This is the Statt Mann BAby. It's time to Scatt a little bit.

We're always told to follow the money to get to the bottom of a mystery. Following the money in this mystery, though, is leading us into a dark pit for all sports.

A lot was made this week about the Chris Paul Trade involving three NBA teams. Paul would have ended up with the Los Angeles Lakers but the team he left behind in New Orleans would have been well compensated and possibly even better going forward.

The deal was killed by the NBA for a number of reasons. One owner complained that the Lakers would have been better suited financially and that would have taken money out of his pocket through the NBA's weak system of profit sharing.

It seems that no matter how many times pro sports athletes, drivers included, say they do it for the fans there's always that piece in the weeds that ends up shouting: “show me the money.”

Motor racing promoters at all levels always point to the emptying grandstands and darkening TV screens and say the show is for the fans. But every decision is based on: “show me the money.”

Relationships between drivers and team owners have boiled down to “show me the money.” It's not about winning and losing anymore. It's always: “show me the money.”

On the Web it's said content is king. In racing, the king should be competition. When competition is replaced with “show me the money” it might as well be a Broadway play or the Globetrotters.

A line from a movie, art, has reshaped the reality in sport. For the fans indeed!

Peace.