Okay, that makes me feel better. I grew up well within the sphere of influence of Pittsburgh (Altoona), and the Stillers and the Rooneys were almost mythic during my childhood (the 1970s/early 80s).
Sure. It matters to a lot of people. It doesn’t really matter in terms of money and profit, but it can mean a lot to the residents of a city to lose a sports team.
There’s a lot of serious talk about the Buffalo Bills moving to Toronto once Ralph Wilson dies, and I can tell you that if that happens it’ll be an awful punch in the gut to a lot of folks in Western New York.
A lot of places have a strong cultural connection to their sports teams. New York Yankees being a prime example I think. You may not think that matters. I may not think that matters. There are, however, a lot of people who think it matters.
It is a distraction for the people into meaningless things of life, another opiate for the masses that stand in the way of people finding the real meaning of life and a way to vent anger and frustration. They also encourage group think, that they like their team, and people are ostracized who refuse to conform.
As such they serve the state and protect their power structure and control of the people, much like the Colosseum did in Rome.
Which is precisely why the local government is so invested (ha!) in sports pretty much everywhere in the western world, besides the not-inconsequent amount of pork barrels on top of that. Panem and circenses is still fress. Keep the proles howling about the Yankees, or Liverpool, or Michael Jordan or whatever, and the proles don’t have the braintime to think about how badly they’re being fucked and grab the nearest pitchfork.
ETA : holy crap - **kanicbird **and I have the same opinion. I think I need to go and lie down.
Me too. I need a cold damp washcloth and a dark room for a couple of hours after THAT thought.