iOS app Android app More  David Berri  David Berri  Posted:
August 25, 2010 10:03 AM  Small children are often given
"participation trophies" when they play sports. Win or lose,
every child gets a prize. As children grow up, though, they
quickly learn that participation trophies aren't often given to
adults. And this is especially true in a capitalist society.
Capitalism is designed to reward winners and punish losers.
Consequently, people have an incentive to try harder.  Perhaps
nowhere is the capitalist ideal more strongly enforced than in
the world of professional sports. Winners get to feel the thrill
of victory. And losers get to feel the agony of defeat.  At
least, that's true for the players. For the owners,
participation prizes are apparently still available.  Consider
the recent revelations about the Pittsburgh Pirates from the
Associated Press. The Pirates have not had a winning season
since 1992. For eighteen years the fans of Pittsburgh have been
treated to the agony of defeat in every single sea