Let's talk about "sports"—that thing where we gather around to watch a muscular stranger put a regulation-size ball in a specific location. Why are taxpayers forced to pony up cash for athletic ventures that don't benefit them? Franchise owners routinely extort massive stadium subsidies through threats of relocation and fake promises of economic revitalization. Universities jack up student rates to subsidize athletic programs that should be self-sustaining. And the Olympics is economically devastating to every municipality foolish enough to get suckered by one of the oldest scams around. Mostly Weekly host Andrew Heaton explores the sports phenomenon and why we should quit throwing other people's money at it. Links, past episodes, and more at reason.com/reasontv/2017/08/25/stop-subsidizing-sports Script by Sarah Siskind with writing assistant from Andrew Heaton and David Fried. Edited by Austin Bragg and Siskind. Produced by Meredith and Austin Bragg. Theme Song: Frozen by Surfer Blood.

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