The more power we seem to give professional athletes, the more problems that are existing. Carlos Tevez refuses to play, Chris Johnson holds out for more money, and Michael Crabtree gets drafted and then would not sign a multi-million dollar contract? Look at what has happened.
Tevez refuses to play after spending all summer trying to leave but he would not take a pay cut. Johnson holds out all pre-season so he can sign a huge contract. Darrelle Revis held out for seven months so he could get more money in 2010. Michael Crabtree refuses to sign a rookie contract unless he is guaranteed over $20 million in 2009.
After seeing an NFL lock out, the NBA currently has a lock out and the ATP are talking of a lock out as well. The NFL lock out has affected the level of the game in my opinion. The NBA lock out looks very long term because players are going to other countries to play. Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and Novak Djockovic has showed a lot of distaste towards a busy schedule and a lack of a post season.
What does the current professional athlete environment look like? To me it is starting to look like its all about me. The tennis season is very tough and the off season is small, it has very often been like that. Why is it like that? Everybody wants to see the best players play at all times. That is the life of a professional tennis player. Players are moaning about the schedule but the only events they have to play are the Masters and the Grand Slams. The other events are usually played due to money or the player feels like they need this.
The NFL had a lock out and seemed to solve all their problems. However, Chris Johnson's hold out really bothered me. Just like Revis the year before; Johnson still had two years left on his contract. The money probably was not what he deserved but he was still under contract. Johnson held out and it has really damaged his ability to perform this season so far. His hold out may have been worth it for him but for the team and the fans it certainly was not.
We now have rookies even demanding better contracts. Michael Crabtree held out for more money and he not even played a match for the 49ers. Crabtree is a perfect example of why power to the players really needs to be looked at. If a rookie can come in and demand more money when he is not even a proven asset then they have too much power.
The overall message when you think about Carlos Tevez, Chris Johnson and the ATP potential lock out is this: Employees are worth more than their boss or even the company. Andy Roddick said in a recent interview that, "I have been trying to tell people that talent usually wins in negotiations." My return argument would be that without somewhere to show case your talent it is worthless. Players need to be put in their place and quickly before the next generation of players go even further than the current generation.
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