hines ward, of the pittsburgh steelers, is one of the most productive wide receivers in the NFL. he has gone to the pro bowl every year since 2001. in 2004 he had 80 receptions for 1004 yards. for this he is paid $1.6 million dollars.

that's a lot of money, no?

no.

hines ward is also one of the six hold outs of this season. he wants to re-negotiate his contract with the steelers. he contends that comparable NFL wide receivers with records similar to his own are paid anywhere from $6 million to 10.7 million dollars.

now, what i didn't know, (being in love with football the game, not the business) is that this money is not necessarily paid to the player in one lump sum, or even as a regular paycheck. according to the program i was watching, (Quite Frankly, with Stephen A. Smith) only 50% of a player's compensation is guaranteed. meaning, the bulk is tied up in pension and perks and the rest payable as bonuses, sometimes based on the player's performance.

according to mr. hines, he just wants fair market value. his friend, the rapper Ice Cube, told him, "All a man wants in life is to get what he's worth."

i don't know what to think of this, and i'm not sure i should really have an opinion. after all, i don't know how hard it is to be a football player. i realize they only have a small window to earn money before age and injuries take their toll. i understand that when joe blow in the cubicle next to you is making twice the money for half the work, that can piss you off.

i think it's the magnatude of what the players are paid that throws me off. i mean, mr. hines had diamonds in his ears as big around as my pinkie finger. i am nowhere near that financial league (although, i will be up to po' white trash status *someday* sigh) so it's hard for me to feel sympathy for any of those guys. sour grapes? probably, but i'm entitled.

anyway, i digress.

there are only three reasons to re-negotiate a contract, according to sports agent carl poston.

1. contract expires
2. cap re-structure
3. the player has out-performed his contract.

if these are the parameters....pay the guy already.

****

i love football. i just love the game, i really don't want to hear the sordid details of behind the scenes in-fighting over money. when that happens it reminds me too much of baseball.

or hockey.

gah.

****

you can shit where you eat if you want to, but don't complain when your crab cakes taste funny.

****


jeal·ou·sy
Pronunciation: 'je-l&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -sies
1 : a jealous disposition, attitude, or feeling
2 : zealous vigilance

that really doesn't cover the feeling at all, does it?

jealousy, to me, feels green and slimey and i don't like it. and it's over the stupidest thing. there's no reason for me to feel that way, and yet the twinges plague me like i have arthritis of the heart. with the face i was born with, i can't hide a dang thing, either. i have been warned to never play poker.

i think i will write a story today about jealousy. maybe that will help purge it, if i tear the head off or drink some blood.

sounds like a plan.