Collusion - The Hidden Side of Sports
Connor Phipps (48258868)
Discussion: Thursday 8pm
The term "collusion" refers to covert collaboration between two or more people or groups for a wrongous or criminal goal. Business, politics, and sports are just a few of the settings where collusion can happen. Collusion can have detrimental effects on customers, the economy, and society, despite the fact that it is frequently difficult to detect.
Collusion can also happen in sports, for instance when team owners work together to set salary caps or restrict player mobility. This kind of collaboration can be detrimental to both the participants and the spectators who pay to see them compete. In politics, collusion can happen when people or organizations work together covertly to influence elections or gain an unfair advantage.
As a frequent viewer of Major League Baseball, I have always admired the sport for its spirit of competition and the sense of fandom it produces. But I've been upset and disillusioned about the league's collusion issue. In addition to harming the players who are not fairly compensated for their skills, this also distorts the playing field and jeopardizes the integrity of the game. As a fan, I like to think that players' skill and effort on the field, not management's plotting behind the scenes, dictate the results of games. My faith in the sport's fairness is destroyed by collusion, and it is tougher for me to love it as much as I once did.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Major League Baseball (MLB) saw certain instances of collusion. Several organizations were charged with conspiring to reduce player pay at the time by deciding not to sign lucrative contracts with free agents.
An MLB player made an average of $1.07 million in 1995. It had barely climbed to $2.38 million by 2001. This was in spite of the fact that the league's earnings during that time period went from $1.9 billion in 1995 to $3.5 billion in 2001, a huge rise.
Figure 1: Team Revenues all in the millions
Figure 2: Player Revenues huge difference between team and player revenues
The MLB Players' Union filed a grievance against the league in 1998, alleging collusion amongst team owners. The union charged that teams were working together to avoid competing with one another for free-agent players, which was driving down wages. The dispute was arbitrated, and in 2000, the players were given $280 million in damages when the arbitrator found in favor of the players' union.
This collusion had significant results. Several gifted athletes failed to secure the contracts they merited, and some were forced to retire early or accept pay below what was fair. Teams with smaller payrolls were at a disadvantage relative to those with greater payrolls, which had an effect on the competitive balance of the league.
Overall, this example shows the real-world consequences of collusion in sports, including its impact on player salaries and the overall competitive balance of a league. It also highlights the importance of holding organizations accountable for engaging in collusion and ensuring that players are able to earn fair compensation for their skills and contributions to the sport.
Works cited
“MLB Collusion, Explained.” Google, Google, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/mlb/2018/1/18/16882650/mlb-collusion-offseason-free-agency-explainer.
“Baseball Strike in 1994-95 Began 25 Years Ago - MLB | NBC Sports.” Google, Google, https://www.google.com/amp/s/mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/08/12/baseball-strike-in-1994-95-began-25-years-ago/amp/.
Jablon, Robert. “LA Dodger Fans Face Heartbreaking Ending to Magical Year.” The Seattle Times, 1 Nov. 2017, www.seattletimes.com/news/la-baseball-fans-prepare-for-a-once-in-a-lifetime-moment.
Gaines, Cork. “CHART: MLB Salaries Had Largest Increase in 7 Years and This Is Just the Start.” Business Insider, 19 Dec. 2013, www.businessinsider.com/chart-mlb-salaries-had-largest-increase-in-7-years-and-this-is-just-the-start-2013-12.
---. “MLB Team Revenues Show the True Disparity Between the Haves and Have Nots.” Business Insider, 28 Mar. 2013, www.businessinsider.com/team-revenues-show-the-true-disparity-in-major-league-baseball-sports-chart-of-the-day-2013-3.
"Baseball Collusion: It's a Case of Suing the Bosses," by John Feinstein, The Washington Post, published on November 1, 1987.
"Collusion Case Splits Baseball Owners and Players," by Ross Newhan, The Los Angeles Times, published on January 14, 1990.
"Collusion Was the Dark Secret Behind Baseball's Free-Agent Chill," by Murray Chass, The New York Times, published on October 28, 1990.
Baseball Collusion: It's a Case of Suing the Bosses," by John Feinstein, The Washington Post, published on November 1, 1987.
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