But Why?

In a previous blog entry, I talked about the why Sir Albert Pujols made us (the Cardinals fans and city of St. Louis) feel like we’d been left at the altar. And yes, it still feels that way. But that didn’t answer the question – Why? 

Anyone that has been dumped for another has asked themselves that question. Why? Was it something I said? Did I do something? Is he/she hotter than me? Whatever silly questions we ask, the bottom line is still the “why”. What was the reason you left?

For Sir Albert, so many people talk about the money. He left because the Cardinals didn’t offer him enough money and the Angels did. That’s not it at all. Even though the salary figure was higher, California is no cheap place to live. The taxes are higher. The housing is higher. Everything is higher. So the end result will be a paycheck that is actually smaller and less money for his charitable causes due to the cost of living. 

So, since his take home pay will be less, what was the REAL reason? Vindication. Sir Albert wanted to prove something, not to himself, but to all those that ever doubted him. This was for the people that didn’t pick him earlier in the draft, the coaches that said he wouldn’t make it, and anyone else that doubted his ability. The goal was to prove a point. “I’m the best. I am the most desired player on the market. And I can command the highest price tag ever. So there.”

What Sir Albert surely wanted was to rub it in the faces of the doubters. The trouble with that motive is that it never works. The people that told you in the 5^th grade that you should stop playing don’t remember ever saying that. The people that passed you over in the draft still went on to win World Series Championships without you. And for the people that actually do remember any criticism, they are sitting back thinking about how they said those things to help drive you and are taking credit in your success. None of them feel bad about it. None of them care.

Inside this makes a person feel like they have finally won the war. They have proven everyone wrong and served up a big slice of ‘eat your words’. And that makes you feel validated and righteous and proven. But that feeling is fleeting…

Decisions made through this type of emotion are just that, emotional decisions. They are not rational decisions made up by a strong list of pros and cons. They aren’t looking at big picture implications such as the fall of your restaurant, the disruption to your family’s life, or the blow to your charitable causes. And sooner or later you wake up with regret, and your actions have created a situation to which there is no going back. 

It’s a shame. If Sir Albert really wanted to win the war, and not the war in his head, he would have realized that while the Angels paid some large monetary amount, the value of St. Louis Cardinals immortality is eternal and priceless.