For all professional athletes who questions playing in Toronto

[Casa_Nova]

All you have to do is watch Roberto Alomar's number retirement ceremony, and tell me Toronto doesn't treat their sports heroes like gold.

Decades removed, the first time the Rogers Centre is filled again is for this guy. The cheers that the past Blue Jays got were thunderous.

It's simple. Toronto has always been great to its athletes. All we asked is that you give your all and we'll give you nothing less in return. There's no question that Roberto Alomar gave his all when he was here, and in turn, today, the City returns the favour and cement his legacy in Toronto forever.

Congratulations Roberto Alomar.

 

[dj1470]

For a lot of Americans (yes Americans, not other nationalities like Robbie from the DR) coming to Toronto seems like Siberia unless the sport is hockey and that's a whole different discussion.
Particularly in basketball. Young Amercian basketball players view Toronto as the ass of the NBA. No ESPN. No music videos made about them. For NBA players it's all about a Hollywood-like atmosphere and they don't view Toronto in that light.

 

[gcostanza]

For a lot of Americans (yes Americans, not other nationalities like Robbie from the DR) coming to Toronto seems like Siberia unless the sport is hockey and that's a whole different discussion.
Particularly in basketball. Young Amercian basketball players view Toronto as the ass of the NBA. No ESPN. No music videos made about them. For NBA players it's all about a Hollywood-like atmosphere and they don't view Toronto in that light.

You're really not too bright, are you?

Roberto Alomar is from Puerto Rico, not the Dominican Republic.

Puerto Rico is a unincorporated territory of the United States of America.

 

[dj1470]

You're really not too bright, are you?

Roberto Alomar is from Puerto Rico, not the Dominican Republic.

Puerto Rico is a unincorporated territory of the United States of America.

You are right Puerto Rico. Meant to write PR and not DR. My bad typing skills.

As for your usual idiotic comment and insult try not to be the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[bazokajoe]

For a lot of Americans (yes Americans, not other nationalities like Robbie from the DR) coming to Toronto seems like Siberia unless the sport is hockey and that's a whole different discussion.
Particularly in basketball. Young Amercian basketball players view Toronto as the ass of the NBA. No ESPN. No music videos made about them. For NBA players it's all about a Hollywood-like atmosphere and they don't view Toronto in that light.

Lots to be said for that comment.But if I were in their shoes maybe we would feel the same way.Alot of US states have no state income tax and we all know the cost taxes add up too here.Not to mention they can get their BMW or Benz and just about everything else their alot,I mean alot,cheaper.
Don't forget,most of these athletes have agents telling them about Canada and are really kinda clueless.Then there is the whole "family"and posse issue with immagration and passport thing.

 

[scouser1]

Lots to be said for that comment.But if I were in their shoes maybe we would feel the same way.Alot of US states have no state income tax and we all know the cost taxes add up too here.Not to mention they can get their BMW or Benz and just about everything else their alot,I mean alot,cheaper.
Don't forget,most of these athletes have agents telling them about Canada and are really kinda clueless.Then there is the whole "family"and posse issue with immagration and passport thing.

These guys grow up never really learning about Toronto or Canada so can ya blame them? Also given a chance to be a millionaire in New York, LA, Chicago or Miami, in comparison Toronto starts to look like Cleveland or Pittsburgh to those cities.

 

[Casa_Nova]

That's the issue with sports nowadays. Most are simply thinking about the dollars...I mean come on, you get paid millions doing something that you're blessed enough to be given the talent to do so...playing sports...not to take anything away from that, but there are people are who work their entire lifetime through much more difficult working conditions. I wish these people can realize that, and simply play for the love of the game, embrace the city that welcomed them, embrace the fans that welcomed them into their home and hearts.

A big part of the problem is how these kids are brought up nowadays. So many of them actually came from very humble beginnings...but then they start getting corrupted by the media, recruiters, and agents...and next thing you know, instead of playing for the game, they are playing for their next endorsement.

That's what's amazing thinking back about the guys that brought us the 91 & 92 world series...there was so much less drama back then. They wanted to be here, and they played to win and that was it. None of these craziness about asking for trades and stuff.

Very seldom do you hear athletes doing the "right thing" and think beyond themselves nowadays. It was nice to hear Peyton Manning, knowing the status of his organization just after the lockout deciding to take less money than what his team offered him. He is one of the best if not the best QB in the NFL, and the deal the team offered him would've made him the highest paid player in the league...but to him, that wasn't the vanity that he cared for...the put the wellbeing of his organization first. I was not a huge Peyton Manning fan before, but I certainly respect him more now.

That's probably why Lebron went from arguably the most popular NBA player to the most hated one overnight. Being from Cleveland, and with the city treating him like a king there, he knew what it would meant to the city and the franchise if he left. Lord knows he was making enough money already with his contract and endorsement deals...but what does he do? He chose to go play in Miami, and made a spectacle of the whole situation...

Hmm...I realize this rant has gotten a bit long...but I think you guys get the gist of what I mean...

 

[bobistheowl]

That's probably why Lebron went from arguably the most popular NBA player to the most hated one overnight. Being from Cleveland...

Picking nits, but he's from Akron, like Devo and Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders.

Trivia Note: Neil Young got the name for his Rust Never Sleeps album from a T-Shirt made by the guys in Devo. That was their day job, (making T-Shirts).

 

[red]

That's the issue with sports nowadays. Most are simply thinking about the dollars...I mean come on, you get paid millions doing something that you're blessed enough to be given the talent to do so...playing sports...not to take anything away from that, but there are people are who work their entire lifetime through much more difficult working conditions. I wish these people can realize that, and simply play for the love of the game, embrace the city that welcomed them, embrace the fans that welcomed them into their home and hearts.

A big part of the problem is how these kids are brought up nowadays. So many of them actually came from very humble beginnings...but then they start getting corrupted by the media, recruiters, and agents...and next thing you know, instead of playing for the game, they are playing for their next endorsement.

That's what's amazing thinking back about the guys that brought us the 91 & 92 world series...there was so much less drama back then. They wanted to be here, and they played to win and that was it. None of these craziness about asking for trades and stuff.

Very seldom do you hear athletes doing the "right thing" and think beyond themselves nowadays. It was nice to hear Peyton Manning, knowing the status of his organization just after the lockout deciding to take less money than what his team offered him. He is one of the best if not the best QB in the NFL, and the deal the team offered him would've made him the highest paid player in the league...but to him, that wasn't the vanity that he cared for...the put the wellbeing of his organization first. I was not a huge Peyton Manning fan before, but I certainly respect him more now.

That's probably why Lebron went from arguably the most popular NBA player to the most hated one overnight. Being from Cleveland, and with the city treating him like a king there, he knew what it would meant to the city and the franchise if he left. Lord knows he was making enough money already with his contract and endorsement deals...but what does he do? He chose to go play in Miami, and made a spectacle of the whole situation...

Hmm...I realize this rant has gotten a bit long...but I think you guys get the gist of what I mean...

it starts with these athletes very young. once they start in select/elite teams- it goes to their heads. (not all of them but most). they begin thinking they are better than everyone else and that the world revolves around them- its mainly because their parents dreaming of the big time, revolve their schedules and money around these kids- extra training, expensive bats, shoes, skates whatever, driving them to tournaments, foregoing family vacations because of the kids sports. the result, is alot of these kids become ego monsters- its really no wonder. the sad thing is for the ones that don't make it (ie 99.99% of them)- they have the mindset but can't make the moola

 

[bobistheowl]

it starts with these athletes very young. once they start in select/elite teams- it goes to their heads. (not all of them but most). they begin thinking they are better than everyone else and that the world revolves around them- its mainly because their parents dreaming of the big time, revolve their schedules and money around these kids- extra training, expensive bats, shoes, skates whatever, driving them to tournaments, foregoing family vacations because of the kids sports. the result, is alot of these kids become ego monsters- its really no wonder. the sad thing is for the ones that don't make it (ie 99.99% of them)- they have the mindset but can't make the moola

They also have sex with a lot of different teenage girls, don't necessarily see them again, and rush out to tell their buddies all the details. Some will continue to do that for the rest of their lives.

 

[Casa_Nova]

They also have sex with a lot of different teenage girls, don't necessarily see them again, and rush out to tell their buddies all the details. Some will continue to do that for the rest of their lives.

Very true. I have a colleague whose son is just playing highschool basketball; and they already have female groupies sneaking into their rooms and stuff already...I guess they're hoping whomever they hook up with will become a big shot and it'll be their meal ticket or something...

 

[splooge]

Don't think the teen girls are looking for a meal ticket yet, rather just a who you did notch as a personal trophy to make them feel special. I believe it is ego driven for these young girls.