For some unexplained, bizarre reason, the International Olympic Committee has voted to remove softball and baseball from the 2012 Olympic Games, instead of superfluous nonsense like Olympic trampoline.

Because the absurdity of the IOC’s decision is readily apparent, there’s no need to launch into a nine-page tirade about it here. Instead, let’s focus on the number one reason why softball, in particular, should be saved: its origin story.

The Chicago Tribune reports:

According to popular telling, the game was invented in the gymnasium of the Farragut Boat Club on a cold November day in 1887, quite literally by accident. A group of Harvard and Yale alums, the story goes, had gathered to hear the outcome of the Harvard-Yale football game. Upon hearing that Yale had prevailed, an alum picked up a boxing glove and threw it at a Harvard grad, who hit it back at him with a stick. George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, had a eureka moment and drew a diamond on the floor. The glove served as a ball, a broken broomstick as the bat.

That’s right – the famed Harvard-Yale rivalry gave birth to one of the best up-and-coming sports in America. Consider this proof positive that Ivy Leaguers are always innovating, even when engaging in barroom brawls.

More importantly, consider this a testament to the fact that, even at its basest level, softball is infinitely more interesting than Olympic trampoline.