Speeches and Remarks 2006

As Prepared for Delivery Remarks by Chargé d'Affaires Geoffrey Pyatt Celebrating the Broadcast of the Baseball World Series Hyatt Regency                                  New Delhi, October 26, 2006

(From right to left) ESPN India Chief Operations Officer Vijay Rojput, Chargé d’Affaires Geoffrey Pyatt, and Hyatt Regency General Manager Roger Lienhard wearing American baseball caps at the World Series Baseball Broadcast, New Delhi, October 26, 2006  Press Release

Good morning, everyone.  Thank you for being with us so early this morning. I'm going to keep my remarks very brief, for two reasons.  One, speeches are like snakes - the longer they are, the more people dislike them.  And two, I imagine all of you are more interested in watching the game than listening to me, and frankly, when it's the World Series, so am I.

I want to start by thanking those who made this event possible.  First and most importantly, thank you to the Hyatt Regency hotel for their generous support.  The Hyatt has provided the delicious buffet and this great venue for watching the game.

I also want to thank ESPN Star Sports, for bringing us this live broadcast of America's most cherished annual event.  This is the first time the World Series is being broadcast live in India, and we have ESPN Star to thank for it.  I hope this is the first of many, many years you will be bringing the World Series to India.

A French historian, in 1954, said ''Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.''  This remains true over 50 years later, and as the U.S. and India quickly study the hearts and minds of each other, I would encourage anyone who wants to learn about America to learn baseball.  More than any other cultural institution, baseball -- since it began in the early 1800s -- has been the fabric which has bound America together.  For us, it is the sport that links generations; parents teach baseball to their children.  It unites cities, it transcends political parties, does not discriminate between rich and poor, and has even led America at times, such as in advancing racial integration.  Baseball terminology - phrases such as "3 strikes and you're out" and "touch all the bases" - is part of our everyday language.  It is, indeed, our national pastime.

We are doing what we can to help bring this great sport to India.  Along with events such as this, the Embassy is supporting Major League Baseball in its efforts to promote the game.  Next month, MLB is sponsoring its "Envoy Program," sending skilled coaches to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta and Imphal to train Indian coaches and baseball players.  In Manipur, where I understand over 25 sports clubs have baseball players and teams, the Envoy Program will work with a group called "First Pitch: The U.S.-Manipur Baseball Project," a New York and Imphal-based organization created to develop baseball there.  In addition, MLB is introducing baseball to nearly 500 elementary schools, by providing coaching materials.  Along with the inauguration this year of the World Baseball Classic, which 16 teams participated in and which Japan won, baseball is going global. Those of you here today are hopefully witnessing the very beginnings of baseball's popularity in India.

As India and America grow closer, appreciation for each other's cultures will be the true measure of our mutual understanding.  I urge Indians to watch baseball, learn baseball, and play baseball if you can.  I also urge my fellow Americans to learn more about India, and in particular India's passion for the great sport of cricket.  Much like our two great countries, baseball and cricket have much more in common than most people realize.  To this end I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Embassy has agreed to meet the Indian parliament for two matches of friendly competition; one game of cricket, and one game of baseball.  My hope is that through baseball and cricket, we can learn a little more about each other, enjoy some friendly competition, and just have fun.

I see the game is re-starting.  Let me stop here, and let's all enjoy the rest of the game.  Again, thank you all for being here.  Now it's time to "play ball."