Big Payouts: Do They Hurt Game?
By The Swammi, special to Corradocardoso.info

One of the more heated debates at the forum this year has been whether or not the community and the great game of Madden will suffer as the tournament payouts get higher. On one hand you have the purist that feel that as money becomes a factor, bad things tend to happen. A simple example is that of current day sports.

We no longer can enjoy the great dynasty days of when a team was a team, for quite a while. Think back to when Bradshaw played with Swann, Stallworth, Ham, Greene and so many of the other hall of famers. I like to bring it on closer to home where I can relate, as I think of Staubach, Dorsett, Pearson, Dupree, Wright, Newhouse....oh I could go on.

How I was sickened as watched the team of my heart slowly decimated, one player at a time in the 90's. First Maryland, then Johnson, Jones, Smith, Harper, and so on. We quickly went from great to mediocre in the time span of three years. Why? High priced free agency I say. But without debating that further, the point at hand is, does the increase in money for everyone cause us to forget about the fundamental thing that brought us close the game in the first place.

While I think sports in general, particularly baseball, has been tarnished somewhat because of the greed by the owners, and to a lesser degree the players, the games are still great. Football is still a great game despite the fact that its not like it used to be. Instead of clinging to dynasty's and career players, we now look forward to free agency, and the draft. So while the money has changed things, it has not ruined the sport.

I think of the Madden tournaments in the same way. The amount of money that is being paid out is simply changing things. Changing the way we view tournaments, and changing the way we approach playing the game, yet not necessarily tarnishing the game itself.

We used to play for bragging rights. Now we are playing for territorial rights. John Madden Football is just like any other game that has ever been invented. Remember, football itself was not invented to be a professional sport. For years, college athletics dominated the scene. It was all about the game. But now the stakes are high.

That is what will happen with this game. In 1999 during Nationals I, Winky White and I both spoke about the vision that we saw for this game and the community. We saw leagues sprouting up all over the nation once they got wind of the presence that The PFL.com had on the Internet. We saw regional tournaments sprouting up in cities where leagues had already established a presence. And I could even foresee the vision of huge payouts after Nationals II. I thought it would take longer, but it has arrived quicker than I thought it would. I envisioned by Nationals V we would have a purse of at least $5000.00 or more, with sponsorship and the whole nine. But we are very well close to approaching that for Nationals IV.

I have always said that while we don't play the game for cash, if you want ballers to come from all over the nation to compete at the highest level, you have to make it worth their while. And for a shot at $3000.00 why wouldn't a baller want to come to Los Angeles, especially when they feel they have the edge to win it all. With that in mind, it is within reason to feel that the escalated cash pots have bettered the community, from the stand point of bringing out more competitive ballers if nothing else, and that is always a plus. As long as we don't stoop to unsportsmanlike measures to win the games, the money should be just the icing on the cake. For it is the pride of winning the National Championship that we should always keep in the forefront.

People sometimes speak of Nationals from a purist standpoint, which I think is wonderful. Ironically, it has always been in the vision of Nationals to grow slowly, but reward our champions with a very prestigious award. That is why Nationals is not advertised for its cash payout. We must maintain a balance of what the tourney is all about. Great competitive ambiance, and fellowship must come first. These are the tenets that the championships were founded on.

However, everyone can rest assured that Nationals will be a top money event this year. That is why we were so delighted to bring on board VG Sports as the official sponsor this season. With other deals in the works, Nationals IV should easily surpass a total payout of over $4000.00. And we will do it without raising the registration fee.

What's in the future for Nationals? Larger tournaments, $10,000 payouts, an MWS nationwide tour where winners get a paid trip to the Nationals, and get this.....a TV deal. Yes, its all in the works my friends. Not in the immediate future, but nor the distant.

Yes, many scoffed and laughed when I mentioned Nationals I. And here we are preparing for Nationals IV. A long journey begins with one step. We have taken that step and many more, yet we are in the midst of the journey. We have gathered several milestones, yet there are more to come, and yes, I do see them in the distant, getting closer and closer.

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