Say what you will about American sports, but...

[General Zod]

At least we don't give our "Most Valuable Player" awards to the player who screwed his teammates the hardest.

OK... I'm not really looking to start another American/European sports debate. But come on... how can they award Zidane the Golden Ball? Was the voting, by chance, done before the incident?

Zod

 

[Ellestin]

Was the voting, by chance, done before the incident?

Zod

Yes. He was the best player of the World Cup regardless.

 

[Dev]

He deserves it. Look, he has been punished for what he did and accomplished apart from that an extraordinary world cup, played at so high a level.. one couldn't imagine he would be able to play like he did. Against Brazil he was absolutely amazing and against Spain too.

If it had happened in the US I don't think he would have been elected 'best player of the tournament' tbh. What do you think? And how does it work for American sports champions, especially baseball which I don't give a shit about? (just wanna know) In football/soccer, just scoring a goal in semis or final is extraordinary. 1998 World cup final : 2 goals. Champions' League final : victory goal (and what a goal) . 2006 World Cup : another one (though a penalty) . Nobody has done that in thelast 10 years.

 

[Dark One]

Yes. He was the best player of the World Cup regardless.

If this is really true (voted on before the incident), then I don't have a problem with it. I don't believe that though. Why was it announced the following day then?

 

[Doom]

I think I read that it was decided during the final game, maybe even after 90 minutes was up, but before the red card.

 

[Dark One]

Ok - and again, I'd have no problem with it at all if that was the case.

 

[Claws of Perdition]

I think he got bonus points for that headbut well from me anyway

 

[Ellestin]

I'll never get enough of that shit

 

[Claws of Perdition]

where are you geeting all these from? it happened like two days ago and theres a ton already

 

[General Zod]

And how does it work for American sports champions, especially baseball which I don't give a shit about? (just wanna know)

Baseball elects two MVPs each year (based on the regular season), one from the American League and one from the National League. In almost every case, this player is from a team who is moving on to the playoffs. However, votes are tallied prior to the playoffs. In the playoffs, MVP awards are given in the two Championship Series, and the World Series. The MVP always comes from the winning team. After all, how valuable can a player be, if his team lost? If you removed his efforts, his team still would have lost.

Zod

 

[Doom]

After all, how valuable can a player be, if his team lost? If you removed his efforts, his team still would have lost.

Interesting point, but AFAIK it's not actually called "Most Valuable Player" in football. It's just about who was the best player, in which case it makes sense that he wouldn't have to be from the winning team.

 

[Doom]

After all, how valuable can a player be, if his team lost? If you removed his efforts, his team still would have lost.

Another thing, apparently it's different in American sports, but the World Cup isn't only about winning the whole tournament. Ghana, for instance, qualified for the knock-out stages for the first time in their history after some impressive displays in the group games. I heard an interview on the radio with a Ghanian fan after they were knocked out against Brazil and he was ecstatic about the fact that they had got that far, and losing didn't seem to really bother him. I think plenty of those Ghanian fans would regard their player's performances as very valuable in getting them that far.

I think football fans value their players trying as hard as they can and doing their best while representing their country more than necessarily coming away with a win.

 

[Dev]

Baseball elects two MVPs each year (based on the regular season), one from the American League and one from the National League. In almost every case, this player is from a team who is moving on to the playoffs. However, votes are tallied prior to the playoffs. In the playoffs, MVP awards are given in the two Championship Series, and the World Series. The MVP always comes from the winning team. After all, how valuable can a player be, if his team lost? If you removed his efforts, his team still would have lost.

Zod

K. I saw there was a home run contest recently. Found that weird. How important is this?

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

I dont think those homerun competitions have any bearing on MVP nominations, I could be wrong though.

 

[Dark One]

I dont think those homerun competitions have any bearing on MVP nominations, I could be wrong though.

Correct - they're simply for mid-season break entertainment purposes. The All Star festivities provide the league with a 3 day break from normal operations in July of every year. The home run contest and All Star game (where players are voted in by the fans) are a way to keep the fans occupied during the break.

 

[Claws of Perdition]

i still find it holarious that its called the world series yet its just the US who are you guys seriously trying to fool.

 

[Dev]

Correct - they're simply for mid-season break entertainment purposes.

Yeah obviously, how 'bout a penalty session? Now, that would be lame

 

[Krilons Resa]

I'll never get enough of that shit

 

[Dark One]

i still find it holarious that its called the world series yet its just the US who are you guys seriously trying to fool.

Ugh, give me a break. Show me a league around the world that consistently employs better players than those in the major league. Japan? Please.

Anyway, they created the "World Baseball Classic", so at least some effort has been made to bridge that gap of "arrogance" or whatever you want to call it. In addition, while still predominantly an American game, there are players from all over the world in the major league, particularly from Japan and the Latin/Central American countries.

 

[J.]

The US is known as the leading nation for baseball (along with, surprisingly Cuba/Dominican Republic). We're just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up.