Ricky Williams: Troubled Superstar
Scot Kojola, MBA2/MAAS
Issue date: 9/23/02 Section: Sports
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Several Dolphins, including receiver Oronde Gadsden, spoke up on his behalf, saying Fort Lauderdale police have a penchant for stopping black athletes. "I've been harassed, wherever you go: driving around and in the department store," Dolphins receiver Oronde Gadsden said. "It's one thing to get stopped, if they say you don't have your tags right or the proper identification. But, the handcuffs were a little excessive. I don't think you can really justify putting him in handcuffs. When you see incidents like that, a lot of people are wondering why." One Dolphin who requested anonymity said that many black Miami players get rid of their expensive cars, because they get pulled over so often. Former safety Louis Oliver, for example, sold his Porsche because he was getting pulled over weekly.
Athletes often refer to this type of police action as being pulled over for DWB, Driving While Black. While these may sound like excuses, there may be some factual evidence to support the players' opinions. Davie, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale and home to the Miami Dolphins' training camp is infamous for its white supremacist reputation. It is home to a chapter of the World Church of the Creator, a Neo-Nazi organization, and Fort Lauderdale, in general, ranks high among Florida's cities, for its large number of Aryan/Neo Nazi followers. During my internship this summer in Fort Lauderdale, my colleagues, 90% of whom are minorities, even commented about the racist views of the town of Davie.
Master P and the "Contract"
The commotion created when the Saints traded all their draft picks for Ricky Williams was surpassed by the terms of his contract. That contract, negotiated by rapper Master P's agency, contained incentives difficult to achieve and low base salaries. In his first two NFL seasons, Williams earned $10 million, including a $9 million signing bonus. Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James, another 1999 first-round pick represented by Leigh Steinberg, earned $20 million during the same period. Upon being traded to the Miami Dolphins, Williams fired Master P and hired Leigh Steinberg as his agent. On the day before the season began this year, Williams signed a new contract with the Dolphins. This season, Ricky's base salary will still be at $450,000, the NFL league minimum, but the contract contains incentives that are easier to achieve and could add over $23 million over the remaining five years.
Ricky Williams' football career has shown glimpses of stardom, but the media would rather focus its attention on his personal life. As with most celebrities, there is a thin line between personal and private life. But, I wish the media would just let him do what he does best – run the football.
Athletes often refer to this type of police action as being pulled over for DWB, Driving While Black. While these may sound like excuses, there may be some factual evidence to support the players' opinions. Davie, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale and home to the Miami Dolphins' training camp is infamous for its white supremacist reputation. It is home to a chapter of the World Church of the Creator, a Neo-Nazi organization, and Fort Lauderdale, in general, ranks high among Florida's cities, for its large number of Aryan/Neo Nazi followers. During my internship this summer in Fort Lauderdale, my colleagues, 90% of whom are minorities, even commented about the racist views of the town of Davie.
Master P and the "Contract"
The commotion created when the Saints traded all their draft picks for Ricky Williams was surpassed by the terms of his contract. That contract, negotiated by rapper Master P's agency, contained incentives difficult to achieve and low base salaries. In his first two NFL seasons, Williams earned $10 million, including a $9 million signing bonus. Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James, another 1999 first-round pick represented by Leigh Steinberg, earned $20 million during the same period. Upon being traded to the Miami Dolphins, Williams fired Master P and hired Leigh Steinberg as his agent. On the day before the season began this year, Williams signed a new contract with the Dolphins. This season, Ricky's base salary will still be at $450,000, the NFL league minimum, but the contract contains incentives that are easier to achieve and could add over $23 million over the remaining five years.
Ricky Williams' football career has shown glimpses of stardom, but the media would rather focus its attention on his personal life. As with most celebrities, there is a thin line between personal and private life. But, I wish the media would just let him do what he does best – run the football.
