From: niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent)
Subject: Re: Baseball - The 'ME' SPORT (was Re: Bobby Bonilla)
Originator: news@ernie.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:51:09 GMT

In <1992Apr9.143407.27025@linus.mitre.org> mmcevill@mitre.org (Michael A. McEvilley) writes:
>In article <1992Apr7.211952.12129@acsu.buffalo.edu> 
>v083qpkr@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Jeffrey C Toth) writes:

>> Well, I think he was a needed change for the Mets.  The problem with the 
>>entire organization is that all of them are individual minded.  Even in 
>>'86 they were  more individual minded but luckily had the talent to win. 

Exactly!  When you have tons more talent than everyone else, it really
doesn't matter whether you like your teammates or not.  

>Actually, the entire sport of baseball, not just the Mets, has gone from a 
>team oriented outlook, to a ME thing.  This point was brought out by Bob 
>Gibson and Tim McCarver during the opening METS broadcast from St Louis 
>Monday night.  Gibson has a new book coming out entitled "Stranger To The 
>Game", in which he talks about/compares todays play with his time.  When 

Oh, of course.  And let me guess.  He used to walk to school every day
10 miles in the snow.  Uphill both ways.

Back in the good ol' days, baseball players were unselfish and didn't
care about money.  And teenagers never used to get pregnant, and nobody
ever used drugs.

>you look around the league and see guys wanting renegotiations just 
>because so-and-so got a raise, it makes you wonder.  The classic example 

Have you heard of Joe Dimaggio?  The Yankee?  Pretty famous.  Ask about
when *he* held out for more money, because he felt they weren't paying
him enough.  Unfortunately, he was a slave; he had no choice.  No
arbitration, no free agency to look forward to.  Nothing.  He took what 
they gave him.

>is Canseco comparing himself to Wil Clark to justify his salary (a joke cause 
>Canseco just doesnt compare)!!!   The ripple effect from this attitude will go 

Huh?
Canseco Career: 270/348/518  122-46 SB   
Clark Career: 302/372/512

Canseco plays in a worse park.  And over the last 2 years, Canseco has been 
better.  And he's a year younger.  And he plays RF.

I'd say they certainly compare.  

>on until......what...???  Maybe pay per view for ALL TV broadcasts.   Where 
>will the money come from otherwise????  I say go salary cap like basketball.  
>Get the emphasis back on the team!  

1. Pay per view won't work, except for the all-star game and postseason.
No one would pay very much to watch games on TV.

2. There is no evidence that the tv contracts are really going to go
down.  Of *course* CBS is going to CLAIM they're losing money.  It's
called bargaining position.  If, for whatever reason, TV money comes
down, then they can get more money from the Yankees.  (REVENUE SHARING.)

3. Only Rickey Henderson wanted to renegotiate a contract he just
signed.  Others asked for an extension, but that really isn't the same
thing.  And what's wrong with that?  If everyone you worked with got a
raise, and you were the best worker there, are you going to tell us, with a 
straight face, that you wouldn't at least ASK for more money?

4. Basketball players accepted a salary cap because the league was in
financial trouble, and they PROVED it to the players by being honest and
showing them their books.  Major League baseball isn't.  We don't even have
any evidence that any TEAMS are in trouble.  Not until they open their books.

>Who in baseball today would reduce their salary for the better of the team (as 
>Magic and Isaiah did for their respective teams)???

Certainly not McMullen, or Smulyan, or Bush, or Jacobs, or the
Pittsburgh guy, any of the other owners, that's for sure.

>Michael

-- 
David M. Nieporent              |ALEast 92: 1.Baltimore 2.Boston 3.Toronto
niepornt@phoenix.princeton.edu  |4. Detroit 5.Milwaukee 6.NY 8.Cleveland
"Baseball stathead, and card-carrying member of the ACLU.  And proud of it."