To Jemelle Hill,
I completely disagree with your point of view in the article on ESPN.com that you expressed about Barry Bonds.
And despite the fact that you are saying that you do not advocate telling lies to the federal government you are in fact saying that Bonds should not be punished for doing just that.
To me the difference between Conte, McGwire, Palmeiro and then Bonds is that the other three chose to plead the 5th amendment right to freedom from self incrimination. Had Bonds done the same he would have been treated in a similiar manner. Instead he chose to defy the authorities at the highest level. A lie is not a lie in Federal Court....it is a crime. In terms of the "obstruction to justice" charge, Bonds deserves that as well. Conte, Palmeiro, McGwire did not obstruct justice because they did not lie. They instead refused to speak about it and that would force the authorities to prove it. As far as Palmeiro and McGwire are concerned, the federal governments is not spending money investigating them because THEY HAVE NOT BEEN LINKED TO BALCO. Bonds caused the federal government to spend more money, time, and effort by not telling what he knows about a federal case because he wanted to protect his own interests just like the others. THE ONE EXCEPTION is that instead of keeping quiet and refusing to self-incriminate...he LIED. His lies are what caused the obstruction. Additionally, his choices to preserve the self caused the the federal government time, money and effort by forcing them go without his testimoney in order to build a case against BALCO and Conte. Yes...Bonds would have caused them to spend these same resources had he pleaded the fifth but it is not up to Barry Bonds to dictate when the federal government should spend that money. By telling lies he FORCED them to spend more.
In short, EVERY American has the right to the 5th Amendment, black, white, hispanic(like myself) or any other race. NO American of any race has the right to lie about his or her involvement in a federal investigation.
Justice is being served at all levels.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Brilliance That Is... Scott Boras
Based upon numerous articles, sports talk shows, and apparently baseball executives; Scott Boras has overplayed his hand.
The way I look at it; Scott Boras played everyone else.
On the final day of the baseball season (WS-Game 4) and on the biggest stage of all, Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras "leaked" information stating that A-Rod was opting out of his record breaking contract with the Yankees in order to fetch what will surely be a new record breaking contract. Upon opting-out Boras has said the only way the Yankees could have stopped Rodriguez from going into free agency was to offer a 10 year/$350 million contract.
Now, people are piling on Boras for over playing his hand, over estimating the value of his client, and being the laughing stock of agents for once in his life as A-Rod appears to be near to signing a deal worth a guaranteed 10 year $270-280 million contract BEFORE incentives without Boras doing any negotiating.
So here is why I think we all got played.
1) Boras over valued his client intentionally. He said $350 million to make $280 before incentives seem like a bargain. $280 before incentives is still the most lucrative deal in the history of sports without the incentives.
2) Some executives have said that there was no other team that could have legitimately approached giving A-Rod more than $225 to $250 Million for 10 years and the incentives would have been much lower. Boras did not under estimate the market. He judged the market perfectly. He knew that there would not be other suitors even close to what the Yankees could do. So he high balled them and has convinced everyone that he is shamed because his client is going to accept an offer 10% less than he wanted him to get. When in reality, Boras appears to have gotten his client about 10% more than any other team could offer...BEFORE incentives.
3) A-Rod is a manipulative man. He knows the Yankees need him just as much as he knows that he needs them. I think, without evidence of course, that A-Rod and Boras planned all of this. It is well documented that Boras will go to extreme measures to get clients top dollar. Maybe extreme measure meant looking like a fool so A-Rod gets an extra 30 million and he takes a nice 5% off of that. If they were inclined to promote themselves during game 4 of the World Series then why wouldn't they mind a little more shame in the name of greed.
4) Lastly, for over a decade, Scott Boras has proven to be a better judge of the market and have more intelligence than any other agent and numerous owners in baseball. I fail to see how his client getting 10% more than any other team was prepared to offer is a failure or why that would suddenly change when dealing his more prized possession.
Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras are in on it all ladies and gentlemen. Most people have fallen for it...this humble blogger has not. Either way, think about and you may see the truth is in the 10% premium the Yankees are about to pay on the most expensive free agent in the history of sports.
The way I look at it; Scott Boras played everyone else.
On the final day of the baseball season (WS-Game 4) and on the biggest stage of all, Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras "leaked" information stating that A-Rod was opting out of his record breaking contract with the Yankees in order to fetch what will surely be a new record breaking contract. Upon opting-out Boras has said the only way the Yankees could have stopped Rodriguez from going into free agency was to offer a 10 year/$350 million contract.
Now, people are piling on Boras for over playing his hand, over estimating the value of his client, and being the laughing stock of agents for once in his life as A-Rod appears to be near to signing a deal worth a guaranteed 10 year $270-280 million contract BEFORE incentives without Boras doing any negotiating.
So here is why I think we all got played.
1) Boras over valued his client intentionally. He said $350 million to make $280 before incentives seem like a bargain. $280 before incentives is still the most lucrative deal in the history of sports without the incentives.
2) Some executives have said that there was no other team that could have legitimately approached giving A-Rod more than $225 to $250 Million for 10 years and the incentives would have been much lower. Boras did not under estimate the market. He judged the market perfectly. He knew that there would not be other suitors even close to what the Yankees could do. So he high balled them and has convinced everyone that he is shamed because his client is going to accept an offer 10% less than he wanted him to get. When in reality, Boras appears to have gotten his client about 10% more than any other team could offer...BEFORE incentives.
3) A-Rod is a manipulative man. He knows the Yankees need him just as much as he knows that he needs them. I think, without evidence of course, that A-Rod and Boras planned all of this. It is well documented that Boras will go to extreme measures to get clients top dollar. Maybe extreme measure meant looking like a fool so A-Rod gets an extra 30 million and he takes a nice 5% off of that. If they were inclined to promote themselves during game 4 of the World Series then why wouldn't they mind a little more shame in the name of greed.
4) Lastly, for over a decade, Scott Boras has proven to be a better judge of the market and have more intelligence than any other agent and numerous owners in baseball. I fail to see how his client getting 10% more than any other team was prepared to offer is a failure or why that would suddenly change when dealing his more prized possession.
Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras are in on it all ladies and gentlemen. Most people have fallen for it...this humble blogger has not. Either way, think about and you may see the truth is in the 10% premium the Yankees are about to pay on the most expensive free agent in the history of sports.
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