OT: Jered Weaver bucks Scott Boras
Jered Weaver is my new second favorite baseball player. I'm not suggesting he is making a sacrifice "only" making 17 million a year but I like this quote:
"If $85 (million) is not enough to take care of my family and other generations of families then I'm pretty stupid, but how much money do you really need in life?" Weaver said Tuesday. "I've never played this game for the money. I played it for the love and the competitive part of it. It just so happens that baseball's going to be taking care of me for the rest of my life."
As a fan, I think all pro athletes should have this attitude. It's especially refreshing in the wake of all the "I'm gonna get mine" attitude coming from the NCAA right now. I know it's easier to think Weaver's way when you have millions in the bank but try to look at the glass half full. I hope more players think this way and just don't speak up.
Plus he cost Scott Boras a ton of cash, so he's got that going for him, which is nice.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:52 AM ^
Weaver can suck it.
Also, that's good and fine and all but I don't see anything wrong with a guy getting what the market dictates if that's what he wants to do. I'm sure if Weaver wasn't as happy with his current situation he'd have no problem taking lots of $$$ from another team.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
I expected nothing less way to not disappoint you dasterdly villain.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
Tigers fan I assume. I agree there's nothing wrong with getting as much cash as possible. I may have been more impressed with his comment about being stupid if he can't set his family up for generations with the money.
I guess taking less money doesn't always play well with fans. Just ask LeBron James.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
I don't have a problem with a player going for the max he can get, or sacrificing some cash for a situation he likes, it just depends on that players value system and how much things besides money are worth to him.
The thing that impresses about Weaver's statement is it shows hes not an idiot with a contract that is going to buy a white Tiger and pretend that this kind of cash will be flowing for the rest of his life.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
I mean that's just not that impressive to me. There's tons of athletes that do that without saying it. Not everyone in professional athletics goes MC Hammer on it and I don't see any reason to expect that. Also- Baseball is the easiest sport not to go bankrupt in because they make more money for a longer period of time and the contracts are guranteed. Football players that make millions on a signing bonus and is out of the league in 3 years are the people that tend to have more of a problem with this.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
I used the word "impresses" very liberally. I should have said "what impresses me more". I'm not all that impressed that a guy has common sense to know he isn't going to play forever. I was just making the point that taking a pay cut may or may not be the right thing for any given player. Good point.
August 24th, 2011 at 2:41 PM ^
I doubt you could name ten who voluntarily took less money, let alone "tons."
August 24th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
That depends on whether they are jockeys or o-linemen.
August 24th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
You'd be amazed at the number of ex-athletes (guys who earned millions) who are broke now. The NBPA estimated that 50% (!) of its ex-players are bankrupt five years after retirement - and they, too, get guaranteed money.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
I'm pretty sure you could make the argument that Lebron didn't really take less money. He took less money from the team he's playing for but he also moved to a much better market and that is really all he cares about is marketing himself.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Seriously though, not everyone comes from the same background and has the same money management skills. Also, Weaver might only need to take care of his wife and kids, not necessarily his entire extended family, friends or people he grew up with.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
with a player getting as money money as the market will pay him.
That doesn't mean it isn't kind of cool when a player decides money isn't the only thing that matters.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
When sporting event ticket prices are as high as they are, yeah, there is something wrong with somebody making $25 mil a season.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
do not affect ticket prices.
August 24th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
I'm pretty sure the average Michigan football ticket is more expensive than the average Lions ticket. Demand sets the price, not player salaries.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:52 AM ^
It's nice not to see greed win all the time... Good for Weaver.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:52 AM ^
Now he needs to work on the other part of his attitude, i.e. not throwing pitches at Avila's head.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^
for the fans since they saved so much on Weaver not hitting the FA market.
Leaving money on the table is usually always dumb, but especially so when you are in a union.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
represent everything thats right with America these days
/s
August 24th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
No politics, fucker.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
Neither politics nor your toilet mouth belong on this blog.
August 24th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
neither does your avatar with ashtray mouth.
August 24th, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^
crazy that multi-millionaire athletes are in one. BUT since there is a union in place the top level guys carry the burden of the whole union to get what they can so everyone lives better and gets higher incomes. That at this stage of the game is MLBPA main purpose, if you think it isnt you're fooling yourself.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
What does it say about professional athletes that we expect them to put money above all else, and are refreshingly suprised when one of them speaks of family and happiness as being more important then a max contract.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
It says we know from years of watching them that they are generally really greedy and go for every dollar they can...probably not unlike most of us were we in the same situation
August 24th, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
What does it say about us when we are somehow pleased that a billionaire owner of a sports franchise gets to keep more of his money?
This cash either goes in the player's pocket or the owner's pocket. I don't know why we view it as greedy only when the former happens.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
I don't know why you'd assume the money would go into the owner's pocket and stay there, never going anywhere else.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
Just two giant money bulges on either side. The guy is going to have to start wearing cargo pants ASAP.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^
Right, eventually it trickles down to the guy serving churros in the stands, making $8.50 /hr.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
Weaver sucks. That is all...
August 24th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
Do you think he was more pissed about being ejected or missing him by that much? I guess his control was off that day.
August 24th, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^
Right because Weaver totally started it.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^
Only a prick like Boras would advise someone not to sign an $85 million contract. There are a few agents whose players I would avoid like the plague if I were a GM. Boras is number one on the list.
It's really a matter of value. You are going to pay more money for less product if you sign his players. Also, if they have one good year, he holds them out for more money the next year. He doesn't offer a rebate if the player has a bad year, though.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
Here is his client list:
Major League
[edit]Minor League
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August 24th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^
Until you can go back in time and undo when Jered Weaver threw at the head of the Great Lord of Lords, Alex Avila, he will forever be a world-class jackass.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
everybody throws at Avila's head, murders, steals from you, steals from me.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
well played sir, well played.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:26 AM ^
/Avila ducks
August 24th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
I'm actually willing to forgive Weaver for throwing at Avila's head, for this. Because I hate Scott Boras more than I hate almost anyone in sports.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
...to the rescue! Pelinka insists that all of his clients adopt dozens of animal shelter cats throughout the lifetime of the contract. It's a feel-good rider to any professional sports contract.
/s, although I think Rob is the best agent out there
August 24th, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
I know I'm going to sound like Donnie Do Gooder, but if I was Weaver I probably would have gone for market value and donated whatever he feels he didn't need.
But overall, I agree it is refreshing to see Weaver's approach to contracts.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:55 AM ^
Sure, but then there's still always going to be the even bigger Donnie Do Gooder who says "you don't need any more than X couple of thousand, you should be donating all of it."
August 24th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
I agree with what you are saying. Just saying what I would have done.
At the end of the day, it's up to Jered Weaver to make decisions for Jered Weaver. Maybe he donates a crap ton of money already.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
Why is this post even on this blog? Waste of time, also, I wouldn’t say Weaver was off that day against the tigers because he missed Avila’s head (and lost); But he gave Verlander the Cy-young with his hot-headed, childish behavior that Tiger's fans grew accustom to with his older brother Jeff. Now, he can be your "2nd" favorite player if you want, but don’t waste our time....Go Blue! (and tiger’s if this was an MLB blog)…
August 24th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
Thanks for telling everyone how things go around here... especially seeing as this was your first post ever.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Also great sizing of the fonts there. Your entire post is in fine print.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
if it's his first post ever? /mind-blown
August 24th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
Maybe we need a "douchey" category for moderating.