Even before the kickoff of the first playoff game, the buzz around the first round laid to rest any doubt that football is now America's national pastime. And as the experts debated the possibilities in the upcoming draft it raises the question of why America's favorite sport is so anti-capitalist.
The buzz around Andrew Luck hasn't been seen since Elway was eligible (another Colts top pick) and everyone seems to accept that the worst team this season will get him. A team plays terribly for 16 games and it gets first choice of all the best college football players in the world. Not only that, it gets the statistically easiest schedule for this season.
How does this monopoly get away with constantly rewarding failure? What kind of lesson is this teaching the next generation? Oh, don't worry, if you disappoint the fans that keep you in business constantly, we'll make it as easy as possible for you to get back and be competitive. Why not just hand them a Vince Lombardi trophy while they're at it?
Contrast that with Europe, which is getting a steady stream of criticism for its socialist leanings causing its debt crisis. In European soccer, the three worst teams get relegated. They don't get a handout. Instead, they don't get to play with the big boys next year. Indianapolis should go down to Division One next year and we can promote Ohio State instead of putting them on probation.
So, the eurozone should be applying this sense of pure capitalism to its sovereign debt. The bottom three countries in terms of debt to GDP get sent down to the currency minors – call it the "undereuro" – and other entrants get to join as warranted.
And let's hope they don't watch too much of the command economy NFL.
