Phillips: WBC is a huge success
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
March 22, 2009
The World Baseball Classic comes to an end Monday night, and while the U.S. is still warming up to the international competition — around the world it is a huge success.
I spoke to ESPN analyst Steve Phillips about his take on the WBC.
JW » Do you think that WBC is a good idea and should continue?
Phillips » I think that the WBC is a great success story. They drew enthusiastic crowds in Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. Here, our crowds have been into the games and vocal I just wish we would have had larger crowds. We are playing for the right to say we are the best baseball team in the world. But we have to plan beyond this year’s WBC. I really think that Team USA should do just like the NBA did for the Olympics. Send out invitations to the top players with the commitment that those who sign up will practice starting the second week January. In non-WBC years they would report on time to their respective teams, but in years when the tournament is being played they would be ready.
JW » What has most impressed you about the WBC?
Phillips » Really, it has been the way that each team has approached this tournament with such pride. You have Team Japan that bows to the fans and to the field before they go to their positions at the start of each game. Korea is such a disciplined team. They execute the fundamentals almost perfectly. Venezuela has lots of passion and shows a great deal of emotion. Our USA team has a lot of pride in their country and they have played with both emotion and heart. They clearly want to win the WBC.
JW » So you see the WBC becoming baseball’s version of the soccer World Cup?
Phillips » Absolutely. It makes sense that baseball has this World Cup-like format and continue expand and refine it. Baseball is a worldwide game, and just ask the Netherlands you don’t have to be a powerhouse to win.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on dcexaminer.com.
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