The ESPN web gem and long ball era has turned baseball (and most sports) into a me, me, and even more me culture. With lucrative contracts, insane endorsements, and even players giving input on coaching decisions, the superstar pro athlete has become a czar of exorbitant measures.
Owners are more willing to appease the star athlete, rather than the crotchety coach in today’s sporting world. The athlete brings a higher aptitude of winning, brings dollars into the coffers of the organization, and ability to promulgate the team to more markets than a manager. It refreshes fans when they hear a star act in a manner which benefits the organization’s future success rather than his own prosperity. Which unfortunately does not happen enough.
