How much?

It was probably an easy decision for Bob Stoops to stay in Oklahoma for ten years. After all, he's not just respected but glorified; he's at one of the nation's top programs historically; and, now, coming into his tenth year (!!), he is about to receive a 3 million dollar bonus, earning him over $6 million this year.

The Oklahoman broke the contract down (as well as doing a good job of justifying the amount) in a February '08 article. Although this is an exorbitant amount of money for a football coach, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. He generates money, he earns money. What I've always been impressed with is Stoops' loyalty. I'm a little old fashioned in my beliefs about sports; I respect those players and coaches that attempt to build up their programs and fashion it into a dynasty, those players and coaches that don't jump at more lucrative offers. ($6 million is pretty good incentive to stay, I know...)

But after (and I'm going to switch sports here) the KG trade this past summer, from Minnesota to Boston, my thoughts began to change. Garnett is one of the most loyal people in the NBA today. He languished throughout some of his best years on a weak team only to find out half a year ago that the Timberwolves GM, Kevin McHale, was shopping him around, thinking about a trade.

Fast forward to now: the Boston Celtics are dominating the entire league and KG is the leader on that team. So, after witnessing this debacle, I've started to rethink the hierarchy of loyalty. I never considered the fact that it had to go both ways before: in a world where the dollar dominates, I always thought everyone jumped ship because a new team was more lucrative.

And then Shawn Marion happened.

Shawn Marion was on one of the best teams in the NBA, the PHX Suns. He was SO unhappy that he WANTED to be traded to the Miami Heat. The. Worst. Team. In. The. League. With a coach who shows up only a few days a week.

This trade has confounded me. Obviously, every player's motivations differ, but this puts a strange spin on all of my thoughts. From one of the elite...to the worst. From 47-23.

To 13-57.

You make sense of it.