The Capitalism of Soccer... American Way of Life?

Discussion in 'Politics & Current Events' started by MiamiAce, Jul 1, 2004.

  1. MiamiAce

    MiamiAce New Member

    Jan 12, 2004
    Miami, USA
    The Capitalism of Soccer
    Why Europe's favorite sport is more American than baseball.

    http://slate.msn.com/id/2103170/

    Although this article relates to soccer, it is truly an interesting and great read. It points out how professional soccer in Europe is perhaps more related to American capitalism and ideology than European principles and socialist history.
     
  2. Sneever Flion

    Sneever Flion New Member

    Oct 29, 2002
    Detroit, MI
    What's said and done, business-wise, in this country are two very different things. Corporate America is no more interested in a "free market" society than the NHLPA is in a salary cap.
     
  3. Attacking Minded

    Attacking Minded New Member

    Jun 22, 2002
    Good article although we'v read it all before on BS.

    Here is something to think about. NASCAR is the most popular spectator sport (or fastest increasing) in the US. Is it set up more like European soccer or American soccer?
     
  4. nicephoras

    nicephoras A very stable genius

    Fucklechester Rangers
    Jul 22, 2001
    Eastern Seaboard of Yo! Semite
    As always, I hate to throw the wrench into a fabulously constructed strawman, but capitalism is a European construct. Unless the Scotland Adam Smith was from was Scotland, PA.
     
  5. GringoTex

    GringoTex Member

    Aug 22, 2001
    1301 miles de Texas
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    No, professional soccer in Europe is almost totally governed by the laws of the European Union.
     
  6. Foosinho

    Foosinho New Member

    Jan 11, 1999
    New Albany, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not only that, but a cartel is hardly socialist.
     
  7. Penarol1916

    Penarol1916 Member

    Apr 22, 2002
    Chicago, IL
    Nope, it is just a market failure, although the way US sports teams are supported by the government could be an argument of anti-capitalism. Also the ideas of revenue sharing and redistributing wealth from the rich teams to the poorer teams are fairly socialistic.
     
  8. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Did you read the article?

    It's about how pro/rel fits more into American Darwinian capitalism, while the US system of franchises within a cartel fits more with European subsidies for workers and industries.
     
  9. Foosinho

    Foosinho New Member

    Jan 11, 1999
    New Albany, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agreed. In the context of comparing pro/rel to the cartel nature of US league membership, it's a poor example of "socialism", is all. Pro/rel, on the other hand, is a very solid example of capitalism, tho success is a funky blend of on-field performance and revenue and the rather complicated relationship between those two.

    Nits, perhaps. I'm a stickler for accurate terminology.
     
  10. Penarol1916

    Penarol1916 Member

    Apr 22, 2002
    Chicago, IL
    When it came to economics I used to be, but out in the real world far to many people make mistakes about the terminology for me to continually fight that battle.
     
  11. Foosinho

    Foosinho New Member

    Jan 11, 1999
    New Albany, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's the bane of my existance. In all arenas I'm a stickler for precise language, and I'm alone in my obsession, much to the detriment of my sanity.
     
  12. -cman-

    -cman- New Member

    Apr 2, 2001
    Clinton, Iowa
    Interesting article although I think the authors of both the review and the book misinterpret the relationship between "cartels" and "socialism". As far as I've ever understood things, cartels are artificial concentrations of capital and market forces produced via capitalist means; companies slowly accrete vertical and horizontal production and market capacity with either the tacit approval of the state or at least via benign neglect. Socialist "central planning" concentration of capital and market forces is done via the express authority of the state.

    I differ with the author's point that cartel-type sports markets are un-American. The history of American captialism is largely one of the tension between various cartels or concentrations of market power and the eventual public reaction against them. See the rise of the Trusts and Robber Barons in the late 19th Century and the later Trust-Busting of the Progressive era. In the present day we see increasingly artificicial concentrations of market power in the health-care/pharmacutical and media industries to name just two.

    The free-wheeling, lazziez faire construct of the Europoean football leagues may resemble our ideals about American capitalism, but the cartel-like structures of NFL, MLB, etc. reflect the realities.
     

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