Chris Townsend

There's been some talk about Scott Boras on the show tonight... How his clients inevitably leave small market teams; how he's basically a vicious, money-grubbing shark... And how some rare players — Jake Peavy being the example of choice — choose to forego his services in favor of a smaller market that, for whatever reason, makes them happy.

Boras is an interesting story that gets played to death every time there's a big free agent or hot draft pick to be signed — and it seems like he represents almost every one of them. There's a good reason for this...

Most guys in the major sports leagues want to make as much money as humanly possible. Period. It's their number one goal. They may try to convince you that they are after Championships, and they may well be to a certain extent. But the priority for almost every major athlete in this country is straight up cash money.

That's why there is a Boras type in every league: Drew Rosenhaus in the NFL... David Falk in the NBA's past... Not sure of anyone in hockey, but I'm sure he exists. And to be honest, most other agents aspire to be those guys; sure, there are agents who focus more on their clients' happiness than the size of their paycheck, but that is more the exception than the rule and it simply reflects player demand.

Of course there are the Jake Peavy's of the world... Guys who measure their success and happiness in less financial terms, and — perhaps more importantly — have the will power and clout to brush off a guy like Boras in favor of signing a less lucrative contract in a more enjoyable environment. But there are few major athletes who don't want to make every dollar they can, and far fewer who are willing to break rank from their peers and sign for less than market value simply because they want to live in a certain place or show loyalty to a franchise.

Given the relatively straightforward capitalist environment in sports, it's hard to blame Scott Boras for being what he is: a very effective — arguably the most effective — means to an end. That end being, of course, tons of dough (or clams, or whatever the kids are calling it these days).

I don't like Boras personally, and it can really suck when he represents a player on your favorite team who is becoming a free agent — I am reminded of this every time I see Joe Crede take the field in a Minnesots Twins uniform. But at the end of the day, it's hard not to respect someone who is so incredibly good at his job, and guys like Boras will always thrive as long as sports are as profitable as they are today.

I'm Kolsky, and I've said enough.

every cent that "vicious, money-grubbing sharks" like Boras get trickles UP from the fans' pockets . . . . if fans really care, all we have to do is take a stand . . . check out Tubesox Nation on the web for details

Chris,
1140 preempts your show for the goddam WNBA Monarchs game? Thats bullshit! Anybody who cares about the WNBA is at the game any way. What kind of ratings does that garbage pull?

Devin

Which reminds me of something I read recently:
Only kids think sex is the prime mover in human affairs. Then they grow up and find out it's money.

And this one:
Scott Boras Demands $35 Million To Rescue Drowning Child

Actually, that's:

"Cash rules everything around me (C.R.E.A.M.) Get the money, dollah dollah bill y'all."

And let me add that Wu Tang Clan ain't nothin' to f@&! with.

Here, here. People seem to think that team owners are benevolent philanthropists whose only goal is to build a championship team for their loyal fans. Get real people. Sports is high stakes big business. If Boras wasn't representing the players the owners would keep the money instead of the players. Boras, Rosenhaus, Falk, et al. get blamed because they're the figureheads of the new big-money sports leagues, but don't be fooled for a second, cash rules everything around us, cream in the money, dollah dollah bills ya'll!