Good to see Detroit becoming a free agent destination again!

  • pbjamm@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    It mostly started back in the 70s/80s when team owners managed to turn it into big business. They were making bank with tickets sales, merch sales, sponsorship deals etc and the players were getting pissed. After all, they were the ones out there doing the work and getting hurt so they demanded more compensation. It kind of snowballed from there with prices and salaries going ever up.

    Back in the 60s/70s my grandparents owned a restaurant near the LA Rams practice field. Most of the players were regular customers and my grandpa had several team signed footballs that they gave him. At that time most of the players also had off-season jobs. My parents bought their first house from one of the guys who was a realtor.