I’m sitting at home watching the TNT Playoff broadcast with a few friends when Chris Webber pops on the screen as a broadcaster. That’s when all hell broke loose. One of my friends, a die-hard Sixers’ fan, begins to curse C Webb like he stole something. He vows to never forgive Webber for his dismal performance during his two years with the Sixers. He argued that the Sixers paid him to be the Chris Webber from Sacramento and he simply didn’t come to play. To make matters worse, the team was forced to pay him a $25 million dollar buyout after he competed in just 18 of 35 games in the 2006-2007 season. What makes my friend even more upset is that his squad is experiencing the same trouble with Elton Brand, who has missed most of this season after signing an $80 million contract with the Sixers.
As a Sixers’ fan myself, I would have been on his side except for one thing. It’s not these guys’ fault! They were each up there in age, recovering from major injuries that forced them to miss a substantial amount of time, yet the Sixers decide to pay them like they are 24 year old.
The Sixers paid for the Sacramento Chris Webber, knowing that the player no longer existed. He had microfracture surgery on his knee in 2003 and struggled with it ever since. Even in his last season with the Kings it was evident that he was no longer the explosive player who would fill the lanes on a fast break. Honestly, I don’t know what more they could have possibly wanted from the guy then what he did when he got here. He was the second leading scorer on the playoff bound team his first year in Philly. In his second season on the squad, he hobbled his way to 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. The last Sixer to do it before him was Armen Gilliam in 1992 and don’t hold your breath waiting for Sam Dalembert to give you similar numbers.
Elton Brand is an even better story. Yes Elton Brand is one of only four active players to average 20 and 10 for his career, but he is the only one without a championship ring. In fact, he only made the playoffs once in his career. That being said, it is easy to put up numbers when you are on a bad team. Guys do not waste their time guarding you closely because they know their team is going to come away with the W. (Just ask Kevin Durant) How can you spend $80 million on a veteran who has never lead his team anywhere? How can you spend $80 million on a guy who played just 8 games in the previous season?
I don’t blame Chris Webber, Elton Brand, or any other run down vet who doesn’t perform for their newly acquired team. I blame the coaching staff, the owners, and the scouts. It’s the job of these individuals to analyze players and determine whether or not they are worth the money.
It seems to me like fans expect these players to turn down the cash because they know they are hurt. That’s just insane to me. If you deliver mail for a law firm at $10.00 an hour and the boss of the company says I want to promote you to firm partner at $200,000 a year are you going to say, “Sorry sir. I am not qualified for this position. Perhaps you should choose Tom from accounting. I’ll just keep pushing this mail cart.” Of course not! You are going to take the money and do the best that you can do, despite the fact that your best is far below the boss’s expectations. Why do we expect anything different when it comes to athletes getting paid?
The next time one of your friends goes off on a player, who was a bust for your hometown team, you should set him straight. Don’t blame the seven footer who can’t dunk. Blame the guy who scouted him for a year and watched him jump like his feet was stuck in cement. Then blame the owner that signed the $80 million contract. Then give a piece of your mind to the coach that made him a starter.
It really is hard to compare pro sports with a regular 9 to 5 jobs but I get your point to an extent.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Kings signed C Webb to his big deal, he was a provem commodity that played a major role in turning around that franchise, and was still playing at an Allstar level. Unfortunately, knee injuries took away some of his explosiveness and curtailed his career some.
The Sixers signed Brand even though he came off an injury because he didnt have a history of injuries, they needed a low post presence, and he looked like the final piece to their teams puzzle. Brands playoff record may have had more to do with the fact that he played on the Bulls when MJ retired (they were HORRIBLE and really YOUNG for about 5 years straight) and then on the Clippers (they are always bad). To his credit, he actually turned around the Clippers and led them to their first winning season and playoff berth in nearly two decades.
Guys get old. Sports that had guaranteed contracts are like musical chairs. You just have to hope that you have a high priced big ticket player on your team during his prime opposed to when he is past his prime.
Teams that have bad management and are trying to get good, teams with average management that are trying to make a splash with a big name (no matter what he has left in the tank), and teams that have management that are on the hot seat and may soon lose their jobs, normally get the older name players when they are on the down part of their careers. For instance, the Sixers traded for Glen Robinson, Chris Webber, and Toni Kukoc.
You just have to hope that your city has a good management like the Spurs for example, who signed former All Star and high priced shooting guard Michael Finley to a modest contract that matched his play. Of course, in true good team fashion, Finley played a major role in the Spurs winning their last most recent championship. Bad teams have mad management that make bad moves because of pressure from their fans (because of a history of losing) and fear of losing their jobs. Good teams worry about winning, the long term future of the franchise, have a plan, and dont cut corners.