Strictly Business, Never Personal

Alex Hartman (center)

Last week there was a disenchanted outcry from Malaysian basketball fans, when rumors surfaced that Alex Hartman had been released by the KL Dragons basketball squad. The following statement posted by the Dragons' organization on their twitter account confirmed the supposition:

"It was a very tough executive decision to release Alex Hartman as he has been a great asset to the team this season..." Yakub Hussaini, Westports KL Dragons General Manager December 28, 2010 at 7:52pm

Alex Hartman was undeniably well liked amongst Dragons' fans. Casts of supporters expressed their disappointment by leaving comments in defense of Hartman on the KL Dragons' facebook page and twitter account following the team's decision to part with Hartman. Fans are baffled as to why this move has taken place so late in the season. More importantly, they want to know why they are being forced to say good-bye to someone they like.

I have no verified insight as to why Hartman was released, maybe it's because his stats have steadily declined since his third start of the season. But unlike other Dragons' fans, I'm not shocked or bothered by the decision either. I come from the United States where it is well understood that assets (in this case players) are traded, released, or put into play based on their viability. Malaysian basketball fans need to come to grips with the fact that professional sports is a business. Alliances between athletes and the sport organizations that employ them are based on profitability and performance. Despite being a fan favorite, if a player, coach, or even a general manager of any professional team is not meeting the expectations of the owner(s), or the team's senior executive management, one should have no doubt that he/her will be shown the exit.

Perhaps this is a hard lesson for Malaysians to swallow, because the KL Dragons basketball team (only in its second year of existence) is one of only a few professional sports teams in Malaysia. The country's present sports system largely consists of national teams. Favorite sons and daughters on these government sponsored squads usually get to enjoy a long tenor afforded by the ample amount of leniency that is given to national athletes for fallacy and redemption. Not the case in professional sports, there is no tolerance for lengthy periods of erroneous judgement or performance, when thousands into the millions of dollars are at stake.

So Malaysian fans of the KL Dragons, I would advise you not to get use to the idea of any particular Dragons' player being with the team for years to come. Also know that a player's exit is not always the result of a management decision, but instead it is the choice of the athlete. Let me point out a likely scenario that could succeed the Dragons' post play. Possibly Nakeia Miller, who has played exceptionally well for the Dragons, could leave the team at the end of the season for an organization that will pay him more money. If this event were to occur, remember Malaysia not to take it personal; it's strictly business.