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SUPPORT OLYMPIC SOFTBALL
Issue your vote of confidence here on why softball should remain an Olympic sport.
Be sure to also visit the website for "Back Softball," our Olympic reinstatement campaign.

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Posted by:
Shannon Date/Time: 8/21/2008 11:30:57 AM
Message:
 Now that the USA hit the silver instead of gold, maybe that will help the initiative to bring back softball. We deserve the opportunity to get the gold back!! To support the initiative to bring back softball to the olympics, go to the back softball campaign. Hopefully someone will let us know what small schools full of olympic hopeful girls can do to help. Until then, it’s a shame that this has happened.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Ann Gerl Date/Time: 8/21/2008 9:10:28 AM
Message:
 Like so many others, I feel the women’s softball athletes are role models for today’s young women and upcoming generations. Now they are wanting to remove the sport and add something like the biking sport - where injuries can happen - and will! How can the Olympics take away softball when they have ping-pong, badminton, and fencing. Who watches them? My husband and I have stayed up each night for the women’s softball team. We are so proud of each and every one of them. Those women have sacrificed time away from their families to train and represent our country only to have their hearts torn out by the deletion in 2012. What are people thinking? Thank you.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Danika Date/Time: 8/20/2008 9:30:47 PM
Message:
 okay, so i have heard numerous reasons as to why softball is being taken out of the olympics. 1. the usa is becoming too dominate..well in response, no offense to all the swimming and michael phelps fans but he has won every race he has been in this year! and thats not dominate? 2. there arent enough supporters...well as far as i know, the numbers are only growing! and if people stick around to watch badminton and trampoline they are definately gonna watch softball. 3.and like numerous other messages said, if your gonna leave in sports like speed walking and trampoline and badmintion, and take out softball, your completely INSANE. i love the sport and i have crappy shoulders so being a pitcher or just throwing at all is made hard and i would give anything to play and now not even to be able to watch the girls i admire play and perservere through injuries, well, just plain old sucks.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Nina Matera Date/Time: 8/20/2008 8:01:44 PM
Message:
 My grandfather taught me to play baseball when I was 6. When I was 9 I started to play in the girls softball league in my neighborhood little league, where because we were girls we played on a concrete schoolyard field. My grandfather always came to my games and win or lose he would always support me. I never made my high school team but it didn’t stop me from playing. I also played soccer if not for these sports I don’t know where girls like me would have done. In 1986 my neighborhood little league started a women’s slow pitch softball league. I immediately signed up. In 1990 I tore the ACL in my left knee sliding into third base but I didn’t let this stop me. I coached my team for the rest of that season and the next which was when my grandfather passed away. It was my teammates that got me through it. The following year I came back as a player with a metal hinged brace on my knee even though I played catcher. I never gave up and my team took 1st place in the league for the next 4 years. When they made softball an olympic sport in 1996 and I saw Dot Richardson play I was simply beside myself. I had never seen fast-pitch softball before and could not believe how good these women were. I saw all the games that year, and the following olympic games. When they said they were taking it out of the games I could not believe it. So many other countries have learned the game and when I watch the games I get so excited every time we score. The US has a large population of children that a overweight and it is mainly because the children do not have enough chances and willingness to go out and play. By taking sports like softball and baseball out of the olympics I feel it takes the dreams of the children that play these sports more reasons to stop because their dreams of becoming olympic champions will never come true. If it is because we are too good then why did it take 9 innings before we finally scored against Japan just the other day to get into the gold medal game? Give me a break I don’t think they know what they are taking about? Do we take out swimming from the olympics just because Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals this year and plans to compete in 2012 London or do we just sit back and enjoy the games? I always look forward to watching the olympic summer games for the softball now I feel what’s the point. BRING BACK SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL!
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Kristina Gandara Date/Time: 8/20/2008 3:31:29 PM
Message:
 As a fomer Collegiate Softball player at Texas A&M and a friend and former long time competitor to many of the women on the current USA Olympic team, I am deeply saddened by the news of Softball being cut from the Olympics. Although I will never have a medal of my won, seeing old teammates, and past compeitors compete in the games, it feels as if I am able to satisfy some Olympic dreams by watching them. Now with a daughter of my own, I would love for her to follow in my footsteps, and go even further. The IOC will never fully understand the many hours of hard work and dedication Softball players put into the game. If other countries were introduced to the game, it would undoubtedly catch on and grow immensly, even in Europe. With the sport Fairly new to the Olympics, we needed time for other countries to develop and level the playing field. With the sport being eliminated, we were denied that chance. Other countries were denied that chance. They owe it to the children who look up to the Olympic players now, give them a dream to shoot for in the sport they love. Its only right. It must be reinstated.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
kelsie Date/Time: 8/19/2008 12:45:24 PM
Message:
 I am 14 years old and it is my dream to play in the olympics. But if softball is taken out, my dream can’t come true. And thats the same for any other girl. So back softball, and get rid of the other wimpy "sports" like ping-pong.
Mail Me! Country: usa
Posted by:
Karly Date/Time: 8/18/2008 11:11:32 AM
Message:
 I’ve played softball since I was 5 years old and I’ve always dreamed of playing with the Olympic team. When I heard they were taking it out... I couldn’t believe what I was hearing!!! And then, to make it even worse, I saw this lame badmitton and trampoline event! Besides, softball is as big as its ever been! More and more girls are learning about it and suddenly they’re taking it away and crushing dreams like mine. This is unfair, and I am not going to stand for it. I’m going to send out an email saying similar things like this and I want to get it circulating around the country if we can, so to get it around, please send me an email stating you want me to send it to you! Title it Softball so I know it isn’t spam. So come on ladies!!! Lets get softball back!!!
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Mark Llewellyn Date/Time: 8/18/2008 6:19:51 AM
Message:
 Women around the world deserve a chance to play softball at the Olympics. This sport is a super showcase for talented women around the globe. The IOC made a big mistake in removing this sport from the games. I ask the IOC to reinstate this sport for the 2016 games and beyond.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Katy Date/Time: 8/17/2008 10:29:52 PM
Message:
 Remember Sports Illustrated in previous Olypics, USA softball is the REAL DREAM TEAM! Keep all the other sports like "tabel tennis"(ping-pong), badmittion, and all the other sissy sports. But, I can promise you that thousands of girls from 8u to international level, are willing to get down on their hands and knees and beg. Olympics isn’t the olympics with out Jennie Finch and Cat Osterman. Back Softball!
Mail Me! Country: United States
Posted by:
claudia Date/Time: 8/17/2008 10:16:59 PM
Message:
 To Whom It May Concern: It is a profoundly poor decision to drop softball and baseball from the Olympic agenda. And with what events are these two sports being replaced? Someone told me golf and something else, but I have a hard time believing that. I’ve read that they are being dropped because not enough other countries participate. Wasn’t that once the case with basketball? And beach volleyball? Come on IOC, give me a break! Softball and baseball have only had two (count ’em, 2) actual Olympics in which they were events. The other was a trial event. So I guess we, as USA citizens, get screwed--again--by the IOC, huh? Maybe the IOC should see what it would be like to be without, not only our Olympian, but also without our money,huh?
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Katy Date/Time: 8/17/2008 10:13:42 PM
Message:
 I am 13 and ever since I was 8 I have played softball, and dreamed of a gold medal being put around my neck. When I heard softball was being eliminated, I was devastated. I hope softball is reinstated for the 2016 games when I’m a junior in college. :)
Mail Me! Country: United States
Posted by:
Kristee Pleszewski Date/Time: 8/17/2008 6:20:48 PM
Message:
 I love softball! I have been a great supporter of the local beer leagues and have gotten most of my teammates men and women to watch us going for gold!!! I cannot imagine the Olympics without it! I am 31 and still dream of what could’ve been for me! There are some things that are meant to be in the Olympics and softball is one of them.
Mail Me! Country: United States
Posted by:
Lisa Howell Date/Time: 8/17/2008 2:13:52 PM
Message:
 We also cannot believe that they are taking Softball out of the olympics. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??? Softball is such a great sport - we also believe that the sport does not get enough credit...or exposure...
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Rick Frazelle Date/Time: 8/17/2008 6:27:40 AM
Message:
 I’m not sure who, why or what politics were involved in making this completely irrational decision, but obviously all of the children throughout the world were not considered. I say politics because there could be no other explanation for this irresponsible decision. I would never say anything disrespectful about any other sport, but when curling, badminton, speed walking, etc. are events in the olympics and softball is not, then something has gone wrong. Like the millions of girls that play softball, my daughter has played from T-Ball to High School, and they all deserve the opportunity or dream of making it to the Olympics. I vow never to watch the Olympics again until softball is reinstated. I hope others understand the seriousness of this ridiculous decision.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
CMorrow Date/Time: 8/15/2008 11:36:38 PM
Message:
 Good Lord! Racewalking is an Olympic sport. The commentators on NBC were having discussions about 1 or 2 shoes hitting the pavement at the same time. Shooting a clay target with a shotgun (with a powder pack taped to the target) is an Olympic sport. YET...Women’s softball isn’t worthy of being classified as an Olympic sport?
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
amanda lee Date/Time: 8/15/2008 10:48:50 PM
Message:
 it’s me again. Im sorry but in my opinion... hey can they have table tennis and badminton and BALL ROOM DANCING in the olympics and taking SOFTBALL out? who brought up that great idea. if that’s what the olympics are coming too.... wow....
Mail Me! Country: United States
Posted by:
amanda lee Date/Time: 8/15/2008 10:24:10 PM
Message:
 i just cannot believe that a group of people could vote to take softball out of the olympics. I say that softball (college or better) is not on TV ENOUGH. how can people think that taking softball out of the olympics is going to make it better? the olympics is going to lose A MASSIVE amount of viewers all over the world. i have heard a lot of decisions that were not that smart but this is the most IDIOTIC decision that anyone (especially a group of people) has ever made in my opinion.
Mail Me! Country: United States
Posted by:
cassidy newbrough Date/Time: 8/15/2008 4:55:20 PM
Message:
 im a 11yr old with a dream,softball and the olympics.how can you take away little girls dreams? im sure there are more than just me out there that feel the same way,most of them are playing in the dirt right now.the sad thing is if the usa dominatied in every event would they take them all out of the olympics?it seems to me that is why its being taken out.look out swimming that will be next...LOL...to all the softball players please support are sport and sent out are message...KEEP SOFTBALL IN THE OLYMPICS AND GIVE US GIRLS HOPE.
Mail Me! Country: usa-p-burg-wv
Posted by:
Rachel Date/Time: 8/15/2008 1:46:40 PM
Message:
 Softball is the best sport ever. I have played since I was 5 and I dream to play on the olympic team on day. But if softball is not back in the olympics in 2016, me and many other girls out there will be crushed. I can’t believe that they would keep handball in the olympics and not womens softball. Get Softball Back!! Go USA!!
Mail Me! Country: USA : )
Posted by:
Jessie Date/Time: 8/15/2008 12:54:34 PM
Message:
 Hey, I an 16 years old and i have been playing softball since i was 6 and my dream from when i was a kid was to be like Jennie Finch and play in the olympics. Now I cant focus on that anymore because softball had been taken out. I think that softball should be put back into the olympics so all the young girls that play have something to play for and to show the world whay there skills. If softball gets taken out then a lot of girls will not play and pretty soon softball wont be a sport anymore just a distant memory. If the USA is to good that should promote other countries to try harder to get bettter programs not force them to drop out. I cant belive that they are taking softball out and leaving water polo and diving which are not sports. Softball should defenitaly be played in the olympics.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Amelia Date/Time: 8/15/2008 9:36:41 AM
Message:
 My daughter has been playing softball for 3 years. She recently had the oppurtunity to make All Stars and travel with her team. We were honored to play in the Nationals Tournament in Oklahoma. It was an amazing experience. We had the pleasure of visiting the Softball Hall of Fame. To see my daughters eyes light up and saying this is where I want to be and not only her we were there with a few of her team mates and got the same reaction from them also. It just makes me tear up thinking that those dreams and oppurtunities may never be reality for them. I dont even have the heart to tell my daughter she won’t be watching her favorite players in the olympics again. Softball is hard work. Its not just a game for some of these players. Its a way of life. I strongly believe it is a big mistake to remove it from the Olympics. Please dont make me tell my little girl that the sport she loves and thinks about all day is not going to be there anymore.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
alexis padilla Date/Time: 8/15/2008 9:00:56 AM
Message:
 i LOVE softball a have been playing since i was 5 and i am 14 now i love softball and love watchin it and for softball not to be in the olympics thats hurts me because i have a dream goal of one day to play for USA but without the olympics having softball my dream may not come i hope and pray that it will become part of the olympics again in 2016
Mail Me! Country: united states
Posted by:
Anastasia Austin Date/Time: 8/15/2008 7:14:46 AM
Message:
 I hope that the IOC will be forward-thinking enough to see that softball, which is a fairly young sport in comparison to many of the other Olympic sports, is gaining popularity world-wide. It brings hope and possibilities to girls all over the world, especially in countries that are just starting. I hope the IOC remembers how the Russians dominated Ice hockey for so long or how the Chinese are dominating in events such as Sync. Diving. It provides a goal for other teams, it fuels their drive to be the best players they can be. That possibility of being the team to beat "the best" team. Softball is already making huge strides in that direction. Having softball as an Olympic sport allows girls around the world another opportunity to dream of one day wearing a gold medal for their country. Please don’t take those dreams and opportunities away from girls all over the world.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Kaysee Date/Time: 8/14/2008 11:55:37 PM
Message:
 When I heard that this might be the last year for softball I was devastated because all of us girls in Bobby Sox have dreamed of playing in the Olympics. I definitely think that Softball should be put back in because so many young girls around the world love the game of softball and want to have a chance to play for their countries. Give all those girls a chance. Please put them back into the 2016 Olympics.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Stephanie Mello Date/Time: 8/14/2008 11:23:30 PM
Message:
 Hey, I have played softball most of my life. The lessons I learned and the friends I made will be with all of my days. Many of the girls I played with are going to college for the sport, who’s life time dream is to play in the Olympics. I watched there dreams get ripped away just as the got close enough to feel it with in reach. These girls have worked, and are willing to work just as hard as any other athletes in the Olympics. We should not punish a team for being too good, nor should we punish a sport just because a team is too good. Is excellence not what we are told to strive for? Michael Phelps dominates the swimming and is called a hero. The softball team dominates, and loses their chance to compete. It doesn’t make much sense.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Fiona Johnson Date/Time: 8/14/2008 8:00:43 PM
Message:
 hi. I have been playing softball since i was 6. I love the sport an I am on a team who has won a bunch of tournuments. all our wishes are to be in the olympics. I think its horrible that kids our age woulnt be able to live up our dream. and I also cant belive that other sports like water polo can be in it but they are taking softball out!
Mail Me! Country: U.S
Posted by:
Megan Date/Time: 8/14/2008 2:10:00 PM
Message:
 When I heard that softball was going to be taken out of the olympics, I cried. Softball is very important to today’s youth. Growing up playing softball kept me out of trouble and also taught me to strive for what I wanted. I had good grades because of softball. When high school was finished for me, I thought why don’t you coach a team to show the youth what I was taught and make them better ball players. I’ve coached 2 teams since I graduated high school since 2004, and most of my girls are still playing on varsity or at colleges now. Just because softball is a dominant sport here in the USA, does not mean that it should be taken out of the olympics. That is the only sport I look forward to watching during the olympics. I think softball should forever be in the olympics! Jennie Finch, Stacy Nuveman, Crystal Bustos, Michelle Smith, Lisa Fernandez are all women girls can look up to. Keep it in!
Mail Me! Country: USA!
Posted by:
Andrea Sato Date/Time: 8/13/2008 7:38:51 PM
Message:
 HUGE mistake!! it’s impossible!! as everybody has said in all the posts...there are many young athletes who really dream about being in an olympic game. why is softball not an important sport?? I am the pitcher of my team, and inthe pre selection of my country and MY dream was to go to the olympics at least once in my life!! I feel terrible about this!! and it’s so hard i can’t even say it in english anymore...NO PODEMOS QUEDARNOS CON LOS BRAZOS CRUZADOS! NO PODEMOS DEJAR QUE SAQUEN EL SOFTBALL DE LAS OLIMPIADAS, EL SOFTBALL ES TAN IMPORTANTE COMO EL BASEBALL O CUALQUIER DEPORTE QUE HAY ACTUALMENTE EN LAS OLIMPIADAS!!! Sigan posteando que tenemos que lograr que el softball regrese, aunque sea solo un post, cada uno vale mucho, demostremos cuanto valoramos el softball!! EL SOFTBALL ES UN DEPORTE OLIMPICO!!! No dejemos nuestros sueños!!!
Mail Me! Country: PERU
Posted by:
Jessie Date/Time: 8/13/2008 2:35:28 PM
Message:
 Hey everyone, I have been playing softball since i was 5 so about 10 years. I have dreamed about playing in the olympics since i was little always watching it on tv telling my dad was going to be just like Jennie Finch. By 2016 rolls around i will be to old to play in the olympics and so will alot of other girls my age. so i dont think they should take softball out of the olympics and take away my chance of being in the olympics. Everybody should get the same chance of being in the olympics. So those of you suppporters like me mail me and i will also help as much as i can and do whatever it takes to get softball back in olympics where it belongs. And take out water polo which is a game and not a sport. It is a silly game like marco polo. Jessie
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Jen Date/Time: 8/13/2008 2:17:04 PM
Message:
 hey, I have been playing softball for 10 years and i love the sport. My dream always has been to play softball in the olympics. I have been watching it for as long as i can remeber. I dont thik it is fair to take it out of the olympics. Doing this it will crush a lot of little girls dreams to play in the olympics and less girls will participate in softball and pretty soon it wont even be cosidered a sport. Just a distant memory. So everyone reading this contact me and i will do whatever it takes to get softball back into the olympics.
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Danielle williams Date/Time: 8/13/2008 8:45:48 AM
Message:
 hi my name is danielle i love playing softball.I want to be a pitcher . i would love to be in the olympics so they need too bring softball back no one wants to watch bmx biking that is so boring we need softball so other kids can learn to pitch hit and catch and bundt and slap GO USA!! PLEASE BRING SOFTBALL BACK
Mail Me! Country: texas
Posted by:
Pat Date/Time: 8/12/2008 11:53:39 PM
Message:
 I played sports in high school which was many years ago. I have always been interested in women’s sports and was so happy to see the Title 9 program come in since it helped the expansion made many improvement for the women’s sports programs. I was able to watch the prorams start to enable little girls and women to participate and gain the confidence that organized sports can provide which the men have always had all along. I enjoyed watching the U.S. Women’s softball team as they played their way toward the games in Beijing. I didn’t hear about the suspension when it first happened in 2005, they must have kept that a secret. I didn’t hear about it until this past June when I was talking to a friend about the U.S. women’s team. I felt a combination of sadness and anger when I was told there wouldn’t be a women’s softball event at the Olympics in 2012. I began to inquire into how this could happen. All I’ve been able to learn is the U.S. was possibly "too good" or maybe they "won" too often. Then someone said they thought it was because of a lack of interest by the rest of the world in the sport. Horse pucky, give me a break. Why does this always happen when women get "too good" at something? They, meaning the powers in charge, really should have thought about it before they decided to suspend the women’s Olympic softball event. It’s an insult to women to do this to them. I plan to do whatever it takes to see that women’s softball is reinstated and is once again an event in the Olympics. Do they plan to suspend the meter swimming just because Michael Phelps wins all the time and out swims anyone else in the world? I don’t think. Nor will they ever suspend any of the other events the men are involved in and they shouldn’t suspend any of the women’s events no matter how good they are or how much they win. The women softball players are outstanding women both on and off the field, they are a credit and role models for little girls coming up and other women athletes. I hope the women win all of their games in 2008 Olympics and leave the heads of the IOC spinning. GO USA!!!
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Sandra Torrez Date/Time: 8/12/2008 10:00:37 PM
Message:
 i have been playing softball for 10years. i remember the first time i saw softball on played on the olympics i was little and i remember wanting to grow up and play softball so thats when i first started. my first tryout for a travel team was so scary i was more neverous than anything, but i had talent i made the team and seeing all the other girls get cut is like seeing the softball get takin out of the olympics. it makes you wanna quit and think that the sport is over for you. so i TATALLY support back softball and i hope we get it back next year.
Mail Me! Country: California
Posted by:
Randi Date/Time: 8/12/2008 9:37:36 PM
Message:
 I think they should keep softball in the olympics. One because there are a lot of chances that the forein countries will get the funding to promot the sport to the young softball players that are inlined in the community. Then young players who have and will dream of being in the future olympics will be able to follow their dreams of being in the olympics. All I’m saying is that we would miss out on great kids representing their country in the olympics by cutting the game of softball out of the olympics.
Mail Me! Country: California
Posted by:
HARRIS Date/Time: 8/12/2008 7:47:34 PM
Message:
 I am a proud mother of a 12 year old girl who bust her butt with pitching lessons and hitting lessons along with all of the other girls on her travel team. I just can’t imagine these poor girls have dreamed of being able to one day play in the olympics and now to find out that dream may not come true shame on the olympic committee for allowing this to happen they have sports that no one has ever heard of and yet they stay in the olympics. Please realize softball is growing and growing fast and girls are starting younger and younger to start training and learning this wonderful sport. Not only that but if you truly just look at some of the stars of this sport and look at the role models they are for our youth what else could you ask for.. please reinstate softball for the dreams of all who eat breathe and sleep it...
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Camille Date/Time: 8/12/2008 6:38:05 PM
Message:
 I have played softball since i was 5. it’s so disappointing to remove olympic softball. i fully support back softball. i hope that softball comes back to the olympics.
Mail Me! Country: U.s.a
Posted by:
Marissa Levine Date/Time: 8/12/2008 6:36:09 PM
Message:
 I have played softball since I was 7 years old. Prior to that I played tee ball at 5 years and farm baseball at 6 years old. I finally made an All Star team this year when I was 11. There were so many girls that tried out to make the U12 team that we made 2 teams. They A team went to all states and regionals to try and go to the world series. I was on the B team but had so much fun and we played awesome when we had our summer final tournament. I have been watching softball on tv since I was little and there is no reason why this should not be in the Olympics. I hope softball will always continue to be an Olympic sport. I love playing the game and I love watching it too. i know you can do it good luck. Go U.S.A. Marissa Levine, 12, Raynham MA
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Danielle Williams Date/Time: 8/12/2008 6:31:39 PM
Message:
 I play softball and I am currently training to pitch. I am sitting here watching the United States play softball. I learn alot from watching this team play. Please return softball to the Olympics. Why would you remove these athletes from the field and add BMX bikes. Danielle
Mail Me! Country: Unitekeep d States
Posted by:
carlie strange Date/Time: 8/12/2008 6:15:39 PM
Message:
 hay i love softball i dont understand why they are taking it out of the olympics. i have been playing softball since i was 3 and im 15 now. i think they should take another sport out like a pointless one like badmitten or handball. but softball is the most awsome sport ever i cant imagine why they would do that. but i think they should re-instate softball in to the olympics for all the girls around the world
Mail Me! Country: united states
Posted by:
Samantha Date/Time: 8/12/2008 3:54:09 PM
Message:
 I’ve been playing softball for over 6 years now and have always enjoyed the game. I’m very disappointed in the Olympic committee in choosing to remove softball from the 2012 Olympics. It is a shame that they are removing a sport that can have such a positive presence for young girls to full grown adults. It’s a shame to see softball be removed from the Olympic rooster. I fully sport BackSoftball in it’s mission. Good Luck.
Mail Me! Country: United States
Posted by:
Kasey C. Date/Time: 8/12/2008 3:18:55 PM
Message:
 I’ve been playing softball for years and have worked so hard to get to where I am. I’m on a traveling fastpitch softball team and I have wanted to play in the olympics in the future for a while. Softball is my favorite sport to watch in the olympics, and not just because team USA is a great team, but because I like to watch the game being played by people who really know what they’re doing. How can they have all of this handball and synchronized swimming (which aren’t even real sports) and take out softball?
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Court Date/Time: 8/12/2008 2:05:41 PM
Message:
 I have been playing Fastpitch since i was eight and i grew up thinkin that i would be able to play in the olympics and now i cant because they took it out.. It’s not our fault the U.S. dominates every olympics they are trained well. Many girls lik me are losing their dream of playing and the olympics and everyone needs to back softball because to me it is the only reason to watch the olympics and the only reason to get up in the morning to know that you have a big tournament or a big game.
Mail Me! Country: United States
Posted by:
Louann Smith Date/Time: 8/12/2008 1:14:26 PM
Message:
 I am 15 years old and I have been playing softball since I was verry litte. And now that I hear that they took softball out of the olympics in 2012 that pissed me off I was so mad and sad at the same time. I have always wanted to be on the U.S.A team and I will when I am a little older, but I want to go and compete in the olympics and Im sure that there are other girls like me that want to do the very same thing, but they cant without the olympics. With out softball in the olympics there are going to be girls crushed and their dreams will be crushed. SO PLEASE PLEASE PUT SOFTBALL BACK IN THE OLYMPICS FOR 2016 AND KEEP IT IN THE OLYMPICS!!
Mail Me! Country: USA
Posted by:
Jason Russell Date/Time: 8/12/2008 11:50:43 AM
Message:
 I am so upset over this whole situation. Let me get this straight, softball is being snubbed from the Olympics because the USA dominates the sport, yet badmitton, handball, table tennis and other nonsense sports are being kept in the rotation. This is absolutely ridiculous, Do not drop a sport because one country dominates it, encourage other countries to step-up thier game. Does this mean that diving and table tennis will be dropped because China dominates it, or long distance running will be dropped because Ethiopia dominates that sport. The answer is NO, Why? you ask, because those sports are not dominated by the USA!!!!!!! I am asking, no begging, bring back softball into the Olympics in 2016. My 15 year old daughter plays softball and I would love to see her play in the Olympics if she chose to and made the team, do not take that dream away from so many girls.
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Posted by:
C Lawrence Date/Time: 8/12/2008 10:32:08 AM
Message:
 My daughter is a softball player who spends a tremendous amount of time and effort on improving her game. She spends almost every weekend at tournaments games in our area, and never complains about the 6:00 AM Saturday and Sunday wake ups. She loves the sport. I am grateful that she is interested and involved in a sport that emphasizes girls and women who are strong, athletic and team players. BRING SOFTBALL BACK TO THE OLYMPICS.
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Posted by:
Samantha Date/Time: 8/12/2008 10:30:54 AM
Message:
 8 years ago when we took our daughters, then 11 and 7 years old, to an olympic pregame in a town near us, they both decided then and there that they were gonna grow up to be like Cat Osterman. Since then-my girls have worked their butts off and pitch EVERY DAY and are two of the best pitchers in our area. Our oldest made Varsity as a freshman and took her team to the regionals for the first time in the history of our little town. She plays on a National Travel team as well as 2 other city leagues. Our youngest is just starting in the travel thing and is doing great! I am hearbroken that they are taking softball out of the olympics just because no other country can compete with us!! They are going to punish girls like my daughters who have role models and work their butts off to be like them. It is my daughters dreams to play in the olympics and they are still working towards that goal because I know someone will step up to the plate and make things right again! I just want to thank all the olympic team-we again took our daughters to the pre olympic game in June and they got to meet all the girls and get all their autographs again as well as pictures! You all are such great role models and have made my kids such great athletes. I know my girls are going to keep working to achieve their goals of one day competing w/ you in the olympics and for that I owe you so much! I absolutely LOVE to watch my girls play! I’m so proud to be a softball mom-I know how much work it takes to be as good as my kids and I could never express how proud I am of them!! They have given up SO much to practice pitching and I just hope that they KEEP SOFTBALL IN THE OLYMPICS!! GET RID OF air pistols, speed walking, badmitten the list goes on and on of nonsence sports that they ARE keeping! What a shame!
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Posted by:
sandi w Date/Time: 8/11/2008 11:44:59 PM
Message:
 Both my daughter and 2 step-daughters played softball on various leagues...I coached a summer league team. I would certainly rather watch softball than badminton in the olympics! Softball teaches girls teamwork and gives them pride in themselves and their teammates. It should be continued in the Olympics...it’s our favorite Olympic event!! Everyone I know has expressed shock and dismay that very obscure sports are included, yet softball is being weeded out because Team USA dominates...I say "Step up to the plate" other countries. Work on improving your teams. Other sports where one country dominates are not being discontinued! It’s absurd! Keep softball!!!!!!!!
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Posted by:
Britani Eaton Date/Time: 8/11/2008 11:27:59 PM
Message:
 First of all I have worked my butt off to maybe one day be in the olympics! I have logged the man hours!! I play on 4 teams a year [MHSAA, Little League, National travel League (Mt. Pleasant Drillers) , Midland City League] and travel all over the state of Michigan!! I have been playing softball since I was 8 years old and I am now 15! Softball has taken me places that I never thought would even be possible for me to go! I can’t tell you how disapointed I was when I heard that they were taking softball out of the Olympics after 2008! It has always been my dream to walk out in the opening cerimonies and look @ all the people there cheering for me! I have always dreamed of just one day getting to pitch in an Olympic game! They are taking softball out because it is such an American bassed sport right well is that our fault that the girls here work hard and are good! Why should the little girls like me and my little sister be punished when we have been working forever to maybe one day be in the Olympics! Look @ womens Basketball that was an American Bassed sport for how long and now teams are starting to catch them! Well let that happen for softball! Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t! Why just the other day I was watching the USA play Canada and Canada gave them a run for there money! The teams all around the world will get better! Just give them a chance!! So please I beg just reconsider putting softball back in the olympics!!
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Posted by:
Toby Date/Time: 8/11/2008 11:21:13 PM
Message:
 So many sports are out of reach to girls and women. Yes things have gotten better, yet we are light years behind men/boys in opportunities to pursue our passions athletically. I was an excellent running back and wide receiver, I played much better football than softball. So without a doubt there was no future for me outside my neighborhood. Plus at age 12 the neighborhood mothers wouldn’t let their boys play tackle ball with me when i turned 13. I am resentful that we as women have different rules for our games, yet have both played and been an avid supporter of womens softball. Why are we being excluded from Summer games in the UK? I’m from the generation that could only practice with the boys for their little league games. I’m pre- soccor generation. GO young women you’ll have the support of us ex-jocks, grin. Anyone out there remember the Lansing Laurels? Or travel league fast pitch in the mid west? I’ve rambled long enough. Lets not slide downhill, lets continue what the likes of Billie Jean, Wilma Rudolf, Babe Dedrickson and many many wonderful role models began. Opening doors for girls of the future to experience the self respect, confidence gaining, and equality for all. Would anyone think of eliminating Mens Basketball from the Olympics, I think not.
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Posted by:
Amy Stoodt Date/Time: 8/11/2008 11:06:33 PM
Message:
 I have played competitive softball nearly all my life; including high school, junior olympics, college and semi-pro. It is heartbreaking that softball has been taken out of the Olympics for 2012. Young girls and young women deserve to have this great sport to play at a world class level. It is shocking to me that a fast paced and exciting game like softball is being removed but lower interest sports like air pistol, speed walking and the like remain as Olympic events. You International Olympic Committee should be lobbied to bring Fastpitch Softball back as it is a fantastic sport not only to play but to watch.
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Posted by:
cathy adamson Date/Time: 8/10/2008 10:23:59 AM
Message:
 i was sooo disappointed when i found out they are trying to cancel softball in the olympics. i played softball all my life from the age of 4 -16 when i blew out knee in a game (i was catcher and got slid into) i wasnt able to play anymore but its something thats in your blood i have and 8 year old daughter that i have now coached her team 2 years and i love to give them hope i give out dvd of the womens usa softball team and give them links to the videos for the olympics games. these little girls really need something to look forward to. when i moved to South Carolina in 㥠 they didnt even have a softball team at the high school i went to. i moved from Iowa where softball is huge and i just could not imagine a place that didnt have softball. we need to keep softball alive in the Oympics.... for our babies and their babies. thank you, Cathy Adamson
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Posted by:
Carol Morrow Date/Time: 8/9/2008 12:54:02 PM
Message:
 I’m 48 yrs old. I played softball, semi-professional through the year of 1986. I wish I had the opportunity to play at the olympic level. I have been so excited that young girls had that opportunity I didn’t have. I know you probably don’t want to play the "sex card", but geez! The WNBA has been successful! How dare the Olympic committee decide that the women’s sport of Softball isn’t worthy!
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Posted by:
Amy Pipkin Date/Time: 8/9/2008 12:06:36 PM
Message:
 It is my great hope that through the efforts of all of us softball moms and you know who you are that we will support this effort in any way we can to insure our daughters have the chance of excellence...which is to compete against the best in the world. May God Bless us All.
Mail Me! Country: United States of America
Posted by:
Megan Date/Time: 8/8/2008 8:14:44 AM
Message:
 I have been playing softball since i was 7 years old. It has taught me so many wonderful things about life. I am now 14 and sofball has taken me places i would never imagine i would go. Sofball is not just an American sport it is a sport that girls share all around the world. We all may be sperated by oceans and much more but we all have one common goal and that is to represnt our country in the olympics. The time 2016 rolls around ill be 22 and able to play in the olympics. It has always been my dream and that will never change. If we all fight and unite together I know that we can bring the olympics back into the 2016 olympics. Together we can achieve anything!
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Posted by:
!!_EVIE_!! Date/Time: 8/7/2008 12:34:45 AM
Message:
 Why should softball be taken out of the olympics, I’m only eleven and I know that isn’t a good idea infact if I told my team they would be outraged. Does that tell you girls aren’t enthusiastic about sport.As a junior player I watch other teams and play other teams and I know that girls in thoses teams, in the back of their minds, are thinking that I could play for my state or even my country. Table tennis is a Olympic sport I really haven’t met anyone who would rather tabletennis over softball. It is so unfair that girls aren’t allowed to play what their best at for for their country. It is irritating and frustrating.
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Posted by:
Chris Papps Date/Time: 8/6/2008 10:05:18 PM
Message:
 For any athletes to be denied the chance to participate in the Olympics after winning that right is a travesty of justice. Softball is a worthy sport not tainted with abuses and flawed competitors. My daughters play and I coach, this is part of our life that we cherish. Young people aspire to compete in the Olympic games and to have that taken away is a spiteful and a great leap backwards in an increasingly sedentary and obese world. Reinstate it
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Posted by:
Morgan Date/Time: 8/5/2008 8:20:32 PM
Message:
 I have played softball since I can ever remember. I love watching the World Cup and the Olympics on TV. I look up to every one in the USA team and the tought that they might not ever play in the Olympics upsets me. I enjoy watching these girls and I enjoy how they carrie themselves on and off the field so I hope that they get to be in the 2016 Olympics
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Posted by:
Sabrina Date/Time: 8/5/2008 2:14:48 PM
Message:
 I have played softball my entire life. I remember when I watched the 2000 olympics and dreamed of joining the U.S. team when I was old enough to play. Then in 2005 I heard that Softball was getting taken out of the Olympics, crushing my dreams. Softball has been underated and looked past for so many years and when it finally reached the greatest sports arena, it is to be taken out? By doing this you are limiting how far a girl can dream. What I don’t understand is why? Women get out on that field and they play through their pain, they have passion and heart, they go on that field and get to live their dream, they sweat, bleed and breathe softball, they train long hard hours to be in shape and fit enough to compete just like any other athlete. Don’t limit us, let us reach for the dreams of playing for our countries softball team, our chance to show the world just how tough softball is and how much herat goes into the game....
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Posted by:
Todd Young Date/Time: 8/5/2008 8:27:32 AM
Message:
 My daughters have played softball for the past 8 years. By taking Softball out of the olympics you are doing a great injustice to all these young ladies who dream of representing their countries. Your board has not provided a reason why this great sport was taken out of the 2012 olympics, but be the bigger person and bring this sport back and the hopes of all of our daughters.
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Posted by:
Andrea Porter Date/Time: 8/4/2008 12:12:53 PM
Message:
 cat was my coach for a while and to take that away from them and waste all this talent and amibtion is a sin. i have a speech in college that im taking and im doing a speech on putting softball back in. my prof thinks its a fantastic idea and i think that if enough of us complain about it and protest, and get the higher ups in it, it just might work. but that requires more than internet sites popping up.
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Posted by:
Tomislav Fritz Ozimec Date/Time: 7/31/2008 12:45:15 PM
Message:
 As an ESF and ISF certified umpire, it goes without saying that I love the sport of softball, and for any reason one might say softball does not belong to Olympic family of sports, I could say ten reasons why it does. Beautiful, fast, competitive, exciting, drug free, amateur, fast growing, just a few things off the bat. So please, whoever can do anything to get back softball to Olympics, DO IT. Hi to every softball lover around the world and PLAY BALL!
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