The people who run the game, they are the ones who want to change it and make people believe that it's different somehow. It's not different, the only difference is that some ballplayers today have a chance for a four- or five-year contract and they can make big money.

In this quote, Tony Oliva, a former professional baseball player, discusses the realities of the sports industry, particularly focusing on how the game itself has remained largely unchanged despite external perceptions of transformation. He suggests that the people who run the game—likely referring to team owners and executives—are the ones who want to create the illusion that the sport has evolved in meaningful ways. Oliva's point is that, in essence, the game remains the same, and the primary difference is that modern players now have the opportunity to secure long-term contracts and earn significantly more money than in the past.

Oliva touches on the idea that the business of sports has shifted with the rise of lucrative contracts, but this change is more about the financial aspects of the game rather than any real transformation in how the sport is played or its core principles. He implies that while athletes today may enjoy greater financial rewards, the fundamental structure of the game and the nature of competition remain consistent with the past. This perspective challenges the notion that the sport has undergone dramatic changes in its essence.

The quote also reflects Oliva's own experiences, as he played during a time when player salaries were significantly lower, and contracts were less favorable for athletes. His remark points out that while there may be more financial opportunities for today's players, the essence of professional sports—the competition, the performance, and the drive to succeed—has not fundamentally changed.

Tony Oliva is a Hall of Fame baseball player who played most of his career with the Minnesota Twins. His perspective on the evolution of sports is shaped by his own time in the league, where the business aspects of the game were far different from those of modern players. This quote encapsulates his belief that, while athletes' earnings have evolved, the heart of the game itself remains constant, largely unchanged by the financial and contractual shifts that have occurred over the years.