So, Mrs. Mark Texeira prefers the suburbs of New York to Boston? Prefers Mrs. Johnny Damon to Shonda Shilling? Bergdorf Goodman to Patriots Place Mall? Okay fine! Yes, our millionaire sports stars have to endure a brighter spotlight here, and the stares, and the scrutiny. It’s tough at times, and a little unfair, but in the abscence of any real oversight by the toothless MLB-wrapped inside a coddled protected federal monopoly-one could also appreciate the fan organizations and zealotry that follows the Red Sox as healthy grassroots regulation/journalism of a quite conspicuous business. Plainly put, if anyone is going to make $10 million a year as a salary it should be held up for public debate. For the “Common-wealth” of all. Here’s wishing the Teixeira’s a Revolutionary Road-like existance wherever they set up their detached, fortified N.Y. estate. Huff!
The business of baseball looks more and more like a Ponzi scheme. Maybe John Henry has had enough of the absurdity. He organized a group of investors to buy the team for $700 million. They work around-the-clock to succeed in a very complex and competitive business, employ thousands of people, and in six years the team is worth $500 million more ($1.2 Billion). Perhaps Mr. Henry’s share is $200 Million. But then, Mr. Boras shows up with Teixeira, and wants one player to be guaranteed the equivalent before accomplishing anything at Fenway Park. Snap!
The Yankees have become wonderfully bad. Deep down, true Red Sox fans can enjoy their recent moves, which look a little scary-after all they are New Yorkers-but more likely the conspicuous contracts of “Slabbathia” & “A.J. Burn-out” will be sea anchors around the new stadium for years to come, along with Damon, Posada & Co. . “Son-of-a-Steinbrenner” is a multi-headed Evil Empire that sacrifices youth and fair play, on the altar of an impatient tyrant. But thanks…for playing to type.
Baseball economics remain inculcated from the dark recession fears stalking the American landscape. Dustin Pedroia & the Red Sox are lauded for his inexpensive $40 Million salary, while the CEO of the once-largest U.S. corporation, General Motors, is forced to shlep in a car from Michigan to Washington for his next public scolding. Meanwhile, the MLB is in Las Vegas of all places this week, and surely guarding against a Plaxico Burress-like incident that might quickly turn the economic worm against the business of baseball. It might suddenly seem ludicrous, for instance, that A-Rod makes the equivalent of the salary of the President of the United States, for just a three game set at Fenway.
Mercenary heroes... The Johnny Damon affair is a sad reminder of the dishonor and bad behavior that is the flip side of big money sports teams like the Red Sox. Yes, Boston won two World Series titles, ending an 86 year curse, but perhaps without the lasting honor that even the losers of ‘86, ‘75 & ‘68 retain. The Sox won with acquired big contract players like Damon, Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling & Josh Beckett, among others-fans of their departed teams were brokenhearted-(Oakland, Cleveland, Philadelphia/Arizona & Florida). But Damon & Ramirez would eventually sell-out the Red Sox just as the Sox had out-bid their previous teams and community of fans.
Damon was booed brutally for several years at Fenway Park when he played for the Yankees. Okay, he makes a lot of money and can take it, but guess what, he’s a human being after all, and now does not want to return to a previous “home”. In fact, nice guy Damon is badly booed everywhere but New York and Detroit.
It has all the hallmarks of a financial divorce. A lasting lifelong scar driven by individual pursuits that trump the honor of the common good. (0)