Time for a little story: It's something in that vein. See, for years it was about the racing and being able to sell things to the fans. Any type, nascar, F1, Indy, etc. Then, the car companies took over and it was about selling cars. Well, they sold out to the merchandising companies because it was cheaper to make that product and easier to sell it. To make the most profit, you need big, recognizable names with a personality or gimmick to get even the most reluctant people to shell out for that cheaply made piece of shit souvenir. So, the merchandise companies came up with a plan. Sponsor the more promising drivers AND the more weaker drivers. Underdogs sell almost as much with cult like fans as the big winners. People hate others who are too successful, they believe them to be cheaters even if they aren't. The better drivers face little actual competition and win often enough that their popularity soars and sells more merchandise. Well, that wasn't enough, NOW, they need to have more than just skills or attractive features, they have to have diversity! Not too much, don't want to piss off the base so much they'll leave, but mocha isn't straight up black even if you promote it that way. Throw in the mediocre drivers, give the mixed driver a good 'house nigger' back story, and drivers with some skills but are willing to share the podium for a part of the cut, and suddenly merchandise sales are sky rocketing. You have people buying merchandise who never knew about your sport or hated it before because their diversity hire is popular. I would call this the Tiger Woods effect, but Tiger was actually supremely god damn talented.
Something similar happened in MLB. The Cubs went to the World Series despite under performing that year to face off against a mediocre team. Game 7, they barely won, and that was only because the other team kept fucking up intentionally. I watched that game, you can't fucking tell me my Cubs won that shit legitimately. It was all merchandising, because, holy shit was that jacked up expensive shit everywhere and was it selling!
Time for a little story: It's something in that vein. See, for years it was about the racing and being able to sell things to the fans. Any type, nascar, F1, Indy, etc. Then, the car companies took over and it was about selling cars. Well, they sold out to the merchandising companies because it was cheaper to make that product and easier to sell it. To make the most profit, you need big, recognizable names with a personality or gimmick to get even the most reluctant people to shell out for that cheaply made piece of shit souvenir. So, the merchandise companies came up with a plan. Sponsor the more promising drivers AND the more weaker drivers. Underdogs sell almost as much with cult like fans as the big winners. People hate others who are too successful, they believe them to be cheaters even if they aren't. The better drivers face little actual competition and win often enough that their popularity soars and sells more merchandise. Well, that wasn't enough, NOW, they need to have more than just skills or attractive features, they have to have diversity! Not too much, don't want to piss off the base so much they'll leave, but mocha isn't straight up black even if you promote it that way. Throw in the mediocre drivers, give the mixed driver a good 'house nigger' back story, and drivers with some skills but are willing to share the podium for a part of the cut, and suddenly merchandise sales are sky rocketing. You have people buying merchandise who never knew about your sport or hated it before because their diversity hire is popular. I would call this the Tiger Woods effect, but Tiger was actually supremely god damn talented.
Something similar happened in MLB. The Cubs went to the World Series despite under performing that year to face off against a mediocre team. Game 7, they barely won, and that was only because the other team kept fucking up intentionally. I watched that game, you can't fucking tell me my Cubs won that shit legitimately. It was all merchandising, because, holy shit was that jacked up expensive shit everywhere and was it selling!