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Apr. 24, 2003 Doesn’t the way (not to mention amounts) of today’s sports contracts just about make you want to puke. I know it really makes me sick how these athletes sign contracts and then when they want more, they decide to hold out until there are negotiations. It’s not like they were drunk the first time around. Each and every time they go over all the figures with a fine-tooth comb. Okay, they don’t, but you can bet their agents do. It’s bad enough that they make such outrageous money, but then they are allowed to ask for more or they will not play. This sounds like a breach of contract to me, and I only wonder why the owners don’t take them to court. I remember growing up when you gave your word on something and many times that was good enough. Now, it had better be in writing and everything is spelled out explicitly so as not to have any points for argument later on. Have you ever noticed that they only want to renegotiate after they have had a good season, and yet the owners do not ask for them to change their contract for a poor one. Yes, they may ask you to take a cut if your contract is up, but never in the middle of one, not that I befriend the owners, whom I deem responsible for all the nonsense in figures anyway. I can’t believe my ears when I hear them say that they need more money. Most people will never make a million dollars in their lifetime and these guys are making up to 10 million or more per season. Just think of all the hungry and homeless people in our country we could help with that kind of money. I love sports but hate the fact that they get so much money for playing a game that they love, while many Americans struggle to get by each day. I believe that we need to change the way that salaries for athletes are figured. Let them start to earn them like the average American must earn their money. Go ahead and give them a base salary (I think they earn that just for making sure they are in good shape to play), BUT then let the results do the talking. Ricky Williams became an inspiration to me when he signed and made it so that most of his salary depended on what he accomplished on the field. I believe all sports should be that way. So many dollars for a touchdown, home run, goal , points scored, etc… and thus they would try harder, shy away from stupid stunts that land them on the DL, and earn my respect for only getting paid for what they are doing, not what they did last year or the year before that. The more they drive their salaries up, the more they take their sports away from the average fan and give it to the rich people to attend. Signing bonuses should never go over one million as they are a risky proposition. How many times have you seen the kid come out of college, get that big 5-10 million dollar bonus, only to get hurt before they ever play for the club. Most of you can figure out a few of them, so I will not mention what busts they turned out to be. Should sports decide to go with these suggestions, ticket prices could be lowered ensuring overflowing crowds everywhere because the people would see that they are earning their salary just like the everyday working person. Since we know the owners would probably make quite a bit more, we impose on them to give money for the homeless and the poor to make our whole country better. I only think this would increase fan support and make everyone feel better about themselves. Those who don’t want to go along can just sit and watch. There is plenty of talent in every sport that gets turned away every year because there is not enough room for them. Then we would have the real heroes of sports today!! Maybe then we could call them protracts instead of contracts. A parting shot at those who are upset that coaches leave for a “better” job. I don’t see those people saying let them finish their term when things are going bad, so what’s good for the goose should be just as good for the gander. ------------ Willis Kirk Jr. is a 38 year old who is currently back in a 2 year college on his way to a degree. Email Willis: tekky2b@yahoo.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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