We're in agreement then. I'll concede that baseball is atypical of other team sports and you concede that your knowledge of baseball is lacking.

Almost. I'll concede that my knowledge of baseball is lacking. You concede that Boston are not World Champions.

Cheers

Not quite, but getting closer. The Boston Red Sox are World Champions for those whose baseball knowledge is not lacking.

A list of team sports and their respective World Champions.

Association Football - Italy

Rugby Union - South Africa

Rugby League - Australia

ODI Cricket - Australia

Twenty20 Cricket - India

Basketball - Spain

American Football - USA

Ice Hockey - Canada

Field Hockey - Germany

Volleyball - Brazil

Polo - Brazil

Water Polo - Croatia

Handball - Germany

Lacrosse - USA

There about all I can think of. There are a couple I intentionally left out Shinty/hurling, Ozzy rules and Takraw because they don't really claim to have world championships. Though with Takraw and the Kings cup the main reason was I couldn't find the result.

The common theme is that they are all countries and not clubs.

Another missed out of course is Baseball and Japan. For those who haven't got insular thinking and a lack of knowledge of the world sports and their champions.

As an aside its a great pity that England ,G.B. or UK is not in that list anywhere.

I'm off to practice for the World Beer Drinking Championships. Which, if I'm allowed to represent them, Thailand should win hands down.

Cheers

It seems I missed a few sports.

Basketball/Korfball/Netball · Buzkashi · Curling · Handball/Beach handball · Hurling/Camogie · Kabaddi · Lacrosse · Polo · Ultimate · Volleyball/Fistball/Sepak Takraw · Water polo

Football codes: American · Association (Soccer) · Australian rules · Beach soccer · Canadian · Futsal · Gaelic · Indoor soccer · Rugby league · Rugby union

Hockey codes: Bandy · Broomball · Field · Floorball · Ice · Indoor · Ringette · Roller hockey (Inline hockey, Quad hockey) · Shinty

Safe haven games: Baseball · Cricket · Kickball · Pesäpallo · Rounders · Softball · Stoolball

For the record, the Boston Red Sox are the world champions having won it all at the Major League level, where the best players in the world play baseball. While less countries play baseball than soccer or golf, this isn't a comparison of how many countries play baseball vis a vis other sports. Who cares? When you see a Major League game you see the best players in the world playing at the highest level there is.

Congratulations to the World Champion Bosox. My Yanks will get them next year.

Congratulations to the Olde Towne Team for bringing home a second World Series win in four years. The curse of the Bambino is gone forever, and maybe now back on the Bronx Bombers given their post-season collar-tightening of late, and near disintegration of the current team? (I'm soo sad.)

A huge "duck boat" parade on Boston yesterday. Can't get enough of the "Tessie" and the Dropkick Murphys.

While Japan are the reigning "World Baseball Classic" champions (2006, an MLB invention), and Cuba are the reigning Olympic champions (2004) I doubt you'd find many international baseball professionals who would argue that the winner of the World Series is somehow not the best team in Baseball. Without Hideki Okajima and Daisuke Matsuzaka (Dice-K) I don't think the Sox would have won it all.

If Mike Lowell goes to the Yankees (rumored) I'll die a low death. It was one thing losing Johnny Damon, who's 1/2 Thai, but Lowell is a anchor. Theo Epstein is God.

Shifting attention to the Pats.

I apologize as I got lost in the excitement while posting it..... any long suffering fan can appreciate the associated delirium...

I can empathize, used to be a Cubs fan when working in Chicago. Probably would be catatonic if they won - 1938 I believe was their last.

In re-reading the thread, I can't believe I over-looked this little inaccuracy.

The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908.... They did go to the Series in 1938, but lost to the Yankees... (in proud Cub tradition a 4 game sweep)

but in respect to their vaunted traditional chant: "Wait 'til Next Year"

it would be highly appropriate they win on the 100th anniversary of their last time.

Best of luck to them from a viewer of Jack Brickhouse doing their games on WGN.

Shifting attention to the Pats.

Thankfully, you did not add Boston College, the Celtics and the Bruins to that list!!!

In any case, all football loving fans will have their eyes glued to the set for the Canadian Football League semi-finals and the Alabama-L.S.U. tilt this weekend.

Yankee fans can take solace in the fact that they announced Girardi as the new manager on the same day that the Red Sox held their victory parade once again stealing the headlines from the Beantowners. Even in victory, the Red Sox somehow lose to New York! That being said, baseball life was so much easier in the fifties when Boston had Teddy Ballgame and...Frank Malzone...and...Russ Nixon whereas the Bronx Bombers had Mantle, Bauer, Martin, Skowron, Berra, Ford, Howard, Rizutto, and so many others.

I apologize as I got lost in the excitement while posting it..... any long suffering fan can appreciate the associated delirium...

I can empathize, used to be a Cubs fan when working in Chicago. Probably would be catatonic if they won - 1938 I believe was their last.

In re-reading the thread, I can't believe I over-looked this little inaccuracy.

The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908.... They did go to the Series in 1938, but lost to the Yankees... (in proud Cub tradition a 4 game sweep)

but in respect to their vaunted traditional chant: "Wait 'til Next Year"

it would be highly appropriate they win on the 100th anniversary of their last time.

Best of luck to them from a viewer of Jack Brickhouse doing their games on WGN.

Who can forget the great Harry Caray, voice of the Cubs....

Nevertheless, the New York Yankees still manage to steal the headlines from the Red Sox nation with the news that A-Rod will not be returning to wear the real 'pinstripes' in 2008.

fuc_k A-Rod, Tino, Junior and the Big Unit. Yeah, I'm a Seattle fan.

I apologize as I got lost in the excitement while posting it..... any long suffering fan can appreciate the associated delirium...

I can empathize, used to be a Cubs fan when working in Chicago. Probably would be catatonic if they won - 1938 I believe was their last.

In re-reading the thread, I can't believe I over-looked this little inaccuracy.

The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908.... They did go to the Series in 1938, but lost to the Yankees... (in proud Cub tradition a 4 game sweep)

but in respect to their vaunted traditional chant: "Wait 'til Next Year"

it would be highly appropriate they win on the 100th anniversary of their last time.

Best of luck to them from a viewer of Jack Brickhouse doing their games on WGN.

Who can forget the great Harry Caray, voice of the Cubs....

I remember his "Holy Cooooow!".... from his days broadcasting from the open-air booth in the upper decks for the White Sox, where'd he drink so many Falstaff's beer during the game that in the later innings, he'd be so drunk, he'd almost fall out of it while leading the crowd's singing, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame."

Quite the contrast to Brickhouse's staid "Heh Heh" comments for the Cubs during the same time.

I think the real current world champions are actually Cuba.

Cheers

While the World Champion Boston Red Sox do have 3 players from nearby Puerto Rico and 3 from the Dominican Republic, they don't currently have any players on their roster from Cuba.

the next Baseball World Cup will be held in Chinese Taipei from November 6th through November 18th

Came across some news about the Baseball World Cup

Brothel opened for Baseball World Cup raided by police

Taipei - A Taiwan man's hopes of making money from the 37th Baseball World Cup has been dashed after the brothel he opened for baseball players and fans was shut by police before the games began, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Anticipating an influx of foreign players and fans, Hung Jui-hung, 29, a factory worker, rented five floors in a building in Taichung in central Taiwan and spent 4 million Taiwan dollars (120,000 US dollars) to decorate 18 rooms and hire prostitutes, the United Daily News said.

Hung hired young women who can speak English to work at his Rome Men's Beauty Parlor, charging 22,800 Taiwan dollars (22,293 Thai Baht !!) per service.

It had been in operation for one week when police raided it Sunday, arresting six prostitutes and one customer and shutting it down.

Hung told police he had made a bad business decision because the brothel closed even before the World Cup began.

Most of the matches are to be played at the International Stadium in Taichung, and the final is scheduled for November 18.

More than 5,000 Japanese and South Korean fans were expected to fly to Taichung to cheer for their national teams.

- DPA

=============

a brother owner named....

I think the real current world champions are actually Cuba.

Cheers

While the World Champion Boston Red Sox do have 3 players from nearby Puerto Rico and 3 from the Dominican Republic, they don't currently have any players on their roster from Cuba.

While the Boston Red Sox did win a competition referred to as the world series, the side that represents the nation of Cuba did win the Baseball World Cup in 2005 as organized by the International BAseball Federation. This competition comprised of 18 countries and was held in Holland.

As the next Baseball World Cup will be held in Chinese Taipei from November 6th through November 18th Cuba remain reigning WORLD CHAMPIONS!

and as if to reiterate a point.... that since some think the Baseball World Cup actually means all that much... they won that, too.

USA beats Cuba to win Gold at Baseball World Cup

Taipei - The United States defeated Cuba 6-3 Sunday to win the baseball World Cup for the first time since 1974 and end a series of nine successive title wins by the Cubans.

USA pitcher Jayson Nix was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.

The USA, determined to reassert its reputation as the baseball nation of the world, had sent a strong team to the tournament.

At the closing ceremony, Masatake Matsuda, first vice president of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), urged players and fans to promote baseball and prevent it being dropping from the Olympics.

- DPA

While the Boston Red Sox did win a competition referred to as the world series, the side that represents the nation of Cuba did win the Baseball World Cup in 2005 as organized by the International BAseball Federation. This competition comprised of 18 countries and was held in Holland.

As the next Baseball World Cup will be held in Chinese Taipei from November 6th through November 18th Cuba remain reigning WORLD CHAMPIONS!

and as if to reiterate a point.... that since some think the Baseball World Cup actually means all that much... they won that, too.

USA beats Cuba to win Gold at Baseball World Cup

Taipei - The United States defeated Cuba 6-3 Sunday to win the baseball World Cup for the first time since 1974 and end a series of nine successive title wins by the Cubans.

USA pitcher Jayson Nix was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.

The USA, determined to reassert its reputation as the baseball nation of the world, had sent a strong team to the tournament.

At the closing ceremony, Masatake Matsuda, first vice president of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), urged players and fans to promote baseball and prevent it being dropping from the Olympics.

- DPA

Yes it reiterates the point that the Boston Red Sox are not world champions.

At the time of my post Cuba were world champs and now its the USA.

Cheers

While the Boston Red Sox did win a competition referred to as the world series, the side that represents the nation of Cuba did win the Baseball World Cup in 2005 as organized by the International BAseball Federation. This competition comprised of 18 countries and was held in Holland.

As the next Baseball World Cup will be held in Chinese Taipei from November 6th through November 18th Cuba remain reigning WORLD CHAMPIONS!

and as if to reiterate a point.... that since some think the Baseball World Cup actually means all that much... they won that, too.

USA beats Cuba to win Gold at Baseball World Cup

Taipei - The United States defeated Cuba 6-3 Sunday to win the baseball World Cup for the first time since 1974 and end a series of nine successive title wins by the Cubans.

USA pitcher Jayson Nix was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.

The USA, determined to reassert its reputation as the baseball nation of the world, had sent a strong team to the tournament.

At the closing ceremony, Masatake Matsuda, first vice president of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), urged players and fans to promote baseball and prevent it being dropping from the Olympics.

- DPA

Yes it reiterates the point that the Boston Red Sox are not world champions.

At the time of my post Cuba were world champs and now its the USA.

Cheers

It depends what you mean. If the topic is "which is the best national team" the answer is going to be different than "which is the best team". Remember that in the US major leagues there are players from many other countries, in fact, some of the biggest stars are from other countries. For instance, in the last World Baseball Classic, which Japan won, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez (both of the Boston Red Sox) both played for the Dominican Republic. In that series, Ortiz distinguished himself by hitting the longerst home run ever hit in the Tokyo dome and he hit it off of Japan's most legendary pictures. And pitcher Diasuke Matsusaka (who this year won the 3rd most games for the Boston Red Sox, behind Josh Becket and Tim Wakefied) was the big star for the victorious Japanese squad. In nation-oriented tournaments like these, the American squads have not performed well, that is true. But it one asks "which is the best league", there is no doubt that the American & National leagues in the US are head & shoulders above the rest. While the national identify of each of the players may be important to people outside the US, the fact is that the people in Boston love Ramirez, Otiz, Matsusaka, and Okajima just as much as they loved Williams, Doer, Pesky, and Dom Dimaggio fifty years ago. They get to see baseball at it's highest level played in Boston, and it works out well for everyone except for those non-baseball fans outside who intepret American's indescetion of calling their championship series the "World Series" as yet another excuse to believe that they are superior to Americans.

and to further clarify.... the winners of the Baseball World Cup... the American national team is composed of players that are playing in the minor leagues. The World Champion Boston Red Sox play in the higher level major leagues.

I would just add that former Boston Red Sox great Reggie Smith was the hitting coach for the American national team and therefore, perhaps they had an unfair advantage learning from such a master.

and to further clarify.... the winners of the Baseball World Cup... the American national team is composed of players that are playing in the minor leagues. The World Champion Boston Red Sox play in the higher level major leagues.

I would just add that former Boston Red Sox great Reggie Smith was the hitting coach for the American national team and therefore, perhaps they had an unfair advantage learning from such a master.

When Reggie played for the Sox he used to entertain kids pre-game by doing backflips by the sidelines. We used to yell at Yaz to try to get him to do the same but he wouldn't go for it. Fenway was a better place back in those days, kids could cut school and go to a game Ferris Bueller style back then, whereas now you can only get in if you know someone and are willing to pony up a big pile of cash for the tickets.

Interesting that Reggie is coaching now. Is Warren Cromartie doing the same?

Before:

After:

www.reggiesmithbaseball.com

The years have been kind... as he still looks fit today, at 62, as he runs baseball camps.

Warren, on the other hand, is a pro wrestler, at 53, in Japan...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/spor...996_peep18.html

http://www.hustlehustle.com/free/fighters/?id=1181645806