(25 July 1996; Day 6)
The popularity of the sport of baseball in Italy in comparison to football (soccer) can be summarized in the respective balls of each sport. Soccer is much bigger.
But, if the performance of the Italian baseball team at the Centennial Olympic Games is any indication, baseball's popularity and growth in the football-crazed country will be growing.
Winning two of its first four games in the seven-game preliminary tournament to determine the four teams advancing to the medal round, Italy has made a statement. It reads, Italian baseball is here to stay.
The first shock came when Italy handed medal-favorite Korea a 2-1 loss in the opener for both teams.
"Now, as Americans say, we are pumped," said Silvano AMBROSIONO after the first game. "Our first goal was to come here, to the 'world of baseball' (the United States) and show something good -- that we are not just soccer."
While Korea went spiraling downward with losses in its first four games, Italy used the occasion as a stepping stone toward future achievement. Italy did drop its next two games to Nicaragua and the United States, respectively. But facing a game against Australia with medal-round chances still alive, Italy recorded another major accomplishment with a 12-8 win.
The victory put the Italians in fourth-place all alone, a surprising position considering Italy had just won two games in its entire Olympic history dating back to 1984. The play of the squad is being attributed to a new approach to its formation and development.
"We have created a professional atmosphere," said veteran pitcher Roberto CABALISTI, who has recorded the wins in both games for Italy as both starter and reliever. "As a result, we are now all friends and we play well together."
In the past, teams had been pulled together from various teams from around the country one week prior to Olympic play. In 1996, the Italian team came together for more than a month of training and practice that included exhibition games against Chinese Taipei and the USA.
"The secret is in the training we have been having up to this point," divulged Margo UBANI, who had a 4-for-4 performance at the plate against the Australian team.
For the rest of the world, the secret is out. And with three games to play, Italy has given itself a chance to qualify for the medal round.
Earlier in the week, AMBROSIONO was quoted as saying "finishing fourth would be like our gold medal." Suddenly with that chance, the Italian mentor wants his team "to go game-by-game" and concentrate on what it can control, like when it wakes up and practices each day.
Once the alarm clocks are set, Italy can look forward to games with perennial powers Cuba and Japan, as well as Netherlands left on its schedule. At least one win will be needed, maybe two for Italy to claim a spot in the medal round.
If that were to happen, Italy, in soccer terms, could then take its best shot for the GOAL-D.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Steven R. Shaff.
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| More tickets were sold to the competitions of the 1996 Games than to any other Olympic Games or sports event in history. The 8.6 million ticket sales figures topped sales to the Los Angeles and Barcelona Games combined. |