Going the the final game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic or the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which one would you attend and why?\n\nAs much as I enjoyed watching the World Baseball Classic I would choose to attend the World Cup in Germany because I could take a friend from Germany along with two of his guest to see the final game of the World Cup.
212720
You answered your own question, dude. Germany would be the place to be. You get to go sightseeing...in Europe...and you get to enjoy the fever pitch of some of the most adoring fans in any sport. I love baseball too. But the WBC isn't exactly the insanity that is the World Cup.
290390
I really enjoy watching inter league play.  It affords me the opportunity to see some of the top NL players that I generally only hear about on Sportscenter.  It's also nice to see your team play in a different light.  If you are in the AL playing in an NL park, you get to see what your pitchers have at bat or how your DH plays at 1st Base etc...  I like it and I do not think it should change.
388100
Hm...I don't know who I would choose...I like to watch both teams, though I wouldn't really consider myself a supporter of either. But I do find both entertaining to watch. So, whoever wins, it'll be fine by me as long as it is a good match.
201147
A Yankees vs.Red Sox game is the ultimate experience.  There is so much energy in the ballpark, it's like a party atmosphere.  I've seen several of these games at Yankee Stadium including the infamous 7/1/04 game that went 12 or 13 innings and Jeter made that spectacular play into the stands.  Security is tight at these games. We got kicked out of the stadium not once but twice.  1st...my brother was shoved by a Red Sox fan enroute from getting some beer and my husband tried to break it up.  Cops escorted them out and then came for my sister-in-law and myself(minding our own business) We snuck back in to the loge section and got asked to leave because my brother(again) would not reverse his Boston Sucks shirt..but we were able to get back in again!! The Yankees won that game 5-4
242989
Yes, I would like to see the world cup, up close and in person. It would be the best feeling of the world. Because setting in front of the TV, will not give you that same feels.
656880
My overall view of the cup... hmmm...\n\nWell since you asked, here goes:\n\nThe World Cup of Soccer... it's the most watched sports competition in the world, a game and an event that unites & divides the entire planet!  This year the world cup soccer tournament arrives in Germany where the host country (part of it anyways, once known as West Germany) won a 2nd title in 1974.\n \nThe world's largest sporting event has only gotten bigger during the last 3 decades:  2.7 million people in stadiums across South Korea & Japan in 2002, it was where the Germans returned to the World Cup Final and lost to Brazil.\n \n32 world cup teams will battle it out in Germany over a 31 day period.  The battle is for the most coveted trophy in the world, the FIFA World Cup Trophy (see picture above in the upper right hand corner).  It is a piece of hardware that measures 14" high and weighs 11 pounds.  Also at stake is an entire nation's pride.\n\nEvery 4 years, FIFA (the international governing body of soccer) holds a month long tournament.  32 teams qualify from 6 zones: Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America (and Oceania as a single zone), Central America and the Caribbean.\n\nHow is it played?  The 32 teams are broken into 8 groups. Each team plays the other 3 teams in its group, the top 2 teams from each of the original 8 groups advance to the round of 16 (16 teams left at this point).   The round of 16 is played this way:  The winner of each group plays the 2nd place team of another group.  The winners from the round of 16 advance to the quarter-finals (8 teams left at this point).  Winning teams from the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals (4 teams left at this point) and are guaranteed two more games - because World Cup teams play for 3rd place also.  The winning teams of the semi-finals play in the World Cup final (for 1st & 2nd place), the losing teams of the semi-finals play for 3rd place.\n\nFIFA held the 1st World Cup in 1930, and aside from skipping 1942 & 1946 (due to obvious reasons: World War II), has held the tournament every 4 years since then.  There have been 17 previous tournaments.  \n\nWho do I think will win?  That question can hold a few different possible answers.  Brazil holds the record for winning the most world cups with 5 world cups so they are the favorites.  Italy & West Germany (Germany now since reunification in 1990) are tied at 2nd place with 3 world cups each.  Uruguay & Argentina are tied at 3rd place with 2 world cups each.  England & France are tied at 4th with 1 world cup title each.\n\nMy heart lies with team Italy but five-time champions Brazil are the definite favorite - which would be an unbelievable 6th title and would be twice as many as any other team.  Another favorite is Czech Republic based on their #2 World Ranking according to FIFA.  Holland is ranked 3rd, Mexico is ranked 4th and USA is ranked 5th tied with Spain.  But those are just current FIFA World rankings, they can't determine the actual World Cup outcome: How you get to Germany and How you play in Germany are two different things!  Fan favorites and real contenders like Italy, Portugal, England, Germany, Argentina among other teams will obviously leave their respective marks on this tournament.  \n\nGo Italy!  Forza Italia!!!
571772
We're going to Berlin, no doubt about it.  You know, July 9th is Argentina's Independence Day (from Spain!).  It would be very fitting to fight Spain again that day and win, though we'll fight any European country that stands between us and the Cup. :D
608128
2014 be almost definitely be held in Brazil. As for South Africa, I was a little surprised. Do they even have a team that competes in the WC. Not being asked sarcastically, I truly don't know if they do. There are so many political decisions made. Who knows if Sth Africa will even grant entry into their country for spectators of other African nations. I will reserve judgement on the decision to hold it there. As for who will win, Brazil and the other South American countries will have an outstanding amount of support and will be hard to beat. In 2010, it's wide open I think.
608659
Maybe.. These two are amazing teams. It's going to be an interesting game. I think I have to go with... Germany. Idk. Its going to be close.
9336
Why?  The more competition the better.  It will make everyone else play better and have fun doing it.\n\nI look forward to the Classic.  Too bad the Cuban team is not being allowed to attend the Classic.
61102
It would be great! \nRugby WC 1999 was well organized there. I think you deserve it as Germany 2006 was almost South Africa 2006.\n\nPablo, from Argentina.\n\nPS: Westwood, the subject says clearly "Football (Soccer)", surely you are from US as for the "rest of the world" there is only 1 World Cup.
493332
Wow, thatniceguy gave a really long answer.  Here's a better answer.  Visit Cooperstown and The National Baseball Hall of Fame.  It will give you all the history you want to know and it is a great trip and a fun cozy town.  I've been there twice and I would go back again and again.  Baseball is a great game!!
47772
No, the sport has spread enough that the USA would be slaughtered by a team of World All Stars.  The World Baseball Classic is different because each nation has some players but to consolidate them all against the USA wouldn't work so lets stick to NL vs AL.  I don't care for the homefield in the WS stipulation though.  The team with the best record should have homefield with the exception of a Division winner vs the Wild Card the division winner should always have homefield.
663909
Didn't get to see many games this year. Though did get to see the Stro's and Cards late last year. Was kind of wierd, I was sitting outside the stadium on the rooftop looking through the glass at the game. The sound of the crowd still came though, and the silence like when Pujos blasted a homer. It was like watching him hit in a minor league stadium the ball wasn't even close to staying in the park. \n\nRefreshments were a two minute walk away, had the ledge to use for a table and tables all around. Nice breeze blowing so it wasn't real hot. Ballpark peanuts. Somehow they never taste the same anywhere you go except a ball park. \n\nThough I think my favorite game was the first time I saw Randy Johnson pitch. It was like he was handing the ball to the catcher he's so tall. The ball was in his hand one second, the next it was banging into the catchers mit, the batter looking as confused as me as to where the ball went :) Saw that game in the Astrodome. \n\nRemember as a kid watching the O's play in Baltimore. Was the first reguler season major league game I'd seen live. I'd seen exibition games, once saw Paul Molitor make an awesome leaping catch as a second basemen for the Brewers against the Dodgers in an exibition game. In that game there were at least 4 future hall of famers playing. Yount and Molitor were the two who really stuck out. Sutton didn't pitch that game but he was there, so were a couple others.
662101
Well, there's one team from Canada that has won the "World" Series. Honestly, I hate this, and I'm American. The "World" Series started in 1901 and though it was played in other countries had baseball, it wasn't like it was here, so I guess they just thought that winning a Major League Baseball championship would make them the champs of the world. Stupid and arrogant. I always call it the Major League Baseball Championship Series. I hate that it's call the "World" Series. I hope it can be changed some day.
17315
I think that they should keep the politics out of the World Baseball Classic and treat it like the Olympics. By not letting the Cuba team play, it will leave the critics too much lead wat to debate the outcome of the VERY FIRST World Baseball Classic. Since it is the 1st one, I believe that it is very important for it to be as successful as possible with as few problems on and off the field as possible. I am very excited about the pride that all the MLB players are taking in this event. \n\nOne more note on Cuba baseball. It is just totally strange to me that the 2 most successful MLB players from Cuba have been involved in Steroid cases leading to me wonder about how great the Cuba baseball organization really is. I am sure that they have good players, but the ones that have made it to the MLB have either been a flop or have been tested for steroids. \n\nI say that the USA team will be more concerned with the DOM REP team than the Cuban Team.....
433274
All I can tell you is that they will show a recap that got the Cards to the World Series so you may have to get the 2006 WS instead.  I hope this helps you out. \n\nThe first link that has mention of the Cards going from the Division series to the World Series\n\nThe second link has it going to the entire WS (no division series and no championship league series).