Quote:
Originally Posted by keefriff
I agree that LeBron could have handled it better. He could have done it quietly and maybe people's reaction would have been different but Cleveland would be pissed off no matter what he had done. As far as this not being a business for the players, I disagree with that 100%. These guys have a short window to try and make as much money as they can. Their careers in sports typically last less than five years. I certainly would be trying to make as much as I could knowing that I could blow out my knee tomorrow and be done forever. The owners make money or else they wouldn't pay the large salaries that they do. I don't begrudge ANY proffesional athlete for trying to get the most that he can. I know it is not brain surgery but neither is acting and nobody says a word when movie stars demand 15 million dollars to make horsesh*t movies. It is the nature of the business and if the demand is there then I can't blame them one bit for trying to get whatever they can. It is a game but one that makes alot of money for the owners and the players. As far as risk goes as related to business, what about an athlete in the last year of his contract? Isn't he risking everything everytime he ventures onto the court, field, diamond? He could tear his knee up and never get another contract. Do you think the owner will give him some sort of a severence? Not likely. All athletes risk their livelihood everytime they go to work.
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Well - I guess we can agree to disagree.
Athletes today are overpaid babies - maybe if they spent less on bling and the lifestyle, they wouldn't go bankrupt so fast. Latrell Spreewell turned down $21 million for 3 years because "He needed to feed his family". Scotty Pippen is going broke, Antoine Walker IS broke...
...it's all about STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE.
Sorry - the only people who can say 'it's a business' are the owners who are taking the risks. LeBron has made how many millions so far (along with endorsements) $100-200-300...
...WASTING money is no excuse to say "it's a business". Neither is it a reason for Jesse Jackson to say it is slavery.
PLEASE...pay me millions to play a game...ENSLAVE ME!!!
Agents (i.e. Lawyers) along with selfish players who have no concern past their own bellybuttons, are the reason things are the way they are.
S'Okay - it can't go on forever...the goose will be killed. It's only a matter of time. (Bird, Magic, Jordan and the others who faithfully built this league must be crying over how the knucklehead children are destroying the league)
I guess, Keefriff, at the end of the day, I come from a different time:
Players should play the sport for the love of the game. Obviously you feel that they should get as much money as possible. That is what is wrong with sports, today. Player try to push it on ownership, saying "look how much money they make"
It should not be about the money. You should play the game because you love it. Basketball players play for the cash. Hockey players, play because they love the game...