For The Love Of Port

A recent story in the local press , talked about the chineese influence on English soccer .
Normaly I don't follow the Premier League , but the fact that Liverpool was bought by the owner of the Montréal Canadians caught my eye .
In January , a T.V. contract was signed between the Premier League and the Chineese that would add 450,000 Euros / week to the Premier League .
Now , there are only half a dozen chineese players in the Premier League (I think . . .)
So I don't think they have a tremendous impact on the game .
This being said , do you guys foresee a day when the Chinese will have a significant impact on English soccer .( Given the propencity of the Red giant to influence everything it touches )
Have the Chinese developped a yearning for wine (Port) ?
Have there been studies regarding the above ?
Roy , do you have any Oriental contacts ?

Luc,

I can answer the football aspect of your questions......No Chance. You'll find that what they are paying is around the going rate for being able to show the live games in that particular country. Of the half a dozen players you rightly suggest are playing in the Premiership, none are Superstar type players. It could all change, but not quickly.

And lastly, as a Man United fan....we dont like Liverpool. American/Canadian owners or not.

Alan.

Luc,

As you know, I like to stick to discussion solely relating to port so I will only address one of your questions.

There is a previous thread on this Forum relating to the Chinese/Asian impact on the port trade. I am sure you will find it if you search hard enough. From memory, I think the conclusion was that the general tastes in that part of the world are so wildly different to that of the western world that the Chinese/Asian market does not, at present, represent a threat to our supplies or prices.

Derek

PS: Alan is wrong - one day in the not too distant future there will be Chinese superstars playing all sorts of sports across the globe. It is a mathematical certainty, provided the pace of economic and social change in that country is maintaned

Derek ,
Your p.s. confirms my suspisions . . .

BTW , I only put this article here because Other Discussions would dictate comments other than Port , since we already have specific sections for Port.
Also the article has English soccer overtones which I thaught would interest some folks .

Luc,

I am obviously not at liberty to discuss my PS as it is a non-port related matter

Derek

That's O.k. , Derek , as long as your PS has no PB overtones

Luc,

See, you DO have a great sense of humour!!! At least Roy hasn't locked THIS post yet - but if you mention PB again, he very well may!!

I know very little about the English Premier League, although I do enjoy watching Man U "on the tele" as our UK friends would call it (seems like that is the only team TSN will carry on a weekly basis out West here.)

I know even less about the Chinese players in it. All I can say is I am glad their focus is on knocking old decrepit satellites out of orbit (scaring the pants off the US Dept of Defense) and not on putting major dents into the supply of VP flowing out over the Atlantic Ocean!

Todd

Gentlemen,

Derek's assumption of a future Chinese 'Superstar Type' player taking the Premiership by storm, is ridiculous, absurd, preposterous!!!
Its as misguided as thinking that a Golfer of numerous and mixed ethiticity could break into the white male snobbery that is the World of Golf!

Yer what?......Pardon?.......who?.......Is he?......I thought it was a tan......

Alan

Alan , you're a card

tpettinger wrote:Luc,

See, you DO have a great sense of humour!!! At least Roy hasn't locked THIS post yet - but if you mention PB again, he very well may!!

I know very little about the English Premier League, although I do enjoy watching Man U "on the tele" as our UK friends would call it (seems like that is the only team TSN will carry on a weekly basis out West here.)

I know even less about the Chinese players in it. All I can say is I am glad their focus is on knocking old decrepit satellites out of orbit (scaring the pants off the US Dept of Defense) and not on putting major dents into the supply of VP flowing out over the Atlantic Ocean!

Todd

Todd ,
Think of the Premier league as the NHL , and the 1st division as the AHL . . .
To split hairs, you could equate the Premier league to the top 8 NHL teams and the other teams in the NHL would be the 1st division .
I think I'll go to bed . . .

Ah!! So my beloved Edmonton Oilers (our local NHL hockey team -who are atrocious this year after having almost won the entire league last year!- for your EU guys and most of the Americans that don't know hockey!) would be what? 3rd league (Is there such a beast in 'Football?' Or is it called something else?) :)

Todd

Todd ,
The Oilers would be in the same boat as my beloved Habs , that is to say in the 1st division .

I can see why all them different Species in all those Star Trek programmes have to wear Universal Translators!!!!

I tend to prefer a pizza when I'm watching the footie, sometimes a curry.