Williams decision could change the NBA in a very scary way

Deron Williams, current point guard for the New Jersey Nets.

 
There is a whole lot to address when it comes to the NBA's current lockout situation. Hard salary cap vs. Soft salary cap and the retraction of teams is just a few issues that will be discussed probably over the next year (or not) while fans get to sit around and wait on a season that will probably never happen. I would like to think that every player in the league is trying hard to even get to a point where they can negotiate with owners and try to solve this mess of a situation. Enter Deron Williams.
   Williams has his own plans: Instead of staying in the United States and attempting to help sort out this mess of lockout his "league" has, he has decided to take his talents all the way to Turkey, to join the Turkish Besiktas (Same team former NBA Star Allen Iverson played for a few years back) and leave while the NBA sorts out their problems. Rumors have now begun to circulate that other all-stars like Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony could join Williams and play overseas next season.

I did not like when Iverson did this either, but the league was not in such a mess at that time.  Plus, we were just "talking about practice".

    
   Not sure if this is a scare tactic by the players to kind of push the owners into a deal they do not want, but I can tell you this much: It is really stupid.
   All these players claim how it was "their dream to play in the National Basketball Association" and when they win a championship that "this is what it is all about, right here and right now." If players begin to relocate and disregard a commitment (not contractually, but morally) to their teams, those words become lies to all of us.
   But they were not always lies. When the players were eight or nine years old, I imagine it was truly their dream to be an NBA Superstar. Then high school came around and they saw those dollar signs begin to appear, then everything changed. This league and this world for that matter, is driven by money. Players do not care about fans, team unity or anything important you can name unless there is some serious cash behind it. 
   It could not have always been like this. Back in the day, players always had nice paychecks, but it was nothing like the lavished lifestyles that current players have. Call me crazy, but I feel like guys like Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing would do anything to have one more year in their prime and probably would do it for a minimum salary or maybe even nothing at all. This league used to stand for something beautiful and pure, the sweet taste of victory and the agony of defeat. Now all I can see is dollar signs and fancy cars.  
   Call me old fashioned, but I think this league is starting to suck. I no longer see the passion I used to love from all of the players. The referees at this point basically control the outcome of the game. I liked it better when Ron Artest was acting like a mental patient and trying to fight fans because at least there was some emotion in the game. 
   If all the players begin to sign in Turkey or Spain or wherever they made go, get ready for the excuses: "It is what is best for my family." or "This is the best way to stay in shape for next season."; It will all be a load of trash. Because the guys that leave are just in this for money and child that once wanted nothing more than to be Michael Jordan never factored in what he got to have when he was not playing basketball. 
   

“There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great players and

never win titles. Most of the time, those players aren't willing to

sacrifice for the greater good of the team. The funny thing is, in

the end, their unwillingness to sacrifice only makes individual

goals more difficult to achieve. One thing I believe to the fullest

is that if you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades

will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and

intelligence win championships.”- Michael Jordan

Chad Underwood writes for Chad's Sportsworld and is a former editor-in-chief of Thompson High School's "TribeUne" newspaper.