Ding Dong the Super League is dead. It is a story for the ages how twelve European futbol super powers sought to form their own renegade league (per the Super League press release) ”to help futbol at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world.” How could such altruism collapse in only forty-eight hours?
Unlikely Allies
Frankly, a plan hatched between American hedge fund moguls, Russian oligarchs, European industrialists and Gulf royals was destined to fail. The Axis alliance of WWII made more sense than these guys getting together. This story of “egos and intrigue, avarice and ambition, secret meetings and private lunches, international finance and internecine strife” could only end in an epic collapse.
In spite of its challenges, the futbol moguls, eventually known as the Dirty Dozen, pressed on. They made their fortunes through the defiance of obstacles and risk. They believed the union of the world’s best futbol teams into one league was their destiny.
Self-Delusion
Walter Isaacson described the mind set which leads billionaires to attempt the seemingly impossible in his biography on Steve Jobs. Isaacson noted, “Jobs lived in an alternative universe. He saw reality as malleable. He could convince anyone of practically anything.” Jobs’ colleagues and business associates called this trait the “reality distortion field”.
A vivid example of the reality distortion field mind trick played out in Apple’s procurement of the elegant and substantive glass that encases the iPhone. Corning had not manufactured the Gorilla glass for years. Nevertheless, Jobs placed an order for all the Gorilla glass Corning could produce.
Corning’s CEO, Wendell Weeks, politely told Jobs the order could not be filled. He maintained, “A false sense of confidence could not overcome engineering challenges.” Undaunted, Jobs blankly stared at Weeks and replied, “Don’t be afraid. . . Yes, you can do it. Get your mind around it. You can do it.” Corning made their first shipment of the coveted Gorilla glass in six months.
Clearly, the Dirty Dozen believed the more reality distortionist the better. They believed they knew what was best for futbol and no one else needed to weigh in on the strategy. Follow our lead and all will be fine.
Their plan failed because they could not answer one simple question: How much is a gallon of milk?
Know your Customer
This is what Roy Logan asked his Generals as he embarked on his hostile takeover of PGN in the HBO hit series Succession. Logan became enraged when no one could tell him how much a gallon of milk cost. His son answered his question with a question, “Who gives a shit?” Another unfortunate target replied, “Um, like, I mean regular milk?”
Sports fans view their teams with a touch of childlike innocence. They may drink excessively during a game. They may curse the players more coarsely than their pet dog. Sports, however, provide their fans with a place of order, fairness, accountability and hope. Teams are a truth in the life of their supporters. The fans know how much a gallon of milk costs. They will tell the Emperor he has no clothes on.