SB7-1: Championships vs. Cash; Which can best the other in sports?

As July begins its scorching stretch, the free agent market in the NBA heats up also.

Two players opted out of their final contract years to pursue championships, another will "allegedly" resign with his team for more money.

In the NFL the Philadelphia Eagles' new cornerback Asante Samuel(formerly a member of the New England Patriots, and a beneficiary of a 6 year $57.14 million dollar contract) was cornered (no pun intended) by Patriots WR Wes Welker who claimed that Samuel chose money over championships.

This looming battle, possibly the most intense rivalry in sports, the money vs. the championships tears teams apart even before free agency does.

Barron Davis today opted out of his final year of 17.8 mil. with the Golden State Warriors and became a Los Angeles Clipper for 5 year and 65 million. Elton Brand, a former Clipper opted out of his contract today also; sources however say that he will stay in LA because Davis is there.

Regardless, these players are trying to win a championship; Davis took a 4 million dollar paycut to play in a "better market" whereas other NBA players like Gilbert Arenas wants wherever the highest bidding market is.

Arenas opted out of his contract today only to be offered a six year $100 plus million dollar contract with his former Wizard team and a 5 year, $100 mil contract from the Warriors. The Warriors aren't going to battle their way into the Western Conference playoffs without someone other than Arenas, and the Wizards are farther away than the Atlanta Hawks from the Eastern Oz and NBA Title they seek.

It is obvious that Arenas wants money, as does Samuel in the NFL.

The question, is in regards to this conflict: Is it a bad thing?

The world after all is ran on money, and trying to make a living is not too hard of a thing to understand.

Championships however are the true measure of which sports writers like myself compare great athletes. The question in regards to Samuel however is whether or not he needs anymore championships; Asante already possessed 3 rings, and the accusations by Welker are then less valuable when you consider that Welker has no rings.

Does Samuel need anymore rings?

Maybe not.

Does Arenas need that much money?

Maybe not.