We've seen this before - with women's soccer and basketball - two sports that the U.S. owned. But like softball, their popularity have made their sports bigger on the international stage, led to a level playing field and a more competitive landscape.Japan and Australia are now recognized as perennial contenders to the U.S. dominance in the sport of softball - with Japan taking the gold.If and when softball returns to the Olympics in eight years - at the 2016 games - the rest of the world will probably have narrowed the gap even more.So I ask you... are the U.S. Women victims of their own success? Discuss...

In a word, no.

However, let's look at US dominance in another sport, hoops. It took collusion of the IOC and member countries for the US to lose its first gold medal game in 72. 3 attempts by the USSR, time added back to the clock, obvious blatant fouling by the lone USSR player under the basket, all broadcast live by ABC!

Prior to this event, there was NO mention of dropping basketball because of US dominance. I don't believe for a minute that the US dominance in softball is the reason.

Poll any group of people and ask what should or should not be included in the Olympics, and watch the results. Syncro diving? Syncro swimming? How do judges score a sport where they cannot see the mistakes of the performers? How honest are the scores?

How about adding blowing milk out your nose?

As i have been told the usa has dominating many sports other thatn just softball. i recently heard the for 10 years the drem team went undefeded in not only the olypics but also some tourneys! soccor has dominated for a while now they have won 2 years tright will they pull it out in 2012!? and yes i would also like to no about this swimming and such how do you score a routine that you really cant tell a mistake in? by what likes or dislikes. them taking softball out of the olymips is not fair to me or to anyother 13 year old girl around the world who have been dreming about it since we could pitch catch throw hit or unt a softball. if it is not reinstated alot of of young girls will quit cause this is what me and my friends have been striving for!