Sports Will Indicate The Eventual Fall of the U.S.

A quick glance through any social studies text book will tell you that all good things must come to an end. Every civilization that has at one point dominated the world has run it's course as they either over extended themselves or as other civizilations caught up to them culturally, technologically, and militarly.

'A quick glance through any social studies text book will tell you that all good things must come to an end'

For instance, Mesopotomia had it's run, then the Egyptians. Eventually the Greeks and Romans ruled over Europe. And of course the Brittish were everywhere at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Now it's America's turn as the lone hegemon thanks to the outcomes of WWII and the Cold War and our current economic spheres of influence.

It's obvious to me as it is to most scholars that eventually the United States' run will come to an end. Perhaps sooner than most people expected. After all, in today's day and age it won't take much, just one nuclear weapon perhaps, to shift the balance of power. A 50 year run as a world power, which seems like nothing compared to past civizilations, may seem like a long time when compared to what the future may bring.

No one knows for certain what the future will bring but most people seem to agree that China could be lining up to become the next world power thanks to their booming population which could enable them to put together a dominant war machine. Throw in their strong economy and strategic acquistions of worldwide ports such as the Panama Canal and they could be positioning themselves for an eventual takeover.

Or perhaps the fallout from the war on terrorism, Palestinian unrest in Isreal, and pending civil war in Iraq will lead to the fall of the U.S. and the rise of a world power from the Middle East. The overextension of the military is what eventually did in the Romans and it could cost the U.S. as well.

But I'm not hear to talk about the eventual fall of the U.S. nor am I hear to predict who will become the next great world power. Rather, I'm here today to hypothesize that sports, yes sports, can indicate when a power shift is about to occur.

'I'm here today to hypothesize that sports, yes sports, can indicate when a power shift is about to occur'

If I'm right in saying that the U.S.' influence and power is declining worldwide then the assertion that the U.S. is also lagging behind in international competition should also hold true. And boy does it ever.

Consider the following:

Disappointing showing at the Winter Olympic Games especially in skiing.

Elimination of the U.S. from the innaguaral World Baseball Classic in the second round after needing help to even get out of the first round.

Failure of the Men's hockey team at the Olympics to even reach the medal round.

Decline of the Men's basketball team from the Dream Team that took home the gold in 1992 to the current band of quasi all stars that hasn't won the gold since 2000.

Could it be that as our basketball, hockey, and baseball teams get spanked in international competition from all corners of the globe that this could be a precursor to our inevitable decline in economics and military standing? After all, if China can beat us in basketball then maybe they can beat us in the arms race as well.

'After all, if China can beat us in basketball then maybe they can beat us in the arms race as well.'

If you're still not convinced look at past history and look no further than the 1980 miracle on ice. At the height of the Cold War this was more than just a hockey game. This was a battle for bragging rights between two countries and ideologies vying for world surpremacy. The U.S. won as we all know but what if they hadn't? Would the Cold War have turned out differently? Would the Soviet Union have parlayed their gold medal into prestige, power, and a longer reign?

We'll never know for sure just as we'll never know when for sure when the U.S.'s tenure as the world's lone hegemon is going to end. But if you ask me you have to look no farther than the boxscore to see into the future. And that can only mean one thing: the end is near.