My fellow sports fans, there has never been a better time than now to ask the professional athletes and coaches in America to shut the f up and stop whining. Last week we all heard Joe Torre's claim that the Yankees' offer was an act of disrespect. Just yesterday, Barry Bonds claimed that the Giants are making a mistake for firing him. I don't always agree with the Yankees or the Giants, but they're totally right in their decisions to cut Torre and Bonds, respectively.

     Let's begin with Joe Torre. I can't believe he thinks the Yankees were disrespectful when they offered him $5 millions for a year AND incentives contingent on the team's performance. That's disrespect? How can you think this isn't a good offer, Joe?

     It's no secret that the Yankees have an extremely good team. True, they might need more pitching. But they can win games just with their offense. This season the Yankees needed a good winning streak at the end of the season (mainly against teams with losing records) to make it to the playoffs. They lost in the AL Division Series against the Tigers, in 2006, and against the Angels, in 2005 and 2002. In 2004, perhaps the Yankees' worst playoff performance in recent years, they lost the AL Championship to Boston after being up 3-1 in the series. Furthermore, in 2003, the mighty Yankees lost to a low-payroll Marlins team.

     While all this is going on you just see Torre sitting down emotionless in the dugout. If he can't get such a great team as the Yankees to win as many games as their potential dictates, then why would another team give him a chance to manage. Why wouldn't he take $5 millions to sit down emotionless in the dugout for one more season? C'mon, Joe! The Yankees made you a disrespectful offer? Are you serious?

     A fairly similar case can be made for Bonds. Forget about the allegations of roids usage and how this affects the Giants' public image. Let's talk strictly about a 42-year-old baseball player's performance. Barry Bonds' productivity has decreased significantly over the past 5 years. His batting average went from .370 in 2002 to .276 in 2007. He had 149 hits in 2002, but only 94 this season. So you're thinking, 'yeah, but he hits home runs like crazy.' Think again. Bonds hit 46 homers in 2002, but just 28 in 2007.

     As Torre, then, Bonds doesn't deserve millions of dollars for nothing! Would you pay someone millions of dollars just for a chance to get millions of dollars? If your answer is yes, then there's a scam waiting patiently for you. Answering yes to my question is like paying $5 millions to hit the Lotto with $1 million. That's why the Yankees made the right decision to let Torre go. That's why the Giants were correct in firing Bonds. If you don't produce, then you shouldn't be highly compensated. Regardless of who one is no one deserves to get millions of dollars without earning them. So please STF up, Joe and Barry!