Some thoughts…
Okay, let’s say you are being wooed by different companies because you’ve proven to be one of the best in your field. You’re available because, frankly, you’ve outgrown your present company and they can’t afford you. You feel a sense of loyalty, yes, but you have to think of your family. So you do the only logical thing, move on, make more money, take on new challenges.
Yet, as I watched the recent Laker parade, I’m amazed by the old school thinking by the likes of Stu Lantz, who talked about the selfishness of the new breed of players, who would rather make money than win championships. Well, I don’t know, championships and rings are great, but when you’re asking people to take million dollar pay cuts, well, that’s easy for you to say. It also makes me laugh when they talk about players giving “home town discounts”. Ask Dave Smith, long time Angel fan who worked a double shift for a year for Angel management, about home town discounts. They don’t seem to work out too well…
Has there ever been more hype with less results than the long awaited “Summer Of 2010” NBA free agency? With the exception of Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade in Miami , and the woefully overrated Amare Stoudemire going to New York , what has changed? The NBA is still looking up at the Lakers. And, while he is no doubt the best player in the league, shouldn’t LeBron James give the whole “King” monicker a rest until he has actually won a title?..
If, if the rumors are true, Shaquille O’Neal actually does go to Boston , does that make him a candidate for all time Laker turncoat and delay the cries for his jersey to hang in the Staples Center rafters? Has any superstar ever played for so many different teams?
Dave made a great point in his article praising Uruguay ’s Luis Suarez for his game saving, if illegal, hand ball the other day in the World Cup. Maybe it wasn’t “in the spirit of the game”, but it was a winning play. If sports, you do what you have to do. I watched a replay of Game 3 of the Laker-Jazz series, and in the final 4 seconds, with the Lakers holding a one point lead, and inbounding the ball on their end, Derek Fisher was blatantly held and the Jazz got a steal. Even if they were called for the foul, the worst that could happen to the Jazz was they would be down 3 after free throws, and no time was taken off the clock. It’s called playing to win. Of course, some would say it was karma that they missed the ensuing shot and follow up, but you do what you have to do to win…
I have to wonder, does Dave really think that America does not take pride in being the best? He’s been drinking too much tea…
