Has multi-million dollar contracts kileed pro sports rivalries? I see players on the Red Sox chatting with the Yankees 1st baseman after a base hit. Braves and Met players laughing with one another before the game. Redskin and Cowboy players helping each other up after a play. Playing golf and partying together. Growing up it seemed that these teams and others actually"Hated" each other. Now they seem a little too friendly to really be rivals. Is it money and free agency or another sign of an overall "Softer" society? It was better when they really disliked each other.

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Originally posted by bulldog87:
Has multi-million dollar contracts kileed pro sports rivalries? I see players on the Red Sox chatting with the Yankees 1st baseman after a base hit. Braves and Met players laughing with one another before the game. Redskin and Cowboy players helping each other up after a play. Playing golf and partying together. Growing up it seemed that these teams and others actually"Hated" each other. Now they seem a little too friendly to really be rivals. Is it money and free agency or another sign of an overall "Softer" society? It was better when they really disliked each other.

Sports rivals from opposing teams have always "hung out" together.Hell I bet Patroits and Giants were partying at the lub after the Super Bowl.

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Originally posted by bulldog87:
Has multi-million dollar contracts kileed pro sports rivalries? I see players on the Red Sox chatting with the Yankees 1st baseman after a base hit. Braves and Met players laughing with one another before the game. Redskin and Cowboy players helping each other up after a play. Playing golf and partying together. Growing up it seemed that these teams and others actually"Hated" each other. Now they seem a little too friendly to really be rivals. Is it money and free agency or another sign of an overall "Softer" society? It was better when they really disliked each other.

I believe money has killed pro sports, but not because the players from various teams are friendly toward one another. The comepetitive nature of sports has diminished GREATLY, IN MY OPINION, because of the mindsets these athletes have...once they get a little change and a few endorsements, they feel like folks owe them something, and not the other way around. They take was has been given to them for granted, and half ass when they "go to work". Gone are the days when you could REALLY expect a good pro basketball game, where the athletes let their performance do all the talking, as opposed to these little, mealy-mouthed, weed smokin' jack asses out there today !!! Just my dos pesos.

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The comepetitive nature of sports has diminished GREATLY, IN MY OPINION, because of the mindsets these athletes have...once they get a little change and a few endorsements, they feel like folks owe them something, and not the other way around.

Bullcrap!!! Do you know these people? Have you had discussions with any pro jock that would suggest such? Hell no!! Society is prejudice towards athletes. Just because it's a "game" we think they shouldn't be paid. We shout...pay the folks who cure cancer. These negro ballers shouldn't be rich...they use to be from the ghetto. Society is just looking at any excuse to jab at athletes. Joe Six Pack is jealous!!! You hear all of this negative stuff about ballers...you wonder why. Think!!!

DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!!

Athletes are underpaid across the board. Rivalries are for fans. Players have always known each other. I guess free agency keeps dynasties from developing, but was that fair in the first place? People talk about the Celtics and Lakers...but back then you didn't have but eight teams. Kurt Flood fight was not in vein.

Did you NOTsee the words "IN MY OPINION"??? I AM allowed to have an opinion, right?? Besides, ACTIONS speak louder than words, IN MY OPINION!!!

Didn't question your right to an opinion. I'm only asking if you actually know for a fact athletes with ads and big contract take things for granted? Have you met any of them? Weed smoking? There hasn't been but maybe five reported incidence of weed in the NBA in over 10 or 15 years. Period!!! Now you hear about Josh Howard and suddenly you're calling the NBA a bunch of weed smokers. We all entitled to opinions but dayum!!! Have some grounds for such opinions. Legitimate grounds.

btw, NBA basketball today is much better than the game of yesteryear. There is no comparison. They fouled much more...fought more...played dirtier...and ref's let it all go. The game is tame when it comes to violence or aggression.

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Originally posted by ksmith:
Didn't question your right to an opinion. I'm only asking if you actually know for a fact athletes with ads and big contract take things for granted? Have you met any of them? Weed smoking? There hasn't been but maybe five reported incidence of weed in the NBA in over 10 or 15 years. Period!!! Now you hear about Josh Howard and suddenly you're calling the NBA a bunch of weed smokers. We all entitled to opinions but dayum!!! Have some grounds for such opinions. Legitimate grounds.

btw, NBA basketball today is much better than the game of yesteryear. There is no comparison. They fouled much more...fought more...played dirtier...and ref's let it all go. The game is tame when it comes to violence or aggression.

Dude, if you SERIOUSLY believe that because there maybe 5 REPORTED incidents of weed in the NBA over the past 10 or 15 years, YOU, my dear are delusional!!! Just because it's not reported doesn't make it so!!! Come on, you should know that!!! And as a matter of fact, I have friends (KNOWN weed smokers) who are relatives/boys with some NBA players who play TODAY...so legitimate grounds are presented, darlin'.

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Dude, if you SERIOUSLY believe that because there maybe 5 REPORTED incidents of weed in the NBA over the past 10 or 15 years, YOU, my dear are delusional!!! Just because it's not reported doesn't make it so!!! Come on, you should know that!!! And as a matter of fact, I have friends (KNOWN weed smokers) who are relatives/boys with some NBA players who play TODAY...so legitimate grounds are presented, darlin'.

Yes dear...but I'm speaking of the "reported" incidents. In fact five is too high. We actually had Melo, AI, Webber, Rod Strickland and that's about it. PERIOD!!! Some of the other guys got caught after they retired. Not even Josh Howard has been caught. I don't doubt that you have just as many weed smokers in the field house as you have in the fraternity house. I'm not saying guys don't smoke. Heck....you had even more in the celebrated 70's when weed and cocaine were more acceptable. This is the era you're romanticizing and giving so much credit to but, in fact it was an era where the NBA had it's worst junkies.[i.e. John Lucas...Michael Ray on and on]

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Originally posted by ksmith:

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Dude, if you SERIOUSLY believe that because there maybe 5 REPORTED incidents of weed in the NBA over the past 10 or 15 years, YOU, my dear are delusional!!! Just because it's not reported doesn't make it so!!! Come on, you should know that!!! And as a matter of fact, I have friends (KNOWN weed smokers) who are relatives/boys with some NBA players who play TODAY...so legitimate grounds are presented, darlin'.

Yes dear...but I'm speaking of the "reported" incidents. In fact five is too high. We actually had Melo, AI, Webber, Rod Strickland and that's about it. PERIOD!!! Some of the other guys got caught after they retired. Not even Josh Howard has been caught. I don't doubt that you have just as many weed smokers in the field house as you have in the fraternity house. I'm not saying guys don't smoke. Heck....you had even more in the celebrated 70's when weed and cocaine were more acceptable. This is the era you're romanticizing and giving so much credit to but, in fact it was an era where the NBA had it's worst junkies.[i.e. John Lucas...Michael Ray on and on]

You have a point, sugar dumplin', BUT the players of old appeared to devote their attention to the game, and REALLY love the game!! I don't see that passion for the game, nor while the game is being played now. And I think those multi million dollar salaries (which many players of old) couldn't even DREAM of back then.

yeah....maybe they were too high back then to know better.

I SAW WILT & RUSS LAUGHING & CHATTINIG BEFORE 1 OF THEIR GAMES.

I'M PROBABLY WRONG BUT THE NIGHT WILT GRABBED 55 REBOUNDS, RUSS WAS THE OPPONENT.

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Originally posted by Ms MEAC:

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Originally posted by ksmith:

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Dude, if you SERIOUSLY believe that because there maybe 5 REPORTED incidents of weed in the NBA over the past 10 or 15 years, YOU, my dear are delusional!!! Just because it's not reported doesn't make it so!!! Come on, you should know that!!! And as a matter of fact, I have friends (KNOWN weed smokers) who are relatives/boys with some NBA players who play TODAY...so legitimate grounds are presented, darlin'.

Yes dear...but I'm speaking of the "reported" incidents. In fact five is too high. We actually had Melo, AI, Webber, Rod Strickland and that's about it. PERIOD!!! Some of the other guys got caught after they retired. Not even Josh Howard has been caught. I don't doubt that you have just as many weed smokers in the field house as you have in the fraternity house. I'm not saying guys don't smoke. Heck....you had even more in the celebrated 70's when weed and cocaine were more acceptable. This is the era you're romanticizing and giving so much credit to but, in fact it was an era where the NBA had it's worst junkies.[i.e. John Lucas...Michael Ray on and on]

You have a point, sugar dumplin', BUT the players of old appeared to devote their attention to the game, and REALLY love the game!! I don't see that passion for the game, nor while the game is being played now. And I think those multi million dollar salaries (which many players of old) couldn't even DREAM of back then.

But remember the salaries back then and now are a reflection on how much more money the leagues are making. The salaries rose with the popularity.

Kareem and Robert Parrish lit it up a lot too.