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Could Mike Bast Have Been A Force In World Speedway?


stratton

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Baseball is more widespread than you may think TWK. This guide may be of interest to you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_baseball_outside_the_United_States

Cheers gustix. :t:

 

It isn't my Sport - as you can probably tell. :D :D :P

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Isn't it called the World series as it was sponsored by the (Chicago?) World newspaper and absolutely nothing to do with being a world championship.

It was mentioned in a book of the 1880s that the New York World newspaper sponsored the series but that has been disputed by baseball historians and seems to have become an urban myth. There doesn't seem to be any connection between that newspaper and the World Series.

Edited by Hot Shoe
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It was mentioned in a book of the 1880s that the New York World newspaper sponsored the series but that has been disputed by baseball historians and seems to have become an urban myth. There doesn't seem to be any connection between that newspaper and the World Series.

Even if it were true that the original sponsor was the source of the title, why retain it? Unless it has been retained due to a sense of grandiosity on their part. Surely not?! Only in America ;-)

 

Anyway, back on topic. The title asks if Mike Bast could have been a force in World Speedway, the more I think about it, the more I have to say no. Talent is one thing, but a willingness to work hard and make sacrifices hugely outweigh that. That's the big difference between Bruce Penhall and someone like Mike Bast. Without that desire and hunger you are never going to be the best.

 

Wasn't there also an Aussie called Chris Watson who was one of their top riders in the 80s or 90s who also never came to Britain? Based on results Down Under he seemed to be every inch the match for the Aussies who did ride in the UK. But again, if the desire and hunger are not there, then it aint never going to happen at the top level anyway.

 

 

Edited by falcace
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  • 6 years later...
  • 1 year later...
On 10/1/2023 at 8:49 AM, iris123 said:

Interesting, although I do love the typical American slant on just awful the UK is... Maybe it isn't "American", more Californian!

I always have arguments here in Cincinnati, when people - people who have never set foot outside the US - tell me how much it rains in London. On average, Cincinnati has 30 days more rain a year, with getting on for double the accumulation!

Edited by chunky
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6 hours ago, chunky said:

Interesting, although I do love the typical American slant on just awful the UK is... Maybe it isn't "American", more Californian!

I always have arguments here in Cincinnati, when people - people who have never set foot outside the US - tell me how much it rains in London. On average, Cincinnati has 30 days more rain a year, with getting on for double the accumulation!

And "convict Island Australia" suggests a rather parochial world view.

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The part about the weather being awful in the UK i think has accompanied most reports about Basts visit for the world championship. I can't remember what it was like, although i did see him practice at Plough Lane before the White City meeting, which i was also at. I just guess if there was practice after a meeting at Wimbledon then the wethaer couldn't have been too bad. But London isn't California. I just guess that the part about the weather came from Mike himself, and he wasn't too happy about the whole thing

The bit about Australia........:blink:

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34 minutes ago, iris123 said:

The part about the weather being awful in the UK i think has accompanied most reports about Basts visit for the world championship. I can't remember what it was like, although i did see him practice at Plough Lane before the White City meeting, which i was also at. I just guess if there was practice after a meeting at Wimbledon then the wethaer couldn't have been too bad. But London isn't California. I just guess that the part about the weather came from Mike himself, and he wasn't too happy about the whole thing

The bit about Australia........:blink:

Oh yeah, I remember Bast complaining about the weather - and the whole experience, actually. Sad when you learn that the rest of the world isn't like Southern California...

I was at Plough Lane that night.

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14 minutes ago, chunky said:

Oh yeah, I remember Bast complaining about the weather - and the whole experience, actually. Sad when you learn that the rest of the world isn't like Southern California...

I was at Plough Lane that night.

It wasn't for him. Ok, not everyone enjoys their visits to a country

When i first came here i just seemed to talk to people who always said....London ? It's very foggy and the food is terrible

I hadn't seen much fog since the 60s and i happen to like the food. It might not have the repuatation of Italian food etc. But then neither does German

Luckily enough i have since met plent of people who love the UK and must admit haven't heard the foggy comment for over a decade or so.....:D

Edited by iris123
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I had a different experience the other way. The two years I lived in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois ( long way from Calif.) were two great years (1968-70), made a bunch of friends some of whom I'm still in touch with. Wot's your experience Chunky-you must still like it after all this time.!! . California has gone right down particularly the now scary downtowns in LA and SF.Druggies , crime etc. California is now losing population to other states-weather is still nice though!!

 Is  Costa Mesa still going though? Last time I was in California for more than a few days was to see the 1982 World Final.

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29 minutes ago, BOBBATH said:

California is now losing population to other states-weather is still nice though!

You do know about the drought and floods they've been having, don't you?

Costa Mesa is still going, but not quite as regularly as it once was.

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