SUPPORT FOR FREE MARKET VICTORY IN OLYMPICS! BIG BLOG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING!
As an attorney, I value authority and support in arguments. Judges like to know other judges agree with their position and that the argument is mainstream among judicial opinions.
It works the same way with bloggers; I do try to find others with a similar position that have expertise in their field. Here’s one example:
I contend that the way to help the Olympic athletes get the resources they need is the free market. This article from Art Thiel at seattlepi.com is certainly persuasive authority (as we lawyers put it) in my favor:
Long story short, a major, continuing overhaul of the USOC put more of the broadcast TV rights fees and sponsor cash in training centers, athletic-research science and Olympic operations, as well as supporting each sport’s national governing body.
That’s a big reason why the U.S. this closing weekend finds itself atop the Winter Games standings with a record 36 medals — the first time the U.S. is astride the winter standings since 1932.
This was the result of the Steinbrenner (Yes, that one, the owner of the Yankees) commission overhauling the USOC. One of our remarkable Nordic Combined medalists, Billy Demong, the sole gold medalist, made this observation of the new Olympic attitude:
In his fourth and most successful Olympics, Demong, from Vermontville, N.Y., bore witness to the evolution of American winter success.
“I have seen a significant change,” he said. “Now, there’s a level of expectation and professionalism among athletes on the team. We’re here to win.
“There’s a lot of guys and girls who feel very comfortable in their sports. They’re competitors entitled to do their best. We’re doing the right things with the right athletes to raise expectations.”
No entitlement mentality here. No bureaucrat deciding who gets help; Here’s an interesting article in regard to the athlete the Canadian sports machine forgot. (In fairness, perhaps this athlete was not very likely to medal; however, I admire his initiative and drive. Maybe wiht the right help, he’d do better.) The best gets help and if they get better, they get more help. The USOC CEO agrees:
“Sponsors get more value when there’s more American success,” said Scott Blackmun, the USOC’s new CEO. “The stories from these Games increase the appetite that sponsors have for things Olympic. The main reason it helps is the ideals our athletes portray.”
Let’s cheer the USA team! They showed that when free market/liberty principles are at work, there will be results.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! I’ll be off line until Wednesday; new readers try out my old articles and comment freely! But on Wednesday, I’ll have an important announcement for my loyal readers.
