WHERE DOES IT ALL END?
by Charlie "Chuck" Odessa

I picked up the sports section of the newspaper last week. I was appalled at what the huge lettered headlines said! Following was this text: The pitching-poor Texas Rangers grabbed the best arm in the free agent market, agreeing Saturday to a $65 million, five-year contract with Chan Ho Park.

Ah, but Park figures to earn even more during the contract. He could opt out of the deal after next season and become a free agent once again, but Texas can eliminate that right by agreeing before next Nov. 10 to make an additional $6 million payment.

Park's contract calls for salaries of $11 million next season, $12 million in 2003, $13 million in 2004, $14 million in 2005 and $15 million in 2006.

Based on the current guaranteed total of the contract, Park has an average salary of $13 million a season, sixth among pitchers behind the Yankees Roger Clemens ($15.45 million), Colorado's Mike Hampton ($15,125,000), the Dodgers' Kevin Brown ($15 million), the Yankees' Mike Mussina ($14.75 million) and Arizona's Randy Johnson ($13.1million). Park's agent also last year negotiated a record $252 million, 10-year deal for Alex Rodriguez. Other ball clubs, baseball, basketball football, have similar ridiculous contracts out with their players.

Does anyone know what the President of our United States earns per year? $400,000 plus expenses! He lives in a borrowed home, travels in borrowed vehicles, eats off of someone else's dishes and has no idea what his future may bring him.