The unseemly haste with which Hockey Canada invited Todd Bertuzzi to participate in the recent Team Canada Olympic orientation camp in Western Canada struck many observers as at best ironic and, at worst, crass.
At that camp, how ironic was it to see Canadian players wearing Team Canada practice jerseys with the “STOP” patch on the back of their jerseys? (The STOP patch was designed to remind youth-level hockey players never to hit an opposing player from behind, because of the high risk of injury.)
Ironic, in that Hockey Canada administrators have been preaching to young players and coaches for years (and rightly so) about the very real dangers of hitting opposing players from behind.
Yet Todd Bertuzzi, the perpetrator of one of the most blatant and dangerous “hits from behind” in hockey history, was invited to play for Team Canada within minutes of his suspension being lifted.
With this as a backdrop, there are some basic questions that either have not been asked as people debate this issue, or have not been adequately answered.
- If Todd Bertuzzi was not an NHL “superstar”, would his suspension have been more severe?
- Why are some ‘fans’ actually applauding Todd Bertuzzi? (Because he is back playing? Because he said he was sorry? Because he is a star player?)
- Yes, Todd Bertuzzi has said he is “sorry” for his actions. Did we expect him to say he wasn’t sorry?
- Bertuzzi says he has had sleepless nights. How many sleepless nights has Steve Moore likely experienced?
- How much, if any, subtle or not so subtle persuasion — or outright lobbying — occurred involving Team Canada officials and the NHL?
- Bertuzzi has said he believes in forgiveness and second chances. Is it easier to “believe” in those things when you are the one who caused harm to someone else?
- What would Bertuzzi be saying now if he was the individual who was physically handicapped because of the cowardly actions of another player?
- Bertuzzi has said he just wants to “get back to playing”, essentially ignoring Steve Moore’s current reality. (Moore is unable to play hockey.) But how would Bertuzzi feel if he lost his livelihood not just for 17 months, but for the rest of his life, as is likely the case with Steve Moore, if someone had jumped him from behind?
- Even if Steve Moore were to somehow regain the physical and emotional strength required to play at the NHL level, what NHL club would sign him, given the obvious politics involved?
- How many people have noticed how NHL stars, including Avalanche players who were teammates of Steve Moore, have fallen into line publicly, stating their support of and for Bertuzzi?
- Why are some of these star players talking as though Steve Moore is “doing better”, when in fact Moore and his representatives are saying he still faces a monumental struggle ahead? Where is the evidence he is doing better? Or is that just a line some players are using in public to try to make this go away?
- If any of us were in Steve Moore’s shoes, how would we feel watching Todd Bertuzzi play and earn millions of dollars, while our career was likely over and we still couldn’t do ‘normal’ daily tasks comfortably?
- Why is the hockey community seeming to shun Steve Moore?
- How are young Canadian children now supposed to react to those “It’s just a game” ads from Hockey Canada that have been appearing for so long? Is the message that the values supported in those public service announcements should apply to parents and youth, but not to NHL superstars?
Thursday, September 1, 2005
Monday, August 1, 2005
Terrell, Terrell, Terrell...
The Philadelphia Eagles took a ‘risk’ last season by bringing in Terrell Owens.
It’s important to note that the Eagles are an organization that does not like — or look for — controversy.
From a communications perspective, Andy Reid adopts what is often referred to as a “vanilla” approach. He is generally accessible, polite, responsive— but says absolutely nothing that could lead to a media frenzy.
Every week he starts his Monday post-game press conferences by saying he “looks forward to the challenge” of playing whatever team the Eagles are scheduled to play next.
When asked how a certain player is doing, he will say, “He’s doing a nice job”. He uses the word ‘nice’ frequently.
That said, he is an outstanding football coach, who made a decision just over a year ago that trading for Owens, an All-Pro wide receiver, could help his team get over the hump. Three years in a row the Eagles went to the NFC championship game, and three times they came away without a championship.
In 2004, with Owens in the line up, the Eagles offense soared. Owens and Donavan McNabb seemed to share a kinship of sorts, which was interesting as Owens had spent an inordinate amount of time publicly trashing his previous quarterback, Jeff Garcia.
The comments ignored the fact that Garcia was a tough, durable quarterback who had played quite well with the 49’ers.
Just not, apparently, up to Owens’ standards.
So Owens, in his early days with the Eagles, had the world by the tail. By all accounts he was engaging with the media, the fans and teammates.
The honeymoon was on.
When he went down with a serious injury late last season, many predicted the Eagles would falter.
Yet they charged through the playoffs without Owens, capturing the NFC title along the way, before Owens made an unexpected comeback to star in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.
Fast forward to this past spring, and Owens wanted to renegotiate his contract, after completing only 1 year of a 7-year deal.
Meantime, he had made comments in the off-season that were highly derogatory about his ‘pal’, McNabb. He remarked that he wasn’t “the player who got tired” at the end of the Super Bowl.
Another example of, “I’m great, someone else is the problem…”.
The Eagles don’t renegotiate contracts, so he reported to camp unhappy — only to be tossed out by Reid after a series of interpersonal issues arose.
Can Owens return to the team a happy man? A “team” player?
No.
That possibility left long ago. He has made it clear by trashing McNabb on several occasions, just as he trashed Garcia before him. The pattern is there.
Reports suggest he has ignored most of his teammates this summer at training camp. He has evidently snapped at coaches. He has played up to the media — when he wanted to— to get his message out and made it clear he will not be happy unless he gets a new deal, or a new team.
The point?
The biggest issue in professional sports today is attitude. The attitude of too many athletes is slowly eroding fan interest.
Oh, there will always be a love of sports. But more and more, many fans are tuning out, as the apathy over the NHL lockout demonstrated.
Steroids may be the biggest health issue in sports — an issue that smacks of hypocrisy on so many levels it requires a separate commentary. But too many athletes are grossly overpaid, and until we — fans, athletes, owners, agents, media — step back and start re-thinking some basic values, we will have more and more individuals like Owens who are wonderfully talented individuals, but are the last guys most people would want as a teammate.
It’s funny how things seemed to go swimmingly last season with Owens and the Eagles. But that is often the way when an often-disgruntled athlete starts “fresh” with a new team. Everyone wants to give the impression that all is well.
Unfortunately, old behavior patterns — like old habits — die hard.
It’s easy to be a “good teammate” when you have the world by the tail. The truly classy individuals— the ones who at least try to fight the instinct to simply be about themselves — are those that work hard every day, sign a contract and live by it, make those around you better, and try to act with at least a degree of humility.
It doesn’t mean you can’t be your own person. It doesn’t mean you lack integrity. It just means that, in part, you at least acknowledge you are not bigger than the game you play, and not more important than the people around you.
Simon and Garfunkel asked where Joe DiMaggio had gone. Some of us are still looking for the modern-day equivalent of Jean Beliveau: an elegant, talented athlete who respected fans, teammates, the media, and the game.
It’s important to note that the Eagles are an organization that does not like — or look for — controversy.
From a communications perspective, Andy Reid adopts what is often referred to as a “vanilla” approach. He is generally accessible, polite, responsive— but says absolutely nothing that could lead to a media frenzy.
Every week he starts his Monday post-game press conferences by saying he “looks forward to the challenge” of playing whatever team the Eagles are scheduled to play next.
When asked how a certain player is doing, he will say, “He’s doing a nice job”. He uses the word ‘nice’ frequently.
That said, he is an outstanding football coach, who made a decision just over a year ago that trading for Owens, an All-Pro wide receiver, could help his team get over the hump. Three years in a row the Eagles went to the NFC championship game, and three times they came away without a championship.
In 2004, with Owens in the line up, the Eagles offense soared. Owens and Donavan McNabb seemed to share a kinship of sorts, which was interesting as Owens had spent an inordinate amount of time publicly trashing his previous quarterback, Jeff Garcia.
The comments ignored the fact that Garcia was a tough, durable quarterback who had played quite well with the 49’ers.
Just not, apparently, up to Owens’ standards.
So Owens, in his early days with the Eagles, had the world by the tail. By all accounts he was engaging with the media, the fans and teammates.
The honeymoon was on.
When he went down with a serious injury late last season, many predicted the Eagles would falter.
Yet they charged through the playoffs without Owens, capturing the NFC title along the way, before Owens made an unexpected comeback to star in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.
Fast forward to this past spring, and Owens wanted to renegotiate his contract, after completing only 1 year of a 7-year deal.
Meantime, he had made comments in the off-season that were highly derogatory about his ‘pal’, McNabb. He remarked that he wasn’t “the player who got tired” at the end of the Super Bowl.
Another example of, “I’m great, someone else is the problem…”.
The Eagles don’t renegotiate contracts, so he reported to camp unhappy — only to be tossed out by Reid after a series of interpersonal issues arose.
Can Owens return to the team a happy man? A “team” player?
No.
That possibility left long ago. He has made it clear by trashing McNabb on several occasions, just as he trashed Garcia before him. The pattern is there.
Reports suggest he has ignored most of his teammates this summer at training camp. He has evidently snapped at coaches. He has played up to the media — when he wanted to— to get his message out and made it clear he will not be happy unless he gets a new deal, or a new team.
The point?
The biggest issue in professional sports today is attitude. The attitude of too many athletes is slowly eroding fan interest.
Oh, there will always be a love of sports. But more and more, many fans are tuning out, as the apathy over the NHL lockout demonstrated.
Steroids may be the biggest health issue in sports — an issue that smacks of hypocrisy on so many levels it requires a separate commentary. But too many athletes are grossly overpaid, and until we — fans, athletes, owners, agents, media — step back and start re-thinking some basic values, we will have more and more individuals like Owens who are wonderfully talented individuals, but are the last guys most people would want as a teammate.
It’s funny how things seemed to go swimmingly last season with Owens and the Eagles. But that is often the way when an often-disgruntled athlete starts “fresh” with a new team. Everyone wants to give the impression that all is well.
Unfortunately, old behavior patterns — like old habits — die hard.
It’s easy to be a “good teammate” when you have the world by the tail. The truly classy individuals— the ones who at least try to fight the instinct to simply be about themselves — are those that work hard every day, sign a contract and live by it, make those around you better, and try to act with at least a degree of humility.
It doesn’t mean you can’t be your own person. It doesn’t mean you lack integrity. It just means that, in part, you at least acknowledge you are not bigger than the game you play, and not more important than the people around you.
Simon and Garfunkel asked where Joe DiMaggio had gone. Some of us are still looking for the modern-day equivalent of Jean Beliveau: an elegant, talented athlete who respected fans, teammates, the media, and the game.
Friday, July 1, 2005
Class Lasts
Long before I became an advisor, I, like many reading this, was a sports “fan”.
My “era” was the 60’s. There very certain athletes I admired, usually because of their attitude and work ethic. Jim Taylor, the Hall-of Fame Packers’ fullback known for his fierce determination and Dave Keon of the Maple Leafs, who lacked size but played with speed, brains and diligence night after night are two who stood out for me.
Taylor endured unbelievable physical abuse during the 1962 Championship game against Sam Huff and the New York Giants on a frozen field in bitter cold. Keon played a lead role in 4 Stanley Cup triumphs for the Leafs.
But perhaps oddly, I also latched on to a golfer as someone I looked up to.
Arnold Palmer.
Palmer had the fearless kind of attitude you simply did not associate with golf in those days. But he oozed charisma, long before I knew what that word meant.
He had peaked in the late 50’s and early 60’s. By the time I was a long-distance member of “Arnie’s Army”, he was still a force, but was not winning as frequently as he once had.
(The 1966 U.S. Open was particularly painful for me. Palmer misplayed a 7-stroke lead with 9 holes to play, and lost to Billy Casper the next day in a playoff. He lost the lead largely because he refused to “play it safe”. He never won a major again.)
As I write this, Palmer is now 75, long past his physical prime.
But he still stands out as an ambassador for golf, and for sports.
What brought this to mind was an article I read recently by Marino Parascenzo for PGA.com
Parenzsco wrote of being one of a number of reporters who had to approach Palmer late in his career, after shooting in the 80’s during a round at the Masters, where Palmer once was king— having won the tournament four times.
As the story goes, one of the writers said to Palmer, “Arnie, we hate to have to talk to you at a time like this…”
Palmer’s reply?
“Fellas, we talked when times were good. We’ll talk when times are bad.”
The “lesson” for many of today’s athletes is clear and obvious. And there is, in this instance, no need to “name name’s” of those modern-day athletes who should follow Palmer’s example.
Too often athletes are only too happy to revel in their accolades, but are surly at best when times are difficult.
Palmer has been, throughout his career, a picture of consistency and class.
If you are a young athlete, looking for a role-medal or someone to emulate, consider Palmer.
I’ve written in the past about individuals such as Jean Beliveau. Palmer falls into this category.
As I often remind my clients in the sports field: How do you want to be remembered in 20 years?
If anything, individuals such as Beliveau and Palmer are remembered even more fondly know, 30 years and more past their prime, than then they were in their hey-day.
Something to remember for young athletes forging a career— and for older athletes, before it’s too late.
My “era” was the 60’s. There very certain athletes I admired, usually because of their attitude and work ethic. Jim Taylor, the Hall-of Fame Packers’ fullback known for his fierce determination and Dave Keon of the Maple Leafs, who lacked size but played with speed, brains and diligence night after night are two who stood out for me.
Taylor endured unbelievable physical abuse during the 1962 Championship game against Sam Huff and the New York Giants on a frozen field in bitter cold. Keon played a lead role in 4 Stanley Cup triumphs for the Leafs.
But perhaps oddly, I also latched on to a golfer as someone I looked up to.
Arnold Palmer.
Palmer had the fearless kind of attitude you simply did not associate with golf in those days. But he oozed charisma, long before I knew what that word meant.
He had peaked in the late 50’s and early 60’s. By the time I was a long-distance member of “Arnie’s Army”, he was still a force, but was not winning as frequently as he once had.
(The 1966 U.S. Open was particularly painful for me. Palmer misplayed a 7-stroke lead with 9 holes to play, and lost to Billy Casper the next day in a playoff. He lost the lead largely because he refused to “play it safe”. He never won a major again.)
As I write this, Palmer is now 75, long past his physical prime.
But he still stands out as an ambassador for golf, and for sports.
What brought this to mind was an article I read recently by Marino Parascenzo for PGA.com
Parenzsco wrote of being one of a number of reporters who had to approach Palmer late in his career, after shooting in the 80’s during a round at the Masters, where Palmer once was king— having won the tournament four times.
As the story goes, one of the writers said to Palmer, “Arnie, we hate to have to talk to you at a time like this…”
Palmer’s reply?
“Fellas, we talked when times were good. We’ll talk when times are bad.”
The “lesson” for many of today’s athletes is clear and obvious. And there is, in this instance, no need to “name name’s” of those modern-day athletes who should follow Palmer’s example.
Too often athletes are only too happy to revel in their accolades, but are surly at best when times are difficult.
Palmer has been, throughout his career, a picture of consistency and class.
If you are a young athlete, looking for a role-medal or someone to emulate, consider Palmer.
I’ve written in the past about individuals such as Jean Beliveau. Palmer falls into this category.
As I often remind my clients in the sports field: How do you want to be remembered in 20 years?
If anything, individuals such as Beliveau and Palmer are remembered even more fondly know, 30 years and more past their prime, than then they were in their hey-day.
Something to remember for young athletes forging a career— and for older athletes, before it’s too late.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
It's all about Larry
What is perhaps most noteworthy about the media furor surrounding Larry Brown’s tasteless need to be wanted yet again — in the middle of his current team still contending for an NBA championship— is that the media hasn’t chased this type of story down more often in the past.
The media — including NBA Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton — have argued strenuously that Brown is hypocritical at best in this scenario. The man who constantly preaches about “doing things the right way” is certainly multi-tasking — negotiating by day to become the top man with the Cleveland Cavaliers, while coaching the defending champion Pistons by night.
Who knew that being paid millions of dollars a year to coach wasn’t a full-time job?
The fact that Brown has been disingenuous with the media, given only evasive non-answers, only makes things worse— and will appear even more so when he is indeed announced as the new boss of the Cavaliers within the next few days, or as soon as the Pistons are eliminated.
The media will have made this all up, right? It will just be coincidence if (when?) Brown ends up with the Cavaliers?
This latest escapade paints Brown as someone chronically in need of adulation, of being chased, of being wanted and needed— and at a higher and higher salary, of course, after he has already earned millions upon millions in the game.
All of which might be acceptable— even to his media friends— if it weren’t for the fact that he has been chasing his next job while still being paid handsomely to do a pretty important job right now.
All that said, this happens all the time in sports.
Before the current coach of the Michigan State football Spartans took the MSU job a couple of years back, word was that his then players found out about his new appointment while on the sidelines of a Bowl game, no less.
He must have forgot to tell his players first, before the media found out.
No doubt one of this fellow’s first speeches to his new bright-eyed college players was about dedication, commitment — and loyalty.
All these values — and words— only seem to matter to players, coaches or executives, until the opportunity to “better” themselves (or in the case of executives, their team) comes along, even if they are still under contract.
How many times do we see a General Manager fire a baseball field manager or hockey Head Coach, and within hours, if not minutes, announce the new manager or coach?
This means, in plain English, that the negotiations were already not only underway, but that a deal was signed, sealed and agreed upon— before the current field boss had even been given his pink slip.
This happens all the time, and virtually no one says a word. No one stands up and says, “hey, wait a minute. You mean you, as a GM, actually hired another guy when you had not even shown the professional courtesy — and intestinal fortitude — to tell your current guy he was gone?”
No one seems to care. It’s an accepted part of how things are done in sports.
When players openly speculate in mid-season of about their impending free agent status…when GM’s play ‘hire the new guy before we axe the old guy’… when NFL stars demand to renegotiate one year into a 7-year contract, should we be surprised that ego-driven individuals feel, for some reason, the urgent need to set themselves up for their next gig before they have even finished with what they owe their employer in their current post?
Does anyone remember Mike Keenan, the summer after he had coached the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 40 years, back in ’94? Oh, we all heard about contract technicalities that were supposedly not lived up to, making Keenan a “free agent”, at least in his own mind.
Yet he was suspended by the NHL hierarchy, so something was amiss.
But Keenan was nonetheless gone — gone, gone, gone, some would suggest before he had even finished coaching in the playoffs that year with New York.
When do these kinds of suspicious negotiations take place? Does anyone have qualms of conscience in these circumstances?
Evidently not.
The only surprise, as I said at the outset, is that the media has chosen the Larry Brown case to make such a fuss.
The truth is, it happens all the time.
The media — including NBA Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton — have argued strenuously that Brown is hypocritical at best in this scenario. The man who constantly preaches about “doing things the right way” is certainly multi-tasking — negotiating by day to become the top man with the Cleveland Cavaliers, while coaching the defending champion Pistons by night.
Who knew that being paid millions of dollars a year to coach wasn’t a full-time job?
The fact that Brown has been disingenuous with the media, given only evasive non-answers, only makes things worse— and will appear even more so when he is indeed announced as the new boss of the Cavaliers within the next few days, or as soon as the Pistons are eliminated.
The media will have made this all up, right? It will just be coincidence if (when?) Brown ends up with the Cavaliers?
This latest escapade paints Brown as someone chronically in need of adulation, of being chased, of being wanted and needed— and at a higher and higher salary, of course, after he has already earned millions upon millions in the game.
All of which might be acceptable— even to his media friends— if it weren’t for the fact that he has been chasing his next job while still being paid handsomely to do a pretty important job right now.
All that said, this happens all the time in sports.
Before the current coach of the Michigan State football Spartans took the MSU job a couple of years back, word was that his then players found out about his new appointment while on the sidelines of a Bowl game, no less.
He must have forgot to tell his players first, before the media found out.
No doubt one of this fellow’s first speeches to his new bright-eyed college players was about dedication, commitment — and loyalty.
All these values — and words— only seem to matter to players, coaches or executives, until the opportunity to “better” themselves (or in the case of executives, their team) comes along, even if they are still under contract.
How many times do we see a General Manager fire a baseball field manager or hockey Head Coach, and within hours, if not minutes, announce the new manager or coach?
This means, in plain English, that the negotiations were already not only underway, but that a deal was signed, sealed and agreed upon— before the current field boss had even been given his pink slip.
This happens all the time, and virtually no one says a word. No one stands up and says, “hey, wait a minute. You mean you, as a GM, actually hired another guy when you had not even shown the professional courtesy — and intestinal fortitude — to tell your current guy he was gone?”
No one seems to care. It’s an accepted part of how things are done in sports.
When players openly speculate in mid-season of about their impending free agent status…when GM’s play ‘hire the new guy before we axe the old guy’… when NFL stars demand to renegotiate one year into a 7-year contract, should we be surprised that ego-driven individuals feel, for some reason, the urgent need to set themselves up for their next gig before they have even finished with what they owe their employer in their current post?
Does anyone remember Mike Keenan, the summer after he had coached the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 40 years, back in ’94? Oh, we all heard about contract technicalities that were supposedly not lived up to, making Keenan a “free agent”, at least in his own mind.
Yet he was suspended by the NHL hierarchy, so something was amiss.
But Keenan was nonetheless gone — gone, gone, gone, some would suggest before he had even finished coaching in the playoffs that year with New York.
When do these kinds of suspicious negotiations take place? Does anyone have qualms of conscience in these circumstances?
Evidently not.
The only surprise, as I said at the outset, is that the media has chosen the Larry Brown case to make such a fuss.
The truth is, it happens all the time.
Sunday, May 1, 2005
The Disconnect Grows
For those who have a sense of sports history who are over, say, 40, the response of the Indiana Pacers fans to Reggie Miller in his last game against the Pistons in the playoffs this spring was at least a little heartwarming.
The ‘disconnect’ between many professional athletes and the public seems to grown by the day, and the issue is not as simple as the ‘revelations’ (as though we didn’t know) steroids in baseball. It has been building for years and goes much deeper than that.
Why is there a disconnect? Well, the reasons are many and everyone reading this could add their own thoughts and plug in a reason or two.
Among many other things, we don’t see many athletes retire with the same team they started with, especially after 18 seasons.
There aren’t many Bill Russells’ left in basketball, as there are few Al Kalines’ in baseball or Jean Beliveaus’ in hockey — individuals who played the game at such a high level, and left the game with their reputation unsoiled and their dignity intact after playing their entire (lengthy) careers in one city.
The lack of “loyalty” to one’s team is not itself in itself to kill the traditional bond between athlete and player. And there have always been some players who didn’t much care about the fans.
But many other factors have crept into sport as well.
NHL players, for example, are fighting a battle to salvage a gravy train that should have — in the minds of most fans — been shut down years ago.
NBA players seem destined for a similar fate, apparently unhappy (at least the most powerful agents in the sport are) at the mere thought that if NBA owners had their way, ridiculously-long guaranteed contracts might be a thing of the past.
I mean, who wouldn’t want 18 million dollars a year for 7 years, instead of ‘only’ 5, for example.
Yes, the tongue is planted firmly in my cheek as I write this.
It’s also hard to miss the daily reports of “unhappiness” around the NFL. Edgerrin James skips mandatory mini-camp with the Colts, displeased with the fact that he can only earn 8 million dollars this coming season because he was placed under the team’s ‘restrictive’ franchise tag.
Granted, it is hard to plan for your family’s financial future when your team won’t give you all the millions you want for as many years as you want.
There’s the tongue again.
Eagles’ receiver Terrell Owens — while demanding to have his contract re-worked only one year into a seven-year deal he gladly signed — is quoted as saying he is concerned about feeding his family.
These examples of — what can we call it, politely?— a lack of perspective are obviously way to many to number here.
But the fans are left numb.
I wasn’t quite born when Joe Dimmagio retired in 1951, and I don’t doubt he tried to make as much money as he could, but somehow, players such as he, Mantle, Berra, Ford and many other Yankee greats were closer to the hearts of the fans of yesteryear than today’s Arod-style one-man corporations are.
Until some athletes stop thinking about getting more and more, and agents stop demanding more and more, and ownership stops capitulating constantly to ridiculous demands, the disconnect will grow.
No hockey, who cares?
No baseball. We all survived.
No basketball next season. We’ll get used to it.
No football in a couple of years?
Hey, replacement players worked the last time, in the 1980’s. The players quickly realized the sports world could and would go on without them.
What player, in which sport, is going to be a real leader and show the fans that athletes are not only about making millions and forever wanting more and more?
Yes indeed, Joe, where have you gone?
The ‘disconnect’ between many professional athletes and the public seems to grown by the day, and the issue is not as simple as the ‘revelations’ (as though we didn’t know) steroids in baseball. It has been building for years and goes much deeper than that.
Why is there a disconnect? Well, the reasons are many and everyone reading this could add their own thoughts and plug in a reason or two.
Among many other things, we don’t see many athletes retire with the same team they started with, especially after 18 seasons.
There aren’t many Bill Russells’ left in basketball, as there are few Al Kalines’ in baseball or Jean Beliveaus’ in hockey — individuals who played the game at such a high level, and left the game with their reputation unsoiled and their dignity intact after playing their entire (lengthy) careers in one city.
The lack of “loyalty” to one’s team is not itself in itself to kill the traditional bond between athlete and player. And there have always been some players who didn’t much care about the fans.
But many other factors have crept into sport as well.
NHL players, for example, are fighting a battle to salvage a gravy train that should have — in the minds of most fans — been shut down years ago.
NBA players seem destined for a similar fate, apparently unhappy (at least the most powerful agents in the sport are) at the mere thought that if NBA owners had their way, ridiculously-long guaranteed contracts might be a thing of the past.
I mean, who wouldn’t want 18 million dollars a year for 7 years, instead of ‘only’ 5, for example.
Yes, the tongue is planted firmly in my cheek as I write this.
It’s also hard to miss the daily reports of “unhappiness” around the NFL. Edgerrin James skips mandatory mini-camp with the Colts, displeased with the fact that he can only earn 8 million dollars this coming season because he was placed under the team’s ‘restrictive’ franchise tag.
Granted, it is hard to plan for your family’s financial future when your team won’t give you all the millions you want for as many years as you want.
There’s the tongue again.
Eagles’ receiver Terrell Owens — while demanding to have his contract re-worked only one year into a seven-year deal he gladly signed — is quoted as saying he is concerned about feeding his family.
These examples of — what can we call it, politely?— a lack of perspective are obviously way to many to number here.
But the fans are left numb.
I wasn’t quite born when Joe Dimmagio retired in 1951, and I don’t doubt he tried to make as much money as he could, but somehow, players such as he, Mantle, Berra, Ford and many other Yankee greats were closer to the hearts of the fans of yesteryear than today’s Arod-style one-man corporations are.
Until some athletes stop thinking about getting more and more, and agents stop demanding more and more, and ownership stops capitulating constantly to ridiculous demands, the disconnect will grow.
No hockey, who cares?
No baseball. We all survived.
No basketball next season. We’ll get used to it.
No football in a couple of years?
Hey, replacement players worked the last time, in the 1980’s. The players quickly realized the sports world could and would go on without them.
What player, in which sport, is going to be a real leader and show the fans that athletes are not only about making millions and forever wanting more and more?
Yes indeed, Joe, where have you gone?
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