Puck Up

In terms of the more popular (and often team-based) sports, the ideal of a true global competition to see which country hails the best and brightest is a decent idea but countries with the most followers of any such sport are going to have an inherent advantage: That’s why Canada is usually a heavy favorite in ice hockey, South American and European countries tend to excel over the United States in football/soccer and the US by all rights ought to own basketball every four years. If we want to see who is the best team in these sports, there is already an arena for that in the respective leagues for these sports where stronger markets attract the brightest stars. Sure the criteria isn’t national but the pool is larger and it becomes organizational (talent scouts, management, coaching) which means even places like Dallas and Phoenix who, without the aid of modern technology could probably never even engage in ice hockey due to climate limitations, can experience these types of sports. And they aren’t limited by something as unfortunate as national sentiment.

I think the problems that have been introduced by having professional players in the Olympics don’t outweigh the potential advantages or excitement of country-based pro tournaments. What I’m saying is that I’d rather see us go back to an amateur-only Olympics. As a matter of fact, what I’d rather see is the Olympics happen more often (once every two years would be a good start) and have there be a reverse salary cap so that players in minor leagues who make less than x dollars per year from playing their sport (I’m assuming here that minor leaguers still get some sort of paycheck) become eligible. In my estimation this would mean that tomorrow’s brightest stars have a chance to compete on an international and very public stage on a pretty regular basis which could serve as a phenomenal scouting event plus it would not put professional players in a position to turn down the Olympics (which is essentially making a judgement call about which championship means more) or put their jobs on the line for nothing more than prestige which, let’s face it, if you’re earning a million dollars per year you just don’t need. Imagine being able to see Alexander Ovechkin play a couple of years ago before his NHL debut in a tournament of note.

That’s what I’m talking about.

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