With the CFL and CFLPA agreeing on a deal that insures football to be played until 2019, I am reading and hearing a lot of the same thing from fans and analysts, claims that the players are greedy.
Not that I am agreeing with either side of this debate, I am here to offer some insight; first off, greed is a bit strong of a word. This may be a game we all enjoy being fans of, but we have to remember that for the players it is their source of income. This is a business, and as such in any business you will have heated debates and arguments. The commitment to the sport is a full-time one, and its not like it is a game where a player can have a regular nine-to-five job and do this in their spare time. No, these warriors, the players, are putting their bodies on the line to earn an income for themselves and their families, while also earning an income for the league, the owners, and giving the sponsors and media viewership.
My first thought is of Buck Pierce, the guy battled – really battled and took more of a beating than any one else that comes to mind all while sacrificing his health and quality of life after football. I couldn’t imagine being told I was greedy if I was a player getting hit and beat up for a living. I could speak the same for most union jobs; in any labour dispute, the union members will be unhappy thinking they are going back to work for too little. On the other hand, if they were to have gotten exactly what they asked for, they would have doubted themselves saying we asked for too little. It’s the nature of the beast: most people in most positions of employment always think they deserve more, it doesn’t mean they are right or wrong.
Let me ask you this: you the reader if someone asked you if you were over payed for your employment you would have to say no and if you answer yes, then maybe you are not working hard enough. The unfortunate answer to this question: How much money is enough money? The answer will always be more.
With all this being said I, like the players and league the fans all over Canada can breathe a sigh of relief; as we will have Canadian football this summer and for summers to come. But as the league gets bigger so will the players union. The next contract should be interesting if the league continues to flourish, grow and succeed especially with the new expansion in Ottawa.
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