The Observation Deck

Jim Jim Jim....

Yes, sports stars are overpaid. So are many recording artists, comedians, film and stage stars.....As a matter of fact, it would appear that those who make their livings by providing us with diversion from our everyday issues get a premium for doing so.

Having said that, many of my fondest memories are tied into the Indians....from being allowed to cut school, take the bus downtown and meet my father and grandfather for the Opener at the old Muni Stadium.....going to every opener for 30 years with my dad....taking my son to the 97 World Series.......taking my daughters to Harry Corvairs and then to the ballgame.....Having my daughters treat me to nosebleed seats (and a beer and dog) on their dime for father's day...Wouldn't trade any of those memories for Jeter's salary.

Yeah, I know that Sizemore doesn't even know my zip-code. But neither does Springsteen and I still enjoyed seeing him at the State in Columbus in 1976.

Jeff

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

David Lay wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote: The Yankees are over paid!

They've been overpaid for a long time.

David

It costs a lot of money to distract Americans from the economy, war, and other BS. Do not worry, as we drool, and cheer over millionaires that could care less if we live and die, their plan is working.

Go someone!


.

I could not find the clip from a "Bronx Tale" Mickey Mantled cried

I love the name Jim Buzzkill. I'm sure after this post I will be called much worse. I was at the first ever game at Jacobs Field. President Clinton threw out the first pitch. I was there to with a large group of people asking the Jacob's family to change the name and dump Wahoo.
Wabun Innini aka Vernon Belcourt was also in my group. He is an Oglala Sioux and co-founder of AIM. That is the American Indian Movement. Vernon came up to me and took my hand. He said, "Joe, thank you for being here. We need people like you who are not afraid to speak up for the truth."
While these words were coming out of his mouth, one of Cleveland's most dedicated fans shouted at us. "Hey Redman suck my ****!". That is my Jacobs Field memory. There is nothing honorable about Chief Wahoo. Let's go back to the Spiders, then I can enjoy being distracted by overpaid crybabies who don't know my zip code.

Joe -

I couldn't agree more regarding the needed name change. I've advocated for a return to the Spiders for years.

Also, the "first ever game at Jacobs Field" was on the weekend before against the Pirates.

It seems to me, until it gets to Bill Gates, no matter what one's income is, there is always someone with more money who can be interpreted as being overpaid.

Personally I'd like to see pro sports pay like this:

The team wins a game, they get paid.
The teams loses a game, they get nothing.
Players get paid for training, traveling etc, like any other business.

I wonder if that would make a difference in the outcomes of games.
Hmmmm.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Only on the Observation Deck can a thread started about wishing Good Luck to the Indians becomes a discussion about everything BUT baseball.

If the salaries of the athletes affect your feeling about the sport, don't attend or watch. Very simple. If your child was a star athlete and was offered that kind of money, my guess is your concern about overpaid athletes would be tempered a bit. But if you're going to be consistent, don't go to the movies, don't buy any cd's or dvd's, don't go see national entertainers when they come to town, don't go listen to paid speakers, don't support any product that has a paid spokesperson, because they're all paid a boatload. If and when Michelle Sikes competes overseas (where track and field is much larger than in the US) she'll make a ton of money too. Will you look differently at her? Doubt it.

What in the world does it matter what someone else makes. For the life of me I cannot figure out why that is always such a huge topic on message boards: What someone makes and is it too much. More power to them................this is America, right?

Oh, by the way....Go Tribe!!

John Walsh wrote:Only on the Observation Deck can a thread started about wishing Good Luck to the Indians becomes a discussion about everything BUT baseball.

Word.

Many of these threads are just buzz killers.

Has anyone heard of staying ON TOPIC????

...speaking of baseball...did anyone see the Browns game this week? What do you think? Super Bowl in 2010?

Corey

Corey Rossen wrote:...speaking of baseball...did anyone see the Browns game this week? What do you think? Super Bowl in 2010?

Corey

2100 maybe

Speaking of the Browns, why do we always play for a draft pick? Maybe they will be better next year.

Online discussions must have thread drift. It's the law.

But, go Spiders!

Oh, and for further Drift Effect, there was a sculpture installation downtown a year or three ago featuring huge metal spiders. They were very cool!

Speaking of the Browns, why do we always play for a draft pick? Maybe they will be better next year.

Yeah....the Dallas Cowboys are rooting for us to get a high number one again in the 2008 draft. Clearly if we're playing for a draft pick, any first rounder won't be making US better next year.....

Jeff

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

David Lay wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote: The Yankees are over paid!

They've been overpaid for a long time.

David

It costs a lot of money to distract Americans from the economy, war, and other BS. Do not worry, as we drool, and cheer over millionaires that could care less if we live and die, their plan is working.

Go someone!


.

Jim, at least for today, the economy looked great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Dow, The S&P and The Nasdaq all kicked ass today...


http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071009/wall_street.html?.v=34

I'm not quoting anyone....too fragmented. I stayed up to watch every game though, flashing back to '97 was a good buzz in itself. These boys have a really good vibe, great talent and really good management. Truly a lot fun to watch!!! Awesome. For some of us, we remember "long ball lane" and a simpler time when Ramirez was on our side. We'll see soon enough... in Boston.

For me, overpaid is just not a factor. If the economy is doing okay, and the marketplace is friendly, people pay for things, if not they don't. I'm not sure that an empty Jake would be good for Lakewood, because like it or not, sports are good for a City's image. There are a lot of sports fans. Cleveland is the city on the national map. People who work in Cleveland can live and spend in Lakewood. I used to; has it changed that much in 30 years?

Go Indians!!

...speaking of the Indians...how about the weather change.

Corey