Re: Holy Christ....Kim's right!

["Jim Meninno" <jim_meninno@hotmail.com>]

I'm not saying Kim's wrong, but it's sort of a chicken and egg debate, 
really.  The huge contracts wouldn't be such a problem if they weren't 
guaranteed.  But then guaranteed contracts wouldn't be such a problem if 
they weren't so huge.  The only reason you don't hear it talked about is 
that it's not on the bargaining table right now.

Regarding owners being fiscally responsible, I go back to my point about 
competition between teams.  It is the CBA which sets the rules by which 
the owners have to abide and, therefore, the much talked about 'market 
value' of players.  If a system is agreed that allows a player to make 
$50 million a year, then someone will pay it.  They will worry about 
trying to generate that kind of revenue later on.  If that continues, at 
some point they are going to sign contracts that they can't pay.  

The owners are saying that is a bad way to operate a business.  That you 
shouldn't spend money speculatively.  That costs should be determined by 
revenues, not the other way around.  They understand that the pot of 
gold is finite.  The players will still make more money as the owners do 
their jobs and maximize revenues and, let's face it, they've been 
exceptional at that for the last 15 years or so.

The players and their agents seem to be saying that they are entitled to 
salaries that increase at an astronomical rate in perpetuity, regardless 
of the revenues of their employers.  Or at least that's how it sounds to 
me.  If anyone can explain it in terms that sound more reasonable, I'd 
love to hear it.

Jim

PS I hope Paul's OK and that he e-mails us from whatever planet they've 
taken him to.

>From: damekmo@teleport.com
>Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 18:24:58 -0900
>To: celtics@igtc.com
>Subject: Holy Christ....Kim's right!
>
>Let's face it. Kim's right on the money with this one. I couldn't agree 
more.
>
>Paul M.
>
>>The real problem to the fiscal situation isn't free market, hard cap 
or any
>>other issue usually brought up. It's the guaranteed contracts. 
Exceptional
>>players don't lose their fire to prove themselves when they get the 
money,
>>but too many do. And the guaranteed contracts are the real handcuffs
>>restricting player transactions  and limiting owners' profits. Think 
they'd
>>be whining so much about needing a hard cap if they could cut players 
when
>>money got tight or the player didn't look worth it, without still 
having to
>>pay them every dollar?
>
>>-Kim
>>Kim Malo
>>kmalo19@idt.net
>
>


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