This is a bummer. What makes me sad is, if he plays inter-league here in Atlanta, it wouldn't surprise me if he gets booed pretty hard.
I don't agree with it, but I can understand it. He'd been here his entire career and suddenly he takes a one year deal in Boston? It'd be easy to feel sort of betrayed by that. Oh well, best of luck to him.
NAGA and Bangkok Fight Night V
14 years ago
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Even I remember Smoltz reign of awesome. Sad news, indeed.
I’m sorry to see Smoltz go as well. I know another person who has given his heart and soul to Braves management is extremely upset: Chipper Jones. He sees the same thing happening to him. He’s right. It’s amazing how big league “capitalists” (i.e., those who make a lot of dough) persist in thinking they are the franchise. They are not capitalists, and they are not the franchise. Professional sport is a business, and the team owner(s) and management are the capitalists. For better or worse, in the structure of professional sports in the U.S., and in many other free market countries, the players, no matter how good they are and how much they give to the organization, are nothing but glorified commodities…money producing assets to the owners. When management thinks a given commodity has done all it can do to enrich the owners, he or she is either released or, as in the case of Smoltz, offered “disrespectful” compensation. Smoltz would have gladly accepted the Braves “offer” if it had been anywhere close to the Red Sox’s, but the Braves only offered approximately half. Hell, it’s a business, and players are nothing but glorified commodities who, when their use is over (in the view of the owner(s) and management of a given organization, will trade, force that commodity to another team with ridiculously low offers, or outright release them. Even Babe Ruth was put out to pasture. A professional sports organization (note I do not use the term "team") markets itself as a symbol of the community: The NEW YORK Yankees, The BOSTON Red Sox, The CHICAGO Cubs, The ATLANTA Braves…you get the idea. As with all businesses, it’s, well, a business. I’m not saying that’s bad, and I’m not saying it’s good. I’m just saying it is. I will not be booing Smoltz or Chipper Jones when he is forced to take his commodity (skills) elsewhere. I don’t root for organizations. I root for individuals who strive, even when their skills fade. People are not commodities, regardless of what the market says. They have souls, and no business can own souls. Of course, they try!
Don
I actually didn't pick up any fine details on the offer he got. I won't boo him either if he comes back in town, he's done far too much for the Braves to just give him the finger (proverbially or literally.)
I have no problem with players making money. I do think there is a point where it looks absurd, such as CC Sabathia's $140+ million deal.
Hell, the Red Sox paid forty million just for the opportunity to talk to Daisuke Matzuka!
I often think there could be a better way to pay professional athletes, such as the NFL's way of paying per game played. At least then there's a reason to actually try, hopefully.
I think this big money also hurts the college games. Dwayne Wade? Out of Marquette before he graduated. Joakim Noah out in two. And often times they're busts. Ryan Leaf was consider to be one of the best prospects coming out of college football, today he's got no gig in the NFL.
Very few superstar players stick around in college. Tyler Hansborough (?) went back to UNC, but I wonder if its because he's been told he'd not do as well in the NBA.
I'm rambling.
And at the end of the day, I'll miss John.
Oh, yeah, I agree totally. The teams throw scores of millions at total tools and then let a player like Smoltz (a person of real character, a team player who competes out of self-respect and a thirst for excellence) go instead of rewarding him for past accomplishments and future quests with a few “measly” millions when they throw 40 million at some unproven guy whose actual performance doesn’t even come close to the hoopla and scouting reports.
I know: If it was only a few "measly” millions, and Smoltz is motivated by excellence and loyalty, not greed, why didn’t he sign? Obviously, money is a sign…a symbol…of how much regard and respect management has for him.
However, the organization gets to make that decision. The owners and executive managers are the franchise, not the players. The players have always been employees and they will always be employees. They play at the behest of the owners and management.
For example, I left MSA because I did not feel respected, wanted, and needed for what I can do and did do. It had nothing to do with money and benefits, which were quite fair given the reality of private education in the United States. Same with Smoltz. In MSA’s case, the president did not respect and admire what I was doing. (Hell, he didn’t even understand what I was doing or the nature of my expertise and accomplishments!) In the Braves case, they obviously question whether Smoltz can come back once again. Hell, they have a point!
Regardless, it’s the Braves’ money. Regardless, MSA has a right to define what kind of a school it should be and what kind of teachers are to be respected. Moreover, John Smoltz and I have the right and obligation to leave if we do not “feel the love” (respect) as symbolized by whatever the currency (symbol) is appropriate. I understand Smoltzie completely. The only difference between us is he can throw that ball better than I can, and he makes a few more “measly” millions more than I do! :-)
See you tomorrow!
Don
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