Ben Gordon knows what it's like to be exploited

Денг Гордон · Oct 2, 2008

Let me preface by saying that I'm indifferent to Ben Gordon and I am not feeling sympathy for a man making $6.4 million this year - more than I will make in my entire life. I actually think that's about what he's worth as a basketball player. However, I'm still a little peeved that he's only making $6.4 million dollars because he can get more on the open market - it's an example of exploitation at it's finest.

Imagine you're working at a job and your contract expires. Now you have experience, are a proven commodity at whatever you do (for me, it's typing fast) and other people have seen your talents. You think "great" - time for me to get what's due too me.

But, no. The world has seen that I'm a great "typer" but my current employer has exclusive rights to my typing ability and they can choose to pay me whatever they want - they own my ability to type. I'm frustrated so I moan and groan and make statements about how I hate my company and adamantly proclaim to the world that I'm a damn good typer. Still, at the end of the day, I don't own or control the only talent I have - typing.

Theoretically I could take my typing ability overseas but I have family and friends stateside who I would like to be with as much as possible. I guess I'll just take the offer from my current company and hope that my typing ability doesn't diminish so I can bank on my talent in the future.

How is this fair? Gordon is still a wealthy man but he, and all other restricted free agents, are being handicapped and exploited in the youthful prime of their careers by the silly labor laws in the NBA. They aren't getting market value for their skills and contributions to the league because their rights are owned by their current teams. No other profession in the world has such exclusive rights to man's freedom and choice to work where he pleases.

It's not even an employer-employee relationship - it's literally ownership of an individual - at least for a year, after that Gordon will be able to go wherever he wants. Assuming the team doesn't take away his ability to breathe by suffocating him under a pillow if they see fit.
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http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/its_just_sports/2008/10/ben_gordon_knows_what_its_like.html

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Ben Gordon knows what it's like to be exploited

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