Am I the only one who is tired of players who in the last year of their contract early on proclaim they want to stay with their current team; only to shortly after demand a trade?
Down here in Florida it kind of feels like 1996 all over again. The only differences are that I was married, in Tampa and never liked Dwight Howard as much as I like Shaq.
I tried to find the exact time line on how things went down with Shaq but was unable to. So I will do this the best I can from memory. I believe it was sometime during the 1996 season Shaq was asked if he would like to stay in Orlando after he current contract was expired. I seem to recall him saying that he, "wanted to stay in Orlando for the rest of his career.
At the end of that season speculation began that Shaq would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers for a lot more money than the Magic could offer. I seem to remember Shaq still insist that he wanted to stay in Orlando and that he wasn't about the money.
Of course, he signed with the Lakers and it was a harsh reminder that all professional athletes are about the money. ALWAYS.
Immediately on hearing that he signed with the Lakers I threw out my Shaq hat and would cuss at hearing his name for a few of the following seasons. Now I'm back to loving the big guy; he is very entertaining.
Flash forward to last season. I remember hearing a few interviews with Dwight Howard where he also proclaimed that he wanted to play the rest of his career in Orlando. Dwight went a little further by saying he planned on living in Orlando after his career is over.
I wanted to believe him, but after being burned once before (Penny Hardaway didn't count) I wanted to believe Mr Howard but I didn't. But it bothers me that he has gone a little back and forth this season. He started out that he wanted to stay but has waffled back and forth a couple of times.
Maybe it's just me but I would admire these guys a little more if the would at least say, "if the money is right I'll stay but it looks doubtful.
I know saying that would hurt negotiations a little but does a few extra million less really hurt that much?
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