True, if Reinsdorf and Paxson had been a bit more generous last summer, maybe Deng and Gordon would have had better seasons and the Bulls would have reached the playoffs again. Instead, the duo rejected the offers, wigged out over the Kobe Bryant trade rumors and never recovered in a dreadful season in which Scott Skiles and Jim Boylan were fired. That is an old story. - License Plate Owner STD WARF
Perhaps if Bennigan’s Grill & Tavern paid all of its employees 6 figure salaries, it would not have filed for bankruptcy.
After all, in the Jay Mariotti Universe of Mystifying Economics, it would only make sense to automatically presume that an employee not completely breaking the bank would deliberately tank on performance.
Luol Deng and Ben Gordan, like the rest of their teammates, experienced a disappointing season on the basketball court. However, none of their families starved, all the utility bills were paid, no issues with the mortgage, gas in the SUVs along with a nest egg attempting to grow in a down market.
Society has deemed participants in professional sports worthy of earning millions per year. Yes, those that qualify are among a select few. And no, it is not reasonable to be bitter towards those that obtain an athletic gift valued as such a high commodity. God bless those with such fortune.
But Mariotti’s insinuation that Deng and Gordon simply couldn’t perform last season because of not receiving yet more millions upon their contractually signed agreements with the Chicago Bulls is simply ludicrous. After all, these are professional athletes. And being professional, mandates one’s best effort at all times while on the job.
Today’s back page dreck is nothing more than the ramblings of a naive ignorant “man"-child, completely out of touch with the realities of today’s economic hardships facing Joe/Jane Average just trying to hang on to a job and cover the bills to support his and her family. And yet a near broke Joe/Jane Average, is really supposed to give a damn about Mariotti’s ridiculous assertion that Deng was so overwrought with grief over the Bulls previous “lowball” offering and coaching carousel that he deserved this type of raise.
Whatever Jay.
There isn’t a dilemma with any professional sports team in this town, that Jay Mariotti couldn’t fix by throwing more money at. And of course, it is always much, much easier and far more convenient when it involves other people’s finances resources such as Jerry Reinsdorf.
But then again, the biggest yappers about money are typically the cheapest.
The coiffed bobble head would be wise to remember that the next time he “forgets” to tip the poor tortured soul that must wax and pluck those eyebrows every week.
Word gets around.