The Cost of Integrity

Can you see where this is going??? Allow me to recount an infamous story about Winston Churchill:

While at a dinner party, Winston Churchill asked the woman sitting next to him if she would sleep with him for one million dollars. After hemming and hawing, she agreed that yes, she would. Then, he asked her if she would sleep with him for one dollar. She was offended, "What do you think I am, a prostitute?" she indignantly replied. "Madam" Churchill said in the droll voice of his, "We've already established what you are, now we're just haggling over the price."

In the current day and age, Americans have become fond of puting a dollar amount on their level of whoredom. Shows like Fear Factor and Girls Gone Wild distinctly put a price on one's perceived modesty. Now we have witnessed the latest event in the NBA, which has seen Cleveland Cavalier power forward Carlos Boozer, a hard working future all-star, sell his integrity for approximately $26 million dollars. A steep price, no doubt, and hardly money to wag your finger at. But never the less, as Churchill established above, you are what you are, and now we're just haggling over price.

To rehash, Carlos Boozer just completed his second year in the L, a breakout year to be sure, and barring serious calamity, would be primed to cash in on a big pay day after his 3rd year, in which he would become a restricted free agent. All he had to do was play out the remainder of his contract at about $700K, and the lucre would be his. However, he wanted his money up front, and since you usually have to give something to receive something, he and his agent convinced the Cavs to tear up the final year of his contract (or not pick up the option to bring him back for a 3rd year, a luxury they had because he was a second round pick) and in return he would sign with them long term for the mid-level exemption of approximately 6 years for about $41 million. A real bargain for the Cavs, and a reward for Mr. Boozer for his hard work, and as I said, he gets the cash up front. So they agree to this arrangement on a gentleman's handshake, since new contracts cannot be consummated until July 14.

Well, you now know what happened...Boozer now being a restricted free agent, was woo'ed by the Utah Jazz by the sweet sound of $68 million, a deal which Boozer agreed to, and will be signed on July 14. Being a restricted FA, the Cavs can match the offer, but to do so and stay under the salary cap will have to jettison other promising young players, a move which they will be unlikely to do. This whole unfolding story sits in my stomach like a steak bought at the Waffle House.

There are two plausible scenarios that I see could have unfolded:

1) Boozer and his agent conspired to trick Paxon to let him out of his contract so he could negotiate offers, a plan which worked quite well in Boozer's favor.

2) Boozer & his agent went to Cavs GM Jim Paxon with the most honest of intentions- free me from this underpaid contract so I can make closer to my market value now, rather than hit the moneymaker a year from now. Once freed of his meager contract, Boozer got a sniff at what his market value was, and was seduced by the $$. He reneged on his verbal agreement, shunning the team that helped him get to his new prominence and took the additional $26 million offered by the Jazz.

The first scenario is less plausible than the second, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility, given sports agents' track records. Agents' jobs are to help their clients make as much money as possible. If they did conspire, then both are guilty of a vicious ploy and they will have a hard time keeping any respect from their peers for the foreseeable future. Boozer's agent will have a hard time doing business with any GM's and Boozer will be a marked man. I hope that this is not what they did.

However, scenario 2 is not much better, but in light of the current sports landscape, seems to be the trend. A contract seems to be a contract only when it suits the star. The LA Lakers have Shaq under contract for 2 more years. As the employer, they have every right to tell him to shut up and play, b/c they own him for 2 years and they will pay him $57 million for those services. However, they will not do this b/c their GM is weak minded and will fold both to Shaq and to Kobe, and the franchise will be hurt for it. I tend to think in Boozer's case, he's simply a young 23 year old who doesn't realize that the consequences of his actions could carry great weight down the road. All he knows is that he's going to make $26 million more with the Jazz than he would have with the Cavs.

The other big loser in this coup d'etat is the GM Paxon. He thought that word was bond, and that it was stronger than oak. Apparently he never watched the movie "Jerry McGuire." He got badly burned, and it will likely cost him his job.

Ultimately the big losers though are us, the fans. The more the NBA becomes a ruthless business, the more we're going to feel like we're watching a business and not a sport.

In the words of '80's wrestling icon Ted DiBiasi, every man has his price. Boozer's price is on display, and the NBA downward spiral continues.