Sports fans and misplaced loyalty
At the time of this writing, the Philadelphia 76ers have just traded their embattled and highly criticized #1 pick, Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for their former MVP winner, James Harden. This trade has received criticism on both sides, in both cities for a myriad of reasons. In Philly, the main issues ranged from Simmons’ declaration of suffering from mental health issues to his horrendous play in the 2021 playoffs where his seeming unwillingness and insecurity to shoot, led to the team’s loss in the playoffs. His fellow teammates and head coach were highly critical of his play to the point where there was serious doubt about his future with the team. On sports radio, Simmons was crucified by a passionate fan base that wanted him out.
Up the NJ Turnpike, Harden’s circumstances were not nearly as hostile, at least in the beginning. In the previous season, Harden was acquired by the Nets in what many said was a successful plan to force his way out of Houston. Harden had worn out his welcome and came into the season overweight and requesting a trade. The Nets jumped on the opportunity to bring Harden into a situation that most pundits felt was a championship waiting to happen. Harden joined with two other league superstars to form a formidable “Big 3” that most believed would walk to an NBA title. However, injury never allowed this Superteam to play more than a dozen or so games together and that title never came. Entering a new season, all their stars healthy, the Nets front office and most basketball experts named the Nets as the preseason favorite to win it all. This time however, a worldwide pandemic, a star unwilling to get vaccinated along with injury seemed to be the franchise’s biggest foil. And so just like he did in Houston, Harden forced his way out of Brooklyn.
After the dust settled, Ben Simmons would be a Net and Harden a 76er. Both teams happier, both fan bases declaring victory, both franchises still on the road to the Larry O’Brian Trophy and the top of the NBA world.
And yet, there was still seething anger. Rage at the audacity of these two players to control their own destinies. Some, yelling at Harden for duplicating his escape from Houston for the greener pastures of Philadelphia via Brooklyn. Righteous indignation at Simmons for behaving like a primadonna who wasn’t going to play for Philly and when threatened with a loss of salary, declared that he suffered from mental health challenges.
I wondered, where did the anger come from? Why are these folks so upset about this turn of events? By the end of this soap opera, neither city wanted the star they had. The players both wanted out. You would think there would be a parade of sorts. But something else bubbled to the surface. A public, (at least those who care about such things) offended by the exercise of power by the players of their teams. And media personalities, annoyed that these athletes would elect their own happiness, financial security and future over loyalty to a team and a city. That’s not how it’s supposed to happen. Players are supposed to be loyal to their fan base. Loyal to the city that drafted them or welcomed them. Loyal to owners who are working hard to bring glory to their franchise. Players are not meant to demand trades. Players are not meant to have a voice in where they play. Players are not supposed to use all their available resources to achieve their personal and professional goals. THAT. IS. NOT. HOW. IT HAPPENS.
And yet. It did. It does. It has. And it will again. Long gone are the days of players remaining loyal to teams who will cut them, trade them, and bench them as soon as the next bright star comes along. Gone are the days when players stayed with one team for their entire careers with hopes of “winning one for the fans.” Sure there are exceptions, The Greek Freak in Milwaukee being the most recent. But in this 21st Century… not gonna happen.
And so it raises a question, why do the fans turn so quickly on their former stars? Why do the phone lines on talk radio shows light up with the anger of the city? I know that “fan” is short for “fanatic” but are they really insane and unreasonable? In other words, why do the fans seem to side with ownership over the players? Why do they seem to resonate and connect with billionaires more than the newly made millionaires who play on the fields and courts? While few fans will relate to the multi-million dollar contract of Harden or Simmons, the fact is, these men weren’t always rich. Their athletic prowess opened these doors. They in fact, had to work for it. All through their formative years playing in youth basketball, traveling with basketball teams, practice during the season, practice in the off season, waking up early to practice, nursing sore muscles, trying to break into starting line ups. They have worked to be here. Billionaires? Well some would argue they shouldn’t exist. You would be hard pressed to find one that hasn’t exploited their way to wealth. The moral compass of a person who is willing to get paid 100s of times more than their employees is questionable. Their attempts at philanthropy are suspect and dubious. And the typical fan is more likely to come into contact with a future NBA/NFL/MLB star than a future billionaire.
In the owner-player relationship, the players are still the more exposed and exploited party. Players can be cut, get hurt, get injured and grow old. Their careers are finite, all enter their respective leagues on a time clock battling Father Time and Father Time is undefeated. Infinity and 0! Every single player, no matter how high they go to the top, is forced to journey down the other side. No player is immortal (Shout-out to LeBron James and Tom Brady). Yet team owners are generational. Passing the proceeds from father to son, generation after generation. All the while reaping the benefits and wealth of team ownership.
If fans should be fanatic about anyone, it should be the players. It should be the athletes who put in the work, just like they do. The players who are up by 5 am, going into the office (or training facility) working hard, sweating, getting evaluated, trying to provide for their families, doing a job just like those in the seats.
I know there are so many who have an undying allegiance to the team of their youth or their city/state. I know there are fond memories of championships from days gone pass, parades down Main Streets, confetti in the air, celebrations over victories won.
I get it.
What I don’t get is why are the individual players demonized? Why are they held hostage by contracts that favor owners? Why must they periodically debate and defend their slice of the pie?
They are the precious commodity, they are product that sells. They are the reason the stadium and arenas are filled. They sell the tickets and the jerseys and the parking spots and the concessions.
If anyone is deserving of fan loyalty, it is the players who come in and do their jobs. And when management is incompetent, they should leave. When management has changed and gone sour on them, they should leave. When a new coach no longer likes their skill-set, they should leave. If they don’t like the direction the owners are taking the team, they should leave. If management refuses to bring in the type of players that make winning easy, they should leave.
And as a fan, I can celebrate their decision and still love and root for my team. My anger should be focused on those making decisions about the team, not on players who will only stay for a short while. Two ideas can exist at the same time. Respect for individual players and their individual decisions and commitment to a team.
Players assuming control over their careers must be the scariest thing for owners and management. Players of the past had no voice. They were merely athletic soldiers sent to do a job. Sent on a mission to win. In fact, they were to “just shut up and dribble.” If they didn’t like something, oh well. Have to uproot your family due to a trade, oh well. Playing time diminishing, oh well.
They had no recourse. And management dared them to complain.
Well times have changed. And I applaud those players who are now taking control. I hope they keep doing it. I hope they remind these billionaires every night and every Sunday who really makes these leagues run. Because how dare owners and fans demand loyalty from players when they are so unwilling to return that loyalty back?