Garnett, agents and moneymoneymoney

[jumpshot@iniaccess.net.au (Karen J Davies)]

The issue with Garnett highlights one of the problems with pro sports these
days. The real power behind the game has become the sports agents.  Eric
Fleisher is the guy knocking back this offer...he has his own career to
fertilize after all. If he gets Kevin around $132M, he's gonna be up there
with David... These guys, of course, don't give a rats damn about the game,
there looking after themselves first and, nominally, there slient second.

The owners are prepared to pay stupid amounts of money because of a) ego and
b) wanting to be popular.  But the extra money will not come out of their
bloated pocket.  This is not a case of paying the players what the market
will bear, its paying the players, then making the market bear it.  Why do
you think some seats in MSG to see the Knicks cost $1500?  How far can the
stretch the market to fit the agents desires?

ANd then there's MJ.  The Bulls do the right thing and, after underpaying
him for several years doe to a long term contract that he insisted on at the
time, pay him back with a record eveporating $30M for one year.  Now that
the payback is over, and MJ is still the best in the world, he should be
looking at a little more than Ewings $17M or so per year...maybe $18-20M
But no, that would not look good on Fulk's CV, so they use the last years
$30 as a benchmark for the nest contract... $37-40....


              1936: Basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain is born.
"Save perhaps for a tiny white fringe in his beard, he doesn't look a day
older than the legend.  He favors black, revealing garb - usually tank tops
and tight-fitting pants - and unfettered feet.  Even on the pavement of
Manhattan he goes barefoot, donning shower clogs only on the most demanding,
formal occasions."

- - Frank Deford (August 18, 1986)
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