Posted July 6, 200420 yr CECIL HURT: Tankersley firm on principles June 30, 2004 Email this story. It?s been more than three weeks since the Florida Marlins made University of Alabama left-hander Taylor Tankersley their first-round choice in Major League Baseball?s amateur draft. It?s been more than two weeks since Tankersley and the Marlins brass came to financial terms, agreeing on a signing bonus that the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported at a healthy $1.3 million. But, as of Tuesday, Tankersley hasn?t thrown a single pitch for the Marlins, and doesn?t know when he will. The proposed deal remains unsigned -- not because of dollars, but because of principle. ?I?m sure that when an outsider who doesn?t know what?s going on picks up the paper, he sees a story that says 'Tankersley hasn?t signed,? and thinks 'Oh, he?s holding out for more money," Tankersley said Tuesday in a telephone interview from his Tuscaloosa apartment. ?That?s not the case at all. I don?t want people to get the wrong perception of me. I feel like I?ve bent over backwards up to this point. ?I want to play, but I don?t want to give up my rights as a player." This is the situation, boiled down to basics: The Marlins have been burned before. Josh Allison, last year?s first-round draft choice, is currently out of baseball after admitting to an addiction to Oxycontin and subsequently testing positive for marijuana use. The Marlins paid Allison nearly $2 million in bonus money, and have no idea what his future holds. Other teams have had similar problems in recent years. As a result, the Marlins have requested that Tankersley, this year?s No. 27 pick overall, sign a deal with a number of stipulations, ranging from extra testing to repayment of bonus money for a positive test at any time in the next four years. ?I don?t know what has gone on with other players, but I know what they are asking me to do is something different than anyone else has been asked," Tankersley said. ?I don?t want to use the word monumental, but my advisor has told me it would set a precedent. It has never been done." To Tankersley, it appears that he is being held accountable for the mistakes of others. ?I understand why they are being cautious, but I haven?t done anything to warrant this," he said. ?We told the Marlins that our program [at Alabama] tested regularly. They didn?t hide anything. And I?ve never had a positive test, not one." As a result of the Marlins? demands, the Major League Baseball Players Association has become involved in the negotiations. ?We?ve talked to the union about it," Tankersley said. ?We sought their guidance. But when the union writes the Commissioner?s office, then the Commissioner writes the Marlins and the Marlins write us, it takes time. It?s dragging this thing out." For fervent Alabama fans, there might be a glimmer of hope that Tankersley and the Marlins can?t reach an agreement and the star pitcher will opt for another year of college, but Tankersley himself isn?t currently referring to that as even a remote possibility. ?I?ve been somewhat disappointed in the way the Marlins have handled things, to put it mildly," Tankersley said. ?But at the same time, I?m still grateful that they drafted me in the first round, and I still want to play for them. ?I?m very fortunate. I?ll be getting the kind of money that might never come my way again, and it will give me a head start in life. But I can?t just go giving away my rights. It?s a business, and you?ve got to stand firm on some things. ?We?ve made some progress. We?ve gotten closer in the past week, and there may be more [progress] in the next few days. ?I want to get it done, but it has to be handled right." from tidesports.com
July 6, 200420 yr Proof that drafting a college player provides a much more muture player than drafting a player straight out of highschool, and much better handled player than a 22-year-old coming up out of the minors. This kid handled those questions beautifully... It was probably a prepared statement, or whatever, but the kid is taking care of business in a really classy manner... I'll be watching this guy closely. I hope he doesn't disappoint. He hasn't thus far. [/puffpiece]
July 7, 200420 yr The Marlins are completely wrong on this issue. If we won't give in, I hope the player doesn't sign.
July 7, 200420 yr Screw him, let him sit and devalue while he plays playstation in his Tuscaloosa apartment. Sorry, but it's not like these are extreme demands, especially in light of the 1.3 mil the Fish are willing to fork over. Sory, but worrying that you might not come clean on a drug test over the next 4 years is not a violation of your rights. And if you think it's sooooo bad and such a violation go get a job like the rest of us, you ungrateful slob. Get over it and sign.
July 7, 200420 yr And one other thing.... It's not like this holdout is of his own doing. SOme slimeball agent who couldn't get a job as a used car salesman is whispering this crap in his ear and he's repeating it like the $2 puppet he is. Just another of the millions of reasons why every professional sports agent in the world should be drug out into the street and shot.
July 7, 200420 yr The writing is on the wall with this kid. I don't care whose sins he's paying for, the fact is if he wants to take his broke ass to the bank with a 1.3mil check he needs to nut up and figure out where his priorities are. We all knew it with Allison, but gave him the benefit of the doubt. Look how that's turned out. Not again, bucko. He's dirty, and he's scared of a test.
July 7, 200420 yr Dude your 22 and going to be rich..stop crying and sign the damn contract.the rockies contract i signed out of UF had the same things on it except the money part,it's not that bad it takes 2 seconds to piss in a cup...sign and start playing your way up already...
July 7, 200420 yr Dude your 22 and going to be rich..stop crying and sign the damn contract.the rockies contract i signed out of UF had the same things on it except the money part,it's not that bad it takes 2 seconds to piss in a cup...sign and start playing your way up already... 445021[/snapback] Seriously. What a jerkoff. Where's the spirit here? Where's the hunger? How many people would give ANYTHING to be a first round pick and this kid is gonna pull a prima donna act? We don't need that s***.
July 7, 200420 yr I think he is scared of some sort of McCarthism here and probably is not clean to begin with. I wonder what exactly would be termed 'void' and require him to return the money. Does pot or alcohol count? If that is the case, then he is fighting this fairly, if not, then he is being stupid about this. If someone were to offer me $1+M for doing something I would do for free, or even something that only required me to work part of the year and get SOME enjoyment out of, and all they wanted me to do was stay clean - I'm there. But then again, I already am clean and dont do drugs at all...so it is easy for me to say that. Both sides are going to have to compromise on this one...
July 7, 200420 yr Sorry, but I disagree with you guys... Who the hell would want to start off their ML career by pissing off the Players Union? I understand the frustration, but signing a contract that demands drug tests? That slaps in the face of everything, right or wrong, that the Player's Union has been fighting for. Understand that this kid is stuck between a rock and a hard place and making sure he covers all his bases before inking anything.
July 7, 200420 yr Sorry, but I disagree with you guys... Who the hell would want to start off their ML career by pissing off the Players Union? I understand the frustration, but signing a contract that demands drug tests? That slaps in the face of everything, right or wrong, that the Player's Union has been fighting for. Understand that this kid is stuck between a rock and a hard place and making sure he covers all his bases before inking anything. 445079[/snapback] You are exactly right.
July 7, 200420 yr Im pretty sure the agent and the union are the ones talking here and not so much Tankersley. This would set a precedent and players who mess up would have to give up money. Im sorry but if i know im a drug free individual than why not sign the damn thing. Unless Tank is hiding a previous addiction that we dont know about.
July 7, 200420 yr Im pretty sure the agent and the union are the ones talking here and not so much Tankersley. This would set a precedent and players who mess up would have to give up money. Im sorry but if i know im a drug free individual than why not sign the damn thing. Unless Tank is hiding a previous addiction that we dont know about. 445103[/snapback] Do a search on the MLBPA (ie. the Player's Union) and tell me if you would still sign even though you know you are drug free...
July 7, 200420 yr Gee.... smells fishy to me (no pun intended). If you have nothing to hide, why would you b***h and moan about taking a drug test? What a brat....
July 7, 200420 yr Gee.... smells fishy to me (no pun intended). If you have nothing to hide, why would you b***h and moan about taking a drug test? What a brat.... 445170[/snapback] Oh forget it, I quit... People, there is more to the business of baseball than what takes place on the field... It's never too late to start learning... Do any of you (besides Johnny) realize how powerful the MLBPA is? Do any of you know what happens to an MLB player when they are not a part of the MLBPA? Not everyone is Barry Bonds...
July 7, 200420 yr Honestly, if I was asked to pee in a cup and sign a MLB contract, I'd do it in a heartbeat. We don't need druggies in the league.
July 7, 200420 yr Honestly, if I was asked to pee in a cup and sign a MLB contract, I'd do it in a heartbeat. We don't need druggies in the league. 445184[/snapback] I guess you can wipe away half the league :thumbup
July 7, 200420 yr Honestly, if I was asked to pee in a cup and sign a MLB contract, I'd do it in a heartbeat. We don't need druggies in the league. 445184[/snapback] OH MY GOD! I hope you are kidding... Because if you aren't, you just don't get what Tankersley is dealing with right now. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NOT WANTING TO PEE INTO A CUP! EDIT: The MLBPA, Baseball, and the future of baseball are all bigger than Tankersley. He knows it and is responding appropriately... He is just covering his ass... Why does everyone want to be so ignorant about this topic? The guy is being completely unselfish... he wants the money, but is looking out for every other player in baseball... The players will love him for this...
July 7, 200420 yr Sorry, but I disagree with you guys... Who the hell would want to start off their ML career by pissing off the Players Union? I understand the frustration, but signing a contract that demands drug tests? That slaps in the face of everything, right or wrong, that the Player's Union has been fighting for. Understand that this kid is stuck between a rock and a hard place and making sure he covers all his bases before inking anything. 445079[/snapback] Miri... Please read this a few times....
July 7, 200420 yr Gee.... smells fishy to me (no pun intended). If you have nothing to hide, why would you b***h and moan about taking a drug test? What a brat.... 445170[/snapback] Oh forget it, I quit... People, there is more to the business of baseball than what takes place on the field... It's never too late to start learning... Do any of you (besides Johnny) realize how powerful the MLBPA is? Do any of you know what happens to an MLB player when they are not a part of the MLBPA? Not everyone is Barry Bonds... 445176[/snapback] At least someone understands what's going on.
July 7, 200420 yr Sorry, but I disagree with you guys...? Who the hell would want to start off their ML career by pissing off the Players Union?? I understand the frustration, but signing a contract that demands drug tests?? That slaps in the face of everything, right or wrong, that the Player's Union has been fighting for.? Understand that this kid is stuck between a rock and a hard place and making sure he covers all his bases before inking anything. 445079[/snapback] Miri... Please read this a few times.... 445194[/snapback] Not everyone is gonna get it man, don't sweat it
July 7, 200420 yr No, I don't understand. I am no expert when it comes to the MLBPA and all that. But whatever.
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