More Than A Medal...

It's been almost 70 years since the International Olympic Committee voted a sport out of the Olympics...until now. Despite the fact that the International Softball Federation boasts 131 member countries...softball was "punched out". The IOC made the decision during a secret ballot in Singapore back in July 2005.

For 25 years leading up to its inauguration at the 1996 Atlanta Games, the ISF fought for softball to be included in the summer Olympic line-up. In some cases, the USA softball squad could arguably be the greatest team in it's short lived Olympic history. Clearly, they have stifled the competition, on the mound, at the plate and defensively on the field. They've posted a cumulative 32-5 record, claiming 3 golds and one silver in the process. That silver coming at the hands of the Japanese, who dealt Team USA their first loss since 2000. Up to that point, they had won 22 consecutive games. And while the basis of the IOC's decision is "supposedly" rooted in the dominance of the United States performances, since when has that prompted the dismissal of a sport entirely??

Let's talk about dominance...India's field hockey team won six straight golds between the years of 1928 and 1956, and it lives on as an Olympic sport. The Russians have taken home 3 straight golds in rhythmic gymnastics which remains twirling away it's ribbons in the games. And what about men's basketball...the USA team has captured 13 golds including this past year. Even after being considered untouchable, eventually, the world caught up and gave the USA a shocking loss in the 2004 games, quite similar to Japan upsetting the USA in softball's gold medal matchup.

USA softball is fighting to step back in that batter's box. A year from now, the IOC will have an opportunity to reverse their decision. We caught up with some members of the team, who gave us their perspective of the decision.

Check out these websites for more information:

http://www.internationalsoftball.com/backsoftball/index.html

http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/

http://www.usasoftball.com/folders.asp?uid=1

http://www.monicaabbott.fsmgsports.com/

http://staceynuveman.com/

Http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Content/Events/Athlete/2008/DEC/Nuveman-Mendoza-Softball-Clinic-at-Fordham-University.aspx