Sentiment versus Settlement

[CA-35]

After being sued for $200K, Julius Erving this week put his trophy case up for auction.
Some of the marquis items from the collection include Dr. J's 1974 and 1976 New York Nets ABA World Championship ring; 1983 Philadelphia 76ers World Championship ring; 1996 NBA's 50 Greatest Players ring; MVP trophies from 1975-76 (ABA) and 1980-81 (NBA); 1977 and 1983 NBA All-Star game MVP trophies; 1979, 1981 and 1985 Eastern Conference All-Star game-worn uniforms, 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers game-worn road uniform; and his final game-worn jersey from Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference playoffs.

Ray Guy, arguably one of the best punters ever, sold his 3 Super Bowl rings recently (to cover outstanding personal debt) for $80,000.

I have a few beers weekly with a member of the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins who is now 64. When he retired in 1986 he was making under 50k a year. Needless to say his NFL pension that he lives on, as well as Social Security, is barely enough to sustain this once formidable offensive lineman. He has 2 Super Bowl rings from 1972 and 1973. He told me he will eat cat food before selling either one. That, my friends, is called integrity.

 

[Ian]

Sentiment is for those that can afford it....

Cheers, Ian

 

[davismanLV]

I'm not sure "integrity" is the word I would use there.

 

[Ian]

Stupidity is the one that sprang to mind for me These things (Guilds included....) are all just possessions, sometimes there are things in life which are more important. If the possessions are more important to you then I would politely suggest that you havent yet hit the stage when you need to choose amongst your possessions or your family requirements. ( Answer: there is no choice )

Cheers, Ian

 

[fronobulax]

He told me he will eat cat food before selling either one. That, my friends, is called integrity.

Sorry, but "integrity" is not the word I would use.

 

[capnjuan]

Ray Guy probably got tired of eating cat food.

 

[Default]

Heard a bit about it when I was getting ready for work. Not sure what the deal is with Dr. J, but I got the impression that he was involved with some golf course investment that went bad. At least he has resources. A lot of folks end up having to live in their relatives' basements until they recover financially from whatever disaster hits them. :-/

 

[chazmo]

Tough crowd!!! But, honestly, I have to agree with what you guys are saying. Owning possessions that you don't *need* when selling them to provide other things in your life that you *do* need, for real, is more a sign of overactive sentimentality than anything rational. What's pitiful is that the older sports heroes lived in an era when they were paid poorly and not made rich entertainers, as they are today. These people ended up suffering later in life with all kinds of physical and mental ailments and never earned enough to pay for their early retirements.

Cat food notwithstanding, if putting food on the table and paying the bills is a problem while you own something that can pay for it... well, sell the damn thing.

On the flip side, I remember a few years ago, Bjorn Borg (one of the finest, most successful tennis players who ever lived) sold his Wimbledon trophies. But, he didn't do it for money, he was just breaking with the past. Later, he decided to buy them back, but it cost him a fortune.

 

[Thunderface]

For athletes, the ring is a vanity thing. Their legacy lives on in the record books, and that cannot be taken away ... unless, of course, you're the NCAA and you make a habit of trying to rewrite history as a form of punishment.

 

[dapmdave]

Depends, I guess. Are we talking the dry stuff in the bag, or canned?

Dave

 

[CA-35]

All good stuff fellas.

I think my friend's statement was more along the lines of having worked hard most of his life for something that few have attained, and he would starve before parting with it. A man that stands by his beliefs most certainly has integrity.

in·teg·ri·ty
? ?[in-teg-ri-tee]
noun
1.adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2.the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
3.a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.

However I will pass along all the warm regards next time I'm slumming.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

What kind of cat food? Are we talking chicken or mixed fish with greens? Some of them don't taste all that bad. Uh, I mean....uh....my cats like the stuff..... Yah, that's it.

 

[capnjuan]

" ... One ring to rule them all ... and in the darkness bind them ..."

Personally, I'm more concerned about the healths of all those former pros than anything else ... with or without rings. Earl Campbell, Bo Jackson, Mike Webster and all the other guys with repeated traumatic head injuries

At some point, the NFL has to curb that Put Me In Coach thing.

 

[Bikerdoc]

I have this thing about selling my motorcycles. When times are tough the days ahead are what they are, and in the end, it will be the same way. My bikes have always been clear of debt and selling one would net me some "usable" cash. However, if I didn't have a motorcycle to sell (for what ever reason) things (troubles, debts, trials, tribulations) are going to be what they're going to be, but I'm going to take care of business (family) either way. At one point in my life I asked myself what (how)selling my most pride possession would acomplish. The answer is always the same; a temporary solution.

Of course there are circumstances where selling a prized possession would put an end to a family crisis; I think it's a rare occasion. I've never been in a position where I was forced to eat cat food but things have been tough at times. I've never considered selling a bike to reduce the stress level of any situation. I actually can't imagine such a situation. For me personally, 99% of the time I'll find a way to deal with things and keep my motorcycle. I've been a biker all of my life. I can't imagine another life.

There are possessions and there are possessions. There is perspective and there is perspective. I'm going to keep my motorcycle and one guitar; regardless.

Peace

 

[bassmyf]

Of course there are circumstances where selling a prized possession would put an end to a family crisis; I think it's a rare occasion. I've never been in a position where I was forced to eat cat food but things have been tough at times. I've never considered selling a bike to reduce the stress level of any situation. I actually can't imagine such a situation. For me personally, 99% of the time I'll find a way to deal with things and keep my motorcycle. I've been a biker all of my life. I can't imagine another life.

With ya there Doc. When my chiropractor told me I had to stop riding years ago, I just stopped going to the chiropractor. Not too many problems a good day in the wind wont cure.

 

[adorshki]

All good stuff fellas.
I think my friend's statement was more along the lines of having worked hard most of his life for something that few have attained, and he would starve before parting with it.

's funny. This time, I get your point. I feel that way about my guitars, ie, I can play 'em..(maybe even "sing for nmy supper") And like BikerDoc said, anything you could do with the money would only be a temporary solution anyway, if things were that bad.
Regards to your buddy who's trying to hold onto his principles. :wink:

 

[dapmdave]

All good stuff fellas.
I think my friend's statement was more along the lines of having worked hard most of his life for something that few have attained, and he would starve before parting with it.

's funny. This time, I get your point. I feel that way about my guitars, ie, I can play 'em..(maybe even "sing for nmy supper") And like BikerDoc said, anything you could do with the money would only be a temporary solution anyway, if things were that bad.
Regards to your buddy who's trying to hold onto his principles. :wink:

I'm with you here, guys. I've found that somehow, someway, things work themselves out without the need to part with prized possessions. I'm talking about "soul-possessions" like guitars, motorcycles, etc.

Dave

 

[davismanLV]

The thing is, what the guy has is his achievement. He did something, and it's a matter of record. That can't be taken away. A ring is a token that commemorates this achievement. It's a trophy. Losing the trophy does not negate his achievement.

As I get older, I find myself less and less oriented towards "things" and tend to let stuff go.

I do have a few cherished possessions. My Guild being one of them. But most of the other stuff is optional. If I have it, fine. If I don't, that's fine too.

Scott, just make sure next time you make one of those chickens on your Weber, you invite your friend so he doesn't have to eat cat food OR sell his ring.

Not eating and starving to death when you have a ring of some value, that doesn't define integrity to me. It's semantics. But it's fun.

 

[adorshki]

The thing is, what the guy has is his achievement. He did something, and it's a matter of record. That can't be taken away. A ring is a token that commemorates this achievement. It's a trophy. Losing the trophy does not negate his achievement.
As I get older, I find myself less and less oriented towards "things" and tend to let stuff go.
I do have a few cherished possessions. My Guild being one of them.

I'm thinkin', he probably feels about his ring the way we feel about our Guilds. I suspect, to him, it's way more than just a trophy, and it's the "provenance" for those who may have never seen him in action, but understand what such things symbolize. The records are in the books, but the ring is in his hands.
In fact, thinking that out just made me finally accept all the little dings on my D25, y'know what I mean? 8)

 

[Bikerdoc]

Of course there are circumstances where selling a prized possession would put an end to a family crisis; I think it's a rare occasion. I've never been in a position where I was forced to eat cat food but things have been tough at times. I've never considered selling a bike to reduce the stress level of any situation. I actually can't imagine such a situation. For me personally, 99% of the time I'll find a way to deal with things and keep my motorcycle. I've been a biker all of my life. I can't imagine another life.

With ya there Doc. When my chiropractor told me I had to stop riding years ago, I just stopped going to the chiropractor. Not too many problems a good day in the wind wont cure.

Coincidence or just the nature of the beast? Been there and done that as well.

Peace