"To Strike or Not To Strike"


by: Don Groth

Hi sports fans I hope you all are very well out there! In my last column I talked about the growing, serious problem of steroid use in professional sports today, especially major league baseball. This time I want to talk about the impending strike the pro baseball players union has set for Saturday, August 31st, 2002.

Union head, Donald Fehr said, "There has been progress on a number of issues." Recently, both sides agreed on an increase of $100,000 to a total of $300,000 for "minimum salary"! They also agreed to mandatory random testing for steroids. But they are still far apart on increased sharing of local revenue among the 30 teams and on management's desire for luxury tax on high-payroll clubs.

Fehr described the luxury tax as a "Big Hurdle!" The luxury tax was in place in the 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons, but the owners viewed it as ineffective. The last baseball strike was in 1994 and lasted 232 days. I believe the players need to take a good look around! They won't get much sympathy out there if they do strike.

They should turn off ESPN and turn on CNN! Look at the coal miners that were saved in Somerset, Pa. Their average salary is $30,000 per year and not $2.38 million that pro baseball players make on the average. They should also look at all the lay-offs and bankruptcies going on all over the country, like; US Airways, Enron, Kmart and WorldCom to name a few.

Don't go crying to any of these people. I played minor league baseball for a short time until I hurt my arm. Sure, it isn't an easy life but that's why they make the BIG bucks! They won't get any sympathy from me. The players have a great pension that has only gotten better over the years. It would be the 9th work stoppage since 1972 if they go on strike. Remember, football is starting soon and many baseball fans are also football fans.

Sure, they'll survive and come back eventually if there is a strike; but it may take longer and baseball could have a nasty limp for awhile. My opinion is the players and owners need not to be so greedy and come to a compromise soon! We all need to count our blessings and be thankful for what we have! "Play Ball!"

Don

Previous Articles

February '02
March '02
May '02
"June '02 The Stadium Issue"
July '02 "I Want My Muscles"

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Don Groth is a 45 yrs. old, x-minor league baseball player, Yankee A farm club, Ft Lauderdale, Fl. Still very active in playing baseball, softball and volleyball and coaching. Husband, father of 3, 2 girls(23 & 22) 1 boy, 18. He and Betty are loving life in too cold Minnesota. You can reach Don at; Don@boomerjournals.com