Comments on: The Re-Branding of Sports http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:54:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Antonio Gramsci http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-2107 Antonio Gramsci Sat, 18 Aug 2007 10:44:04 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-2107 There is a simple rule of thumb on baseball in Latin America. If the Americans have ever invaded the country, they play baseball there. If not, not. Hence, Cuba, DR, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela are all (primarily) baseball countries. Haiti is the only real exception to this rule. ...and why do you find Chavez's baseball fixation so surprising? He'll do anything Castro does, and Castro is a *huge* baseball fan (pitched for Universidad Havana back in the 40s...) There is a simple rule of thumb on baseball in Latin America. If the Americans have ever invaded the country, they play baseball there. If not, not. Hence, Cuba, DR, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela are all (primarily) baseball countries. Haiti is the only real exception to this rule.

…and why do you find Chavez’s baseball fixation so surprising? He’ll do anything Castro does, and Castro is a *huge* baseball fan (pitched for Universidad Havana back in the 40s…)

]]> By: Keddy http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1496 Keddy Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:15:38 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1496 Alright, finally a real sport here on your blog! Venezuela knows what's hot (see Felix Hernandez - getting my Mariners out of their 7 game losing streak tonight you know). What do you think of the hat trick of Vick in football, Bonds in baseball (754 tonight!), and the ref in basketball. It's big scandals everywhere in the usa. Does this make more space for soccer to take a step up? Along with Beckam, maybe it does. What "normal" channel can I find the Iraq/Saudi final on? Go Iraq! Has a country under occupation every won a big tournament like this one? This can be the next Disney feel-good kids movie for next summer. "A group of guys......torn apart by war......." Yeah, before I make an inappropriate comment I'll stop. I'll let the reader finish the trailer. Anyways, I'm sure the kiddies will go wild for it and start waving around Iraqi flags as they stream out of the multiplexes. Here's to world peace and the end of poverty. Alright, finally a real sport here on your blog! Venezuela knows what’s hot (see Felix Hernandez - getting my Mariners out of their 7 game losing streak tonight you know).

What do you think of the hat trick of Vick in football, Bonds in baseball (754 tonight!), and the ref in basketball. It’s big scandals everywhere in the usa. Does this make more space for soccer to take a step up? Along with Beckam, maybe it does.

What “normal” channel can I find the Iraq/Saudi final on? Go Iraq! Has a country under occupation every won a big tournament like this one? This can be the next Disney feel-good kids movie for next summer. “A group of guys……torn apart by war…….” Yeah, before I make an inappropriate comment I’ll stop. I’ll let the reader finish the trailer. Anyways, I’m sure the kiddies will go wild for it and start waving around Iraqi flags as they stream out of the multiplexes.

Here’s to world peace and the end of poverty.

]]> By: Linda http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1416 Linda Sun, 22 Jul 2007 08:52:24 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1416 Great post as always. The NFL might have trouble breaking into the Chinese market, but the NBA doesn't. I think basketball is almost as big as football there. Great post as always. The NFL might have trouble breaking into the Chinese market, but the NBA doesn’t. I think basketball is almost as big as football there.

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1406 David Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:07:36 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1406 Jay - I agree with your assessment of both books. I have read Brilliant Orange and it is up there with my favorite soccer books. Jay - I agree with your assessment of both books. I have read Brilliant Orange and it is up there with my favorite soccer books.

]]> By: Jay http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1402 Jay Sat, 21 Jul 2007 02:29:20 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1402 No problem David. You have a great blog here. I just started reading Goldblatt's book and am around a quarter way through --- it's a wonderful work, I cannot praise it highly enough. Just finished reading 'Brilliant Orange' by David Winner, a history and study of Dutch football, highly reccomended. No problem David. You have a great blog here.

I just started reading Goldblatt’s book and am around a quarter way through — it’s a wonderful work, I cannot praise it highly enough. Just finished reading ‘Brilliant Orange’ by David Winner, a history and study of Dutch football, highly reccomended.

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1399 David Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:47:17 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1399 Jay - You're completely right and I mistyped. England never did invade Argentina. To be completely accurate, I wrote that in my first draft, not thinking, and meant to take it out, but overlooked it. Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I fixed it. Thanks for the compliment Jonz! Jay - You’re completely right and I mistyped. England never did invade Argentina. To be completely accurate, I wrote that in my first draft, not thinking, and meant to take it out, but overlooked it. Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I fixed it.

Thanks for the compliment Jonz!

]]> By: Jonz http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1398 Jonz Sat, 21 Jul 2007 00:30:31 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1398 once again, brilliant work. I started to read the article, because after the first couple of lines, i made the comparison to futbol in argentina. then as i kept reading you used the same example as i was thinking of. cool!! keep up the good work!!! once again, brilliant work. I started to read the article, because after the first couple of lines, i made the comparison to futbol in argentina. then as i kept reading you used the same example as i was thinking of. cool!!

keep up the good work!!!

]]> By: Jay http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1391 Jay Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:25:53 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/07/19/the-re-branding-of-sports/#comment-1391 ((---International tournaments like the World Cup would later give Argentina an opportunity to take on their former invaders England---)) England never 'invaded' Argentina. The British took the game there through sailors and other workers and migrants. Argentinian football still bears an English imprint, with teams like Newell's Old Boy's retaining their old English names. The English took the game everywhere, to Brazil, Uruguay, and all over Europe. Barcelona and AC Milan are all clubs with British roots. ((—International tournaments like the World Cup would later give Argentina an opportunity to take on their former invaders England—))

England never ‘invaded’ Argentina. The British took the game there through sailors and other workers and migrants.

Argentinian football still bears an English imprint, with teams like Newell’s Old Boy’s retaining their old English names. The English took the game everywhere, to Brazil, Uruguay, and all over Europe. Barcelona and AC Milan are all clubs with British roots.

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