The Ring’s The Thing

(Note – this column was scheduled to run last week, but was delayed by technical issues regarding OperationSports.com’s migration to new servers. Some changes have been made to the original article to reflect changes since it’s original date.)

Two weeks ago, the Colorado Avalanche stunned the rest of the NHL by announcing that they had signed star forwards Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne to one-year deals. The two players initiated the discussions with the Avalanche themselves after they decided that they wanted to play together, and determined that playing in Colorado gave them the best opportunity to win the Stanley Cup this season.
While both players could have commanded larger salaries, they each took pay cuts to join the Avalanche. Selanne agreed to a one-year, $5.8 million deal, a figure $700,000 smaller than last year. While Selanne’s new salary was surprising, Kariya’s was nothing less than staggering. The former Mighty Duck signed with Colorado for $1.2 million – nearly 90% less than the $10 million he made leading Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Finals. Settling for this salary will allow Kariya to become an unrestricted free agent after next season, two years earlier than expected under NHL rules. While there is that advantage for Kariya, the fact is he likely could have made $10 million or more immediately. Moreover, the diminuitive Kariya’s history of concussions means that he is potentially putting his financial future at risk for a chance at a championship.

Colorado will field a veritable all-star team on it’s first two lines next season, with Peter Forsberg (Hart Trophy, 2003, Ross Trophy, 2003, Plus/Minus Award co-winner, 2003, Calder Trophy, 1995), Joe Sakic (Hart Trophy, 2001, Pearson Award, 2001, Lady Byng Trophy, 2001, Plus/Minus Award, 2001, Smythe Trophy, 1996), Paul Kariya (Lady Byng Trophy, 1997, 1996), Teemu Selanne (Richard Trophy, 1999, Calder Trophy, 1993), Milan Hedjuk (Richard Trophy, 2003, Plus/Minus Award co-winner, 2003), and Alex Tanguay in front of All-Star blueliners Rob Blake (Norris Trophy, 1998) and Adam Foote. With those credentials, anything less than a Stanley Cup parade in Denver next June will be considered a failure.

On July 16th, the NBA may have a similar story in place – with even bigger names in play. Free agent guard Gary Payton has verbally committed to the Los Angeles Lakers for next season, and expects to sign a contract (for far less money than his last one) next week. Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, also a free agent, has publicly stated that he would join the Lakers for the team’s $1.2 million exception – if Los Angeles landed Payton. Malone made more than $18 million last season in Utah.
If all these things happen – and it’s likely that they will (as Malone has since confirmed that he will indeed sign the Los Angeles) – the Lakers will field one of the most impressive starting fives in the history of professional basketball.
With three certain Hall-of-Famers in Shaquille O’Neal, Malone and Payton, and a probable one in Kobe Bryant, the Lakers could start the waterboy at small forward and still be expected to run roughshod over the rest of the league.

This is seemingly a new phenomenon developing in the NBA and NHL, and to some degree, it is. The remarkable sums of money that Malone, Payton, Kariya and Selanne have earned over the courses of their careers now renders most of their financial concerns moot, leaving them free to pursue any deal that will further their chase for an elusive championship. At their ages, Malone (40 this month), Payton (35 this month) and Selanne (33) are all on the downside of their careers. Due to his numerous concussions, Paul Kariya’s (29) career is more at risk then most other players at his age.

All of these players know their window of opportunity is closing a bit more every day. They’ve already accomplished much more than most others could ever hope for. They’ll all retire wealthy beyond most dreams of avarice, and so they’re willing to give some of it up for a chance at sporting immortality.
Unfortunately, in the cases of Malone and Kariya, this also means turning your backs on the only organizations and fans you’ve ever known.
Will it be worth it?