[ptudan]

You're not giving professional sports enough credit. On the player picking side, it's arguably the last true meritocracy in the US. Teams are willing to take fliers on fringe Jrs because of genetics and maybe the media attention that will come to their team. Otherwise, they always pick the players with the best combination of potential and immediate talent, regardless of background.

Coaching on the other hand, that's as nepotistic as any political field.