Arizona

In paying tribute to Luis Gonzalez' tenure as an Arizona Diamondback, writers for the Tuscon Citizen question the loyalty of teams towards their marquee players, especially given the public investment in the facilities that support these teams:

But where's the loyalty today?

When I was a tadpole, there were three giants who walked the Earth: Stan Musial, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. Santa Claus himself would be sold or traded before one of those guys. Were they around today, though, the Cardinals, Red Sox and Yankees wouldn't blink an eye before peddling Stan, Ted or Joltin' Joe. Let the fans go to blazes if there's big money involved.

Somewhere in a cookie-cutter home in the sprawl of Phoenix, or here in Tucson or in Flagstaff, or on some reservation, a little kid is crying his eyes out because his beloved Gonzo will not be playing for Arizona again.

Me and my buddies - Suds, Jimmy, Butch and Greasy - would have done the same thing had Musial, Williams or DiMaggio been swapped like a used car.

These teams get all kinds of tax breaks and land for stadiums paid for by the public. Then they gouge the paying customer as much as the law allows, bring in ballplayers they hope will connect with the fans in such a way that tax-breaks and gouging will be forgotten.

I think the author has a point, but I wish he would throw some of his anger towards the way of the politicians as well.