I'm still not sure I believe the reports of the Marlins offer being that high ...

So it turns out that at the end of the day Pujols is nothing but a sell out like the rest of the professional sports fraternity who will sell themselves out to the highest bidder. Sad

 

Or someone that realizes that a contract like that can set up his family for the next few generations. Why hate on a guy for being successful enough for people to think he's worth that kind of money? I personally don't think any one is worth a quarter of a billion dollars but can't fault him for cashing in when a team does.

But when you profess your love for St. Louis and their fans and claim you want to be "a Cardinal for life" ...

 

So he wanted to, but he had 54 million reasons he couldn't be. I would play baseball for North Korea for 54 million dollars. Hell I would do just about any thing for that much, that's a lot of money.

Very true.

Fans would be a lot less emotional and probably a lot happier if they would just come to grips with the reality of professional athletics. It is not rah-rah, give it your all. It is every man for himself. As you have implied, it is a job and each athlete is a business of one.

 

Which is part of the reason I'm really not a big pro sports fan but also have no problem when this type of stuff happens.

Maybe much less than that ...

 

Did you mean much older?

Did you mean much older?

Yes, he could be 35 in much less than three years.

So he wanted to, but he had 54 million reasons he couldn't be. I would play baseball for North Korea for 54 million dollars. Hell I would do just about any thing for that much, that's a lot of money.

Pujols' sentiments in 2009:

 

“Do I want to be a St. Louis Cardinal forever? Of course. People from other teams want to play in St. Louis and they are jealous that we’re in St. Louis because the fans are unbelievable. So why would you want to leave a place like St. Louis to somewhere else and make 3 or 4 million a year? It’s not about the money. I already got my money. It’s about winning, that’s it.”

 

“When that time comes, then we’re going to figure it out,” he said. “And I told you, I’m not going to lie to you, it’s not about the money all the time. It’s about being in a place to win and being in a position to win. If the Cardinals are willing to do that and put a team every year like they have, I’m going to try to work everything out to stay in this town. But if they’re not on the same page of bringing championship caliber to play every year, then it’s time for me to go somewhere else. Where? Somewhere else that I can win.”

 

When you say stuff like that, you're going to get called on it.

Yes, he could be 35 in much less than three years.

 

K I got ya now. The way it was worded I thought you meant he could be much less than 31. But yes I agree, I don't know that I don't believe he's 31,...... But I don't think he's under 31 that's for certain. I'm thinking 33 or 34.

Pujols' sentiments in 2009:

 

“Do I want to be a St. Louis Cardinal forever? Of course. People from other teams want to play in St. Louis and they are jealous that we’re in St. Louis because the fans are unbelievable. So why would you want to leave a place like St. Louis to somewhere else and make 3 or 4 million a year? It’s not about the money. I already got my money. It’s about winning, that’s it.”

 

“When that time comes, then we’re going to figure it out,” he said. “And I told you, I’m not going to lie to you, it’s not about the money all the time. It’s about being in a place to win and being in a position to win. If the Cardinals are willing to do that and put a team every year like they have, I’m going to try to work everything out to stay in this town. But if they’re not on the same page of bringing championship caliber to play every year, then it’s time for me to go somewhere else. Where? Somewhere else that I can win.”

 

When you say stuff like that, you're going to get called on it.

I do not mind him getting called on it. I also think if St. Louis was really serious about keeping Pujols and reciprocating, they would have signed him to a long term contract months back. Granted, they were offering him a boat-load of money then and now, but I believe he felt slighted by Cardinals' management.

A lot of people are complaining about Pujols following the money. On the contrary, LeBron James is one of the most hated athletes in the country and he took a pay cut. No win situation. Can't blame either for wanting the cash or wanting to win.

A lot of people are complaining about Pujols following the money. On the contrary, LeBron James is one of the most hated athletes in the country and he took a pay cut. No win situation. Can't blame either for wanting the cash or wanting to win.

"The King" took a fire and poured 10,000 gallons of gasoline on it by hosting "The Decision". I always thought going to Miami was his best move for winning. It sacrificed a lot of prominence that he could have seized, but I get it.

"The King" took a fire and poured 10,000 gallons of gasoline on it by hosting "The Decision". I always thought going to Miami was his best move for winning. It sacrificed a lot of prominence that he could have seized, but I get it.

 

Exactly. That decision show has to go down as one of the top 5 worst PR decisions in sports history.

Excellent article in the St. Louis paper this morning.

 

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/bernie-save-the-blame-game-it-s-just-business/article_c202431e-5c7f-5432-8aab-1648fbafc151.html

 

I thought this was a particularly good analysis:

 

The Angels are also poised to tap into a potentially lucrative demographic: the large Hispanic population in Southern California. At this stage, Pujols is a better investment for the Angels than he'd be for the Cardinals.

Everyone in St. Louis already has their Pujols jersey. There are now millions of more fans that are potential consumers, on both sides of the border.

"The King" took a fire and poured 10,000 gallons of gasoline on it by hosting "The Decision". I always thought going to Miami was his best move for winning. It sacrificed a lot of prominence that he could have seized, but I get it.

 

IMO, that is one of the weakest excuses to dislike an athlete as much as LeBron is disliked. He gave millions to the Boys and Girls Club and took 15 seconds to make "The Decision". The rest was crap done by ESPN. ESPN is the one who should be disliked.