If you think that is a downer, imagine being the GM of the MN Twins (Billy Smith). Everyday you gotta wake up and deal with the Axis of Evil in MLB: Scott Boras (this guy would make Huggy Bear ashamed), Hank Steinbrenner (author of the soon to be best seller, "How I ruined the Yankees") and Donald Fehr (this guy is pictured in Webster's under Extortion).
Boras: The well known agent who gets under performing free agents $20 million contracts from Baby Hank (almost as hard to do as getting Adam Sandler $20 million after he did Billy Madison, but somehow he does it).
Baby Hank: Pockets so deep that sometimes he trips over them on his way to the Yacht auction. He signs players because they did well on his fantasy team. He must be a Knicks season ticket holder, too.
Donald Fehr: I'm still trying to figure out who this guy is helping...is it the players? If so, I'm happy for the 500 or so guys that are sitting on the best lottery ticket of all time. He definitely doesn't have the fans best interest or Billy Smith's for that matter. As long as MLB doesn't have a salary cap, the sport isn't a sport. Rich teams buy titles. Little teams manage to stay afloat. See Haves and Have Nots blog for an education on the disparity in MLB.
I had the chance to meet Billy Smith recently. I asked him who he dislikes the most of the 3. His answer was honest but predictable: Boras is doing job (and he does it well). Fehr is doing his job (and he does it well). "Steinbrenner is the one signing the checks, so you do the math." Good stuff Billy, good stuff.
I personally think it's Fehr. He's the one who has kept the competitive balance in the league out of whack and that's what gets my goat as a fan. I know it sounds like I'm whining (and I probably am), but its frustrating to watch every other major league sport and know when the season starts that each team pretty much pays their players the same amount of money...give or take 10 to 20 million. In MLB the scale is disproportionate.
I'm done.
PS I have my first female reader...welcome Michelle (okay, I begged her to be on the list). She may have a good baseball take or two or 200 (who knows?).
2 comments:
There would be nothing better than a NY meltdown this year but part of me believes that this wont happen. The odds are definitely in the Yanks favor for at least being in the thick of it come late Aug. And it doesnt look like pitching is going to do them in as it has in past years. Go Rays.
CMonty
Boras: The most talented agent in baseball. He doesnt always get the job done the way most people would do it. But he always gets the Job done.He is known for his fierce negotiation skills...and is probably someone we would all have working for us. Remember the majority of his clients are little people. The only ones you read about are the "ARods"
Fehr: Head of the most successful union in the US. Hmm trying to find a fault here.He represents the players..aka... blue collar workers in the real world, So they are not taken advantage of by the owners...aka. bosses in the real world. He helps players who would be left in the dust after signing out of high school and having a very short lived career. Helps players to get the best pensions available because you probably didnt finish college, your career maybe will last for 4 years and you won't bank enough to support your wife and kids for the next 40-50 years.
And lets not forget getting players 401k...Remember Donald doesn't only represent "ARods" but the vast majority of players not worthy of talking about on ESPN.
And Hank...He comes from a baseball family. The Steinbrenners have been the majority owners since the early 70's. They love baseball. To them not only is it a sport but a family business. They love to win!!!! Who doesnt? They will put other things aside to spend money on their team so they can win. I have never met a broke owner. I have met owners who didnt want to spend a lot money on baseball but budgeted for it. Hank will give everything he has to win again. He is constantly being pushed up against a wall by the media and sometimes the wrong things may come out of his mouth. I do believe he is misrepresented and portrayed poorly by the media. But dont misinterpret his love of the game.
If you remember anything I say please remember this:The majority of baseball players are not the ARods of the world,,,but are hard working, dedicated men with a passion so huge to play a sport they love and honor they would give up anything and everything to just have a chance to play. These are the actual players of baseball-the majority. And these are the people these three try to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
And wether you believe this or not-to the majority of baseball players, the fans to them are the biggest part of the game. They play for you, they love you and they know with out you there would be no baseball.
I think that was more like 200....
Post a Comment