Am I The Only One Who Gets Turned Off by topic of money in sports?

[gpap]

...think about it. In the last 15-20 years, the subject of "avoiding luxury taxes" in sports has become even more prevalant than winning a championship.

The goal, every year should be for teams to win titles for their fans and the city.

However, we now hear more of an emphasis being placed on "cap relief" and "luxury tax" as we do on winning titles.

It's not just the NBA. It's gotten that way in the other 3 sports (though the NFL, not as bad.)

Over the last 3-4 years, teams like the Knicks, Dallas and Nets have not been shy about acquiring "expiring contracts" so they can sign the big name the following year (Lebron, Dwight, Deron.)

I just don't like how now sports has seemingly become more about business and less about winning and for the fans.

[lightspeed5]

you are the only one.

[indeedproceed]

...think about it. In the last 15-20 years, the subject of "avoiding luxury taxes" in sports has become even more prevalant than winning a championship.

The goal, every year should be for teams to win titles for their fans and the city.

However, we now hear more of an emphasis being placed on "cap relief" and "luxury tax" as we do on winning titles.

It's not just the NBA. It's gotten that way in the other 3 sports (though the NFL, not as bad.)

Over the last 3-4 years, teams like the Knicks, Dallas and Nets have not been shy about acquiring "expiring contracts" so they can sign the big name the following year (Lebron, Dwight, Deron.)

I just don't like how now sports has seemingly become more about business and less about winning and for the fans.

Aside from around 10 or so teams usually in the bottom part of the league, all the teams are usually near or above the salary cap. Some teams don't want to pay the luxury tax though, that's true (but the L tax is what you pay when you go over "X" dollars above the salary cap), but there are only really a handful of 'penny pinching' teams.

When teams are pursuing 'cap relief', they're just trying to clear more space, so they can spend more money. Its not 'money relief', its clearing cap space, because that's the rules of the CBA to try to keep the league competitive.

[staticcc]

yeah, it's all about the money in pro sports

[Redz]

I try to ignore it as best as I can.  Not easy.

[Roy H.]

I like all the intricacies of the cap.  I find it interesting.

However, I do agree it sucks to see trades that are made for financial reasons rather than play on the field.  I recently had a conversation where somebody said "Ben Gordon sucks, because Detroit had to give up a 1st rounder to get somebody to take him.  Well, no, it's his contract that sucks, not the player.

Stuff like this has been going on for a century of professional sports, though.  I mean, Babe Ruth got sold to the Yankees, the Celtics acquired Bill Russell because another owner wanted the revenue from the Ice Capades more than drafting a great player, etc.

[Lord of Mikawa]

I wish performance on the court was more important than money. That should be the biggest factor in contracts and not being a part of the league.

[cman88]

well, thats why having a front office who is committed to winning is a really Important part of having a winning franchise in most sports...Wyc/Ainge are on the same page and arent afraid to spend for a chance at a championship.

 

[Finkelskyhook]

The goal, every year should be for teams to win titles for their fans and the city.

The goal, for the owners, should be to make a profit....Period. That is usually done by putting out a competitive product to keep fan interest. Hopefully winning titles for their fans and city are residuals of that.

[wdleehi]

This is the problem with everyone getting fully guaranteed contracts.  There is only so many things you can do to rebuild. 


You don't hear as much of this in the NFL because it is easier to waive a player. 



In the MLB, how many small market teams have to sell off all their best young players before they get their first big contract? 

[guava_wrench]

I like a league where all teams can make payroll.

If you don't like $ entering into sports, watch games at you local Y or perhaps watch some high school games.

The idea of everyone throwing all their money at titles is ludicrous since only 1/30th of teams can win in a given year. Getting into spending wars is a good way to go bankrupt.

If you don't like money talk, don't read about sports in the offseason.

[KGs Knee]

The goal, every year should be for teams to win titles for their fans and the city.

The goal, for the owners, should be to make a profit....Period. That is usually done by putting out a competitive product to keep fan interest. Hopefully winning titles for their fans and city are residuals of that.

Both arguements have merit.

Personally, I don't care if the owner is profitable or not.  I prefer owners who are willing to spend as much money as needed to win, even if it means taking a loss on a year-to-year basis.  If the only concern for an owner is profit, I'd say that owner needs to find a different business to invest in.

[cman88]

The goal, every year should be for teams to win titles for their fans and the city.

The goal, for the owners, should be to make a profit....Period. That is usually done by putting out a competitive product to keep fan interest. Hopefully winning titles for their fans and city are residuals of that.

and those teams usually end up being mediocre teams that end up losing fan interest over time because the ownership cares moer about the bottom line $$ than winning

see this years Red Sox..

[KGs Knee]

The goal, every year should be for teams to win titles for their fans and the city.

The goal, for the owners, should be to make a profit....Period. That is usually done by putting out a competitive product to keep fan interest. Hopefully winning titles for their fans and city are residuals of that.

and those teams usually end up being mediocre teams that end up losing fan interest over time because the ownership cares moer about the bottom line $$ than winning

see this years Red Sox..

Or the Bruins for the majority of the past 25 years.

[Tgro]

I don't have a problem with players looking to get paid and teams doing deals to free up cap space. My issue is seeing players demanding to be traded to a list of desirable teams and its always the usual places on the list. I don't like how players have manipulated where they will play and making there own super teams. This is what bothers me more than the shuffling and paying of money. It's the manipulation of where you go that irks me.