Why Do We Despise Athletes Who Make Wise Career Decisions?

With the NBA Finals wrapping up, and the inevitable and impending post-postseason (Free Agency) on the horizon, talks of Carmelo Anthony to Miami are in full tilt. Presently, I have yet to encounter a person who is in favor of the move, but more importantly, I consistently hear people say they downright "HATE" the potential move. When I delve further into their reasoning for such disdain, I often hear "that would be the easy way out" or "that would lessen the accomplishment of winning a title, knowing that you had to go play with three other hall-of-famers to do so."

This got me thinking about when Lebron uttered his infamous ten words during The Decision, and how much hate and vitriol it incited immediately. I did not understand it then, and I still do not understand it now.

If someone offered you the chance to work anywhere you like in the United States of America, and get paid millions of dollars to do so, and also have a great chance to claim whatever the top award or most prestigious honor of your industry is year after year--why would you ever turn that opportunity down?

I am not sure any of us in our right minds would, but when professional athletes who have worked as hard as they could to put themselves in a position to have such freedom of choice do it, we as a society want to crucify and question their integrity? What is wrong with us?

When famous actors come together to participate in a movie, many of us clamor in anticipation of its actual release so that we can marvel at its greatness. One of my favorite films is Oceans 11, because of the sheer brilliance of so many actors at the top of their game having a willingness to share the silver screen with other great actors.

This is what a Lebron James, a Chris Bosh, a Dwayne Wade, and quite possibly a Carmelo Anthony are demonstrating by having a willingness to sacrifice individual accolades, accomplishments and financial wealth in exchange for the ultimate TEAM goal of a championship.

I constantly hear people discuss how selfish today's superstars are, but at a time when Lebron could have accepted a max deal to go and play in the largest market in the country, he put his own selfish incentives on the back-burner, and went to a place where he knew he was going to have sacrifice shots, stardom and annual pay--all because he wanted to win the ultimate TEAM honor of a championship.

For most of Carmelo's career he has been labeled as a ball hog, or a non-team guy because of his propensity for shooting as often and frequently as he does. This has prompted some to label him a cancer or a non-winner, because of his unwillingness to sacrifice some of his individual success as a means of contributing to the overall team success. However, now that he is considering not only doing that, but doing it in a major way by going and teaming up with three of the top draft picks from his own draft class, which will all but guarantee that he's going to see a dramatic reduction in his field goal attempts per game, he is now labeled as lazy or still a non-true winner because of his decision to join them--AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

I think much of it stems from the fact that many people are simply oblivious to the fact that throughout the history of the NBA, it has taken on average three hall-of-famers on any given team to win an NBA championship. In order to have a dynasty, a team needed to have four hall-of-famers and several all-star caliber role players who were willing to put egos on the back-burner.

And while it is easy to point to a Michael Jordan, or a Magic Johnson, or a Larry Bird and say "they didn't have to jump ship and go to the already established dominance of another team or star player"--such an argument fails to acknowledge that their front office's were committed to doing whatever it took to bring the stars to them--something that Cleveland's, Toronto's and New York's ownership could never do for any of this generation's superstars.

Much of that has to do with the fact that the first two destinations are not large markets, and in the case of Carmelo, his front office is simply incompetent. Magic did not win any of his titles without a minimum of two other hall-of-famers playing by his side. Michael was the same way, as during his years of pure dominance, he was surrounded by multiple hall of famers. Hakeem needed Clyde, while Tim needed David, Parker, Ginobili and now Leonard.

Simply put, 98% of the teams who win championships do so because there are anywhere from three to five hall-of-famers on their roster. Because of such sacrifice and team first mentality, that is why they win the ultimate team accomplishment. Accordingly, this is why Carmelo should not only be applauded, but encouraged to go to Miami and demonstrate to the world and everyone else that he is in fact the consummate team player--plus it would be an extremely wise career decision!

Milton Bradley is Classic

I don't often feel good when a player gets injured. When Nomar pulled his groin about 15 seconds into the Cubs 2005 season, I felt bad for the guy even though I loved that it happened to the Cubs. Even though I'm a huge Kevin Durant fan and I told everyone I know he'll be better than Greg Oden, I didn't want to see Oden miss his entire rookie campaign.

But this Milton Bradley thing is too much. How perfect is it that a guy who can't control his temper or stay healthy tears his ACL during a tantrum? That was scripted, right? He called time out so he could yell at the ump?!?

Bradley should retire now and the Hall of Fame should immediately induct him. I don't care that he's only a .273 career hitter with 81 home runs. NEVER has one player had one play sum up his entire career. This is like Albert Belle hitting a double, running over a kid and screaming down the press in one play. It just doesn't happen.

It doesn't even matter that the umpire may have instigated the whole thing. Bradley has to know that this will define the rest of his life. Congratulations Milton, see you in Cooperstown.

Lovie and Ron the ones to blame

Rex Grossman, Cedric Benson, and the entire offense clearly were a part of the problem in yesterday's loss to the San Diego Chargers. But the thing that should most bother Bears fans from this first regular season game – just as in the Super Bowl – is the game plan. In the Super Bowl, when Benson went down, the Bears appeared to give up on the running game too quickly despite Thomas Jones running pretty well on the Colts' defense.

In the middle of Sunday's fourth quarter, the Bears were in a key situation on second and short – they ran the ball. On third down, they ran the ball. Then on fourth down, when everyone in the stadium not named Ron Turner or Lovie Smith knew the Bears would run, Benson was sent into the welcoming arms of white jerseys.

Three consecutive running plays that didn't work. The Bears were also down 11 points at the time. This should have been when the Bears opened the play book and threw into the end zone, or even run a reverse with Devin Hester. Anything to try and get this offense going.

The players are, of course, responsible for the fumbles and the turnovers, but Smith and Turner have done a poor job of putting the players in the best position to win. There was never a sense of urgency from this offense. There hasn't been a sense of urgency in Chicago's offense in a very long time – certainly not since the 80s.

Bears fans deserve to see a Super Bowl winner, especially with how good this defense looked against a very potent San Diego offense. Sadly, unless there are some changes made, it appears the Bears are only setting themselves up to fail once again.

Grossman isn't the problem, just part of the problem

It really wasn't Rex Grossman's fault. Well, it wasn't entirely Rex Grossman's fault. Even though it was just one game against a team that won 14 games last season, Sunday's game was enough to show that this year is going to be a tough one for the Bears offense.

Last year the Bears built a very good offense around Rex, with two quality running backs, a good receiving core and one of the leagues top offensive lines. This year, the team did upgrade their receivers by adding Greg Olsen and moving Devin Hester to offense (though we don't know what either of them is truly capable of yet), but none of it will matter because of their inability to run the ball or get consistent quarterback play.

The Bears are still going to win their division and they still have a good chance of returning to the Super Bowl because of their fantastic defense. But what was made clear on Sunday is that as long as Rex and Cedric Benson are leading this team, an NFC championship is their ceiling.

All Vick, All the Time

BY ADAM WILSON
Thanks to Digressions in Abundance

Last night I was watching Michael Vick coverage because I am very interested in what 7,000 different & random people think about it. So it was nice to hear some newspaper writer from Atlanta, who by her own admission doesn't like football and doesn't follow the Falcons or Vick, tell me her deepest feelings about the whole situation. It was good to hear her opinion of the impact Vick's (who, I repeat, she doesn't pay attention to) legal troubles are having on her city.

It was nice to hear Chris Mortensen report 55 times about what is happening with the case RIGHT NOW. It was nice to see Suze Kolber. (no seriously, I like her. Like Joe Namath said.) It was nice to see the game crew interview the "ESPN legal analyst" for 3 segments...asking him the same questions over and over again. By the way...do you think Roger Cossack was mad he didn't get the face time? I bet he was. Isn't he supposed to be ESPN's resident legal expert? I can only assume his head exploded after being on every single ESPN show for the previous 10 hours. Otherwise, they would have flown him in, right?

It was nice to see video of Vick apologizing to everyone in the world for what he did. It was especially nice to see it multiple times. Although it seemed to me that he was more sorry that he got caught. He wasn't so apologetic when he lied to the NFL, the Falcons, and the Police and plead not guilty. But NOW he is sorry. Of course he is. He is trying to avoid jail time. Now is the exactly perfect time to "be sorry".

It was nice to hear that now it is just time to move and and the rehabilitation of Michael Vick can begin. Ummm...why? Hasn't the bad stuff just started for him? He still has to go through sentencing. oh yeah...AND PRISON. HE HAS TO GO TO PRISON FOR AT LEAST 1 YEAR!!!! How can it be time for everyone to move on...it literally JUST HAPPENED. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO!!!!

But here's the thing that bothered me about last night. I'm sitting there trying to enjoy some Michael Vick analysis, minding my own business. And every once in a while they would start talking about the football game that was being played on the field in front of them! Ridiculous! I didn't turn on Monday Night Football to watch and hear about football!! I turned on Monday Night Football to watch and hear about Michael Vick.

All I have to say is that if I turn on football again this week and they are talking about the game instead of Michael Vick...I might kick my dog.

(just kidding...I'm not going to kick my dog. Put down the phone...leave PETA out of this)

Will Rexy still be Sexy?

The trials and tribulations of Rex Grossman continue. The much-maligned quarterback still draws the ire of fans and media across the country. Whether it is the quarterback-center exchange or the ability to read a defense, Rex Grossman is still lacking the natural growth that a player at his position is supposed to exhibit by year five. The excuses continue, and the lack of responsibility for the constant miscues are getting old. Sweat, crowd noise or rain - the elite quarterbacks are supposed to lead and not make excuses.

What draws people to Rex Grossman is his gunslinger mentality. Many compare him to Brett Favre in that respect; but that is where the comparisons end between the two quarterbacks. Rex's inability to read coverage or take care of the ball will keep the Chicago Bears from repeating as NFC champions. With the defense and special teams the Bears possess, all Grossman has to do is manage the game and not take any unnecessary risks. He has shown he is not capable of doing that because. He looks completely lost on the field, and the mental aspect isn't there after five training camps and four seasons with the Bears.

The Chicago Bears need a caretaker at the quarterback position, not someone who will constantly stick the defense deep in their own territory. The leash on this bear will have to tighten, and eventually Lovie Smith will need to pull the trigger and go with veteran Brian Griese. The former Michigan product's ceiling is not as high as Grossman's, but he understands how to manage a game. The Chicago Bears have no more than a three-year window to win a Super Bowl, and they cannot allow Rex Grossman to learn on the job anymore. The time to pull the plug on Rexy is arriving quickly.

Holy Holdouts

Larry Johnson, the soon-to-be 28-year-old (November 19th) Kansas City Chiefs running back, is a preseason holdout.

JaMarcus Russell – the first overall NFL draft pick and once-presumed starting Oakland Raider quarterback – is another preseason holdout.

Every NFL preseason begins and ends with at least one notable holdout threatening to sit out as many games of the regular season as necessary to obtain what they consider to be fair market value for their services, and every NFL season, they’re chastised by the media, the general public and key figures around the league.

Why is that?

Johnson reportedly wants $28 million in guaranteed cash, which is irrefutably a king’s ransom.

Then again, Johnson was on the sideline of the Chiefs–San Diego Chargers game when his predecessor, the 34-year-old Priest Holmes, sustained a career-threatening neck and head injury on a hit from Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman.

As Johnson continues to hold out, the question for the Chiefs is whether or not they’re going to keep Holmes around, and shell out the several million dollars necessary to retain his “damaged” services. That decision will more than likely be made before Johnson decides to report to camp, but it has to be a factor in Johnson’s rationale for doing so.

Russell is reportedly waiting for a deal that would give him a sizable guaranteed purse; in his opinion, what the first overall pick is worth. Raider chief Al Davis has never been known for his flexibility when negotiating contracts, but more importantly he’s failed to orchestrate a sufficient offensive line to protect the value which is Russell.

As such, Russell’s perspective is that if he’s going to be in danger of repeatedly getting sacked and ultimately injured, he needs to have some financial security to justify putting his John Hancock on the dotted line.

At the end of the day, professional athletes have to make the same decision that any other gainfully employed person must make –are they being paid fairly for the service that they are offering? Most employees are evaluated annually, and subject to a compensation change that reflects performance (good or bad).

In the case of Johnson, he’s definitely earned the right to request such a lofty increase. For Russell, he’s simply saying that five years from now he'll have added more value to the storied Silver and Black franchise than the current offer reflects.

Now the question becomes whether or not their respective franchises are willing to place their bets at those prices.