Matt Ricks

February 7th, 2016

Topic: Power and Influence of General Managers on Sports Franchises

            In the world of professional sports, not many people hold much more influence over the team than the general manager. General managers are responsible for assembling the backbone of the franchise. For example, they make blockbuster deals at trade deadlines, sign star free agents, and assemble every piece of the team, from the starting quarterback to the back-up kicker. General managers have influence both on and off the field. In 2007, Texas Rangers 'general manager Jon Daniels (then the youngest general manager in Texas Rangers history) traded Mark Teixeira along with his high salary in exchange for four young prospects.  Those four young players, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and David Murphy all became pivotal parts of the Rangers franchise, and ultimately played key roles in making it the World Series twice in 2010 and 2011.  However, being a general manager has its hardships. In 1989, the Minnesota Vikings general manager made the largest player trade in the history of the National Football League.  The Minnesota Vikings acquired star running back Herschel Walker for the high price of their first, second and third round draft picks for the next three years, and with that first pick, Emmitt Smith, who turned out to be the greatest running back of all time, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. This trade left the Minnesota Vikings unable to achieve success because the general manager traded away their future.  With great power comes great responsibility, and the power and influence of a general manager is beyond compare when it comes to the future of sports franchises.