“Sports” had become “Sports Inc.” With big money now to be made in sports, big money would be made, and the attitude changed. “Cities” became “markets,” “games” became “products,” “sports” part of the “entertainment business,” fighting for “entertainment dollars.” Owners sold civic pride, appealed to civic vanity, got civic concessions, moved into civic monuments; blamed civic pride, left. Players adopted pinstripe suits and permanented hair. Money, once only a practical imperative, a vehicle to let them as adults play what as little boys they could play for nothing, was now a reason itself to
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