Ron Cook: Athletes find that it pays to be spoiled

Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano refused to play left field for the Washington Nationals Monday night, causing a major disruption for his team two weeks before opening day.

That should get Soriano $15 million a year in his next contract.

Hey, being a creep worked for Terrell Owens, didn't it?

What a sad few days it has been for pro sports. You would think Soriano's insubordination is the worst thing that could have happened. But it wasn't. The worst took place Saturday in Dallas when the Cowboys signed T.O. to a big contract that guarantees him $10 million next season.

What?

That makes you sick to your stomach, too?

This little rap ditty from Owens on his Web site this week probably won't make you feel better.

"I got a brand new team, I am a Cowboy now, no more black and green, to the haters that said I'm not going to get my money, I'm laughing in your face, ha, ha, that's funny."

Don't you just love the guy?

But let's put blame where it really belongs. The jerks in sports get away only with what the owners allow. Owens and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones deserve each other. Here's hoping they go 0-16 next season.

Jones knows Owens has been a cancer wherever he has been. In San Francisco, T.O. publicly questioned quarterback Jeff Garcia's sexual orientation, which always is good for team morale. And in Philadelphia last season, he sulked when the Eagles wouldn't renegotiate his contract after just one year and publicly blasted star quarterback Donovan McNabb more than once, finally forcing the Eagles to throw him off the team.

But Jones couldn't help himself. Apparently, he wants to win so badly that he was willing to sell his soul to the devil. He's counting on Bill Parcells to keep Owens in line, which is a joke for two reasons. One, Parcells is a fraud as a tough-guy coach. This is the same man who kept former Pitt wide receiver Antonio Bryant on his team into the 2004 season after Bryant had showed him up at minicamp by throwing his sweaty jersey in his face. And two, no one keeps Owens in line.

Then again, Owens doesn't have to be a team player, does he? It's not as if anyone is going to hold him accountable.

In the real world, Owens would be without an NFL job or a paycheck. But in the sports world, where talent trumps all, he's collecting his millions and thumbing his nose at the world in his rap songs and, presumably, in his new tell-all book that is due out soon.

The creep probably will send an autographed copy to Garcia and McNabb.

Our sympathies to Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

While we're feeling sorry for people, how about some pity for the Nationals? They're in a jackpot with Soriano that can't possibly have a happy ending for the team.

Even before the Nationals traded for Soriano in the winter, they knew he didn't want to play the outfield. He hit 36 home runs last season and knows his value as a free agent after this season will be greater as a second baseman because power hitters are so rare at that position. That's why he was awarded $10 million in salary arbitration before this season even though he lost his case, as if "lost" is the right word.

But the Nationals, who already had All-Star second baseman Jose Vidro, still gambled. They were big losers Monday night when eight of their players took the field for their exhibition game and Soriano refused to leave the clubhouse.

This isn't fair to manager Frank Robinson, who is as old school as it gets. It's a good thing for Soriano that Robinson is 70 and not 40.

It's not fair to the other Washington players. Their season is sabotaged before it starts because their star player is disgruntled.

And it's not fair to the Washington fans. They're paying for that new stadium in D.C. and buying the team's high-priced tickets so the Nationals can pay $10 million to a guy who won't play where they need him?

Washington management threatened to put Soriano on baseball's disqualified list if he refuses to play left field in the game today. That sounds tough, but it's not likely to happen. Soriano, who wouldn't get a check or service time toward free agency on that list, will come to his senses and drag himself to left field. But he won't be happy, which hardly will be a good thing for his team.

The Nationals could try to trade Soriano, but that's no answer. It's not as if there wouldn't be takers. (Go back to that Devil and Mr. Jones thing). But the Nationals wouldn't get equal value for Soriano. And even if they did, what kind of message would that be to the other players?

You don't like the way we do things here, just refuse to play and we'll send you somewhere else.

No, only Soriano will end up with the happy ending after he plays out the season and becomes a free agent. His agony will be worth it when some team rushes to pay him that $15 million a year.
Are pro sports great or what?

(Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1525.)