If I Were A Free Agent

Being a free agent in the regular world is kind of crappy. It basically means you are unemployed and looking for work. In the sports world it is usually the best thing to happen to an athlete.

A pro athlete looks forward to free agency because it is normally the time that they are at the peak of their careers and can demand the most money. Being a free agent also means there are no restrictions on how much they can make, unlike when they are a rookie or when a team exercises an option.

Free agency is all the talk right now. NFL free agency started on Friday and there have already been a few big signings. Some top players have moved teams including Julius Peppers who goes from Carolina to Chicago, Kyle Vanden Bosch goes from Tennessee to Detroit and Karlos Dansby goes from Arizona to Miami. These are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more player moves to come.

In about four months, NBA free agency will be the talk everywhere with perhaps the biggest free agent class ever. It includes many of the marquee names in the NBA right now, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Also, some supporting stars are going to be looking for new homes Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer. Depending on where these players sign, it could change the fate of franchises (just look at Toronto without Bosh for the past week 0-4).

If you were a free agent what factors would you look for when trying to decide where to go. Here is my list;

1. Money - Don't kid yourself - the biggest factor is the benjamins. This will be the main reason that LeBron, Wade and Bosh stay put. They can get the most money from the teams they are currently with.

2. Location - Do I want to play in a cold city like Toronto or Detroit? Nope...I would rather spend my off days in Miami or LA thank you very much. This section also includes other amenities like shopping, restaurants and nightlife. You are young with a high income, give me something good to do on days off or in the off-season.

3. Friends - Who do I know on the team? Did I play with any guys at University or on a summer league team? Is someone on the team that I can create my own hand shake with? Who will I go out to dinner with on the road 50 times a year?

4. Winning - Does the franchise have a chance to win or a history of winning? All players want a championship ring. Also, awards like MVP and all-star nominations come easier to players on winning teams.

5. Fans - Are the fans passionate? Will they show up to the arena every night or only when the team wins?


Those would be my big five...what would you guys look for when signing a free agent deal?