dispatches from the new world of work

Happy Spring!

Children playing soccer in a Madrid square

I'm back in Madrid. (São Paulo later in the week.) While out wandering, at Plaza de Canalejas, to be specific, I came across in a downtown square what one comes across everywhere here—boys (and girls!*) playing football. The kids were weaving their way around and through the numerous "civilians" like me wandering in the plaza. (*Girls' participatory football is the fastest growing sport in Europe—and a few clever marketers are starting, in a glacial way, to "get it.")

Tom Peters posted this on 03/21/06.

Comments

You are absolutely right, Tom. Girls football has become more and more popular in Europe, though the rate of proffessionalism among teams is quite low for the moment. What boys fail to offer (100% effort and sacrifice) they do and what the boys do get (incredible pays even for second rate proffessionals) they donÂ´t.

Posted by Felix Gerena at March 21, 2006 10:41 AM

Now your talking Tom - that is REAL Football!!

The greatest game in the world - invented by the Brits of course. And with any luck England will win the World Cup in Germany in the Summer!!

I agree with Felix about the rewards for some soccer players - it is almost obscene to see the earnings of some of our pretentious prima donna soccer players in England.

Posted by Trevor at March 21, 2006 11:43 AM

(Slightly) Tongue In Cheek Notice To American Readers: when we talk about the soccer World Cup - the equivalent of your "World" Series events - please note that world = open to every single nation under the sun, not just North America, and contested by just about every one of them to find a real world champ!

Posted by MarkJF at March 21, 2006 1:56 PM

Brit pride - maybe some day you'll dominate USA basketball, football, baseball, hockey and their $1-25M annual salaries - you can have it.

Japan beats Cuba in world baseball [cricket NOT].

Posted by Sean at March 21, 2006 2:19 PM

Tom, you sure get around. Thanks for the insight!

Tim

Posted by Tim at March 21, 2006 2:26 PM

Tom, Happy Spring!...But we had a snow fall yesterday (Bloomington, Illinois...)...but it's much better now.

Posted by Namith at March 22, 2006 11:47 PM