Loyalty in Sports?

I've been following the news the last few days, and I've seen a lot of public outcry (Here's looking at you, Steve) about iconic players leaving the team they've been associated with their entire career. Brett Favre, after 17 years, asked for a trade from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets. Just this week, John Smoltz ended his 21-year Braves tenure for the Boston Red Sox. They left for different reasons, but both have received criticism from the fans and hometown media.

But do we have a reason to be angry?

If we like it or not, professional sports is a business. Yes, most players play because they love the game, but you're kidding yourself is you think money is not a factor, if not THE factor, that drives the sport. In the NBA, salary cap space is traded (through expiring, expensive player contracts). Baseball is divided into the "Have-Nots", "Haves", and the New York Yankees, all by amount of money to sign free agents.

Should John Smoltz be hated by the Atlanta Braves fanbase, just because he thought he was worth more than the Braves were willing to offer? I mean, there's not much difference between a $5.5M base salary and $5M in incentives (Red Sox) and a $2M base salary and $8M in incentives (Braves), except what it takes to reach those incentives.

(For the record, the Red Sox incentives were tied to being healthy and on the active roster, and the Braves incentives were "all or nothing" innings pitched/starts made and season awards such as "Comeback Player of the Year" or the Cy Young. Smoltz claims the Red Sox incentives are "more attainable"; the Braves feel that their package is attainable through a healthy, competitive season. What more can you ask from a 41-year-old man?)

I think it's time fans learn to separate the players from the team. In the "olden days", it would have been common to see the players spend their entire careers with one franchise. But those days are over. Finished. Get over it.

Yeah, as a Braves fan, it hurts losing Smoltz. I'm 24. Since I was 3, All I've known is God's gift to baseball John Smoltz going out there every five days to preach to his congregation of Braves fans across the Southeast, with the mound as his pulpit and the fastball as his word. Now he's trading in a Tomahawk for some "Hanging Sox". The world needs less violence anyways.

But you know what? He's not evil for it. He's prideful. He thinks he can still do it, and so do the Red Sox. Don't fault the man for that.

Good luck, John. Thanks for all you've done.

Update on Smotlz and the Red Sox

This from ESPN talking about the differences in the contracts the Braves offered and the Red Sox offered.

"I read today in something that his agent said the other set of incentives [from the Red Sox] were 'more attainable,'" McGuirk said, according to the report. "If John Smoltz pitches like John Smoltz pitches, I think [what we offered] is attainable. If he's not healthy, it's not going to happen."

Smoltz responded to that, with a statement released through his agent, Lonnie Cooper. "I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team," Smoltz said, "but I now feel the need to clear up any misconceptions and inaccuracies about the contract negotiations between myself and the Atlanta Braves.

"There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams.

"I have always loved the city of Atlanta, and it will always be my home. I will cherish my 21 years with Bobby Cox and all my Braves teammates. I continue to wish the Atlanta Braves nothing but success in the future."

Nice, so Smoltz openingly admits that the reason he is leaving is because of money. Nice loyatly, John, glad to see that you stand for something besides money.

This actually hurts me as a Braves fan. I remember watching on October 5, 1991 as Smoltz helped clinched the divison title and lepted into the arms of Greg Olsen to celebrate the win. I remember watching last year on April 22 as he recorded his 3000strikeout. Alot of my Braves memories include John Smoltz, so yeah this really does hurt. And again, I lay alot of the blame on the Braves and think that they could have and should have shelled out a little more money to keep him, but most of the blame falls on Smoltz. To me, his history as a Brave is now tarnashied and I can never look at his the same way again. Now, he is just a greedy, disloyal ballplayer. Thanks Smoltzy!!

I don't know what to say...

Why the hell would John Smoltz leave the Braves? Just a few years ago he said that he wanted to retire a Brave and now this, wtf!?!?! And over money!?!?! I know that the Braves have not done all they can to keep him but come on Smoltz, be a man and take less money to help the team, your career is almost over anyway. Do you really need the money that bad? I doubt you will even pitch in 10 games this year and if so your ERA will probably be sky-high. I know that a lot of the talk on the internet is blaming the Braves for this and yes, I will lay most of the blame on them but Smoltz deserves some of it too. What happened to team loyalty? I know, I know, it is a business and there is no loyalty in business, but you take someone that has been with the same team his entire 21 year career and you think that he may know the meaning of the word but I guess not. I hope something changes and the Braves can resign him but if not, see ya Smoltzy and we will be happy to resign you to an honorary contract to announce your retirement, next year! Hopefully the Braves can sign Derek Lowe, who they are meeting with today.

Sayonara Smoltzy

ESPN is reporting the shocking news that, lifelong Braves pitcher John Smoltz is close to a deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Now "close to a deal" by no means means that Smoltz will be wearing a red "B" or the god awful "hanging sock," but according to a story by Buster Olney, the Braves were reluctant to give Smoltz $3 million, and, considering his medical reports, "seem to have made a calculated assessment that Smoltz is not going to bounce back."

The Sox are guaranteeing the legendary pitcher $5 million and offering another $5.5 million in incentives, not too shabby for a guy in the twilight in his career who looked burnt to a crisp last year.

I welcome Smoltz. Sure, nobody knows what he has left, but I'm used to the Sox loading up on starting arms in the winter in the event of pitching injuries throughout the season. So, if Smoltz pitches great, awesome. If not, well I wish it could have worked out but the front office is only out $5 million.

The Braves clearly don't see him bouncing back but Smoltz has looked great in throwing sessions, according to numerous sources. We'll see. I trust the Red Sox front office with its personnel moves, so I wouldn't expect them to throw money at a dead arm. Regardless, a pitcher the caliber of Smoltz is worth the risk, especially considering the money the Sox are willing to shell out in order to win.

Nobody should expect 20 wins, 300 strikeouts culminating with a Cy Young Award. The future hall of famer is past all of that. What Sox fans should hope for is a consistent, 10 win presence in the five spot along with the ultra competitive, winning attitude that he will bring to the clubhouse. Also, the guy is lights out in the post season and will give the Sox more flexibility to ditch someone like Clay Buckholtz for a young catcher if Varitek walks. Of course that is all contingent on his performance.

Again, we'll see. Smoltz is by no means C.C. Sabathia at this point of his career, but if it happens, the singing will be huge. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I cannot wait to see never say die Smoltz prove the Braves' front office wrong. If he doesn't, we and baseball fans everywhere will stand and appluad as he walks into the sunset.