For Childress it's not about the money. But, who cares if it is.

Josh Childress recently decided to reject the Atlanta Hawk's offer of about $36 million over 6 years.

Instead he chose to sign with Olympiacos, a basketball team based in Greece.

The Greek deal will give Childress around $21 million for 3 years after taxes.

The casual fan will look at this deal and think how sad it is that he's just going for the money. Where is the love of the game? Where is the desire to compete with the best? How come he can't be like P.J. Brown or Sam Cassell, and understand that you have to make sacrifices to win.

First of all, don't get me started with Sam Cassell. The same Cassell that demanded the Clippers buy him out because they "owed it to him." The Sam Cassell who believed that because of who he is, he deserves to receive a salary, for not doing any work. The Sam Cassell that ditched his team to join the Celtic bandwagon, and demanded that he be rewarded this treason.

Sam Cassell you are outrageous.

But back to Childress.

The real reason why Childress left the Hawks, is because they didn't show him the same respect that Olympiacos did. Last year, they chose not to sign him to an extension when they could have locked him up. Then this summer, they chose to express their relative position of "power" because Childress was an unrestricted free agent.
Atlanta wanted to keep Childress for the least that it possibly could.

I don't want to hear anyone say anything about Childress's "morals" or "values" or even make any generalizations about players who "go after the money." In fact, I believe players should go for the money, if they want to.

The fact that sports like basketball, baseball, football or soccer get built into these shrines of ethical righteousness is hilarious to me. The "sport ideal" involves being a superstar, but being selfless and achieving the ultimate end goal of a "championship."

It's brilliant marketing, it really is. Being a professional sports player means that you're job is to play sports. If you have the opportunity to earn more money in your job, why shouldn't you grasp it.

The sports media has a way of creating its own storyline, rift with protagonists and villains. Kobe Bryant was made the mockery of the NBA when he wanted to be traded to another team that he felt was better equipped to win a championship.

Kobe Bryant actually wanted to embody that "ideal" and he felt that the Lakers at its current state wouldn't allow him to be that. Indeed he made an error in talent judgement, and his business acumen is lacking (as good deals can't be made when you know that one side is desperate) but he simply wanted to be what everyone was telling him he should be.

He wanted the shooters, the passers, and the defesive support to allow him to play a team game. Kobe Bryant's real fault is that he wants to please those who define his legacy too much.

Kobe Bryant was made the villain, while Shaquille O'Neal remained a hero. I don't mean to make this into a Kobe vs. Shaq argument, because at this point I could care less.

Yet, we see Shaq half-a** his way throughout the season. Only to be rejuvanated when he realizes that he is traded to the Phoenix Suns. Shaquille O'Neal works only when he wants to. Kobe Bryant is the most consistent worker this league has ever known, but may complain about his job when he gets home.

Which to you seems more respectable?

I'm officially done with Shaq's antics, his manipulation of an ever to susceptible media and public and his lack of resolve. He is a big kid. Now, grow up.

Other people who are painted as villains are people like Josh Childress, who may said to be "all about the money." So I ask, why shouldn't it be all about the money?

Being all about the money is generally juxtaposed with being all about winning. The ones who are about "winning" are generally much more highly respected. Yet, both ideas are selfish desires. What does "winning" really represent?

Everyone has different goals in life. It's just assumed that if you are in the NBA then you're goal is to win a championship. If Josh Childress's goal is to attain "generational wealth" so that all his descendants can be financially stable then so be it.

I've been a sports fan since I was in 4th grade, but I believe that ultimately "winning" is just as selfish as "money making." Winning a championship does nothing for anyone. It makes the members of the team feel good about themselves. It makes the organization richer. It makes merchandise sell better. It is nothing other than pride.

Let's face it, that's what sports boils down to. Pride.

The Olympic committee is right in wanting to keep the participants amateurs. If you want to see athletes who are only about the sport, and are only about winning, then you need to watch the Olympics. Those guys barely make a dime.

They work for a feeling of accomplishment -- for personal and national pride.

Money gives you the power to affect change in the world.

Pride gives you bravado and stories to tell your kids.


I know I want both. But I'm just a human, I'm not a sports star.