"Soccer"
Even though it took 50 years after the launch of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 1970s, soccer is now the #4 team sport in America.
It can't go any further, though, and it's because of the American way.
In professional American team sports, only the privileged are allowed to be privileged. If soccer set up a promotion/relegation system similar to the rest of the world, I could see (over many years) soccer rising all the way to #2 behind football.
Once you buy a major professional team in this country, though, you never have to leave, no matter how incompetent, tightfisted, or repugnant you are.
There have been a tiny number of exceptions for repugnant. The other two, though? Never a problem. The entire structure disincentivizes owners from investing in their team for any reason other than to make more money. If the team is terrible because they're so cheap they can always move to another city after holding them hostage for tax incentives and handouts.
It's entirely predatory, and it's a shame. It was also the only way for soccer to firmly differentiate themselves from the other major team sports and offer something better.
Too bad they never will.
I guess this is predatory week here at DQ, what with the EA post yesterday. We'll move on next week.
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