Word of the Day: Freedom (July 3, 2007)
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by user DNL
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Ah, freedom.
Freedom is defined many ways. The dictionary gives us a few; interestingly, one of them deals with "loose [...] clothing", so maybe this article deals with Amanda Beard.
It doesn't.
Sorry.
Anyway, onto the definition.
- The condition of being free of restraints.
- Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression.
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- Political independence.
- Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty: freedom of assembly.
- Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition: freedom from want.
- The capacity to exercise choice; free will: We have the freedom to do as we please all afternoon.
- Ease or facility of movement: loose sports clothing, giving the wearer freedom.
- Frankness or boldness; lack of modesty or reserve: the new freedom in movies and novels.
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- The right to unrestricted use; full access: was given the freedom of their research facilities.
- The right of enjoying all of the privileges of membership or citizenship: the freedom of the city.
- A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or interference: “the seductive freedoms and excesses of the picaresque form” (John W. Aldridge).
Not a bad thing, if you can get it.
Yesterday, freedom had three faces, with Scooter Libby being the most prominent. But in the sports world, there were two others: Darko Milicic and Jacque Jones, both "free" from the purgatory known as "Florida sports." (Excluding the Miami Heat.)
Milicic, presently but soon to be formerly of the Orlando Magic, was to be a restricted free agent. But the Magic are going after Rashard Lewis, and, well, need cap room. Unless Orlando can slough a contract or three, or work out a sign-and-trade, they'll be renouncing their claim on Darko, setting him free. (By the way, does anyone else wonder how Carmelo Anthony would look in a Detroit Pistons uniform? I mean, other than Joe Dumars?)
Jones' story is more, well, Orwellian. Jones was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Florida Marlins for a bag of stale bagels -- you know, the ones that grandmothers bring from New York. The Cubs agreed to pay Jones' salary -- $7.2 MM over the next two years. In effect, this is a big transfer o' cash from Chicago to Florida, and requires the approval of His Excellency, The Ambassador Allen H. "Bud" Selig, Jr., F.U.C.D. (That's "former used car dealer," and I can't believe it's taken me ten years to come up with that.)
His Excellency, The Ambassador said nyet! to the deal. Why? Because the Cubs are for sale, and he did not want the new owners being faced with another $7 MM in debt. That'd make them less salable.
Of course, His Excellency, The Ambassador failed to take into consideration a few, well, minor details:
- Jones hasn't played in almost two weeks.
- The Cubs are in the playoff hunt and could use a roster spot. And, well, a playoff berth would probably be worth more than $7 MM in debt.
- Oh, yeah, and the Cubs can just DFA Jones -- thereby taking on all that debt -- and there's nothing His Excellency, The Ambassador can do about it.
As former owner of the Milwaukee Brewers -- you know, the team that the Cubs are chasing -- it's curious, isn't it, that the Cubs wanted to give Jones the ability to play, and Selig wanted him to be free from Florida.
