When I read about the beginnings of various sports we now see as highly lucrative entertainment industries, I also see that many owners and organizations were against professionalism. Why is it so? Was it merely stingy owners? Cultural views?
When football (soccer) came into being in England, a lot of the teams were made up of "gentlemen", who had no need for an extra stream of money, they wanted to recreate the ideals of their Public School days.
Just looking at the winners of the FA Cup since inception gives us names like Oxford University & Old Etonians. Only since the injection of Rupert Murdoch's money have we seen the astronomical increase in player wages.