The Whining Game

There's a growing trend in the NFL that owners, fans, sportswriters and everyone else is already sick and tired of.

Multi-multi-multi-millionaire athletes whining and complaining for weeks at a time in hopes of getting a new contract worth millions and millions of dollars more.

It's a tired act that has played in front of franchises league wide, and only recently took centerstage here in Chicago.

Brian Urlacher is refusing to attend offseason activities because he is unhappy with his current contract that expires in 2011. Despite the fact his contract - when signed in 2003 - made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.

Boy, how things change in only five years time. Poor Urlacher can't afford that island off of Australia now that his contract is sooo outdated.

The man who is the face of the franchise is now in jeopardy of becoming public enemy number one in the eyes of Bears faithful.

But aside from the point this man is asking for millions on top of millions while the rest of the nation prepares for the impending, or exisiting depending on who you talk to, recession, he may have a legitimate reason for wanting some more dinero.

In the NFL contracts aren't guaranteed like they are in the NBA and MLB. This means at any point during the life of such a signed and sealed legal document, a NFL team can cut any player at any given time.

So the logic behind this is flawed in favor of the franchise.

Play good and you get your money. Play terrible and you lose your money. Play better than expected, shut up and take what we give you.

It's unfair that players cannot be rewarded with a new contract when they exceed expectations.

How can they be expected to honor their contract at all times when a franchise is allowed to pick and choose when to void it?

The way Urlacher and his cohorts are handling their situations is unfortunate, but truth is, they really have no other options. Until the leagues designs a system that allows players and franchises to renegotiate contracts in certain scenarios, players will be forced to make public spectacles of their demands.

I'm ready for my closeup Mr. Goodell.

Gender Bender

Ah, the sportswriter.

Primarily thought of as a man sitting in front of his trusty typewriter, loosening up his tie while sweating profusely and chain smoking hoping to get the copy in by deadline.

However, this notion is as outdated as the ones preached in early issues of Good Housekeeping that provided tips for women on how to make sure the 'man of the house' is taken care of properly.

"Make sure to allow your man to sit down as you untie his shoes and prepare dinner for him."

Today's woman balks at those kinds of statements and laugh at such absurdity.

Same goes for the sportswriters of today.

The profession has knocked down gender barriers by ushering an entirely new generation of sportswriters of the female variety. And believe it or not Good Housekeeping, they're pretty damn good too.

They say the pen is mightier than the sword and in this case, it proves true. While it's no secret female pioneers in to the sports world experienced less than ideal treatment from athletes and peers, things have started to change.

Through the arduous process of earning trust and undeniable respect, female sportswriters have ascended to the highest levels of journalism. They roam the sidelines of the biggest of games and are counted upon by fans everywhere to provide the needed information regarding their favorite franchises.

While you can argue women like Suzy Kolber, Pam Oliver and most notably, Erin Andrews are simply glorified eye candy, you cannot deny their place in today's sports realm.

Hopefully there will come a day when a topic like this is as absurd as the issues of Good Housekeeping from decades ago. But until that time comes, give them a chance.

Who knows, you might actually learn a thing or two.

It's a Two-Way Street

If you've ever been in a relationship, you know that it's built upon certain principles that primarily revolve around the issue of trust. With it, and a relationship can remain strong and intact. Without it, the two sides grow apart and the relationship usually ends in a bitter dispute and hurt feelings.

So it's not surprising to see the relationship between professional athletes and journalists who cover them deteriorating so quickly. Trust does not exist between the two factions of the sports world and both sides have valid grievances supporting their side of the feud.

From the athlete's perspective, the journalist of today is simply more interested in being able to break a story that could potentially garner national media attention. Whether it's a scathing quote about management, another player, coach, teammate, etc...being the first to report it may lead to exposure for a journalist on a national level.

Often times you'll hear a player claiming they were misquoted in a piece that may have done damage to their reputation. It's not uncommon for athletes to completely boycott media requests and Chicago is home to one of the most unique examples of this standoff.

All-world, all-everything Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher left local media in the dark throughout the 2007 season due to a myriad of published stories ranging from his child custody battles to injury inquiries he felt were inaccurate or out of line. Instead of clarifying himself and refuting the claims in stories that angered him so, Urlacher decided to only communicate through FOX Sports analyst Jay Glazer. Chicago media were only given one-word answers by Urlacher and he regularly displayed his disdain for the people in the room on or off camera.

But in this regard, Brian Urlacher is the ultimate hypocrite.

He's currently using the media as his personal mouthpiece to demand a reworked contract for the upcoming season. Despite the fact it's not set to expire until 2011. The very people he despises with every fiber of his being, are the very same people who will aid him in getting another huge payday.

So in his mind, using the media for his own personal gains is acceptable.

However, reporters using him for their own personal gain is unconscionable.

But Urlacher's use of the media is not uncommon. In fact, it's commonplace.

While athletes bemoan the lack of honesty and professionalism of journalists, they take advantage of them very often in order to serve their own agenda.

Unhappy with your contract?

Leak a story to a team reporter and watch it take off on ESPN and local media outlets.

Want to be traded?

Talk to the media, make your feelings known and proceed to land that new multi-multi-million dollar deal in a warm climate.

Both sides are using one another, yet both bemoan one another for it and fans suffer because of it.

The relationship between the two sides is frazzled to say the least. I keep imagining it as the Pit and the Pendulum, always one swing closer to becoming completely severed.

But in order for the two sides to have any chance of reconciliation, they need to come to the understanding their relationship will never be the way it was twenty, thirty years ago. Long gone are the days when reporters would turn a blind eye to the debauchery these athletes find themselves in.

Once they realize how their relationship actually benefits one another, things may go back to normal and fans will once again get the kind of coverage we had all become accustomed to.

If not, it's going to be one ugly breakup.