To get a good understanding of the situation, it’s important to know that Ronaldo has two main agents: Jorge Mendes and Simon de Quieroz. The former runs Ronaldo’s affairs for him, while the latter is a consultant for Mendes; they represent a large number of top players in the world, and are instrumental in the transfer market. The Ronaldo-Juventus situation has been a tense one: after four years at the Juventus, Ronaldo returned to United and signed a new £300,000-a-week, four-year deal in the summer of 2018.
It’s been five years since Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford for the Bernabeu in a world record £80m move after nine seasons with the Red Devils. After everything he’d achieved, it was hard to believe that Ronaldo would leave but that’s exactly what happened. The Madrid outfit also offered him bonuses of £30m each year, which he couldn’t turn down.
To get a good understanding of the situation, it’s important to know that Ronaldo has two main agents: Jorge Mendes and Simon de Quieroz. The former runs Ronaldo’s affairs for him, while the latter is a consultant for Mendes; they represent a large number of top players in the world, and are instrumental in the transfer market. The Ronaldo-Juventus situation has been a tense one: after four years at the Juventus, Ronaldo returned to United and signed a new £300,000-a-week, four-year deal in the summer of 2018.
Oscar Robertson was a pioneer in the NBA, even if it cost him his career. Robertson, the man responsible for today’s players’ nine-figure salaries, never smiled for the cameras and never kept his emotions to himself. Robertson made use of his clout to promote social justice and player concerns.
That placed him on the wrong side of management, and supporters have a history of siding with ownership in such situations. It’s known as the “shut up and dribble” method of sports fandom. Robertson, who is now 82 years old, nevertheless has no qualms about expressing opposing views. He expressed his thoughts on the NBA’s position on super teams during a recent podcast interview.
Oscar Robertson filed a lawsuit on behalf of the athletes.
Oscar Robertson put himself on a collision path with the NBA’s powers in 1970. According to Sports Illustrated, he initiated an antitrust case against the NBA and spoke before a Senate committee in 1971 to advocate against giving the NBA an antitrust exemption similar to that granted by Major League Baseball.
His thesis was straightforward: it was unethical for sports leagues to restrict athletes’ freedom to make money. Players were bound to their clubs long after their contracts had ended, according to the reserve clause in contracts. In the end, the NBA’s exception was denied. Players gained free agency rights as a result of Robertson’s fights. The Oscar Robertson Rule, enacted in 1976, ultimately led to the elimination of compensation for clubs that lost free agents.
However, most people’s memories of Robertson revolve on his 1961–62 season, when he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double. He is referred to as a statistical outlier. However, he is not a popular figure among today’s fans, who have only heard his name mentioned in passing in relation to Russell Westbrook. He is a devoted family guy in addition to being a pioneer.
Oscar Robertson claims that super teams are treated unfairly.
Super teams have existed in the NBA for far longer than 2003, despite Gary Payton’s assertions to the contrary. However, before free agency enabled individuals to make their own decisions about their futures, trading players put together such teams. Oscar Robertson makes the same argument.
If clubs exchange players like property to collect the greatest talent, they are considered a super squad. But what if a player has the freedom to select where and with whom he wants to play? But that’s an other story. On a recent edition of the Knuckleheads podcast with Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, the Hall of Famer made that argument.
“It was David Stern’s agreement to get Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for Boston, and the NBA approved it. Everything went well. But when LeBron (James) got to Miami, people were like, ‘Oh man, how are you going to accomplish this?’
After joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami in 2010, James faced a lot of criticism. After leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016, Kevin Durant was slammed in the public eye. His decision to join the Brooklyn Nets with Kyrie Irving received a similar response.
Because Harden pushed his way out of Houston, the Nets’ trade for him failed to pass muster.
Robertson is a pivotal character in basketball history, having repercussions that may still be felt today. He isn’t, however, a well-liked hero. Perhaps he should be.
Other historical figures have benefited from imaginative interpretations of history.
Oscar Robertson believes that the NBA has a different perspective on super teams. In 2007, the Boston Celtics made a good deal by acquiring Kevin Garnett (5) and Ray Allen (20). The signing of LeBron James (6) to the Miami Heat was regarded as a major evil. | Getty Images/Jim Davis/The Boston Globe
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, praises Oscar Robertson. Together, they became the Milwaukee Bucks the league’s fastest expansion club to win a title. Milwaukee won the championship in its third season, in 1971. In their seventh season, the Portland Trail Blazers won their lone championship. Only those two teams have accomplished it in less than a decade.
However, although Abdul-Jabbar is regarded as a legend, this obscures aspects of his background. Kareem pushed his way out of Milwaukee to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975, much as Harden did in Houston. According to current interpretations, the Bucks executed one of the worst deals in NBA history. But, in an unwinnable position, then-general manager Wayne Embry did the best he could.
However, late in his career, Abdul-Jabbar became likable, and today’s generation views him as a wise elder (correctly). Oscar Robertson was never given the chance. Before retiring from television, he worked for CBS Sports for a few years. In November, Robertson will be 83 years old. It would be fantastic if the Big O could begin to be properly recognized for all he provided — and sacrificed — for future NBA players.
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Oscar Robertson Named His Top 5 NBA Players of All Time, But LeBron James Didn’t Make the Cut: ‘It’s Difficult in Different Ages and What Not to Say This Guy Was Better Than This Player,’ says the author.
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