Parks ready to step away

MANILA, Philippines — Pilloried by fans in social media for refusing to sign a max offer renewal with TNT, Bobby Ray Parks may step away from basketball to be “at peace” and find another job where his character isn’t put to doubt.

Parks, 28, reached out the other day to express his pain after fans questioned his professionalism when he announced he would go on a sabbatical from the coming PBA season “due to personal reasons which, in particular, (involve) my family.” The decision came in the wake of an impasse in negotiating an extension of his TNT contract which expired last Jan. 31.  Under PBA rules, TNT had up to 30 days from the expiration of the contract to make an offer of renewal in retaining Parks’ rights. TNT was within the 30-day period when the first offer was made. Negotiations supposedly went back and forth until last March 3 when Parks ended the talks, rejecting TNT’s final offer which he admitted was “better” than the terms of his previous contract. TNT management described the offer as a “super max” two-year deal. Parks’ refusal to come to terms came as a shock to fans since there couldn’t be more that TNT could put on the table. Fans saw Parks’ rejection as an act of bad faith in the course of negotiations.

Parks described his PBA journey as “an uphill battle” as he remarked how fans could somehow never be happy with his performance. “I’ve been called a prima donna, I’m like the villain,” he said. “I speak in silence. Right now, I think the best thing to do is to step away. My mother in L. A. is recovering from depression and I’m afraid this latest attack on my character by fans in social media will make her unstable. I want to be able to sleep at night and be at peace.”

Parks said he’ll explore the possibility of playing overseas and he mentioned the Japanese league as an option. But he’s aware that a transfer to another country will require FIBA clearance from SBP which will require clearance from the PBA which will require clearance from TNT. “I hope FIBA allows me the chance to continue playing in another country,” he said. “If I’m not allowed, I’m prepared to walk away from the game I love. I’ll find a job and try to make a living for my family.” Parks is now in Manila and said he plans to leave for the US next month.

Parks said PBA legend Jimmy Alapag, who was his Alab coach in the ABL, phoned from Los Angeles to advise him what to do. “Jimmy told me to do what’s best for me right now and he’s worried about my mental health,” he said. Parks added that once his mind is settled, he hopes to return to the PBA “a couple of years from now.” In his statement on twitter, Parks said “hopefully, one day, once everything is resolved, I can come back to the team and help bring a championship to TNT.”

Parks has five years to go before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the PBA. If he decides to go on leave and comes back to the PBA within the next five years, TNT will still own the right of first refusal. TNT coach Chot Reyes said, “we just spoke yesterday … he confirmed that he really wants to ‘step away’ first but didn’t mention playing elsewhere … I told him if that’s what he really wants to do then I respect his decision and that if he needs someone to talk to, to just reach out.”