#1 ·
I was watching a documentary last night about some of the legends from the 80s, and it really got me thinking about how much the culture of professional sports has shifted. Back then, if you were the face of a franchise, you were pretty much there for life. You grew up with the fans, you stayed through the lean years, and the bond felt almost unbreakable.
Nowadays, it feels like everyone is constantly looking over their shoulder. It’s hard to tell if a player actually loves the city or if they’re just waiting for the highest bidder or a more glamorous destination to come calling. It’s become so transactional. I get that it's a business—these guys have short careers and need to secure their families—but does the "ride or die" mentality still exist, or is that just something we talk about to sell jerseys?
It makes me wonder about the fans, too. How much should we actually invest emotionally in a player when we know the relationship is basically a revolving door?
Do you think the era of the "franchise icon" is officially dead, or are we just seeing a change in how players manage their leverage?
Nowadays, it feels like everyone is constantly looking over their shoulder. It’s hard to tell if a player actually loves the city or if they’re just waiting for the highest bidder or a more glamorous destination to come calling. It’s become so transactional. I get that it's a business—these guys have short careers and need to secure their families—but does the "ride or die" mentality still exist, or is that just something we talk about to sell jerseys?
It makes me wonder about the fans, too. How much should we actually invest emotionally in a player when we know the relationship is basically a revolving door?
Do you think the era of the "franchise icon" is officially dead, or are we just seeing a change in how players manage their leverage?