Soccernomics: The United States Refusal to Embrace the World's Game is Responsible for Our Trade Deficit

The United States is the greatest sporting nation in the history of the world.  We dominate the Olympics, we produce top talent in just about every sport imaginable (okay, not cricket).  But, even more than Obama, it is our sports provincialism is destroying America!  When have we ever exported american football players, or baseball (save for a few to Japan)?  Basketball is pretty good - it is pretty popular around the world - but ice hockey? I don't think so.  And Washington sits on its hands as out trade deficit gets ever worse-er!

No, like Nero, we fiddle as our trade deficit burns a hole in our economy.  And at last we have to suffer in the ignominy of the knowledge that it is Argentina, not the USA (nor Brazil for that matter) that is the worlds number one exporter of footballers:

Argentina sold more than 1,700 players last year, almost 300 more than Brazil.

Argentina's trade has grown by almost 800% in five years after European clubs eased restrictions on foreign players.

Last year the football player export business was worth $117m (£74.5m) to Argentina.

A total of 1,716 Argentine players were sold, compared with 1,443 sold by the next biggest provider, Brazil.

Trade growing 800%! $117 million! C'mon Washington, we need a soccer trade policy and we need it now!