Fucking Announcers

[Bored 0]

tradition of the Yankees "Stealing" the A's greats. (....) hell, even Canseco, albeit indirectly, and after he had long ceased to be "great" but still

 

Funny, I thought we were trying to keep him away from the Sox. Fucking with Oakland wasn't exactly high on the list of probable reasons for his signing.

Ummm the Red Sox weren't in the Giambi sweepstakes to my knowledge. The only other team that showed interest was the Cardinals.

 

I'd say Giambi hitting a game winning homerun late in the 2001 season to sweep the Yankees is what peeked George's interest. Also considering how close the A's did come to beating the Yankees for two years in a row (and probably would have if his fat fuck brother knew how to slide...FUCK YOU JEREMY!) I'd say yes it was to fuck with Oakland...and the Red Sox indirectly I'm sure.

[Rendclaw 0]

99.9% of everything George does is to put the Red Sox over a barrel, and its been that way for years.

[Guest BobbyWhioux]

Bobby, puh-leeze. If someone offered you a boatload of money to endorse a product that you even marginally believed in, like deodorant, you would take the money too.

 

I love these sports fans that think doing endorsements is selling out. The companies want someone with image recognition and credibility (although its WAY more the former than the latter), to sell their product, and the athletes are setting up for their retirements and ensuring a good life for their families. Its doing the best with what you have.

 

All things considered, Michael Jordan is the ultimate sellout because of what he did for Nike and Gatorade, and to a much lesser extent, McDonalds, according to your feelings on the matter.

Nope, wrong, sorry, I'm not for sale.

 

You do a commercial, there's a price on your head. Everything you say becomes tainted and suspect. Your opinion is for sale. Gifford, in Redhawk's example, had his opinion purchased, same as any congressman beholden to special interest lobbyists.

 

And, yes, Michael Jordan *IS* the ultimate whore. Remember the 92 olympics? Mr. Nike spokesman himming and hawing over wearing Reebok gear on the medal stand? It should have been a non-issue. But hey, when you sign a part of your soul away...there you are.

 

What does Jordan *DO* with all that money, anyway? [Note: This is an honest question. I really don't know. Mitigating circumstances MAY apply, read on...]

 

NOW, back on topic...

 

Getting back to the Giambi case, he's making 120 million bucks from the Yankees over the next 5 or 6 years or whatever it is. That should be MORE THAN ENOUGH for any sane human being to live a comfortable life, AND set up their retirement and provide for their family. If you can't give your family a good life on that, you're an idiot.

 

There are two [2] acceptable mitigating circumstances to the commerical whore rule:

 

1) You TRULY need the money/exposure (i.e. hungry young unknown actor who needs any kind of exposure to get their name/face out there. This does not apply to superstar athletes.)

 

2) You do something socially responsible with all that money. (Manute Bol, for example, shamelessly embarrasses himself for money, which he uses to rebuild his native Sudan, which is in the shitter in more ways than one.) One need not go that far necessarily, but one does have to use that money to make a real difference. And not just an "ooh, look at me, I'm throwing a bit of my vast wads of cash at a random charity, ain't I great?"

 

So unless that deoderant deal is helping finance AIDS research or something...

[Fökai 0]

Getting back to the Giambi case, he's making 120 million bucks from the Yankees over the next 5 or 6 years or whatever it is. That should be MORE THAN ENOUGH for any sane human being to live a comfortable life, AND set up their retirement and provide for their family. If you can't give your family a good life on that, you're an idiot.

 

--State performance taxes (which, if you seen A-Rod's chart, is outrageous).

--Annual salaries for agents/spokesmen/personal trainers/dietitans

--Income taxes

 

That's just three factors that will cut those salaries quickly. Considering the stress, scrutinty and threats the players and their families go through on a day-to-day basis, I'd have to say that the salaries aren't as outrageous as it looks.

 

THAT's where endorsement deals come in...

 

 

There are two [2] acceptable mitigating circumstances to the commerical whore rule:

 

1) You TRULY need the money/exposure (i.e. hungry young unknown actor who needs any kind of exposure to get their name/face out there. This does not apply to superstar athletes.)

 

So athletes should refuse ALL endorsement deals, by your rules?

 

Endorsement deals equal extra money that will go to support their families...when you know, they turn 40, are retired AND CAN'T GET OUT OF BED CORRECTLY.

 

And what kind of company will have a virtual unknown endorse their product?

 

2) You do something socially responsible with all that money. (Manute Bol, for example, shamelessly embarrasses himself for money, which he uses to rebuild his native Sudan, which is in the shitter in more ways than one.) One need not go that far necessarily, but one does have to use that money to make a real difference. And not just an "ooh, look at me, I'm throwing a bit of my vast wads of cash at a random charity, ain't I great?"

 

Refer to my first statement - these guys ARE making a good amount of money, but that almost certainly balances out when they'll go years without working after retiring from their sport.

 

So unless that deoderant deal is helping finance AIDS research or something...

 

Warrick Dunn funds projects that construct homes for struggling mothers.

 

Derrick Brooks funds trips that allow predominantly-black high schoolers, with hopes for a collegiate future, the opportunity to travel from Georgia to the northeast parts of the country, JUST to look at prospective colleges.

 

NFL Charities will donate $1,000 on Tampa Bay rookie Ryan Nece's behalf to the Fulfillment Fund, a non-profit organization providing economically disadvantaged students with resources to obtain quality educations and lead productive, fulfilling lives.

 

David Akers, Philadelphia Eagles

Akers' major charity priority is "Kicks for Kids," a program that helps at-risk children in the Philadelphia area pursue their dreams, and to which the proceeds of his summer kicking camps are donated. He and his wife, Erika, co-chair the Philadelphia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis' annual "Evening Out With the Eagles." He also visits various Philadelphia-area children's hospitals each week during the season and buys and delivers Thanksgiving baskets for needy families in Philadelphia as part of his "Kicks For Kids" charity. Akers also hosted the second annual "Extra Effort Luncheon" to honor those who have gone above and beyond to help the community.

 

Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs

Tony Gonzalez hosted a benefit dinner and auction for the Shadow Buddies Foundation, which presents sick children and elderly people with smiling dolls -- "Shadow Buddies." He visited Trailridge Middle School, where he spoke to the students on the importance of good sportsmanship. He participated in the Eric Hicks charity golf tournament in support of the Hicks for Hearts Foundation. On Oct. 22, Gonzalez hosted the AMC's of Football Ladies Clinic, which sold out once again and gave Gonzalez and his teammates a chance to share their pigskin knowledge with over 350 female football novices. Throughout the month, Gonzalez continued to purchase tickets for members of the Boys & Girls Clubs, enabling the members to attend Chiefs home games against divisional foes Denver and Oakland. The month ended with Gonzalez participating in the First Downs for Down Syndrome Buddy Walk, which gives the Chiefs' offensive linemen and tight ends a chance to meet and support children with Down Syndrome while raising money for the Down Syndrome Guild of Kansas City and the Down Syndrome Center at Children Mercy's Hospital. 

 

You want more of these "non-existent stories"?

 

Go ahead and read...

 

Take off your blinders if you feel your ridiculous arguments hold water - maybe then you'll realize that athletes aren't as self-serving as you think. You're an insult to athletes who give their time and energy EVERY DAY to the disadvantaged, yet they don't receive any front-page headlines declaring their accolades.