Is loyalty lacking?

I am going to start my first column off by making a few factual statements, and see if you can follow the trend. It’ll be a fun little game we can play together. You ready? Here we go.

Terrell Owens started his career in San Francisco and then landed in Philadelphia… only after being initially traded, of course, to Baltimore for about five seconds before reneging on his previous contract and some how finding his way to the City of Brotherly Love.

Larry Hughes was drafted by the Warriors, found success with the Wizards, and is where now? Shooting hoops with LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

Pedro Martinez started his career with the Dodgers and his brother Ramon before being traded to the Montreal Expos where he made a name for himself. He then signed with the Boston Red Sox where he won a World Series ring before going to the New York Mets to be their new ace this season.

My point is this: Where are the days when a player stayed loyal to the team that drafted him?

Darrell Green played 20 seasons with Washington and has been nicknamed “Mr. Redskin.” Even after his career finished you can still see him affiliating himself with the organization as a sideline reporter for this year’s preseason games.

Cal Ripken Jr. played with his brother Billy Ripken for the Orioles under management of his father in the 80’s, and finished his career with the team after setting the record for most consecutive games played.

Unfortunately, these men are blatantly the exception and not the rule.

Many players, including Owens, have been missing valuable training camp time while holding out for more money and better contracts, excusing their absence by explaining that the NFL – as well as many other sports – is now a business.

Holding out now is seen by sports agents and players as a standard business- conscious decision that will benefit the player in the long run. However, there is no part of that statement that benefits the organization for which the player plays. Loyalty to an organization is a foreign concept in modern professional sports.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez has declared again this season his desire to be traded, despite his great relationship with slugger David Ortiz and the fact the Red Sox have a great shot to win the American League East and make a strong push toward another World Series championship.

Why would a player want to leave such a promising situation? It’s a business to him and even if they go on to win another championship he may likely ask to leave again next season to the dismay of all Bostonians. Even star centerfielder Jonny Damon commented in an article that he wouldn’t mind playing for the arch rival New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner if the money was right.

There is hope however. Teams like the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles build their teams around core players that aren’t seeking attention and the spotlight. Tom Brady signed a mediocre-sized contract relative to his worth to free up more cap space for other players. Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid and the Eagles organization are ignoring the ridiculous cries of Owens to show him the money. These two are also the teams who were in the Super Bowl and have people saying, “Dynasty,” for the first time in years. Hopefully this trend will continue.