Soccer, Sports and Politics - Part Deux

I did look at it, and yes, there's the NYT and the Saudis.

As to my ethnicity, nope, you're wrong.

But thanks for playing, you get a home edition of our game.

 

It was a negative article, not sportswashing.

 

What, exactly, do you think the PIF/Saudis are doing here, giving to your tar heels out of the kindness of their hearts?

I happen to think this is a positive article, in that it furthers the understanding that college sports are kinda-sorta a scam. After all, if you've gotta get into bed with the Saudis to compete, who's really holding institutional control, the school, or the PIF''s cash?

So yeah, it IS sportswashing on the part of the Saudis. The NYT are just there to report it as gently as possible, without all the gory details. (But hey, going to Saudi to, "meet with high-ranking government officials to discuss potential partnership opportunities" sure sounds all fine and dandy to me.)

Go heels.

 

The white Australian medallist gave the two Americans the black gloves.

 

I expected schools like Bammy, Michigan, Miami, Oregon or OSU to entertain a PIF investment. Clearly the Saudis don't follow CFB.

Hell, Michigan would allow them to re-name the stadium MBS Bonesaw Stadium at Bo Schembechler field

 

To me, this is a logical next opportunity for PIF's/Saudis sporting "investment." They can buy a metric fvkc ton of influence in places in our nation where the voters already vote against their own self-interests. (Also, look at how easily amped up southerners get when anyone does anything other than fall all over themselves to fete their college teams.)

At the same time, AFAIK, there are zero rules about who can "donate" to whom, and in what amount as a "booster" of college teams. (Kinda like our nation's crappy campaign finance "laws," only more lax, if you can believe it.)

The Saudis can buy influence through stupid college sports, without the hassle of having to bother with owning teams. They don't even have to pretend to give a fvkx about the sports in question, as they have to to own Bonesaw FC, LIV, or any of their other "investments."

 

The first step might be some ME airline patch on the helmets or jerseys to get people used to it. Or a Please Forget 9/11 badge

 

All basketball at this point.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...future-nba-international-basketball-abu-dhabi

This fall, the NBA is expected to finalize a long-term extension of its relationship with the DCT that will guarantee annual preseason games in Abu Dhabi and establish a new NBA Global Academy at NYU's Abu Dhabi campus, where top prospects from around the world will be sent to live, get an education and develop their games. The deal is expected to last well into the next decade, sources told ESPN.

It is also a precursor to another large and potentially pivotal deal.

The NBA is in discussions with Al Mubarak and other leaders about investing in NBA Europe, which has emerged as a league priority over the past year.

In what could prove to be a signature move of Silver's tenure, the NBA is investigating launching a new NBA-branded European league as early as 2027, with a mix of existing teams recruited away from other leagues and expansion.

Abu Dhabi is considering the possible launch of a team in Manchester, where they have owned and turned Manchester City Football Club into a global leader in soccer with world-class infrastructure.

"It is a possibility," Al Mubarak said of investing in an expansion team in NBA Europe. "The NBA is the world's best basketball league and we have a deep commitment and track record of success in the [Manchester] community."

 

Unfortunately, the latter also has a lot of corruption. Who can even keep up with the format changes to the Profesional league in Argentina?

 

I dont even think that PIF's "investments " have to be that brazen, at least initially.

Just helping some college team "win a natty" can get their fans "all happy-like." And happy people don't vote out incumbents; incumbents can be used to further Saudi interests. (Like slowing the electrification of our transportation, so as to keep the US as carbon-addicted as possible, for as long as possible.)

 

That could be. Buying the sports department of a private institution could more easily disguise the source of funds than buying a public institution, due to some disclosure laws. And buying a "natty" in basketball has to be cheaper than buying a "natty" in pointyball.

But then, does dook make as many low-information types "happy-like" as the tar heels? IOW, would their corruption of dook buy as many southern hearts and minds?

That, I don't know, TBH.

 

Meh, I still think college sports would be an easier way for foreign sovereign wealth funds to sportswash:

A. No salary cap, and fewer rules. They can buy as many players as they want, without having to trifle with a cap or luxury tax.

B. Look at how amped up college sports fans get. Especially Southern ones.

C. If sports are now the opiate of the masses (especially college), "winning a natty" can have more influence than, I dunno, the Atlanta Hawks winning the Obrien trophy.

D. A lot of these schools are places where the sports department is the tail that wags the dog, whether it was decades of paying players well ahead of NIL, or tutors taking tests for players.

 

If there’s anyone we should look to for insight on Dook vs UNC it’s a guy from Chicago who proudly tells us he doesn’t know anything about college sports.

 

Since so many NBA stars have college eligibility left, the Saudi Sportswashing Federation could offer them ridiculous NIL deals to go to Duke (and other universities) and kill the NBA. Most people wouldn't even know it's gone until May.

 

And Dave, I've already admitted that I'm not familiar.

I get that you're from the south, and for some reason you feel the need to defend your school to the last drop of your blood, but again, nothing here that has been written attacks you in any way.

(Unless, you feel impugned that I pointed out the sportswashing between the NYT and Bonesaw FC's soccer madrassa a page or so ago?)

All we've done since then is to point out the high probability of sportswashing within college sports, because of the high vulnerability within college sports. No need to go all "Fort Sumter" on us.

 

NIL is already murdering the joke of the "developmental" league. And shyte, with Saudi cash, players probably won't have to go on scholarships any more, if we're gonna be honest about it.

What's a measly $68k to pay a players tuition to play for dook to the Saudis? They probably wipe their arses with more cash than that on a Tuesday.

 

Oklahoma State University is already heavily dependent on dirty oil money.

 

Was thinking a Big Lib Western billionaire should flip the script and start a Saudi women's soccer league. But they got one

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Women's_Premier_League

 

Oooh ooh! Imma guess South Asian

 

Well, I WON'T say...

But hey, if picking at others' ethnicities gives southerners like dave their jollies, who am I to prevent it?

Just don't you dare joke about them-there college teams, ah tell yew wut!

 

Announcers said this rocket went 469 ft



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