my cousin's HS soccer team has their own pilates, physio, yoga, strength and conditioning, sports psychologist, etc.

**thumpsky** · 03-22-2008 04:01 PM

she lives in Texas and plays soccer and volleyball.

I have a friend (from Canada) who goes to Oxford University (the top university in Europe) in England and went to check out their men's volleyball team and he was shocked to find something akin to a meet and greet where they were having a luncheon to attract 'prospects'. It was advertised as a place to make new friends and have fun.

Why is the level of school athletics so much higher and more professional in the US as compared to everywhere else?

Oxford University Volleyball Club Home Page

**Hooman** · 03-22-2008 06:21 PM

Because the entire UK is the size of Texas. I was just chatting with someone about this earlier today. College athletics have a lot more funding in the US. The US is a huge country. Look at the size of the US compared to the UK. The UK is tiny.

They don't call America the best country on earth for nothing.

Even with all this talk of our economy in shambles and the US going down the pipes, we're still the best damn country. All those other countries don't even come close, at least not for another century.

**tazman9r** · 03-22-2008 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Hooman

Because the entire UK is the size of Texas. I was just chatting with someone about this earlier today. College athletics have a lot more funding in the US. The US is a huge country. Look at the size of the US compared to the UK. The UK is tiny.

They don't call America the best country on earth for nothing.

Even with all this talk of our economy in shambles and the US going down the pipes, we're still the best damn country. All those other countries don't even come close, at least not for another century.

Dude, I hear "God Bless America" as I read your post!

Not that I disagree with you, I love the US also, but I digress.

This may sound a bit jaded to say, but I think the top reason there is so much money in High School and collegiate sports is that they are a way for older people to relive the glory days of there youth. Oh, sure people bet on the games as well (which I put as a very close second), but it is the same reason people who don't have a use for corporate jets buy them, ego.

**BusinessAdviser** · 03-22-2008 10:25 PM

The answer is money, not glory days. Sports bring in money. The better the program, the more money for the school or school district.

**thumpsky** · 03-22-2008 10:49 PM

although Europe does have sports leagues that the US does not have, it's just that they are entirely separate from academics. For example a professional volleyball league in certain countries, handball, and of course soccer.

**thumpsky** · 03-22-2008 10:52 PM

YouTube - Sweden - Italy 2-0 (women's football)

**tazman9r** · 03-23-2008 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by jmenq2

The answer is money, not glory days. Sports bring in money. The better the program, the more money for the school or school district.

Gene Simmons said it best, "Without the fans, we are nothing."

Fans = Money

A Sport is a form of entertainment. It wouldn't exist as a business without a fan base. Why do you think racquetball only lives at swanky (well, used to be swanky) health clubs and gyms.

Lots of people are connected to Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer. They played in high school or college, most likely, or went to a school where it was a big deal. In Denver, everyone assumes your a Broncos fan, or your gonna be one if you live there long enough. It's just a part of the culture, which, by the way, explains Hockey and Soccer. In southern California, the Raiders went back to Oakland because, frankly, there is too much competition for fans. There are two Major League Baseball teams, at least one minor league team, three major theme parks, the beach, Catalina, Hollywood, the list goes on. There is just so darn much to do, and then you get the Raiders, who wanted to move from Oakland to L.A. because they didn't want to compete for San Fransisco's fans. They have since moved back.

The chances are that a fan is someone who identifies with the sport in some way. I enjoy a good AMA road race, but then I owned a Ninja 600R and a ZX-6. When I watched those races, I admit, I thought about how I would ride the race. That and the wrecks were really good, as long as no one got hurt. Seeing a bike flip and tumble 15 or 20 times then splash into the dirt or barrier and then the rider just gets up and walks away is pretty cool.

That's why I say glory days. In sports, if you try to separate the fans from the money, you go broke. Remember the year without baseball?