http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writ...11/18/sprewell/

 

Things weren't always this bad. There was a time when saying the name Latrell Sprewell didn't conjure up images of petulance and malcontent. There was a time when the name Sprewell was synonymous with Allen Iverson, two volatile stars whose indiscretions were masked by superior production.

 

Remember the 1999 NBA Finals? That's how far back you have to go. Unfortunately for Sprewell, those days are nothing but memories.

 

It used to be easy to forgive Sprewell. He used to be fun to watch. Sure, the back pages of the tabloids salivated over his public spats with ownership, and columnists took great pleasure in slamming him for varying degrees of boorish behavior. But to NBA fans? Naw, that's just Spree being Spree. You say he choked his coach? I couldn't hear you, I was too busy staring at his stat sheet. Skipped a team meeting? C'mon, the guy played a playoff series with a broken foot!

 

It's just not that easy any more, which is part of the reason Sprewell can't find a job. First of all, the behavior that we all used to joke about is no longer funny. By turning down $21 million from Minnesota last season, Sprewell embarrassed himself and the shrinking number of NBA zealots eager to defend him. He mocked the millions of Americans struggling to get by on $21,000 by saying he and his family couldn't make it work with $21 million. $21 million? I guess yachts just aren't as cheap as they used to be.

 

So is it really all about the money? Sprewell's agent, Robert Gist, told SI.com this week that his client was perfectly content to sit at home and wait out a more lucrative offer rather than cave and accept the veterans minimum of $1.14 million. "The idea of Latrell playing for a million dollars is absurd," says Gist. "He doesn't need money bad enough to play for that." Certainly Sprewell isn't headed for the poorhouse (his last contract was worth $62 million), but in the end, what will his pride cost him? Sitting out an entire season would be the death knell to Sprewell's career. How many general managers would be willing to pony up top dollar for a 36-year-old shooting guard who hasn't played in more than a year. Unless your last name is Jordan, you're probably out of luck.

 

Attitude issues and contractual demands aside, numbers, or lack thereof, are what truly tell the tale. Last season was the worst of Sprewell's pro career, his statistics bottoming out as quickly as his team. His 12.8 points per game were a career low, and amidst the turmoil he and Sam Cassell created, Minnesota missed the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons. Where is that discussion? In what forum are we debating whether or not Sprewell, at 35, just doesn't have it? "If you say 'Three or four years ago he would bring it four out of five nights,' " says one Eastern Conference scout, "it might be something like three out of nine now."

 

That's it, right there. That's the bottom line. Forget the temper tantrums and the vulgar language. Forget the outlandish demands and warped sense of value. We live in a world of forgive and forget, in a country that will forgive a President for lying and will rehabilitate an athlete who has fallen from grace, yet Sprewell, a career 18.3 ppg scorer, can't get so much as a tryout? NBA owners aren't naïve and general managers aren't stupid. If signing Sprewell meant banking even one more win, his uniform would be at the tailor's in a New York minute. Come to think of it, why isn't he playing in New York. Oh that's right, he cursed out the owner.

 

Sprewell doesn't need to issue a mea culpa for his past or shed tears in interviews claiming to be misunderstood. He needs to show he can play, because right now, nobody believes he can. Hold an open tryout, sign with a D-League team, go play in Europe, admittedly all less than desirable options for a man of Sprewell's credentials, but if you want superstar money, Spree, go out and play like one. The money will be there, just show you deserve it. If you don't, it won't be Spree being Spree, it will be Spree being Stupid.

 

 

I wonder what Sprewell thinks of the 3 year $21 million dollar contract extension that he turned down last year because it wasnt enough to feed his family? Hmmmm, Veterans minimum in one hand.....21 million in the other.....tough choice spree. Good thing you dont have to make a decision about it anymore!

Terrell Owens should talk to this guy.

At some point, people in sports are going to start realizing that causing your team to self destruct over your contract is not the best thing for your wallet.

I still think some team will sign him in Feb/March after some injury or for an extra scorer on a playoff team - noboby wants to deal with him for an entire season, so maybe if he can still score, some team would take a shot.

How often does it happen that an athlete turns down an "insulting" offer, only to sign for less money?

 

More often than not, I'd guess.

Wish someone chokes him to see what it feels like. I am pretty much 100% serious.

Too bad he can't have that caviar anymore.