During a conversation about Lamar Jackson's contract negotiations and his uncertain future with the Ravens, Gio sounded off on the current landscape of pro sports, and the power players hold over their contracts and where they play.
"This was the unintended consequence of players getting so much power because of the money they make and the celebrity they have," Gio said. "It's gotten to the point where they're such big celebrities and such big stars, you can't tell a guy like James Harden or Lamar Jackson or Steph Curry…Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving. You can't tell any of these guys to do what you want them to do. They're going to tell you what they want to do.
"That whole thing in Houston was ridiculous. I swear [Harden] was wearing a fat suit to try and get out of there. that's one of those hills I will die on…these guys are great at this. Lamar Jackson, if he ends up getting the deal he wants, then I'd say he's great at this, but right now I think the Ravens are winning this."
Looking back to the previous century, Gio believes pro athletes were simply happy to be playing, but rising revenues brought rising contracts, the end of the reserve clause and the free agency boom brought more power to the players, and with it, the players became less relatable, as some began to chase paydays as the top priority rather than winning titles.
"It was a totally different time," Gio said. "There were guys going to war and still playing baseball. They were probably just thrilled to be making any money playing the game they love. Now, it starts as early as high school, earlier than that, they're getting paid now in college. You get to the NBA, you're not comparing yourself to the average Joe, you're comparing yourself to your peers who are making $40 million."
Jerry offered a different take as a cause for players holding so much power, and it sits with front offices feeling so much pressure to field winning teams, meaning their desperation leads them to allowing players whatever leverage and luxuries they desire to make sure they play for their teams, though that seems to lead to those players eventually asking out shortly after.
"I think you've got general managers that are so desperate to win and keep their jobs," Jerry said. "They're willing to bow down to the star player."
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