The union’s Opening Day average first reached $3 million in 2007, but the average drops during the season as veterans are released and replaced by younger players earning far less. The union’s average at the start of this season was $3,340,133.

The New York Yankees had the highest final average at $7,604,937, down slightly from $7,663,351 when they won the World Series in 2009. Philadelphia rose from eighth to second at $5,662,551. Boston ($4,821,016) remained third, and the Chicago White Sox ($4,580,868) climbed from 12th to fourth followed by the Chicago Cubs ($4,107,304), who dropped from second. Houston ($1,931,793) slid from 11th to 22nd. Pittsburgh was last for the second straight season at $1,140,598. Cleveland ($1,205,210) dropped from 23rd to 29th.

So why is this increase in pay for MLB players dominating sports salaries?

The bottom line is that there is no salary cap in baseball and teams spend like crazy for less than productive players. NFL and NBA have fewer games, and a salary cap so they spend a lot on fewer key players and then try to build “value” players around them, who make as close to league minimum as possible. They sell some of these players on the idea that if they win a championship with them they can hit the free agent market at a higher value and make up the difference.

Free agency did not exist in MLB prior to the end of the reserve clause in the 1970s, allowing owners before that time to wholly dictate the terms of player negotiations and resulting in significantly lower salaries. Babe Ruth, widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players ever, earned an estimated $910,696 ($13,748,122 inflation-adjusted from 1931 dollars) over his entire playing career.

The average salary for MLB players is $2,866,544 and for NFL players is $1,250,000. But NFL and NBA players usually have shorter careers because of the abuse on their bodies.

So here is something interesting.

An NFL running back’s career is about 8 years and is usually one of the most valued players. An MLB pitcher can last 20 years if they are good. I am a proponent for a salary cap in baseball – I think we would see more people like Longoria earlier and I guess on the downside we would see people like Jamie Moyer retire.

The highest paid player in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the 2012 season is New York Yankees‘ third baseman Alex Rodriguez with an annual salary of $30,000,000, nearly $6 million higher than the second-highest paid player, Vernon Wells. MLB does not have a hard salary cap, instead employing a luxury tax which applies to teams whose total payroll exceeds certain set thresholds for a given season.

Let’s not forget that MLB players receive extra compensation if their teams make it to the playoffs. As baseball fans, we’d like to think that our favorite players are desperate to make the playoffs out of an undying competitive spirit that they’ve had since they were toddlers. But of course, that is not the case.

Fans sometimes forget that all players receive a playoff bonus, with the amount of the bonus determined by how far their team travels in the postseason. All the gate receipts from “required” playoff games (those that must be played even if one team sweeps)  are combined into one giant pot and divided proportionately among all playoff teams once the season is over. (Forbes.com provides a breakdown of the percentages.)

The farther a team makes it in the playoffs, the bigger their split of the money. (Even second-place clubs that didn’t make the playoffs get a cut.) Players then vote amongst themselves to decide who gets a share of their team’s winnings. For superstars with bigger contracts, the purse from the playoffs amounts to chump change. But for many baseball players, an extra $50,000 or so can be an awfully nice perk. An argument could be made that MLB players don’t really do that much on the field. For the most part if they’re not hitting, their just standing around in the infield and outfield right? Wrong!

If you only watch baseball on TV they don’t show you that every player on defense is required to move to a position on every play even if they are not in the play.

• A center fielder  actually starts into a sprint or break on every pitch and there are about 150 of those a game.
• A catcher runs out every ground ball with the runner (if no one is on base), the right fielder does the same, unless the ball is hit to the right side then he backs up the infielder – everyone goes to a position or backs up a position on every ball.

Also try running to center field and back to the dugout 18 times a game… They do work hard, and don’t forget the hardest thing to do in all sports is hit a 96 mph fastball. Is this worth the pay? I think it comes down to winning.

• Does the player give your team a better chance to win?
• How much is winning a Major League Baseball game worth?

Well to some teams it is worth a lot more than to others.  We find the average cost per win by dividing the total payroll of a team by the number of wins that team acquired over the season.

The Yankees spent the most money per win at $2.08 Million while the Oakland Athletics got their wins for dirt cheap at about $590,000 per win. The average MLB team spent about $1.22 Million per win in 2012.  So what do all of these figures tell us? Well, besides looking pretty, they don’t tell us a whole lot just yet. Because the scale is vastly different (a max of $198 Million dollars compared to a max of 162 wins just doesn’t give us two very comparable figures),   we must look instead to how well each team did compared to the league average.

The average number of wins in Major League Baseball for 2012 was 81.  Some teams obviously did better and some did worse.  The Nationals had the best record in the Majors which put their win total at 21% above the league average – pretty impressive.  The Astros had the league’s worst record at a paltry 32% below the league average.

Lastly we want to look at the amount of salary paid out above or below the league average. The Yankees spent an astonishing 102% more than the league average on salary which netted them 17% more wins than average.  Not exactly a 1-1 ratio but they play in a competitive division. The Padres spent 44% less money on salary in 2012 but only saw a difference of -6% wins off league average.  Hey, they aren’t spending money, but they aren’t losing as much as we’d expect either.

Ok, so its clear that spending a lot of money will get you wins, but not all the time. Generally, going cheap on payroll will mean a losing season but not every time either. More important than salary or superstars is a team’s ability to draft well, groom young players in the minors, and understand which players are worth the money and which aren’t.

That is easier said than done.

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The post Should Major League Baseball Players Get Paid This Much Money? appeared first on Sports Networker.

Sucking up isn’t the only way

Contrary to popular demand there are many alternatives to sucking up that will put you ahead of the game and help you gain traction within your company and with your managers.

In fact with the way people see through each other more and more nowadays unless your boss is one who eats that type of behavior up I would say it’s altogether a terrible strategy for “climbing the ladder.”

Today I offer you tips of the trade that have helped me rise in my career and what I have seen from others in related industries.  These tricks of the trade can carry over from a small business of three to a Fortune 500 company.  It also doesn’t matter if you are in accounting, video production, sales, or broadcasting… there is a certain way you can go about your trade regardless of your department that will help you become a more and more valuable employee every single day!

1. Yes, it is your job

Don’t ever utter the words “That’s not my job” ever again.  If you are working for a company and they ask you about something it is your job.  Those that believe that’s not my job are essentially telling their management that they are fine to work 9 to 5, punching the clock, getting a 1% raise every two to three years, and working until the day they have to move into a retirement home.

It is your job to help find a solution if you want to prove yourself worthy.  You may not have a clue about the question or it may not be your department but you don’t answer with “not my problem.”  If it is a simple task that you know you can accomplish correctly then just take care of it and do it.  If it’s a more complicated quest then you have a few options: you can politely let them know your area of expertise and how you could certainly work on it but may need some guidance, or you can find someone who will handle that request for you, or you can find a partial solution.

There’s no one way to handle it other than not saying “That’s not my job.”

2. It’s a race to the top not to the bottom: Prove your value

Seth Godin, aka the smartest marketer alive, has often said that if you want to race to the bottom then try to compete and sell on lowest price but if you want to race to the top then compete on value.

Just the same with your upper management…prove your value each and every day.  There are certain tasks that a blind cat could do for your company.  Don’t get yourself lumped in as someone who can only accomplish those tasks.  Make it a goal every single day to do some incredibly tough and thought provoking work for your company.  Show that you are there to go to the top and not get dragged down to the bottom.

Examples of this may include:

1. Innovative solutions to current problems
2. More efficient ways to get difficult tasks accomplished
3. New programs that will create employee excitement
4. Out of office ideas to built team rapport and loyalty, etc.

The more value you create the further you will go in life.  If you continue to create value and it’s not appreciated don’t get frustrated.  You are gaining plenty of experience for when you decide to fire the company you work for and go to one that will truly acknowledge and recognize the valuable work you are putting forth each and every day.

3. Stand Out

Hot Dog Stand Marketing is my creation of how I believe we need to treat customers, clients, and people in the coming decades.  One thing we need to do is stand out completely from all competition if we want to succeed.

What are you doing to stand out??

Have you offered to lead a meeting?  Are you writing a weekly newsletter or blog with industry related ideas?  Have you brought a new way of thinking to attract more business or new customers? Brought the negativity and gossip to a head and turned it into positive engaging conversation?  Refused to engage in inner office gossip?  Joined a club to help you get better out of your own time?

Think about your current situation and what you are doing.  If nothing comes to mind it’s time to think about some of the above ideas and what you can do.

And you are right.  These are hard and time consuming projects.  But if we want to stay ahead of the game, gain traction, and be valuable then that is what you need to do.  The days of getting ahead just by showing up to work on time are long gone!

4. Volunteer

Volunteer your time, your thoughts, your ideas, and yourself as much as possible.  When something needs help…you are the one to help it.  It will set you leaps and bounds apart from those that cower their heads in their desk every time something that needs doing gets asked to be done.

5. Be Yourself

People recognize fake and lack of authenticity.  The most important thing you can do every day is simply be yourself.  Don’t fall for the anecdote that “this is who they want me to be so I’ll do it.”

You are special, you are excellent at what you do, and you should be confident in that.  You are bringing a different perspective to the table every single day you set foot in that office.  Just because you don’t like the same music, spend your evenings differently, or don’t care to engage in the same activities as your upper management doesn’t mean you should conform.  They’ll respect your value that you bring to the gig, and if they don’t as I said before, you’ll be able to gain lots of experience before letting them know they’ve been released of their duties as being your employer.

The #1 most important action that I have taken every day that has me ready to enter my 12th year of 100% commission sales this June is to be myself.  If I am anything else I am doing myself and all those around me a disservice and my work won’t be as great as it could be.

The employee of the year award is nice, but it’s not necessary.  Your goal is to get ahead of the game and stay ahead of the game.  To gain traction by doing difficult and valuable work that no one else in your company does and that your upper management can’t do without.

You want to be known as being trusted, dedicated, innovative, intelligent, positive, and a true go getter.

You can do the difficult work and climb to the top or you can do the easy work that makes an employee easily replaceable and go for a race to the bottom.

The answer to me is easy.  I’m sure you agree with me, but know that it won’t be the most popular or easy way.

But in the end you, whatever you represent, and the world at large will be the winner because of what you accomplished.  And that should make any person sleep good at night!

Thanks for reading everyone!  Want more tips in putting action steps to these or have any to add?? Hit me up on my facebook page HERE or tweet us at SportsNetworker or leave your comments below.

Have a great day all, Carpe Diem!

The post How to Stay Ahead of the Game and Gain Traction With Your Company appeared first on Sports Networker.

Rounding out the top five spots respectively is LeBron James ($56.5 million), Drew Brees ($47.8 million), Kobe Bryant ($46.9 million) and Tiger Woods ($40.8 million). Last year, Brees wasn’t even on the list. However, a $37 million signing bonus from his new contract propelled him to the No. 3 spot on the list this year.

The list is ranked based on the total amount of money an athlete earned from salary/winnings and endorsements. Some athletes, like Tiger Woods, make the majority of their money not based on their performance, but from endorsements instead. So far in 2013, Woods has won just under $8 million for his performance on the golf course. The rest of his earnings comes from $33 million in endorsements.

Not surprising is the fact that exactly half of the list is compiled of baseball players, with Alex Rodriguez topping the list, earning $29.9 million, with just $900,000 coming through endorsements from Nike, Vita Coco and Rawlings. The list is filled with baseball players due to the absence of a salary cap in Major League Baseball, allowing for mega contracts.

You can see the full list of the 50 richest athletes in professional sports here.

The post Mayweather Tops Sports Illustrated’s List of 50 Richest Athletes in 2013 appeared first on Sports Networker.

The Maloof brothers have made an agreement with a Seattle-based group led by Chris Hanen and Steve Ballmer to sell 20 percent of the team for $125 million. The deal would allow the Maloofs to continue to operate the franchise. This agreement comes immediately following Hansen’s announcement on Friday that he has increased his offer to buy the franchise from $358 million to $409 million. The deal would boost the estimated value of the team to $625 million.

The new deal also includes an offer of $115 million to owners to cover a relocation fee. The offer amounts to about $4 million per team. When the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, they paid $30 million total as a relocation fee.

Two weeks ago, the NBA relocation committee unanimously voted against the relocation to Seattle. Those with the deep pockets, in this case, Hansen and Ballmer, aren’t letting the decision stop their desire to bring an NBA franchise back to Seattle.

The post Maloofs Inform Owners of Refusal to Sell Kings to Sacramento-Based Group appeared first on Sports Networker.

“Fans are fed up.”

“Nobody will come to the arenas, or watch the games.”

Even Detroit Red Wings coach, Mike Babcock said, “Hate to say it, but we could end up like bowling” when referring to post-lockout viewership.

However, as the Stanley Cup Playoffs start, the NHL is, surprisingly on solid ground. It turns out fans did watch, both on television and in arenas.

According to the Sporting News, 21 of the 22 American based NHL teams saw a ratings increase, with the Penguins posting the highest local ratings of any sports team since 2007. NBC Sports Network also saw an 18% ratings jump and its Wednesday Night Rivalry games had seven of the top eight rated games in the season.

Attendance at NHL arenas was also healthy in the regular season. Sixteen teams were at 100% capacity or above according to ESPN.com. League stalwarts like the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins lead the way in attendance, but smaller markets like San Jose and Ottawa and Vancouver also did well.

All of this bodes well for the NHL moving forward. The playoffs feature marquee match-ups and strong storylines. The NY Rangers and Washington Capitals have become one of the better rivalries in the league, the Islanders and their compelling history are relevant again, Sidney Crosby is back from injury and the Chicago Blackhawks are a powerhouse. This sets the stage for strong post season television rating and a chance to make the 2012-20013 season to be about hockey and not the lockout.

Clearly, fans have forgiven the NHL of their transgressions. The NHL may still be fourth in the pecking order of American sports leagues, and the league still has strides to make, but the NHL isn’t dead yet.

Comment below, make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @EugeneDailyNews

The post NHL Alive and Well Post Lockout appeared first on Sports Networker.

Fresh Dough

Teams invest millions of dollars in the contracts of these athletes, praying that they will receive their return on investment. The college prospects dream about the money they will receive, because for most college athletes, their first NFL contract is the first time they will ever have more than a few thousand dollars of discretionary money in their name.

College athletes are typically much too busy with academics and athletics to have time for a part-time job while they attend college. Like most other college students, they get by with a frugal lifestyle. So it’s no surprise that they get excited over the idea of entering the job market with the promise of a ton of money…

Cream of the Crop

Thirty of the best college athletes are invited to attend the NFL Draft in person in New York City. These athletes are wined and dined by an NFL host committee. They are given exclusive interviews and lavish photo shoots. They are treated as the best, and as the best, the expectation is that these are the players that will be selected first.

The hardest part for these athletes is the wait. They will all be drafted, but the question is when. They wonder if they will be drafted with pick number 3 or pick number 19. I understand their impatience, anxiety and nerves, but at this point there is nothing more they can do but sit back and wait. They have already completed all of their college games, drills, interviews, and tests. The body of work is complete, and that’s how NFL teams have derived grades for every eligible player.

While there are many skilled talent evaluators in the industry, the only opinions that truly matter exist inside of the 32 NFL Draft rooms! 

Strike 1

This year 23 invitees accepted the invitation to New York City. They are each seated at a table with some individuals of their choice, usually their family and agent(s), in what is called the “Green Room.” From here, it is not hard for the media to track the disposition and mannerisms of these athletes.

Four of the 23 invitees were NOT selected in the first round on Day 1 of the NFL Draft this year. Geno Smith was one of them. I have no doubt that he had high expectations, as most expert Draft analysts projected him being selected midway through the first round. He sat waiting anxiously, but you could see the look of disgust and exasperation creeping onto his face. His demeanor changed from joy to frustration. And I don’t blame him for that; he was disappointed. But these athletes need to remember that their actions are being displayed on a national stage. They are not guaranteed anything by NFL teams.

After going undrafted in the first round, Geno declined an interview and stated that he would not come back to Radio City Music Hall on Day 2 for rounds 2 and 3 of the Draft. He obviously felt embarrassed, but rather than remaining humble, he let his pride get in the way. He could have simply gone back to his hotel room and assessed the situation, but instead he felt the need to declare his displeasure. Many successful NFL players have fallen much farther in the Draft than they wanted, but they handled the situation better in the moment. They then used the undesirable situation as fuel to excel in the NFL!

Luckily, someone (likely Geno’s agent) got in his ear and told him that he needed to go back and sit in the Green Room on Day 2. If he were to stay in his room, it would definitely send the wrong message. Teams would likely infer some degree of selfishness or a propensity to give up. Remember, EVERY ACTION is scrutinized. Personally, just the fact that he threatened to not return was a red flag for me. I interpreted his actions to mean that he is quick to bail when times get tough. I see adversity not sitting well with him.

Geno is a quarterback. This position NEEDS TO LEAD his team on 4th quarter comebacks. He will have a ton of adversity as an NFL player! He is a quarterback, so there is pressure. He is playing for a fickle Jets fan base and answering to the judgmental Jets media, so there is additional pressure. Teammates cannot afford to play with a quarterback that will just give up and walk away. With that kind of personality, no teammate will want to go the extra mile for him. There will be no loyalty or commitment to him. Do you think Tom Brady gets by on his talent alone? No, his supporting cast has unwavering confidence in him!

NFL teams do not want to invest in a player that does not exhibit an unwavering commitment. Geno’s actions were a prime example of what not to do. But for the sake of the argument, lets give him a pass and say that maybe he was just emotional due to the magnitude of the situation.

Strike 2

Geno finally was drafted in the second round, number 39 overall by the New York Jets. His relief was evident, and that was followed by joy.

But rather than focus on preparing for rookie camp, Geno decided to fire his agent! Just four days after being drafted, the agent that had invested a great deal of time and money recruiting Geno was kicked to the curb. (And how timely: Just when we were forgetting Geno’s childish actions from the first day of the Draft.) Talk about a lack of commitment. He chose the agent, and it was his decision to sign a contract with the agent. How unprofessional to renege on a deal because things didn’t go his way. Newsflash! Things will not always go your way as an NFL player. You are playing against the best of the best, and your competition will capitalize on the tiniest of mistakes. Geno, are you going to give up when things don’t go ideally in games? Geno, you cannot fire teammates if they drop passes.

So the very same agent that had offered Geno guidance & counsel, developed a relationship with him, and had likely talked him into returning to the Green Room was fired for doing absolutely nothing wrong!

Fired for Cause?

Geno claims that the agent was fired for a myriad of reasons, and that his decision was “not because of the whole Draft experience.” I’m going to call his bluff. If he had been drafted in the top 5, he would be nothing but smiles, and he would have been hugging his agent. Instead, he is acting irrationally again, as he looks to place blame.

NFL teams frown on players that act rashly and immaturely.

Conversely, Geno’s agents took the high road, in part saying, “The question of whether Geno would be a first or second round pick was arguably the most talked about subject in the three months leading up to the draft. We wish Geno the best.”

It is obvious that agents Nalley and Burkhardt tried to educate Geno on the process, despite the fact that Geno reportedly believed he would be the number one pick. It appears that they tried to reason with him, attempting to prepare him regarding where he might be selected.

Can You Handle the Truth?

Agents sometimes have to make ridiculous promises to acquire clients and/or keep them happy. Very few Draft prospects would happily embrace being told to plan to be drafted much lower than expected. A close-minded client would either dump the agent or tell the agent that he is not doing his job.

Even if his agents did promise him being selected high in the Draft, it is his own fault for believing it. Agents do not have any more of a scouting eye than any of the rest of us. The best evaluators of talent are NFL scouts. That’s why they are the scouts, and they are the only people whose opinion and analysis truly matters. Everyone else, to include agents, has to rely on second-hand knowledge, rumors and/or evaluations.

Simply put, Geno was unhappy that his agents didn’t somehow get him drafted higher. He was not happy to sit in the Green Room. And while I already gave him one ‘free pass,’ I might be able to look the other way and dismiss this action as part of the learning process.

Strike 3

NFL teams are quick to dismiss a player without a work ethic. But teams do recognize talent. So Geno was given a chance by the Jets. But it is interesting to see how quickly  multiple reports came out about Geno’s apparent lack of interest during pre-Draft interviews. Geno reportedly was not invested and inattentive. He likely viewed interviews as distractions rather than job interviews. (This reminds me of JaMarcus Russell.)

You can no longer rely on talent alone as an NFL athlete, but Geno’s actions exhibit exactly that kind of mindset. NFL Teams undoubtedly saw these actions and determined he wouldn’t be a very good leader on or off the field, in both action and words.

3 STRIKES AND YOU’RE OUT!

The Real Reason

What was the result? Geno Smith fell on Draft Day. It was not his agent’s fault, and Geno had no reason to be mad. It was his doing!

More Chances?

I have a feeling we are not done hearing Geno Smith complain. Maybe he will be a training camp holdout, arguing over how many appearances his contract specifies he must make every season. Maybe he will publicly complain if he isn’t given the starting job for Week 1 of the regular season. Maybe he will argue that an interception isn’t his fault. Regardless of the circumstance, keep your ears open for high pitched noises coming from New York Jets country: What you are likely hearing is the whine of Geno Smith.

Somebody needs to let him know that he’s no longer at bat! He already struck out.

Comment below if you think Smith made the right or wrong choice firing his agent. Make sure to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter @SportsNetworker

The post Geno Smith’s Guide on How NOT To Go Pro appeared first on Sports Networker.

The Seattle group, led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, accompanied by Seattle mayor Mike McGinn and other officials, have steered the panel through the proposed purchase of the Kings from the Maloof family.

The Maloofs, agreed to sell a controlling interest in the team for $341 million to the group, which plans to relocate the team to the city and rename it the Supersonics in time for the 2013-14 season. Sacramento has put together its own group, led by former NBA All-Star and Mayor Kevin Johnson, and three of the investors behind a counter-offer for the team: Vivek Ranadive, Ron Burkle and Mark Mastrov. Last week, Johnson characterized the chances of the Kings remaining in Sacramento at “about 90 percent.”

In 2008 the NBA Board of Governors voted to allow the ownership group led by Clay Bennett to move the Supersonics team from Seattle to Oklahoma City. National sports pundits have generally agreed that the league erred in allowing the move because of fan support in Seattle. There is a large finger of blame being pointed at the politicians, that simply refused to bend over and build Clay Bennett a publicly funded $600 Million palace, and the NBA left. The fat cats, Schultz, Bennett, Stern and the politicians let the Sonics go.

In the years following the approved move of the Sonics, David Stern and the majority of the board, have been unrepentant in that decision citing their perceived difficulty at that time in getting the City of Seattle to fully partner with the Bennett group with a public subsidy to build a new arena. The City of Seattle now has offered up to $200M in public subsidies to assist the Chris Hansen group in financing a new arena, but the money has a guaranteed repayment as per Seattle law, so essentially it is not a subsidy with equal assumption of risk, as is commonly the practice in these situations (and IS in fact the situation in Sacramento’s $258M proposed subsidy.) They weren’t after only a loan of money guaranteed to be paid back, but an actual investment in the arena with the team and NBA which was subject to gain and loss just as the NBA’s investment.

Seattle is still struggling to get a new arena built, and it is no secret that David Stern wants to see the Kings be able to make it work in Sacramento, more than he wants to please Seattle. Is this the type of atmosphere conducive to fitting in and winning in the NBA?

Sacramento is offering the exact kind of subsidy that Stern and the NBA wanted from Seattle back in 2008. By accepting the Sacramento offer and thereby rejecting the Seattle offer the league can nix a repeat of, in their mind, the smaller mistake of moving a team away from supporting fans while reinforcing its stance on city/league partnerships. The NBA, by denying the relocation of the Kings to Seattle, can reaffirm that, in general, it is a mistake to move a team from a city with fantastic fan support while in turn rewarding a city government who is willing to become full partners, with the gains and risks inherent in that partnership, along with the NBA.

This being said, the general consensus is Seattle will not get the Kings and in the process Seattle will not be cheated again. They simply are not able to play the game within the subsidy boundaries the same way Sacramento can. Stern will not reward Seattle while he is at the helm, and he will not create an even bigger stain on his legacy by letting the Kings move.

Seattle has made some pitches to NBA owners on the corporate base in Seattle, a strong selling point to a league which likes corporate partnerships. The Seattle high ups have reportedly presented to the NBA a list of 44,000 names of people who have signed up for Sonics season tickets. This is a smart move on Seattle’s part, but can they keep that list of names moving in to the future? Seattle already has too many sports teams competing for attendance.

Also, it claims more than 10,000 Sacramento fans have already pledged to purchase season tickets for next season and that the Kings have had greater attendance than the Sonics have had in the past. The wealth of the investors and the public commitment sends a clear signal to the league that with the right owners, the Sacramento market can be a lucrative one. When you look at a 23-year period where both Seattle and Sacramento have had NBA teams, Sacramento’s market outdrew Seattle’s market 20 of 23 seasons, despite Seattle having a better record. Those are the kinds of things that show you where a team wants and needs to be.

My opinion is that this will ultimately result in the Kings moving to Seattle, and David Stern is just delaying the inevitable. However, Sacramento is “The better fit.” Stern knows that he messed up when the Supersonics moved. Now, he sees a perfect opportunity to rectify the situation.

Nevertheless, whatever happens with this whole ordeal should prove to be quite interesting, and it will ultimately end up leaving one fan base extremely upset.

Comment below if you think the Kings would be better off in Seattle or Sacramento. Join the conversation on Facebook and on Twitter @SportsNetworker

The post Would the Kings be a Better Fit in Sacramento or Seattle? appeared first on Sports Networker.

In every statistical category the chart covers (franchise value, TV ratings, nationally televised games, attendance, and ticket sales), the Cavs have fallen while the Heat have risen. After James left Cleveland, the franchise’s value dropped over $100 million, while Miami’s rose by nearly $60 million. Miami’s TV ratings doubled from a 2.5 to a 5.0, while Cleveland’s plummeted from a 7.7 to a 3.9.

Two of the most eye popping stats were the number of nationally televised games and ticket sales. In 2010, the Cavs appeared on national TV 25 times. After James left, that number dropped to three. The average price of a ticket to a Cavs game dropped $200 to just $50, while Miami’s rose from $93 to $311.

The chart uses a Wages of Wins formula to calculate James’ value. For the 2011-2012 season, the NBA paid players $1.9 billion to produce 990 wins. Each win is worth $1.95 million. James created 15.88 wins according to the formula, which gives him a value of $30.9 million. James’ salary is $16,022,500 per year. Therefore, using this formula, James is underpaid by $14,883, 496.

Do you think LeBron James should earn a higher salary?

LeBron James Is Underpaid – An infographic by the team at CableTV.com

The post Why LeBron James Could Be the Most Underpaid Athlete in Sports appeared first on Sports Networker.

Verlander, however, is not the only pitcher to recently sign a large, long-term contract. Below is a list of several recent deals that have netted pitchers a big pay-day.

1. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (7 years, $175 million)
2. CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (5 years, $122 million)
3. Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers (6 years, $147 million)
4. Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies (6 years, $144 million)
5. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers (7 years, $180 million)

Perhaps the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw may be the next addition to this list. In fact, he has the chance to be the first $200 million pitcher in baseball. Kershaw, 25, has been a staple in the Dodgers rotation since he was 20. As of March 28, he holds a career record of 64-39 with a 2.75 ERA. He won the NL Cy Young in 2011 as well as the NL ERA leader in 2011 and 2012.

Fellow lefty Cole Hamels is Kershaw’s best comparison. As noted above, Hamels signed a six-year, $147 million extension in 2012 at the age of 28. Although Hamels has enjoyed similar success, he has been nowhere near as dominant as Kershaw. With that being said, Kershaw should far surpass Hamels’ current contract.

Aside from his ridiculous numbers, when Kershaw signs an extension, he will be younger than any of the pitchers on the list at the time of their extension. After the 2013 season, he will have one arbitration year left before he is eligible to become a free agent. At 25, he is still three years away from considered to be in his prime. As a result, he should be able to command a long-term contract (7-9 years). With a seven year contract, I would expect something closer to Verlander’s current deal with an average annual value around $25 million. At nine years, however, it is very possible he comes close or eclipses the $200 million mark.

Whether the Dodgers lock him up to a long-term deal before he becomes a free agent remains to be seen. Regardless, he stands a real chance to become the highest paid pitcher in history.

Contract information courtesy of Baseball Prospectus

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No, I’m not describing the latest action movie, I’m talking about the NFL Draft! And this does not just apply to fans; there is also some intense emotion inside of every one of the 32 team Draft rooms. I have seen a complete range of emotions expressed as I worked in these Draft rooms over the years, ranging from absolute bliss to utter frustration, from complete shock to confident satisfaction. And honestly, I have come to expect nothing less.

The NFL Draft is a culmination of two years worth of work. Scouts have been tirelessly crisscrossing the country compiling and analyzing every possible piece of information about every college football player eligible for the NFL Draft. They have written reports breaking down every aspect of the athletic talents of these graduating college football seniors (and the dozens of juniors declaring for the Draft). The result is that teams know JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING there is to know about every player. Allow me to name a few random examples:

• Number of pancake blocks
• Changes in the Degree they are Pursuing
• Parents’ Marital Status
• Number of Speeding Tickets
• Relationship Status
• Positions he has Played throughout his Career
• Any Bone that has ever been Broken in his Body
• And the list goes on…

Teams are fully prepared, and rightly so! They are investing millions of dollars in building the future of their respective teams, and to make mistakes in the NFL Draft ultimately leads to failure on the football field. It goes without saying that the professional football industry is unforgiving…

Games Lost = Jobs Lost

So the entire Front Office of every team has remained focused in preparation, knowing full well that difficult decisions will have to be made. They cannot afford to make poor choices.

However, even with scrupulous planning, things will not go ideally. Most often, the NFL Draft unfolds much differently than anticipated. Unforeseen circumstances present themselves, unbelievable opportunities arise, and prudence is tested. Things will not go as planned.

Twists and Turns

Listed below are just a few of the events occurring on Day 1 of the 2013 NFL Draft Thursday night that most of us never saw coming. But there are reasons, and my inside experience can shed some light on those reasons. Lets explore:

1. Leapfrog

It comes as no surprise that Miami jumped up to select defensive end Dion Jordan, whom they apparently felt they absolutely HAD TO HAVE. This happens numerous times in every Draft. A team feels that the player it covets will be selected by another team, so it trades up in front of the team(s) it sees as threatening.  The Dolphins felt the obvious threat of Jordan being selected by the teams right after the third pick.

2. The Race for Arms

The NFL has placed a premium on the quarterback position, and this fact always shines through in the NFL Draft. Usually a team trades up in the first round to select a quarterback that nobody else expected to go that early. Quarterbacks go early simply because having the RIGHT quarterback in place can put a team over the hump and into Super Bowl contention for a decade!

But this year was SURPRISINGLY different as the the only quarterback taken was E.J. Manuel by the Bills. While he may have been taken a bit early, he was the only quarterback selected. I was shocked to see no teams trade up into the bottom of the first round to select an available quarterback.

3. Follow The Leader

Analysts always predict that a “run at a position” will happen. This occurs when a team desperate for a certain position sees players at that position being selected repeatedly. For example, this year 6 offensive linemen were chosen in the top 11 picks!

Teams often have numerous players grouped at the same position with very similar grades. So a team will say that they want to be sure to get 1 of the 4 offensive linemen in the grouping with its pick. If the team sees these offensive linemen being taken, it may try to trade up to make sure it can select one of the offensive linemen in the grouping of 4 before they are all gone. This year there was not even an opportunity to trade up: The teams sitting at the top of the Draft wanted the available offensive linemen.

4. Betting The Farm

Remember the bounty of picks the Falcons gave up 2 years ago to trade up and select receiver Julio Jones? Sometimes a team will have a strong conviction about a player as the perfect fit for their system. They believe his skill to be so great that the impact he has on the team will catapult the team to greater success. When this is the case, the team is willing to give up a “king’s ransom” to trade up for the player. Yesterday that team was the Vikings. They traded back up into the first round to draft receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, and they gave up four picks later in the Draft for this right.

5. The Two-Step

Sometimes a team feels that the player it covets does not warrant being selected at its pick. This team feels that no other team has the player graded quite so high. It believes it could get the player later in the round, so they are very receptive to offers to trade down. It appeared to me that Oakland was that team this year as they moved down from pick 3 to pick 12 and still selected the player it targeted: Cornerback D.J. Hayden. This is always risky but rewarding.

6. The Stretch

This is the scenario that every media ‘analyst’ loves to critique! You will hear them claim that a team “absolutely reached” on a player and “should not have selected him that early!” Sadly, they are only right about this a small portion of the time. For the most part, teams usually stick to their grade boards, and they do not select players sooner than their grade warrants. But every now and then we see an overzealous coach or a worrisome owner or an egotistical general manager make a ‘powerplay’ decision and truly reach for a player. It appears that happened yesterday with the Chargers. New General Manager Tom Telesco likely felt some internal pressure to acquire a cornerstone offensive tackle. With the top three tackles going very quickly, the Chargers had no feasible opportunity to trade up. Instead, they stayed put at pick 11 and selected tackle D.J. Fluker much higher than any other team would have dared!

7. The Slide

Brady Quinn. Aaron Rodgers. Need I go on? There is always a player that slides. In short, everyone recognizes this player’s talent, but for whatever reason he does not get selected. Maybe it’s an unknown injury situation, maybe it’s a hidden character flaw, or maybe it’s just that teams had more pressing positional needs. Whatever the case, he falls down through the first round, and all he can do is helplessly watch and wait. This happened again on Thursday, and two teams were able to cash in on fantastic players. The Bengals got great value with tight end Tyler Eifert at pick 21, and the Vikings got a supreme talent with Sharrif Floyd at pick 23.

Similarly, it was especially difficult to watch quarterback Geno Smith yesterday as he sat there pick after pick waiting for that phone call telling him he was selected. Sadly, that call never came for Smith or linebacker Manti T’eo.

8. Go Fish

There are times when a team will find itself in an unfavorable scenario. All the players of interest are gone, and there are no players left with a grade high enough to warrant being selected. But the team also has received no worthy trade offers, so they are forced to select the best player available and hope for the best. I’m no expert, but that appeared to be the case yesterday with the Packers. With the selection of Datone Jones, I believe they are simply praying for the best!

Extremes

My favorite pick: Barkevious Mingo at pick 6 by Cleveland. Specifically, I see amazing change-of-direction, great hands, and tremendous burst in him.

My bust pick: Cordarrelle Patterson at pick 29 to the Vikings. I see Patterson as a tall lanky pass catcher that lacks agility. He may be able to catch jump balls, but he does not run crisp routes; he does not show any ability to separate; he lacks some burst, relying solely on his top speed; and he doesn’t use his hands well to get off the jam.

What Did You Actually Know?

Nobody could have predicted things to unfold the way they did last night. (I actually had 6 of the 8 of the items above accurately titled and described without specific names before the Draft had even begun. That is only possible because some things happen every year: It is just difficult to predict the teams, players, and pick numbers.)

So maybe some foresight can be applied, but ultimately the good Personnel departments are set apart from the bad by the players they select. Those scouts, coaches and executives that made the right decisions will be rewarded for years to come. Those that missed the mark likely will be shown the door sooner than later. Only time will tell.

In the meantime, all we can do is watch these players develop over the next decade. So sit back and enjoy as the craziness of the Draft continues to unfold today and tomorrow!

Comment below on who you think was the steal of the draft, who could be the next bust and if you think your favorite team made the right move. Make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @SportsNetworker

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