It’s all in the ancient tradition of American salesmanship – what in the law is called “mere puffery.” Nothing to sweat, really.
I wonder- do you you non-Yanks get EQUALLY riled up when the most muscular man on Earth is named “Mr. Universe,” or a beauty queen is named “Miss Universe”?
Are you worried that some Martian, Klingon or Tralfmadorian might get offended (“impudent Earthlings think THEY make up the entire universe!”)? If not, relax! Baseball is just a game.
Who said we were riled? It is not something that has ever exercised my attention for more than a nanosecond before, certainly not something that I would ever consider getting riled about. I wouldn’t like to try and speak for the rest of the world, but I can’t remember thinking anything other than that it was just something mildly silly that Americans did. I am sure that Americans could easily find any number of things about Australians (or English, Irish, French etc) that were also mildly silly.
motog said:
I have to second motog here - it’s much less a matter of anger than of amusement. I think, for me at least, it is something i like to bring up because so many Americans get so defensive when i do, and i’ve always enjoyed getting a rise out of people. 
Just remember, in SDMBspeak, “cannot locate page screen” means “Thank you for your post”.
It caught my attention when I was about 9, i think the braves were on the series. Why “world” series? Friedo, does a canadian team being in the series justify it being called world? Surely, its an international affair. But world? BTW shouldn’t he canucks get their own basketball and baseball leagues and stop bothering their neighbours? then again, the U.S. would have to get a new hockey leauge…
Why? A vast majority of the clubs in the N.H.L. are American. What Canadian teams are left? It’s them who’re going to have to get a new league.
And won it, no less.
Yeah but the “nation” in National Hockey League is Canada, sooo… actually Cecil talks about it but I’m too lazy too look for it.
Thanks for the great information!
For the record: No one here was riled. No one wants to propose a change. A man from another nation asked a ligitimate question for which I had no answer, so I thought I would ask here. There is always a reason something is called what it is, even if that reason has been forgotten. (I particularly liked the bell-ringer “it is because it is…”)
They were great links and great answers. Thanks everyone.