Someone hit me on the head and tell me if soccer is still the people's game? The beautiful game is undoubtedly the largest single sport spectator event on the face of earth largely due to its accessibility to the masses. Several clicks of the remote on weekends would eventually find a soccer telecast. All it takes is a ball and at least 6 people on a half decent field for a game. And it does not matter if we can bend golden balls like Mr Beckham... there's almost always an interested spectator or more on hand.
Yet Roman Abramovich's spending spree at les Blues and interests by other billionaires in Manchester United threaten to take the game to another less flattering level. Of course comparing favorably to the recessionary transfer window prior to his intervention, the game now looks inclined towards being nothing more than a billionaires' playground with spare change exchanging hands to the tune of millions and hundreds of millions. Will it be candy to the eye? Why not? Will it elevate the standard of the game? At least in some leagues (say, for the price being touted as Rooney's tag, Roman could buy the our inaugural Super League and Premier League teams with cash to spare!) anyway...
But what about the passion and sense of ownership? This is Mr Moneybags' team now can't you see? You can't buy that... can you?
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