Beyond the Arc: Beltran baseball, more basketball
By ERIC CLARK
Sports editor
It appears fans of the Kansas City Royals and more specifically, Carlos Beltran, are making their feelings known about the possible trade of the center fielder.
Almost 4,000 of Beltran's most loyal fans have signed a petition advising Royals owner David Glass and General Manager Allard Baird not to trade him. On top of that, the fans are demanding the organization offer Beltran a fair contract.
In their petition to Glass and Baird, Beltran fans have listed 11 reasons the organization should keep the potential all-star. Among some of the notable reasons are — No. 3, fans have already been upset with past trades (Damon etc.), Doing so again, in the middle of a pennant race, might alienate the fans to the point of giving up on this team for good.
No. 4, Beltran has been quoted as saying "[I] want to play for a winner." The Royals currently are winners and will continue so with Beltran in the line-up.
No. 7, All you would get in this trade would be prospects that still need to develop. And we can't wait another three or four years.
No. 8, Without Carlos Beltran we have no chance of winning the division.
No. 9, When's the last time we had a chance to win the division? Who knows when it will come again? We've got to give it every thing we've got to win the division RIGHT NOW. It's working the way it is now, don't change it.
No 10, If we have a .500 season we can lock up Mike Sweeney, getting rid of Beltran severely hinders that possibility.
No. 11, Trading our best players every chance we get has resulted in the team being horrible for more than a decade. Continually trading for prospects is not working for us, it's time to sign our homegrown talent. The Royals theme is "Your hometown team." It's time to convince us of that.
Those who wrote the petition end their list of reasons to keep Beltran by writing, "So, Mr. Glass and Mr. Baird. Read the many signatures below and decide. What's more important? The fans and the team, or money?"
Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's the latter. So unless the fans can strike some chord with the organization, we'll be waving good-bye to yet another high-caliber player.
n Former UCLA basketball coach Steve Lavin, like many coaches who have found themselves out of work, will find work, after coaching, in the ESPN studio as a college basketball analyst.
According to ESPN, Lavin will work games on TV and radio, and also be in the studio about 40 nights.
ESPN also said that Lavin's salary will decrease the amount UCLA owes him for buying out his contract.
He was to receive his full salary of $578,000 next year, and $153,000 each of the following four years.
Half a million dollars? Folks, we are talking about a game here. And I would venture to guess that he's probably getting a few more dollars than that from ESPN. Our priorities are sure out of whack.
n LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers No. 1 draft pick, and might I add, one of the most egotistical 18 year olds I've ever heard speak, solidified one of the NBA's worst decisions in recent years with a little help from ESPN and the national media spotlight.
Never before has a high school player like James, been so highly touted for his athletic ability, and I can only assume that things will get worse, much sooner than they'll get better.
James was quoted as saying, "I'm one of the highest publicized players in the country right now, and I haven't even played one game of basketball in the NBA. I know I'm a marked man."
He couldn't be more right.
I believe James will be the biggest bust in NBA history. Analysts have compared him to Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Are you kidding me? This kid is 18 years old. He's a kid.
I've seen him play, (how could I not, he was on ESPN every other night), and he has a lot of skill, at least over high school players.
But can he live up to the hype? The answer is no.
He's being compared to two of the greatest players to ever play the game, and he hasn't even stepped out onto the NBA court, or a college court, for that matter.
He's unproven, and he's a HUGE risk. I won't be surprised if he doesn't make it.
I hope he proves me wrong, and I hope he can "live-up" to the hype. But in doing so, I hope he does so with some humility and class.
James is simply the greatest player to never play the game.
So I guess I could call myself the greatest three-point shooter to never play in the NBA. So where's my million-dollar contract?
