Okay, I've had enough of Glenn Beck and this guy claiming soccer is an "un-American" and "socialist sport". The bone-headed hypocrisy and utter ignorance these two display about the "beautiful game" are astounding.
Soccer is the most capitalist sport in the world, and American sports are a bazillion times more socialist than soccer. Let's discuss, shall we?
The baseball, American football, basketball, hockey leagues in the United States use a draft to send the best players to the crappiest teams. This is a socialist practice since players and teams are not allowed to contract freely. A player's entry into the league is dictated not by his or her choice, but by mandate from the powers that be.
The U.S. leagues also participate in revenue sharing, again, propping up the weaker, more inefficient teams. This is a "redistribution of wealth", a collectivist practice. And it's *gasp* socialist.
The U.S. leagues also have salary caps to limit the amount of money a team can spend on its players. Richer, more successful teams are hamstrung by the weaker teams' inability to adequately compete. Another socialist principle. All teams should be as equal as possible.
Players in U.S. leagues are union members with collective bargaining power. Remember the latest baseball strike? The NHL strike? No matter whether you agree or disagree with unions, collective bargaining is a socialist principle since the merits of the individual are subjugated to the will of the group.
American leagues are a static, sporting cartel and closed to competition (unless the league expands). Teams are members of the United Sporting Socialist Republics. Lesser teams have no chance of breaking into the "big leagues".
Now, in professional soccer (in every country but the United States), on the other hand, a draft is a laughable proposition. If you can't compete, if you play poorly, you and your team get relegated to a lesser league. Players are free to sign with whichever team offers the best contract. Clubs share revenue only from TV broadcasts. Manchester United doesn't give a penny of its lucrative merchandising revenue or ticket sales to Wolverhampton; this is as it should be. There is no salary cap, which rewards the best players (and their clubs) with the best salaries.
These characteristics embody the enterprising spirit of capitalism. You are compensated on the merits of your ability, not because someone pities how much your team sucks. Granted, professional soccer can be a cutthroat proposition, but so is every other capitalist venture. You compete, or you fail.
Glenn, other dude, if you really knew what you were talking about, you'd be lauding soccer for its meritocracy and scorning American sports leagues for their socialism.
HT: The Stupidest Man In America | The New Republic
I think Glenn Beck is just bored. Kind of happy to see him taking a break from how Progressives are going to destroy the earth with secret combinations.
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