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Sports as business isn't exactly a novel concept
Friday, September 05, 2008
When the Bengals released Willie Anderson and Rudi Johnson last week, some radio blabber thought he was putting it all in perspective when he said, "It's a business."
It's amazing that the concept of money ruling the sports world seems to be just sinking in for some people.
Not only is this not a novel concept, it's not even a particularly recent one.
Sure, sports are "bigger" business than in the 1950s. That's mainly due to television and Marvin Miller. But rest assured this was all a business back then, too, even as writers of the era attempted to romanticize games with language that today sounds outdated and silly.
When the Brooklyn Dodgers decided Jackie Robinson had outlived his usefulness, he was sent away because, well, that's what happened to ballplayers, even groundbreaking future hall-of-famers, when they couldn't help teams win and sell tickets anymore.
In the 1930s, when Philadelphia A's owner Connie Mack needed to stay solvent, he sold off his stars. Today's equivalent is trading them before they reach free agency.
In football, where guarantees are few, players are routinely released to make room for better, sometimes cheaper, talent.
Are Anderson and Johnson finished? The Detroit Lions signed Johnson on Monday. They're rolling the dice because they think he fills a need. Anderson agreed to a three-year deal with the Ravens. Do they know what they're doing? Not usually.
Whatever happens, it's all just business. More expansive than it once was, but with many of the same principles at work.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.
