FanNation

      "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."

Professional team sports and the leagues that were formed to legislate them, have been undone by a misconception called "free agency".  The concept being that professional athletes are 'laborers' as the rest of us are.   ?!?!?!?  When was the last time YOU were offered a million dollars by your boss or one of his competitors?  As far as that goes, when were you offered more money than you'll ever see for 'playing a game'?

I understand that Curt Flood didn't want to move to Philadelphia .... Who can blame him?  However, that was part of the contract he signed for receiving money for playing a game, which most of us would be thrilled to do, even for a day!

The concept that athletes are entitled to representation by a "labor union" (or 'labour union', depending on location) is more ludicrous than Mel Brooks' "SPACEBALLS".  I mean, come on, get REAL!  How can you equate running the bases to unloading a truck, catching a pass to stocking shelves, nailing a 3 point basket to construction, or firing a puck to repaving a
street?  The simple truth is: it doesn't equate ... it never has and it never will.

Professional athletes are privy to a rare and special privilege and it's unfortunate that lawyers were allowed to manipulate the laws of the land in such a manner as to give the athletes the appearance of being the same as the fans who buy the tickets.  It's not quite as bad as a criminal being set free because he didn't hear the words of miranda, but it's in the same direction.

The guys who collect splinters watching their more talented teammates PLAY even gets millions for the privilege of having one of the best seats in the house!  A-Rod earns $25 million a year ... EARNS ??? He's PLAYING a game!!!

The worst aspect of it that all of us have been sheep accepting this bovine excrement and have watched the wolves feast.  So what if tickets cost ten times what they used to? So what if your neighbor can't afford to go the the stadium? (he can watch on TV)  So what if immature young athletes make more money than they know what to do with and start believing that they're above the law.  So what if small town teams with proud traditions can't compete with the major-market cities? So what if some teams fold or move away from the fans who supported them for years?

So what .... it's only sports .... it's only ludicrous.