Come To Think of It...Shawn Chacon Grievance Example of Unions Gone Wild

Let me ask you a question.

What would happen to you if you grabbed your boss by the collar and threw him to the ground? Well, the answer may not be as obvious if you're in a union.

Don't get me wrong—unions are what made this country strong. Without them, we'd all have black lung and be working for $1.25 per hour.

But what happens when unions go too far?

We see this all the time. And perhaps none do it more egregiously than modern sporting unions, like the Major League Players Association.

The players' association filed a grievance on Tuesday over the release of pitcher Shawn Chacon, saying the team's decision to terminate his contract was without just cause.

"Without just cause"...roll that around your tongue for a while and let me know how it tastes. Would it have been just if he had shot his GM instead?

No "just cause" for termination? Hell, I say he's lucky he isn't in jail. Whether or not the physical altercation (as it's being described) was influenced by GM Ed Wade's verbal thrashing of Chacon is not relevant.

Remember the old saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?" Well, the moral of that little ditty is that you aren't justified in physically assaulting someone just because they say something bad to you.

Apparently, Wade said he had asked Chacon to come into manager Cecil Cooper's office for a meeting. Chacon refused, and the confrontation ensued. Chacon threw Wade to the ground.

The Astros decided they no longer wanted Chacon around. The pitcher cleared waivers on Monday and was released.

Chacon had a $2-million salary this year, and the decision to terminate the contract meant $983,607 won't be paid. He also lost the chance to make up to $1 million in performance bonuses based on innings.

But hey, if he doesn't hook on with another club, perhaps the WWE will hire him.

The Astros said Chacon violated a provision that states the player may be terminated if he shall "fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship, or to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey to the club's training rules."

Works for me. In fact, jail works for me too. Good thing he has a union and plays a kid's game for a living. Someday he may have to join the real world, and if this behavior becomes a pattern, he may not be so lucky next time. Come to think of it, "just cause" may become just deserts for Chacon.