Chinese soccer, or the lack thereof

I think the question posed is interesting-- Why is Chinese soccer so bad?-- and a lack of land space could be a factor but it feels unconvincing. I think the larger issue to explain is the relative success of the women's team compared to the men's-- in my opinion, that makes the problem several degrees of magnitude more complex.

And I can confirm that the Chinese-- quick to trumpet their accomplishments and their future-- are equally quick in bashing their soccer team. Within 30 minutes of arriving in Shanghai our guide had taken to telling jokes with the Chinese soccer program being the clear butt of the laughs.

Puerto Rican baseball decline

I'll break the 2012 ice!

Here is a great piece from the NYT, via MR, on Puerto Rican baseball and its decline-- a beautiful example of unintended consequences and collective action problems. An interesting read, do the Will Luther-whole-thingamajig.