> From:    Ronald Correia USA <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Kariya
> The only problem I have with that is that there are not several thousand people
> paying to stand around Cabletron and watch you work.  (If there were, you may
> be able to push for a major league salary :-) ) I've always taken the *very*
> unpopular position that sports exist for the fans.  Without the fan, there
> would be no scholarships, there would be no pro contracts, there would be no
> Division I sports.  The fans are the end losers every time someone with the
> abilities of Kariya jumps to the NHL.
 
Don't you think this is a rather self-centered view?  So a Kariya should be
forced to forego millions just so the Maine fans can watch him play?   The
fans have a choice of watching him play in the NHL.  Even if that weren't the
case, Kariya (or players like him) are not modern day court jesters, kept
around (for four years) to please the fans.  They are there because, for one
reason or another, they chose to attend the school.  The only thing the players
owe the fans is to give a maximum effort each time out.  And one could argue
that that is something the player owes himself and his teammates, not the fans.
 
Hey, to get to the level that these players attain, they've had to put in
thousands of hours of grueling work.  Yes, the game is fun and they love it,
but they've gotten up a 5 am for practices, done lots of training that in and
of itself is NOT fun,  and sacrificed time for other endeavors so they could
be the best they could be.   And their reward is four years of indentured
servitude, so that the fans won't be deprived of seeing them play?  This seems
ridiculous.
 
You seem to be willing to take away Kariya's freedom to leave "for the sake
of the fans."  Would the fans be willing to make a similar sacrifice of
freedom?  Namely, that they MUST attend all games regardless of ANY other
commitments?  Of course not!  Fans are free to attend whenever they choose.
 
Kariya and players like him, should be free to pursue NHL careers when they
are capable of doing so.  And fans will continue to make their decision; if
the product is worth watching and supporting, they'll do so.  If not, they'll
walk.
 
*****************************************************        ,-******-,
* Dave Hendrickson        [log in to unmask] *     *'     ##     '*
*                A Hockey Polygamist                *   *##   ___##___   ##*
* GO BROONS!!!      Go Red Wings!!     Go LA Kings! *  *   ##|   ___  \##   *
* GO UMASS-LOWELL!!!    Go Maine!!           Go BU! * *      |  |___)  |     *
* --------------------------------------------------* *######|   ___  <######*
* Although I can't remember ever having an original * *      |  |___)  |     *
* thought, and am certainly parroting someone who   *  *   ##|________/##   *
* actually has a brain, these opinions are mine,    *   *##      ##      ##*
* not Hewlett-Packard's.                            *     *,     ##     ,*
*****************************************************        '-*******-'