Money - Modern Sports Biggest Disease

We live in a physical world. Ever since the dawn of civilization, the man with the biggest stick has won the biggest cave. But today, the man with the most money makes the biggest decisions, often changing the sporting landscape as we know it. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not just limited to team owners and oil tycoons but due to overpaid salaries and huge sponsorship deals, some athletes are now in the driver's seat and are making major sport-altering decisions. The result: the creation of super teams that dominate a sport for up to decades at a time, killing both the sports popularity and future legacy in the process.

But first, let's talk about the upsides. Increases in funding have allowed sports teams across the globe to push the very boundaries of human anatomy and create technology that only years ago was considered a myth. Sports stadiums that used to hold hundreds now hold thousands, allowing anyone the chance to see their heroes in the flesh. Social media has created a platform in which athletes can connect with fans and act as a role model for future talent.

But a Formula One fan can still guess race results from first all the way to last, before even turning on the TV. In football, star players are given £300,000 per week contracts whilst club office workers and long-serving mascots are laid off. NBA players act like children; picking their friends as their teammates and refusing to play with anyone else unless their contract is amended.

As a generation, we have lost sight of what sport is all about. No matter who you are or who you support, everyone participates in sport for the thrill of risk. The thrill of knowing anything could happen. However, this element is being strangled, beaten, and pushed out due to one major factor: money.

Think of modern sport like a giant casino. Star athletes and wealthy team owners all go in with millions in their pockets, ready to gamble just like everyone else. But they have just one small advantage. They cannot lose. No matter how many injuries they suffer, how many cars they crash, or court cases they lose, they will always end up with a championship ring on their finger or a world championship trophy over their head. Now for them, I can only imagine this feels great right? Childhood dreams are accomplished and the world is at their feet. But for the people watching the same outcome play out week after week, it causes us to start questioning our admiration for the heroes we grew up with and the sport we still desperately want to love.

Comments

Greatest Rivals - John Stockton vs Magic Johnson

Welcome to Greatest Rivals! Each Wednesday, this page will pitch two great rivals against each other to finally find out who the real winner is! Over the coming weeks, this page will cover many great rivalries, from the glory of el Clasico to the back and forth action of some of Wimbledon's finest performers. Wednesday 10th March - John Stockton vs Magic Johnson As point guards go, John Stockton and Magic Johnson are poles apart. Stockton is the epitome of what a point guard should be; the ever-running engine that is an extension of a coaches vision. On the other hand, Magic is ultimately the most diverged the point guard position has ever become. At 6'9", he produced entire highlight reels that other point guards couldn't even replicate on the latest 2K. Despite their differences, each player produced a career worthy of the Hall of Fame, but when put head to head, who comes out on top? John Stockton is at the very top of a long list of Hall of Famers that didn'...

Extending the Possible - The Introduction of the 4-point line in the NBA

Since 1951, the NBA has undergone many era-defining changes. Through the evolution of its players, we have seen greatly different play styles ranging from the overly physical approach of the '80s and '90s to the rise of small ball. Remarkably, since the introduction of the 3-point line in 1979, no significant change has been made to the NBA that has made such a notable difference in how the game of basketball is played. So what's next? Well, with the likes of Steph Curry, Trae Young and Damian Lillard extending the limits of shooting ability with every passing season, something new is on the horizon; the introduction of the 4-point line. Since it's an introduction in 2018, the discussion over the addition of a 4-point line in the NBA is something that has been highly controversial. It is no question that the 3-point shot is at the centre of every NBA coaches gameplan in 2021 and is a tool that, if used effectively, can be the very difference between winning and losing a...

Time’s Up For Arteta - Conte or Zidane To Follow?

The position of manager at Arsenal has been a cursed one ever since Arsene Wenger’s retirement. Those who have followed the great Frenchman have seen nothing but mediocre performances and mid table finishes behind the likes of West Ham. Despite initial excitement, the addition of Mikel Arteta hasn’t brought any additional glory to London’s north end and has managed only two 8th place finishes and a FA cup trophy. Now for a mid-table team this would be acceptable, but for a side who is supposedly within the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’, it hardly stands up against the achievements of Arsenal’s rival clubs. The need for change is severe, but the next manager to run through the gauntlet will certainly have their hands full. As of now, there are two big name managers on the market, Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane. Both men have had great success in their managerial careers, combining for 15 trophies between them, but in terms of style and philosophy they couldn’t be more different....

View From The Bridge

Search This Blog