OPINION/COMMENTARY
Since the advent of free agency in sports, the treatment of athletes has changed from revered and respected to overvalued and too closely treated like a commodity. While Billy Beane changed the way that teams managed their players and the value of contracts, he also changed the way that teams spent their money on athletes that were seemingly at the top of their games. Teams seeking to the best, began spending more to put those smaller market teams in the rear view even more than they already had been (salary-wise).
Players like Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols are viewed as business partners to be paid in order to bring the franchises value to an all-time level. Franchises aren't looking so much for an identity, rather they are trying to be identified by trophies/titles.
In the 1960s and 70s, athletes were paid because they brought a level of respect to a franchise or because they were respected by the franchise. Not because they solely brought in titles. The identity of a team was based off of its athletes, not its front office.
The relationship between franchise and athlete used to be based on a mutual respect. Now, athletes rush off to attain the largest possible contract and franchises pay athletes to bring in the largest possible win total. While winning is the measuring stick for a championship franchise, the result has been an athlete more driven by the amount of zeroes on a check rather than their positive impact on the game and its fans.
Billy Beane's model of attaining athletes by statistical output has had a similar impact on sports as free agency did. Franchises trying to be more efficient coupled with other franchises wanting to spend more in order to win, has left the average to good athlete undervalued and under appreciated. Teams either want to buy the best or save the most.
Can teams have both?
Franchises should seek to do both, while also keeping prices down so that fans of all economical backgrounds can enjoy the games that are played. Players should be shown respect for their value to the culture of a team. Wins and loses do not solely identify any one franchise.
QUESTION: With that in mind, how was the treatment of Wayne Gretzky similar to the ideas presented above? Do you think that athletes that are role players or minimally paid are treated with respect? USE EXAMPLES. RESPOND TO YOUR PEERS. WORTH 10 POINTS!
Wayne Gretzky is called the "great one" because he is regarded as the best hockey player in the history of the NHL. Wayne got traded from the Edmonton Oilers to Las Angeles because of money. He was satisfied with the amount of championships won in Edmonton, and went to the place with the money. I feel that the role players of the team go unnoticed to the average fan. The Bulls during their glory years had a great star player. But they were so good because of the people surrounding Jordan and Pippen.
ReplyDeleteI think Wayne got mistreated by the owner of the Oilers, he had done so much with that Oilers and gotten them so much. Yes he was getting paid more, and the Oilers were getting a lot of good choices with offering Gretzky. But if i was the owner of the Oilers and saw Wayne crying at the conference i would have called it off right there. This is where i disagree with Gorecki, I feel Gretzky wanted to stay with the oilers for the rest of his career and the owner traded him away to try and make his team better and get a quick buck. I feel like the "great one" was mistreated and that he did not want to go anywhere else but the Oilers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danny I think Wayne was mistreated by the oilers, he made there team significant in the 80's and they traded him away like he was nothing. Wayne clearly didn't want to leave and they should of at least respected that and not just trade him without talking to him. But they thought money was more important than a person which is just wrong.
ReplyDeleteWayne was a man who had everything going for him. He was amazing at hockey, was getting married, and a city who loved him, What more could he have asked for. Even though he did not want to leave the oilers, he was forced too, it was clear he was not happy about it, but he did it thinking it was better for his career, but it wasn't.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danny that Wayne Gretzky was mistreated by the owner of Oilers. He had won four Championships for the Oilers and could have won more; however, the Oilers traded him for money and drafting picks. Also Wayne was crying when he left the Oilers. Because of these factors I think Oilers mistreated him especially his feelings.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Danny, when he said that Gretzky was mistreated by the owner of the Oilers. Gretzky was not only the face of the franchise, but of Edmonton, its-self. Gretzky was traded for $15 million and a couple of drafts picks. The owner did not realize that Gretzky was so heartfelt in wanting to stay in Edmonton, that he would cry on TV. He traded Canada's biggest star in hopes to improve his team in the long run. In that regard, Gretzky was most definitely mistreated.
ReplyDeleteI agree with basically everybody that Greyzky was mistreated by the Oilers. He was there team, hell he was hockey. I think the way Gretzky was treated by the Oilers set the precedent for the treatment of athletes today. They sent away the best player in the league while they could still get something for him, they knew his contract was expiring soon and that he would want more money that they didn't wanna pay, so they shipped him off. The same thing happens today, look what's happening in Orlando, there are so Manu rumors about them trading away Howard, the face of their franchise, while they can still get something for him, like the Oilers did.
ReplyDeleteI agreee with Browere, and pretty much everyone else that Gretzky was definitely mistreated. He clearly was upset about leaving and truly loved Edmonton. In my opinion, the owner cared about his franchise, not Gretzky in particular. If he really did care about Wayne, he would have talked to him right away about how he feels about his future, before he even thought about other owners' offers for Gretzky. If he cared for Edmonton, he would have never traded the face of the Oilers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danny Gretzky got mistreated they wanted to give away the best hockey player in the world for money and a few draft picks. Gretzky CRIED on national tv because he didnt want to leave the oilers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danny and everybody else in that Wayne was mistreated by the Oilers. I think Gretzky was stupid that thinking going to LA would be better for him and i dont get why he agreed to leaving the Oilers where he had EVRERYTHING!
ReplyDeleteGretzky seemed to set the precedent for the way players are treated by their teams, like Peter said. If the Oilers weren't so interested in money they could have kept the best player ever and won up to four more Stanley Cups. But instead, the Oilers went with the money, Gretzky found out, and wanted out of Edmonton immediately.
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