Manny Ramirez Reminds Me of What’s Wrong with Sports Today
His antics on and off the field, his sometimes lackluster in-game performances, his apparent disregard for authority, his apathetic attitude toward perceived underachievments….on & on. In my honest opinion, these are NOT examples of what’s wrong with sports today.
We often hear from fans or members of the sports media that today’s athletes are selfish, arrogant and overpaid. The general consensus seems to be that today’s athletes have forgotten that baseball, basketball and football are games meant for fun. They’re supposed to enjoy themselves on the field, and us fans are supposed to enjoy watching. But, the truth is, the FANS have forgotten this. Yes, I said it. Fans are what’s wrong with sports, not the athletes!
I Love Manny Ramirez!
Why? Because he seems to be the only guy who remembers why he plays the game. He enjoys himself visibly. There’s no doubt about that. He refuses to make a big deal out of whatever happens on the baseball field. If he makes an error in the outfield (which is a recurring, comical event), he shrugs it off with a smile. Of course, this angers his teammates, fans and sports writers.
Sports is a Business
Of course, Ramirez and the rest of the league aren’t JUST playing to have fun. Sports is a business, and these guys are playing for their fair share…or unfair depending on your perspective. Ramirez’s recent exit from the Boston Red Sox is a sad reminder of that fact. Basically, he wanted more money from them than they were willing to pay. His response was to basically make life unpleasant for all involved until the organization was forced to trade him to another team. He went on to the LA Dodgers, and have sparked that club and led them past the Cubs and into the National League Divisional Series.
But These Athletes are Paid Millions….
The rising salaries for today’s athletes are always a sticking point for fans and the media. The reasoning being that they’re paid so much money that they should be eternally grateful and generous. They should work their asses of season in and season out. They should show humility and class when successful, and be contrite and apologetic when they fail. They are, after all, making SOO much money, right? True, but that too is the fault of the fans. We’re the one’s fattening their pockets by paying outrageous price for game tickets, parking, souvenirs and mediocre stadium food. When our favorite team shows sustained success and raises ticket prices on us, we happily oblige. And when they fail, we DEMAND someone is held accountable. We call for the firing of head coaches, front office management, players, you name it (perhaps we should direct that energy and passion toward our government officials, but that’s another story for another time).
It’s Entertainment People!
Purchase your tickets, enjoy the game, cheer for your team…then go home. That’s it. Hell, STAY home if you don’t want to pay for the tickets. That’s even better. But make sure you remember what the games are here for. They’re entertainment and meant for enjoyment. If you’re not enjoying the experience, do something else with your time.
OR
Next time you purchase a movie ticket and are disappointed by what you see on the silver screen, dial up Entertainment Weekly or People Magazine and demand that someone get fired for it. Call your local radio talk show and rant about how you wasted your hard earned dollars and deserve a better product. Sure, it sounds absurd when you look at it this way, right? But at least you’d be consistent.
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