Published: February 25, 2009 11:42 pm      

KITCHELL: Harrison gives Colts stiff-arm

We are constantly reminded that professional sports — that is the games that grown up kids play — is a lot more about money than sport.

Maybe it’s always been that way, after all salary disputes and distrust among players and management was at the heart of the World Series scandal that ended the careers of eight Chicago White Sox players nearly a century ago.

This all came to mind this week when Marvin Harrison and the Indianapolis Colts sadly parted ways.

I don’t blame the Colts. While fans may want Harrison in a Colts uniform in the fall, most would tell you they’d rather improve the quality of the team with some of Harrison’s contract money than lose games with him. With the NFL’s salary cap bearing down, a team can’t afford to keep a player because of what he once was. Sentimentality isn’t an option.

As for Harrison, I don’t blame him, I just don’t understand him.

Here’s a guy who has not only made well over $50 million in 13 seasons In Indianapolis, but he’s been treated like a king by the owner and fans.

At age 36, he seemingly has one, maybe two years left in the NFL.

So, why leave now?

Most would say money is the answer. Had Harrison played next season he would have earned a base salary of $6 million with another $7.4 available through bonus clauses.

Sure, money is a factor, but wouldn’t you think if Harrison was so interested in dollar signs that he would have been doing endorsements all these years? I mean did you ever see the guy plugging anything?

My guess is it’s more about pride. Professional athletes don’t readily admit that their glory years are in the rearview mirror. They don’t want to admit they’ve made a deal with owners to cut their pay. They don’t want to admit their true worth is but a fraction of what it was at one time.

I have no idea what Colts owner Jim Irsay offered Harrison Tuesday in a last-ditch effort to keep No. 88 in Indianapolis. My guess is, it was more than enough to keep food on the table at a time when too many people in the world can’t.

I wish Harrison well. Like all Colts fans, I loved his work ethic, phenomenal talent and ability to score touchdowns without introducing badly arranged dance moves. He was a priceless piece of the puzzle that gave us all a Super Bowl.

I only wish before he opted to leave the Colts that he would have called Brett Favre for a little advice. Favre was a god in Green Bay for the better part of 16 seasons until his nasty departure for New York. We all know how that ended. Everyone lost in that deal — Packer fans lost their hero, Favre his dignity and royalty status in Green Bay, Jet fans the quarterback of their future, Chad Pennington.

It just seems a preferred course of action for Harrison would have been to take a pay cut, finish his career in a city where he is so loved and with a quarterback who some day may be considered the best to ever play the position. I just wanted to believe that he cared more about the franchise, his teammates — the possibility of bringing a second Super Bowl to our state.

It’s sad knowing the “one franchise” stars have disappeared in virtually all sports. Those men and their numbers — Dan Marino 17 seasons with the Dolphins, Reggie Miller 18 with the Pacers, Brooks Robinson 23 with the Orioles — are so special, so revered in those communities.

Marvin Harrison could have been one of them.

Dave Kitchell is the Tribune’s sports editor. He may be reached by e-mail at dave.kitchell@kokomotribune.com.