monty wrote:
And there is something that really pisses me off. the winner of the NBA season is named the world champion...what the hell???? it is the US American champion, // Do keep in mind that if you are one of the best players from another country, and you can make it, you will play in the NBA most likely. A lot of nationalities are represented there, but you are right that all the teams are North American. When all this was first formed, there was no doubt that the NBA champs were the best in the world, most likely still are, but for sure the world has caught up with them.
I think it was very similar to Kona calling themselves the world champs. It was self proclaimed, and eventually it just became true. Like baseball too I suppose.I think is is very different.
Kona :
1) Triathlon is an individual sport
2) if someone organise the best race in the world on a specific distance (IM)
3) and if athletes from the world come to compete
4) and there is no world championship organized
then you can call that "World championship". So yes, Kona can be considered seriously as the IM world champ.
US Football / Baseball :
US football and Baseball are really local sports. There is dozens and dozens of other locals sports in the world. In this case (not alone) big money because it is an entertainment in a rich country. But nothing "world level", just national level with some foreign players.
These sports do not create enough global interest. No real local championship out of their country of origin. No Olympics.
If some peoples want to masturbate their ego calling that "world champ", why not. There is probably more than one million of "world champ" of this kind in the world. Clearly not serious claim for me.
BasketBall :
there is a world champ. And this year US is not even on the podium.