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.
