Silence is golden

I wish I had the opportunity to just go to my boss and say, "I want to leave this organization." That's what New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd said to his general manager yesterday.

Kidd, who is the only hope for a Nets resurgence this season, has finally requested a trade to get out of New Jersey. Who can blame him? The team is currently in a nine-game losing streak and has been under .500 the entire season.

Earlier in the season there were rumors that Kidd wanted out of the Garden State when he claimed he had a migraine and sat out a game, causing a stir in the media.

The team has not lived up to expectations that they would compete for an Eastern Conference championship. The trio of Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson has not worked out and something needs to be done.

The sad part is that right now, the Nets are 18-26 and only a half a game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. That just speaks to how bad the conference is.

Since the Nets acquired Kidd in 2001, he has transformed the team from the doormats of the league to perennial contenders. They made the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, losing both times.

Kidd has amazing on-court versatility and is a threat to earn a triple-double every game. Currently, he is third on the all-time list with 98. This season, Kidd is averaging 11 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists per game.

But, is the answer really to trade Kidd, 35 years old, or try to move one of the other two superstars? Or is the real question whether Kidd should be allowed to demand a trade or not?

Whatever happened to loyalty in sports? I love how everyday another player is requesting to be traded. It is not only in basketball, but baseball, football, and hockey. Players don't have the same passion as fans do. They only care about the money, and that is a shame.

Every year, there is at least one superstar football player holding out of training camp to earn a more lucrative contract. In baseball, whenever a team is not performing well, superstars complain about losing and their comments are not taken well by fans.

Sports should be like any other job. If you sign on the dotted line, the contract should be accountable for both parties. If the employee (athlete) wants to quit, that is his decision and he should not get paid. If they get dismissed, or traded, then it should be the organization's choice, not the player's.

Athletes should not be able to go to their boss and tell them how to run a team. Kidd is in the fifth year of a six-year contract worth $103.6 million. That's not too shabby. Stop complaining about how bad the team is and try to turn things around by winning. Then you will be happy and still be getting all your money.

If this team does find the right chemistry within the coming weeks before the Feb. 21 trade deadline, maybe Kidd will be happy and will tell management to keep him and get one more player to help solve the problem. Winning is always the big difference for being happy or sad in sports.

The Nets are missing a big man to dominate inside. There were rumors spreading around the league yesterday that Indiana Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal was looking for a home in New Jersey.

O'Neal is injury prone, but I would take a chance to acquire him. The Nets need a center to match up with Kevin Garnett on the Celtics and he is a reasonable choice. If he is healthy in the playoffs, his impact can have a major affect in a seven-game series.

The only people that should make the decision whether to trade players or acquire them is management. Everybody in an organization has their own role. The only job for a player is to go out on to the court and play to your best abilities to help your team win. The job of management is to find ways for your team to get better.

The two aren't supposed to come together to do their jobs as one. That's why players should keep their mouths shut and just go out and play the game. They are making enough money anyways.

Fans don't want to hear their favorite athletes requesting trades and saying how a team should be run. Just like the famous Franki Valli once said, "Silence is golden."

Jason Kidd needs to adhere to that saying if he wants to save face in the NBA.