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Professional
teams score big through high-profile transactions
Patrick
Hodgson
Sometimes change is good. Then again, sometimes
change is bad.
In
sports last week we observed numerous changes,
whether it was a release, a trade, or a
buyout, in both the NFL and the NBA.
We
witnessed the NFL's best player get traded
for practically nothing. Yes, I am talking
about that disgruntled prima donna who was
detrimental to his team, Randy Moss. The
Vikings parted ways with their talented
receiver for a first-round pick from the
Oakland Raiders, a seventh-round pick, and
linebacker Napoleon Harris.
I
know that the Vikings wanted to extricate
Moss and move his unpretentious attitude
out of town, but what were they thinking?
All
they are getting is an average linebacker,
and two draft picks from a very feeble draft
class this year. This kind of reminds me
of the Lakers trading Shaq.
I
really thought I saw the most stupid trade
this season with Moss until I came home
one night last week and saw the Sacramento
Kings trade Chris Webber to the Philadelphia
76ers for three scrubs, Corliss Williamson,
Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner. I could
only scratch my head and ponder why the
Kings did not attempt to pry away one of
the Sixers' young players like Kyle Korver,
Samuel Dalembert or Andre Iguodala.
The
trade was a no-brainer for the Sixers because
they added an all-star to their roster.
For the Kings, it signified that they did
not believe they could win a championship
with the team they had after choking in
the playoffs for several years now.
I
thought all of the astonishing trades would
come to an end, but then I watched the Celtics
reacquire Antoine Walker from the Atlanta
Hawks for future hall-of-famer Gary Payton,
who was later waived. The deal was good
for both franchises because it made sense
for both parties. Walker did not want to
play in Atlanta anymore, and was dumped
so the Hawks could get salary cap relief.
Smart move, considering it will be a cold
day in hell when the Hawks win a championship.
In
addition, the trade strengthens the Celtics
by reuniting Walker with longtime friend
and teammate Paul Pierce. The trade even
proves more beneficial to the Celtics because
Payton is now a free agent and available
to return to Boston.
More
changes came during the week when several
big name players in the NFL were released,
including all-pro receiver Mushin Muhammad
by the Carolina Panthers, the league's greatest
receiver, Jerry Rice, by the Seattle Seahawks,
former all-pro quarterback Drew Bledsoe
by the Buffalo Bills, and standout cornerback
Ty Law from the back-to-back world champion
New England Patriots.
The
Chicago Bears quickly signed Muhammad and
the Dallas Cowboys reunited Bledsoe with
his former coach Bill Parcells.
For
Rice, I hope he retires because it saddens
me to see him unproductive after seeing
him at his best. Jerry, if you're listening—please
give it up.
We'll
probably not see another full week of this
many transactions for a few years, but one
can expect more changes in the near future
as rumors are surfacing about players such
as Edgerrin James of the Indianapolis Colts
and Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders.
We'
ll
just have to wait to find out.
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