Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Scott Boras IS the Evil Empire

Scott Boras has built a sports empire. He is probably the only sports agent in America that most every sports fan can name. Think about it for a moment...can you give the name of ANY other sports agent? How about just a last name? You probably can't and neither can I. You have to hand it to him - He is intelligent, aggressive, and a risk taker. He would not be in the position he is now if he were not. The great empire he has built has made him insanely rich, just as he has made his clients insanely rich. However, while he and his company have benefited and his clients have benefited (at least monetarily), they game they claim to love has been forever damaged.

I friend of mine and I were discussing the topic of "Who has done more damage to the game of baseball". The names we discussed were many - Pete Rose, Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds, George Steinbrenner, etc. I think each of those men and others have done great damage to the game. But in my mind, Scott Boras has topped them all. He has helped create the climate today that reward greed and punishes loyalty. Scott Boras did not create free agency, but he has taken it to its lowest levels. I am certainly not against someone making money. But Scott has ensured that money will always be the number one criteria for players deciding where to play. To me, that is just plain sad.

Here is an example - Andruw Jones has played is entire career with the Atlanta Braves. Andruw himself negotiated his last contract because he wanted to stay a Brave. Apparently, this resulted in him receiving the wrath of his agent, Scott Boras. Now, as much as Andruw Jones wanted to finish his career in Atlanta, he is going to go where the most money is. Why? Because his super agent, Scott Boras insists upon it. Of course, the more money that Andruw makes, the more money Boras makes.

Just this week, Scott Boras again shows his class by making his big announcement that A-Rod is not returning to the Yankees. Great timing! During the final game of the WS, Scott Boras felt it was unfair that the baseball fans across the country could focus on the game instead of on him and his clients.

Scott Boras is bad for baseball. Scott Boras, please just go away.