The fact of the matter is, by the same standard that the "heavy-thinkers" are using, soccer is less "socialist" than football, baseball, and basketball. That is what I've been attempting to refute by citing to various financial matters. (Incidentally, David Beckham's second contract is between the team he plays for, and the corporation he created for marketing himself to his sponsors). By pointing this out, I am trying to make you wonder why other "athletes" (loosely defined) such as Jordan, Favre, Woods, and Earnhardt haven't done the same. In other words, these American athletes are behind the curve.
I have no difficulty with your observation that soccer is a boring sport. To each his own. But to hold the sport accountable for trying to marketing itself to you is myopic. Every sport does the same, period.
I see. Is it incorrect, though? If so, why?
The fact of the matter is, by the same standard that the "heavy-thinkers" are using, soccer is less "socialist" than football, baseball, and basketball.
How so? And don't tell me stuff about the owners and antitrust exemptions. That's not what people are talking about when they say that soccer has parallels with socialism. They are talking about what happens on the field. Do you understand this yet?
That is what I've been attempting to refute by citing to various financial matters.
I know, but the problem is that the things you're bringing up have nothing to do with what actually happens on the field durring a soccer match, and thus your observations about Rupert Murdoch etc. are irrelevant.
When we say soccer has parallels with socialism we're talking about what happens on the field, as the sport is actually played! GET IT??
[definition of "marketing arm"] Incidentally, David Beckham's second contract is between the team he plays for, and the corporation he created for marketing himself to his sponsors). By pointing this out, I am trying to make you wonder why other "athletes" (loosely defined) such as Jordan, Favre, Woods, and Earnhardt haven't done the same.
I see. Well sorry to break it to you, but I don't "wonder why" Jordan, Favre etc haven't done this, because frankly I don't give a rat's ass how athletes bureaucratically and legalistically arrange their shoe endorsement contracts. I mean, really, who cares? Does this change how athletic they are or whether or not it's entertaining to watch them? I guess I don't get it. Why am I supposed to care about this issue at all?
In other words, these American athletes are behind the curve.
What curve? Behind what? You're evaluating athletes and sports based on some bizarre irrelevant uninteresting criteria (how they are arranged legalistically) and then triumphantly proclaiming that American athletes are "behind the curve" (by your standards). But if I don't care about these silly irrelevant standards you're putting forth - if I don't care about this "curve" you've brought up - then where does that leave you?
But to hold the sport accountable for trying to marketing itself to you is myopic. Every sport does the same, period.
Oh, I definitely agree. In fact I have no problem whatsoever with soccer trying to market itself to me. Actually I would welcome it.
The problem is, that's not what's happening. It's not the case that I feel myself flooded with TV soccer advertisements from FIFA or World Cup. Rather, I feel myself flooded with snide condescending lectures from would-be cultural commentators (think someone like Eleanor Clift) who I can't for the life of me imagine actually sitting down to watch a soccer match on TV themselves, but nevertheless think it's very important for me to do so, and think I'm very provincial and closed-minded and xenophobic if I don't. That's what bothers me.
This isn't "soccer" "trying to market itself to me". This is leftist elitists, unconnected with soccer and (most of them) who probably don't even watch it themselves, who have decided for weirdly political reason which I don't understand (and was hoping you'd explain) that Soccer Is Important For Americans To Embrace and have embarked on a neverending unsolicited lecture series to goad us all into doing so.
So again, what explanation do you have for this bizarre phenomenon, unless on some level soccer is somehow consistent with or similar to socialism and this is perceived by the leftists who proselytize for it? If that's not the case then why exactly do leftists embrace "The Peoples' Game" so much, at least rhetorically? Let me know. Best,