I was talking with my dad the other day about how the sports world has changed over the years; how coaching has changed, how players have changed; and how the “business” of sports seems to have replaced integrity as the primary focus. His exact words were, “I don’t know, buddy; I think the games have passed me by – I just don’t get it anymore…” He’s not alone. I think many sports fans today feel as though they are an afterthought when it comes to priorities for league and team presidents.
Just look at rising salaries in the NFL, MLB and NBA. Second-string players are getting Pro Bowl dollars in the NFL and I’ve yet to hear one reporter or talking head tell me that any of the recent free agent signings in the NFL actually deserved the money they received. Not only that, but because these good-but-not-great players are getting huge contracts, it’s going to throw the salary structure completely off kilter during the next offseason when more high-profile free agents are scheduled to hit the market.
Never mind the fact that no athlete in any sport is worth the millions they’re getting – but even for the current market, team owners are overpaying guys simply because they were the only free agents available – it was a lack of options and the owners appear to have money burning holes in their fat pockets. This is why we’ve come to the Lance Briggs situation. Lesser linebackers are getting paid more than him and in the NFL Players’ world, Briggs’ argument makes sense. But not to the fans who pay absurd ticket prices that in turn pay their salaries. We don’t get it and most of us don’t appreciate players complaining about a 1,000 percent pay raise and “only” getting $7.2 million for next season. It’s beyond our comprehension that this type of money could possibly be construed as an insult.
Most athletes and owners live in their own little world and have no concept of reality, despite the fact that most of them came from humble beginnings. Once they get accustomed to the money, fame and stature, it’s as though they lose touch with reality. Remember Marcus Camby’s comments about the NBA’s new dress code at the beginning of this season? He insisted that the NBA/Owners provide players with a clothing stipend so they could afford clothes to meet the new dress code policy. My brain hurts just trying to comprehend the logic there. Seriously, I now have a migraine.
So why don’t the owners do something to stop all this nonsense? They’re the ones writing the checks. They control the money. Just say, “No, we’re not paying you that because you’re not worth that.” Well, the answer is, because if they don’t pay the guy, then the next owner will. And the ones that do poney up don’t care because they’ll pass those expenses on to the fans in the form of higher ticket prices, higher parking fees, jacked up concession prices and a diluted game experience with in-your-face advertising. Ads on jerseys are coming, people; they’re already in the minor leagues. Think NASCAR people, they’ve been doing it for years! I can just hear it now, in a post-game interview, Vince Young, upon winning his first Toyota Motor Company Lombardi Trophy will say something like, “Yeah, we played our game today! My Brinks Home Security offensive line played great and gave me great protection and my UPS wide receivers did a great job delivering. But I think the most underrated performance came from our Mack Truck backfield – those guys got the short yards when we really needed them.”
Speaking of selling out and commercializing our past times, chances are, the stadium your team currently plays at has a company in front of its name, if it even has an original name. Remember Joe Robbie stadium? Candlestick Park? I’m willing to bet, that before they tear down Wrigley field, it will have a corporate sponsor. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? It’ll never happen, right? Don’t be too sure.
Here’s an absurdity that is all over the sports news this week: Chicago Bears’ All Pro linebacker Lance Briggs has said publicly that he will never play another down for the Bears. They’ll either need to trade him or release him. This is in response to the Bears slapping the “franchise” tag on Briggs, which is their right under the current collective bargaining agreement … that the players union agreed to! He feels that he’s underpaid and wants more money than the Bears true franchise player, Brian Urlacher. Three words for Mr. Briggs: Not … gonna …happen.
Players hold out every year because of contract disputes; that’s not what drops my jaw. It’s what Briggs said in a recent interview. He told a reporter that he’s willing to take out a loan to live on if he has to sit out next season. A loan? Briggs made $710,000 this past season. Sure, based on market value and his performance, he was underpaid, but he should be able to live on $710,000. Granted, his performance on the field certainly warranted a pay raise, which the Bears gave him with the franchise tag. Briggs stands to make $7.2 million next year, if he plays. Let’s do the math: He made $710,000 last season and will make $7,200,000 next season – he got a pay raise of, what, 1,000 percent? Sorry, my math’s really bad when I’m trying to calculate greed.
Here’s the real kicker, though: under the current collective bargaining agreement, players accumulate “years of service,” but if Briggs sits out next season, he won’t get credit for the year … more specifically, the Bears will be able to slap the franchise tag on him again the next season. This is where we all take a deep breath and give a collective, “HAHAHAHAHAHA! SUCKER!”
If you want to talk about a gross injustice, let’s talk about the Philadelphia Phillies’ Ryan Howard. As in the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year and 2006 MVP. You’d think the Phillies would reward the kid for two season of outstanding play and being a model player, citizen and representative for the team. No, instead they “renewed” his contract for $900,000. By today’s MLB salaries, that’s a joke. Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees makes that much just for waking up in the morning. But, you probably haven’t heard much about it because Howard didn’t pitch a fit or go to the press about how unfair it was. He’s just happy to be playing ball and probably figures that he can live off of $900,000. I’m sure there are some incentive clauses in the contract that will make it more lucrative, but still, Gary Matthews Jr. of the Angels is making more than $10 million this season and he’s not 1/4 the player Howard is. In the confines of the sports world, Ryan Howard’s case is a crime.
So, Dad, I don’t think the games have passed you by. The games have passed the players, owners and coaches by. Sadly, it’s our loss, not theirs. Oh, well, what can you do? At least we still have March Madness. See you in the “cone” pop!
