From: niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent)
Subject: Re: More on Bond's Antics.
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 06:38:35 GMT

In article <ljcf33INNopg@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> gfb@debs.Eng.Sun.COM (Gary Brown - TechnicaL WriteR - SunConnect) writes:
>In article <1gtilkINNdd9@transfer.stratus.com>, jmann@vineland.pubs.stratus.com (Jim Mann) writes:
>> In article <BzH4MC.5LL@ns1.nodak.edu> sivaram@plains.NoDak.edu (The Purple Bleeder ) writes:

>> > One of the MLB official who travelled to Loisville for the
>> > winter meetings, was on the same flight as his Royal
>> > Highness, Mr Barry-Greedy-Bonds.

>> > According to the official, Bonds was loud and rude on the
>> > plane and constantly complaining loud as to how the
>> > Yankees *insulted* him with their 5 yr $36 Million offer he
>> > had turned down a few days earlier (source S-I).

>> > Talk of insults...what about people struggling on the streets
>> > in this country for getting a decent meal.. Mr Bonds should
>> > be knowing that.

>> In one sense I agree with you.  But let's change the scenario 
>> a bit.  Let's say you are a computer programmer working for
>> company X.  The average computer programmers of your caliber 
>> usually makes, say, $65,000 per year.  Some programmers who are less 
>> productive than you are now making $55,000 a year.  You have been 
>> told by your peers you are one of the best. All objective analysis 
>> shows you are far better than average.  Now, your company 
>> comes along and says: as a salary this year, we'd like to give you $50,000. 

>> What's your reaction.  Remember, there are people living on 
>> the street to whom $50,000 would be a small fortune.  But
>> wouldn't you still feel insulted. It's not just the 
>> gross amount of money (and some of these players do make
>> a gross amount).  It's how much someone values you. If they
>> say you're great, but want to pay you below average for
>> what you can do, you'll feel insulted, no matter what the absolute amount.

>I think there is BIG difference between what you describe above and 
>what had "insulted" Mr. Bonds!  If you average out the Yankees $36 million
>offer over 5 years, that comes to roughly $7.2 million per year!!!!!!
>Let me repeat that number, $7.2 million PER YEAR!  Anyone that
>would have the gall to be insulted by such an offer is a complete
>AS*HOLE, IMHO!!!  Now we have two of these whining, over-paid, prima donnas
>in the Bay Area!  The other, in my opinion, is Rickey Henderson, in case
>someone was wondering.

But they're *worth* that much.  Why shouldn't someone be insulted by
being offered less than they're worth?  Worth is *not* determined by how
much *you* think is reasonable.  It's determined by what the market will
bear.

Tom Cruise got $12.5 million + a percentage of the profits, for filming
A Few Good Men.

Jack Nicholson got $500,000 A DAY for 2 weeks work, giving him $5
million for the same movie.

Why is it NOT insulting to tell Bonds, "Look, we're going to make $10
million off you, but we're only giving you $7 million."

Incidentally, it wasn't the average amount of the contract he was
complaining about.  It was the length.  He wanted that extra year.  And,
obviously, the Giants felt that he *was* worth it.

>If only someone would insult me the way the Yankees insulted Mr. Bonds!!

I hate to put it this way, but you aren't worth $7.2 million.  

Furthermore, as Jim Mann said above, WHATEVER you're getting paid for
whatever job *you* do is absurdly high compared to a person living in Somalia
right now.   Does that make you an "overpaid prima-donna"?

-- 
David M. Nieporent   | Is it too early to start making predictions for 1993?
niepornt@phoenix.    | Probably, but that never stopped me before.
   princeton.edu     | ALE: Baltimore ALW: Chicago NLE: Montreal NLW: Atlanta
Baltimore Orioles 93 | AL MVP: Cal Ripken  AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball