They are called "professionals" for a purpose. That is a designation that basically says they get paid to play their sport. Some get paid more than others. A lot more.
The Saint Louis Cardinals are World Champions in baseball. They have had an awesome player at first base in Albert Pujols. He is a free agent. That means he can join any team who gives him the best deal. The Los Angeles Angels did just that. They are making a contract with this great player that will pay him TWO HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR MILLION over ten years. He may be leaving his heart in Saint Louis but he is taking his bank account to Los Angeles.
The Angels weren't finished with that. They "bought" the ace of the World Series runner-up team, the Texas Rangers, for SEVENTY-SEVEN PLUS MILLION . C. J. Wilson will get paid about three quarters of a million for each game he starts. He probably will not finish nine innings in any of them. His contract is for FIVE YEARS.
The Yankees have been doing this kind of dealing for years. Now a west coast team is getting in the act. It is unimaginable that this kind of money is paid for "playing baseball". That's the way the sport has gone.
Over at Baylor University they are holding their collective breaths to see if Robert Griffin III will play another year or go professional. He is likely to have "Heisman Trophy" in his resume'. Will he stay and stick with his school and team-mates? Money talks. Players listen.
I do not blame the players. The system is flawed. For years a player could NOT be signed until after his college eligibility ran out. The courts threw that out. They can go for the gold whenever it is offered. Money talks.
