During my youth, I was an avid fan of the Cincinnati Reds, known for a period as The Big Red Machine. Since those days, professional teams have become less cohesive as individual athletes change clubs on a regular basis. As a result, many of us are not inclined to remain devoted fans.
Now, the NCAA has instituted the transfer portal, easing the ability of college athletes to move between schools. While the athletes are looking out for themselves (i.e. their potential to be drafted by professional teams), college fans end up rooting for a new squad each season. Of course, many superstars leave for the pro leagues after a year or two anyway.
This focus on the individual in sports reflects the same phenomenon in business and politics. CEOs change companies every few years and politicians change parties (or even States) when it suits their personal goals. Many individuals work for a series of employers over the years, seeking better pay and/or work conditions. We have gradually become a society of free agents, with no incentive to compromise and with little interest in the welfare of others. For many of us, this is a worrisome trend, one that will hamper our efforts to solve national and global problems.
