In today’s sports climate, the media spends a great deal of time discussing how today’s athletes are over paid, coddled malcontents. Locker room cancers who show no loyalty to the teams who’ve fattened their bank accounts and little regard for the fans who shell out tons of money to support the athlete.
Last week a story broke about a unique situation with the Portland Trailblazers and their former Small Forward Darius Miles. D Miles injured his knee, had surgery (and a bunch of off court situations) that ultimately led to him being deemed medically unable to play a was subsequently waived. The remainder of his 6 year 48 million dollar deal was to be paid by insurance and removed from the Blazers payroll. Fast forward to now. Darius continued to rehab his knee in order to attempt a come back. The catch 22 for the blazers was that if he successfully made a return to the court, Portland would be back on the hook for the $18 million left on his contract.
:::Pause::: I just want you to stop and think about all the things $18 million could do for ME! Shoes, clothes, bags, property diversified investment portfolios… YES!
D Miles signed with Boston in pre season but was waived, he played in 6 pre season games. In December, The Memphis Grizzlies picked him but waived him prior to the Jan. 10th deadline for all contracts to be guaranteed for the remainder of the season. He appeared in 2 games for them and also served a 10 game suspension for violating the leagues anti drug policy (for taking a weight loss drug banned. NBA’ers worry about weight too) 10 games was the magic number for D Miles contract to go BACK on the Blazers books. as of last week, Darius was at 8. So what do the Blazers do, they issue a memo to the 29 other teams threatening them with litigation if they sign Darius with the sole intent on destroying the Blazers cap space.
Stop…
Are they INSANE! Let’s start of with how can the prove that a team doesn’t have a legit interest in D Miles. What right do they have to try to block his opportunity to pursue his career. And then to be so brazen as to send out e threats to the other league GM’s and owners. The audacity. As much as said about athletes behaviors, the front office is oft times just as out of line. Where is their professionalism. Isn’t this another example of the cost of doing business? Or is that thought process only valid when the organization is speaking out about a transaction made that isn’t in the players best interest. Even LeBron James fell victim to this a few months ago when he made the statement that in 2010 when he’s a free agent, he’ll make the best decision for him and his family. When it comes to the business of sports, why is it disloyal for the athlete to look out for his best interest but “business” when a team looks out for theirs.