The analogy isn't perfect and I stated that. I also stated that both are retailers. What I observed was that the labels indicating where the various items were manufactured were different. This was at the time when Walmart was rapidly expanding stores nationally. At that time the origination of the suppliers for Walmart was primarily from China. The other retailers were still utilizing markets in which labor costs were greater. That was the primary economic advantage Wal Mart had over it's competitors, imo, although not the exclusive factor. Since that time other retailers have followed suit. But by then Wal Mart had catapulted itself into the lead. All the retailers continue to move to the cheapest labor markets for their suppliers pretty much in sync now. They've learned their lesson. But Walmart was the primary moving force in that particular drive to find the cheapest suppliers. I'll hand it to them. They had the guts to move to a 3rd world country, in which there were no guarantees of stability, to get their supplies. It could have backfired on them completely. That's about as far as my admiration goes for Wal Mart.
This is nothing new. Businesses always try to find an advantage over their competitors. I'm not implying that Wal Mart reinvented the wheel when it took advantage of the Chinese opportunity. What I'm stating is that the information we, who are not directly related to a particular matter, receive isn't always balanced and complete. There was no mention originally of the manufacturing advantage Wal Mart had over it's competitors. At least I didn't see any in Baron's or WSJ. That's a big oversight imo. It may sound like I'm bragging or arrogant or like Chief00, but I was ahead of the curve concerning the negative repercussions this advantage was going to bring to the U.S. I warned my friends that any advantages we as consumers would gain as a result of inexpensive items would ultimately result in disadvantages with our trade gap, never mind the labor consequences. We only had to go back to the 60's to observe our economic "fall" relative to Japan. Unfortunately I was too far ahead of the curve. The critical information wasn't discussed by the talking heads of the time. Furthermore there were enough important differences between the 90's and the 60's which gave ammo to anyone who wanted to refute the argument that this movement into China would result in similar negative consequences as took place in the 60s. And of course there was the seduction of cheap goods which was an inertia dampener to any of us attempting to begin any discussions regarding this issue.
How does all this relate to Kentucky? Some things are obvious, some are not. We all suspect Duke has a recruiting advantage. We all feel it even if it can't be quatified. Dukie V assured them of that. Having a significant media personality constantly extolling the virtues of one university and coach (which ends up being at the expense of all other coaches and institutions) is a valuable advantage for that coach when it comes to recruiting. That is obvious and visceral to many of us and the reason why so many fans of other schools love to hate Duke. The situation at Kentucky is more obtuse, more opaque. You have to read between the lines to be even suspicious because there are so many positive legitimate factors with Kentucky (Just as there were a multitude of factors that could be pointed to about Wal Mart that it was easy for us to overlook the salient anti U.S factor that lead to Wal Mart's success ).
All I'm doing is being suspicious. If it smells like a skunk and waddles like a skunk it could still be a mink. But then again it might very well be a skunk. If this was a critically important issue, such as the U.S. economy, I might continue to be vigilant about the situation. But alas this is just sports and KO has Calipari's number. So all is good.
I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but I feel the need to respond. Wal Mart and K Mart basically sell the same crap, which is for the most part manufactured in the same place.
Wal Mart has been able to get it into and out of its stores faster and for cheaper and managed this process better limiting wasted product or unsold inventory. This allows them to continue to order more, and over time it becomes a snowball effect, where their prices become cheaper and cheaper as their volumes improve, and as they continue to buy more their power over the supplier continues to increase, which even further lowers their purchasing price.
Stop pointing to third world manufacturing. P&G, Kraft, Hanes, Unilever, they all make the same crap in the same manufacturing centers whether its sold in Wal Mart or K Mart. That wasn't Wal Mart's advantage.
As far as KY is concerned, there is certainly reason to be suspicious. But at the same time they sent two or three kids to the lottery every year, have been to the final 4 in 3 of the last 4 years. They have Rupp, a rabid fanbase, world class facilities, AND they don't have to play Tulsa, Tulane, Eastern Carolina (oh my god this sucksssss). Oh and they have the best salesman in the game selling it all. It should be no surprise KY is getting any kid they want every year.
As soon as KO can continue to establish his track record and fingers crossed we finally get into a new conference, then we will be in a similar spot soon, but with no questions about our tactics.
