Comments on Ed The Sports Fan: Cash Rules Everything Around Thee

LOL... Ken here's the deal. Until you have &q...

2010-03-09T13:53:15.475-05:00

LOL...

Ken here's the deal. Until you have "access" to that type of money, lifestyle, etc. then none of us can understand the decision-making that goes on in these folks lives. Just think how much better your life is when you get $20 after being broke for a month! You feel like you can take over the world!

We're talking about athletes who's earning power usually is about 2-3 years. If you are elite then its about 10-15 years. Ken, you've seen what these athletes have to do to be ready into the field of battle and do work, physically these folks go thru it.

I agree its a travesty that the NFL can basically "cut" at will, but then we grumble and moan that folks want guaranteed money, no franchise tags, and are willing to sit out? Dude, its a part of the game. That issue can be resolved with the unions and the owners.

Moreover, Kenny a lot of these cats are broke. Not all of em, but enough that Iverson ain't allowed in casinos no more (because he didn't pay his tab), or that Antoine Walker's filed bankruptcy, or that Jose Canseco has to write tell-all books telling on HIMSELF!

The deal with Elton Brand was interesting, because he woulda got that money REGARDLESS of if he signed with LA. Philly didn't offer him more money, in fact:

One source familiar with the negotiations, furthermore, insisted Tuesday that the Clippers increased their final offer to Brand to a virtual match of Philadelphia's at an estimated $81 million over five seasons. The Clippers were also the only team in the running with the ability to offer a no-trade clause to Brand, something that only one other player in the league -- Staples Center co-tenant Kobe Bryant -- has in his contract.

So yes, Elton DEFINITELY earned the "Benedict" title.

Brian Kelly was an Irish Catholic from the Northeast. His ticket was stamped for ND when he was a child.

LeBron also earned the "Benedict" title for the Slam Dunk, but that is only a minor infraction.

Boozer had to make a financial decision, and in life you can't count on ANYONE doing what seems to be the right thing if that person is going to gain HUGELY in a financial matter. HAVE WE NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ECONOMY? BERNIE MADOFF? AIG? ENRON?

Luckily for Boozer, what he did was not illegal. Moreover, what the Cavaliers were trying to do was the equivalent of what the NFL does with a "franchise tag" in that they were going to give him a one-year deal, wait till their cap possibly freed up, then made a decision. For Boozer, just like JAG said, there's no real benefit for him to do that. He has no long-term stability in that option. Utah gave a substantially higher option (although it shoulda been called for tampering) and Boozer made it happen. I really ain't mad at that.

At the end of the day, its a media spin by everyone. The player will always say, "man i really wanted to play in city X, Y, Z" but in actuality he went to where they were paying the most money. By the time a player can afford to take lower money to go for a ring, they're a shell of their former self. (Remember Payton, Malone, Glen Rice, Mitch Richmond?)

At the end of the day, I'd rather just have an athlete say, "You know what, this team paid me the most money and i'm here because of it." It'd make life much easier.

-Ed.

I used to feel that athletes "made too much&q...

2010-03-09T13:20:03.830-05:00

I used to feel that athletes "made too much" but as some comedian (maybe Chris Rock) said "Shaq is rich...they white man who PAY Shaq is wealthy". So as a person who works in a museum dedicated to teaching about chattel slavery, I really can't knock it if a player wants to stack paper to the ceiling and ride on 24 inch chrome.

Now I DO hate the college system in football and basketball. I hate that coaches can jump into all these other colleges' beds like a Luke Dancer at the '92 Freaknik. They can keep moving and advancing to their dreamjob while the kid is stuck there.

And I'm sick of the BS from colleges that they sign with the college and not the coach. So here's a fair alternative...no college coach recruiting...sorry Coach Cal. You have to send somebody from the administration dedicated to going to recruit kids to KU or OState. Let's see if the kids to a college for the coach then

From Big Brother Dr. Glenn, DDS - "Here in Ci...

2010-03-09T13:02:13.283-05:00

From Big Brother Dr. Glenn, DDS - "Here in Cincy, what cracked me up was that so many fans were angry about Notre Dame stealing the coach. But no one said a word when Cincy went and grabbed Central Michigan's coach. Darwin. Survival of the fittest. The big fish eat the medium fish and the medium fish eat the small fish. It's like that and that's the way it is."

In the Boozer case, my Cavs were wrong on that one...

2010-03-09T11:16:20.758-05:00

In the Boozer case, my Cavs were wrong on that one, not Boozer. The Cavs were trying to circumvent the salary cap rules by signing Boozer for one year and promising a pot of gold next time when money was freed up.

True, Boozer should not have verbally agreed, but, if he doesn't, it hurts his relationship with his employer. (And word travels fast when you get a "malcontent" label.) If Boozer turns down the Jazz, stays with the Cavs and wrecks his knee, the Cavs would have said, "What deal? We don't have a deal".) And since a deal like that is not legally binding anyway, Boozer would have been a$$ed out.

Pro athletes have a small window of time to make their money and they have to strike when the iron is hot.

Would you turn down a fantastic offer from another company because your current employer promised you a similar deal "later on"?

Ne meither. A bird in the hand...

JAG

I have to agree...it's shocking. I used to ho...

2010-03-09T10:10:56.216-05:00

I have to agree...it's shocking. I used to hold coaches to a higher standard, but when it comes to the cake; C.R.E.A.M. is more than an anthem. It's a way of life.