A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[Hitch]

To me he stands for greed, getting every last dollar, and escalating baseball salaries as high into the stratosphere as possible.

 

It's just my personal feelings, nothing more. And I fully realize that the owners are men of greed as well.

 

That's just the nature of the game though, isn't it? Players want the most money they can get. Agents too. Owners, the same. Fans want the best players they can get and they don't care about budgets and what not. Just the way it is.

 

I don't think it's fair to single out agents. Even though, they are the most, shall we say, slimey, of all the factions.

[a700hitter]

And yet you felt the need to get involved, strangely, backing up my point.

 

But, so be it.

When the exchange extends beyond a few posts, people (me included) need to be reminded of our policy.

[a700hitter]

That's just the nature of the game though, isn't it? Players want the most money they can get. Agents too. Owners, the same. Fans want the best players they can get and they don't care about budgets and what not. Just the way it is.

 

I don't think it's fair to single out agents. Even though, they are the most, shall we say, slimey, of all the factions.

Agents are a necessary evil. Otherwise, the players would be completely unarmed in negotiations. They are barely capable of making their own travel plans. Most cannot deal with financial issues.

[Elktonnick]

To me he stands for greed, getting every last dollar, and escalating baseball salaries as high into the stratosphere as possible.

 

It's just my personal feelings, nothing more. And I fully realize that the owners are men of greed as well.

 

So are the players.

[Hitch]

Agents are a necessary evil. Otherwise, the players would be completely unarmed in negotiations. They are barely capable of making their own travel plans. Most cannot deal with financial issues.

 

Agreed. And as I say, there's enough greed from all involved, for one group not to be singled out.

[Elktonnick]

That's just the nature of the game though, isn't it? Players want the most money they can get. Agents too. Owners, the same. Fans want the best players they can get and they don't care about budgets and what not. Just the way it is.

 

I don't think it's fair to single out agents. Even though, they are the most, shall we say, slimey, of all the factions.

 

They as a group are no more or less slimey than the players.

[Hitch]

They as a group are no more or less slimey than the players.

 

Not sure I agree with this. I know some soccer agents very, very, well. I've been in rooms watching them work. I've literally watched them ******** their clients. It's a different sport I know and in soccer agents get cuts from transfer fees which can be huge, but in all sports it is in their interests (in the main) to get players to move to where the money is. And in soccer, in Europe, there is a hell of a lot of illegal money exchanging hands to grease the wheels for moves. Aagin, different work structure to a point, but agents make their money from their players taking the absolute biggest deal.

 

In a system where there is opportunity for greed, there will always be greed. Simple as that. I think agents top players on that.

[moonslav59]

I think agents top players on that.

 

They have more practice at it.

[Hitch]

Yup in total agreement.

[Elktonnick]

Not sure I agree with this. I know some soccer agents very, very, well. I've been in rooms watching them work. I've literally watched them ******** their clients. It's a different sport I know and in soccer agents get cuts from transfer fees which can be huge, but in all sports it is in their interests (in the main) to get players to move to where the money is. And in soccer, in Europe, there is a hell of a lot of illegal money exchanging hands to grease the wheels for moves. Aagin, different work structure to a point, but agents make their money from their players taking the absolute biggest deal.

 

In a system where there is opportunity for greed, there will always be greed. Simple as that. I think agents top players on that.

Look at the number of ballpalyers who make the news because of their brushes with the law and compare that with the number of agents with police involvement.

[Bellhorn04]

Look at the number of ballpalyers who make the news because of their brushes with the law and compare that with the number of agents with police involvement.

 

The population of players is much larger.

[Hitch]

Yeah, I'm not sure that's a viable argument point.

[Elktonnick]

Yeah, I'm not sure that's a viable argument point.

 

The point is that agents are no more prone to "slimeyness" by reason of their profession than ballplayers. I confess many of the professional athletes that I have known personally and that I have had to deal with professionally weren't very reputable types whereas I have had a more positive experience with attorneys.

[cp176]

I think agents top players on that.

 

They have more practice at it.

 

Is this quantifiable Moon? (joke) lol -

Trying to determine who might be more slimey just seems like a way to pass the time away. My guess is that there is quite a bit of slime in a majority of people involved in all walks of life. Don't have to be rich to be slimey.

[Hitch]

The point is that agents are no more prone to "slimeyness" by reason of their profession than ballplayers. I confess many of the professional athletes that I have known personally and that I have had to deal with professionally weren't very reputable types whereas I have had a more positive experience with attorneys.

 

I mean from a profession POV, not a personal one. I think agents, by profession, need to be a bit more slippery and conniving. Within the profession. I'm not saying outside of the game they are better/less as a person than their athlete counterparts.

 

As a slightly connected aside: a guy who did the most to help me out in the last few years, was an agent - whom I would say I was friendly with, rather than him being a friend. He really went of his way to help me for no benefit to himself. I've been inside a room with that guy when he's working a transfer. It was not a pretty sight.

Edited January 5, 2018 by Hitch

[a700hitter]

Agreed. And as I say, there's enough greed from all involved, for one group not to be singled out.

Everyone wants a good deal. If all sides are competently represented there is equilibrium and a true market is established.

[Elktonnick]

I mean from a profession POV, not a personal one. I think agents, by profession, need to be a bit more slippery and conniving. Within the profession. I'm not saying outside of the game they are better/less as a person than their athlete counterparts.

 

As a slightly connected aside: a guy who did the most to help me out in the last few years, was an agent - whom I would say I was friendly with, rather than him being a friend. He really went of his way to help me for no benefit to himself. I've been inside a room with that guy when he's working a transfer. It was not a pretty sight.

 

Come on successful pro athletes have to be every bit as conniving as any agent or attorney in the context of the game. Had you forgotten about the Red Sox "signgate" this past summer or juiced bats or illegal substances on pitcher's caps or the entire steroid era.

[Hitch]

I don't know what you want me to say. I can only give you my opinion on what I know through experience and the agent world is pretty murky. I've said they are slightly slimier, but we shouldn't be singling people out. If you feel that's wrong, we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Elktonnick]

I don't know what you want me to say. I can only give you my opinion on what I know through experience and the agent world is pretty murky. I've said they are slightly slimier, but we shouldn't be singling people out. If you feel that's wrong, we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

All I am saying is that professional sports players are percentagely just as slimy as the agent-attorney profession. Truth be told once every one gets the stars out of their eyes that professional athletes are no better than the agents who represent them if not worse.

[Larry Cook]

I know a ton of pro athletes that have tremendous foundations set up and they do so many wonderful things through those foundations.

 

Agents on the other hand just cash checks and screw kids into leaving my school early regardless of what is in the best interest of the athlete!!!!!

[Elktonnick]

I know a ton of pro athletes that have tremendous foundations set up and they do so many wonderful things through those foundations.

 

Agents on the other hand just cash checks and screw kids into leaving my school early regardless of what is in the best interest of the athlete!!!!!

 

Some of the most slimey people have set up foundations too. Setting up a foundation is easy, actually funding it and not using it as a tax dodge is quite another. You'd be surprised at the administrative overhead at a number of foundations. Agents preform a service which is why they exist. To say agents just cash checks and screw kids is just a wild exaggeration and not reflective of reality.

[Bellhorn04]

Some of the most slimey people have set up foundations too. Setting up a foundation is easy, actually funding it and not using it as a tax dodge is quite another. You'd be surprised at the administrative overhead at a number of foundations. Agents preform a service which is why they exist. To say agents just cash checks and screw kids is just a wild exaggeration and not reflective of reality.

 

IMHO we shouldn't make sweeping generalizations about players, agents, executives, whoever. They're all individuals. Some are slimeballs and some are fine people.

[cp176]

IMHO we shouldn't make sweeping generalizations about players, agents, executives, whoever. They're all individuals. Some are slimeballs and some are fine people.

 

Absolutely the truth. People that we might think are true slimeballs exist in all walks of life. It certainly isn't an exclusive club for the rich and famous.

[notin]

Come on successful pro athletes have to be every bit as conniving as any agent or attorney in the context of the game. Had you forgotten about the Red Sox "signgate" this past summer or juiced bats or illegal substances on pitcher's caps or the entire steroid era.

 

And Apple watches..

[Elktonnick]

IMHO we shouldn't make sweeping generalizations about players, agents, executives, whoever. They're all individuals. Some are slimeballs and some are fine people.

 

I agree. There are bad agents just as there are bad ballplayers. If, however, you look at what Scott Boras has accomplished it is quite impressive. BTW he has set up a foundation as well.

[Bellhorn04]

I think there are a couple of reasons Boras is somewhat of a 'target'. One is that he's a figure of power in the baseball economy. Another is that he has celebrity - some of which he has deliberately sought out, with his arguably grandstanding public statements.

[notin]

IMHO we shouldn't make sweeping generalizations about players, agents, executives, whoever. They're all individuals. Some are slimeballs and some are fine people.

 

What about Norwegians? Can we still make sweeping generalizations about them?

[Kimmi]

What about Norwegians? Can we still make sweeping generalizations about them?

 

No, but I think that Canadians are fair game.

 

They are a crazy bunch!

[notin]

No, but I think that Canadians are fair game.

 

They are a crazy bunch!

 

Very true. I have issues with any nation that puts other country's leaders on their money...

[a700hitter]

It is a country made up of defeated loyalists to the crown, defeated French, draft dodgers and other assorted losers that can’t get American citizenship or access to our borders.

 

edit: in the inevitable case that this will offend the humorless, I just want to go on record that I was kidding. I have nothing against Canada or Canadians despite their annoying accent.

Edited January 6, 2018 by a700hitter