Yes, Ichiro getting a 5 year, $100 million contract is apparently ruining baseball, according to Florida Marlins president David Samson. Samson is the stepson of Marlins owner Jeffrey Luria (although I'm sure that has nothing with him being president -- I'm sure Samson was the most qualified person for the job), and if there's anyone who knows about ruining baseball, it is Jeffrey Luria (just ask the good folks of Montreal).
Anyway, you can hear Samson go into hysterics over the reported deal here (click on the 7/11/07 link, and fast forward to 4 minutes in).
Some Samson quotes:
"It is the end of the world as we know it."
"I am speechless by that contract. I am hoping that report is false, because there's no way a top of the lineup -- no way ANYONE is worth that."
(Are you listening, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis?)
"Ichiro, who's led his team to zero, nothing"
"I'm sure it can't be true."
"It literally, it will take the sport down, that contract."
"Signing Ichiro for $20 million per year for five years is a joke. It's inexcusable. It is complete mismanagement."
Listen to it...it is pretty funny, especially for those of us who heard the same Chicken Littleisms after the ARod deal...