How Can Both Sides Be Wrong?

By mismanaging the message.

One side:

• I want to retire
• No, I want to play
• But I won’t play for you
• Okay, I’ll consider taking a buyout to retire
• No, I want to play
• I guess I’ll play for you

Other side:

• You’re retired
• We won’t trade you
• Here’s $20 million to stay retired
• Okay, you can play
• Oh, and now you might start.

Huh? Classic case of mismanaging the message—messageS—and letting this story get out in front of you. In the end, both sides are guilty of that, and both sides end up looking foolish throughout the process.