// December 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Baseball, General, Sports
The baseball off-season has already been rife with surprises, upsets, great buys, and unexpected signings. From the blockbuster 3-way trades involving Halladay and Granderson, to the significant signings of Lackey, Figgins, and Wolf, to the youthful future investments in the likes of Austin Jackson and Brett Wallace, the market continues to deploy the laws of supply and demand at its best. But as I look back on the stellar deals I notice a reoccurring theme that is difficult to miss, that of a bewildered, well-recognizable athlete left on the outside looking in, questioning the simple laws of need vs. want and the actions commencing inside the bargaining table.
From Cliff Lee announcing that he never saw his trade to the Mariners coming, expecting an extension with the Phillies and a surefire place to live out the remainder of his career, to the likes of Johnny Damon who, with 2 rings, a career salary over $100 million, and a coveted position in the Yankee lineup, continues to claim he wants nothing more than to stay a Yankee, yet seems confused over the fact they refuse to give into his three years and no less than $13 million demands. It leaves me wondering, do we live in a world where we place such a heightened value on our inner opinions of ourselves, where we are constantly told that we can be and have anything our heart desires and to not settle for anything less, that we lose sight of our role in the greater scheme of things, our true value, if you will, on the open market?
From the dynamics of a baseball team to the opportunities for advancement at a company to the lavish attention of others at a social event, there are those who realize that their skills and talents call for opportunities in life in which doors will open, generous intrigue will be bestowed, and positive outcomes will reign supreme. But can any of us as ego-driven human beings willingly accept the time that will inevitably come in which the spotlight will be dimmed, the company or the team will decide their needs and one’s wants no longer match, the social environment that once drew engaging looks and attention now seeks only advice and wisdom, and the plethora of interesting prospects are now resolved to a minute list of options?
Whether it’s a major league pitcher with an awarding winning resume or an employee with a proven track record, a respected designated hitter facing a bleak market or a professional forced into retirement fearing the quiet life away from an established career, are we ever ready to accept a new destiny we had not prepared for, ready to accept a fate that draws us away from our perfectly envisioned path for the future? Can we push aside our egos, let go of our preconceived notions and embrace the ever-changing curveballs of life or are we so determined to prove, if only to ourselves, that we are deserving of that which we seek, that we refuse to budge from our mindset, even if it leaves us sitting alone in our own denial while the world passes us by?
It’s a challenge to anyone, to take an honest look in the mirror and assess one’s skills, strengths, and weaknesses, and be willing to check one’s opinion of one’s self at the door, in order to embrace something new and unplanned. At the end of the day a 3 year, 30 million dollar a year salary might seem like the ultimate defining factor (insert your ideal career salary here), but when you break down the non-monetary gains be it ball player or otherwise: a winning team that you call home, a place where you can continue to grow and mentor young people, a position coveted by many, you might just realize that opportunity has much more to offer than any preconceived price tag placed on it.
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