Athletes always talk about the love of the game as if it’s a given. It’s all about being able to play the game they grew up playing, or being on the field, with their teammates, and yada yada yada. That’s what they all say until the first round of tenuous contract negotiations.
Does anyone honestly think sports behemoths like Manny Ramirez or Alex Rodriguez love the game as much as they love what the game has done for their bank accounts? What about JaMarcus Russell? The recent Oakland Raider bust had no problem cashing his multi-million dollar paychecks ($31.5 million worth in parts of three seasons); he just had a problem actually earning them.
The modern sports culture is one of instant gratification. It’s not what have you done for me lately, but rather what are you doing for me now.
As a result, generations of supremely talented individuals want all the rewards of success without putting in the necessary sweat and tears like the athletes of yesteryear.
American soccer star Oguchi Onyewu seems to have been cut from a different cloth.
“Gooch” is one of the first athletes in the modern era to actually walk the walk, as he has asked for, and signed a one-year extension with Italian powerhouse AC Milan sans any compensation attached.
The precedent Onyewu has set is as impressive as it is dangerous. If he succumbs to another injury, or plays at a level unbecoming of a superstar, he may have permanently damaged his ability to get a high-end contract in future years.
On the positive side, however, the Rossoneri view Onyewu’s action as an “exemplary gesture which deserves sincere congratulations.” A solid performance in the upcoming World Cup could lead to a boost of confidence that would prove useful for AC Milan’s title hunt in Serie A next season.
Oguchi Onyewu may be naive, but he’s surely well intentioned. If nothing else, Gooch has shown that he does in fact play for the love of the game. He’s showing loyalty in the truest sense, standing by the team that stood by him even though he had a very serious injury early on in his historic Italian adventure.
Integrity and loyalty may be qualities that are lost on a generation, but not on Oguchi Onyewu. The soccer gods should reward him kindly, or at least help his American squad through the group stage of the World Cup next month.
I’d be ok with either of those results.
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