College and professional sports are deeply rooted in the concept of giving themselves the best chance to compete and win. Each team has a fundamental value of the “spirit of competition and utilizing tactical advantages/ resources to lure in the greatest competitors and athletes on the planet. This much is a guarantee. The question though is why the universities or teams are this way and how did they get this way.

When analyzing the nature of competition, it is only fair to be taken back to 776 BC. where the first recorded Olympics were held in the Greek city-state of Elis. Largely different from what we now know about the Olympic games, this competitive spectacle was strictly based on pride for your homeland and in the craft that you have worked hard at.

Today, competition takes a backseat to monetary value, brand name and other successes. This is evident through college sports recruiting which has taken a lashing on the national level in recent years for being unapologetically businesslike. The highest level of athlete chooses where they want to go to play sports based off of program success, facilities, exposure and where their talents fit in order to reach for the next level. This is why we have the term “blue bloods”… those who have the most resources and average success can acquire the most talent and thus either win or are at the top over, and over, and over again.

As we look to the professional ranks, we can see that these organizations have the same goals and mindset. Sure, the draft evens the playing field (kind of) but in the end, those who have the best facilities, coaching and training staffs, biggest market (exposure), and the most money to shell out to the athlete will rise to the top. Just like cream.

This same ideal claims the Alabama football, Duke basketball, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Yankees of the world.

Are high school sports the same though? In a lot of ways, yes. At this level families will try to bend rules (move to a different district, take money, etc.) in order to put their kids in the best athletic situation, setting them on a special track geared towards the future.

Fortunately, Wilsonville is a dominant athletic force in Oregon as is, but with the facilities and staff available it would be simple to lure athletes like Keith Brown (Oregon football), Ben Gregg (Gonzaga basketball), and more stars to the city. This is lack of economics is why high school sports rule the current day.