Why did the US women's softball team players leave the cleats on home plate after losing to Japan?

Question

In the Gold Medal Olympic game, some US women left their cleats there...why?

Answer 1

they knew it was their last game because softball is out for the 2012 olympics

so it was just a way to signify their last games

Answer 2

My daughter has played Fastpitch (and NO, I do not have it spelled wrong even though Yahoo gave me an Oops!) softball for well over a decade.  She started playing softball when she was 5 and now she is a pitcher in college.

Just getting there, whatever level that may be, is a long road.  It wears you down.  It wears families down.  It is not like Baseball where many opportunities exist to continue to be involved.  You just keep having fun until the reality sinks in that there are other things you must do.  

Whether you end your active participation early, after high school, after college, after the Olympics, or after the latest collapse at an attempt to keep a women's professional league together - you will end it sometime.

When you are done, particularly when you are done without question in your own mind, and especially when you have achieved a recognized level of success - leaving your cleats on the field is an excellent symbol to say, it was a good run and now I want everyone to know I'm done.  Many will stay with the sport in coaching positions.  Others will leave the sport altogether.  None, will ever forget the experience; the memories will last a lifetime.

Answer 3

it was a class protest against theolympic commitee. john carlos raised conterversy in 68 games with his salute. same signifance to older people. both showed class. it does seem stupid , that the olympics have pulled 3 sports. golf after 3 canadian victories early 1900s. lacrosse after 2 olympics due to canada running scores up. baseball is gone. 3 sports north american domination . of course the olympics are clean . i just want them to end , so regular programing restored. the best memories , two days after olympics close . tv restored . wrestler throwing medal after s***w job. u s womens class protest. after the nonsence, politics etc . my olympic memory. carlos salute .  

Answer 4

It was a symbol of their retirement.

Answer 5

it was symbolism  

Answer 6

This was a bit of a symbolic protest, against the elimination of softball from the 2012 Olympics.

It's similar to the old wrestling custom of a wrestler leaving his shoes on the mat when he retires.

I think it was a great idea.  It's terrible that baseball and softball are being cut.  They're gaining popularity worldwide.  Come on, you can't tell me that there are no other sports in the Olympics that lack international (*cough*european*cough*) appeal.