PSW Corner Kicks

Any baseball fans out there? How about business executives? One or both types have likely read a book called Moneyball. In short - it's a book that explains how the Oakland A's used statistics to build competitive playoff teams on a fraction of the salary expense of the "Big" teams. It's a fascinating read for anyone who loves sports and/or statistics. The only down side? It's SO hard to read a book about a sport other than soccer. If not for the business angle, I never would have picked it up.

Well, the guy in charge of the A's then - and today - is a newly minted soccer fan, as well as indirect employee of the MLS expansion side San Jose Earthquakes (the A's owners own part of the Earthquakes). Billy Bean plans to consult with the Earthquakes GM and coaches on applying principles of Moneyball to Soccer.

Jeff Carlise of ESPNSoccer.com explains further.

In all, I'm not too excited about the ability to do such a thing, but personally more excited that someone so respected in the old sport of baseball can actually find a way to be a soccer fan! We've all known for a long time the soccer has the participants to support being a major sport in the USA, but until we can cross over to major stakeholders from other professional sports (and entertainment al a Drew Carey), we'll never "make it" in the main stream. Billy Bean being a soccer fan, is just plain music to my ears.

Labels: billy bean, jeff carlise, moneyball, san jose earthquakes