Valiant and U.S. Open Cricket

[Tim]

Has anyone seen a news story about this that doesn't savagely ridicule the whole idea?

[IMJ]

Hadn't heard of this until you posted here. Did a google search and the first hit I get read this:

In Team Up No One Asked For, Valiant Entertainment Partners With US Open Cricket Council

I don't know. Maybe this is a good idea from a non-U.S. lens. Cricket is big in other parts of the world and maybe this will bring some kind of global exposure to the characters.

I dunno. I don't think I care.

[syzhang28]

Hadn't heard of this until you posted here. Did a google search and the first hit I get read this:

In Team Up No One Asked For, Valiant Entertainment Partners With US Open Cricket Council

I don't know. Maybe this is a good idea from a non-U.S. lens. Cricket is big in other parts of the world and maybe this will bring some kind of global exposure to the characters.

I dunno. I don't think I care.

This is not a good idea

[JCP]

An underrated hero from another universe famously noted of the well-thought out plans of his hero companion Emmett, “he has ideas so dumb and bad that no one would ever think that they could possibly be useful.”

Metalbeard, the Lego Movie.

In a year like 2020, watch this idea be the one that actually lifts Valiant out of the depths.

[Chiclo]

In a year like 2020, watch this idea be the one that actually lifts Valiant out of the depths.

It is just crazy enough, it might work.

[IMJ]

Hadn't heard of this until you posted here. Did a google search and the first hit I get read this:

In Team Up No One Asked For, Valiant Entertainment Partners With US Open Cricket Council

I don't know. Maybe this is a good idea from a non-U.S. lens. Cricket is big in other parts of the world and maybe this will bring some kind of global exposure to the characters.

I dunno. I don't think I care.

This is not a good idea

No sir. No it is not.

[The Chosen 1]

I'm from Australia where cricket is huge, and to be honest, i think its awesome.

I'm not sure how many people this will target, but if there is a large sub continent community i the US, as well as English and South Africans, there will be a decent level of exposure.

Though not probably well know in the US, Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. It gets huge Audiences when the Cricket world cup is on. Remember that India & Pakistan have a combined population of about 1.7 billion and crickets are treated like superstars.

I'm not sure of the logic behind this, but i think its pretty cool.

[Chiclo]

How much exposure did Valiant get from the... luge team? Bobsledders? Whatever that sled sport was that it sponsored back in the heydays of Dino?

I have heard that cricket matches can last days - upwards of half a week. I thought football and basesball games dragged on too long. But at least there is more scoring than in soccer.

I am curious as to how this match happened. Was someone in the Valiant office a cricket fan? It just seems like an odd pairing.

If Valiant is so keen to sponsor really odd, foreign sports - hurling or camogie! When is the next World Nomad Games? Those are kind of like the Olympics, but for men.

[The Chosen 1]

How much exposure did Valiant get from the... luge team? Bobsledders? Whatever that sled sport was that it sponsored back in the heydays of Dino?

I have heard that cricket matches can last days - upwards of half a week. I thought football and basesball games dragged on too long. But at least there is more scoring than in soccer.

I am curious as to how this match happened. Was someone in the Valiant office a cricket fan? It just seems like an odd pairing.

If Valiant is so keen to sponsor really odd, foreign sports - hurling or camogie! When is the next World Nomad Games? Those are kind of like the Olympics, but for men.

A Cricket Test Match can last up to five days, and still not have a result. You have one team bowling and one batting. Eleven players in each side and all have the opportunity to bat. In test matches, each team can bat twice.
Basically, you have two opportunities to beat the other teams total score. And you have five days to do this. If you haven't beaten the other teams score, and they haven't bowled the batting team out twice in total after five days, its a draw.

There are short form versions of the game, 50 overs and 20 overs. An over is where the bowler (our version of the pitcher) "throws" (actually called Bowling) 6 balls.

You'll probably find Dallow very interested in this. I sort of doubt England could beat the American Cricket team. Following the American Cricket side might finally give him the chance to cheer a winning side.

[Chiclo]

How much exposure did Valiant get from the... luge team? Bobsledders? Whatever that sled sport was that it sponsored back in the heydays of Dino?

I have heard that cricket matches can last days - upwards of half a week. I thought football and basesball games dragged on too long. But at least there is more scoring than in soccer.

I am curious as to how this match happened. Was someone in the Valiant office a cricket fan? It just seems like an odd pairing.

If Valiant is so keen to sponsor really odd, foreign sports - hurling or camogie! When is the next World Nomad Games? Those are kind of like the Olympics, but for men.

A Cricket Test Match can last up to five days, and still not have a result. You have one team bowling and one batting. Eleven players in each side and all have the opportunity to bat. In test matches, each team can bat twice.
Basically, you have two opportunities to beat the other teams total score. And you have five days to do this. If you haven't beaten the other teams score, and they haven't bowled the batting team out twice in total after five days, its a draw.

There are short form versions of the game, 50 overs and 20 overs. An over is where the bowler (our version of the pitcher) "throws" (actually called Bowling) 6 balls.

You'll probably find Dallow very interested in this. I sort of doubt England could beat the American Cricket team. Following the American Cricket side might finally give him the chance to cheer a winning side.

If Cricket is anything like soccer, then American men’s Cricket wouldn’t be able to buy a win internationally even though old Cricket stars retire to play here, and the Women’s team will keep winning world championships but nobody will care until one of the purple haired players will start mouthing off about how she hates Trump.

Does it even count as a win if you just beat England at Cricket? In America, that’s what we would call a scrimmage.

Is Cricket the one with the All-Blacks? The New Australian All-Blacks?

[greg]

So, my knowledge of cricket was confined to the scene in King Ralph where (American nobody) Ralph (played by John Goodman) is named King of England due to being a long lost bloodline descendant after a tragic family photo accident wipes out all the known royals (it's a comedy). Anyway, they tell him to learn cricket and he goes out there and hits a "homerun" (American-style) and runs in a square over imaginary bases and high-fives imaginary people along the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afekBJ3zQiE

Valiant + Cricket = Ridiculousness when cricket knowledge is based on "King Ralph"

However, with just about 10 minutes of YouTube "What are the rules of cricket?" watching combined with finding out cricket is the #2 sport in the world behind soccer in terms of fanbase (2.5 billion people), ahead of basketball at 2.2 billion, I don't see how there's any downside for Valiant.

Cricket itself reminds me of "batting practice" in American baseball - where a batter just stays at the plate trying to hit as many homeruns as possible while the fans cheer. I've attended multiple major league baseball games and batting practice is literally one of the best parts of the experience.
Cricket is hundreds of years older than baseball - and baseball was clearly based on cricket - so it's not an unfair comparison at all.

Combine the "batting practice" aspect with the scoring system, which awards not only the "home runs" but also the singles, doubles, and triples... with points being awarded for getting to first (1 point), second (2 points), third (3 points) and 4 points for "inside the park" home runs (hitting the outer wall) or 6 points for "out of the park" homeruns (over the wall).

It's actually fun --- comparing it to baseball is fun, watching that many points being scored is fun, and then knowing that games last for hours or days... you realize how much the sponsors are probably seen (and checked out) by the fans looking around the stadium. Being an English sport, there are plenty of people who can read the current books without needing translations - while they're in the stands during a match, if they want to.

Imagine where Tide laundry detergent would be without NASCAR. Weird combination when you think about it --- but Tide is only as big as Tide because of NASCAR.

So, really, who knows?

[GammaJosh]

Here's the actual press release from Valiant:

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH US OPEN CRICKET!

New York, NY (November XX, 2020) – Valiant Entertainment is partnering with the US Open Cricket Council for the upcoming US Open to pay tribute to first responders.

Valiant Entertainment is joining forces to pay tribute to first responders with new digital billboards at the US Open event run by the US Open Cricket Council! Fans will have a chance to see heroes from the Valiant Universe supporting the heroes on the frontline of the COVID crisis.

Chairman and CEO of CCUSA, Mahammad Qureshi (MAQ) is pleased to have US Open Cricket partnering with Valiant Entertainment to salute our “Superhero First Responders” during this year’s open. “Bringing Valiant’s pop culture superheroes and the US Open Cricket’s sports heroes’ huge audiences together to salute first responders is a cause that will be heard around the world. This relationship will also bring lots of fun download activities for families to participate in while enjoying the fastest growing sport in the world, US Open Cricket!”

"Promotional Marketing that brings Sports and Entertainment together provides a promotional overlay of value to new and current partners of US Open Cricket Council and Valiant Entertainment,” said Douglas Haase Sponsorship Manager CCUSA and CEO Haaseline Entertainment

Russ Brown, Valiant's President of Consumer Products, Promotions & Ad Sales, explains why he’s so excited for this partnership. “We are very excited to see how MAQ is taking this massively popular global sport and building it for the US market—for kids as well as adults, and we see a wonderful fit for our transmedia demographic. And he had us at hello when he expressed interest in Valiant's participation in supporting first responders.”

The US Open runs December 15th – 20th, 2020. For more information please go to www.cricketusopen.com. For more news about Valiant Entertainment, including new stories for Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, and news about upcoming offerings beyond comics, head over to www.valiantentertainment.com

As always, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Valiant!


About US Open Cricket

The US Open has been in existence since 2009 under the umbrella of Cricket Council USA (CCUSA) and has made a great impact on the cricketing landscape in North America. Since 2009 a total of over 300 teams have participated in the annual tournament. Teams have come from all over the United States, the West Indies, Canada, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and even Afghanistan. During this period a total of over 4,000 players have plied their trade with us and a number of them have gone on to represent their national teams in international cricket. A galaxy of stars have graced this tournament with their presences and added to this cricket legends have come across to add glitter to the event. The tournament started with 40 teams playing each year and over a weekend around 100 matches were played. This has been unheard of in the cricketing circles but such was the ambition of CCUSA to spread the game. Over the last two years, the tournament has received the blessings of the ICC which has been a tremendous boost. It has given us the opportunity to invite current international players, with the knowledge that once they get their ‘no objection certificates’ from their respective boards, they can feel free to come and play.

[IMJ]

Imagine where Tide laundry detergent would be without NASCAR. Weird combination when you think about it --- but Tide is only as big as Tide because of NASCAR.

So, really, who knows?

Yup. It's like I was saying man, it's a strange pairing but you know... Soccer is huge in European countries, and so I'm sure Cricket is huge in circles somewhere. So maybe it was a calculated attempt at true international exposure. It's only weird to us in the U.S. so to speak.

-shrugs-

I don't watch a lot of Nascar, but I've got to say that seeing Archer and Armstrong humorously stickered all over a race car would be pretty cool.... Maybe with along with their alien.

[Chiclo]

Well, isn’t that a sticky wicket.

[X-O HoboJoe]

Is Cricket the one with the All-Blacks? The New Australian All-Blacks?

Rugby.

[Chiclo]

Is Cricket the one with the All-Blacks? The New Australian All-Blacks?

Rugby.

I have been Chiclo’d. But, I have been Chiclo’d by one of the best.

[The Chosen 1]

Is Cricket the one with the All-Blacks? The New Australian All-Blacks?

Rugby.

I have been Chiclo’d. But, I have been Chiclo’d by one of the best.

New Zealand All Blacks. Arguably the best Rugby Union team in the world and they are consistent. Imagine NFL without the pads, with bigger hits.
They are monsters.

They play Rugby Union, not to be confused with Rugby League. They are same same, but different.

[IMJ]

Is Cricket the one with the All-Blacks? The New Australian All-Blacks?

Rugby.

Rugby is huge outside of the States. Even rugby would've made more sense than this.

[Phantom]

NFL needs big pads and helmets, Rugby has no pads or helmets ~ and they don't stop and change all their players every five minutes. Play continues.

These guys are hard as nails, unfortunately over the years a kicking game has immerged. But between Australia and New Zealand they (sometimes) avoid this (sometimes), as winning by field goals in not as glorious as smashing through defense for a try.

Their was an American team that came over and played rugby, or rugby league ( similar). Just as an Australian team playing NFL would get smashed, these guys did. They made one mistake, they throw the ball NFL style as a joke??? Well that changed the game BIG time, the Australians where taking it easy on them. After that insult ~ it was a massacre, I turned it off, it wasn't a game any more.

Rugby has nothing on AFL, those guys are nutters.

As for cricket, the shorter matches are more easy to bare ~ day matches even. The test cricket ~ I mean who has time to watch it? The Americans would be most welcome to participate. Would like to see a new international team take the stage. Its a hard start with so many other sports in USA taking the prime spot, but their must be alot of teams already.

[IMJ]

Their was an American team that came over and played rugby, or rugby league ( similar). Just as an Australian team playing NFL would get smashed, these guys did. They made one mistake, they throw the ball NFL style as a joke??? Well that changed the game BIG time, the Australians where taking it easy on them. After that insult ~ it was a massacre, I turned it off, it wasn't a game any more.

Any info on how I could search for this game? I wouldn't mind watching it if I could dig it up online somewhere...

[Phantom]

That game was waaaayyyy back, back when I lived in Australia ~ so pre 1998.
I will ask my friends if they remember it, they watch alot of sport. I only recall it, because of the forward NFL ball play as a joke, and the consequences.

Will see if someone remembers at least the year

[The Chosen 1]

That game was waaaayyyy back, back when I lived in Australia ~ so pre 1998.
I will ask my friends if they remember it, they watch alot of sport. I only recall it, because of the forward NFL ball play as a joke, and the consequences.

Will see if someone remembers at least the year

Where in Australia did you live? AFL is also high impact, but different to Rugby. Rugby is straight ahead and brutal. AFL is fast and and you can get tackled from every direction. At least in Rugby you know where the opposition is.
Johnny Wilkinson brought more kicking into Rugby back in 2003. That’s the only way England could win.
I’m from Melbourne, and a big AFL fan. I’m a long suffering Collingwood supporter.

[Phantom]

AFL rules
What Rules?

Loved that advert back in the day.

Only watched two or three AFL matches, don't watch much sport.
In my Life may of watched less than 30 Rugby matches ~ my preferred sport to watch if I have the chance.
I
Have watched more rugby league over during my childhood ~ as my father watched it, but don't know if it tops 50 matches.

Watched day cricket due to my Australian and Indian friends ~ usually 20/20 as its quick and quite exciting

Messaging my friends now about the match I mentioned above ~ see if anyone recalls it.

[Phantom]

no one remember s it.

USA does have a rugby team, I found out. they played Australia in the 80s.

Must of been rugby league, my friends brought up lots of stories but didn't recall the situation. Sorry.

I clearly recall it, but it has been 30 years

[IMJ]

no one remember s it.

USA does have a rugby team, I found out. they played Australia in the 80s.

Must of been rugby league, my friends brought up lots of stories but didn't recall the situation. Sorry.

I clearly recall it, but it has been 30 years

I have a pretty cool file on my home media server where I try to dig up key sports moments, cool or noteworthy games, fights, etc. Just sort of a neat video archive of notable sporting events when I can find them. Even if it's only a clip that captures something obscure, like Tom Seaver's strikeout or Gretzky's record breaking goal.

The game you are describing sounds like something of interest that belongs there. Most recently I need to find a download of the Paul vs Robinson fight because it was so ridiculous and funny. Robinson, instantly from the start with those fast little small steps running towards Paul only to repeatedly hug him. HAHAH OHhhhh God.