The Problems Plaguing Major League Sports. One Man's Perspective.

[theseed2005]

Hello Sports Fans:

I thought you may be interested in a little of my insight on the problems that are plaguing the sporting world today. My name is Lindsay (The Seed) and I have just had my first book Seed’s Sketchy Relationship Theories - A Guide to the Perils of Dating (How not to become a...
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[JGAC]

damned good article

[Shane]

//scratches head.

Well, it is far better than anything I could write, I'll give it that.

I was not as entertained as I had hoped, and found a few things redundant. Of course beggars can't be choosers, don't get me wrong. If I seem too critical of this guys very generous first post, refer to line two of this post.

[Ishkur]

Man, I know this is your first post and all, but there is so much wrong in your incoherent rambling that I don't know where to begin. Have you actually played a sport before? Like....at a highly competitive level? This reads like some 14 year old's social studies research report. I'll go easy on you, and just pick the obvious targets. Let's begin:

Originally Posted by theseed2005

A Note to Professional Sports (Primarily The NHL).
We don’t need you.

Yes we do. We need them because we enjoy seeing the best of the world do what they do. That's who these people are.

Technically, I agree with you, but I'm speaking on behalf of all sports fans, who don't.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

You have lost touch with reality. Basketball players turning down $7 million per season because and get this: “It’s not enough to feed my family.”

I don't recall a single professional athlete who has ever made this statement as a reasonable justification, but maybe it was a half-serious, off-the-cuff comment he made because he was in a hurry to some red-nosed, lithe reporter out to cause havoc and spin sensationalism.

Professional athletes get paid their salaries because they are in the top 0.006% of their profession in their world. When you become among the 600 greatest living writers in the world, you will command a similar paycheck.....from the looks of things, you have quite a ways to go.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

You can argue that Actors and Musicians make outrageous money. The big difference is, sure a lot of them suck - but if we decide we don’t like them anymore we won’t by their CD’s or go to their movies. Whereas athletes, we are trapped, it is the only game in town.

The difference being, of course, that lesser talented musicians and actors can still make a comfortable living. The vast majority of near top-tier athletes in the world don't make any money at all. There's only about a dozen hocky leagues in the entire world that actually award its players with a sustainable income. That's barely 10,000 salaried contractors. The rest don't pay a pittance to the millions and millions of devoted hockey lovers who eat, breathe and sleep the game for fun. Contrast this with the millions and millions of actors and musicians who can eek out a living in their field.......where it be a c-list moviestar squeaking out commercials, indie movie roles and minor parts, or a bar band playing the lowkey club circuit.

There is no club circuit for hockey players. No one will pay any money at all to see a c-level hockey player in his local rec league. The risks are greater....ergo, the rewards are greater as well.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

What most of these athletes don’t realize is, it is the jersey that we love, it is rarely the one in it.

No, it is the game that we love, but more importantly....it is watching the best in the world play it that we love even more. This is why Canadians love the World Junior Championships so much. Because it's just that much a higher, more competent level than regular major junior. Tomorrow's superstars, in action. We reward talent, competence, and results. It's actually a much more honest and meritocratic industry than movies or music, which depend on marketing and hype far more than talent. In music, it's easy to pass off a ditz like Ashlee Simpson and make a ton of money. Something like that does not happen in pro sports. You can't sleep your way to the top. Either prove your worth, or get cut from the team. That is why Vancouver Canucks tickets cost $60 for upper bowl, and local Delta Icehawks Junior B tickets cost $5 seating anywhere. Sure, demand sets prices. But quality of play is what creates demand.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

Gone are the days where training was done a couple of months before the season started. Players drank, players smoked and players womanized. Now sports is a year round business.

Indeed...now players train 24/7 just to stay in the lineup. They have to. They are multi-million dollar investments, and the corporations that own them aren't going to let their investments go to crap. You can rest assured that they have personal trainers, private gyms, dieticians and pharmaceutical concoctions all set up to give them the greatest return. The players themselves have very little personal freedom, technically. Or, at least...those that worry about staying on the team, which is actually most of them.

Well...that might not be true in baseball and football (and maybe not even in basketball), because they're specialized sports that require very little conditioning and training to excel at (but lots of brute power), but hockey is certainly something that can not be learned, adapted, or maintained overnight. Or even overyear. Or over ten years.

I wasn't aware that any of this needed fixing, though. What's wrong with it?

Originally Posted by theseed2005

Society craves dingers, taters and going large.

So.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

In conclusion I still love sports, however, I basically stopped watching a long time ago.

I noticed.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

....No area illustrates what is wrong with society more than that of the sporting world. Not too long ago, people played sports for the love of the game, for community pride, for entertainment or simply to get laid. There was a pureness to it. Nowhere was creativity more prevalent. We all loved to see the spectacular plays. We watched in disbelief the almost unfathomable plays that the Gretzky’s and Jordan’s of this world dazzled us with. Then something happened: the corporate world realized that this was big business and the sheep of our society would pay top dollar to see these freaks of nature perform.

You should really read up on your history first before you go off half-cocked about rose-coloured delusions of historical purity that never existed. I really don't think anyone needs a dead-tree form of that, either.

I'll give you the summary.

-Players invent sports, enjoy playing it with regularity. Talent grows exponentially, drawing attention.
-Companies see a market in this, immediately take over control of statutes of sports. Create organized systems of play called "leagues". Exploit players.
-Corporations see bigger market, take over control of statutes of sports from companies. Exploit media, players, merchandising, advertising, expansion, charities, public.
-After decades of indentured servitude, Players start demanding larger and larger portions of that exploitation.
-What we have today: millionaires versus billionaires, fighting over one of the most lucrative industries in North America.

But the important point to understand in all this--and where you should place your allegiences--isn't who's making how much........but rather WHO DESERVES WHAT. Think in terms of percentages, not fixed amounts. Because any actual dollar figure is going to be incomprehensibly huge to the average joe, no matter how small you slice that pie. That's how much there is at stake. So you can understand why they fight over it so voraciously.

I guess that's enough for now. Welcome to the Rant.

[Shane]

I almost forgot Seed, Ishkur, in his own mind, is the only "sports journalist" who knows anything on the planet.

Don't take it personally, and WELCOME ABOARD!!!

[theseed2005]

Well that was certainly quite the reply to a piece that was primarily part comedy, part my perception. I appreciate the reply and the passion involved, however, I don't quite understand the response.

You asked if I ever played sports. My answer is yes. I was a National Champion on a Junior Football Team and then went on to play for a prominent University Program. As a quarterback. Seven players from our team ended up playing professionally. I don't want to enter into any glory day bravado. I don't know what my playing sports has to do with making an observation.

I am not sure what the source of your agression is. It is just an opinion after all.

As for them being the best in the world. I don't know about that, there are a lot of marginal players in sports that have no business making $1.8 million per year. Especially in the NHL. I agree that Canadians enjoy watching them (primarily hockey), but as for the rest of the world, primarily big market USA. With few exceptions they could care less. All the research that needs to be done is go down to the rink. Are they playing?

As for athletes making the statements such as how will I survive with only $7 million per year being off-the-cuff. We really are giving the majority of them too much credit. I actually remember the moment I tuned out. As for a little history on sports. Players used to sign contracts for $500,000 or even $1 million per year and say in the press conferences "I have to maximize my income because my career can end at any time." Very believable.

Then one day Pavel Bure signed for the $5 million and the words out of his mouth were the exact same. The response did not change with the times. Now I know Pavel was exciting when he wanted to play. But come on he coasted through most nights. Which unfortunately, is what the money has done a large portion of todays athletes. Money corrupts.

You compare lesser talented actors and musicians eeking out a living. The reality of that is this. The average actor makes $15,000 per year. When did poverty become a good living. They do it because they love it. Much like athletes who toil in the minors for years.

And another point is that you cannot compare Ashlee Simpson to an athlete. Yes there is hype and marketing. Yes she had success, probably because of her family name. However, unless she produces something soon society has spoken, her 15 minutes are up and she can go hang with Vanilla Ice.

Whereas, a marginal hockey player can play on a marginal team for years and still make what the market driven system pays. Ten goals, playing the trap, you get $1.8 million +. Only the upper echelon teams are entertaining. The rest for the most part go through the motions. I spent a couple of years and 1,000's of dollars to watch these "best in the world" athletes coast and then when questioned about it. Hey it was easy to blame the coach. Hell, these "superstars" of today quite often put in enough effort to get bye and then in the twilight of their careers, demand to go play for a winner. Assuming no responsibility for their past performances. Check the ages of the players on teams like the Redwings.


In conclusion. Like I said I appreciate your passion. What I really don't understand are the attacks. I don't even need to mention them again.

Also you summed it up nicely anyway.

"I'll give you the summary.

-Players invent sports, enjoy playing it with regularity. Talent grows exponentially, drawing attention.
-Companies see a market in this, immediately take over control of statutes of sports. Create organized systems of play called "leagues". Exploit players.
-Corporations see bigger market, take over control of statutes of sports from companies. Exploit media, players, merchandising, advertising, expansion, charities, public.
-After decades of indentured servitude, Players start demanding larger and larger portions of that exploitation."

Once again $1.8 million per year average in the NHL, which is considered a minor league in the States and every other major league being even higher. I am missing who is being exploited here. If they don't want the $1.8 million they can go find a real job. The the whole thing has gotten so watered down and the money so ridiculous that players are trying to play as long as they can. More and more NHL players are in their upper 30's now (has Messier retired yet or is he still coasting). The only people who are being exploited are the fans and the people who work in the industries who are affected by the greed of the athletes and owners.

"-What we have today: millionaires versus billionaires, fighting over one of the most lucrative industries in North America."

So lucrative that it shut down. That is why we can't care. As I said I cheer for the jersey.

"But the important point to understand in all this--and where you should place your allegiences--isn't who's making how much........but rather WHO DESERVES WHAT. Think in terms of percentages, not fixed amounts. Because any actual dollar figure is going to be incomprehensibly huge to the average joe, no matter how small you slice that pie. That's how much there is at stake. So you can understand why they fight over it so voraciously."

$$$$GREED$$$$

Those are your words. It is funny that you went through that long critique of what I said only to virtually agree with me in the end and spew back what I said.

As I said "....the sporting bubble has to burst. We are not that stupid."

Enjoy your hockey!

Basketball soon to follow!

Cheers

Seed.

[Ishkur]

Originally Posted by Point_Man

I almost forgot Seed, Ishkur, in his own mind, is the only "sports journalist" who knows anything on the planet.

"in my own mind", I champion smart, well-reasoned discourse, achievement, wisdom and professionalism, and I acknowledge it when it's due. If you can shoot mine down, I welcome you to try. Let's battle.

So stop getting in a snit about it. Don't get upset at me because you people can't get away with your usual lazy, knuckle-dragging epithets about how the world of sports works. I give you the Dikembe Mutombo finger-wag "don't you be bringing that weakass shit in here."

[Ishkur]

Originally Posted by theseed2005

Well that was certainly quite the reply to a piece that was primarily part comedy, part my perception.

you'll be needing this then

Originally Posted by theseed2005

I don't quite understand the response.

What's not to understand about it? You gave a summation of the NHL lockout and professional sports in general that was stunted, sophmoric, and inane, supplied with loaded and inaccurate analogies that never finished the deal. I called you on your bollocks. The end.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

As for them being the best in the world. I don't know about that, there are a lot of marginal players in sports that have no business making $1.8 million per year.

Like who?

note: There is no such thing as a "marginal" professional athlete. He may look marginal compared to the uber mensches of the leagues, but you put any regular (or even semi-regular) NHL player into an amateur league and he will tear through the opposition like Kobe on a white girl. That's not marginal to me. They play pro sports because they're good enough to play pro sports. End of story.

600 roster spots. That's it. 600 jobs, and millions and millions of applicants worldwide, playing the game their entire lives just to get good enough for one of those job interviews. That doesn't make them marginal. If you can find me a marginal player who doesn't belong in the NHL, I'll find you his immediate replacement on the farm team. That's the nature of the business. No such thing as job security for the vast majority of professional athletes. The peak earning period for any one of them is 4 years, so you better believe they will get what they can while the getting's good.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

The average actor makes $15,000 per year.

The average hockey player makes nothing.

Greater risks. Greater reward.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

And another point is that you cannot compare Ashlee Simpson to an athlete.

Of course I can't. You did, when you mentioned actors and musicians. The difference between their line of work and an athlete's is a lot of their talent relies on subjective notions of what is good, what will sell, and who will buy what. They are mostly emotional/social attributions of worth and value. An athlete, by contrast, does not have that advantage. Their worth and value is a very real, physical construct: their production on the field of play. If they aren't good enough, it will become painfully obvious, they will be cut from the team. No musician--especially one riding an insurmountable wave of hype, marketing, and PR--will get dropped from their label because they can't sing. They don't have to worry about their performance, because their success is not entirely dependant on that. Especially if their label has invested too much money in them.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

Once again $1.8 million per year average in the NHL, which is considered a minor league in the States and every other major league being even higher. I am missing who is being exploited here.

You haven't listened to a single god damn thing I've said, have you?

Originally Posted by theseed2005

$$$$GREED$$$$

You say that as if it's a bad thing. I'm not technically agreeing with you. I just don't think it's a problem that you think it is. Grow up, grandpa.

Of course, if you look at it holistically, the Players have only been greedy very recently. I'd say the last 10 years or so. The Owners have been greedy since 1878.

Yet you're just complaining about this now? Howabout we re-instigate sweatshops, move players back to playing for the love of the game, while being virtual slaves to the general managers of their teams. Then would you be happy? Would you start watching again then?

It's funny how you only watched sports when it was enveloped around the most vile system of abuse and extortion in the modern world, but stopped watching them when the system finally started becoming equal.

Originally Posted by theseed2005

Basketball soon to follow!

Basketball will never collapse because it doesn't depend solely on the product on the court. It has wisely spread the revenue into multiple avenues, thus spreading the risk as well (and making it effectively harmless). It doesn't actually depend on the sport anymore. I would say it depends on shoe sales.