US softball team loses gold to Japan

Friday 22nd August, 05:53 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 116 Total Comments Show All

OhioDonna at 11:37 PM JST - 22nd August

I thought it was called the Olympic GAMES not the Olympic WAR!
otis123 at 12:03 AM JST - 23rd August

Yosun,

no 1 natural resource (oil.....) consumption. no 1 CO2 release. no 1 nuke/MDW weapons owned no 1 .........

I could be wrong, but I think Russia has the most nuclear warheads.
Schoolboyerror at 09:44 AM JST - 23rd August

I looked at the IOC site to see if boobug's claims that they go by total number of medals was correct. Certainly up to the Turin Olympics they ranked golds first, then silvers, then bronzes, which would obviously have China way out in front at this olympics. I couldn't find a table for this year yet.
TheCode at 12:03 PM JST - 23rd August

Congratulations to Japan! It was a great game. They played their hearts out and won. I could see that the U.S. women were a bit too confident and thought they could win again. It was nice to see that at least one American (Bustos) was enjoying receiving the silver medal. However, it was appalling to see players like Jennie Finch and Cat Osterman practically bawling at "losing the gold medal". I could even see a sneer come across the face of the woman on the right side of the Japanese player on the far left of the podium as the Japanese women were handed their gold medals. Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

As for everyone who is questioning the "Page system" of the medal round playoff format, it was a rule that was instituted awhile back, just like the tie-breaker rule and the intentional walk rule. They were all agreed on by all nations, so that it shouldn't be a problem. Yes, the U.S. had to beat Japan twice (not three times, since games in the preliminary round only count for placing in the medal round, and Japan could have been in the same position. In fact, I thought it was very strategic of Japan to not play Ueno in the preliminary game and save her for the medal round games.) in order to win. For more information about the "page system format", see this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pageplayoffsystem

People have mixed reactions to this system, as they do with the single-elimination system, but it seems that the popularity of this is increasing. Frankly, because of this system, Japan had to play an extra game in the medal round and the U.S. got to enjoy an extra day of rest (which they should have spent better preparing for this game).
TheCode at 01:01 PM JST - 23rd August

Overall, this win by Japan may be what softball needs to get back into the Olympics. Parity and competition should help bring it back eventually. This year, it helped that the Olympics was held in China, which had the facilities in place and a growing interest in the sport of baseball and softball; not to mention their own national teams.
ReikiZen at 01:22 PM JST - 23rd August

I have to tip my hat to Japan. They played a great game and the US really has nothing to be ashamed of. If anything this has showed is how far the Japanese have come with their program over the last few years. They showed amazing stamina and played a very tight game. I don't remember seeing any real major errors and their pitcher was almost god like. 400+ from the plate and still was packing heat. The US on the other hand did make a few costly errors which you can't do with a team like Japan which they will exploit when given the opportunely. I know Team Japan has a great deal of respect for the US.

I have a Japanese friend that attended one of their training camps. She said that they had nothing but good things to say about team USA. They had all their videos and even a large framed Team USA Softball poster on the wall. There is no doubt in my mind that these girls have just as much love and dedication for the sport as we do. Therefore I felt it a bit shallow how we acted at the end of the game but I can understand it I guess. When you are expected to do something it doesn't make it any easier. The bad news of coarse is that this may be the last time we ever see softball in the Olympic Games for the foreseeable future. On the other hand though this may have been the best thing that could have happened for the sport.

Softball has seen a steady decline over the last few Olympics. This has in part contributed to to IOC decision in that it just isn't competitive enough on a international scale to warrant having it in the games. As well as to the fact that the US has been so dominant and the mercy rule having to be put into effect so often which no doubt is embarrassing for the opposing teams. There just isn't enough incentive and I ad-mange it is difficult for teams to get backing and support and are largely on their own unlike the US. Therefore I am hopeful that there may be some good to come out of this. Japan no doubt will get a major shot in the arm for their program and is at least a start.

I think Team USA needs to be better ambassadors for the sport doing exhibitions games, workshops and the like. Doing something similar to what USA Women's Soccer has done which I never though would see them get to where they are now. Creating something similar to FIFA but for softball. Yea, I know this is all impossible stuff but if Softball is ever going to see an Olympic Stage again. There are going to need to be changes put into place to get it back there. With the right people it can happen. Since Baseball is being axed as well there likely should be enough support among the MLB and other organizations which would be in their best both their interests. In closing I congratulate Team Japan on their amazing win and together we will get softball back in the Olympics. Giving young girls something to dream about again!!!!
bebert at 02:18 PM JST - 23rd August

I've read that there is a lot of effort going into trying to popularize the sport internationally, including funding to start programs in places you wouldn't expect like some nations in the Middle East.

I wonder how much Title 9 has to due with the American women's dominance of the sport. Title 9, basically requires American college athletics to split funding equally between male and female sports. I would imagine the big winners of this legislation have been women's basketball and softball. They probably see much more money than fencing or field hockey. So that begs the question: are the college softball teams in Japan, Australia, Taiwan,etc. funded as well as the Americans? If it is a funding problem, then you can probably expect the Chinese to be the most improved team in 2016, if the sport returns to the games.

Hopefully Ueno's performance will draw more girls into the sport the way Arikawa, Miki and Asada have drawn more girls into figure skating. That way, in 2016, Japan will have more than one ace pitcher and won't have to play the same one for three games in 35 hours.

I imagine Team Japan is having one hell of a good time right now.
NICOLE77 at 10:59 PM JST - 24th August

Loved the softball game! Both teams put in an amazing game - And the Aussies in the game the day before ;)

One point about the medal tables; Today I noticed that the top of the medal tables in the Aussie press is China - as it has the most GOLD medals. But American press has America on the top as it has the most OVERALL medals... So I guess it depends which table you are looking at as to which team is at the top...
imgold at 11:56 PM JST - 24th August

I tend to agree with those posters that question the round robin "page format" used at the Olympics. I am a firm believer that sports mirrors life in general. Getting second chances is one thing, but three ? Japan seems fortunate to have won this. I'll leave it at that.
bebert at 02:33 PM JST - 25th August

Getting second chances is one thing, but three ? J

Actually, it was twice. And let's try to shed too many tears for a team that had won 22 games straight in the Olympics before Japan but them down.
imgold at 10:50 PM JST - 25th August

Bebert please,

The US beat Japan 7-0 on August 15th. They played again in the semifinals August 20th with the USA winning again 4-1. It wasn't until the USA played Japan for the third time did they eventually lose.
Kekahuna at 06:40 AM JST - 26th August

It is a great time for sports in Japan.. What a great thing that the women of Japan have come so far in the sport of softball to beat the USA team.. they should be congratulated and given respect for the rest of their lives.. many this might well be a high point in what will be a long a fruitful life. Women have come a long way in sports in Japan.. with Womens soccer team performing quite well at the Olympics. As for youth.. the Japan little league boys represented Nippon well in that classic competition.. (Hawaii little leaguers win it all).. Maybe we can have the sports teams from Japan come to Hawaii as a mid point to play US teams in friendly competition in the near future. Aloha to all our beautiful friends in Japan.. Bravo.
freakashow at 08:22 PM JST - 26th August

ingold,

The US beat Japan 7-0 on August 15th. They played again in the semifinals August 20th with the USA winning again 4-1. It wasn't until the USA played Japan for the third time did they eventually lose.

What's your point? Team USA lost, and Japan won; end of story. That's life. It don't matter how many times you play someone, you gotta win out. In fact, the first game (AUG 15th) that you mentioned was not a playoff round game and so doesn't count. The outcome could have been flipflopped and Japan could have won that game 7-0 instead, and they would have still had to meet USA in the playoff round twice in order to win the gold medal. I mean, hey, the Japanese team could've whined too if they wanted to, that they had to play an extra playoff round game, while USA had an extra day off.

In my view, whining about NBC screwing the c*** of mine and many Americans' Olympic viewing across the West Coast, is something to whine about. Which by the way, this softball final I did see, but certainly NOT LIVE.
freakashow at 11:16 AM JST - 27th August

imgold,

It wasn't until the USA played Japan for the third time did they eventually lose.

Why is it so difficult to win against a team three times? I see it all the time in sports. Heck, baseball teams do it and thus they call it a "sweep", hence the use of brooms to signify it. In fact, baseball teams play the same team three or four days in a row, without a break. I've even seen several doubleheaders where they beat the same team on the same day. It even happens in basketball, hockey, and American football. Teams "sweep" each other often enough that some go without winning against a particular team for years.
martyman at 03:27 PM JST - 27th August

Regardless of what country wins which medal, teamwork, good sportsmanship, and determination brings out the best. In this case, Japan in softball. Go Japan! Lets hope the IOC does vote softball back in 2016 so Japan can take the gold again.

Japan had 9 gold, US 36 and China 51. But who's keeping count?