London Calling

     There are a few reasons, both positive and negative, that a brand-new source of revenue for the NFL exists in a European market that would be interested in the television rights to the NFL games.  There are a good number of fans from around Europe who would travel to London for a game.  If the league can get fans around Europe to make two trips to England, they might have a decent chance to get regular repeat customers to international football games.  

     That being said, NFL interest might not translate very well into steady support for a full-time team in London.  Not to mention that it would be difficult for a London team to travel from the West Coast back to their stadium in London.An option for aiding a potentially suffering market would be to give an international team differing tax rules for dealing with playing on a different continent. a London-based team would probably be unable to compete with the other teams in the NFL.

     “It would make a lot more sense for the London team to stay in America when playing two consecutive road games than it would to fly back to London”(P4)  It would be interesting to see a team play permanently in Europe, but I doubt it will happen.  At least, I would like to see a team play in LA first.

Sport in Ancient World

The ancient sports eras of Greece and Rome were in many ways similar to the sports that we watch on television in current times.  However, there are obvious differences between sports in the two time periods that are worth taking a look at.  It is clear that competition has evolved from its basic form into the sports that we know today.  

In both time periods, sports could be classified as athletic competition for the entertainment of the viewer.  Regardless of whether we are talking about past or present era, the basic concepts of competition and the characteristics that define it have changed very little.  The same idea that winner takes all still holds true in most sporting events.

The concept that only free-born Greek citizens are allowed to compete is quite similar to the inequality that we see in modern day athletics.  Today, less fortunate children dream of reaching the professional leagues in an attempt to achieve fame and fortune. Unfortunately, only a select few with the necessary skills ever reach it there.  This reminds me of a gladiator battle in the ancient times.  Underprivileged people compete for the viewing entertainment of the upper class elite.  That being said, there are some exceptions to this view of athletic competition.  In my opinion, “equality of opportunity to compete” is one of the most critical issues that the sports world faces today.

The Duality of Sports

In the reading, the author talks about two parts of the sports world.  It includes both the positive and negative externalities that affect fans, players, and anyone involved in the business process.  The text describes two different sides of sports that can be viewed as a paradox.  The contradiction between the good and bad results of sports as a whole make a compelling argument that it is not always positive.

I think that most sports fans would argue that sports are a positive thing for all parties involved.  For example, sports are an organized means of attaining exercise for the younger age group.  Also, team pride forms bonds between people of all walks of life that would otherwise be unconnected.  There is an aspect of social mobility for the underprivileged that allows inner city kids to have dreams of becoming rich and famous, when it would otherwise be highly unlikely.  

The opposition to this point of view is that sports are damaging to the players and cities that cannot afford to have a professional team.  The fact that players have been accused and caught for using performance enhancing drugs to play their respective sport better, makes it almost impossible to ignore that the sports world comes with some negative consequences.  Players are willing to sacrifice almost anything to achieve greatness, including the cost of damaging their own body.  

In my opinion, the duality of sports is the driving force that makes athletes one of the most highly respected figures in our society.  In other words, sports fans should accept the good with the bad.  Maybe players are putting themselves at risk, but they are making hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to play a game, that has no real effect on the daily lives of the members of the sports community.