, efficiency(such as garbage production), and other things when compared to other "industrialised" nations. Not that the U.S. isn't a great country, but it has strengths and weaknesses like any other country.

As for the "World Series", well, we'll never know if another nation's team is better, since they can't play.;)

[ReaperFett]

I think the size of America has a lot to do with these figures

[jjwr]

And its posts like Jonathons that make a lot of poeple think Americans are ignorant jerks.

Anyways I think there are a lot of great things in the U.S by by no means is it the best in the world. As someone pointed out Education is something that needs to really be looked at and fixed.

Jonathon claims his school is great and the best at everything and I think we all know its a private school of sorts(or one in a rich neighborhood) so of course its going to be better. And as for all the sporting programs he mentioned, I think that success is because its a rich school, I think its pretty obvious that with a lot of money you can do a lot more at school, and the sports is definetly included in that.

I also think its the same with those damn Yankees :) Baseball needs to do some revenue sharing so smaller market teams will get a slice of the huge TV contracts the big market teams make, otherwise they're going to continue to have a league where the ones with the most money will usually win.

[RHJediKnight]

Yeah, that was a really moronic thing for Jonathon to say. Poeple like him give Americans a bad name. Sure, I love my country too and I'm proud of it, but being the most powerful nation doesn't make us the best.

And about the schools, his has to be a private school or a really rich one because, no normal school filled with 'stupid poor kids' can win that much and be that good at everything.

My school--ya know, a public one--is good. I mean, the students are respectful, the teachers don't act like asses, and the classes really aren't that bad. We don't have the highest test scores or the most trophies, but that really doesn't matter. Personally, I'd rather go to a not-so-rich, average public school than a school that wins at everything. There's no reason to be proud of it then, IMO. You already know they're gonna win every year, where's the fun in that?

[Jedieb]

Do private schools even play public high schools in high school football? I know I've been to my share of high school football games and I've even been up in the booths with a coaching staff. I don't think I've seen many private schools taking on established public high school football programs and doing well. I wonder if Jon even knows what division his school plays in? And I've never heard him say anything complementary about jocks, but now he wants to take credit for their success? Oh damn I'm picking on him again, how mean of me. :(

I'm proud to be a U.S. citizen, but I don't consider myself superior to anyone simply because of the geographical location I was born in. And it's one thing to blather on and on about how great your country is and it's another to actually do something for your country. If you love your country so much than stop bragging and go out and prove it. Put on a uniform or take part in your government.

In the end, I respect people from all nations. Especially the Aussies and the Dutch, you guys crack me up. Tulips and Fosters, truly great contributions to human civilization. I love everyone, except the French of course. They must be stopped at all costs. At all costs...

[ReaperFett]

I love everyone, except the French of course. They must be stopped at all costs. At all costs...


Eb, you almost sound English :)

[Doc Milo]

I love my country, but I must say, "The Republic is not what it once was."

Hey, I saw a chance to use a TPM quote and I took it. So sue me.

Ooops, I shouldn't say that here in America -- someone just might sue me :)

[Jedieb]

C'mon Doc, things aren't all that bad. The Republic is certainly a better place if you happen to be black, hispanic, or a woman. And let's not forget the good ol' turn of the century days of child labor. In the immortal words of Billy Joel;
"The good ol' days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems."
Man, I hope I don't get sued for a copyright violation. ;)

Oops, I forgot about Native Americans. Thing are just as crappy now as when the Republic first broke their first treaty with them.

[wookie boy 2000]

but I had to throw my 2 cents worth in .


Base ball SUX!!! its boring,and takes very little ability to play.They are not real athletes !! the Only ones I would say that were remotely close to athletes would be the pithers(I couldnt do it)but all the other positions..BIG WUP!!! But I will say that I was pulling for the METS(altough I already knew who was going to win) only because I hate the Yankee;s I used to love them when I was younger But as I got older, I started to form my own opinions and start to see that almost all sports ARE FIXED In one way or another.Its all about the MONEY!!!!! the only sport(american sport) I still believe in is PRO WRESTLING!!you know why??? because they tell you its fake!!!OF course Thats just my Opinion.






buffjedi/wookieboy


















buffjedi/wookieboy

[Darth Turbogeek]

Stuff Baseball. Cricket is action packed by comparision. I find Baseball highly boring.

Give me High Octane Motor Sport anyday.

[Bromine]

Just wanted to add that the U.S. has many good points (strong economy, freedoms, etc.). I just think that attitudess like Jon's are the reason you get stereotypes of an American trying to get a Big Mac in India, or not knowing where Canada is on a map (true story).
If you believe that a country is the absolute greatest, no question about it and no room for argument, then you must think every other country is totally inferior. That's a very bold thing to say. Have you ever even lived in another country, or do you base your judgements solely on what you've read in the U.S. media?

[DvdJervs]

Stuff Baseball. Cricket is action packed by comparision.
Speaking of which, did anyone know former Australian cricket captain Allan Border use to be a baseballer? :)

I agree with Bromine and the others that the US has a lot going for it. But like any country, it has it downsides.

BTW, Australia sucks too in a lot of ways. We manage to survive by doing what our government does - forgetting we have any problems. :)

[Jedieb]

I must ask all of my Aussie and European friends to do me a HUGE favor. NEVER refer to baseball players as 'baseballers' EVER AGAIN! I can't even begin to tell you how gay that sounds! ;)

[jjwr]

I know theres a Aussie kicker in the NFL, I think he kicks for the San Diego Chargers, I think he used to play Ausstralian Rules football. Not that it matters just thought I'd toss that out.

[BristerM]

Guys. Let's put the argument about the US being the greatest country in the world to rest.

Looking at it from most points of view, there IS no greatest country in the world. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. France, for example, has a very beautiful language. Until recently, though, it wasn't a very sanitary country (the streets of Paris were notorious for stinking of human urine and horse @#%$ (with the latter being scattered all through the streets) around the turn of the century).

The US is one of the richest countries in the world, sure, next to Germany and Kuwait, as well as the most ethnically diverse (in California, white people are now actually a minority with 47% or so of the population...over 30% of the people in that state are Hispanic and 18% are black...4 or 5% are Asian). But the US has a horrible military (the Clinton era absolutely DESTROYED our military) and at any time an army from China could come moseying right across Alaska, down through Canada, and effectively sack the entire conintental United States. Kinda makes you feel good to be an American, eh?

Every country has its strengths and weaknesses. Deal with it. There is no GREATEST country.

[Jedieb]

Don't believe the hype, our military isn't that bad. And remember, all those cuts took place with a Republican congress watching over them. There isn't a military force on the planet that could launch a successful ground invasion of the continental United States. If the Chinese tried something that foolish you'd end up with a lotta dead Chinamen. Hell, the Crips, Bloods, and LAPD would stop the first wave before they got out of L.A. County. ;)

[DvdJervs]

I'll bet anything that the US miliary is better than Australia's - we sent over a small force to help out East Timor last year and within a week they had run out of men and were begging for the Army Reserve and for retired personnel to join up. :)

At least we don't have to worry about an invasion - the British and Americans won't want their lovely rocket ranges and test facilities taken over if they can help it. :)

[Bromine]

The U.S. is quite a military force. I don't think they have to worry, even if they aren't as good as they used to be. I have heard a lot about the discipline not being what it once was, but quite frankly I think you could put rejects from clown college in those Stealth Bombers and still kick arse.;)

[ReaperFett]

Just nuke em :)


Seriously, the US could not lose. I doubt Britain would either. Or Australia. Many allies, and no land onto the country(Canada or Mexico arent a big problem, they are peaceful to the US) That means you need planes or Boats, where the three nations excel. Add in the SEALS, SAS and Wallabes(Whats the Aussie ELite unit?) disrupting their plans, and you have a decent win on your hands

[Darth Turbogeek]

Your being nasty to Australian army DVDJervs. They are rated quite highly with other armies as Aussies may be a small army, but they have a knack of getting the job done, no matter what. The ANZACS went into a very nasty situation and did what not many other peacekeepers ever have done - kept the peace. Mainly becuase most peacekeepers around the world back off when thratened. Aussies just simply shot first and asked questions later. Gotta love an army good enough to train (for example) 12 men who got ambushed by 100's of militia and then totally ran the ambushes off.

Nothing wrong with small armies. Australia and Israel have some of the smallest forces around. Yet, your would have to be a damn fool to take on either force.

Re : Best country - I heard a good quote not long ago. It said Australia tries to be like USA - but they shouldnt try as Australia is what the USA SHOULD be (From a writer in the Wall Street Journal). I think it's a valid point. Australia has this cultrual cringe and we want to be like anyone else other thn what we really are. I think the Olympics made a lot of people sit up and realise that e dont need to try and copy anyone, we have our own unique way and that the rest of the world could learn a lot from us instead.

You know, there was a expectation the Olypcis would go horribly wrong and we would get laughed at? We Aussies hate failing, so we plan and we expect things to go wrong. Because of that expectation of failure we then sit back in amazement in how right we got it after all.

It's weird. We are pessimists at heart and just were one of the most can do places on earth and we will give anything a go.

[Darth23]

I can't believe what a twisted discussion this turned out to be.

:p

[DvdJervs]

I think you missed my point DT - the Aussies in East Timor certainly did a good job and all but that doesn't deny the fact that our army is seriously underfunded, understaffed and in some areas even outdated. The government was seriously looking at having to asked former vetarans to return as well as get the Army Reserve involved and also implement a special tax in order to help pay for the whole thing. And all this just for a small force over in East Timor. Makes you wonder how on Earth we'd cope in something on a larger scale.

In the end they didn't have to (thank God) due to a few strings being pulled with the budget (an greater budget surplus than expected helped here) and the efficency of our troops (who are kick arse as you pointed out) but rest assured there is plenty of room for improvement within our military forces.