12/03/24
July 22, 2003
Turns out, it is all about the money: Of course this topic has come up before but I think deserves fresh discussion after Gilbert Arenas took an extra $5M (over six years) to sign with the Wizards instead of his hometown Clippers. Apparently he thinks the dollars will make up for Stackhouse not actually sharing the ball with him. We also have news that the Yankees will be the only baseball team required to cough up for the new luxury tax--it will cost them $10.8 million, which is more than the Expos total payroll IIRC. "No other team is above the threshold of $117 million."
posted by billsaysthis to culture at 11:38 AM - 5 comments
Hold on there bill, you're knocking Arenas for signing with the Wizards over the Clippers? If you're choosing between these two levels of NBA hell, you take the one that pays more money and at least pretends to be competitive. And while Arenas may be from LA I doubt he looks at the Clippers as his "hometown" team.
posted by kloeprich at 12:09 PM on July 22, 2003
well, the Clips did just match Brand's contract, almost made you think they cared. As for the Yankees, I'm starting to wonder about Cashman's excellence, considering that I still don't think this team has what it takes to win it all, even after all that money spent.
posted by Bernreuther at 01:08 PM on July 22, 2003
A monkey with a fistful of cash could pay big bucks for overvalued veteran ballplayers. Cashman is a decent GM, but he doesn't have to worry about budget when he's trying to swing a deal - which makes his job a lot easier than basically every other GM in the game. And I feel bad for Brand being stuck in the ClipJoint with little talent around him for the next what, 6-8 years or so?
posted by mbd1 at 02:03 PM on July 22, 2003
$10.8 million? That's it? I think Steinbrenner spent that yesterday on the rights to an entire town in Cuba's first born males. And he's tying their right hands behind their backs. Gotta go southpaw with the short porch in right.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:35 PM on July 22, 2003
If i'm a young basketball player I take the money, play hard for the length of my contract, and then go sign with the best team after my contract runs out so I can get my ring, then I retire with my millions, and laugh at the working stiffs who didn't have my talent.