Transfer Deadline Day: Should I Stay (heavy) or Should I Go (light)

Today was transfer deadline day in most European football (soccer) leagues, and many clubs and players moved frantically to sign deals and submit documents to league headquarters. In soccer there are two transfer windows a year—one each in the summer and winter. The summer window generally lasts three months (6/1-8/31) and is crucial because league campaigns start in mid-August. Transfer windows are opportunities for clubs to either reinforce their squads or completely ruin their season (e.g., when a mass exodus of players happens without replacements coming in). They are also opportunities for players to take on a new challenge or get a pay bump. The transfer window is a gift that keeps on giving because of its drama. On clubs' official social media pages, fans anxiously comment "announce someone!" Players make shock moves (e.g., Brazilian footballer Neymar moved to Paris for $264 million), snakes (players who betray a club) are born, rumors are fabricated by the media, and there are so many other twists and turns. The emotions of deadline day have inspired me to connect the world of club sport with the theme of lightness vs. weight.

In every professional club sport, most players transfer to other teams. In this sense, many players are "light". That lightness is sometimes for the good or the bad. It is good when players move for development and trophies/championships. It is bad when they move for money or the way in which they exit is disrespectful. On the other hand, players who stay put in one or two clubs for many years can be considered "heavy." In these days, "heavy" athletes are an extreme rarity simply because there aren't many players who value loyalty over money. The question of staying or moving teams is one of the most difficult and entertaining topics in club sports, and I am still not sure if "lightness" or "weight" is better in this regard.