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FOXSports.com - SOCCER- Borussia Dortmund's future is on the line

For those that know me (I am assuming that is everyone, because who else would have an interest in my life?), I spent 2 years living over in Germany. One of those years was spent living in Dortmund, a large, western, industrial city in the middle of the Ruhr Valley. As such, Dortmund has had a rough recent history to say the least. The industrial heart of the old German War machine, it was bombed beyond recognition in World War II (so bad, that my advisor there told me some people considered just rebuilding the city center 5 km to the East). Later in the century, the region experienced massive economic recession, as modernization resulted in the closure of many of the mines and factories that provided jobs.

Still, despite all of these hardships one continuing source of pride for the city has been the soccer team, the BVB. Dortmund boasts the largest stadium in all of European professional soccer, and routinely sells out their games with some of the most passionate fans I have ever seen.

During the mid 1990's, the team had significant success, winning a couple domestic championships, and the Champions League in 1996. Following this success, the team went on a spending binge, in an attempt to prolong the good times, and ultimately challenge Bayern Munich (the Yankees of the Bundesliga) for supremacy of the league.

Unfortunately, the spending binge resulted in a series of very poor business decisions, which has currently taken the team to the brink of financial disaster. The collapse of the BVB would be a disaster for both Dortmund and German soccer. I don't know what will happen now, but I hope the team can get through its current crisis without being relegated to the second league. I also think it would be best for all involved if the team gets new management. Someone with some financial competence.

That being said, LOS GEHTS Borussia Dortmund!