Jeff's Commentary - 7/6 - PT Barnum would have loved the NBA today

PT Barnum would have loved watching what is going on in the NBA right now and how little respect the players have for the game or the fans. As he is famously quoted, “There is a sucker born every minute” and most of them today are NBA fans who loyally line up every year paying outrageous prices for tickets to their favorite team. Only this Summer, it’s the Summer of glut and greed with the free agent players in the league.

I’m so tired of watching and hearing about the LeBron James sweepstakes. Six cities throwing their character away to get a chance to have King LeBron reside in their version of what was once a fun game. Isn’t this the guy who completely gave up in the last two playoff games because he was “pouting” over Cleveland’s chances of winning? For that he will be rewarded with a gazillion dollars.

Then there is the case of Amare Stoudemire. I guess most of you did not see his lack of any form of leadership in Games 1, 2, and 6 of the playoffs against the Lakers. If there was any question of the difference between star and superstar, all you had to do was see the difference in the play of Kobe and Amare. Kobe is worth every penny he makes in LA. For Amare, the fact that the coaches had to find a way to motivate him after the second game in LA was mind-blowing. For that, New York rewards him with 120 million. Boy the fans there are going to love Amare’s attitude!

Then there is Joe Johnsons signing for 119 million. At least he showed some loyalty to Atlanta. And we are waiting for D Wade to have some out of this planet signing number this week as well.

I don’t know about you, but everywhere I look, people and businesses are struggling. Unemployment is 9.5% but probably more like 17% in real numbers. And we are to feel sorry for these pampered NBA “stars”. I can’t bring myself around to being a “fan” anymore. The NBA owners need to learn a lesson and that is the fans are the reason they stay in business. And the fans getting to point where we cringe at these excessive paychecks is enough to stay away. Maybe with a few bankruptcies or poor attendance, the owners will change from offering these crazy salaries to bringing these gladiators back down to earth. In the big scheme of what’s important and what matters, it’s your faith, your family, your friends, and your business. I don’t see cheering for guys making one hundred million dollars any part of that equation above anymore.

And for those of you who will still pay the price to see these overpriced and under achieving athletes, I get back to PT Barnum and his famous saying that “there is a sucker born every minute.”

Jeff