Sport is about big spirits, not big spenders
The record-breaking prices paid at the Indian cricket auction might suggest sport is recession proof
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
The record-breaking prices paid at the Indian cricket auction might suggest sport is recession proof. It isn't - and that may be no bad thing, writes Ed Smith in the Telegraph.
But don't be fooled: the downturn will bite in sport, too. The IPL is a special case because much of its treasure chest was stashed away before the recession. Among the rank and file professional sports teams, sponsorship is getting harder to come by. And just ask Boris Johnson or Tessa Jowell how it is shaping up for the 2012 London Olympics.
The hectic buying and bonhomie among the new lords of the game confirm one thing though: the bubble is intact in India and, forget global meltdown, it won’t burst even if a meteor strikes the planet. Yes, cricket still rules, writes Bobilli Vijay Kumar in the Times of India.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo