Dragging MJ Through the Mud

By: Chicago Sports Review

In his Monday column, where he admonishes Michael Jordan for gambling, saying that it may unalterably taint the Airness’ legacy, the Sun-Times Jay Mariotti says that according to former Wizards teammate Richard Hamilton, “…Jordan refused to leave the court until he had broken even in their regular competition of halfcourt heaves, regardless if he was down as much as a reported $40,000.”

Yet in the preceding paragraph, Mariotti states that “$100,000 in (Jordan’s) hand is the common man’s equivalent of $100.”

So where’s the story?

According to the simple NBA exchange rate that Mariotti has laid out, Jordan never wagered more than $40 on a halfcourt heave. Even the cheapest of society’s laborers, journalists, have been known to wager that kind of money in a rich game of poker.

Jordan didn’t train or play by the same standards on the court. He always earned his astronomical wages. As far as we know, however, he’s always played by the same rules, regardless of the stakes. So why go digging for controversy?

If this isn’t a case of a columnist searching an old battlefield for one more wounded soldier to shoot while he’s down, it’s hard to say what is. Jordan has already been embroiled in a gambling story or two in the past with far greater fanfare than this witch hunt. None have or will come close to tainting his legacy.

There are other targets worthy of a low blow. Further, the NBA has done virtually nothing to disassociate itself from gambling. This week, rumblings of a league All-Star game that could be played in Vegas weren’t shot down publicly. So perhaps go after the load bearing walls of this fortress before you start chipping at the shiny exterior.

Then again, we know what draws more attention.

Motorcycle Diaries

When will professional athletes learn that motorcycles and seven-figure salaries don’t mix well?

Yesterday, Kellen Winslow Jr. (aka: Virtual Soldier) became the latest in a line of athletes to fall off a motorcycle and leave no better for wear.

It was just over two years ago now that former Dukie and Chicago Bull future star Jayson Williams took a horrible spill on Chicago’s North side, nearly costing him his leg and his life, and likely ending any hope of a professional career.

Winslow is said to have had some internal injuries, but was extremely evasive about injuries to his right knee and shoulder. (Gee, wonder if his contract prohibited such antics).

Some people call this unfair, and believe that just because their bodies are their instruments, athletes shouldn’t be held to a different standard, and should be able to live their own two-wheeled lives as they want to. Unfortunately, athletes are paid remarkably well for their physical abilities, and such behavior shouldn’t be tolerated, with such language to that effect built into all deals.

Should NASA be upset if one of its top rocket scientists has a glue-sniffing agenda? I think so.

While spending a summer with an ABC affiliate out West some time back, I had the opportunity to spend time at the Seahawks training camp in Eastern Washington interviewing players and shooting film. All-pro linebacker Chad Brown had the particular habit of traversing the campus on a BMX bike, and occasionally delved into skateboarding. Mike Holmgren seemed to think this was mildly funny, but would cringe when Brown flew by on whatever he was riding. Perhaps, “nothing motorized” should be the standard language in any contract when referring to recreational vehicles.

Then again, Brown is also a collector and handler of rare snakes. Large ones.

Maybe some can handle danger, and some can’t.

Or maybe this is merely further evidence that Winslow should drop his “soldier” delusions once and for all.

Addition by Subtraction?

While it’s far too early to draw any spiteful conclusions (remember baseball is only in the NFL equivalent of Week 3) it’s always fun to take a look at the standings based on expenditures.

Currently, of the top five spenders in the leagues, only the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, United States, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, hold a first place lead, and they are the fourth highest spending team, with a mere team load of $97,725,322.

The New York Yankees are paying $208,306,817 for their current 11-15 record, and cling to 4th place in the AL East. Boston is shelling out $123,505,125 as they hover just above .500. The Pedronified and Beltranized New York Mets are the only other team over the 100 mill threshold, at a shabby $101,305,821. So far, 4th place in the loaded NL East is their prize. The 5th highest spender, Philly, sits booing incredulouly in last place.

In fact, of the top ten teams in spending this year, only St. Louis and the Angels maintain first place in their respective divisions. Thanks to the Cubs’ woes, and an offense-deficient Astros club, the Cardinals seem like a lock to hold onto their lead in the NL Central. The Angels may have a tougher time in the AL West, a division with great balance.

Aside from the gag-inducing fact that this early, pre-conceived notion of parity in baseball should largely be credited to (gulp) Bud Selig and his belief in limited revenue sharing and a luxury tax on high spenders, (to the tune of 30 million for King George this year) this really is a good thing for the game.

Other sports have sold their souls to a socialist sporting view, with hard salary caps in place to keep all spending equal, and to stymie any capitalistic instincts. The result has been (despite the Patriot show) a display of parity that has made the notion of a dynasty in the traditional sense all but impossible outside of basketball, where the star power of an individual player has a much greater effect on a roster.

This isn’t to say this contrived parity is wrong. The NBA and NFL are economically healthful as ever. But MLB’s system does seem to be working, and deserves more time in the incubation phase. Quite simply, the health of the game is improving, from both these financial measures and through the loss of (ahem) chemical enhancements.

The NHL might be wise to take notice. Either that or just do the world a favor and kill off 8 to 12 franchises.

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