Salary Cap ? Now Please !
The Steroid era is over, hooray! Now what? Well, Major League Baseball, time to catch up with the world of sports. It is time for a salary cap on player earnings. America is in the middle of a recession, unemployment continues to rise and Major League Baseball must change with the times. Without shrewd decision making, now, on the part of Baseballs’ owners, baseball will lose fans. Fans of the game, too long disenfranchised, by eight work stoppages, the most recent nullifying an entire playoffs and World Series. Fans subjected, no matter how willingly, to widespread abuse of steroids, Human Growth Hormone and amphetamines. These same fans will not continue to pour their increasingly slim entertainment budgets into a sport dominated by the few, big spenders, only occasionally challenged by a lesser market. A product of this ilk is ultimately unsustainable. When a fans’ team is perceived as not in the race, it is easy to become disinterested. Yet continuing not to institute a salary cap leaves too many teams “out of it” before the season even starts. How will baseball ever mange to attract new viewers? Viewers indulged with most anything they want at their fingertips, shopping on the go, television via cell phone and laptops that weigh almost nothing. Will this new type of consumer pay to see a team that might be good in five years? The NHL waited until it had to cancel an entire season due to financial instability. Will Baseball?
“The term anabolic steroid means any drug or hormonal substance, chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogens, progestins, and corticosteroids) that promotes muscle growth” (Erowid). Believe it or not, ladies and gentleman, anabolic steroid use is a tremendous factor in the salary cap debate. Juice-ball drove fans to the ballpark like so many flocking geese. What record might be broken today? One such fan might ask. With homers flying out of the park like ducks at the crack of a rifle, there was ample reason to watch. This era, followed the fateful Players Strike of 1994-95. This work stoppage may have been part of the reason for owners’ laissez-faire attitude during the steroid driven years. After the strike fans were disgusted with baseball. One such account found in the Washington post, an article dated April 30, 1995, regarding fan reaction to the strike: “fans who showed up demonstrated their anger and frustration. The meager crowds at the openers often booed at the players for their rusty fundamentals, shoddy defense, and in response to frequent high-scoring contests. The strike was seen as the worst work stoppage in sports history and it left the game, the fans, and the sports world shaken, angry, outraged, sickened, and frightened to their core.” (Maske A01) It was from this contentious and seemingly unendurable time that the era of steroids was conceived, nurtured and eventually ignored. As steroids took hold of the game, players became bigger faster and stronger, seemingly overnight. As this transformation took place before our eyes, baseballs started rocketing out of the yard at an unheard of pace. With all of the souvenirs being served up the fans couldn’t scurry fast enough to be on the receiving end. Revenues were through the roof, everyone was happy. Until & #8230; Congressional hearings, tell all stories and Roger Clemons filled our televisions. Now, without the long-ball, Major league baseball finds itself faced with an economic recession and increased unemployment making a salary cap all the more crucial, right now!
In order to keep pace with other major sporting leagues baseball must take hold of the moment. With vigor and ferocity, the time must be seized. Owners have the opportunity, right now, to save baseball from turmoil, years of disinterested fans and dwindling gate sales. With the institution of a hard salary cap, similar to that used by the NFL, Major league baseball can begin to fundamentally change the way franchises are built. This new salary cap system will ensure all teams are given equal opportunity to groom young talent, and keep that talent, should they choose. This will eliminate teams such as the Red Sox and Yankees utilizing smaller market teams as a kind of farm system. Small market teams could then be “players” in free agency and trade deadline moves alike. With this new flexibility, teams will all have the ability to turn their fortunes from one year to the next. No longer will stockpiles of talent gravitate towards New York, L.A. And Miami. We will experience parity, for the Blue Jays, the Brewers and the Royals.
This new even footed Major League would attract new, young viewers by giving them a reason to believe that “this is it!” Finally, this will be the year. We are going to do it! Fans young and old alike will begin again to know the joy of last to first successes. Watch as their team builds a young core, makes smart trades and offseason signings. Finally! Finally! This is it the day is here. Spring training has begun! The season opener! Once again a landmark event, it draws us out of a cold, dreary winter into the warm, encompassing breadth that is summer. Uplifting our spirits, it’s the wonder and excitement, the smell of fresh cut grass and the sight of untouched infield. Imagine, if you will, ladies and gentleman, our country again captured, nay, enamored by our national pastime? Consider, this country watching baseball again, because it is fun, it matters and because their team is in the hunt. Bud Selig, commissioner of baseball, will be required to muster all of his strength, political support, and courage. Once thus equipped, Mr. Selig will still have to make many difficult decisions and treat the situation with care and great tact. If ever there was a chance, that time has come. He and Major League owners must take a firm grasp of this opportunity while it is available.
In many baseball markets teams have not experienced a winning season in many years, Pittsburgh Pirates, others have even moved after decades of languishing at or near the bottom of their division, Montreal Expos. Yet even teams who strive for success in smaller markets are only able to afford a few years, of competing for playoff contention, Oakland Athletics. Even for these teams, the window of opportunity is slim. Tough and shrewd personnel decisions are a must, luck will play its part and voila, small market success. Unfortunately for many, this has consisted of making the playoffs multiple years in a row, maybe a series win or two and in a few rare cases, Florida Marlins (twice), a World Series win. This short lived, seldom seen small market success is generally followed immediately by years of last place, or close to it finishes. The franchise begins to rebuild its minor league counterparts after having mined all of its talent in hopes of their one year. This regrouping or rebuilding effort can take decades if not executed properly, Colorado Rockies.
Young people, used to the immediacy of the internet, television, cell phones and all of the other technologies that make our lives more immediate, don’t have the patience to wait five, ten or more years to have their day in the sun. They want bragging rights and they want it yesterday. The NFL gets it. The NFL markets to the general populous. They determine what the “average” sports enthusiast wants and provide as much of it as possible. This thought process all began with the Salary cap. “The cap was introduced for the 1994 season and was initially $34.6 million. Both the cap and the floor were adjusted annually based on the league’s revenues, and they increased each year. In 2009, the final capped year under the current CBA, the cap was $128 million per team, while the floor was 87.6% of the cap. Using the formula provided in the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the floor in 2009 was $112.1 million. The salary floor percentage would have increased 1.2% per year until it reached 90% of the cap in 2011.” (Wikipedia) As is evident from the rising salary cap and floor percentage, since the introduction of the salary cap the NFL has increased its revenue quite dramatically. Obviously this is not the only factor in the NFL’s unrivaled success, but Major league Baseball should take note, twenty years ago, those were your viewers. Factors for this monumental shift in power are many, suffice it to say, the salary cap has played a large part.
Even with this seemingly well thought out, well executed model for successes, baseball continues to allow the players union to dictate terms. The owners have allowed the players union to run roughshod over them in every negotiation since that fateful last work stoppage. Even in the most recent negotiations, concerning drug testing, the owners were unable to obtain all the testing they desired. The players union, although unable to escape completely was given a pass on testing for HGH. “HGH has been used by competitors in sports since the 1970s, and it has been banned by the IOC and NCAA. Traditional urine analysis could not detect doping with HGH, so the ban was unenforceable until the early 2000s when blood tests that could distinguish between natural and artificial hGH were starting to be developed. Blood tests conducted by WADA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece primarily targeted HGH.” (Wikipedia) These relatively new tests have been available for years and yet in the most recent round of collective bargaining, after all of the public outcry and congressional hearings surrounding performance enhancing drugs, ownership was still unwilling to demand every test available. Prove to the public, we made a mistake, it won’t happen again. The owners should have been bolder at that moment and they should be bold now. That moment may, someday come back to haunt baseball, if the owners fail to act on immediate implementation of a salary cap. I dread to see the results.
Ever sense the players union strike of 1994 — 95, baseball owners have been scared to place unpopular demands upon the union. Now is the time! The players union has weakened after the fallout over steroid use, owners have some leverage. The time has come to use that leverage. Save baseball now. Every other major sport has one and has enjoyed tremendous success having implemented one. Players are, of course, not in favor of these measures, but that is due to lowered earning potential. What the players fail to see, however, is that with a salary cap baseball would become a more widely followed sport. Many people, in today’s market, watch baseball only sporadically and partially due to a feeling of guilt if they don’t. Baseball is “America’s past time” and all. With the institution of a salary cap, baseball would require an immediate spread of talent throughout its ranks. This spread of talent, and forced downsizing would place a premium on building an entire franchise. By doing so, all teams will be able to compete, consistently, for a championship. A fan, any fan, heck every fan wants to win. People like winners, and, hey, it’s a heck of a lot easier to drop six bucks on a soda or beer if you’re able to spill it in joyous celebration, rather than sorrowful defeat.
Bibliography
Erowid. Federal Definition of Anabolic Steroids (2005). .
Maske, Mark. “After the Strike, Baseball’s Disgusted Fans Decide to Strike Back.” Washington post 30 April 1995: A01.
Wikipedia. Wikipedia. 12 November 2010. 12 November 2010 .
— . Wikipedia. 12 November 2010. 12 November 2010 .
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
