MJ sells out players with hard-line stance

Fox Sports ^ | November 5, 2011 | Jason Whitlock

[Immerito]

There’s no reason for Jordan to be drunk on haterade. These kids deserve the money, even if some of them blow a percentage of it making it rain at strip clubs. I’m not defending their financial irresponsibility, but we do need a little context. When we tell the stories about the athletes who are broke three or four years after retirement, we often leave out the details about the countless friends and family members the athletes helped while blowing their money. They “blow” money on school clothes, private schools, medical bills and college tuitions, too.

I fully comprehend the shortcomings of modern-day pro athletes, but I do not understand the outright hatred of them. They don’t deserve it.

[Immerito]

This guy's whining rant is forgettable, but I have new respect for Jordan.

Thanks Jason Whitlock!

[Grunthor]

They are illiterates playing a damned game. For that they deserve hundreds of millions?

[Bernard]

I guess it is lost on Mr. Whitlock that Michael Jordan’s perspective changed when he went from player to owner. How did Whitlock take time off from an OWS “Poop on Police Cars” marathon to write this column?

[Founding Father]

This is the ultimate betrayal. A league filled mostly with African-American young men who grew up wanting to be like Mike is finally getting to see just who Michael Jordan is. He’s a cheap, stingy, mean-spirited, cut-throat, greedy, uncaring, disloyal slave to his own bottom line.

I do believe Whitlock is a racist. At the least he is another jealous commentator who would prefer a socialist economy.

[yldstrk]

Jason, I like you and I agree Michael Jordan is rich. But no one, even Michael Jordan deserves that kind of money for playing a kids game.

Oh, and to make matters worse, you cannot even get a ticket to a college game where your kid attends school for less than $100.

The whole athletic thing in the US is insane. $25.00 a ticket is enough. $75,000. for coaching is enough. $125,000.00 for playing a season of pro ball is enough.

[yldstrk]

bernard, Jason always writes about sports, hello

[Bernard]

Hello to you too. If this is an example of how he writes about sports, it sounds like most of his work puts sports into a social context where he puts his personal opinion of the world into his work.

And based on what I have seen of his opinion of the world, he sounds like the kind of vacuous lost soul who poops on police cars at OWS rallies.

[KeepUSfree]

I disagree strongly.

I’m always amazed at “conservatives” who suddenly become appalled at market conditions.

Actually, folks like MJ were UNDERPAID by their teams (he made much more on endorsements).

I guarantee he generated 10 times more revenue - proportionate to his salary - than 99.9% of employees make for their employers.

Don’t fall for it.

Maybe you and I can’t afford it.....but, I also can’t afford a villa in St. Barts.

Too bad for me....

[Figment]

MJ is responsible for the downfall of the NBA. He aged and retired.He was probably the last person in that league that was a responsible adult

[free me]

Whitliss is pond scum so Jordan must be correct.

[Figment]

Oh, and to make matters worse, you cannot even get a ticket to a college game where your kid attends school for less than $100.

Your kid must go to a school that plays in a gym.Students at big schools get free tickets and can take guests

[rollo tomasi]

NBA owners are bleeding money due to the fact that they overpaid for mid-level talent.

The product has been conditioned to expect a certain salary that the owners are unable to meet. Stern should just cancel the whole season and educate everyone in Econ 101, (And yes, that includes the business savvy/”smart” owners).

The players are going to force the Feds to intervene by de-certifying union-ship and if not stopped, will drive the NBA into bankruptcy. The players are playing with fire if they try to get the Feds involved.

[CaptainK]

Why would Mr. Whitlock care about any one percenter?

[gusty]

I could not have said it better. I have come to believe over time that those who truly believe in the free market, freedom that is, is a very small minority. For example, Kasich was elected governor of Ohio, but some of the same voters are now going to shoot down restraints on the public sector unions. That is why I am cynical about many who proclaim they are conservatives.

[gusty]

The price of tickets to sporting events or any event for that matter has nothing to do with how much players are paid or not paid. Prices are set by the fans willingness to attend. If I could fill an arena for $3,000 a seat, I would charge $3,000 a seat. The consumer has the option of not attending. If my arena is empty, obviously I have to lower the price until I can entice people to attend. It is Economics 101.

[libertybell]

You sound like a Socialist.

[hattend]

Don’t take this badly but Obama said about the same thing for Americans. Something like, How many millions do you really need?

The players are worth whatever the owner wishes to pay them. My dad played professional baseball (pitcher - Dodgers and Cubs) in the 40s and 50s and he never begrudged the money people were making in the 70’s and 80’s. He always said club owners were out to screw you so make it while you can.

[STD]

Okay, Occupy Jordan

[Veggie Todd]

...you cannot even get a ticket to a college game where your kid attends school for less than $100.

I agree with everything you said in your post, but as long as people are lining up to buy these over-priced tickets, they'll keep the prices that high.

[yldstrk]

my kid goes to KU thank you. They play all over.