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Super Star
The man could be enjoying his retirement. Fishing, playing golf, watching baseball on TV, estimating just how much money he could have made if he had only been born forty years later than he was, whatever. Instead, he finds himself in the middle of a totally unnecessary controversy, one that has less to do with baseball than the attitude of entitlement so common to today's athletes.
But how much of Soriano's refusal to consider a position change until threatened with the loss of his precious paycheck can really be laid at his doorstep? Obviously, Soriano should be held accountable for his actions, or in this case his lack of action. But that's the problem. Does anyone doubt that Alfonso Soriano, from the youngest age he showed exceptional promise as an athlete, has rarely if ever been held accountable for anything?
Think back to when you played high school sports, or even earlier, to when you played Little League baseball or Pop Warner football, or any organized sport whatsoever. Remember how there was always one kid who was better than everyone else? Maybe he was bigger and stronger, or faster and more talented than everyone else. Remember how he got treated differently by the authority figures - the coaches? He could get away with anything he wanted, remember?
Now imagine a kid with potentially world-class athletic ability. Imagine this child, from the youngest age, being surrounded by adults whispering in his ear how special he is, basking in his accomplishments, excusing any indiscretion. Imagine this star treatment becoming more and more pronounced as the athlete matures physically and becomes even more "special."
Is it any wonder his perception of himself and his place in the world gets distorted and magnified? Does it come as any big surprise that an Alfonso Soriano can feel he is entitled to dictate the position he will play, or even if he is going to play at all, to his manager?
Meanwhile, back to Frank Robinson, who probably never imagined he would have to take a head count as his players left the dugout to make sure they all actually made it onto the field. $10 million just doesn't go as far as it used to.