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.
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