Anybody else sick of this from athletes.
Yes.
Which would you rather see: a football team cruelly cut a veteran leader running back in the last 3 years of his deal because he was injured the year before, or an athlete try to strong arm his way into playing in a city he wants to play in?
Both situations are less than ideal, but in the second case the player obviously signed a contract that allowed for him to be cut prior to the conclusion of his deal, and his injury ostensibly would prevent him from actually playing (the reason he's being paid). If his injury isn't that bad, he could then go and try to play for a different team that will appreciate his talents.
Situations like this one with Melo just seem very silly and disrespectful, especially considering the fact that the Nuggets are by no means a bad or poorly managed franchise. They have a devoted fan base and a pretty solid team. I'm getting tired of athletes wanting to jump ship to the biggest cities and the easiest winning situation.
They should be thankful for the opportunity they've been given to make millions of dollars playing a game they enjoy. They should want to be the representative of their city, community, franchise etc. and lift their team to victory for them.
I am sympathetic toward players who are stuck on poorly managed teams with no future. I cannot blame them when they start to complain and want to leave town. Players who are already in pretty good situations, playing for franchises that have made every attempt to please them and put a winning team around them, with a loving and dedicated fanbase...I do not feel any sympathy for them whatsoever when they try to force their way out of town so they can be in a bigger city or whatever.
I'd agree that neither situation is one I approve of, but here is problem I have with sports where people get on guys for wanting to decide their own future:
Basketball has guaranteed contracts. In that regard it is incredibly lucky (and also probably going to have some of that guaranteed-ness taken away during the new CBA).
But, in football, if you're a star running back for years, you get rewarded. You sign a contract for 5 years, 45 million dollars. You're 28 years old.
By the time you're 30, you've got 1500 attempts and your wheels are starting to fall off because your team has used you as much as they could during the first 4 years of your career when you weren't making jack for cash.
You get injured, but everyone knows you've lost a step anyways, and the next season they let you go, 3 years and 27 million remaining on your contract.
Now, it is arguable that you got injured in the first place because you allowed the team to run you into the ground, because you never took a down off, and because you were dedicated to taking the field no matter what.
But for years before you signed your extension, you did that on a 5th round rookie's salary, because you'd previously signed a contract.
I guess my point here is: Owners will turn their backs on players without a second thought. Players should be allowed the same opportunity, as long as it is done in a classy, dignified manner, which Carmelo has done.
LeBron, on the other hand, did not.
Anybody else sick of this from athletes.
Devil's advocate: If Carmelo has his mind made up that he's signing with the Knicks in the off-season, isn't it better if he's honest with the Nuggets about that, rather than going the Lebron route?
Great point.
Topic: Melo Will Only Sign Extension if Traded to Knicks (Read 11486 times)