By Dave Hanneman
Here’s a different angle on LeBron James’ decision to bolt Cleveland and play for the Miami Heat: maybe, just maybe it signals a promising shift in professional sports.
One of the biggest gripes and complaints about professional athletes is the ungodly amount of money thrown at these superstars.
What is the bottom line when any team (junior high, high school college, even the pros) begins training for an upcoming season? It’s to try to win a championship. No one opens training camp with the goal that they want to have the highest-paid group of athletes in the business (except maybe the Yankees).
More and more, though, multi-year, multi-millon dollar contracts are as common as .250 hitters and 50-percent free throw shooters. The pursuit of the almighty dollar (and the tricked out ride, the gated-community mansion, and the entourage that goes with it) now supersedes the goal of being on a championship team.
Which brings us back to LaBronapalooza. The guy would have made more money if he stayed with the Cavs. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stood to make more money if James had not signed with the Heat.
Not that any of these guys needs an extra million or two to play ball. But the idea of pro athletes putting the pursuit of a championship ahead of their bank accounts goes against the grain of what we’ve come to expect of them.
Anybody think this will start a trend?
Here’s a different angle on LeBron James’ decision to bolt Cleveland and play for the Miami Heat: maybe, just maybe it signals a promising shift in professional sports.
One of the biggest gripes and complaints about professional athletes is the ungodly amount of money thrown at these superstars.
What is the bottom line when any team (junior high, high school college, even the pros) begins training for an upcoming season? It’s to try to win a championship. No one opens training camp with the goal that they want to have the highest-paid group of athletes in the business (except maybe the Yankees).
More and more, though, multi-year, multi-millon dollar contracts are as common as .250 hitters and 50-percent free throw shooters. The pursuit of the almighty dollar (and the tricked out ride, the gated-community mansion, and the entourage that goes with it) now supersedes the goal of being on a championship team.
Which brings us back to LaBronapalooza. The guy would have made more money if he stayed with the Cavs. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stood to make more money if James had not signed with the Heat.
Not that any of these guys needs an extra million or two to play ball. But the idea of pro athletes putting the pursuit of a championship ahead of their bank accounts goes against the grain of what we’ve come to expect of them.
Anybody think this will start a trend?
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