Sportswashing and CFG

But that’s an MLS problem. I could care less
It's actually an us problem if MLS is suppose to be overseeing CFG and they aren't doing that then it's just one step closer towards being about to turn NYCFC into a true farm club.
 
When MLS lifts restrictions on how transfer money is allocated, I’ll care about it
 
“Golf is a force of good in the world.”
How’s that?
Teach kids that the murder of journalists is “unfortunate” but it’s okay to take money from a state and help it get what it wants even if that means the repression and sometimes murder of of journalists, women, LGBTQ people…”
Great role model.
He’s not wrong to an extent. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who sided with SA in regard to the journalist who was murdered. At the same time every single one of us could do something. Yet we wait for an event there to bring up the subject and play this out over and over again and as soon as it’s passed we move on. The same will happen come World Cup. Take pride month for example. All these companies social media outlets changing their logos to include the colors yet not doing it for their Middle East accounts. Should we not collectively call for them to stop doing business there? Is it our duty to not watch the World Cup?
Its hard for me to not be okay with someone going to that part of the world to make money yet still patronizing every company that also goes over there to make money. That’s capitalism and it doesn’t care about social issues and injustices. Thus allowing countries like this to continue with their antiquated cultural beliefs with no financial repercussions. Which is about the only thing that could help bring on a change.
 
He’s not wrong to an extent. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who sided with SA in regard to the journalist who was murdered. At the same time every single one of us could do something. Yet we wait for an event there to bring up the subject and play this out over and over again and as soon as it’s passed we move on. The same will happen come World Cup. Take pride month for example. All these companies social media outlets changing their logos to include the colors yet not doing it for their Middle East accounts. Should we not collectively call for them to stop doing business there? Is it our duty to not watch the World Cup?
Its hard for me to not be okay with someone going to that part of the world to make money yet still patronizing every company that also goes over there to make money. That’s capitalism and it doesn’t care about social issues and injustices. Thus allowing countries like this to continue with their antiquated cultural beliefs with no financial repercussions. Which is about the only thing that could help bring on a change.
We could all do more with our choices but I have no problem calling this dude out for such a glib statement. Not sure I patronize every company doing business in Saudi Arabia but yeah maybe I shouldn’t be giving my money to the UAE through NYCFC.
I’m also still unclear how golf is a “force of good in the world”.
 
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I’m also still unclear how golf is a “force of good in the world”
I think he was saying golf (or any sport) provides role modeling. Work ethic, striving for excellence, heroism. Sports also provide community (just look at this forum). And they do actual tangible good (soccer in the city et al). I actually think that's a pretty easy part of his statement to get behind.
 
I think he was saying golf (or any sport) provides role modeling. Work ethic, striving for excellence, heroism. Sports also provide community (just look at this forum). And they do actual tangible good (soccer in the city et al). I actually think that's a pretty easy part of his statement to get behind.
I guess he could be saying that. For me it must have of got lost in the “yeah they bone saw killed a journalist they didn’t like but it’s easy money so I’m gonna take it to help them with whatever else they want to do in the world.”
 
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I think it is funny that these for lack of a better phrase very talented "random jocks" are getting skewered for taking a couple million from the Saudi's. This uproar is generally being pushed by Western media and a sense of patriotism, in this case mostly american, meanwhile our actual politicians continually sell BILLIONS of dollars worth of arms to them, and kowtow their leaders day in and day out with not so much as a peep. Funny that governments get away more scot-free than Brayden who can hit a ball with a stick better than most.

This is not to mean I am defending the LIV, or CFG or the countless other big money groups running various aspects of the world, but people really need to focus their energies on things that could actually affect change instead of the latest tabloid headline.
 
I've always had a lot of doubt around the theory of sportswashing. As I understand it, the concern is that repressive regimes with lots of cash - almost exclusively middle eastern - buy sports teams or invest in sports leagues in order to improve the reputation of their countries. Fans of naturally identify closely with their teams teams and leagues, and follow and adopt positive stories about them. This also extends to the owners, who thereby enjoy an improved reputation among those fans.

Am I the only one for whom this sounds like untenable bullshit?

Do any of you think any better of the country owning CFG because you are a fan of NYCFC? I certainly don't. By the way, it's Abu Dhabi, and I had to go look it up. Their ownership of CFG and ultimately NYCFC doesn't affect my thoughts about them one way or another.

Also, since when do fans of a team naturally think nice, comfy thoughts about the team's owner? Is this true of Man United? Is this true of Arsenal? Is it true of the Knicks or the Jets? I am a Miami Dolphins fan, but I also think Stephen Ross is an asshole, and I am able to hold both of those thoughts in my head at the same time.

Maybe if I am an Atlanta United or Atlanta Falcon fan, I think nicely of Arthur Blank, but I don't think it makes me feel any warm, fuzzy feelings about Home Depot.

The Saudis and Emiratis and others are investing in sports assets for the same reason as Robert Kraft and Arthur Blank. They want to make money; they also have the typical alpha male desire to compete and a love of sports. And finding good investments is particularly important to middle eastern countries that badly need to diversify away from petroleum assets.
 
I've always had a lot of doubt around the theory of sportswashing. As I understand it, the concern is that repressive regimes with lots of cash - almost exclusively middle eastern - buy sports teams or invest in sports leagues in order to improve the reputation of their countries. Fans of naturally identify closely with their teams teams and leagues, and follow and adopt positive stories about them. This also extends to the owners, who thereby enjoy an improved reputation among those fans.

Am I the only one for whom this sounds like untenable bullshit?

Do any of you think any better of the country owning CFG because you are a fan of NYCFC? I certainly don't. By the way, it's Abu Dhabi, and I had to go look it up. Their ownership of CFG and ultimately NYCFC doesn't affect my thoughts about them one way or another.

Also, since when do fans of a team naturally think nice, comfy thoughts about the team's owner? Is this true of Man United? Is this true of Arsenal? Is it true of the Knicks or the Jets? I am a Miami Dolphins fan, but I also think Stephen Ross is an asshole, and I am able to hold both of those thoughts in my head at the same time.

Maybe if I am an Atlanta United or Atlanta Falcon fan, I think nicely of Arthur Blank, but I don't think it makes me feel any warm, fuzzy feelings about Home Depot.

The Saudis and Emiratis and others are investing in sports assets for the same reason as Robert Kraft and Arthur Blank. They want to make money; they also have the typical alpha male desire to compete and a love of sports. And finding good investments is particularly important to middle eastern countries that badly need to diversify away from petroleum assets.
I mostly agree with this as to individual team owners, even if they are associated closely with a country as CFG's ownership is. But I think the calculus is a bit different for countries hosting events. When
  • Saudi hosts a golf tour,
  • Russia and then Qatar host the World Cup, and
  • China hosts both the summer and winter Olympics in quick succession,
it paints a false picture of the country, both because they tightly control what is seen, but because at least some portion of the public might tend to think "[Country] can't be too bad if all these reputable people and entities I trust are letting this happen and doing all this business and making everyone go there to visit." The same goes for when Disney films Mulan in Xinjiang province where mass detention camps are located, or the NBA tours China with multiple league superstars. On a very limited basis, that was part of the point for NYCFC training in Abu Dhabi in 2019. In all other respects I agree with what Gator said about NYCFC's owner and the very limited PR benefit he gets for owning CFG, but that training camp was sportswashing. I'm not sure it accomplished much, but once the sunk costs in connection with buying and running the team are in place, it costs very little to add little events like that as a small extra benefit.

Of course a lot of people see right through this sort of manipulation, but not everyone does, and it helps in country as well. Even dictators like Putin or Xi Jinping need to play to their subjects.
 
Finding the defense of what was said by this McDowell dude really interesting. I listened back and it didn’t come off any better to me after considering points made on this thread. Re: his role model comment. When I think of a sports role model I guess I’m more down with someone like Muhammad Ali who was banned from boxing for three years in his prime for taking a stand against the Vietnam War.
Yes, our government and former government employees are no better and much worst in regards to the Saudis. And yes, generally, the “media” pretty much suck, are probably hypocritical and possibly even complicit to a degree. Not sure how that is any reason to give McDowell a pass.