You’re in charge: Cut a coach’s or GM’s salary
I just came across a fascinating story from out of town, at least to me, and thought this could be a blog topic. Besides, I need a short break to refuel before tearing into Bobby Petrino again. (Give me 10 or 15 minutes.)
Loading ...The financial situation with the Miami Heat apparently is so bad that the team could be operating below the roster limit next season, and everybody in basketball operations (save the players) will take a 20-percent cut in pay — including team president Pat Riley and coach Eric Spoelstra. After losing a first-round playoff series to the Hawks, I’m assuming 20 percent was a compromise and fans actually pushed for 30.
Seriously, though . . .
Even if this smacks as a PR move to some, it’s a great decision. In the last couple of years, we’ve all seen sports franchises and leagues lay off low-wage secretaries while nobody in the front office takes a hit. Riley and Spoelstra obviously are not going to feel the financial pinch as much as, say, Tracy in accounting. But it’s still a nice gesture. According to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, the Heat has 13 players under contract, two below the league maximum. The paper also said the NBA is projecting revenue decreases of five to 10 percent.
So here’s where I’m going with this: Atlanta’s four pro franchises face similar economic realities. I personally know several employees who have either been laid off or had their salaries trimmed. But coaches and general managers? No.
My question to you: Who should get their salary cut? You can only vote for one in the poll. But you can comment on as many as you would like. This should be good.
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107 comments Add your comment
Mc21
September 16th, 2009
3:16 pm
I went Bobby Cox, but instead of having his salary cut, just cut him.
The Real Fan
September 16th, 2009
3:30 pm
the dan-myster!
Nativebird
September 16th, 2009
3:30 pm
GM. You’ve got to have groceries if you want to cook. Also, every Pro athlete on a team sport should have max 1 year contracts.
Bryan G.
September 16th, 2009
3:30 pm
Cut Bobby Cox’s salary by 80% and tell him he can incrementally have it back when he stops pulling pitchers who are throwing 8-inning, 5 hit shutouts with only 98 pitches thrown.
Panties in a wad
September 16th, 2009
3:31 pm
Woodson is a joke who cant get the maximum effort from his players. Cut his salary and pink slip.
Greg Norton
September 16th, 2009
3:34 pm
Nice. I’ll go with rick sund because I think they’re paying marvin williams like 8 million a year for 5 years. Some times you just have to admit you’re wrong and cut your losses. The only thing worse than drafting a lottery pick that turned out to be a bust is to resign him to a lucrative multi-year/ multi-million dollar deal. And yeah fire cox/wren
Herschel Talker
September 16th, 2009
3:36 pm
Well said, Mc21! Cut Booby for good! FIRE BOOBY THE DONKEY!!!
Greg Norton
September 16th, 2009
3:36 pm
take Smith and Dimitroff off of the list if any thing they deserve a raise
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 16th, 2009
3:49 pm
It wouldn’t bother me if they cut the salaries of all coaches and players but ONLY if it results in reduced ticket prices.
Ryno
September 16th, 2009
3:56 pm
It’s Donald Waddell, Mike Woodson, and Bobby Cox in that order. All Falcons coaches and staff get a pass. Sund gets a pass because this is his 2nd season, same goes for Anderson.
I think Wren actually made chicken salad out of chicken *you know what* this year – so he earns a pass too.
bugman
September 16th, 2009
3:57 pm
Don Waddell hands down.
Not only salary cut, but mandantory time selling beer in the isles during periods.
Half off (he covers the difference).
Paul H
September 16th, 2009
4:06 pm
Let the Petrino ripping commence!
Herschel Talker
September 16th, 2009
4:08 pm
Petrino likes men
F-105 Thunderchief
September 16th, 2009
4:13 pm
I say cut Woody, who’s already ticked off. Then, he’ll quit in a(nother) huff and Sund can hire a really good coach. Everybody wins … except Woody, who stinks anyway, so who cares?
Terrell
September 16th, 2009
4:16 pm
Greg Norton, just stick to pinch hitting because you don’t know anything about basketball. Marvin was drafted with the thought that it would take some time for him to develop, and he has gotten better every year. The lone game we won in the regular season against Cleveland last year was because when Marvin was healthy he made it tough for Lebron to score. He was clutch in a lot of games as well. When Joe Johnson was out for those few games who stepped up? Marvin did!
Ed-Covington
September 16th, 2009
4:20 pm
Waddell-not even close!!
Waddell Sucks!
September 16th, 2009
4:27 pm
nobody on the list has screwed up a team more than Waddell. He is easily the worst GM in Atlanta. I think the only reason he sticks around is because ownership does not care about the Thrashers.
C-124 Globemaster
September 16th, 2009
4:28 pm
I agree with my supersonic cousin, F-105. Woodson is a stumbling block to the Hawks making big strides. Best to cut his pay and watch him walk.
Braves Fan in Dawgs Country
September 16th, 2009
4:40 pm
It should probably Don Waddell, based on performance. But he comes across in all interviews as a nice guy, while Woodson comes across as a “me first” jerk. Nothing is ever “our” system, or “our” players; it is always “my” system and “my” players, etc. So I voted for Woodson.
Brendan
September 16th, 2009
4:46 pm
Could we add BRUCE LEVENSON to the list? Please? (He’s one of the owners that has too much influence in the hockey side of operations.) Levenson’s salary should be cut. On second thought, I’d just settle on him being banned from hockey decisions entirely. Let him go over to the Hawks side.
If I can’t vote for Bruce, it’s between Bobby Cox and Don Waddell. Cox hasn’t skippered a win in the World Series since 1996, Game 2. Don Waddell hasn’t had a win the Stanley Cup Finals since 1998, with Detroit, as an Assistant GM.
chc4
September 16th, 2009
4:50 pm
Do you honestly think a multi-million/billion dollar business cutting payroll by $300,000 has any effect on anything? Makes no sense. Many of these business are operating in the red by 10s of millions of dollars. But yeah, let’s look at the dummy’s guide to corporate America! It’s kinda like cutting $100 million from the federal budget. Um, why bother?
jtwillis
September 16th, 2009
4:50 pm
i went don waddell because i think he is a tool. he basically ruined thrasher hockey with retarded trades and not resigning half of the team after they made the play-offs. he’s a proven loser. he should work for free in fact.
Sage of Bluesland
September 16th, 2009
4:54 pm
This one isn’t even close…He of the nonstop bluster about “Five-Year Plans”, “Building through the draft!”, and playoff “guarantees”…Ladies and gentlemen, the biggest loser on the Atlanta sports scene: Don Waddell.
(and the person who stated that he would have been fired if only the ownership cared was absolutely correct. How sad and pitiful.)
Reid Adair
September 16th, 2009
5:00 pm
I agree with the person who said Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith shouldn’t even be on the list.
That aside, the answer is easy – FRANK WREN.
PMC
September 16th, 2009
5:01 pm
Don Waddell has produced virtually nothing in more than a decade yet still has a position. I’d imagine he’s quite pleased to be receiving even minimum wage. I’m sure he works very hard or what have you… but he’s bordering on government employee type tenure at this point.
PMC
September 16th, 2009
5:03 pm
Liberty Media is the main issue with the Braves.
BravesinTN
September 16th, 2009
5:13 pm
Braves fan who likes Bobby Cox and I played college FB under Mike Smith…so, anybody else….
JSS
September 16th, 2009
5:24 pm
You missed the point… The people who need to rebate their income are the OWNERS… Arthur Blank and his 6 homes does not need the money… And try financing your own stadiums, say what you like about Jerry Jones; but he used limited public money (half)… The last two stadiums we’ve been stuck with debt and subsidized rich people getting richer… Atlanta needs a real 35 to 40,000 seat venue with a world class soccer and athletics (that’s track) setup. With the changing demographics of the Southeast, it is a smart move. And GSU and the HBCU’s can make this a homefield for non big time or HBC classic games.It is also a better spot for the Bell HS classic.
Of course I think Jeff Schultz’s salary should be cut by 50%, he doesn’t write real columns anymore (or ever)…
Sonny Clusters
September 16th, 2009
5:26 pm
“Let’s have a contest. I will pick your team and my team. You can pick my manager and your manager. Let’s see who wins.”
We was reading the blog and come across this. It seemed to us like with all that picking it would have to be Bobby Cox blogging here with us. Now, we can’t be sure – but if Bobby is blogging here with Jeff maybe all that cutting his pay talk has struck a nerve. Bobby probably wouldn’t want his pay cut and letting people vote on it sure could strain some relations at the ballpark. We was thinking, though, that getting paid to sit and pick and eat seeds (hope that’s seeds) and occassionally get thrown out of a game is not a bad job if you can get it. Jeff is right. Cut Bobby Cox’s pay!
Sonny Clusters
September 16th, 2009
5:38 pm
We was reading an e-mail we got about our 5:26 post and we made a mistake that we need to correct. We was never suggesting that Bobby might be eating something other than seeds in the dugout. What he is doing with pickings we never see on television because the camera man knows to cut to something else when Bobby goes deep. We was always wondering what it would be like to give Coach a shot at running the Braves. Coach wouldn’t cost a lot of money and he has some pretty good hygiene with his fingers. Most anybody can fill out a lineup that never changes unless the other manager starts a pitcher we wasn’t expecting. Anyway, we was also wondering if having a tugged groin is worse in wet weather than in dry weather. Jeff says he doesn’t want to ask Chipper any groin questions and we can understand that. Maybe he can find out about tugged groins from Jeff Porter. Jeff’s got to stick together.
Chef montuer
September 16th, 2009
6:02 pm
Man Shultz! How do I get a gravy job like yours? Ask dumb questions and let us morons who read this crap answer them huh?
HR Pufnstuf
September 16th, 2009
6:03 pm
Wren is the reason the Braves are out of the pennant race. Look at Texiera and Andruw Jones homers.
Bill Heller
September 16th, 2009
6:20 pm
Cut the GM’s salary, he has less contact with the players/public and you don’t want the negativity rubbing off. But first try cutting 20% off the team’s HR expenses like meals, hotel, airfare and other perks.
Mark Richt
September 16th, 2009
6:26 pm
Shoot why list only pro-contracts??? I certainly deserve to have my contract slashed by at least 50%! I recruit in one of the most fertile football states in the nation and yet have spent most of this season recruiting players in florida that UF apparently did not want and for the large part niether did Miami. Yet, Alabama, Auburn, UT, SC, Clem, and unbelievably even GT has signed many of the top players within the state. Shoot if we lose this week…I’ll be glad to give 10% of my pay up providing my fan base lets me keep Martinez. He is my soul mate!
IlliniBrave
September 16th, 2009
6:51 pm
In addition to a cut in Waddell’s pay, can we also sue the man for “pain and suffering”?
No single person has wreaked more havoc on the sports and entertainment landscape of Atlanta. The man is the William Tecumseh Sherman of local sports.
Canonball Butler
September 16th, 2009
7:35 pm
Sure, give us an idea of the salaries of each and no problem.
Also, the Braves could probably use a big headline to get the fans out. I’ve got a feeling a lot of folks have written them off as having no chance. How about one of those big headlines for old times sake and just in case?
Horsetoothedjackass
September 16th, 2009
7:35 pm
Trader Don Waddell. Hiring a GM based on his success in building MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS and who had a minor (if any) role in the Red Wings’ 1997-98 Stanley Cup championship (He was an Assistant GM) would be like hiring your next door neighbor to build you a house because he built a decent looking dog house. Anyone with half a brain can build a successful upper level minor league team, especially if the team has an affiliation with an NHL club, as a good chunk of your roster comes from them, and you fill out the rest with guys that can’t get a deal with an NHL club that are great at the minor league level, but not good enough to make it with an NHL club. Waddell would have long since been fired if he had this kind of success in somewhere like Detroit, New York, Chicago, (insert Canadian NHL team of choice here), Boston, or Philly. You almost wonder if he has some blackmail photos which keep him in his job.
Bad News
September 16th, 2009
7:46 pm
Cut NOODLE ARM.
Just kidding. The money recouped from VICK’S contract should be enough to keep anybody from taking paycuts.
kool$kat
September 16th, 2009
7:58 pm
write in vote: Paul Hewitt
Sonny Clusters
September 16th, 2009
8:16 pm
We was facing cutbacks at the plant and was afraid they might cut our pay. We never would have thought somebody would blog about it and ask for votes on who ought to get their pay cut. We was glad it wasn’t us. Pay cutting is personal between the payer and the payee and shouldn’t be a topic for bloggers no matter how intelligent the bloggers may be. When we had 480 employees working for us and we was the paymaster we was always respectful of people’s pay. That’s the way it is in baseball, too. We are optimistic it will dry out in time for some baseball tonight and hope the groin tugging won’t keep Chipper out of the game.
chris
September 16th, 2009
8:55 pm
I agree with Hillbilly Deluxe, they all can receive a pay cut as long as the tickets price goes down. its crazy how much tickets cost in the time of an economic downturn. But hey im just a fan
An Observation
September 16th, 2009
9:13 pm
Bobby Cox and the Braves GM, both, need to go. Their salaries would not be my primary reason for saying they need to go. Even if they agreed to take a salary cut, it’s the lack of positive results. The Braves bullpen has not been productive for several years now and it just gets worst every year.
And while you’re discussing financial equity, the NFL needs to eliminate at least two preseason games. What a total waste of money for the fans at full ticket prices.
Matt
September 16th, 2009
9:28 pm
This one probably won’t even be close. Don Waddell’s been STEALING money for YEARS. I don’t want to hear the crying about the ownership. I want to hear more about his FIVE YEAR PLAN here in year TEN! (Or nine, depending on how you count the lockout year.)
He’s the only GM in hockey that doesn’t realize that just because your kids are out of school you don’t get to take the summer off too!
JEM
September 16th, 2009
9:33 pm
Amen, PMC. Liberty Media is the true culprit when it comes to the Braves.
Buzz
September 16th, 2009
9:37 pm
I predict that within five years of Bobby Cox’s retirement the Braves fans will be lamenting his exodus.
Paddy
September 16th, 2009
9:39 pm
Petrino does not need a salary. Cowards should not get paid.
Paddy
September 16th, 2009
9:47 pm
JSS….a world class soccer venue? I don’t care how beautiful it would be, America does not get soccer and never will. Soccer has its place in the world of sports for sure. People with money are just not going to invest. Just too many failed teams and leagues.
o-me
September 16th, 2009
10:15 pm
Give Falcons Coach and GM a raise.
Fire Bobby Cox!!
o-me
September 16th, 2009
10:17 pm
Buzz you’re living in the past. There is nobody that can’t be replaced…GM just has to hire the right man.
Horace
September 16th, 2009
10:20 pm
Cut Meredith Ford Goldman for her useless and condescending blogs in the food section.