ndividuals, I have a few words about the latest to pass: Steve McNair. This has all the earmarkings of one of those 'If I can't have you, nobody will' love affair endings. I always thought that many athletes led lives where they had a public front complete with wife and kids but privately enjoyed the spoils of their status fueled by alcohol, drugs, fast cars and many mistresses. It made me think a little deeper and I realized that this is something prevalent throughout all aspects of society, so why would it not affect the relatively small pool of individuals blessed with extreme wealth? When we read newspapers about a husband that killed a wife (or vice versa) over infidelities or a spurned lover that had promises made that were not kept who decided to make the decision easier for both parties, we become a bit desenitized by it.That is why when the news reported that McNair had been shot four times and the other party, presumably, his scorned lover having a single gunshot wound to the side of her head, I came to the conclusion that this was an affair that extended well beyond a 'booty call' or 'part time lover' exploit. (Click here to see pics of McNair and Shahel Kazemi parasailing 0n vacation) This killing was up close and personal similar to the manner in which ex-pro footballer Rae Carruth ordered and witnessed the fatal driveby shooting of the mother of his yet to be born child back in 1999. In the larger scope of things, there are many commonalities that stem from this situation which pervade our world: children who are left fatherless, women who have lost a husband (or provider), promises made that were not kept, secrecy revealed, mistrust surfaced and houses divided...sounds like America in a nutshell huh?
Now, as Snoop Dogg would say, 'back to the lecture at hand'. As many of you know, free agency season has decended upon the NBA. Many teams that are looking for that missing piece of a championship puzzle will overpay a competent to effective player in order to outbid other potential suitors in order get to the NBA Finals. There is much logic that goes into this as a team that makes the playoffs makes more money because they are alloted more home games in which to sell not only tickets, but concession items (beer, hotdogs, banners) and it helps corporate sponsors continue engaging potential customers for their business.
The average lousy team, lets say, the Los Angeles Clippers, rarely sell out any of their alloted 41 home games during the regular season and are always in the Lottery (ie, the air ball generated chance game as to who will have the No. 1 pick in the annual college draft). If it wasn't for
revenue sharing among all of the teams in the NBA, the Clips would have closed shop years ago. However, with the NBA having to cut back the purse strings a bit in the wake of the global economic crisis, many teams that have good players but are not good enough for the playoffs are looking to move on a free agent player that could push them towards the goal at hand. The only problem is that free agents (especially veterans) are not really willing to go to mediocre teams; they want a chance to win championships with teams that need a missing piece. Bad teams such as the Clippers not only garnered the No. 1 pick this year in Blake Griffin, they are sadly suffering from the free agency debacle from 2008 win which they signed an obviously declining player in Baron Davis to a large contract in hopes of luring another free agent, Elton Brand to the team. However, Brand reneged on his promise to sign with the Clips and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.Now the Clippers are stuck in between phases...do they carry the large Davis contract and try to bolster the team through free agency? Do they trade Davis or another veteran player to another team in order to begin the rebuilding phase with Griffin? With teams not willing to spend the motherlod
e until 2010 (Lebron James, Dwayne Wade etc.), not many are willing to take on any more large contracts and the free agents they do sign, they give them what is called the mid-level exception, which gives a player approximately $5-6 million per year. Davis for instance, who signed a 5 year, $65 million contract last year and proceeded to have his worst statistical season, prevents teams from taking on such a high salary commitment. The Clips did manage to move PF Zach Randolph's contract off the books this season by trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies, so they may have room next season to go after one of the prized free agents of 2010. The only problem here is that it takes a person to have an incredibly diarreah-like brain fart to sign with them as the team has a history of woeful mismanagment. Therefore, the Clips will have to cross their fingers and hope the team they have presently constituted can be good enough for a playoff run as the money is needed...and the sponsors are praying. However, if a washed up Billy Crystal is the Clips' biggest fan, I feel for the fans and sponsors.As you can see, free agnecy carries many financial ramifications for a team. There are also risks for the players. A great number of fans continue to ramble on about how players make too much money and they don't care about the game. Well, if these fans were offered 120% more money to jump ship from their present job to a competitor, would they do it? Well...the first thought is yes until one thinks about the monumental life shift that will take place; from a family man's viewpoint, if one already has a fair amount of money saved up, the kids are happy in school where they are and the wife is content why would one leave? From a single man's perspective, however if he has established a place on the social scene, has business interests in the area and is settled in a nice home, why leave? So many factors go into a decision involving a long distance move for a job; a plant manager for GM faced with relocating from Michigan to Alabama is posed the same question. Will you fit in the social scene? Will the kids get the same level of education? Will you be able to establish businesses in this new area? What about race relations?
A good case in point lies with former Orlando Magic F and new Toronto Raptor Hedo Turkoglu. He opted out of his contract with the Magic in order to broker a more lucrative deal with them; however, the Magic decided to trade for Nets F Vince Carter and Turkoglu had to shop his wares on the open market. Shortly after free agency commenced, reports stated that he was set to sign with the Portland Trailblazers, but he about faced and signed wit
h the Raptors. Oh...typical athlete, he just got more money from the Raptors right? Fortunately, that answer is wrong and it is wrong for all the right reasons. When he and his family visited Portland, he did not feel it was a good fit on a social level; the money was right and the team was perfect, but he did not feel he could be the best player he could be without his life off the court in being in order. There was little to no Turkish community and he wanted to be around cultural hub...Toronto, being on the east coast and closer to Turkey was a good fit. He could take direct flights from Canada to his native land and the city offered an international flavor that made him and his family (namely, the wife) happy. In other words, he followed his heart and good sense when he made the move, not just the money...even though the Raptors will still be a crappy team.Quick trivia question (the winner gets a $5 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts): Who was the first quarterback taken in the famed 1983 NFL Draft and who was the team that drafted him?
A. Tony Eason
B. Dan Marino
C. Peyton Manning
D. John Elway
*Please respond via aphaleticarticles@gmail.com
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