Game 7. It is what the average sports fan dreams of watching or attending. The argument can go on and on about whether a Game 7 is better in baseball, basketball, or hockey, but every fan agrees that a Game 7 is just plain electric, no matter the sport. What makes Game 7 of a championship series so special never includes just what happens on the field, court, or ice, it goes beyond that. The crowd is on their feet for every pitch thrown, every foul shot, every power play. Even a casual fan at home will stay glued to the TV to catch the action of a winner-take-all event for the ages.
Imagine that electricity, that atmosphere, that excitement. Fans love it, they crave it. Now imagine getting to witness something that special occurring once every four years. Three straight weeks. Every. Single. Night.
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is the only thing that can stake this claim.
Sure, the WBC has taken its amount of grief and negativity since its inception in 2006, but for what reason? That is a discussion for another time. What cannot be denied is that it is 16 countries battling for the right to be known as the baseball country in the world and be able to claim to that notion for four years.
Just the 2013 edition of this event has provided more than a fan could ever dream of happening, and the first round of the tournament just ended on Sunday. Observing the crowds during these games and the pride and passion that occupies and enthralls each player showcases the sport of baseball at its best.
The memorable moments that have occurred in several different games is surely something that will not be lost in this event’s history down the road. Games including, but not limited to: Brazil nearly toppling the 2-time champions of Japan only to falter in the late innings, the Kingdom of the Netherlands upsetting the global baseball powerhouse of Cuba, the violent brawl between Canada and Mexico (read all about that here, in case you missed it), and concluding on Sunday with the win-or-go-home battle that saw the USA defeat Canada in a game that was much closer than the final score would show, all have left their mark on this year’s tournament. If you have not caught a game of this yet, it is not too late. The fun is just getting started.
It brings a Game 7-like atmosphere every night. Every pitch. Every at-bat. A baseball fan is always on the edge of their seat. There is nothing else like it.
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