For every "doing it for the love of the game" feel good story out there, is another "doing it for the love of the green" feel sick to your stomach story. They say sports is a business and it is, but there is no other business quite like it in the world and when dealing with the dollar figures some star athletes are making, you have to ask sometimes, how much is enough?
            Fans would love to think that the majority of players they are paying to see are out there on the field, court, pitch or rink giving it their all for one common goal of victory. That is clearly the exception and is becoming more and more rare these days. Witness what Roger Clemens just pulled with the Houston Astros. At this old age of his, is he really giving it one last go around because he misses the game so much? If he has so much passion for baseball how could anyone sit around and watch your team’s spring training go by without being involved? Or how about opening day, did Roger’s passion not re-emerge until now? What Clemens did is work the system, and work it for every penny its worth. He suckered the Astros into a position where they were bidding on him with the Yankees and Red Sox even though he had no intention of ever going there. He held out longer and longer and made the Astros audition for his services. I sincerely doubt Roger believes the Astros can contend, but win or lose the paychecks still come.
            How about Ricky Williams, one of the most gifted running backs to ever play the game. He cares about the game so much that he ventured all the way to Canada just to keep playing. But oh wait, according to Williams himself, if the NFL was not seeking over $8 million then he would have nothing to do with the game. He is simply mailing it in up in Canada and collecting that paycheck.
            Attend a game at PNC Park and witness the likes of overweight emotionless Jeremy Burnitz milking one more year out of his sorry talent and getting paid quite handsomely for it. Burnitz's talent was crumbling before him and all but gone and he was fully ready to hang it up. That was before the Pirates came calling, a team that was destined to lose 100 games this season. Did Burnitz think twice about ending his career on what could be a 120-loss season? Not at all, he went where the money was, prolonged his career and now could give a crap how the Pirates are doing as long as they still sign his paychecks. You can watch him take the field; he just appears embarrassed and wants nothing to do with the ball club that is the Pittsburgh Pirates. During the rare occasion when the National League worst Pirates do win, Burnitz avoids any celebratory action, he really treats the game like a 9-5 job.
            The stories of Pat Meares and Jody Gerut, a former and current Pirate, both have spent considerable time on the disabled list and even restricted list, would make anyone think twice before spending a dollar to see this major league club. They have both faked or incredibly over exaggerated injuries and done whatever possible to stay out of the Pirates clubhouse all the while collecting their paychecks. It really is a sad story, but the structure is in place and they are simply taking advantage of it.
            Players are not the only ones guilty here. Larry Brown has masterminded the concept of structuring a contract with incredibly high buyouts; forcing owners to get rid of him all the while he collects those millions and millions from his contract terminations. It is incredible that he continues to get away with it but easy to see why he does it.
            This may have nothing to do with sports in most people’s opinion and maybe even my own but I will bring it up anyway. I went to see World Wrestling Entertainment at the Mellon Arena for a live show of Monday Night Raw this past week. You can say what you want about how fake it is, but these athletes go out of their way to put on a good show, send every fan home happy and take time before and after events to be with fans. Professional sports can really learn something from the world of sports entertainment. The wrestling might be fake but no faker than that smile you might see on Clemens or Burnitz in a Major League dugout this season.

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