it's time for sports to dissolve...fat chance but now there is hope...no more any sports is perfect.

Yeah, and that's another thing. Demolish all sports stadiums and I don't give the first shit about "tradition". Tradition means nothing now in pro sports.

To the ground. Rubble. Then, take the rubble, put it on garbage scows and dump it in the middle of the ocean.

This stuff needs to be gone from the planet.

Am with the sports abolitionists. Maybe it still stings remembering all the times I got picked last for playground football, but I can't see any legitimate reason for pro sports as they exist today either.

As for dumping all the stadiums in the ocean, I'd only suggest using the scrap for better things. We could use more coral reefs though, so maybe it's as good a plan as any.

Absolutely zero fucks given about MLB and most other pro sports.

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
As for dumping all the stadiums in the ocean, I'd only suggest using the scrap for better things. We could use more coral reefs though, so maybe it's as good a plan as any.

It's a symbolic gesture, but if you want to recycle their stinking shit, then, use it to build massive libraries on the site of each former shit hole stadium.

Remember? Books. Reading. Knowledge. Being informed and not some sheep who believes anything "da TV news" tells you.

No "digital" anything. No iPads, PCs, nothing. Books. Made from paper and bound in leather. Get your Goddamned "season tickets" for that.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss: I grew up when athletes were role models displaying skill, sportsmanship, and moral fiber.

Say what?

All pro athletes have skill, they wouldn't be getting paid an ungodly amount if they didn't have skill.

Role models, sportsmanship and moral fiber...lost me Ball players regardless of sport, are usually the least socially adjusted people around, the only thing they were good at was, playing ball. Marketing and access media has inflated pro athletes to be bigger than they really are, looking to create phony heroes and supermen, the old axiom, 'never meet your hero, you might be disappointed' wholey applies to pro-ball players, regardless of sport.


I enjoy many sports and find it entertaining, however, that's where my investment stops. It's not a religion like some people have taken to be. I don't rise and fall, with the results of my favorite teams. It's simply entertainment. No need for season tickets, no need to vote in favor of a tax increase or, bond measure; nope. If pro sports were to shrink or disappear, I'd be ok with it.

Competetive infrastructure rebuilding .

There you go
Highways ,Bridges, river dredging ,
Collector
Cards
With dozer drivers, paver workers
Truckers and welders on them.

Fans would buy cloths like Jim the
Crane operator wears,
Or

Kids in highschool would
Learn drywalling after school,
Or
Foundation laying and compete against other schools.

You got it.

A man can dream.

i understand the disdain. I really do. I feel it as well.

But on the other hand I like competition. The human race is about winners and losers. Cheer for the underdog. Cheer for the dynasty. The comeback. Whatever it is.

The feeling expressed here are valid. But many feel the same about things like politics, TV, news media, new vehicles, websites, movie celeb's, FB, Youtube, the oil company's, etc You name it. We could do away with all of it.

Yes there are self absorbed idiots in pro sports just as there are in about every facet or our society.

But there are good people, Ones that help others. Not just a little, but a lot.

Then there is the free market aspect of the business' and those who earn what the market will bear.

What about all the employee's and billion dollar business' who shirtale off of these business'. The hotdog vendor, the hotels and restaurants to name a very few. Should they and their employee's just be added to the heap?

So while I hear the anger towards these business' and the men and women who fuel these privately owned and operated business'. Why say they should not exist in a free country is silly. If you do not like them do not support them. Plain and simple.

That's right, man. I have no right to say- in my own forum, no less- that I wish to rid this nation of a cancer. No right whatsoever. I shouldn't speak my mind, not even in my own house.

That about sum it up?

What about prostitution? Why is prostitution illegal in all but one place in this entire nation? Because people believe that prostitution is immoral and that it damages individuals and families. And don't tell me that this is a strawman argument. The sports themselves have no stand in morality one way or the other; it is the owners, coaches, players et al who have created an obscene culture. The existence of pro sports teams is an ongoing threat to the integrity of this nation.

You say that you understand and feel the anger. It's clear to me that you do not, because you're defending the obscenity which pro sports have become. The people involved with pro sports are prostitutes just as much as a streetwalker who spread her legs for ten bucks. They just get a Hell of a lot more for it, that's all.

They don't give a shit about any of us, yet some of you guys fairly worship these spoiled brats, many of whom would be in prison or working at a car wash if not for pro sports.

quote:

What about all the employee's and billion dollar business' who shirtale off of these business'. The hotdog vendor, the hotels and restaurants to name a very few. Should they and their employee's just be added to the heap?

all that could happen with
Competitive infrastructure rebuilding.

the gate admission would be gone, but thats only a fraction .

what percent of the population could be involved with any aspect of pro sports?
8 % ? 15% ?

I am betting 30-40% could make a living rebuilding the infrastructure.

none would most likely get a 16 million dollar, 4 year contract though

You would think that all the college and pro sports teams would want to get back to playing the games ASAP. It's in their best self-interest. The longer the games aren't happening, the more likely it is that more people will realize that they don't miss them, don't need them and won't ever go back. And the sticking points to going back are all about the money for the most part. So it shows what they really care about and it's not the fans, just their money.

These superfans whose whole life and identify revolve around their team... I've never understood it, especially now. Get a grip and get a life.

I have a good idea...

Fire them all! Kill the players union.

Hire lower salary people who just want to play. Establish salary caps with moderate yearly raises for inflation only...NOTHING MORE.

The stadiums would be filled and vendors could still make money.

START OVER...

Indeed. Start over. If we can't get rid of this stuff altogether, then, a reset is what we need. And then, we would see gratitude, humility, perspective, enthusiasm and drive on the part of the players. The games could once again become what they once were, more than a century ago.

Barring that, set the charges and summon the scows.

Interesting thread. Baseball players in America are being jerks so we should destroy all sports at all levels??

With that said I have zero sympathy for a baseball player, making $10+M a season throwing a fit about reduced salary's when millions of Americans making $10-30/hr have lost their jobs.

Other pro sport athletes are taking a $$ hit and they are eager to get their games back running. You get paid because people enjoy watching what you do and support you. Piss them off and your dooming yourself.

No, not all levels. Let high schoolers and grade schoolers play these sports. You seem to recall I said that colleges can play all they like, provided that it's all on their own dime.

No sports for profit is what it comes down to, because when sports becomes business, the vultures begin circling overhead.

And BTW, baseball is not the sport which I have forefront in my mind. You know the main source of these issues is the National Felon League. At present, baseball appears to be the least problematic of the major pro sports.

Oh, and women's sovccer. Make me a sammich and be quick about it, dearie.

quote:

The stadiums would be filled and vendors could still make money.

It's not about filling stadiums. It's about TV. Nobody wants to watch a bunch of no names who aren't as athletic and competitive. And no company wants to spend advertising dollars on that product.

The XFL and whatever other iterations of pro football there has been is proof of that.

If the choice was that or nothing, the sports addicts wouldn't be able to get enough of enthusiastic amateurs.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
If the choice was that or nothing, the sports addicts wouldn't be able to get enough of enthusiastic amateurs.

Yep. I found myself watching college Lacrosse recently and I really enjoyed it. Had never watched before. Of course, I can watch Cornhole too...

Not sure about other sports, I assume they are similar. Ticket prices a a tiny fraction of revenue. Most comes from licensed merchandise sales, advertising, and Televised events.

It's why most teams aren't batting an eye at playing without fans. Remember your ticket revenue also covers all of the security and support staff required for those live fans.

Think about it. Simple math. 30,000 fans @ $50/head average is $243m in revenue for the 162 game season. I'll guess total operation expenses, facilities, support salaries, fees, taxes, etc., Is about half so that leaves $121.5M. You need a profit, and we'll assume 10% for the owner. That leaves $2.7m per player on a 40 man roster. Ticket sales can't cover their player salary budget.

Also bear in mind the reason college athletes drive as hard as they do has a lot to do with chasing that pro salary.