U.S. softball shouldn't apologize for winning

Softball, meanwhile, is played in an organized fashion in more than 100 nations, has a rabid fan base, gets pretty good Olympic TV ratings, fills the stadiums at least for the finals, and happens to be a terrific team sport for women.

The Olympics is right to consign baseball to the sidelines. Without the best players in the world, all of whom are occupied in the American or Japanese major leagues, it’s nothing more than an exhibition sport anyway. The Olympics are about the best competing against the best, not minor leaguers trying to beat Cuba. And until baseball declares an August recess to compete in the Olympics, it shouldn’t even ask back in.

Softball is different. The athletes are the best in the world, and though the results don’t show it, the world is catching up to the United States. Australia held the Americans scoreless on Wednesday until the fifth inning. One hit early in the game would have given the Aussies a lead and put them in position to win. The score was 3-0 for the United States, but it wasn’t easy.

Candrea knows it, as does his team. But it’s hard to get the general public to believe that the competition is tighter than ever, especially when the Americans are so reluctant to lose a game — even if just for show.

“I don’t think many people do,” Candrea said when asked if the public appreciates how hard his team has to work to win. "I think many people just assume we have a lot of talent.”

The game, he said, “is tougher.” It’s also an Olympic goner, voted off the island for 2012 with a promise from the IOC to reconsider that decision for 2016.

You have to hope they see the light, and not just for the United States, who have been the greatest women’s Olympic team in any sport ever since they arrived. It’s a great sport. It has an audience. It deserves to be here.

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