Nobody is saying we don’t love the improvements of facilities and beverages. We’re pointing out that when the barrier to entry for a 'national' team is a second mortgage, the talent pool starts looking less like an athletic meritocracy and more like a private club membership.

If we keep telling everyone who cares about the soul of the game to 'just go play rec ball,' eventually the only people left in the elite bracket will be the ones who can buy their way there. At that point, are we watching a sport, or just a very expensive hobby for the 1%?

We all want the best for our kid, but we should also want the best for this ecosystem.