Priorities, Priorities, Priorities: Where have they gone?

Kevin Mawae, elected president (2011) of the NFL players Association took on Roger Goodell and the NFL regarding player conduct policy violations during the lockout in 2011.  His unsavory job was to convince the NFL commissioner that player conduct during the preseason lockout should not be punishable by the league because the players were, in his words, “unemployed”.  Goodell rejected the PA’s president’s assertion that it would be outside NFL control to punish players who violated personal conduct policies by suspending eight players to violated those policies during the lockout, including; Adam “Pac-Man” Jones (Titans), Albert Haynesworth (Patriots), Kenny Britt (Titans), Cedric Benson (Bengals), Aqib Talib (Buccaneers), Clark Haggans (Cardinals), Johnny Jolly (Packers), and Brandon Underwood (Packers). The violations come from a wide variety of infractions including; personal assault, sexual assault, various drug charges, and conduct unbecoming National Football League representatives. Who would envy that job? Kevin Mawae may have wanted to represent the players, but to stand in front of league officials and a judge must be a very embarrassing position to put yourself into.  Pro sports has really evolved over the last 50 years and not this is early in a good way.  The evolution of mankind is not been a proud hallmark in professional sports as the money has created incredible greed and has blinded common people into believing that there is a difference between those who have money and those who do not.  Irony at its best when you consider that most of the athletes in pro sports do not come from wealthy upbringing.  Putting money, sometimes disgustingly large amounts, in the hands of those who don’t really understand the lifestyle of people with discretionary income is and has been creating undesirable people in pro sports and has created a media public relations nightmare.  Americans in particular have a serious problem prioritizing the important things in our lives.  Money seems to trump everything and entertainment has completely eclipsed the priority of Americans over the job crisis, healthcare, education, law enforcement and the economy.  Chris Johnson with the Tennessee Titans held out for more money, even though he was under a signed contract he agreed to earlier.  The running back wanted quarterback money, even though it’s a proven fact that running backs are practically a dime a dozen.  He was offered a contract to make him the highest-paid running back in football, despite the fact that Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster are more complete running backs and without the huge baggage of Johnson and his inflated ego.  It wasn’t enough to Johnson to be the highest-paid running back, he wanted to be the highest-paid player.  Well, he didn’t get what he wanted, he got precisely what he wanted.  He and his agent knew that there was no chance he was going to be paid as highly as players like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and other elite quarterbacks, but they knew darn well that by holding out and demanding quarterback money, they would be not only paid higher than any other running back, it would be a contract of over $13 million per season and over $30 million guaranteed.  The owner of the Titans is an absolute moron.  There was no way that a running back in the prime of his career was going to hold out the entire season and lose out on the money was already making and the opportunity to become the highest-paid running back in the NFL.  The bluff worked, which leads me to ask the most obvious question; “How in the world did Bud Adams get so rich being so stupid?”God bless Mike Brown, the owner of the Cincinnati Bengals.  Carson Palmer, considered an elite style quarterback by many, demanded a trade from the only team he’s ever played for.  I’m happy with his place on the team and the philosophy of the ownership as well as the coach and entire front office, he wanted out and put the squeeze on the franchise to trade him by holding out and threatening to hold out the entire year.  Mike Brown called his bluff and told him that he would either play for the Bengals are had the opportunity to retire if that’s what he wanted to opt out and do.  This was a high-stakes game of poker and nobody had a tell to go on.  Brown held tight to hiromise of requiring Carson Palmer to honor the contract he signed and Palmer refused to report to camp and is still currently a holdout three games into the regular season.  This is how ownership should deal with players who are disgruntled either with the system, the ownership, the coaching or his contract.  A contract is a contract and the only thing I’m disappointed in is that Carson Palmer should be in court right now being charged with breach of contract as he demanded a trade and now is withholding his services.  Pro sports is a crazy animal and it functions much differently than normal business outside the NFL confines.  Anywhere else in business and lawyers would be involved and there would be a winner and a loser based on the outcome of a trial.  Now, nobody wins and the sport continues to be contaminated by those who believe they’re above the rules, the laws and normal human behavior.  Money seems to change people quickly.  What wasn’t legitimate yesterday, interestingly became legitimate just by adding a but load of money to one’s bank account.  During the tragedy in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana, America heard from politicians, organization leaders, emergency response teams and those directly affected by the hurricane.  However, for some strange reason, the media that we needed to hear from high profile athletes and entertainers.  Why?  I have no idea what insight they would have to share about the tragedy, but because they have money and because the money has given the notoriety, they are now considered legitimate.  Without any certification, education or qualification, money makes people legitimate and it’s ridiculous.  America needs a revolution in prioritizing the important things in life and that can only be done by a mass boycott of the entertainment business including but not limited to; professional sports, musicians, actors and reality-based stars either born into money or falling ass backwards into money by just being outlandishly stupid and shallow (i.e. Jersey Shore, are you listening?)  More later, but that is my rant this morning.