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Show Contract Is A Contract By DAVE WIGHAM Used to be in the old days that a man's word was good enough. Seems like now, though, when it comes com-es to professional sports his signature doesn't mean a thing. I'VE WATCHED several pre-season NFL games on the old tube now and not one of them has gone by without word that one of the players isn't reporting to camp because they are unhappy with their contract. con-tract. In college I took a contract law class and if my instructor knew his stuff, and I honestly believe he did, then these athletes really don't have a leg to stand on. HERE ARE some of these guys that all of a sudden feel they should be making more money than the contract calls for. To me if their name is on the dotted line then what bone do they have to pick? I mean really, us fans have taken enough! from these prima donnas. They think just because they can run with a football, or catch the darn thing, they should be making a million dollars a year instead of half-a-million. I WONDER what would happen if the owners all of a sudden decided that a guy didn't play up to his ability one year so they called him in and informed him that they won't let him play this year without a new contract. Give him less money. Boy, would these guys get upset. But on the other hand they expect the owners to jump and renegotiate a new contract with them at the drop of a button. A contract is a contract. If a player signs for half-a-million over four years then he should be held to that. The other owners should stand by the team and not even talk to the player who wants a new contract. THE WAY things are going, why even sign a con tract? It seems to me they don't mean a lot to the players anyway. Then too, the players want us little old fans to believe they are playing the game for the love of the sport. "I couldn't do this unless I loved the game." is a common phrase among players. Come on you guys do you really think the fans are dumb enough to buy that? I'M REALLY getting upset listening to these guys talk about how underpaid they are. They should get my, or your paycheck once in awhile then maybe they would be more appreciative of their own. Then to, maybe the television people shouldn't dwell on the subject so much. Sure they have a responsibility to the fans to inform them of why players are there but they should really tell it like it is. Just once why don't they say, "he's not here because he feels he needs more money than his legal contract calls for." THE LEAGl'E offices should step in. Tell the players if they have a valid contract and are not showing up for w orkouts and games, like many of the players are doing, then they should fine them. Hit them where it counts, in the wallet. A fine example these sports heros are setting for the kids. Try to explain to your ten year old w hy John Jefferson of San Diego isn't playing, although, he has a valid contract with them. IT'S ABOUT time the owners and the league stood up to these guys. They honestly feel they can play when and where they want to. Kick 'em out of the league and make then earn a living. Then to, the fans should stand up to them. Let them know that we really think they should be playing play-ing football instead of holding out for more money. When it comes contract time they can fight for all they can get, but once they put their name on the dotted line they should be man enough to live up to that committment. |