Tom Glavine ... and more

The Atlanta Braves were roundly -- and wrongly -- criticized for releasing future Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine last week.

From the hot heads on the unwatchable Baseball Tonight set at ESPN to former teammate John Smotlz, every knee-jerk reaction contained a common refrain: How dare the Braves treat Glavine that way. After everything he did for the organization, certainly he deserved better.

Actually, Glavine got exactly what he deserved, and anyone willing to be a grown up and think about the situation reasonably should be able to come to the same conclusion.

In 2003, Glavine signed a four-year, $42.5 million deal with Atlanta's bitter rival at the time, the New York Mets. As a free agent he had earned the right to pursue what I imagine was his best option.

I don't, however, recall too many observers being sent into convulsions because Glavine bolted the team which had paid him so handsomely for more that a decade. Now with the roles reversed, therefore, why are the Braves being hammered for pursuing their best option, which was to call up top prospect Tommy Hansen in favor of the 43-year old Glavine?

The notion of loyalty in pro sports is absurd. It's a business, pure and simple. Glavine made a business decision in 2003. The Braves made one last week.

NBA Finals

Some of the chattering classes were on fire this morning with their analysis of the NBA Finals, especially the normally solid Colin Cowerd of ESPN Radio, who said the series is a missed layup away from Orlando being up 2-1.

Yeah, I guess. But if Kobe Bryant, an 80 percent shooter from the foul line, doesn't miss five free throws last night, it's just as easy to say the Lakers could be up 3-0.

Orlando didn't make the necessary plays to win Game 2, and Lakers didn't to win Game 3. The series is right where is should be.