Not long ago I had someone say to me, "Your job must have really good perks."
I smiled, hesitated and then politely responded, "Well, actually, no it does not. In fact, I can't think of a single one off the top of my head."
It was a person I knew fairly well and my response drew a laugh, albeit an awkward one. I was not trying to be wise, it's just the truth.
In a weak moment recently, I was listening to sports talk radio and the loud-mouthed host said a buddy of his in the same business had just received a "hearty" bonus for the team he worked for because that team had a profitable year.
That's a heckuva gig, my friends. Getting a bonus for doing play-by-play for a sports team? That might not be quite as good as actually playing sports for a living, but it's really close.
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As this conversation unfolded about the "hearty" bonus, and as I crawled up Mill Hill towards my palatial estate in the southwest part of town, I began to think about what constitutes a perk?
Last baseball season, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan of the Minnesota Twins each got $25,000 bonuses for making the All-Star Game. From everything I've heard and read from people that would know, all three of those fellows are good guys. But $25 large on top of millions for doing your job?
From the "Even-Nuttier File," pitcher Roy Halladay got $125,000 for making the same team.
Years ago ESPN had behind-the-scenes access to the contract negotiations between player agent Jeff Moorad, who at the time was representing Manny Ramirez, and the Boston Red Sox. At that time, Dan Duquette was the general manager of the Red Sox.
After a lengthy and sometimes contentious negotiation, Moorad secured the $160-million deal for the now disgraced Ramirez. As Moorad, who now owns the San Diego Padres, and Duquette were sitting down to dot the i's and cross the t's, with the camera rolling, Moorad looked directly at Duquette and said, "Well, about the only thing I can ask you for now is more money."
Duquette, looking haggard and run down from the lengthy negotiation, looked at Moorad as if to say, "What planet are you from?"
Having a guy like Moorad (Darin Erstad's former agent) on your side, is a perk.
Down here at my level, a "perk" is a media-savvy coach -- because they all aren't.
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However, in Jamestown, most of the coaches do a nice job.
Unfortunately in the last couple of months three of the better ones -- Darin Peterson, Jeff Trumbauer and Mark Wiest -- moved on, for different reasons, but are gone nonetheless.
Based on the types of coaches Jamestown College and Jamestown High typically hire, I expect the same kind of cooperative and cordial relationships with the new guys.
Occasionally we hear stories about athletes or coaches who don't like media members and vice-versa. They throw tantrums and name-call befitting my ill-tempered 2.10-year-old.
I can't imagine having to cover or ask questions to an all-time-jerk like Bob Knight. At the same time, having some wise-butt writer from the New York Post jam a tape recorder in my mouth after a bad game and essentially ask, "Why were you terrible tonight?" does not sound very appealing either.
From time-to-time I'll get an email or a phone call or a question from someone to the effect of, "You weren't tough enough on this player or that coach."
Truthfully, there may be some validity to that. But I realized long ago I don't have the stones to throw a teenager under the bus if a mistake is made in a high school or college game. That probably allows me to sleep at night, which is about as good of perk as I'm going to get.
Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com
