Free Agency in Modern Day Sports

Every year, after the major sports' championships are over-with, sports fans immediately direct their attention towards the most exciting stage in the offseason; free agency. In the past, free agency was not as crazy as it has become. Superstars didn't create their own summits where they would decide what team they would join and win multiple championships with together, like the Miami Heat. Instead, they would most likely re-sign with the team they loved and started their careers with, or would try to build their own legacy by jump-starting another ailing franchise which could desperately use their help.

Nowadays, free agency in modern day sports has become an auction, where the team that is willing to overpay the most, will come out on top. Players are now making more than ever through being an unrestricted free agent, and are taking full advantage of the flawed system. 

Let's start with the most outstanding contract in recent years, that of the one and only Albert Pujols. Granted, he was a fantastic player with the Cardinals, but he is just one of nine players in the lineup of a major league team, in a sport where one player really does not make a huge difference. In the winter of 2011, he signed a contract for 10 years, $240 million, which could end up as high as $270 million if he receives up to the reward bonuses offered to him. Before I start talking about how poorly he has played in his first two seasons with the Angels, no athlete should be allowed to make this much. Flat out insanity. He is a classic example of an athlete maximizing his potential up until his pay-day, and then once he got his absurd contract, he has relaxed and not cared nearly as much as he did before he got paid.

Another case I would like to evaluate, because I am sure all of you are as fed up as I am with how much press it has received, is that of Dwight Howard. Ever since he made it to the championship with Orlando in 2009, all he has done is complain about how he was a one man team and wanted to be traded. After his wish finally came true in 2012, when the Los Angeles Lakers traded for him, he endured one of his worst seasons as a pro. Kobe Bryant couldn't stand his whining and complaining, and along with his struggles and injuries, Dwight decided that L.A. also wasn't where he wanted to be. 

SportsCenter has been following this ridiculous and headaching story for about a half-decade now, as Howard has finally decided after months of indecision that he would like to play for the Houston Rockets. God bless the Rockets is all I can say.

There are a million more cases of players making more money than they should, going with bad teams simply because they threw the most money at them, or deciding to combine superstars from different teams to build a dynasty. It all sickens me as a sports fan, because I appreciate the players such as Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, who have stayed with their respective franchises their entire career, and have distanced themselves from the drama that is Free Agency.

I wish that desire and passion is what causes free agents to choose who to sign with, but unfortunately that isn't the case now, and probably never will be how free agency plays out.