pan6467

I look at Ken Griffey Jr. for this answer. He could have gone many other places for far more money but he chose to go to his home town team, Cincy. He worked a deal that wouldn't bankrupt them and had he not had bad hammys, he would have truly been great there. He wanted to be where he was comfortable and bring pride to his hometown, to me that is a great man, not just an athlete.

Then I look at a Manny Ramirez or an A Rod. They went out only for the money. In the process A Rod bankrupted Texas and played only for himself. It must be a miserable feeling to have fans and teammates hate you, your money will never buy you their love. Manny once he left Cleveland for more money has never been Manny, he has constantly changed himself and has become a selfish nutjob, who again fans have come to hate.

What exactly is a few more million going to buy you? Jr was able to keep his smile and who he was injuries aside he was home. Manny and A Rod I don't think truly smile anymore nor have in a very long time. A Rod's money never bought him a ring. Jim Thome's money never bought him a better back or his reputation as a nice guy back. Manny's money never bought him sanity or the happiness he had in Cleveland.

If I were a player, I'd play for my smile. A few more million will never buy a true smile. I'd be willing to take lower pay so that my team would be able to pay enough out to be competitive and a contender. With the right investments, endorsements and so on, I wouldn't have to worry.

And this whole thing, "well if you are the best why not be paid the best".... is bullshit. A Rod in Texas looked like a greedy bastard as his team went nearly broke and never came out of the cellar.

In the end you play for pride, rings and championships not the money. I can almost guarantee after he retires, A Rod is going to wish he had had a world series ring and the love of the fans more than that couple extra million.

One thing about greed, when you live by it, in the end you never know who your true friends are, who loves you for just you and because you were out for all you could get, you believe everyone else to be also. It is a horrible, sad life greed..... and that I know first hand.
-----Added 12/8/2008 at 04 : 08 : 04-----
Here ya go a great example..... Lebron James, he's got 2 years on his contract with Cleveland and all he talks about is leaving for more money.... NOT ABOUT FUCKING WINNING.... He doesn't say, "I want to show the world I can bring championships home, I'll worry about my contract when it's up."

That is LOSER mentality.

Now when Tiger came in, he didn't say, "I want to make the most of any fucking player ever", he said, "I'm going to prove I am the best golfer ever, I want to beat Nicklaus' records."

How much is enough? When do the fans step up and say enough?

Look at Brian Giles he stayed true, Cleveland offered better money... he said "No, I love San Diego, my family is here, I grew up here....." Traded to Bosux... "Naw, I want to stay here with my home team and family, even though I can make 2 million more."

THAT'S A FUCKING MAN. THAT'S A MAN TRUE TO HIMSELF...... FUCK YOU LEBRON.... FUCK YOU MANNY, THOME, AROD, AND ALL YOU OTHER GREEDY FUCKS THAT RUIN THE GAME. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH???????

And when noone can afford the tickets to watch your games, the teams have to rape the networks for more money until the games can only be shown on pay per views and the kids YOU once were can't see you play like you saw Puckett, Molitor, and so on play will you be happy with your extra million or two???????

FUCK YOU.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"