Money Printing Machine Called The Olympic Games

One of the most interesting and fun experiences of my life was attending the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. But, I also agree with some Olympic Games historians that the 1984 Olympics were the original corporate games. After Los Angeles was awarded the games, they watched in horror as Montreal lost millions and millions of dollars trying to build stadiums, housing, and accommodate the influx of hundreds of thousands of fans. The head of the LA Olympic Organizing Committee, Peter Uberoth promised Los Angeles would not be left in debt. And he proceeded to sell to corporations every single inch of "real estate" where they could emblazon their names, corporate logos, or entertain swanky clients. In fact, one of my favorite stories of this marketing of the Olympics was with 7-11. The LA Organizing Committee called the head marketers of 7-11 and offered them the chance of a lifetime. If they contributed a bazillion dollars the velodrome would be names the 7-11 Velodrome. "Great, we'll do it," came the reply. A few minutes later the phone rang at the LA Organizing Committee offices. It was 7-11 wanting to know what was a velodrome.

It comes as no surprised then, that the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in British Columbia, Canada, is already a money printing machine for corporations. If you want tickets to the events, well, forget about it unless you have thousands and thousands of dollars. Most of the tickets are already distributed to corporations who sponsor the Olympic Games. Think about the banks US taxpayers bailed out. They will be wining and dining big time clients at hockey matches, down hill skiing venues, and speed skating.

Back in 1984 it was relatively easy. You called a number, got a booklet, filled out your preferences, and bought tickets for not a lot of money (if I could go...). Now, now it's all about lining someone's pocket. Ticket aggregators have made it virtually impossible for a normal person to see events unless they somehow miraculously win a lottery!

Which isn't to say the idea of the Olympic Games still isn't noble. But it certainly has been corrupted beyond what the modern Olympics should be about.

Can Sports Still Be Fun?

What a weekend. Michael Vick returned to football, playing in game (still not advocating for other felons who are not so lucky working less than minimum wage jobs, at that...). And the Seattle Seahawks introduced, during a rather pathetic game, their "new" jerseys which make them look like flagmen at a road construction site. After an all around losing performance by each and every member of the team, including the coaches, the head coach, Jim Mora (count how many sons of former NFL coaches are coaching now in the NFL or NCAA. Who says there isn't dynasties in America) called a place kicker a number of things, apparently placing the whole loss on one player! Now that is a sign of maturity.

But really, sports, at least on the professional and semi-professional level (that is, college football and basketball) are no longer fun. They are big business. Clearly the Philadelphia Eagles thought through their decision to hire Michael Vick. It's all about the numbers and they realized they would make more money with him than without him. The new jerseys for Seattle are all about marketing. Do you know how much money colleges and pro teams make in licensing? You know, all those baseball caps you buy with your team's logo? Well, they make a ton of money, billions in fact. And each and every time a team changes it's jersey or logo, well, we all go out and spend more money! Cha-ching.

It's really sad, because sports can be such a unifer. Sitting in a stadium, cheering on your team with thousands of others. But now it is corporatized, what was once public has become Qwest Field or Safeco Park or Citi this or JP Morgan that. It is more than ever about "show me the money," rather than the enjoyment of making the catch, or playing well, or supporting your team. It's about threats from owners that if they don't get this or that paid out of public monies they will move to another town with an open check book.

And like so many other things, we don't question what we have created. We are the enablers.

Just say no to buying a new jersey!