Whenever I’m in a discussion (read “argument”) about athlete’s salaries, I am always on the side of the players.
“None of those owners,” I typically say, “are going to pay anything they can’t afford. They don’t buy those teams as a charity. They pay millions to make millions. The owners are pigs.” (and this is long before Robert Kraft showed his Super-Pig qualities in the sex trafficking sting in Florida).
And then I’ll go on.
“They have these multi-billion-dollar franchises that they bought and they claim that they earned them by being so good in the competitive market economy. And then what do they do? They use their power to get exempted from anti-trust so that they have no competition. And beyond that, they arrange for the tax law to let them depreciate their players based on their salaries. So, the higher the salaries they pay, the lower the taxes they pay. And then they bask in all the reflected glory that’s given to them solely because of the labor of the players. And don’t forget that all sports owners take care of their own. Kapernik gets effectively banned for kneeling but 49er’s owner, Eddie DeBartolo, gets convicted for bribery and only gets suspended for one year.
Sometimes, after a few drinks, I go even further than that. But, you get the point.
Now, I live in the Philadelphia area. Here, the drama over the past few days has focused on whether the Phillies will get Bryce Harper. It is reported that he has rejected an offer of $300 million over 10 years. This drama is being followed more intensely than even the Robert Mueller vs. Donald Trump Heavyweight bout.
I remain on the players side, but as I follow the Harper Bazaar, I cannot help but think, at this point, that maybe it’s about time for Bryce to swallow his pride and accept the reported offer. Skimpy, I know, but, scrambled eggs for dinner a few nights a week, Bryce, and I’m sure you’ll get by.
Of course, Mr. Harper, you have the right to get what you can. No matter what that is, the owners will still make money and they’ll likely make even more. But, come on. Thirty million a year for playing baseball is not enough?
The fans who cheer you; who post pictures of you on their walls; who wear your jersey – they couldn’t make in thirty lifetimes what you have rejected. The longer you stay out; the longer you insist on more – the more you are becoming indistinguishable from the selfish, piggish owners I abhor. You are performing a certain kind of magic – you are making the owners look good.
And what are you doing to yourself? Face it, you’re good, but you ain’t Babe Ruth. You’re not even Mike Trout. Think about the pressure you will be under to hit a homer every up. Think about the humiliation you will suffer if you fail to achieve what may be the unachievable goals that will be expected of you.
So,get off your ass, Bryce. Do yourself and everyone a favor. Sign your name. It will be the most important autograph you will ever give.
We were right 