Dr. Wankler
13 Jan 2004, 11:39 AM
Soccer, as many know, was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Here's an article that suggests maybe it should be nominated for a Nobel in economics.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=2427&print=1&PHPSESSID=dab887a14f1c92e0317bd5e383bbc30b
Mods: won't hurt my feelings if this gets moved to B&M or someplace else...
I don't buy a lot of what he says, but it's still worth a look for most.
P. J. Szule
17 Jan 2004, 03:25 PM
Soccer vs. McWorld author Franklin Foer's writing is on the bombastic side ("soccer is the most globalized institution on the planet, the Celtic-Ranger rivalry is the unfinished fight over the Protestant Reformation, etc.") but it is rich in detail and is most engaging. Do read this piece in anticipation of his book on soccer and politics forthcoming from HarperCollins.
One small note of disagreement on crediting the rather recent, borderless world economy with importation of "cheap, skilled labor [players] from abroad". South American, particulary Argentinian players found their way to top clubs in Italy and the Nazionale as did star Brazilian, Uruguyan, Swedish and German players to Milan, Inter and Fiorentina many decades ago. And despite Francisco Franco's "prohibition" of importing players to Spain, one could hardly imagine Barcelona without Kubala or Real Madrid without Di Stefano and Puskas in the fifties. Admittedly, most of the above importations were likely not "cheap".